Brett Kollmann
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Brett Kollmann's Mock Draft 1.0
🕑 Added 2019-02-25 12:43:59 +0000 UTCIt’s finally time for a proper mock draft! After studying at least three games worth of tape on dozens of players, as well as analyzing the current roster/cap situations for all 32 teams before the start of free agency, here is my ideal first round pick for every team that still hasn’t managed to trade away their pick to Oakland yet.
Keep in mind that every single one of these selections are what I would personally do as the GM for each team, not what I expect will actually happen. That’s a rather important distinction for an exercise like this.
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1 – Arizona Cardinals: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
As I said in my Film Room episode on Williams a couple of weeks ago, he is about as “easy” an evaluation as it gets in this business. Whether it’s as a run defender or as a pass rusher, Williams is the best DT prospect to come out of college since Aaron Donald. Despite not playing as “high priority” a position as Bosa, he’s still worthy of the first overall selection over him in my opinion.
2 – San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
As the Niners' GM, Williams going first was a dream come true. The 49ers have more interior rushers than they know what to do with, but zero true edge rushing threats. Bosa can fix that problem immediately.
3 – New York Jets: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Taylor is an extremely clean right tackle prospect. He’s huge, he’s long, he’s strong, and his technique is as solid as you could ever hope for in a college tackle (these days having any good technique AT ALL is considered a plus, to be honest). He may not have elite footwork, but he’s got elite everything else.
4 – Oakland Raiders: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
The Raiders need talent, and lots of it. Allen is not a perfect scheme fit, but to be honest at this point the roster is so deprived of stars that I would rather just draft the most talented guys that I can find and demand my coaches to figure out ways to build around them. I don’t want them to force a square peg into a round hole…I just want them to carve a new hole all together that the square peg can fit into. If my coaches can’t do that, then they shouldn’t be my coaches.
5 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
The Bucs may or may not have a big hole to fill at left tackle this offseason. Williams is not only a good potential replacement for Donovan Smith, he’s probably an outright upgrade to Smith as well, in my opinion. Why pay top dollar to keep Smith in the building when I can just draft a BETTER tackle to play on a CHEAPER deal? This pick makes a ton of sense for a lot of reasons.
6 – New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
The Giants need a quarterback of the future, and there just happens to be a really damn good one at Ohio State that desperately wants to be a Giant. Haskins can combine with Barkley, Beckham, Shepard, and Engram to create one of the most dynamic young offenses the NFL has seen in quite some time. I would be SUPER excited for my fantasy teams if this pick somehow managed to happen.
7 – Jacksonville Jaguars: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Does Murray “fit” the Jags’ current style of offense? No. Will Leonard Fournette fit in with a potential overhaul to the system to fit Murray’s strengths? Maybe not.
Do I care about either of those things? Hell no. The Jags need a QB to be excited about like I need oxygen, and despite all of the potential concerns in his scouting report, I feel like Kyler has enough positives to be that guy. Arm strength, accuracy, decision making, and mobility. He’s got all four of those going for him.
8 – Detroit Lions: Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan
Gary is a freak of nature at defensive end, and I think he would make an excellent developmental project for Matt Patricia to work on. Within two years, Gary could very easily be producing at an All-Pro level if his coaches manage to maximize his potential.
9 – Buffalo Bills: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
While he’s not quite O.J. Howard as a prospect, he’s close. Hockenson is a do-it-all tight end who plays his ass off on every snap. And as long as my number one GM objective is building around Josh Allen, a hard-working, do-it-all tight end sounds pretty damn good right now. He could be a weapon in literally any system, obviously, but in this system in particular I think he could be a game-breaker for Buffalo.
10 – Denver Broncos: Devin White, ILB, LSU
I spent about 13 minutes talking about White’s uniqueness as a prospect and his fit with Denver in my last Film Room episode, so check that out! White’s natural talent and Vic Fangio’s linebacker coaching abilities would be a match made in heaven.
11 – Cincinnati Bengals: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
The Bengals finally hit big on a first round corner with William Jackson, but they still need someone to play opposite him. Dre Kirkpatrick has not been worth his contract extension at all, and Dennard hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations either. Murphy and Jackson have the potential to be a truly excellent duo that can hold up in either man or zone looks within any system.
12 – Green Bay Packers: Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State
Burns is exceptionally talented, and to be honest if he fills out his frame any more between now and the draft, he might end up going even higher than this. Ultra-athletic edge rushers that also have an arsenal of pass rushing moves aren’t exactly easy to come by.
13 – Miami Dolphins: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
Wilkins is the second best three-technique prospect in this class, and he’s exactly what the Dolphins need more than anything else right now. Their interior pass rush and their interior run defense were both horrifically bad last season.
14 – Atlanta Falcons: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Speaking of bad defensive line play, the Falcons need pretty much everything EXCEPT a three-technique right now…unless Grady Jarrett leaves of course, in which case they would literally need everything again. Lawrence can step in right next to Jarrett from day one if he stays, and the two of them would make up a truly formidable interior run defense and interior pass rush. Atlanta needs both of those things desperately, so he fits.
15 – Washington Redskins: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
I was not super enthused by the Redskins cornerbacks last year outside of Quinton Dunbar, and I think they could use an infusion of youth at that spot. Baker ironically compares pretty favorably to Josh Norman in terms of build and skillset, and I think he could either push Norman for playing time or just outright replace him within a year.
16 – Carolina Panthers: Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State
The Panthers really, really need more depth at edge rusher, and Sweat is a perfect fit for what they like in their defensive ends. He’s got tons of length and even more power so he can comfortably fall back on a bull rush if nothing else works, but he also possesses rare explosiveness and fluidity for a guy his size. I could absolutely envision him turning into a star in Carolina in two or three years.
17 – Cleveland Browns: Ed Oliver, DL, Houston
The huge influx of elite defensive line talent from Bama into the NFL over the last five years is largely because of one man, Tosh Lupoi – and now he’s coaching the Browns D-Line. There’s very few people that I would want more than him to be in charge of molding Ed Oliver into the pass rusher that he’s capable of being. If he ever reaches his ceiling alongside Myles Garrett, the AFC North is screwed.
18 – Minnesota Vikings: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
Please…for the love of God…just protect Kirk Cousins.
19 – Tennessee Titans: Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, La. Tech
This is higher than most people would pick Ferguson, and yet by the time the actual draft comes around I would not be shocked to see him taken even higher than this. Big, long, explosive edge rushers that are also stout against the run don’t just grow on trees. Mike Vrabel can turn him into a star.
20 – Pittsburgh Steelers: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
Receiver was tempting here in the wake of all the Antonio Brown stuff, but corner is still a major problem moving forward on this roster. Williams is ultra-instinctive and has great ball skills, and schematically I think he fits this zone-heavy system really well. This would be a slam dunk.
21 – Seattle Seahawks: Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State
Simmons going at this pick would be classic Seahawks. Take an injured and/or character risk player that has a ton of talent (both in this case), let him heal up, develop on and off the field, and then mold him into being a dominant defensive force. I trust this coaching staff to back me up on this pick by getting the most out of Simmons.
22 – Baltimore Ravens: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
Lamar Jackson has a lot of issues, yes, but good Lord does that kid need more weapons to work with. Metcalf has the raw talent to be a game-breaking receiver in this league, and in a lot of draft classes he probably would not make it this far into the first round. This is a hell of a value.
23 – Houston Texans: Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas State
Risner could be either a tackle or a guard, but Houston needs both so in the end that doesn’t really matter that much. He’s a phenomenal run blocker and has a ton of grip strength in pass protection – if you let him get his hands on you, it’s over. Sure, his feet aren’t the greatest, but no tackle taken this late in the first round is ever perfect. I’m okay with Risner here because worst case scenario he turns into a solid guard, but best case scenario he’s a Pro Bowl quality right tackle.
24 – Oakland Raiders (from Bears): Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
I don’t think that Ferrell will ever be “the guy” on anyone’s defensive line, but he’s still a really solid piece to have. He has great power against the run, he’s polished in his pass rushing technique, and he always plays his ass off on every snap. Pairing him with Josh Allen (who CAN be “the guy”) would be a smart move. They complement each other well.
25 – Philadelphia Eagles: Deionte Thompson, FS, Alabama
I think that the smart move for this Philly secondary is keeping Maddox at corner full time and just drafting a new free safety, rather than moving him back to safety (again) and drafting another corner. Thompson has a ton of range and great ball skills, and he’s not afraid to smack you in run support as well. He’s not particularly elite at any one thing, but his versatility would fit this Eagles DB group really well.
26 – Indianapolis Colts: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
Ebron is in the last year of his deal and might be looking for a huge pay day if he has another strong season in 2019. Fant is just as athletic as Ebron and has just as high a production ceiling, but he’s much, much cheaper. I would let him develop for a year on the bench behind all of Indy’s other tight ends, and then have him slide into Ebron’s role in year two once he moves on for a much-deserved raise somewhere else.
27 – Oakland Raiders (from Cowboys): Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
The Raiders have one of the least inspiring receiving corps in the league. Taking Brown here would be a great first step in changing that image. He’s got incredible speed to take the top off a defense, his routes are crisp and clean, and he’s not afraid to take a shot over the middle to move the chains either. He’s not exactly big, but the vertical dimension he can bring to an offense is invaluable – the Raiders don’t have anyone else who can do that right now.
28 – Los Angeles Chargers: Jachai Polite, OLB, Florida
I don’t really project Polite as a full time edge rusher because I have serious concerns about his length, size, and power, but as a conversion project to 4-3 OLB I like him a lot. The Chargers had serious depth issues at linebacker last year after they started sustaining injuries late in the season, and those depth issues arguably ended their season once they came up against New England’s 21 personnel package in the playoffs. Polite can both help to restore that depth, while also giving the Chargers a nice rotational piece that can give a boost to their pass rush as a blitzer from the second level.
29 – Kansas City Chiefs: Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
The Chiefs really, REALLY need all the help they can get in the secondary. Adderley can play either free safety or strong safety, which is fine by me because depending on what happens with Eric Berry this offseason, they might need both. He’s explosive as all hell in coverage and will probably light up the combine, but he also tends to turn himself into a human missile against the run as well. With proper coaching, I think he has a chance to develop into a truly special player. All the tools are there, at least.
30 – Green Bay Packers (from Saints): Dre’Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State
I already got my edge rusher of the future earlier in this round, but I still want to strengthen my interior pass rush rotation while I have the chance. With Jones in the fold, the Packers would honestly have one of the most athletic, and most exciting young defensive line rotations in the league to go along with that young secondary. Green Bay doubled up on corner last year and it definitely worked out, so this year doubling up on pass rusher might be the way to go.
31 – Los Angeles Rams: Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma
Don’t look now, but the Rams might have a huge depth issue at tackle. They managed to dodge a bullet last year and stay mostly healthy, which obviously helped them make a run all the way to the Super Bowl, but they were truly only one injury away from disaster the entire time. With Ford as a backup swing tackle, it would secure their depth for one more run in 2019 while making me feel a lot better about their chances if they took on any injuries along the way. You’re only as good as your worst offensive lineman, after all.
32 – New England Patriots: Drew Lock, QB, Mizzou
There’s no time like the present to secure your future. Tom Brady is going to be around at least one more year it seems, so as the Patriots fake GM I might as well take this opportunity to get a young quarterback in the building that I can start to develop on the bench with no pressure. Lock has all the tools that anyone could ever want, but he’s probably not ready to start right away from a mental standpoint. A season or two on the bench would do him a lot of good, just like it did for Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett. Then in 2020 or 2021…if Brady is retired by then of course…we can put him on the field and see what we’ve got.
By the way, taking Lock in the first round is really important – that fifth year option can be incredibly valuable for a quarterback contract if you manage to find one that is worth extending in the first place.
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So there you have it – Kollmann Mock 1.0! What did you think? How did you react to your team’s pick? Sound off in the comments below and let me know how YOU would have drafted the first round if you were the GM for all 32 teams!
Comments
Brett Kollmann
I think the Layne kid out of Michigan State would be a great fit. Love his hips and feet considering he's still so new to the position. He's a natural...you'd think he's played there for years. He's got some length and physicality too. I think Harris could really help turn him into a monster in that system.
Brett Kollmann
Did you see the ridiculous pro day numbers he just put up? My Goodness...that dude is an absolute FREAK.
Lukas Denver
If Denver is able to pick up Devin White in the first round. Which 2nd round Cornerback would fit their scheme or has enough experience to be a week 1 starter? I've heard Amani Oruwariye has the same body type as Aqib Talib. Or will you release a powerranking for the draft?
Browns fan and if the draft falls how you have it then I'm fine with Oliver coming to Cleveland. My question is he clearly has ability but he hasn't seemed to develop as much as i thought he would over his time in college. I think his Senior year was very lacking. Do you think his development was limited because of Houston being a smaller school? And will the new D line coach in Cleveland be able to get him to wether he should be?
