Should the Lions take Tua? Should they stick with Matthew? There is no bigger question in Detroit sports right now.
But here’s a question for you: What if the star Alabama quarterback isn’t there for Detroit at all?
It could happen. In fact, I find it likely. With that, let’s get to our first mock draft of the year.
1. Cincinnati Bengals -- LSU QB Joe Burrow
Is there anybody out there who actually thinks Burrow won’t go first overall? Anybody? Anybody? Bueller?
2. Miami Dolphins (via trade with Washington) -- Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
With Burrow off the board, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young is my best player available. That’s not exactly a hot take. Young is widely projected to land in Washington. But quarterback is such a premium position, and there just aren’t enough good ones. That pushes these guys up the board every year. And let’s not forget, Tagovailoa was the favorite to go No. 1 overall until he hurt that hip last season. With three teams desperate for a quarterback lurking in the top 10 -- one of which is sitting on three first-round picks -- I believe somebody is going to trade up for that guy. It could happen with Detroit at third overall, and I do believe the Lions will deal that pick if Tagovailoa is still there. But I just don’t see that happening. The Dolphins, Panthers and Chargers all could use him, and Miami has the resources to make it happen here.
3. Detroit Lions -- Ohio State DE Chase Young
Nobody stands to benefit from a run on quarterbacks more than Detroit, which already has a franchise quarterback playing at a high level. Of course, it still lost 12 games last year because of a near-historically bad defense. There was no bigger reason for that than their pass rush, which was among the league’s worst. This defense won’t work without better peformances up front, and Young just so happens to be the best pass rusher in this draft. Hell, he might be the best defensive prospect overall. As long as you have a quarterback in place, you don’t pass up the opportunity to lock in a playmaking pass rusher on a cost-controlled contract like this. Detroit won’t.
Related: Why the Lions probably will pass on Tua Tagovailoa if he is there
4. New York Giants -- Alabama OT Jedrick Wills
The Giants have already spent top-six picks on Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley in the last two drafts. They also might not have a starting offensive tackle on their roster. It would behoove them to, you know, change that and maybe, I don’t know, help that young core do its thing.
5. Washington (via trade with Cardinals) -- Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah
Washington had one of the worst pass defenses in the league last year. (Unless it was playing against Jeff Driskel, anyway.) Now it trades down to fifth overall, picks up another first-round pick in the process and still manages to land the best cornerback in the draft. That’d be quite the haul.
6. Los Angeles Chargers -- Oregon QB Justin Herbert
Just this week, Philip Rivers and the Chargers “mutually agreed that Rivers will enter free agency.” Translation: L.A. is moving on, as was reported by Fox weeks ago, before L.A. denied the report, then did the thing it said it wasn’t doing anyway, while letting Rivers save some face in the process. It’s all been very Chargersesque. Anyway, they need a quarterback, and don’t be surprised to see them make a run for Tua. But they don’t have enough ammo to counter Miami and settle for Herbert.
7. Carolina Panthers -- Clemson LB/S Isaiah Simmons
Carolina has quarterback problems too. But with three QBs off the board in the first six picks, it has to settle for resolving its defense instead, where Luke Kuechly has pulled a Calvin-like retirement. Simmons is a different kind of player, but is also so pliable, so versatile, that he’ll improve any defense. And if he blows up the combine, as many expect, you could see him begin to nudge up draft boards.
8. Arizona Cardinals -- Louisville OT Mekhi Becton
It’s the same approach as the Giants. You’ve already invested major resources in your offense -- in Arizona’s case, offensive-minded head coach Kliff Kingsbury and former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray -- so you better surround those guys with what they need to do their thing. Arizona didn’t have an offensive tackle rank among the top 45 players at the position last year, according to ProFootballFocus. So, yeah, maybe get on that. Keep Murray in once piece, that kind of thing.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Auburn DT Derrick Brown
If the Lions stay at three, Brown could be in play because he’s such a scheme fit at Detroit’s biggest position of need. But with another defensive lineman available for them there -- you know, the best defensive prospect in the country -- Brown falls all the way to Jacksonville. Which just fell into Josh Allen last year. The NFL’s all about building a mismatch, and the Jaguars have a chance to do that with another high-value pick up front defensively.
10. Cleveland Browns -- Georgia OT Andrew Thomas
Greg Robinson started at left tackle for Cleveland last year. Yes, that Greg Robinson. You know, the guy who was so bad in Detroit that the Vikings called him “lazy” and then nobody in Detroit defended him. He was bad. Wild thought -- please stick with me here -- but maybe the Browns should consider an upgrade for Baker?
11. New York Jets -- Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs
The Jets are trying to build around a young quarterback. They also need to overhaul their offensive line. With three tackles already off the board, but a good one still left, they have to go get Wirfs. Right? Then again, they are the Jets.
12. Oakland Raiders -- Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy
The Antonio Brown trade has left Oakland strapped at receiver. Lucky for them, a deep receiver class could help push some of the top guys down the board. Here, they have their pick of the litter. Hard to go wrong with Jeudy, the all-everything wideout from Alabama. Just ask anyone who watched that Michigan game, where he caught six passes for 204 yards. It’ll be fascinating to see what he runs at the combine.
13. Indianapolis Colts -- Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb
Indianapolis needs a long-term answer at quarterback, but I was at the Senior Bowl, and I’m not convinced Jordan Love is the answer. Not this high anyway. Instead, the Colts turn to a receiver group that imploded last year despite signing Devin Funchess and drafting Parris Campbell.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw
You know Bruce Arians wants his quarterback, and maybe he reaches for Jordan Love or Jacob Eason. Quarterbacks are at such a premium that it could happen. But I just think Kinlaw is a better player, and his pass-rushing could help replace what they’re (likely) losing in Ndamukong Suh.
15. Denver Broncos -- Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III
Courtland Sutton is terrific, but the cupboard is bare behind him after Denver purged Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders in consecutive seasons. John Elway continues to build around his boy, Drew Lock, by adding one of the best athletes in this class.
16. Atlanta Falcons -- Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa
Atlanta is looking for help on the edge, and Epenesa is pretty universally regarded as the best edge guy in the country not named Chase Young. He doesn’t have the kind of top-end explosion teams look for when taking edge guys this early, but the production is ridiculous, including 14 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three passes defended and four forced fumbles last season.
17. Dallas Cowboys -- Florida CB C.J. Henderson
Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and Bryon Jones are about to get paid. Can Dallas really afford all of them? Probably not. You have to figure they’ll eventually figure something out with Prescott, and I don’t think Cooper is going anywhere either. Which means there could be a big hole at cornerback to fill.
18. Washington (via trade with Miami) -- Clemson WR Tee Higgins
Washington traded back, still landed the No. 1 cornerback in the draft and now uses the extra first-round pick to add a top-flight receiver to complement Terry McLaurin. That’s pretty good!
19. Oakland Raiders -- Utah State QB Jordan Love
The Raiders have come to a crossroads with Derek Carr. With the top receiver in the draft already in the bag, Jon Gruden adds his quarterback of the future.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Alabama CB Trevon Diggs
Think I’m a little higher on him than most, and his game admittedly lacks polish. But he’s also a 6-foot-2 cornerback who is going to blow up the combine with his speed. He’s going to pick up momentum heading into the draft, and Jacksonville has to replace Jalen Ramsey somehow.
21. Philadelphia Eagles -- LSU S Grant Delpit
Rodney McLeod is set to become a free agent at one safety spot, while Malcolm Jenkins has said he won’t return on his current deal at the other. That leaves Marcus Epps and Rudy Ford as the top returners right now. So, yeah, this is a need. Lucky for them, the No. 1 safety in the class has fallen outside the top 20.
22. Buffalo Bills -- Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray
The Bills need a linebacker after Lorenzo Alexander retired. Murray is the best this draft has to offer, a tackling machine who plays sideline to sideline.
23. New England Patriots -- Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet
The Patriots went from the best tight end in league history to a group that included Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo and an aging Benjamin Watson last season. Those guys weren’t especially good, while Kmet is the best this draft has to offer. There’s not much dispute about that. And if Tom Brady returns, he’s going to need somewhere to throw the football.
24. New Orleans Saints -- LSU WR Justin Jefferson
The Saints are running out of chances to make a run with Drew Brees. In Jefferson, they reload that offense with a homegrown talent who was among the most explosive receivers in the country last season.
25. Minnesota Vikings -- Alabama S Xavier McKinney
His versatility and tackling make him a perfect fit for a Mike Zimmer defense that needs to get younger in the back end.
26. Miami Dolphins -- LSU CB Kristian Fulton
Finally back on the clock after going after Tua, Miami begins to work on that awful defense by adding one of the handsiest corners in the draft. Fulton defended 14 passes last season en route to the national championship.
27. Seattle Seahawks -- LSU DE K’Lavon Chaisson
The Seahawks need pass rushers regardless of what happens with Ezekiel Ansah. And at this point, it looks like Ansah is unlikely to come back. Chaisson is a quick-twitch guy off the edge who also holds up well against the run. He produced 13.5 tackles for loss last season, and played some of his best ball against the best competition.
28. Baltimore Ravens -- Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk
The Ravens already have a talented fleet of receivers in Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin. Now they fully unleash Lamar Jackson with a long, talented pass-catcher in Jackson. Good luck stopping that, everybody.
29. Tennessee Titans -- Alabama EDGE Terrell Lewis
The pass rush was a problem for Tennessee last season. Harold Landry has potential, but more help is required. Lewis would certainly fit the bill after racking up 48 pressures last season.
30. Green Bay Packers -- Wisconsin LB Zack Baun
Baun was one of the best linebackers in the country last season, and terrific at getting to the quarterback.
31. San Francisco 49ers -- Utah CB Jaylon Johnson
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see San Francisco trade back, considering it has no picks in Rounds 2-4. But if John Lynch stays here, don’t be surprised to see him target a cornerback. Richard Sherman had another good year, but turns 32 in March and is entering the final year of his deal.
32. Kansas City Chiefs -- LSU LB Patrick Queen
The Chiefs already have the best quarterback in the game piloting the most efficient offense in the game. Expect to see them go defense early in the draft as they reload for a repeat.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMic2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1saXZlLmNvbS9saW9ucy8yMDIwLzAyL2t5bGUtbWVpbmtlcy0yMDIwLW5mbC1tb2NrLWRyYWZ0LTEwLWxpb25zLWxhbmQtb2hpby1zdGF0ZS1zdGFyLWNoYXNlLXlvdW5nLmh0bWzSAYIBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWxpdmUuY29tL2xpb25zLzIwMjAvMDIva3lsZS1tZWlua2VzLTIwMjAtbmZsLW1vY2stZHJhZnQtMTAtbGlvbnMtbGFuZC1vaGlvLXN0YXRlLXN0YXItY2hhc2UteW91bmcuaHRtbD9vdXRwdXRUeXBlPWFtcA?oc=5
2020-02-11 15:24:00Z
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