The first full week of the NFL free agency period is coming to a close and, as expected, a bunch of teams addressed some glaring holes on their respective rosters. And those moves will certainly affect what they'll do in the NFL Draft on April 25.
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The two wild cards in the top 10 right now are the Cardinals and Giants. Both teams could take quarterbacks, and it appears Arizona is enamored with Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray. The Giants, on the other hand, aren't interested in taking Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins and seem to be content with Eli Manning for one more season – at least that's what the latest reports out of New York suggest. But this is draft season ... so maybe it's all a bluff or a smokescreen.
Regardless, the Giants passing on a quarterback at the No. 6 spot shakes my latest mock draft up – and it has a trickle-down effect on the ensuing picks. As for the Atlanta Falcons, who currently hold the 14th overall pick and have just three defensive ends currently on their roster, it works out just fine.
So, without further ado, here is mock draft 4.0. Let me know how you feel about the Falcons pick here. My next one – mock 5.0 – will drop on March 27.
1. Arizona Cardinals
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma | For now ... I still think the Cardinals are going to shop Josh Rosen until they find a suitor and select Murray, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, with the top pick. First-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury gets a playmaker to run his offense. |
2. San Francisco 49ers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama | The Niners addressed their need for a pass rusher in free agency with Dee Ford, and they won’t pass up on a legit game-changer along the interior. Williams, who might be the best all-around player in this class, is exactly that. |
3. New York Jets
| PLAYER | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State | The Jets need to improve on the defensive side of the ball and desperately need a stronger pass rush. They end up with Bosa, considered by many scouts and draft analysts to be the best edge rusher in this class. |
4. Oakland Raiders
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Josh Allen, Kentucky | Some believe the long-and-athletic Allen is the total package – he can rush, cover and also run. The Raiders, who have had a terrific offseason so far, bolster their defense (and pass rush) in a big way here. |
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| CB Greedy Williams, LSU | The Bucs bolstered their defense in free agency by signing a pair of linebackers – Shaq Barrett and Deone Bucannon – plus safety Kentrell Brice. Now they add Williams, the best corner in this class, who should improve a unit that allowed a league-worst 110.9 passer rating in 2018. |
6. New York Giants
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Jawaan Taylor, Florida | Whether they turn the page on Eli Manning or not, the Giants must do a better job of protecting the quarterback and clearing holes for Saquon Barkley. They go with the 6-foot-5, 334-pound Taylor, a three-year starter at Florida. Taylor possesses a rare combination of power, size, length and mobility. |
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Andre Dillard, Washington State | As expected, the Jags signed quarterback Nick Foles – and now they’d better protect their new investment. They take Dillard here, who some scouts and draft experts consider to be the best pass-blocking tackle in this draft. |
8. Detroit Lions
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| WR D.K. Metcalf | With the Lions signing DE Trey Flowers and TE Jesse James in free agency, they can address another huge need — receiver. Metcalf, who put on a show in Indy, has a rare combination of size, speed, physicality, and explosiveness. |
9. Buffalo Bills
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Ed Oliver, Houston | The Bills acquired some much-needed weapons in free agency for QB Josh Allen in receivers Cole Beasley and John Brown, but they most also find a replacement for recently retired Kyle Williams. Enter Oliver, who some think will be a three-technique terror in the NFL. |
10. Denver Broncos
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| G/T Jonah Williams, Alabama | The Broncos moved on from Case Keenum and acquired Joe Flacco. Now they need to address the offensive line and protect their veteran QB. They pounce on the 6-foot-5, 301-pound Williams, who played tackle at Alabama but could end up playing guard in the NFL. |
11. Cincinnati Bengals
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| LB Devin White, LSU | The Bengals might be tempted to take Cody Ford here but pounce on White, especially now that the Vontaze Burfict is out of the picture. The former LSU linebacker is an explosive hitter and shows great anticipation. |
12. Green Bay Packers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa | The Packers added edge rushers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith in free agency, so they opt to give Aaron Rodgers another weapon in Hockenson. Look out for those two tight end sets with the former Iowa star paired with Jimmy Graham. |
13. Miami Dolphins
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State | The Dolphins are shopping DE Robert Quinn and there's a good chance he'll be traded before April 25 (he reportedly visited with the Cowboys). Miami bolsters its pass rush with Sweat, who posted double-digit sack totals the last two years (10.5 and 12). |
14. Atlanta Falcons
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson | The first round plays out perfectly for the Falcons, who land one of the premier pass rushers in the country. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Ferrell is an explosive player with a high motor coming off the edge, and can play all three downs. Ferrell tallied 11.5 sacks last season and should be able to step right in and improve the Falcons’ pass rush. |
15. Washington Redskins
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Cody Ford, Oklahoma | Now that they’ve addressed the quarterback position by adding Case Keenum, the Redskins are thrilled to see Ford still on the board. Ford has outstanding balance and agility for his 6-foot-4, 330-pound frame and should help improve a Redskins line that was hit hard by injuries last season. |
16. Carolina Panthers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| LB Devin Bush, Michigan | With Thomas Davis heading to Los Angeles, the Panthers are ecstatic to see Bush here and snatch him up. The former Wolverine star clocked a 4.4 40 in Indy and is strong against the run and can also play on third down. |
17. New York Giants (via Cleveland)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Rashan Gary, Michigan | The Giants traded Olivier Vernon to the Browns and need to improve their pass rush. With the pick they acquired from Cleveland, the Giants select Gary, who has the versatility to play both inside and set the edge vs. the run. |
18. Minnesota Vikings
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| G Chris Lindstrom, Boston College | The Vikings know they must address the offensive line and take the quick-footed Lindstrom, a player many scouts believe can step right in and start because of his experience. |
19. Tennessee Titans
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson | The Titans need some help along the defensive line and take Wilkins, a two-time All-ACC and All-American. Wilkins is known for his penetrating ability, quickness and change of direction. |
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| WR Kelvin Harmon, NC State | Now that Antonio Brown has taken his talents to Oakland, the Steelers provide Big Ben with another weapon on the outside. Harmon is a big (6-foot-3, 213 pounds), physical receiver who can handle press coverage. |
21. Seattle Seahawks
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| S Nasir Adderley, Delaware | The Seahawks need to replace Earl Thomas on the back end. They opt for Adderley here, a former cornerback with fantastic instincts, range and ball skills. |
22. Baltimore Ravens
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Brian Burns, Florida State | With Terrell Suggs heading to Arizona, the Ravens take Burns here. The former Seminole is an explosive pass rusher with strong hands – a potential game-changer. |
23. Houston Texans
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Dalton Risner, Kansas State | The Texans struggled at times to protect Deshaun Watson and hope that Risner, who is extremely physical and aggressive, will help solve that issue. |
24. Oakland Raiders (via Chicago)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| QB Drew Lock, Missouri | Word is that Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who coached Drew Lock in the Senior Bowl, loves the former signal caller from Mizzou. And there’s a lot to like about Lock, who has the physical tools, size and arm to succeed in the NFL. He can make all the throws. |
25. Philadelphia Eagles
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| RB Joshua Jacobs, Alabama | With Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles set to become free agents, the Eagles take Jacobs. The former ‘Bama back is a physical runner who can also catch coming out of the backfield. |
26. Indianapolis Colts
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson | The Colts are more than happy to see Lawrence still on the board take the Clemson star who suffered an injury at the combine and didn't get to test. Some draft experts think he should be a top-half pick in this draft. |
27. Oakland Raiders (via Dallas)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| CB Byron Murphy, Washington | The Raiders signed Lamarcus Joyner in free agency and new GM Mike Mayock knows you can’t have enough good corners and is thrilled to see Murphy still on the board. The former Washington star can play both man-to-man and zone and has terrific route recognition skills. |
28. Los Angeles Chargers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| LB Mack Wilson, Alabama | Three Chargers linebackers ended up on injured reserve in 2018 – and the group struggled vs. the Patriots in the playoffs. They’ve added Thomas Davis and now Wilson, who is expected to be a quality three-down starter on the next level. |
29. Kansas City Chiefs
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| S Deionte Thompson, Alabama | The Chiefs need to find Eric Berry’s successor on the back end and take Thompson, a physical, athletic and aggressive safety who can lower the boom. |
30. Green Bay Packers (via New Orleans)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma | With Randall Cobb out of the picture (he signed with the Cowboys), the Packers give Aaron Rodgers another weapon in Brown, who might just be the best deep threat in this class. Some refer to Brown as a DeSean Jackson clone. |
31. Los Angeles Rams
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State | The Rams signed LB Clay Matthews and now add Simmons, who is surprisingly still on the board and considered a top-10 talent before tearing his ACL after the season. With Ndamukong Suh’s future in doubt, this pick makes even more sense. |
32. New England Patriots
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| TE Noah Fant, Iowa | Will Rob Gronkowski be back in 2019? Will still don't know the answer to that one yet. There’s a good chance he won’t be, and the Patriots take Fant, a physical tight end who can catch and run. |
