Finally.
We're a day away from the 2019 NFL Draft and it's time for my final mock draft.
Since unveiling my first one way back on Feb. 28, I've played out eight different scenarios with the 13 picks in front of the Falcons, who currently own pick No. 14. And in those eight mock drafts, I ended up picking eight different players for the Falcons – largely due to the free-agent signings and trades that have occurred during the last eight weeks.
RELATED CONTENT
- Previous mocks: 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0
- Falcons 2019 regular-season schedule released
- Five things to know about the 2019 Falcons schedule
And there was yet another big one on Monday when the Chiefs traded for Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark. Seattle now owns two first-round picks – Nos. 21 and 29. The good news for the Falcons and their fans is that it won't affect the 13 picks in front of them (unless, of course, the Seahawks were to package those picks and trade up).
And barring any last-minute trades, this mock is how I think the first round of the 2019 draft will play out on Thursday night.
Forget the smokescreens, rumors and hypothetical trades.
Enjoy.
1. Arizona Cardinals
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama | Cardinals GM Steve Keim says Williams is "a big dominating presence that can take over games.” Plus, Josh Rosen is more than capable of running Kliff Kingsbury's Air Raid offense. They take the best player. |
2. San Francisco 49ers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State | Even with Dee Ford they could still use more firepower coming off the edge. They take Bosa here, who is considered by many scouts and draft analysts to be the best edge rusher in this class. |
3. New York Jets
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Josh Allen, Kentucky | I could definitely see the Jets trading down, but they don't expect to be this high again next year. They go with Jersey native Josh Allen because he's the best fit. Some believe the long-and-athletic Kentucky star is the total package – he can rush, cover and also run. |
4. Oakland Raiders
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Ed Oliver, Houston | Kyler Murray could be very tempting here for Jon Gruden, but fixing the defense is the priority (plus they can pick up a QB later in the round). They take Oliver, who possesses elite athleticism and an explosive first step despite a smaller frame. |
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| LB Devin White, LSU | White fills a major need in the middle of their defense. The former LSU star is an explosive hitter who shows great anticipation — a sideline-to-sideline defender who’ll make the whole unit better. |
6. New York Giants
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State | The Giants must address their woeful pass rush and take Sweat, who posted double-digit sack totals the last two years (10.5 and 12), is tall (6-foot-5), long, athletic, has a great get-off (explosive) and gets to the QB. |
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Jawaan Taylor, Florida | The Jags signed Nick Foles and paid him a lot of money. They’ll protect their investment with Taylor. Some think the Florida product might be the best tackle in this class. |
8. Detroit Lions
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Rashan Gary, Michigan | Matt Patricia knows he must fix the defense. They take Gary, who might’ve been underutilized at Michigan but has the versatility to play both inside and set the edge vs. the run. |
9. Buffalo Bills
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| G/T Jonah Williams, Alabama | They gave Josh Allen some weapons in free agency, but the Bills know they must do a better job protecting their young franchise QB. With Taylor off the board, they go with the Williams, who can play both guard and tackle. |
10. Denver Broncos
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| LB Devin Bush, Michigan | John Elway believes he can win with Joe Flacco and passes on taking a QB here. Instead the Broncos address the defense and take Bush, who is strong against the run and can also play on third down. |
11. Cincinnati Bengals
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Cody Ford, Oklahoma | The Bengals are another team who flirt with the idea of taking a young signal caller, but they still have faith in Andy Dalton and know they must strengthen the offensive line regardless. They take Ford here, who has outstanding balance and agility for his 6-foot-4, 330-pound frame. |
12. Green Bay Packers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson | The Packers must improve their pass rush and select Ferrell, an explosive player with a high motor coming off the edge, and can play all three downs. |
13. Miami Dolphins
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma | The Dolphins signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will serve as a placeholder for the scintillating Murray. The Heisman Trophy winner will sit and learn from the veteran before being unleashed. South Florida can't wait to celebrate. |
14. Atlanta Falcons
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Andre Dillard, Washington State | Taking the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Dillard is a no-brainer here. He’s got excellent feet — he’s fast and fluid — and is considered to be the best pass-blocking tackle in this draft class. Matt Ryan was sacked 42 times in 2018. If they can give Matty Ice time in the pocket, he’ll pick defenses apart and the Falcons offense will be very tough to stop. |
15. Washington Redskins
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State | Alex Smith's future is in doubt and Case Keenum isn't the long-term solution. They take Haskins, who some rate as the best QB in this class. The former Buckeye star is a pocket passer who completed 70 percent of his passes and tossed 50 TDs in 2018. |
16. Carolina Panthers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Brian Burns, Florida State | Bruce Irvin is 31 and not the long-term replacement to the now-retired Julius Peppers. They add the athletic and versatile Burns, a first team All-ACC star who can line up on either side and displays a tremendous upfield burst coming off the edge. |
17. New York Giants (via Cleveland)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| QB Daniel Jones, Duke | Dream scenario here for the Giants, who pick up a defensive end and now a QB with their second first-round pick. Jones, who many compare to Peyton Manning, fits the Giants offense. He'll sit and learn during Eli's final season. |
18. Minnesota Vikings
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| G Chris Lindstrom, Boston College | The Vikings 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 known for his penetrating ability, quickness and change of direction. |
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| CB Greedy Williams, LSU | The Steelers need help in their secondary and Williams is considered the best cover corner in this class. Mike Tomlin will make sure he’s a willing tackler, too. |
21. Seattle Seahawks
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech | After trading DE Frank Clark to the Chiefs, the Seahawks take Ferguson with the first of two first-round picks. He led the nation with 17.5 sacks and finished with 64 tackles, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. |
22. Baltimore Ravens
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| WR D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi | Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he wants ‘rough and tough’ receivers and gets one in Metcalf. The Ole Miss star has a rare combination of size, speed, physicality, and explosiveness. |
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 |
|---|---|
| CB Byron Murphy, Washington | GM Mike Mayock knows you can’t have enough good cornerbacks and takes the former Washington star who can play both man-to-man, zone and has terrific route recognition skills. |
25. Philadelphia Eagles
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| CB DeAndre Baker, Georgia | The Eagles must improve their secondary and take Baker here, who is a physical corner with solid man-to-man skills and adept at rerouting receivers. |
26. Indianapolis Colts
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson | The Colts 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 |
|---|---|
| QB Drew Lock, Missouri | Gruden, who coached 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. |
28. Los Angeles Chargers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame | The Chargers lost Darius Philon and add the 6-foot-6 Tillery here, a disruptive force along the interior during running and passing downs. |
29. Seattle Seahawks (via Kansas City)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| S Nasir Adderley, Delaware | The Seahawks need to bolster the back end of their secondary and opt for Adderley here, a former cornerback with fantastic instincts, range and ball skills. |
30. Green Bay Packers (via New Orleans)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| TE Noah Fant, Iowa | The Packers give Aaron Rodgers another weapon in the passing game and take Fant , who is considered to be the best receiving tight end in this class. |
31. Los Angeles Rams
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State | Simmons was considered a top-10 talent before tearing his ACL. With Ndamukong Suh’s future in doubt, this pick makes even more sense. |
32. New England Patriots
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma | The Patriots know they must add some speed to their offense and take Brown (a.k.a., "Hollywood"), who might be the fastest and best deep threat in this class. |
And just in case you need a refresher, the Falcons head into Thursday night with a total of nine picks:
- Round 1, No. 14 overall
- Round 2, No. 45 overall
- Round 3, No. 79 overall
- Round 4, No. 117 overall
- Round 4, No. 137 overall (compensatory)
- Round 5, No. 152 overall
- Round 5, No. 172 overall (compensatory)
- Round 6, No. 186 overall
- Round 7, No. 230 overall
MAILBAG
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