Final 2019 NFL/Dolphins Mock Draft: Greed is Good

This is my last and final attempt at a Mock for this Draft Season and, after some uncertainty as to what some teams were thinking the top of this draft has become a little muddled. Once you get past the top two picks there are many ways you can go with each team/draft slot. As for your Miami Dolphins, it’s a certainty that they prefer to trade down and take one of Greedy Williams or Deandre Baker (that is my educated guess), but for the purposes of this Mock Draft, the Dolphins get a versatile, front line player.

1. CARDINALS – Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

No change here. Newly minted Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury famously “called his shot” in October of 2018, as he said he would take Kyler Murray with the 1st overall pick if he could. Well, now he does. Josh Rosen ends up traded for 30 cents on the dollar to somebody that had a high grade on him in 2018.

2. 49ERS – Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Just a reminder that I was told that little brother Nick was better than big brother, pro bowler Joey. I was told this during Nick’s Freshman year at St. Thomas Aquinas.it shows on film. Nick Bosa is the best player in this draft, and one of the best Defensive End prospects in years.

3. JETS – Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama

I have struggled with this one due to Josh Allen being such a good fit, but Quinnen Williams has solidified his draft stock in recent weeks, as a can’t miss interior Defensive Line prospect. Couple him with standout Leonard Williams, and you begin to have something on Defense.

4. RAIDERS – Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqWH6dOWTLw
John Gruden, and Mike Mayock famously “sent home” their entire Scouting staff this past week, and if the board shakes out like I have it here, they won’t need them to make this pick. Josh Allen gets comparisons to Demarcus Ware, and this writer, sees it. Raiders get a replacement for Khalil Mack at #4.

5. BUCCANEERS – Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

No change here, The writing is on the wall for Gerald McCoy, and he could be on the way out of Tampa Bay. A Trade of McCoy can save the Bucs some valuable cap space for Bruce Arians squad. Releasing him outright is not far fetched either. Best case scenario for McCoy fans is that you plug in a Ed Oliver to pay alongside McCoy in what could be one of the better DT tandems in the league. The more likely scenario is that Ed Oliver will replace McCoy, as the athletically Freakish Oliver has drawn some comparisons to All World DT Aaron Donald.

6. GIANTS – Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

Ok, you have seen the rumors of Daniel Jones being the pick here, but I don’t buy it. First of all, Haskins is clearly the better prospect, and taking Jones at #6 is the reach of all reaches. Passing on Haskins at this pick can prove to be fatal for your hopes of landing him later, even in a trade up (possibly with Miami?). Makes too much sense to just take Haskins here, and I am sticking to my guns on this one, Haskins to New York.

7. JAGUARS – T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa

I initially had the Jaguars benefitting from Quinnen Williams dropping to them in my first Mock draft, but in this one, he is not available. You just spent in excess of $22 million a year for a shiny new quarterback in Nick Foles and the Jaguars seem pretty devoid of skill talent, to compliment him. T.J. Hockenson along with Hakeem Butler are my best offensive players available at this point, and seeing as Butler is dropping on some boards, the Jags step up and get a guy that NFL Network’s own Bucky Brooks says is a “Gold Jacket Candidate”.

8. LIONS – Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan

No change here, it’s too good a fit. Ziggy Ansah is a Free Agent and is likely not to return to Matt Patricia’s defense. Rashan Gary is a Michigan product that is exactly the type of versatile Defensive lineman that a Patricia defense craves. Some would say that this is a reach taking Gary this high, but the team, need, and player are too perfect a fit.

9. BILLS – Devin White, LB, LSU

No change once again. This is a no brainer at this point. Buffalo has some talent on Defense, but are devoid of a volume tackler in the linebacker unit. Drafting Devin White would also be a big boost for 2018 Draftee Tremaine Edmunds, who was playing somewhat out of position most of his rookie year. Devin White could be the best of a very strong Linebacker class. The Bills can use one. They get one at #9.

10. BRONCOS – Devin Bush, LB, Michigan

For as long as we remember, Drew Lock has been tied to the Broncos here by one insider or another. It never works that way, this far down in the draft. They are not taking him folks. So what else makes sense? Nick Chubb and Von Miller make a lot of sense. What makes sense is to get a guy in between those two stars to anchor this defense. Devin Bush is that guy. Sideline to sideline, playmaker as a “fill/spill” linebacker. Fearless, relentless, and would be the best linebacker in this draft if Devin White wasn’t so good. The one/two punch at LB in this year’s draft is as good or better than any in the last two years.

11. BENGALS – Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson

This has been a fluid spot, and your guess is as good as mine. So I am just going to go BPA (Best Player Available) for them here. Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins, Carl Lawson, Jordan Willis, and now Christian Wilkins makes for a very strong Defensive Line. It is conceivable that Wilkins can play in every technique, and in every position along the defensive line. That is a good thing to have. In a division where you have to contend with Big Ben, Baker Mayfield, and Lamar Jackson, a strong pass rush is the quickest path toward contention. Wilkins is a no brainer if the board shakes out this way.

12. PACKERS – Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzQ2IdJK22A
No change here, the Pack get very lucky to have Taylor drop to them . The best Offensive Tackle in the draft. David Bakhtiari returns as one of the best LT’s in football to protect Aaron Rodgers’ blindside, but Bryan Bulaga has not been reliable at RT as of late, due to injury and some ineffectiveness. The window to win in Green Bay is now, and Taylor is the most NFL ready Tackle available. He starts at RT for the Packers from day 1.

13. DOLPHINS – Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

I wrote this about a month ago: “For a team with many needs, why would they ad a player to a position group that is already pretty good? Precisely. Might as well start becoming “elite” at something. I’m a big fan of Reshad Jones, but I realize he is not for long for the Miami Dolphins and the real core of the secondary is All Pro CB Xavien Howard and now 2nd year standout, the versatile Minkah Fitzpatrick. Let’s face it, the Fins are under-manned to play the coverages and defenses that Head Coach Brian Flores wants to play. Greedy Williams reminds me of Antonio Cromartie or Aqib Talib. A perfect compliment to Xavien Howard as a boundary corner. Greedy is also very good in Man coverage, the style of coverage that Flores gravitates toward. Greedy, Xavien, Minkah is a head start on rebuilding this defense.”

It still stands today. Cold take me if you want, but the Patriots are notorious for a bent toward man coverage (1st in Man Coverage % last year, 2nd the year before) and the Dolphins just added their Defensive Coordinator as the new Head Coach. It’s not brain surgery to think that Brian Flores / Chris Grier will look at the best Man Coverage corner in the draft, see him alongside Xavien Howard, Minkah Fitzpatrick and think that they this is the fastest way back to relevance. A great secondary is a good thing to have. The Dolphins get almost 100% of the way there with one pick. Greedy Williams at #13, or maybe in a trade down? Anyway, Greedy Williams is the pick.

To quote a movie hero of mine Gordon Gekko, “Greed for lack of a better word, is Good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms, greed for life, for money, for love, for building a strong, imposing secondary in the NFL has marked the upward surge of mankind.” (I took severe liberties with that quote.) Anyway, time to get Greedy.

Alfredo Arteaga (@UptownReport) is one of the three hosts of Three Yards Per Carry, which posts once per week during the offseason and twice during the season.