THE EXTRA YARD: MOCK DRAFT 1.0

It’s mock draft season, and in a Draft where the Miami Dolphins own the 1st round with three first round picks, many options exist to improve the team. The possibility exists that Miami can stay put and get their man at QB in Tua Tagovailoa, so this Mock Draft allows for this. In reality, the Lions will surely leverage their draft position for an asset or two, or three. One issue that will remain is this, if the Lions move down to #5, is there a player they would be targeting that will go off the board at #4 and thus make the trade down a bad idea? Isaiah Simmons, Jeff Okudah, Tristan Wirfs?

Here is the view of the 1st round from one third of the Trio that makes up the Three Yards per Carry Podcast:

1. BENGALS – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

There has been rumors and innuendo of Burrow not wanting to go to Cincinnati, but all of that got put to rest at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Bengals get a “local” boy to lead the franchise for the foreseeable future.

2. REDSKINS – Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State

New Head Coach Ron Rivera gets his Julius Peppers. The clear cut best defensive prospect goes to a team in desperate need of a reset, and all the rumors of a QB being taken at #2 to compete with Dwayne Haskins prove to be head fakes designed to entice a team into unloading a haul of assets to get up to #2.

3. LIONS – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

A Staff with little job security is not going to draft the future for some other regime to reap the benefits. Stafford, Golladay,Jones, makes for a potent offensive trio, but their 29th ranked Defense (based on Efficiency) gets desperately needed help in a signature player from Clemson. Simmons, is not too far off from Chase Young in being the best overall prospect in this draft.

4. GIANTS – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

I was tempted to put any one of three Tackles in Wirfs, Becton or Thomas here, so I went with Andrew Thomas who was for the better part of the last 18 months the near consensus top Left Tackle prospect for the 2020 draft. Nate Solder’s stint as the LT for Big Blue comes to an end soon, due to price tag and age (he is 32 years old), and Andrew Thomas steps right in.

5. DOLPHINS – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

The worst kept secret anywhere. For the better part of two years, the Miami Dolphins have committed considerable resources to the pacific northwest contingent at QB (Herbert, Love) but with a keen eye on what is going on in Alabama. No secret they like him, and would take him here. Had it not been for Tua’s hip injury, he was a serious consideration at #1. Tagovailoa is not particularly athletic, and does nto posses a rocket arm. What he does have is uncanny anticipation, football smarts, and great intangibles that have traditionally translated well to the NFL.

6. CHARGERS – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Jordan Love here made a little sense due to rumor, and all the takes coming out of #DraftTwitter, but I’ll just go with the older consensus that Herbert was a top 3 QB prospect and the Chargers get theirs here at #6.

7. PANTHERS – Jeff Okudah, CB,Ohio State

What a gift here for the rebuilding Panthers. They get their QB in 2021, as they fill out a talent deficit in 2020. Okudah is a great start on that. A signature player on offense in McCaffrey, Okudah is just that on Defense. Very lucky to get him at #7.

8. CARDINALS – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

The Cardinals just finished locking up their young LT, D.J. Humphries to a 3 year $45 Million extension, and now they get the best Right Tackle prospect in this draft.

9. JAGUARS – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

The complete makeover of the Jags defense continues. This time with a mammoth Defensive Tackle to compliment edge standout from the 2019 Draft, Josh Allen. This is a pretty good 2 year start on a makeover of what was once a talent laden defense.

10. BROWNS – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Browns have been rumored to be in on any of about 4 different Tackle prospects, and this is as good a fit as any. With their previous LT Greg Robinson facing Free Agency and possible jail time, Becton falls nicely to the Browns at #10.

11. JETS – Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama

A reach here in my estimation, but the run on Tackles gets the Jets a bit nervous, and they make sure they get some OL help for Sam Darnold in what could be a make or break year for the QB, and Coach Adam Gase.

12. RAIDERS – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

The Raiders were much improved in 2019, but the disaster that was the WR corp. after the Antonio Brown debacle gets remedied by a guy that can do it all. Lamb will be a welcome addition for Derek Carr, or..Tom Brady?

13. COLTS – Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

The Colts have cap space to address many needs, but a veteran QB is not in the cards. They get a young one to groom behind Jacoby Brissett as the Colts learned in 2019 that the answer at QB after Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement is not “in house”.

14. BUCCANEERS – Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina

The Bucs have a lot of the elements for a successful offense already in house, and I believe Arians will figure out the QB position. On defense, Devin White, Shaquil Barrett (he is a FA), Vita Vea and now Kinlaw to pair with Vea up front is a helluva start on improving what is an underrated defense.

15. BRONCOS – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Broncos continue their hot streak of finding offensive talent after unearthing undrafted Free Agent Phillip Lindsay, and drafting WR Courtland Sutton, OT Dalton Risner and TE Noah Fant. 2nd year QB Drew Lock gets even more help in Jeudy. Good looking and young offense, being built in Denver.

16. FALCONS – K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU

The Falcons need a lot of help on defense, and after taking two offensive linemen in Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary in the 2019 draft, they turn their attention and resources to the defense with their 2020 1st round pick. An Edge player like Chaisson fits the bill.

17. COWBOYS – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

The Cowboys have a mess brewing in their salary cap. they have a QB that is sure to be expensive that they are not sure they want to pay, a WR that is good in theory, but not at $20 million a year, and a CB that they have all but given up on resigning (Byron Jones). The Defense is still chock full of talent, but will have a deficiency in the secondary after the exit of Byron Jones. CJ Henderson mitigates a bit of that.

18. DOLPHINS – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

I foresee the Dolphins addressing most of their offensive line issues via Free Agency and possibly a trade or two. Fulton gives them the prototypical boundary corner in a Brian Flores Patriots like “system”. Speed? Check, he ran a 4.46 at the combine. Intelligence? Check. Good in man coverage? Check. Xavien Howard and Kristian Fulton is a pretty nice tandem.

19. RAIDERS – Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

The additions to the Raider defense last year didn’t bare much fruit, so it continues this year with a rangy, long, physical corner in Trevon Diggs. The secondary should get a boost with 2nd year Safety Jonathan Abrams returning. Diggs is a good start on rounding out that secondary. Rumors were also abound that they could trade for his brother Stefon Diggs, so a family reunion is possible.

20. JAGUARS – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

Justin Jefferson joins DJ Chark to form a “all LSU” WR Tandem, and Chris Conley to form a pretty good WR group. Gardner Minshew gets more help with the pending trade of Nick Foles clearing the deck for the 2nd year QB.

21. EAGLES – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

The Eagles have serious issues in the secondary due to possible defections and injury, so it makes sense that they take what most consider, the best safety on the board. Many options for the Eagles here, but they save corner for later rounds and make sure their safety group is squared away with McKinney, Jenkins and maybe…Rodney McLeod?.

22. BILLS – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

The Bills have one of the most talented defenses in the NFL, but they lack playmakers to compliment QB Josh Allen. You ad Higgins to John Brown, Cole Beasley and Devin Singletary, you begin to take better shape as a competent offense.

23. PATRIOTS – A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

The Patriots get a pretty fortuitous drop from Epenesa due to his less than exciting combine performance. The versatile end makes a lot of sense in a Belichick Defensive system. You gotta think that they square away Tom Brady and his pass catchers before the draft.

24. SAINTS – Grant Delpit, S, LSU

The Saints are still in Super Bowl or Bust mode, and could lose some bodies in the secondary. Safety is a desperate need for New Orleans, in what should be a heavy defensive offseason.

25. VIKINGS – Antoine Winfield, S, Minnesota

How much sense does this make? A Winfield and Harrison Smith Safety tandem is pretty attractive. He played at Minnesota. His father was a 3x Pro Bowler at Corner for these very Vikings. What a match.

26. DOLPHINS – Josh Jones, OT, Houston

I’m presuming they would have solidified what is essentially the blind side for Tua Tagovailoa by now (in Free Agency) and RB should be taken care of (at least the lead back), so BPA comes in here at Left Tackle in the form of Josh Jones. Yes, the blind side is the RT. But free rushers right into your face as a left handed QB can be a bit distracting. Jones is a skilled, sleek, “Tunsil like” Lineman.

27. SEAHAWKS – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

The Seahawks have tried a lot of different things to “solve” the RB position, including using a 1st round pick on Rashaad Penny a couple years back. Taylor is a very nice addition to a pretty stacked skill position group.

28. RAVENS – D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

What do you give the team that has everything? How bout shore up that RB position on the best running team (mostly Lamar Jackson) in pro football? As time goes by, Lamar will run less out of self preservation, so it would be nice to have aback like Swift to take the reigns from an aging Mark Ingram.

29. TITANS – Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

Titans already have a sledgehammer run game, (Henry is a FA however), and a superstar in the making at WR in A.J. Brown. Ruggs would compliment this group perfectly, especially if good deep ball thrower (never thought you would hear that right?) Ryan Tannehill returns.

30. PACKERS – Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado

So many ways you can go here. Packers have aging Tackles, and can use interior linebacker /Safety help. But we are in Aaron Rodgers last stand and run at another Super Bowl, and this is a tempting pairing. Shenault, to go with Davante Adams gives Rodgers an imposing pair of pass catchers. Super Bowl or bust for the Packers. This pick reflects that.

31. 49ERS – Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia

How do you keep a strength a strength (The Defense)? It’s pretty simple. As soon as a position begins to look weaker, you inject some talent. Hall was considered the best CB prospect and a top 10 pick as late as early int he 2019 college season. An ankle injury clouded his future and drops him to #31 to a very lucky defending NFC Champions.

32. CHIEFS – A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

The Chiefs could have gone with playmaking LB Patrick Queen, or perhaps, solidified the RB position with J.K.Dobbins? No. The Super Bowl champs have desperate needs. They have half their secondary out in free agency, and the cornerback position was hardy a strength to begin with. A.J. Terrell had a standout combine, and will interview well. Perfect fit here to the champs.

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.