Culex - Round 1 Mock Draft

**Culex** · 03-25-2020, 02:55 PM

Come one, come all. Here you have it:

1. Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

2. Redskins – Chase Young, Edge, Ohio State

3. Lions – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

4. Giants – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

5. Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

6. Chargers – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

7. Panthers – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

8. Cardinals – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

9. Jaguars – Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

10. Browns – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

11. Jets – Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

12. Raiders – Derrick Brown, IDL, Auburn

13. 49ers – K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

14. Bucs – Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

15. Broncos – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

16. Falcons – Javon Kinlaw, IDL, South Carolina

17. Cowboys – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

18. Dolphins – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

19. Raiders – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

20. Jaguars – Xavier Mckinney, S, Alabama

21. Eagles – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

22. Vikings – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

23. Patriots – Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

24. Saints – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

25. Vikings – AJ Epenesa, Edge, Iowa

26. Dolphins – D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

27. Seahawks – Grant Delpit, S, LSU

28. Ravens – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

29. Titans – Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge, Penn State

30. Packers – Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

31. 49ers – Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

32. Chiefs – Neville Gallimore, IDL, Oklahoma

5'10", 226 lbs, 4.39 40 time.

Jonathan Taylor to me, is a runaway freight train. Losing Yanda is a blow to the running game and adding a guy that I think could become an elite running back in this league not only sets us up for the future (ingram being 30) but gives us durability and depth. As many carries as he had at Wisconsin, Taylor stayed durable only missing I believe one game? In his three year collegiate career.

And the stats well.. are quite handsome.

2017

1977 yards rushing, 13 TDs on 6.6 YPC

2018

2194 yards rushing, 16 TDs on 7.1 YPC

2019

2003 yards rushing, 26 TDs on 6.3 ypc

Him running out of the RPO and not being driven into the ground.. can't imagine how dominant he'd be with us.

**Marvin Humphrey** · 03-25-2020, 04:17 PM

Loveeeeee Jerry Jeudy to the Giants @ 4. I've been thinking the exact same thing. Too many mock drafts have the Giants taking Mekhi Becton or some other tackle. I don't see how the Giants pass up on having a skill position group that includes Barkley, Shepard, Tate, Engram and Jeudy. You want to surround your second year QB with fire power...that's how you do it.

**BcRaven** · 03-25-2020, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Marvin Humphrey

Loveeeeee Jerry Jeudy to the Giants @ 4. I've been thinking the exact same thing. Too many mock drafts have the Giants taking Mekhi Becton or some other tackle. I don't see how the Giants pass up on having a skill position group that includes Barkley, Shepard, Tate, Engram and Jeudy. You want to surround your second year QB with fire power...that's how you do it.

I agree, but if you want to protect your second year QB, then OT (the Giants are likely in position to take the best of the bunch) is the way to go... Bc

**NjRavensFan** · 03-25-2020, 04:35 PM

OT is also right in Gettleman's wheelhouse. You look at the teams he put together in Carolina, and the moves he's made since taking over in New York, he's always emphasized big tackles, a mobile QB, and defense (while neglecting WR). They tried with Solder, but he has definitely not lived up to his contract. And they need an RT either way. Meanwhile he gave Odell away for pennies on the dollar, and that 2015 Panthers team ran out Ted Ginn and Philly Brown as their starting WRs.

All that is to say, I think Jeudy would be a great pick for them (probably the best possible based on the board) but Wirfs or Becton (or a defensive player) seems far more like Gettleman's M.O.

**WNCRavensFan** · 03-25-2020, 04:38 PM

Boy I do not like that board once the Ravens come around. I might take Jonathan Taylor in that event too.

(that means all the guys I like in Rd 1 were already taken)

**NjRavensFan** · 03-25-2020, 04:39 PM

This is a damn good mock though, Culex. I'd be surprised if Okudah fell that far, but all the places where you'd expect him to go went with realistic alternatives. You know how I feel about Taylor but if you're right about him (don't even bother responding to that clause, we all know what you'll say lol) he's definitely good value at 28. And you make a compelling case.

**NjRavensFan** · 03-25-2020, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by WNCRavensFan

Boy I do not like that board once the Ravens come around. I might take Jonathan Taylor in that event too.

(that means all the guys I like in Rd 1 were already taken)

I'd probably go with Blacklock, YGM, Mims, or Shenault (I know most have moved on from him as a first rounder but I still believe). But yeah if that's the board Taylor is a lot less objectionable. Vikings would make me pretty furious taking both Higgins and Epenesa lol

**WNCRavensFan** · 03-25-2020, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by NjRavensFan

I'd probably go with Blacklock, YGM, Mims, or Shenault (I know most have moved on from him as a first rounder but I still believe). But yeah if that's the board Taylor is a lot less objectionable. Vikings would make me pretty furious taking both Higgins and Epenesa lol

I do believe Taylor's going to be a good player. There's a big six in the RB rankings this year (Swift, Taylor, Dobbins, Edwards-Helaire, Akers, Moss) and just about everybody has them listed in some order. Beyond that you're looking at Day 3 RBs.

**NjRavensFan** · 03-25-2020, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by WNCRavensFan

I do believe Taylor's going to be a good player. There's a big six in the RB rankings this year (Swift, Taylor, Dobbins, Edwards-Helaire, Akers, Moss) and just about everybody has them listed in some order. Beyond that you're looking at Day 3 RBs.

Yeah, and I understand the desire to add a top guy given Ingram's age and the uncertainty around Hill (who I still love, btw). But I think even then day two is the sweet spot. I'd definitely prefer Edwards-Helaire at 92 over Taylor at 28, for example.

**WNCRavensFan** · 03-25-2020, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by NjRavensFan

Yeah, and I understand the desire to add a top guy given Ingram's age and the uncertainty around Hill (who I still love, btw). But I think even then day two is the sweet spot. I'd definitely prefer Edwards-Helaire at 92 over Taylor at 28, for example.

Day 2 is always the sweet spot at RB for me. I've got history to prove it.

2019 - Miles Sanders, David Montgomery, Devin Singletary
2018 - Nick Chubb, Ronald Jones, Kerryon Johnson
2017 - Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, James Conner, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt
2016 - Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake
2015 - Tevin Coleman, Duke Johnson, David Johnson

...and so on.

You look at the RBs taken Rd 4 and later and there is a big drop off in hit rate.

**NjRavensFan** · 03-25-2020, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by WNCRavensFan

Day 2 is always the sweet spot at RB for me. I've got history to prove it.

2019 - Miles Sanders, David Montgomery, Devin Singletary
2018 - Nick Chubb, Ronald Jones, Kerryon Johnson
2017 - Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, James Conner, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt
2016 - Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake
2015 - Tevin Coleman, Duke Johnson, David Johnson

...and so on.

You look at the RBs taken Rd 4 and later and there is a big drop off in hit rate.

Yep. And the 4th round is where the Ravens seem to live. Lorenzo Taliaferro, Buck Allen, and Kenneth Dixon were all 4th round picks in back-to-back-to-back drafts, then after a two year break we went with Justice Hill in the 4th. Each one was better than the last, imo (as a prospect at the time of the draft; Allen had a more successful career than Dixon, and Hill is very much tbd) but if we're looking for a feature back you definitely need to take one earlier (though I think Dixon could've become one if things broke right; really everything that could've gone wrong with his development did) (I think Hill could be a major weapon, but "feature back" is not on the table)

**Marvin Humphrey** · 03-25-2020, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by BcRaven

I agree, but if you want to protect your second year QB, then OT (the Giants are likely in position to take the best of the bunch) is the way to go... Bc

You right, you right. I just don't understand how a team could pass on Jerry Jeudy to take one of these tackles. I think these years offensive line class is similar to last years.

Bengals drafted Jonah Williams @ 11. He was out all season injured.

Eagles drafted Andre Dilard @ 22. He was awful.

Texans drafted Tytus Howard @ 23. He played 8 games and in my opinion sucks.

Raiders drafted Josh Jacobs @ 24.

Ravens drafted Hollywood Brown @ 25.

Offensive lineman are the definition of developmental projects when they come to the NFL. There is nobody in this draft that looked as good as Zack Martin or Quenton Nelson. I'm not going to pass up the best WR prospect in years for a developmental tackle at pick 4. That being said Gettleman is an idiot.