On the Clock: NFL Mock Draft 1.0, Picks 21-32

21.Seattle Seahawks (10-6) - Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

Team Needs: OG, FS, DE

Since 2014, the Seahawks have needed to rework their offensive line. Since 2014, the Seahawks have ignored that need. In this mock draft, it’s a different story in 2019. In an attempt to lighten Russell Wilson’s load on the offensive end, the Seahawks select the 6’5 300 pound mauler out of Alabama. While 33-year-old Duane Brown (acquired from the Texans) will be anchoring the left side of the line for the foreseeable future, Williams would be able to occupy the right tackle spot for the time being. Kicking George Fant inside to guard may allow the Seahawks to fortify two offensive line spots with one pick.

However, with only 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th round picks left as a result of trades for Duane Brown, Brett Hundley, and Shalom Luani, the Seahawks are very likely to trade back to pick up more draft capital.

 

22.Baltimore Ravens  (10-6) - N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State

Team Needs: WR, DE, FS

 The Ravens’ first year plan of sitting rookie Lamar Jackson behind veteran Joe Flacco quickly changed course. The aftermath? Joe Flacco is on his way to Denver when the new league year begins and Baltimore has its first new franchise quarterback in a decade. Early returns on Jackson were good. The rookie finished the season with a 6-1 record and nearly 700 rushing yards. For this offense to make the leap in Year 2, a downfield and red zone threat is necessary. Enter N’Keal Harry.

 The 6’4, 215 pound jump-ball specialist adds a dimension to the offense that the Ravens have lacked for the better half of the Joe Flacco tenure. A big-bodied target is a must to improve from Jackson’s 171 passing yards-per-game in 2018. With Michael Crabtree’s release, all signs point to a new No. 1 wideout.

 

23.Houston Texans (11-5) - Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas State

Team Needs: OL, OT, WR

Houston has only drafted two offensive linemen since choosing their new franchise quarterback, Deshaun Watson, and traded the only first round offensive lineman pick in franchise history. The Texans have slowly seen themselves drift into 2015 Colts territory, which put Andrew Luck’s playing career in jeopardy. Allowing 62 sacks (highest in the NFL) is not the way to ensure the success of the face of your franchise.

If Dalton Risner is available, the Texans pull the trigger and get a  versatile guard capable of playing any position on the line other than left tackle.

 

24.Oakland Raiders (4-12) – from Chicago - Devin Bush, MLB, Michigan

Team Needs: Everything… DE, WR, OL, MLB, OLB

The Raiders were able to stay put and select Clelin Ferrell, the heir to Khalil Mack’s blindside edge-rushing position. With their most significant need filled, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock still have a laundry list of holes on both sides of the ball, and can go with the best player available.

While slightly undersized, Bush is a quick sideline-to-sideline enforcer. The junior linebacker amassed 161 tackles, 10 sacks, and 13 passes defensed in his previous two seasons at Michigan. If Bush sneaks past the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Raiders will be happy to have a new field general on the defensive side.

 

25.Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) - Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

Team Needs: RB, OT, DE

Despite a disappointing 9-7 year in 2018, Philadelphia worked themselves into the second round of the playoffs and Nick Foles had them one 4th quarter drive away from an NFC Championship appearance. With the 25th pick, Philadelphia selects the top running back in the class out of Alabama. Workload is a concern with running back more than any other position in football and, over the past three seasons, Jacobs has only carried the ball 250 times due to a backfield by committee at Alabama. This makes him an extremely attractive prospect to a team dealing with injury issues at running back with Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles.

 

26.Indianapolis Colts (10-6) - Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

Team Needs: WR, DT, CB

The resurgent Colts outperformed every expert’s preseason pick, midseason pick, and the Houston Texans in the playoffs in 2018. After a tumultuous couple of seasons, Andrew Luck is back to form and the AFC South has found its equilibrium. With quarterback speculation and drama set aside, the Colts look to repeat their draft performance of last year which saw them draft two All-Pro rookies in Quenton Nelson and Darius Leonard. This hadn’t happened since the Bears drafted Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus in 1965.

In this mock draft, the Colts end up with one of the best pairings of the first round. Indianapolis happily selects a 3-time All-American, Campbell Award-winning, substitute teacher in Christian Wilkins. The Colts fill a need on the field and a franchise attitude off the field.

 

27.Oakland Raiders (4-12) – from Dallas - Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State

Team Needs: Everything… DE, WR, OL, MLB, OLB

The Raiders have already addressed key needs in selecting Clelin Ferrell, DE, and Devin Bush, MLB, in the first round. While Khalil Mack’s role has been filled the best it can be, it’s time to turn to Amari Cooper. If Derek Carr is going to be the starter in Oakland next year, which remains to be seen, he’s going to need help downfield. While his offensive line did him no favors, a significant amount of Carr’s 50 sacks could be attributed to a lack of separation in the secondary.

At 6’3, 215, Harmon is a possession-type wide receiver with strong hands that will turn into a reliable wide receiver that, outside 31-year-old Tight End Jared Cook, Derek Carr doesn’t currently have.

 

28.Los Angeles Chargers(12-4) - Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State

Team Needs: DT, OL, OLB

This was the Chargers’ year to make a push in the AFC. Every year seems to be the Chargers’ year. With Phillip Rivers set to turn 38 halfway through next season, Los Angeles is running out of ‘years’. Serious questions will be asked this offseason about the direction of the team moving forward. For now, Rivers is the face of the franchise and GM Tom Telesco plans on giving his quarterback the help he needs to break into the Super Bowl. Part of this plan is creating one of the most dangerous defensive lines in football.

Dre’Mont Jones is an athletic handful at defensive tackle ready to draw offensive linemen away from Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. With the explosive combine that he is capable of, Jones may not be available this late in the first round.

 

29.Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) - Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

Team Needs: CB, S, DE

In his first season at the helm, Patrick Mahomes took the league by storm and took the Chiefs to their first AFC Championship in 25 years. If anything can hold him away from a Super Bowl appearance in Year 2, it will be their defense. While it could partially be due to Kansas City’s quick strike offense putting up points, and pressure, on the opposing team, the Chief defense ranked 31st in total yardage (405.5 ypg), 27th in rushing yards allowed, and 31st in passing. Though the front seven could use a young infusion of talent, secondary is the pick.

In this mock draft, the Chiefs select Byron Murphy. If Murphy, who some have graded as the best cover corner in the draft, slides this far it is a rare no-brainer pick.

 

30.Green Bay Packers (6-9-1) – from NO - Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

Team Needs: OLB, RG, SS

In return for last year’s 14th overall pick, which the Saints used to select Marcus Davenport, the Packers receive the 30th pick from the Saints in 2019. It couldn’t come soon enough for Green Bay. Despite 4,400+ yards and a 25-2 touchdown-to-interception stat line from 35-year-old Aaron Rodgers, the Packers find themselves with their lowest win total in a decade. Green Bay’s core players, save DaVante Adams, have eroded and the team is desperately looking for playmakers on both sides of the ball.

Since parting ways with Haha Clinton-Dix, the Packers have fallen behind in the arms race attempting to contain the other NFC North quarterbacks. Deionte Thompson gives the secondary an intelligent center fielder that will make Matt Stafford, Kirk Cousins, and Mitch Trubisky look twice.

 

31. Los Angeles Rams (13-3) - Mack Wilson, MLB, Alabama

32. New England Patriots (11-5) - Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama