Front Porch FootballMock Draft 4.0
by Harris Oates
1. Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray – Quarterback – Oklahoma
It started as media hype, but it has become reality. Although there has been last minute gossip saying Murray may not be in the Cardinal’s plans, I think this one is pretty much decided on.
2. New York Giants: Daniel Jones (Traded from 49ers) – Quarterback – Duke
Jones has seen his value soar, and just as I predicted earlier, his intangibles are what have separated him from the rest of the draft class. As the Giants realize that Jones may get scooped up before #6, they are forced to trade up with the 49ers in exchange for later draft capital.
3. New York Jets: Nick Bosa – Edge – Ohio State
Although the Jets have been slated as a team likely to trade down and target offensive playmakers, they realize that they cannot pass on the opportunity to take an elite edge rushing talent.
4. Oakland Raiders: Drew Lock – Quarterback – Missouri
Jon Gruden loved what he saw with Lock in the Senior Bowl and invests capital in a better future option at quarterback. Carr soon becomes one of the biggest trade targets in the league.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quinnen Williams – Defensive Line – Alabama
Williams is taken by the Buccaneers, who look to strengthen the defensive line by teaming up veteran Gerald McCoy with the future star Quinnen Williams.
6. San Francisco 49ers: Devin White (From New York Giants) – Linebacker – LSU
The 49ers have a much-improved defense, who is now fortunate to have found their future leader in Devin White. The hardworking ballhawk fortifies a defense that is in need of improvement in the hardest division in football.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Allen – Edge – Kentucky
Josh Allen slides all the way to seventh overall due to the Quarterback Boom, but fortunately finds himself in one of the best situations among the top ten prospects. The Jags defense will look to bounce back after a tough season but has all the pieces necessary for a playoff run similar to 2017.
8. Detroit Lions: T.J. Hockenson – Tight end – Iowa
The Gronk-like target is drafted as a security blanket for Stafford, as the Lions look to actually HIT on drafting a tight end in the first round.
9. Buffalo Bills: Jawaan Taylor – Tackle – Florida
Their quarterback, Josh Allen, is the future. The Bills elect to protect him at all needs and Taylor is head and shoulders above the rest of the offensive lineman in this year’s draft.
10. Denver Broncos: Andre Dillard – Tackle – Washington State
After watching Taylor go one pick prior, the Broncos select Plan B and take the project out of Washington State.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: Dwayne Haskins – Quarterback – Ohio State
Haskins slides to Cincinnati, but gets the option to stay in Ohio and work with a solid offense with 3 pro bowl caliber weapons.
12. Green Bay Packers: Rashan Gary – Defensive Line – Michigan
Gary has become a name that had fizzled out late in the draft process, but is too talented to go outside the top 15. The Packers understand his talent. They spend their first pick and look to develop Gary into a star.
13. Miami Dolphins: Montez Sweat – Edge – Mississippi State
Sweat, another amazing edge rusher, finds his new home in Miami. Although some though he may go inside the top 10, he will make up for it by not having to pay income taxes in Florida.
14. Atlanta Falcons: Ed Oliver – Defensive Line – Houston
Ed Oliver is a true specimen and the Falcons have found an amazing prospect 14th overall. It is rare that a Defensive Tackle with a pass rushing skillset like Oliver’s could slide this far, but we have not seen a defensive line class this stacked in decades.
15. Washington Redskins: AJ Brown – Wide Receiver – Ole Miss
Although many analysts thought that Metcalf would be the first receiver selected, AJ Brown offers a more polished skillset along with tremendous production at Ole Miss.
16. Carolina Panthers: Brian Burns – Edge – Florida State
The Panthers are in desperate need for a pass rusher and have shown a lot of interest towards Sweat and Burns. Burns is can’t miss talent that will add pressure to help relieve a young secondary loaded with talent.
17. New York Giants: N’Keal Harry – Wide Receiver – Arizona State
The Giants look to give Manning and Jones a weapon right away and select the powerful receiver from the PAC-12. Harry has prototypical size and creates as much space as any receiver in this draft.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Cody Ford – Offensive Line – Oklahoma
The Vikings take the lineman out of Oklahoma in hopes of providing their franchise quarterback with at least some resemblance of protection.
19. Tennessee Titans: Noah Fant – Tight end – Iowa
Fant is a Delanie Walker clone who has the potential to register 100 catches in his prime. Mariota is at his best when he has a tight end who can catch anything across the middle.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Hakeem Butler – Wide Receiver – Iowa State
Butler is another big bodied receiver that creates the separation quarterbacks dream of. The Steelers are in desperate need of weapons after the departure of 2/3rds of the Killer B’s.
21. Seattle Seahawks: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson – Safety – Florida
The Legion of Boom has been gone for what seems like a decade, and it still just doesn’t seem right. The Seahawks have several options, but elect to take the dominant safety out of the SEC.
22. Baltimore Ravens: Devin Bush Jr. – Linebacker – Michigan
The Ravens need a linebacker after the departure of C.J. Mosely. There is no one better than Devin Bush at this spot. Although critics claim that he is undersized (5’11”), his speed makes up for any questions.
23. Houston Texans: Jonah Williams – Offensive Line – Alabama
Williams has raised flags about whether he is a true tackle or guard due to arm length and strength, but there is no question about his starter potential. The Texans need a lineman of his quickness to help protect one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league.
24. Oakland Raiders: Clelin Ferrell – Edge – Clemson
Ferrell slides to the 24th spot and the Raiders get one of the best value picks of the draft and look to replace Khalil Mack.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Greedy Williams – Cornerback – LSU
I’ve had the Eagles taking a corner in just about every mock draft, and I will continue to stand by this. Greedy Williams is too good to not be picked in the first round and will be an instant starter for the Eagles.
26. Indianapolis Colts: Jerry Tillery – Defensive Line – Notre Dame
Tillery has the potential to be a top 10 pick if he wasn’t in the best defensive line class we have seen in years. He is a pass rushing freak from the interior, who offers elite size (6’6” 295) and will find himself in all sorts of alignments in Indianapolis.
27. Oakland Raiders: Miles Sanders – Running Back – Penn State
The Raiders take the well-rounded running back out of Penn State, who although lacks production, still offers some of the most promising traits in this class. The young RB was handicapped through his career due to playing behind the best back in college football, Saquon Barkley, however was able to post 1,200+ yards paired with a better than average receiving year.
28. LA Chargers: Garrett Bradbury – Offensive Line – NC State
Bradbury is a top interior lineman who will join the young elite in LA. A team with so many offensive and defensive stars is hungry for a future franchise lineman.
29. KC Chiefs: Lonnie Johnson – Cornerback – Kentucky
The Chiefs could have gone in several directions after losing several stars after an impressive AFC Championship run, but take the underrated corner from Kentucky. Johnson is one of the most complete corners in this draft and will be able to fill in wherever is needed for the Chiefs.
30. Green Bay Packers: DK Metcalf – Wide Receiver – Ole Miss
Although some media analyst predicted Metcalf to go as high as #2 to San Francisco following his impressive combine, Metcalf is still very much a project. He was able to get separation, but he still has rather raw traits due to his lack of experience caused by an injury plagued career. The Packers jump on this opportunity and look to produce another elite WR to pair with Davante Adams.
31. LA Rams: Jeffery Simmons – Defensive Line – Mississippi State
Fortunately, the Rams have a rather stacked roster and can afford to take a top 5 prospect whose draft campaign was ruined by an ACL tear. Simmons is too good to not get drafted this early.
32. New England Patriots: Rock Ya-Sin – Cornerback – Temple
The Patriots take advantage of one of the best run stopping corners we have seen in years, who may be the most underrated player in the draft. Ya-Sin is great in pass coverage, but even better on the ground as a tackler.
Harris is a recent graduate of Birmingham-Southern College. He now works in Birmingham as well as coaches lacrosse for Mountain Brook High School. He loves following SEC football, covering fantasy football, the NFL Draft, and is also a lifelong Carolina Panthers fan.
