After months of watching tape and analyzing college prospects, the day we have all been waiting for has finally arrived. It’s draft day! Today is the day teams form their respective futures by selecting the prospects that they believe will get them over the hump.
Below is my third and final mock draft of what I believe will happen tonight. Who will the Vikings select at #22 and #25?
Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow (LSU)
This selection hasn’t changed since we all started doing mock drafts back in December and January. Joe Burrow is the undisputed pick at #1 overall. The Bengals get a breath of fresh air at quarterback by selecting the Ohio native.
2. Washington Redskins: DE Chase Young (Ohio State)
Defensive End isn’t a position of need here for the Redskins but Chase Young is far too good to pass up. Unless they receive an offer tonight that they can’t refuse, Chase Young will be the pick.
3. TRADE: Miami Dolphins (from DET): T Tristan Wirfs (Iowa)
SURPRISE! The Dolphins trade up from #5 to #3 and select a Tackle, NOT a Quarterback. Rumor has it the Giants really like Wirfs and the Dolphins will have to jump them if they want him. It doesn’t matter who’s playing Quarterback for you if you can’t protect him.
4. New York Giants: T Jedrick Wills (Alabama)
The Giants land, in my opinion the best offensive lineman in the draft at #4 to protect their young investment (Daniel Jones).
5. Detroit Lions (from MIA): CB Jeffrey Okudah (Ohio State)
The Lions get the guy they originally would’ve picked at #3 and pick up an extra 2nd round pick from Miami while they’re at it. A win-win situation for them.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: QB Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)
A great value pick for the Chargers. If they don’t believe he’s ready to go because of his hip, he can sit behind a seasoned veteran in Tyrod Taylor and learn for a year before they saddle him up to be the starter in 2021.
7. Carolina Panthers: LB Isaiah Simmons (Clemson)
Isaiah Simmons is the absolute perfect player to potentially replace an all-pro talent like Luke Kuechly. Rookie Head Coach-Matt Rhule has to be in love with a player like Simmons who can bring such great versatility to his defense and be that building block for years to come.
8. Arizona Cardinals: IDL Derrick Brown (Auburn)
The Cardinals are a candidate for a trade here as well but based off what i’ve heard from the radio station here in Phoenix, they really love Derrick Brown and he’ll be the guy if he’s still available at #8.
9. TRADE: Atlanta Falcons (from JAC): CB CJ Henderson (Florida)
I’m not sure if there are many teams that need a starting corner right now more than the Falcons do. In a division that features Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Michael Thomas, and Emmanuel Sanders you need a guy that can slow them down. Henderson won’t be available at #18—so the Falcons will have to move up if they want him.
10. Cleveland Browns: T Andrew Thomas (Georgia)
Offensive Tackle is the undisputed top-need for the Browns and Thomas is the best available. This is a no-brainer at #10 and Thomas gets to pave roads for his former college teammate Nick Chubb.
11. New York Jets: T Mekhi Becton (Louisville)
The Jets could go with a playmaker here at #11 but if they want to ensure Sam Darnold continues to develop properly they’ll go with a blind-side protector.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: WR CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)
The Raiders have lacked explosiveness and playmaking ability at wide receiver since Amari Cooper was traded. CeeDee Lamb is the perfect replacement.
13. San Francisco 49ers: WR Henry Ruggs III (Alabama)
This is 100% a Kyle Shanahan selection. Can you imagine how Ruggs would be utilized in this offense? What a scary sight for defenses. Speed kills.
The Jaguars are rumored to be in love with Kinlaw. The Jags trade back up to and a cornerstone for their defense as they begin the rebuild.
15. Denver Broncos: WR Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)
The Broncos get a steal at #15 as they land arguably the best route-runner to come out of school in the last decade. Drew Lock and John Elway have to be thrilled Jeudy is still available at #15.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: T Josh Jones (Houston)
The Bucs added all of the offensive talent imaginable at the skill positions, but it’s all pointless if you can’t protect Tom Brady. Josh Jones is the best Tackle available.
17. Dallas Cowboys: DE K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU)
The Cowboys lost Robert Quinn in free agency and in a class that lacks depth at pass rusher; the Cowboys select the top one on the board to pair him up with Demarcus Lawrence.
18. Miami Dolphins: QB Justin Herbert (Oregon)
What an unbelievable dream scenario for the Dolphins if Justin Herbert falls this far. If he’s still on the board, there’s no way this ISN’T the pick.
19. Las Vegas Raiders: CB AJ Terrell (Clemson)
It seems pretty likely that corner will be the pick here if it’s not at #12. The real question is, which one? If you’ve followed Mike Mayock in his time as an analyst at NFL Network, you’d know that he loves Clemson players and AJ Terrell fits the mold of a Mayock/Raiders player. Physical, aggressive, alpha demeanor.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Jeff Gladney (TCU)
The Jaguars continue to shore up their defense with this pick as they select the top corner available.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Justin Jefferson (LSU)
It feels like Justin Jefferson is the logical pick here but I always struggle mocking players to the Eagles because Howie Roseman is one of the most unpredictable GMs in the league. Linebacker also wouldn’t surprise me here.
22. Minnesota Vikings: CB Jaylon Johnson (Utah)
I am truly at a loss of what I think Rick Spielman will do here at #22. Getting a starting corner early in this draft is a must—but which one? Okudah, Henderson, Terrell, and Gladney are gone. So who do they love between Jaylon Johnson, Kristian Fulton, and Trevon Diggs? If you’ve been following along the past few weeks, that hot name is Jaylon Johnson; who is arguably the best press corner in this class. A complete ***hole at the line of scrimmage.
23. New England Patriots: LB Patrick Queen (LSU)
Speaking of unpredictable teams, how about Bill Belichick and the Patriots? Do they reach for a Tight End here? Do they draft Jordan Love to compete with Jarrett Stidham for the starting job as Tom Brady’s replacement? I think Belichick grabs the top available defensive player and turns him into a pro bowler. Enter-Patrick Queen.
24. New Orleans Saints: LB Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma)
Patrick Queen (LSU) was probably the man of choice at #24 for the Saints but Kenneth Murray is just as good, if not even better than Queen. They could go wide receiver here, but in a draft that’s very deep at that position that type of pick wouldn’t make much sense here. The Saints don’t have a lot of holes to fill, but if they do have one position they can bolster up at it’s linebacker.
25. TRADE: Indianapolis Colts (from MIN): QB Jordan Love (Utah State)
The Colts trade #34 OR #44 and a mid-round pick to move up and grab their Quarterback of the future. Love may not be ready to play day 1, but he’ll have the opportunity to sit behind Philip Rivers for a year and soak in as much information as possible.
If Minnesota decides to stay at this spot I believe the pick will be between T Austin Jackson (USC), IOL Cesar Ruiz (Michigan, or the top wideout on their board.
26. Miami Dolphins: C Cesar Ruiz (Michigan)
The Dolphins easily had the worst offensive line in the league last season. Tristan Wirfs, Justin Herbert, and another cinder-block on the OL at #26 is a home-run for this organization.
27. Seattle Seahawks: RB D’Andre Swift (Georgia)
Surprise! Rashaad Penny is coming off of a serious knee injury and Chris Carson is set to be a free agent next offseason. Drafting the top available player would not surprise me one big here.
As always, you can also expect a trade back—which is something the Seahawks love to do.
28. Baltimore Ravens: IOL Lloyd Cushenberry III (LSU)
Another surprise. Marshal Yanda has retired and the Ravens have less than spectacular Center player as of this moment. Cushenberry can come in and player any interior offensive line position at a high level. The high-demand for offensive linemen continues.
29. Tennessee Titans: T Isaiah Wilson (Georgia)
A mammoth of a man replaces Pro Bowler Jack Conklin at Right Tackle for the Titans. Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry have to be thrilled.
30. Green Bay Packers: WR Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State)
The Packers get Aaron Rodgers another weapon at wide receiver to pair along with Davante Adams. Aiyuk is an absolute nightmare to tackle after the catch and also gives the Packers some great returner value as well.
31. TRADE: Los Angeles Chargers (from SF): T Austin Jackson (USC)
The Chargers trade up and land the SEVENTH Tackle of first round to fill the void of Russell Okung.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Trevon Diggs (Alabama)
The Chiefs sure-up their secondary with the final pick of the first round to cover guys like Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, CeeDee Lamb, Courtland Sutton, and former teammate Jerry Jeudy.
*For more NFL Draft content, follow me on Twitter at —> @Purple_Post.
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