For many teams in the NFL, the playoffs were dismissed months ago as fans began eying the 2019 draft with anticipation. Next week, we will know the draft order for the teams outside the postseason and our latest NFL mock draft breaks down the options for the teams likely picking atop the board.
Regardless of the order, we know this is a draft where teams can seriously improve their defensive line. For offensive-needy teams, they may find it more challenging to fill needs, but there will still be value in the middle rounds for the offensive players. Given the number of top defensive players expected to declare, fans can look for a run on defensive players in the first two rounds.
While this is the case, teams like the Giants and Jaguars need their quarterback of the future. They will be forced to consider whether players like Justin Herbert, Dwayne Haskins, Will Grier and Drew Lock are good enough to demand a high draft pick.
Cardinals & Raiders Lead Race for No. 1 Pick
Heading into Week 16, the Cardinals and Raiders are tied for the No. 1 pick. Arizona has a slight edge since they have a lower strength of schedule. Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa is still the favorite to be the top pick despite missing most of this season as he recovered from an injury.
One NFL scouting director told Bleacher Report's Matt Miller that it would take a lot for Bosa not to be the No. 1 pick.
"I can't see anyone coming close to Bosa," the scouting director told Bleacher Report. "The only way he's not the first pick in the draft is if a team falls for a quarterback. There isn't anyone you'd actually take over him on talent."
Ohio State's Nick Bosa Is the Favorite to be the No. 1 Pick
If all goes as planned, Bosa will be the top pick in April. Miller broke down what teams love about the younger Bosa.
"Bosa is as good as advertised, at least according to conversations with scouts and executives," Miller explains. "There's also the film study, which shows him as an elite athlete coming off the ball with advanced technique as a pass-rusher...The fact that NFL scouts have already seen what big brother Joey can do in the NFL— he has 23 sacks in 28 pro games— gives peace of mind when considering the younger Bosa. There's also the fact that dad John was a first-round pick in the 1987 NFL draft, grandfather Palmer Pyle played six years in the league, and uncles Mike Pyle (nine years) and Eric Kumerow (first-rounder, 1988) all had NFL careers."
The draft order for our mock draft is based on the standings heading into Week 16. With the teams so close together, there is still plenty of time for this to change. Click the next arrow to see our latest NFL mock draft for the top 10 picks.
No. 1 Arizona Cardinals: DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Nick Bosa is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick despite missing the majority of the season with an injury. Bosa has been scrutinized for leaving the Buckeyes football team during the season after his injury to prepare for the NFL draft, but it does not appear to be hurting his draft stock.
While Bosa is going to have to answer questions about his decision to leave the team in the middle of the season, it is unlikely it will be a factor in impacting where he is drafted. It also helps that his brother has become one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL.
As unpopular as the decision may be, we have seen players suffer serious injuries during bowl games. It is hard to fault Bosa for his decision given what is at stake. A strong argument can be made for Bosa to have at least finished the season with the team, even if he was not going to be able to play again. We have heard little about Bosa's injury since he sustained it earlier this fall, but it does not appear to be something that will linger.
Bosa's father, John Bosa, spoke with Sports Illustrated about what went into his son's decision to leave.
“The realistic timeframe is 12 weeks," John Bosa told Sports Illustrated. “Twelve weeks brings us into December. There’s timeframes for injuries, and then timeframes for an elite pass rusher. It’s not about rehabbing so you can be back on the used car lot or be a mechanic. When is he able to be safe and play at the same level? When you look at the preparation he goes through in preseason, that’s not a realistic timeframe for it to be safe. It’s just not.”
The Cardinals locked up their quarterback for the future in the last draft and have so many holes they need to add the best player available.
No. 2 Oakland Raiders: LB Devin White, LSU
The Raiders have to nail this draft given how much they gave up to acquire their plethora of picks. There is no easy replacement for Khalil Mack, but Devin White may be the best defensive athlete in the draft. White finished his junior season with 115 tackles and three sacks.
A recent article by Nola.com's Brody Miller suggested that White may opt to stay at LSU for another season. Given White is likely a top 10 pick if he declares, it will be interesting to see if the linebacker is really considering staying in Baton Rouge for another season.
“I know every guy who had the opportunity to go pro thinks about it, because I think about it,” White told Nola.com. "But I be one who just wants to leave this place better than I found it, establish my legacy and stuff, what kind of person I want to be remembered as. I want everything to be done the right way, and I don’t know if I reached that limit yet. That’s why there’s so much concern for me.”
There is plenty of top defensive lineman to choose from at this spot, but White or Josh Allen could be too tempting for the Raiders to pass up given the void Mack left behind.
No. 3 San Francisco 49ers: DE Rashan Gary, Michigan
The Niners' poor record is largely a product of losing Jimmy Garoppolo for the season. The Niners have their quarterback so they can focus on filling in some of the other holes on the team. San Francisco has been known for their defenses over the years and this is a good draft to replenish their unit to try to get back to competing for NFC West titles.
Rashan Gary is one of a handful of players in the running to be the No. 1 pick. Gary was once a top high school recruit heading into Michigan. His production did not always match the expectations and will likely be the reason he is passed over for a player like Bosa at the top of the draft.
Here's how The Athletic's Dane Brugler described Gary's outlook heading into the draft.
"The former No. 1 recruit out of high school, Gary is an explosive athlete in a 6-5, 280-pound frame," Brugler explains. "The New Jersey native, who grew up a half hour from the Meadowlands, didn’t quite have the All-American career in Ann Arbor that many expected, but his shortcomings were primarily due to injuries. While he needs continued technique work, Gary’s blend of power and athleticism is exceptional."
Gary gives the Niners another young athlete to add to the core Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch are building. San Francisco was happy to upset the Seahawks in Week 15, but it did drop them from the top draft pick down to No. 3 with two weeks remaining on the schedule.
No. 4 New York Jets: OT Jonah Williams, Alabama
Sam Darnold has had an up-and-down rookie season, but the former USC quarterback has started to find his footing in December. Now that the Jets have their quarterback, it makes sense for them to get a top offensive lineman to help protect their QB1 for the next decade.
Jonah Williams is the favorite to be the top offensive lineman taken in the draft. Williams has a large lead on the field with a few months to go before the draft. Alabama head coach Nick Saban knows talent and discussed why he believes Williams is one of the top offensive linemen in the country.
"I think he is one of the best players (in the country) at his position," Saban told AL.com. "I don't get to evaluate everybody else so it's hard to make comparisons, but I think he's a smart player, always knows what to do, how to do it, why it's important to do it that way. Prepares very well for every game. I think he's playing more and more physical. He's always been really, really athletic. I think the combination of those things has helped him continue to improve and play at a little higher level."
It will be worth watching whether the Jets opt to go with Williams or one of the many top defensive players still on the board.
No. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
Not long ago, the Jaguars trounced the Patriots, and we were talking about how Blake Bortles had finally progressed as a quarterback. Months later, Bortles is out of a job, and Jacksonville is likely to take a quarterback in the draft. The Jaguars have a lot more problems than just Bortles, and the franchise has lacked offensive stability over his career.
While there are plenty of excuses, Bortles has not done himself any favors. He has displayed the ability to play at this level, but he has not been able to do so on a consistent enough basis to be a starting NFL quarterback.
Many have described Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert as a project, but I think he has what it takes to be a very good NFL quarterback. Herbert is capable of making elite level throws and has the mobility that NFL teams continue to prioritize. As of now, there is no guarantee that Herbert will enter the draft. It may seem odd that the draft's likely No. 1 quarterback would opt to return to school, but Herbert's younger brother is heading to Oregon in 2019.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller reported that no one in the NFL knows what Herbert will decide.
"It's super-quiet coming out of there. However, you know as well as I do, kids generally declare when sitting atop the draft," one agent told Miller.
If Herbert declares, the Jaguars would be wise to target him at the top of their draft board. Dwayne Haskins is also in the running to be the top quarterback selected.
No. 6 Detroit Lions: CB Greedy Williams, LSU
There is plenty of defensive options for the Lions at this spot. LSU's Greedy Williams is the top corner in this class which could work out for Detroit with the run of defensive linemen that went in front of them. ESPN's Todd McShay calls Williams the best lockdown corner in the draft.
"If I'm starting a college football team from scratch, Williams is one of my first picks," McShay notes. "There's a reason he's my top-ranked cornerback in next year's draft. The third-year sophomore has a big 6-foot-3 frame and elite ball skills -- he has eight interceptions and 19 pass breakups in two seasons at LSU. Williams struggled a little bit a week ago against Alabama, but he doesn't have much bad tape. He has an extremely high ceiling and is a potential top-five pick."
NFL scouts will not get an opportunity to see Williams before the NFL Combine as the LSU corner is sitting out the Fiesta Bowl matchup against UCF. LSU head coach Ed Orgeron has been critical of players sitting out games, but it is hard to fault players for sitting out with so much to potentially lose.
No. 7 Atlanta Falcons: DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama
Quinnen Williams has a good chance to be a top-three pick, but the way the draft board fell in our latest mock has the Bama stud dropping to the Falcons. Atlanta will likely pick in the top ten but may have the most talented team among those picking highly in the draft. The Falcons' 2018 season was a trainwreck, and it is hard to know exactly what went wrong.
Things started going downhill when a number of key Falcons defensive players sustained injuries early in the season. After their early red zone struggles, the Falcons offense began clicking but could not score enough points to counteract the holes on defense.
Dan Quinn loves loading up on young defensive athletes and this is the perfect draft to do just that. The Athletic's Dane Brugler believes there are going to be a long list of teams trying to get Williams come draft day.
"I put him at No. 4 overall on my midseason draft board," Brugler told Bleacher Report. "That's how well he's played...His diverse skill set really makes him a versatile guy that you can mix and match on your defensive line. All 32 NFL teams are going to be interested in what he has to offer. It's not going to be a scheme-dependent issue. That's only going to help him whenever he does move on to the NFL."
Even if Williams is not available for the Falcons there will be plenty of options. Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen and Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins would also be viable options for Atlanta as they look to retool the defense.
No. 8 New York Giants: QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
A combination of factors could mean the Giants will no longer have their pick of quarterbacks in the draft. The Jaguars appear to now be in the market for a quarterback, and the Giants have won enough games that they will likely be picking behind Jacksonville.
Last year, the Giants opted to pick Saquon Barkley over a quarterback and gave Eli Manning another season under center. It has become clear that the Giants need to start looking for their quarterback of the future.
Haskins played himself into the conversation to be the top quarterback selected in 2019. The Ohio State quarterback threw for 4,580 yards, 47 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2018. Haskins also rushed for 122 yards and four touchdowns.
While Haskins has yet to declare, he grew up a Giants fan and admitted he would enjoy playing in New York.
“It would be pretty nice,” Haskins told the New York Post. "I played ‘Madden’ a lot, and he was really good running the football. The whole offense was nice. Plaxico [Burress], Jeremy Shockey, Eli [Manning], Ahmad Bradshaw. I was basically the stats guy from my family. I would know everybody’s height and weight, what college they went to. I’ve been a Giants fan for a long time.”
The New York Times reported in October that the Giants will be looking for a quarterback in the offseason and potentially could part ways with Manning.
"For now, Manning has the support of the team’s front office and coaches, but the Giants will probably acquire another quarterback next year through the draft or in free agency, according to people familiar with the team’s recent deliberations," The New York Times explains. "They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Giants permit only a select few to speak publicly about team matters. A new quarterback could compete for the starting job or even lead the Giants to cut Manning, who will turn 38 in January and who would cost the team $23.2 million against the salary cap next season."
No. 9 Buffalo Bills: LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
Like several teams picking at the top of the draft, Buffalo has already addressed their quarterback dilemma. Now the challenge is surrounding Josh Allen with enough talent to begin building a playoff contender.
The Bills could opt to draft an offensive lineman like Ole Miss' Greg Little, but the talent of Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen is too much to pass up. Why not add one more Josh Allen to the roster? Buffalo already has a few good young linebackers like Tremaine Edmunds and Corey Thompson.
Allen has top-five potential and can add even more value to an already solid core of players. ESPN's Todd McShay described Allen's outlook heading into the NFL draft.
"A versatile linebacker with the ability to play on the inside or the outside, regardless of the front, Allen has outstanding range as a run defender with above-average closing speed," McShay explains. "He does need to work on his change-of-direction skills in coverage, however. The onetime high school wide receiver finished with 18.5 TFL (tied for 10th in the nation), 14 sacks (fourth) and five forced fumbles (tied for first) this season, along with four passes broken up and six QB hurries. He is an absolute beast for the Wildcats."
No. 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
Deandre Baker is one of the top corners in college football. Baker's stat line may not wow you with just seven interceptions over his career at Georgia, but the Bulldogs corner's impact on each play is noticeable.
McShay explains why Baker is one of the top corners in this draft.
"An instinctive corner, Baker does a good job of reading receivers' routes in man coverage and is excellent in dealing with route combinations," McShay notes. "While not big, he contains well and has no fear mixing it up in run support. Extremely experienced, Baker had a pair of interceptions this season with 82 return yards, and he broke up nine passes."
It is difficult to know what the Bucs have in their core group of players. Tampa Bay has holes on both sides of the ball, and it is not clear if Jameis Winston has what it takes to be their quarterback moving forward. Winston may be a recognizable name, but do not count the Bucs out of the quarterback market if they see a player of value in the first three rounds. For now, we have the Bucs going the safer route with Baker.
NFL Mock Draft 2019: Giants Select QB Dwayne Haskins