The day has finally arrived for teams outside of the playoffs to find out where they will be picking in the 2019 NFL draft. Our latest mock draft will have the updated draft order as it is finalized. Some teams have been circling this date for a long time as anxious fans count down the days to when their team can get top young talent.
This year has been defined by explosive offenses with the success of teams like the Rams, Chiefs and Saints. This draft is all about defense as teams will be able to add a few pieces to help them try to slow down these offenses.
All teams picking at the top of the draft need to get better, but one team needs it a bit more than the rest.
The Raiders Have 3 First Round Picks in the 2019 NFL Draft
Jon Gruden is attempting to transform the Raiders roster, and his success depends on what he can do with Oakland's plethora of draft picks. After Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper have both shined with new teams, the Raiders need to hit on their draft picks for more reasons than just roster improvement.
The Raiders will have their pick in addition to picks from the Bears and Cowboys. Oakland has no home for 2019 and the team is without a GM. The draft is the one bright spot for Raiders fans in what has been a dark year for the franchise.
Nick Bosa Is the Favorite to be the No. 1 Pick
The Bosa pedigree looks as strong as ever with the success Joey Bosa has had with the Chargers. Nick Bosa is a heavy favorite to be the No. 1 pick, but we saw last year with Baker Mayfield that things do not always go according to plan. Bosa did not play for most of the college football season but it does not look like it will impact his draft stock.
Joey Bosa described his brother as "light years" ahead of where he was in college.
"He doesn't really need any help," Joey Bosa told 247 Sports. "He's an absolute monster and I think he's light years ahead of any spot I ever got to in college."
Justin Herbert's Decision to Stay at Oregon Makes QB Class Even Thinner
Justin Herbert had a chance to be the No. 1 quarterback taken in the draft but opted to return to Oregon for another season. The quarterback class was already thin, even if Herbert declared. Now teams will have to decide whether players like Drew Lock, Will Grier and Daniel Jones are worthy of a high draft pick.
My latest mock draft has two quarterbacks going in the Top 10. If history tells us anything it is quarterbacks tend to rise as the draft gets closer.
Click the next arrow to see my latest NFL mock draft with the top 10 picks. We will be updating the draft order once it is finalized. The current order is based on the standings heading into Week 17.
No. 1 Arizona Cardinals: DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
The Cardinals have not picked this high in some time after enjoying a good stretch of years with Bruce Arians, Carson Palmer and company. Now, the Cardinals are going in a new direction and potentially an even newer direction with rumors Arizona could clean house. The Cardinals already invested in a quarterback in the 2018 draft and now need to surround Josh Rosen with the talent needed for him to develop as a signal caller.
The value where the Cardinals are picking is going to be defensive players. Nick Bosa is the favorite to be the top pick, but there are plenty of other players in the running as well.
If the Cardinals do indeed make changes to their front office and coaching staff, they will need to do so quickly in order to have a new regime in place for this critical draft for the franchise.
Bosa is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick despite missing the majority of the 2018 college football season with an abdominal injury. Much has been made about Bosa deciding to leave the Ohio State team to prepare for the draft. It is hard to imagine a team not picking Bosa because of this decision.
One scout told Sports Illustrated Bosa will undoubtedly be asked about this decision at the NFL combine but does not expect it to be something that impacts his draft stock.
“Somebody will try to bust his chops about it, for sure,” one scout told Sports Illustrated. “Some of it may just be to test him to see how reacts. But at the end of the day, this won’t affect how teams evaluate him. He’s damn good.”
The bigger concern will be Bosa's injury, but it does not appear to be anything that is expected to prevent him from going through the draft process.
No. 2 San Francisco 49ers: DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama
The 49ers have shown a lot of spunk late in the season for a team that is picking this high in the draft. San Francisco defeated the Seahawks and played the Bears close. This is a team that will be much better once Jimmy Garoppolo returns under center. While no one likes to see a player get injured, the Niners have an opportunity to take advantage of selecting high in the draft based on unfortunate circumstances.
San Francisco can reload in the draft with a lot of young players to go with their standout quarterback returning for the start of next season. The Niners have a history of being known for their defense and will have an opportunity to continue that based on the defensive talent in the upcoming draft.
Heading into the season, Ed Oliver and Rashan Gary were the favorites to be the first defensive tackle selected. Now, it appears Alabama's Quinnen Williams is the slight favorite. Williams is a red-shirt sophomore who has only played two seasons of college football. Williams is coming off a breakout season where he had eight sacks heading into the Orange Bowl.
Williams' draft stock is also helped by the Alabama stamp of approval that comes with playing under Nick Saban. After Williams' dominant performance against LSU, The Athletics's Dane Brugler tweeted about what makes Williams so intriguing.
"I think Nick Bosa is the top player and I don't think that'll change. But would it surprise me if a NFL team has Quinnen Williams No. 1? Absolutely not. His tape supports that type of consideration...Quinnen Williams is the highest-graded prospect on my draft board (No. 4 overall) playing in tonight's game...and he's living up to that. Each game is a highlight reel for him. He's something special," Brugler tweeted on Williams' draft stock.
No. 3 New York Jets: DL Rashan Gary, Michigan
The New York Jets are still a work in progress. The team lacks offensive talent to go with quarterback Sam Darnold, but the value at the top of the draft is on defense. New York can address some of their offensive needs later in the draft, but the Jets would be wise to look at the top defensive players available where they are picking.
At times, Rashan Gary's potential has been higher than his production. Gary may have some room to grow, but the Michigan defensive tackle still made a major impact during his time in Ann Arbor. ESPN's Todd McShay believes Gary is ready to play right away.
“Could he continue to develop? Absolutely, but I think he’s ready,” McShay explained to the Detroit News. “With a player of that talent and skill level, if you come back asking questions and wondering if you want to be back, you don’t want it to turn into (Houston’s) Ed Oliver. We’re just seeing more and more guys who try to put their feet back in but not totally in -- maybe one foot back into the senior season. If you’re not there mentally, and you’re talented enough to be a first-round pick, which Rashan is, then I think the right decision is to go. Outside of running backs, I’m usually a proponent of go back and get as much experience as you can get, but Rashan’s ready.”
No. 4 Oakland Raiders: LB Josh Allen, Kentucky
We could dedicate this entire mock draft to a case study on the Raiders. Jon Gruden and the Raiders are betting on themselves in the 2019 draft. They traded away top players like Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper in order to secure a total of three first-round draft picks.
Prior to the firing of former GM Reggie McKenzie, Raiders owner Mark Davis spoke with ESPN about the void of talent on the current Raiders roster.
“The drafts did not help supplement what we were doing in the free-agent market,” Davis told ESPN. “If you look at our roster now, it's a bunch of free-agent, one-year guys that are mercenaries. And they're great guys and they're Raiders. Once a Raider, always a Raider... but we just don't have the overall talent of a 22-man roster."
It is not just the roster, but the entire franchise that is in disarray. Oakland is without a GM and does not even know where they will play in 2019. The Raiders need to hit on the upcoming draft for more reasons than one as the team looks for a major boost of morale.
According to OddsShark, Josh Allen now has the second highest odds to be selected with the No. 1 pick. Allen is a distant second behind Nick Bosa, but it shows how high Allen's draft stock has risen. According to The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Allen added 20 pounds of muscle which led to a dominant season in the SEC.
"...Senior EDGE Josh Allen (6-4, 262, 4.68, #41), who went from possible top-100 pick to potential top-10 selection. Last offseason, he added 20+ pounds of muscle and expanded his pass rush repertoire, which resulted in a spike in his impact and production. Allen currently leads the SEC in sacks (14.0), tackles for loss (18.5) and forced fumbles (five)," Brugler noted.
No. 5 Tampa Bay Bucs: DL Ed Oliver, Houston
Bucs GM Jason Licht signed a one-year extension through 2019 prior to the 2018 season. The Tampa Bay roster has looked talented over the last few years but has underperformed on the field compared to preseason expectations.
From the roster to the front office, little seems stable in Tampa Bay heading into 2019. The Bucs have not made the playoffs since 2007 and have not won a playoff game since their Super Bowl run in 2002. After Tampa Bay selected Jameis Winston, it seemed like there was a reason for optimism, but the Winston era has largely underwhelmed since the quarterback donned a Bucs uniform.
The talent on defense is likely too much to pass up, but you have to wonder if the Bucs will take a look at the quarterbacks in this draft class.
Ed Oliver was once believed to be in the running to be the No. 1 pick, but the Houston defensive tackle will have some work to do for that to happen in April. ESPN's Todd McShay reported Oliver is closer to 270 pounds than the 290 originally suspected. This has caused some concern over whether he is too light to be a dominant NFL defensive tackle.
Even if Oliver is not the first defensive tackle off the board, he still has a good chance to find himself among the top 10 picks. ESPN's Todd McShay explained why he has Oliver ranked as his No. 5 prospect on his big board.
"Oliver missed four straight Cougars games with a knee injury and had an explosive exchange with coach Major Applewhite on the sideline in mid-November before returning at the end of the regular season," McShay noted. "But on the field, you don't want to have to block this dude. He explodes out of his stance, has elite initial quickness and is totally disruptive and usually unblockable one-on-one. Oliver has great range and always plays hard. He had 58 tackles, including 14.5 for a loss and three sacks, in eight games."
No. 6 New York Giants: QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
The Giants are one of the few teams who are being penciled into taking a quarterback. New York had the No. 2 pick in 2018 but opted to select Saquon Barkley over a long list of highly-touted quarterbacks. This year's draft class is not as deep, but the Giants once again have a high draft pick.
Teams like the Giants who could be looking at quarterbacks received a bit of bad news after Justin Herbert decided to stay in Oregon for another year. This means the Giants will be choosing between Dwayne Haskins, Will Grier and a few other signal callers.
The Giants could decide to give Eli Manning another season, but all signs point to the Manning era coming to a close in New York.
Haskins may be the main beneficiary of Herbert going back to school. Even with Herbert potentially in the draft, Haskins had a chance to be the top quarterback selected in April. Haskins has not officially declared for the draft, but many expect the Ohio State signal caller to go pro after playing in the Rose Bowl.
Haskins would be the favorite to be the first quarterback selected if he does declare for the draft. The Athletic's Dane Brugler provided an overview of his current standing.
"Only a redshirt sophomore, Haskins has yet to reveal his NFL decision, but after one of the best seasons in Big Ten history, many around the NFL expect him to go pro," Brugler noted. "If he does declare, he becomes the new favorite to be QB1 in the 2019 draft class, despite only 13 career starts at the college level. Haskins is expected to wait until after the Rose Bowl to announce his decision."
No. 7 Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Drew Lock, Missouri
The Jaguars may be giving Blake Bortles another chance this season, but don't expect Jacksonville to go with him heading into the 2019 season. While the draft is not the Jaguars only option to snag a quarterback, Jacksonville is likely going to take a long look at the 2019 quarterback class.
Heading into the final week of the season, Bortles sounded anything but confident that he would be back in Jacksonville next season.
“The toughest part about it is you have no idea,” Bortles said per Pro Football Talk. “It’s not like anybody tells me anything or talks to my agent and tells me what they’re going to do with me. It’s kind of just unknown...Obviously, I’m here right now and I’ve got one more opportunity to play this week and finish this year out. They’re in control of what happens to me next. Whatever happens, I’ll be ready. I signed a contract here for three years. I have every reason and purpose in my mind to play here for that amount of time or until they let me go, and I’ll figure that out.”
Drew Lock could potentially see a full round difference in his landing spot with Justin Herbert now part of the 2020 draft class. Lock's numbers took a hit this season after offensive coordinator Josh Heupel took the UCF head coaching job. Lock threw for 3,125 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. The Missouri quarterback threw for 3,964 yards and 44 touchdowns in 2017.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler has Lock as his second-rated quarterback now that Herbert is no longer an option. Brugler believes Lock's game is comparable to Derek Carr.
"A Derek Carr clone, Lock has had an up-and-down collegiate career, but his physical traits and makeup will be strong selling points for NFL teams," Brugler explained. "Although his decision-making and mechanical flaws will be highly scrutinized during the draft process, he is a good-sized athlete with a golden arm, which will help mask his inconsistencies."
No. 8 Detroit Lions: LB Devin White, LSU
Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford still has plenty of juice left, but Detroit has found it challenging to surround him with talent throughout the years. The best way the Lions can likely help Stafford in the upcoming draft is by improving their defense. The Matt Patricia era has not gotten off to a fast start.
WXYT's Jamie Samuelson explained to the Detroit Free Press why many fans have been critical of Lions GM Bob Quinn.
"First, Quinn is on the clock. And it’s running," Samuels noted. "Firing Jim Caldwell and bringing in Matt Patricia did not reset things for the general manager. There is this sense the Lions are starting fresh with Patricia and shedding players or contracts that they don’t want. Sorry. That’s on Quinn. He’s responsible for most of the players on the roster. And he’s directly responsible for most of the biggest contracts that he either extended or franchised. Hiring Patricia was not a do-over. And at this point, the jury is still out on whether or not that was the correct decision."
Devin White will be fighting Josh Allen to be the first linebacker selected in the draft. White is one of the best athletes in this draft class and will do well for himself at the combine. Prior to the season, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller noted there was growing buzz about White's athleticism.
"He might be the most athletic player in the entire class," one scout told Bleacher Report. "I've heard stories about his battles with Leonard Fournette, and they're on a similar level athletically."
Miller believes it is White's experience on offense that could help his draft stock even though he now plays linebacker.
"Devin White was a high school standout at running back and linebacker, so he brings an understanding of offenses to his spot at linebacker," Miller noted. "He flows to the ball with natural athleticism and agility but also packs a punch with a 6'1", 240-pound frame. White needs to clean up some false steps you can see on tape and better recognize routes in the passing game, but it's easy to look at him as a player on par with Roquan Smith or Tremaine Edmunds."
No. 9 Denver Broncos: DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
Fox Sports reported the Broncos have fired Vance Joseph as head coach. It will be interesting to see who Denver snags in the offseason.
After testing positive for a banned substance, Dexter Lawrence will have a bevy of questions between now and April. Lawrence denied knowingly taking the substance and has been backed up by the Clemson coaching staff. This time of year it is the NFL's job to be skeptical as they go through the evaluation process.
What is clear is Lawrence's production on the field. He has served as the anchor of Clemson's stout defensive line. ESPN's Todd McShay noted Lawrence has remarkable agility for a player listed at more than 350 pounds.
"Lawrence has remarkable agility and athleticism for his size, giving him great range for a run defender," McShay explained. "He needs to be better about pad level, but single blockers can't move him at all. His power is overwhelming, and he looked more fluid this season after dealing with injury in 2017. He recorded 7.5 TFL on one of the best lines in the country, and there's a lot of talent here."
No. 10 Buffalo Bills: OT Jonah Williams, Alabama
Bills fans may not like their 2018 record, but there is enough to be optimistic about heading into 2019. Quarterback Josh Allen threw more interceptions than touchdowns this season, but the Bills have one of the worst groups of wide receivers in the NFL.
Bills safety Micah Hyde spoke about Allen's progression as a rookie quarterback.
"That confidence to go out there and know that you're untouchable as long as you study and do what you do -- I think that's the point where he's getting," Hyde told ESPN. "He's not worried about throwing picks. He's not worried about doing all that. He wants to go out there and run for first downs, run for touchdowns and get his guys involved. Sitting out a few games with his injury and seeing older guys go in there and compete kind of gave him a little more confidence when he got back -- I don't know if he was studying more or what -- he was just ready to play. We saw that and rallied around it."
Jonah Williams is the favorite to be the first offensive linemen selected in the draft. The Draft Network detailed what makes Williams one of the top offensive tackles in the country.
"Size and strength are NFL-ready," The Draft Network explained. "Excellent footwork out of his stance, entering his pass set with no wasted movements or false steps. Adjusts his set points based on edge defender’s alignment. Patient in pass protection, waits for opponent to show his hands and then counters. Times up his strikes well to combat power. Explosive in his first step to build his house against wide nines. Zone footwork is solid. Even better vertical blocker, can locate and latch onto second level defenders in impressive fashion."
NFL Mock Draft 2019: Top 10 Best Picks With Latest Order