GARY L DIBERT ON SPORTS: MY FIRST OF MANY NFL 2019 MOCK DRAFT

POST-SUPER BOWL 53 EDITION

With Super Bowl 53 complete, all teams are ready to add players. We predict some of those additions with this two-round 2019 NFL Mock Draft

The 2018 NFL season is officially over now as the New England Patriots won Super Bowl LIII by a score of 13-3 over the Los Angeles Rams. It was one of the least exciting Super Bowls in recent memory as both teams struggled to move the ball at all.

New England took a 3-0 lead into the half and then the Rams finally got on the board in the third quarter with a field goal of their own to tie things up at three each heading into the final 15 minutes. From there, the Patriots took over.

A Sony Michel touchdown put them up 10-3 and then with just over a minute to play, Stephen Gostkowski knocked in a field goal that ended any chances of a last-second comeback from the Rams. It was the sixth title for the Patriots, which ties the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in NFL history.

Now, with all that over, the Patriots and Rams turn their attention to the offseason — just as the rest of the league has already done. While free agency will be coming up, the two clubs will also be looking at the draft to try and stay on top of their divisions — as well as their conferences.

As for the other 30 teams, they will be looking to build a roster capable of competing with the two clubs that dueled on Sunday night. Here, I try and predict how each team will attack that plan in this two-round 2019 NFL Mock Draft.

1. ARIZONA CARDINALS: QUINNEN WILLIAMS, DT, ALABAMA

New head coach Kliff Kingsbury once said he would draft Kyler Murray first overall if he were in the NFL. Well, now he is, but don’t expect him to do that. The Arizona Cardinals spent the No. 10 overall pick on Josh Rosen last season and are committed to him as the starter.

With that position locked up, Arizona decides to pull the trigger on Quinnen Williams, who has proven to be one of the best interior tackles in recent seasons. Gavino Borquez of USA Today’s Draft Wire called him the “most disruptive” in the draft and explains what makes Williams great.

Williams anticipates the play and fires out of his stance beating the interior offensive lineman within the first two steps. He is nearly impossible to block when shaded or slanting and is tough for blockers to square up. Williams is a very good interior pass rusher collapsing the pocket with separation skills, mobility and quickness.

There was a lot wrong with the Cardinals in 2018, but their defense has some key pieces. Adding a stud like Williams could be what it takes to get them back to the level they were a few short seasons ago.

2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS NICK BOSA, EDGE, OHIO STATE

The 2019 NFL Draft is going to go down as one of the better classes of defensive linemen in years. There’s going to be an influx of talent along the defensive line of scrimmage and with the second overall pick, the San Francisco 49ers go after their own lineman in Nick Bosa.

The younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, Nick comes into the NFL after missing the majority of his junior season with Ohio State. He had to have surgery on his core muscle back in October but elected to sit out the season once he was healthy.

Knowing he was in line to be one of the top picks in the draft, Bosa felt it was better for him to rehab and start preparing for his career. That should end up serving him well as he limited the wear on his body, and will also be far enough removed from his injury that he’ll be 100 percent healthy.

Once he blows up the Combine, there will be calls for him to go No. 1 overall. However, the Cardinals took Williams — thanks in part to Chandler Jones being on their roster — which helps the Niners land a player who can make a huge impact on their struggling defense.

3. NEW YORK JETS: JAWAAN TAYLOR, OT, FLORIDA

One player who has really moved up draft boards over the past couple of weeks is Jawaan Taylor. The massive Florida offensive tackle is listed at 6-5 and 335 pounds and most will see this big player and think he’s just a mauler, but the thinking side of the game is what sets him apart.

This isn’t to say he doesn’t have power, because he does. It was rare to see Taylor overwhelmed and he consistently looked better every season as the year wore on. He now catapults to the top spot for offensive linemen and offers the New York Jets a superior blindside protector to keep Sam Darnold upright.

For the Jets, this will be imperative in trying to get the most out of their No. 3 pick from 2018. Darnold showed potential during his rookie campaign, but New York needs to add a lot around him if they want to have continued success for their signal caller.

Outside of a lineman like Taylor, they’re also going to need some help at receiver — as well as potentially at running back. Both those positions, however, have historically had talented players slide into later rounds in the draft.

4. OAKLAND RAIDERS: JOSH ALLEN, EDGE, KENTUCKY

No team took more grief this season for the moves they made than the Oakland Raiders did. After hiring Jon Gruden, who spent the last decade in the ESPN booth, they started to tear down the roster. Their two biggest moves were to trade defensive end Khalil Mack and wide receiver Amari Cooper.

For Oakland, it was a chance to get some draft stock. For the teams who picked up those players, it ended up helping each win their division. And the worst part for Oakland is both Mack and Cooper were largely credited in the turnarounds for their new teams — especially Cooper who joined a 3-4 Dallas Cowboys club and helped them to a record of 10-6.

In addition to that, the Raiders had no in-house options to replace either player. So now, their extra draft capital may be used to help replace what they already had. With all that being said, they draft Josh Allen to play on the edge, hoping he can bring pressure like Mack used to.

Allen was a star at Kentucky who did himself a huge favor in returning this year. As a senior, he had a career-year and goes form a potential late pick in Round 1 to a top-five talent. Oakland desperately needs a player of his caliber who can put the defense on his back and make some much-needed splash plays.

5. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU

After taking a year off from coaching, Bruce Arians got back into the game this season. He had gained traction as a potential head coaching option after saying he would consider returning — but only for the Cleveland Browns job. Then he made it clear more than once he wanted to coach the Browns, but the feeling apparently wasn’t mutual.

Cleveland went in another direction, but so too did Arians. He ended up landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has a talented offense to work with. The question will be whether or not he gets Jameis Winston to perform at a higher level than he has the past couple of seasons.

In recent mocks, I’ve had the Bucs going for a quarterback and shutting the door on Winston all together. That’s not an easy call given the investment they’ve made in him, but it is a possibility. Still, in this mock we trust Arian’s background working with signal-callers and go in a different direction.

Knowing how bad they were in the secondary in 2018, the Bucs grab Greedy Williams from LSU. He’s a tall corner who can help out a lot in a division that has studs like Julio Jones and Michael Thomas — as well as young up and comers like Calvin Ridley and D.J. Moore.

6. NEW YORK GIANTS: DWAYNE HASKINS, QB, OHIO STATE

There are plenty who still believe in Eli Manning as the leader of the New York Giants. There are also those who think his time is up and say the G-Men need a new signal-caller. As for the Giants themselves, they are saying their all-in on Eli, but their actions have shown they’re at least looking around.

The Giants sent members of their front office out to scout Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, who was likely to be the No. 1 overall pick had he left school. Once Herbert decided to stay, the best prospect became Dwayne Haskins — although he was trending in that direction even while Herbert was undecided.

With all that being said, the Giants now find themselves on the board with the best quarterback in the draft available. As much as they want Manning to find his old form, there’s no way they can pass up the Ohio State prospect.

Haskins only started one season for the Buckeyes, but he was fantastic in that season. Haskins completed 70 percent of his passes for 4,381 yards and 50 touchdowns. He has the talent to start right away and lets the Giants go from one franchise quarterback to another — something that’s not that easy to do.

7. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: ED OLIVER, DT, HOUSTON

This is a position where I can go back and forth with what to do. The Jacksonville Jaguars truly need a new quarterback under center as Blake Bortles has proven he’s not the guy. He was even benched at one point for Cody Kessler, which says about all you need to know about his future with the club.

With that being the case, the Jaguars could look to the draft to find his replacement. Or, they could look to some potential veteran replacements. There are some decent options they can look at there with Tyrod Taylor about to hit free agency as well as Joe Flacco being on the trade block. Another option could be Eli Manning, who may be out with the Giants if they do go with a signal-caller in Round 1.

Manning does have ties to executive vice president Tom Coughlin as they spent years together — and won two Super Bowls — with the Giants. He could be a viable option for a couple of seasons as they look for the perfect franchise quarterback. Assuming that they do go with a veteran, Jacksonville uses this pick on Houston’s Ed Oliver.

Once thought to be the best prospect in the draft, Oliver has been surpassed by Quinnen Williams who blew up this year. That doesn’t mean Oliver isn’t still the same incredible talent. Instead, it means Jacksonville got themselves a star right here.

8. DETROIT LIONS: DEVIN WHITE, LB, LSU

Despite going 6-10 in 2018, the Detroit Lions have a decent roster to work with. Yes, there have been some questions about quarterback Matt Stafford who hasn’t been as effective over the past couple of seasons, but he’s still good enough to win games. Especially now that Kerryon Johnson is there and giving them a legitimate run game.

Even with some of the bigger names being offensive players, the Lions were better on defense than offense — which makes sense considering head coach Matt Patricia’s background as a defensive coordinator. With their first-round pick in this mock, they look to get even better in this area by taking LSU’s Devin White.

The junior linebacker was constantly around the ball for the Tigers and has some high praise from scouts around the league according to draft expert Matt Miller.

He might be the most athletic player in the entire class. I’ve heard stories about his battles with Leonard Fournette, and they’re on a similar level athletically.” White can help a defense that limited opponents in terms of yardage, but struggled to stop the points, round into shape. And once Patricia gets the kind of defense he wants, their offensive woes won’t seem so bad.

9. BUFFALO BILLS: N’KEAL HARRY, WR, ARIZONA STATE

It seemed like no prospect divided scouts and draft experts the way Wyoming’s Josh Allen did. The young quarterback left school after displaying an incredibly powerful arm as he had the ability to throw it 70-yards while on the run. Allen also displayed great mobility, especially considering his size. But, people weren’t sold because of his wild accuracy.

Much like Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn, Allen could rifle perfect throws one moment, and then be off base by several yards the next. The Buffalo Bills saw enough upside to make him the No. 7 overall pick in 2018 and he was then thrust into a starting role for them.

As expected, he was up and down — but showed even more mobility than anticipated as he rushed for 631 yards and 8 touchdowns. His passing still left a lot to be desired, but he also had minimal weapons. Buffalo addresses that with this pick as N’Keal Harry comes over to offer up a true No. 1 wideout.

At Arizona State, the 6-4, 215-pound receiver proved to have great hands and an ability to win contested passes. He’s also tough to bring down after the catch, often making moves like a running back would. He and Allen growing together can bring great results for the Bills.

10. DENVER BRONCOS: DREW LOCK, QB, MISSOURI

Recent history hasn’t been kind to the Denver Broncos when dragging quarterbacks. Their past two picks both failed to meet expectations as both Brock Osweiler (second-round pick) and Paxton Lynch (first-round pick) are no longer on the roster. And neither ever became a full-time starter.

That won’t stop general manager John Elway from trying again, even if he went to free agency last season and landed Case Keenum. While the veteran can be a good bridge starter, the Broncos want more and go for that with Drew Lock. This seems like a great fit and Denver has t been great about hiding their desire for him. As Mark Kiszla and Ryan O’Halloran discussed while doing a piece for The Denver Post, Elway is “smitten” with Lock.

Is Missouri senior Drew Lock a safe bet to be the next quarterback of the Broncos? The worst-kept secret at the Senior Bowl: John Elway is smitten with Lock. I’m not sold on him, but my vote doesn’t count when Denver is on the clock during the NFL Draft.

Lock was better in 2017 than 2018, but still belongs in the first round. He has a strong arm, makes good decisions, and played against elite talent in the SEC. Even if it takes him a couple of years to reach his potential, he will be their best quarterback since Peyton Manning.

11. CINCINNATI BENGALS: JONAH WILLIAMS, OT, ALABAMA

After Marvin Lewis and the Cincinnati Bengals ended their relationship this offseason, it feels like something positive is around the corner. All signs point to Zac Taylor, the current quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams being the guy to come in and replace Lewis. His first task will be to get Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton back to the form he showed in 2015.

That season, Dalton was completing more than 66 percent of his passes and had 25 touchdowns against just seven picks. More importantly, Cincy was 10-3 with him as the starter. A broken thumb ended his season and A.J. McCarron took over as the Bengals lost in the postseason.

Since then, Dalton has been a good quarterback but nothing like he was showing that season. Maybe working with a quarterbacks coach like Taylor will push him back over the top. If not, he could be done with the franchise — but first, they do all they can to help him succeed.

That includes landing a starting left tackle to make life a little easier when standing in the pocket. Alabama’s Jonah Williams fits the bill as he’s one of the best O-line prospects in the entire draft. His stock soured some due to a poor performance in the National Championship, but his upside is still through the roof.

12. GREEN BAY PACKERS: JACHAI POLITE, EDGE, FLORIDA

With their first of two picks in the opening round, the Green Bay Packers fill a huge by selecting Florida edge rusher Jachai Polite. Currently, the Packers top pass rushers are Nick Perry and Clay Matthews, but it’s time for a change.

Polite has the ability to step right in and produce and is more than just an edge rusher. Polite is more than that as he holds his own against the run and has the kind of technique coaches love.

Jachai Polite is being billed as a pass rush specialist, and while it’s true that is often how Florida deployed him, he has played against the run plenty this season and more than held his own. What Polite lacks as a point-of-attack powerhouse he makes up for with good technique, exceptional range and the ability to slip blocks and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.

There are already rumors about the Packers moving on from Matthews — which could happen as they have a new coach in Matt LaFleur who could be looking to turn the page on the past. Going out and adding someone like Polite would make that transition rather smooth.

13. MIAMI DOLPHINS: CLELIN FERRELL, EDGE, CLEMSON

Another team with a new coach this offseason is the Miami Dolphins. After a couple of seasons of watching Adam Gase get rid of ‘locker room cancers’, the Dolphins realized he was becoming a divisive force — and the team wasn’t getting the results they wanted. So Gase was let go and then went on to have one of the epically worst press conferences ever for the New York Jets.

Miami will face him twice a year now since Gase stayed in the division, and they too went for a coach in the AFC East by deciding on Brian Flores of the New England Patriots. The former linebackers coach is an up and coming young defensive coach who will likely try and stock up on his side of the ball. They do this with Clelin Ferrell, the Clemson sack artist who went back for his senior season and got himself a title — and a Big Mac from the president.

The Dolphins haven’t received the production from 2017 first round pick Charles Harris they anticipated and Cameron Wake is nearing the end of the line. Ferrell can end up being the one to take Wake’s spot as their sack leader. And Flores will be thrilled if he can make some splash plays against his former team — as well as against the man he’s replacing.

14. ATLANTA FALCONS: RASHAN GARY, DT, MICHIGAN

There are so many pieces on the Atlanta Falcons roster to love. Quarterback Matt Ryan can make all the throws and they have a trio of receivers that can hurt opponents in Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Calvin Ridley. There’s even Austin Hooper at tight end, who made the Pro Bowl this season.

Defensively they also have some key pieces like linebacker Deion Jones, safety Keanu Neal, and defensive linemen Takkarist McKinley and Grady Jarrett — although Jarrett is about to hit free agency. While all that’s true, there are a couple of spots they can address to get themselves back into contention in the NFC South — defensive tackle and guard.

While guard is an option, this may be too early to make a move. Atlanta could still find help at that spot later in the draft, so they decide instead to focus on D-tackle. Even if they re-sign Jarrett, Atlanta can use some help next to him and that leads to them landing Rashan Gary from Michigan.

Gary is one of those agile defensive linemen that can crest matchup nightmares along the interior. Atlanta could go from a decent defense to a dominant one with his addition — again, provided that they keep Jarrett in town as well.

15. WASHINGTON REDSKINS: D.K. METCALF, WR, OLE MISS

The 2019 season is going to be huge for Jay Gruden. The Washington Redskins head coach enters his sixth season at the helm and is fresh off his second-straight 7-9 record. Overall, he’s 35-44-1 and there’s a lot of room for improvement.

After going 9-7 and then 8-7-1 in 2015 and 2016, the team has taken a step backward. Of course, this past season he could get a pass. Washington suffered injuries all over the offense, but were still leading the NFC East past midseason. Then, quarterback Alex Smith broke his leg and they never recovered from that loss.

While injuries happen, losing a starting quarterback is devastating. Making it worse, Colt McCoy also suffered a fractured leg and he was lost for the season as well, leaving the Redskins scrambling for answers. As for Smith, he may not be able to go in 2019 so the team could be looking for another signal-caller for at least 2019.

Whatever happens there, they do need better players at skill positions. Here they land D.K. Metcalf, who had his own injury problems at Ole Miss. a neck injury shortened his final season with the Rebels, but he’s healthy now and would be one of the best receivers on their roster right away.

16. CAROLINA PANTHERS: GREG LITTLE, OT, OLE MISS

The big issue this offseason for the Carolina Panthers is going to be the health of Cam Newton. They have some good pieces around him, but this team goes as he does. Which is why it’s so concerning that a shoulder injury limited him down the stretch — and could cost him more time according to owner David Tepper.

If you told me he took a year off and could recover and be fully recovered and everything else, and that’s what it took, an extra year, why wouldn’t you do [that]? Now, we would have to do other things, right? We’d have to go out and get another quarterback. If you could find me some more cap space, I’d appreciate that.

So while they have to decide what to do with Newton going forward, Carolina also needs to figure out ways to keep him healthy whenever he does get back on the field. Some of that falls on Newton, who is a hard-running quarterback. He may have to adapt his style of play to limit the hits he takes. But some is still on the team.

Their offensive line struggles and gives up too many hits on Newton. Adding a solid left tackle could at least help slow those shots down, and that’s what they get here with Greg Little from Ole Miss. The 325-pound Little is one of the strongest tackles coming into the draft and, if he can clean up some of his technique issues, he can end up being a perennial Pro Bowl player.

17. CLEVELAND BROWNS: CHRISTIAN WILKINS, DT, CLEMSON

No team was able to change their fortunes through the draft quite like the Cleveland Browns did. With the No. 1 pick, they finally found their franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield while also securing a couple of other starters. They went from a 0-16 team to a 7-8-1 franchise, and it may have been even better had they not kept Hue Jackson as the head coach for the first eight weeks.

Now, general manager John Dorsey is back at it as he looks to continue his impressive rebuild. With the No. 17 overall pick, he has a few ways to go with wide receiver, offensive tackle, and defensive tackle being the primary targets. The recent Senior Bowl showed them that the talent at wide receiver is deeper than expected, and they can wait for a player at this position.

As for offensive tackle, they’re looking to extend Greg Robinson, who played fairly well in the second half of the season. That means defensive tackle should be seen as the No. 1 spot needing to be addressed. They do that here by selecting Clemson’s Christian Wilkins.

The 300-pound Wilkins is capable of playing either tackle spot and can hold up well against both the run and pass. In the past two seasons, he’s recorded 111 tackles and 10.5 sacks showing that he’s developed into the exact kind of weapon the Browns need.

18. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: JEFFERY SIMMONS, DT, MISSISSIPPI ST

The big free agent signing for the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 was quarterback Kirk Cousins. Given a fully guaranteed deal worth $84 million over three seasons, Cousins got all the press as he was supposed to push the team over the top. After going 13-3 with Case Keenum, Cousins stepped in and the Vikings ended up missing the playoffs. Now, he gets all the blame for the disappointing season as well, which comes with the position.

However, he wasn’t the only free agent pick up that was supposed to bolster their roster. Minnesota already had a strong defensive line and still went out and signed defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. However, he signed for only one season as it seemed as though the Vikings were trying to make a run this season.

Looking ahead to the coming free agency period, Richardson is likely not in the cards, unless he takes a lower than market contract. With that seeming unlikely, they get themselves a replacement in the draft by selecting Jeffery Simmons out of Mississippi State. Another of the incredibly talented defensive linemen coming into the league in 2019, Simmons would fit right in with the Vikings and could end up even being an improvement over Richardson — which is quite a compliment to his talent.

19. TENNESSEE TITANS: DEIONTE THOMPSON, S, ALABAMA

In recent seasons, the NFL started to move the draft around to different locations — once they realized the insane desire fans have to attend and cheers as their favorite teams pick the stars of tomorrow.

2015 and 2016 saw the annual event held in Chicago, followed by Philadelphia in 2017 and then inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas this past season. Now in 2019, the Tennessee Titans will be the ‘home team’ as the draft takes place in Nashville.

With Music City playing host, the Titans will have plenty of fans on hand when they make their selections. The first comes at No. 19 and they use it for an Alabama safety by the name of Deionte Thompson. After playing sparingly in his first three seasons, Thompson had a fantastic senior year in which he recorded 78 tackles and two interceptions.

He proved during his redshirt junior campaign that he’s capable not only in coverage but against the run. With Tennessee already boasting a solid safety in Kevin Byard, the addition of Thompson will only make them harder to move the ball against — which is exactly what a defensive-minded coach like Mike Vrabel is going to like.

20. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: AMANI ORUWARIYE, CB, PENN STATE

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been drafting defense in the first round for nearly a decade. And they do it again here as they stay in-state to select cornerback Amani Oruwariye who excelled at Penn State. While Oruwariye is a big name, he had a rough time at the Senior Bowl which could leave a sour taste in the mouths of some.

However, he has time to make up for that showing with workouts and the Combine. And let’s not forget the tape he put out there, which has many scouts convinced he can start early and develop into a game-changing cornerback.

Oruwariye’s size, length, strength and ball skills make him an ideal fit as an outside zone/press corner. Complementing his impressive stature is a trust for his technique and outstanding processing skills. Oruwariye has the traits needed to matchup with “X” receivers in man coverage, making him a scheme-versatile defender. Oruwariye has the upside to start early in his career on the boundary and emerge as a productive playmaker with his ability to make game-changing plays on the football.

Pittsburgh has decent corners now, but with Joe Haden nearing the end of the line, adding a young understudy makes a lot of sense. Oruwariye could develop into the type of shutdown corner this defense needs to take the next step as they rebuild their once-feared defense.

21. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: KELVIN HARMON, WR, NC STATE

Russell Wilson said 2018 felt like a fresh start, and in many ways it was. The Seattle Seahawks said goodbye to a lot of familiar faces and moved on to new ones. This went on not only with the players, but the coaching staff as well. In fact, there was so much change that many seemed willing to write the Seahawks off.

Despite the turnover, Seattle came out and won 10 games while earning a berth in the playoffs by way of the No. 6 seed. They were unable to beat the Dallas Cowboys, but it still feels like they’re building toward something — rather than tearing everything down. Entering the 2019 NFL Draft, they continue building toward that plan of sustained success by getting Wilson a new No. 1 target in Kelvin Harmon.

During the 2018 season, Tyler Lockett was the top receiver for Seattle and Doug Baldwin was still there to make some clutch plays. However, Baldwin is over 30 and Lockett is better as a No. 2 receiver. Harmon can come in and learn beside the veteran Baldwin and eventually taking his spot opposite Lockett.

While at North Carolina State, Baldwin showed excellent route running skills and soft hands. He went for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons and has more size than what Wilson is used to at the position — which is a great thing for them.

22. BALTIMORE RAVENS: NASIR ADDERLEY, S, DELAWARE

In 2018, the Baltimore Ravens spent two first-round picks on offensive players. First, it was tight end Hayden Hurst out of South Carolina. Later, they traded back into the first to select Lamar Jackson, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. While Hurst’s impact as a rookie was minimal, Jackson ended up taking the reins under center when Joe Flacco was hurt and he never relinquished the job.

With Jackson now entrenched as the franchise quarterback, Baltimore will look to build around him in order to stay competitive in the AFC North. However, they’re also a historically strong defensive team and will also continue to add to that side of the ball as well — which is what they do here by taking Delaware safety Nasir Adderley.

The Ravens don’t have to look far to find this kid as he was a star for the nearby college. While he did stand out there, questions remained due to the talent level he played against. Then in the Senior Bowl, he turned a lot of heads with his play and thus increased his draft stock. While a first-round pick may have seemed like a stretch not too long ago, the Ravens would likely have to jump on him now in order to keep some other teams — like the Raiders who coached him at the Senior Bowl — from snatching him up.

23. HOUSTON TEXANS: CODY FORD, OT, OKLAHOMA

There’s no way any member of the Houston Texans coaching staff or front office can say their offensive line is where they want it to be. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was sacked more than any other gun-slinger in 2018 and they simply have to fix that. Which is why they use their first-round pick on Oklahoma’s Cody Ford.

Despite having just one season as a full-time starter, Ford has ascended up boards thanks to his freakish strength. which many scouts have pointed out his physicality as a reason this kid can be a “top-tier” player at the next level.

There is no question that right now his physical and athletic gifts are superior to his polish, but Ford has the traits to be a top-tier player in the NFL. He needs refinement and proper coaching, preferably at tackle first and then moving to guard if he consistently struggles on the outside. Ford’s ceiling may be higher at guard, but his value could be greater at tackle if he hits. The redshirt junior should be one of the biggest risers of the pre-draft process and has a legitimate shot to be a first round pick.

Ford should be able to excel at tackle, which would help the Texans tremendously. On the flip side, if he does have to move to guard — as Ledyard points out as a possibility — that wouldn’t be terrible either as Houston has a need there as well.

In the end, Cody Ford is a heck of an offensive lineman and the Houston Texans need as many of those as they can get.

24. OAKLAND RAIDERS (VIA CHICAGO BEARS): MACK WILSON, LB, ALABAMA

With the pick the Oakland Raiders got for Khalil Mack, they could look to add more to their defense — which was an incredibly sore spot last year. What’s been bad even beyond that has been the play of their linebackers, which is something they have to solve.

Here at No. 24, they try and do that by taking Mack Wilson, the middle linebacker from Alabama. Wilson went back and forth with his decision about going pro but finally decided just before the deadline to do so. It seemed a little surprising as he was apparently leaning toward staying — according to his mother. On top of that, he wasn’t very impressive during the National Championship game against Clemson.

That seemed to be the norm for the entire Alabama team as the Tigers just dominated the game. Throwing that one out, the tape shows a linebacker who is disciplined and instinctive. And most importantly, he can play coverage.

In the AFC West, there are some pass-happy teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. Those two clubs have serious threats at tight end — like Travis Kelce and Hunter Henry — and a guy like Wilson can go a long way toward helping Oakland’s chances in those games.

25. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: MONTEZ SWEAT, EDGE, MISSISSIPPI STATE

Defensive end is a pretty strong spot for the Philadelphia Eagles, but it may not stay that way for long. Currently, they have veterans Chris Long and Brandon Graham who are each set for free agency in 2019. Both are over 30 and could elect to sign elsewhere — with it seeming likely that Graham will. Should they do that, Michael Bennett and Derek Barnett remain as the starters.

While that’s a great duo, the Eagles understand the importance of having solid depth, possibly more than anyone else. Barnett missed nine games this season — not to mention the high number of injuries elsewhere the past couple of seasons like at quarterback, running back, and offensive line.

Philadelphia has also been fantastic about persevering through those injuries — even winning a Super Bowl with backup quarterback Nick Foles under center. That’s why they add another defensive end with their first pick as Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat is their choice in this 2019 NFL Mock draft.

After transferring from Michigan State, Sweat recorded 22.5 sacks for the Bulldogs. He’s great off the edge and will give the Eagles a nasty rotation, while eventually being able to move into a starting role himself.

26. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: DEXTER LAWRENCE, DT, CLEMSON

Dexter Lawrence took a hit when he was one of the players suspended in the college playoffs for a reported failed drug test. Scouts won’t like that at all, but he shouldn’t have a problem convincing them it was an isolated incident and earning their trust. With that being said, he still goes in the first round as the Indianapolis Colts take a shot on him to bolster up their defensive line.

Lawrence can do exactly that, he’s strong against the run — while also saying there’s some upside in his ability to rush the passer.

Against the run, he is tough to move off the line of scrimmage and flashes surprising quickness once he gets off blocks. He has very good awareness/recognition.

As a pass rusher, he’s still a work in progress, but he generates excellent pocket push because of his raw power. Every now and then, he’ll flash a quick hand move to generate pressure. He also has a good feel/timing against the quick game and uses his length to bat down passes.

Lawrence is roughly 340 pounds and can give the Colts the kind of power on the defensive line that they received for their offensive line in 2018 by selecting Quenton Nelson. This would make a team that’s been bad at the line of scrimmage in recent seasons a serious problem on both sides for opponents to deal with.

27. OAKLAND RAIDERS (VIA DALLAS COWBOYS): MARQUISE BROWN, WR, OKLAHOMA

With their final pick in the first round, the Oakland Raiders again look to fill one of the holes left by their trades during the seasons. This particular trade with the Dallas Cowboys sent Amari Cooper to the Lone Star State and left a Texas-sized hole in the Raiders’ receiving corps.

After making the move, Cooper completely took off for Dallas and the Raiders evenacknowledged that this move could end up looking bad — as if they haven’t already. They also started to give some excuse about the offense that they run didn’t fit Cooper’s strengths, which also makes little sense.

While all that can be debated, one thing that’s true is Oakland needs another star receiver on the field. With this selection, they get one as they select Marquise Brown from Oklahoma. While he doesn’t have the prototypical size (listed at 5-10 and 168 pounds) he is a big play waiting to happen. The past two seasons with the Sooners, Brown had 132 receptions for 2,413 yards with 17 touchdowns.

His size limits him in the NFL and has him going outside of the first round in many mock drafts. For Oakland, they have shown they don’t care about that. They target the guy they want and make their move — see Kolton Miller as an example. Here, they decide to go with a kid who can open up their offense simply by stepping on the field.

28. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: DEVIN BUSH, ILB, MICHIGAN

No team has had as strange of time the past two seasons as the Los Angeles Chargers have. After a long, drawn-out battle with the city of San Diego for a new stadium proved to be fruitless, they moved to Los Angeles. However, they didn’t have a stadium ready, so they borrowed the Los Angeles Galaxy Stadium known as the Stub Hub Center — now known as Dignity Health Park. Their Carson, CA home sits roughly 27,000 people, which is much smaller than any other NFL stadium.

Even with the venue being on the small side, the Chargers struggled to fill the seats and some opponents even spoke of the stadium as a home game considering how many of their fans graced the stands. Simply put, Los Angeles hasn’t seemed to embrace them much. Perhaps that changes when they move into the shared stadium with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. Or perhaps there will always be a Clippers/Lakers vibe where one team just overshadows the other in L.A.

If that starts to become the case, the only way the Chargers can change it is to become perennial winners. They’re close as they gave the Kansas City Chiefs a run for their money on 2018 but came up just short. Here, they try and continue to build their roster in an effort to slow down the high-powered Chiefs offense. Already strong at defensive end, the Bolts address the second level of their defense with Devin Bush.

While at Michigan, Bush was a huge playmaker in the middle of the field. He’s slightly undersized, but with a talented defensive line in place, he could find some room to fly through and make some impact plays.

29. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: BYRON MURPHY, CB, WASHINGTON

The 12-win Kansas City Chiefs locked up the No. 1 seed but fell short of the Super Bowl as they lost to the New England Patriots in overtime. In that loss, the No. 1 offense in the NFL was left standing on the sidelines in the extra period as they watched the Patriots march down for the winning score.

While there were outcries following the game for new overtime rules, that’s not necessary. The problem wasn’t the rule. The problem was the Chiefs defense couldn’t stop the Pats on several third-and-long attempts.

This comes as little surprise given the fact they were 31st in the NFL against the pass — as well as in total yardage surrendered (according to NFL.com). Kansas City gave up more than 400-yards total per game and 26.3 points per contest. As good as they were on offense, there’s no way any team can expect to win a title by playing so poorly on one side of the ball.

That’s why it’s so important for them to start fixing their defense. They already moved on from defensive coordinator Bob Sutton but will need better players as well. Here, they try and improve their secondary by picking Byron Murphy out of Washington. The redshirt sophomore is an early entrant who is coming off a season in which he recorded four interceptions and 58 tackles. He won’t cure everything that ails the Kansas City defense, but he can help.

30. GREEN BAY PACKERS (VIA NEW ORLEANS SAINTS): DEEBO SAMUEL, WR, SOUTH CAROLINA

The New Orleans Saints were going all-in on the 2018 season. They inked quarterback Drew Brees to a two-year deal to make sure their offense stayed on track. Then in the draft, they decided to trade a future first-round pick for an impact defender to take that side of the ball to the next level. The player they chose was UTSA defensive end Marcus Davenport, who filled a huge need but was still a head-scratcher.

Davenport was a project player, so it wasn’t like he was going to make the impact they needed during his rookie season. Still, the Saints made the move to jump up in the draft and the Green Bay Packers benefit as they get to select two players in the 2019 NFL Draft.

After already adding an edge player of their own with their pick, they now go after a receiver with the selection obtained from the Saints. With their offense becoming stagnant at times, the Packers decide to put a new playmaker on offense by taking South Carolina receiver Deebo Samuel.

Samuel was a continual highlight reel for the Gamecocks and showed out in the Senior Bowl. He was constantly beating his defender but was getting missed by his quarterback. That won’t be a problem here as Aaron Rodgers will hit Samuel whenever he finds the soft spots in the defense.

31. LOS ANGELES RAMS: NOAH FANT, TE, IOWA

The Rams were completely shut down on offense in Super Bowl LIII, which was unheard of. Quarterback Jared Goff was 19-of-38 passing and was especially poor on third downs as the team converted on just 3-of-13 attempts. What really stood out though, was the fact that not one pass was completed to a tight end.

With the Patriots intent on slowing down the outside receivers, the Rams were at a loss. They couldn’t get enough time in the pocket for players like Brandin Cooks, or Robert Woods to get deep — and the 120 yards out of Cooks was inflated by the last drive from L.A. when the game was already decided.

Perhaps, things could have been different had Goff been able to work the middle of the field more with a trusted tight end. That could be where they go in the upcoming draft as they look to improve their team.

A big tight end like Noah Fant from Iowa could have made a difference in Super Bowl LIII. He’s not only a precise route runner with good hands, but he’s a big target that can make contested catches against linebackers. He entered this draft as an underclassman and just squeaks into the first round, but fills a huge need for the Rams.

32. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: KYLER MURRAY, QB, OKLAHOMA

At 41 years of age, Tom Brady just won Super Bowl No. 6. That’s more than any other player has won and he’s also been to more Super Bowls than any single player with nine. However, this one looked tougher on him than most. Throughout the season, people doubted the New England Patriots and at times, they looked like an incomplete team.

Against Los Angeles in Super Bowl LIII, that remained true as they struggled for much of the game to really move the football. In fact, they were locked in a 3-3 tie heading into the final quarter. Then, they got it figured out just like they always do.

Brady and the Patriots scored 10 points in the final quarter to ice the game and receiver Julian Edelman won the MVP with his 141 yards receiving. Now, they move on to the draft and knowing that Brady can’t play forever, they get his understudy — but they do so with a surprising pick of Kyler Murray.

The Heisman winner is just about the most polar opposite player from Brady, but that seems like a curveball Bill Belichick would throw when looking for his next star. He can groom Murray for the next few seasons and allow him to eventually take the place of the best quarterback to play the game. Either that or Belichick will tease everyone with him and trade him for a high draft pick later. Either way, Belichick will win.

33. ARIZONA CARDINALS: RILEY RIDLEY, WR, GEORGIA

Larry Fitzgerald announced he will come back for another season, which will be his 16th season in the NFL. While Fitzgerald was down in terms of stats last season, he’s still a consummate pro and can be a great mentor for the Cardinals next stud receiver — which could end up being Riley Ridley who they get via the 33rd pick.

34. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (VIA N.Y. JETS): JAYLON FERGUSON, EDGE, LOUISIANA TECH

A borderline first-round talent, Louisiana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson had a fantastic career and then showed out in the Senior Bowl. The Colts continue rebuilding their defense and he can give them a great threat off the edge.

35. OAKLAND RAIDERS: JERRY TILLERY, DT, NOTRE DAME

Jerry Tillery is a player able to destroy opposing running games but really has developed as a pass rusher as well. The Raiders continue to land some serious talent in this draft by grabbing the Notre Dame defensive tackle.

36. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: DEANDRE BAKER, CB, GEORGIA

The back end of the defense for the San Francisco 49ers was pretty rough last season. Here, they improve it with DeAndre Baker from Georgia. He could potentially start right away and would have a sensational mentor in veteran Richard Sherman.

37. NEW YORK GIANTS: ISAIAH BUGGS, DT, ALABAMA

After sending Damon Harrison to the Detroit Lions last season, the New York Giants need to find themselves a new defensive tackle. Here, they take Isaiah Buggs, who has great talent yet found himself lost with starts like Quinnen Williams and Raekwon Davis around him. New York gets a premium talent despite that fact.

38. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: DALTON RISNER, OT/G, KANSAS STATE

Blake Bortles is likely out, and the Jags may go with a veteran option instead. If they do that, beefing up the offensive line will help give their new gunslinger some time to throw. Dalton Risner comes in with the ability to play just about any position and should be a long-term starter in the NFL.

39. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: DANIEL JONES, QB, DUKE

No way can the Bucs feel good about Jameis Winston, who was benched twice for Ryan Fitzpatrick last season. While they didn’t replace him in Round 1, they do get someone who can compete with him here in Daniel Jones. The Duke product has some room to grow, but has what it takes to be a star in the NFL — with the right coaching.

40. BUFFALO BILLS: ANDRE DILLARD, OT, WASHINGTON STATE

Andre Dillard has climbed the boards quickly and is starting to gain traction as a first-round talent. He helped himself tremendously with his practices at the Senior Bowl, but still just misses out on being a day one pick. The Bills are fine with it because they just got their blindside protector for Josh Allen.

41. DENVER BRONCOS: DAVID EDWARDS, OT, WISCONSIN

Another team turning the page at quarterback could be the Denver Broncos, and in this 2019 NFL Mock Draft, they did so with Drew Lock at No. 10. Now, they continue to add talent in front of him as they take Wisconsin tackle David Edwards. Nothing will help a young quarterback develop like a good O-line giving him ample time to make his reads, which is why they target Edwards.

42. CINCINNATI BENGALS: A.J. BROWN, WR, OLE MISS

A.J. Green continues to struggle with durability and Tyler Boyd is a free agent. As for John Ross, he’s not a legitimate starter no matter how much Cincy wants him to be. Here, the Bengals protect themselves at the position with A.J. Brown.

43. DETROIT LIONS: BRIAN BURNS, EDGE, FLORIDA STATE

Brian Burns can give the Lions a solid presence on the edge. After already landing Devin White, Detroit is starting to build a strong and fast defense.

44. GREEN BAY PACKERS: TAYLOR RAPP, S, WASHINGTON

Before the 2018 season began, the Green Bay Packers traded Damarious Randall away. During the season, they shipped off Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Doing so continued a trend they have had over the past few years of switching out the secondary. Now, they add more youth in Taylor Rapp from Washington.

45. ATLANTA FALCONS: KRIS BOYD, CB, TEXAS

Every year there are always disappointments in the NFL. For 2018, the Falcons were atop that list as they fell far short of expectations. They add a potential shutdown corner in Kris Boyd here as they look to get back on track in 2019.

46. WASHINGTON REDSKINS: WILL GRIER, QB, WEST VIRGINIA

There were reports that Alex Smith could miss the season and that’s also been refuted by the team. The fact is, Smith is coming off a serious injury and is going to be 35 years old. The Redskins protect themselves here and get an understudy in Will Grier.

47. CAROLINA PANTHERS: OSHANE XIMINES, EDGE, OLD DOMINION

Julius Peppers announced his retirement which means the Panthers have to replace a legend. Oshane Ximines won’t be able to do that right away, but he brings a dangerous player on the edge who can surely help fill the void.

48. MIAMI DOLPHINS: DRE’MONT JONES, DT, OHIO STATE

In order to compete in the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins need to become a more physical team. That’s the goal with the selection of Dre’Mont Jones out of Ohio State. 2018 was a breakout season for Jones who had 43 tackles and 8.5 sacks and can help the Dolphins defense get to the next level.

49. CLEVELAND BROWNS: YODNY CAJUSTE, OT, WEST VIRGINIA

The defensive line got better for the Browns with their first-round pick, and now they address the offensive line. Yodny Cajuste is a massive tackle who excels with power. He needs to work some on his pass protection, but he’s far more talented than anyone Cleveland used last season at tackle. Cajuste could end up protecting Baker Mayfield for the next decade, or longer.

50. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: TE’VON CONEY, OLB, NOTRE DAME

Anthony Barr is a free agent and could very well be out the door due to the contract he could demand. If so, the Vikings will need depth at linebacker — and could use some even if he returns. Te’Von Coney was all over the field for the Fighting Irish and could provide them a solid option.

MORE: Thielen is most underpaid receiver in NFL

51. TENNESSEE TITANS: ZACH ALLEN, DT, BOSTON COLLEGE

Continuing to add defense, head coach Mike Vrabel and the Titans pick up Zach Allen with their second-round selection. He joins former teammate Harold Landry who went to Tennessee in this same round last season. Allen is a more complete player and can really shut down opposing run games.

52. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: JOSH OLIVER, TE, SAN JOSE STATE

The Steelers like Vance McDonald, but could lose Jesse James in free agency. If so, Josh Oliver could provide a great replacement, and he would be a superior pass catcher. He needs to work on his blocking, but can be a huge threat in the slot right away.

53. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (VIA BALTIMORE RAVENS): JOSHUA JACOBS, RB, ALABAMA

Jay Ajayi has been a good running back in the NFL, but he hasn’t been incredibly durable. He came into the NFL with knee issues and a torn ACL shortened his 2018 campaign. The Eagles need someone they can trust long-term and they get a good one here in Joshua Jacobs from Alabama, who burst onto the scene this past year.

GARY L DIBERT ON SPORTS

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

MY FIRST OF MANY NFL 2019 MOCK DRAFT

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