With The First Pick
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4 takeaways from Mel Kiper’s Mock Draft 3.0

By Bryan Perez

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 01: Dwayne Haskins Jr. #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 01: Dwayne Haskins Jr. #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats in the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The 2019 NFL draft is less than one month away, and it’s important to start paying close attention to the breadcrumbs Mel Kiper, Jr., leaves behind in his latest NFL mock draft.

ESPN’s NFL draft expert, Mel Kiper, Jr., published his third mock draft of the 2019 NFL draft season and, as always, it wasn’t without some surprises.

Here are four takeaways from Miker’s third crack at predicting the first round.

Dwayne Haskins is the Giants’ quarterback of the future

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The New York Giants are a real wildcard in the first round this year because of the number of needs the team has heading into draft weekend. General manager Dave Gettleman can just as easily select one of this year’s top offensive tackles as he could a pass rusher, but according to Kiper, Haskins is the pick even if he’s not 100-percent sold on New York taking a quarterback.

“It’s no certainty that the Giants take a quarterback with this pick,” Kiper wrote. “They are clearly rebuilding, have several needs (offensive tackle and edge rusher stand out) and could instead use the 17th pick for a QB.”

According to multiple reports, including NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, Duke QB Daniel Jones looked like a first-round pick at his pro day Tuesday and he’s been connected to the Giants as a possible landing spot at No. 17 overall ever since New York acquired the selection from the Browns. If that’s the case, Haskins could suffer a bit of a side out of the top 10.

BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 13: T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 13: T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Broncos pass on a QB and choose Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson

One of Kiper’s boldest predictions in this mock draft is Hockenson to Denver at No. 10 overall. And it’s not because Hockenson isn’t worthy of a top-10 selection; instead, it’s because the Broncos have long been connected to Missouri QB Drew Lock in this spot, and there’s been little-to-no reason to suggest anything’s changed.

Hockenson projects as one of this year’s safest picks because of his well-rounded game as a run blocker and pass catcher, but is he really how Denver should spend such a high pick? Yes, he’d help Joe Flacco as an intermediate target in 2019, but if the Broncos want to maximize the value of this selection, they should spend it on a quarterback who can be groomed behind Flacco (assuming, of course, Lock is graded accordingly).

OXFORD, MS – SEPTEMBER 8: D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Mississippi Rebels catches a pass for a touchdown during a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Salukis 76-41. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS – SEPTEMBER 8: D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Mississippi Rebels catches a pass for a touchdown during a game against the Southern Illinois Salukis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Rebels defeated the Salukis 76-41. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Aaron Rodgers gets a new weapon in Ole Miss WR D.K. Metcalf

Fantasy football players will love what Kiper does with the Packers’ pick in the first round. Metcalf has Julio-Jones-upside and is the kind of receiver who’s open even when he’s not. Combine that kind of skill set with a deadly accurate quarterback like Aaron Rodgers, and you have instant fireworks.

Metcalf was one of the NFL combine’s biggest winners (literally) when he ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at 6-3, 228 pounds. Forget about his agility drills; Metcalf is a physical freak who will win one-on-ones and make defenders look silly after the catch. And even if he’s not as flexible as some of the elite testers who’ve come into the league in recent years, the X-factor that is Rodgers will make all those concerns go away.

This would arguably be the scariest pick (in a good way) of the 2019 NFL draft if it actually happens.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 01: Terry McLaurin #83 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a pass against the Northwestern Wildcats in the first quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 01: Terry McLaurin #83 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a pass against the Northwestern Wildcats in the first quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Ohio State WR Terry McLaurin is a first-round pick (Colts, No. 26)

This might be the most interesting nugget to pull from Kiper’s mock draft. McClaurin has been on the rise since his impressive performance at the combine, but his production at Ohio State doesn’t suggest he’s a first-round player.

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McLaurin ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at 6-foot, 208 pounds and had an impressive 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad jump. He’s an explosive guy, and those explosive traits are evident on tape. He finished 2018 with 701 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Kiper has McLaurin off the board before Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown and Ole Miss’ A.J. Brown, a thought that would’ve been considered insane a month ago.

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