Mock Draft 1.0: Post-NFL Week Five

The Cleveland Browns were the talk of the off-season. Through five games, however, they have yet to live up to the hype. That being said, there is talent sprinkled throughout the entire roster with few glaring holes. The biggest hole would be the offensive line, but there are no prospects worth picking at that position here. Outside of that, the Browns could stand to upgrade the safety position opposite of Damarious Randall. Morgan Burnett has been adequate but he isn’t the long-term answer there. Delpit would be able to add versatility to play in the box or deep in coverage and be interchangeable with Randall.

Minshewmania has been running rampant in Jacksonville since the quarterback took over for Nick Foles early in the year. With that, DJ Chark has become a legitimate WR1 and has been putting up big receiving numbers. Outside of Chark, however, there are not many trustworthy options for Minshew (or a healthy Foles) to target consistently. Ruggs would bring world-class speed to the unit as someone who can stretch the field vertically, which can also help to open up the run game. Chark and Ruggs would be a very fun receiver duo to watch on Sundays.

Despite the backlash on draft night, the Giants may have actually found their new franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones. Now they need to focus on giving him legitimate targets to throw to at receiver. After trading away Odell Beckham Jr., running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Evan Engram have been the Giants’ only consistent receiving targets. Lamb can be the WR1 immediately with good size and hands along with solid speed and quickness.

The Chargers had a problem last season at the linebacker position that forced them to play upwards of seven defensive backs at times. This year, that position has been an issue once again. It seems like Los Angeles either has to choose between a downhill, run-stopping linebacker or a more athletic, coverage linebacker. Isaiah Simmons has the size and athleticism to do both at a high level and has shown the necessary ability needed to be an every-down linebacker in the NFL.

Marcus Mariota is in the final year of his rookie contract and, right now, the feeling out of Tennessee is that he will likely not be back under center next year. That will leave them looking for a franchise quarterback yet again. With a good defense and run game around them, they would have support for a rookie signal-caller. Burrow is perfectly suited to replace Mariota and will thrive with play-action. He will also be able to do something Mariota has largely struggled with in his career, which is pushing the ball deep down the field.

As it seems to have been throughout Jameis Winston’s career, Tampa Bay has been quite inconsistent this season. It is possible the Bucs could be looking for a new quarterback next year because of Winston’s inconsistencies. That being said, I think Bruce Arians likes his skillset and believes in his own ability to develop quarterbacks. So in this mock, I’m going with the assumption Winston will be the quarterback in Tampa Bay next season. So where do they go in the draft? Cornerback has been a rotating door in a secondary that has been struggling quite a bit this season. Fulton would be able to come in and help solidify the unit right away. He has a long frame with good athleticism and the quickness to be a lock-down cornerback in the NFL.

Despite all the adversity the Colts have faced after Andrew Luck’s retirement, they find themselves right in the thick of the playoff race. That just goes to show how talented the team is around the quarterback position. That being said, if there is one glaring weak spot to point to on the roster it would be the interior defensive line, where there they lack a true stud run stopper in the middle. Brown has good size, strength, and quickness to come in and immediately upgrade the Colts’ poor run defense.

Despite their recent struggles, the Cowboys still look like a legitimate Super Bowl contender when they are playing at their best. They have a loaded roster, but one position has plagued them for years. That position is at safety, where they have multiple adequate players, but lack a difference-maker on the back-end of the defense. McKinney would provide that as a physical, yet rangy, center field safety who is very good at getting in position and making plays on the ball in the passing game.