I sure hope y’all enjoyed my seven-Round Ravens mock draft this week!
With the Ravens’ pick in Round 1 locked in now (at least in my book), I figured it’s time I give the rest of Round 1 a shot too. After all, it can’t be much worse than some of these predictions that the national ‘experts’ have been putting out there…Â
Notes
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I don't have Hurts or Love in my first round.
•Teams that could take Jordan Love: Green Bay (62), Pittsburgh (49)
•Teams that could take Jalen Hurts: Baltimore (55), Atlanta (47)
•Best player I don’t have in round one: Wisconsin LB Zack Baun (32 sacks/TFLs in 2019)— Peter King (@peter_king) April 20, 2020
Yep. The Ravens want to draft another QB with their 2nd pick, that makes TOTAL sense, Peter…
So let’s see how this Round 1 Mock goes. I’d call 6-8 hits a huge success, anything more and I’m playing the lottery.
Pick 1 – Cincy: QB Joe Burrow, LSU
“Tiger King.”
Pick 2 – Washington: EDGE Chase Young, Ohio State
“This pick is more obvious than the fact that Carol Baskin killed her husband.”
Pick 3 – Miami: QB Tua Tagovaiola, Bama
*TRADE!* Miami sends R1P5, R1P26, R3P70 to Detroit for R1P3
“Much like the Jets did back in ’18 when they jumped from 6 to 3, Miami can’t risk the Chargers or another team trading ahead of them for QB2. A quick hop up 2 spots to secure Tua (also I don’t believe the Herbert smoke).”
Pick 4 – NYG: OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
“Daniel Jones may not be an actual talented QB (the ’19 class version of Josh Rosen), but the Giants won’t know where his ceiling is, until they can manage to keep him upright. Their top priority should be top Offensive Tackle.”
Pick 5 – Detroit: CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State
*via MIA trade*
“Detroit trades down… adds another Round 1 pick & a Day 2 pick… and still gets Okudah? That’s a win-win, and a rarity for Detroit.”
Pick 6 – LAC: OT Jedrick Wills, Bama
“Head Coach Anthony Lynn is standing on the table for Tyrod Taylor, and I truly believe that’s his game plan for 2020. How do you best ensure his success? Draft the best offensive tackle in the draft class.”
Pick 7 – Vegas: WR Jerry Jeudy, Bama
*TRADE!* Carolina sends R1P7 & R2P38 to Las Vegas for R1P12, R1P19
“Mike Mayock & John Gruden once again throw a curve ball in the first round! This time, they jump up from R1P12 to lock in the top wideout off the board, in Jerry Jeudy. Derek Carr is happy… at least until he’s replaced in 2021.”
Pick 8 – Arizona: OT Andrew Thomas
“I still won’t jump on the Kyler Murray hype train, but just like the Giants did with Danny Dimes a few picks earlier, the Cards need to focus on getting their 2nd year QB as much protection up front as they possibly can.”
Pick 9 – Jax: iDL Derrick Brown, Auburn
“With Carolina trading down, Brown falls to the Jags, who just lost some big bodies on their D-Line this offseason. I’m sure, for some reason, this will rile up Yannick Ngakoue, who will tweet in the direction of the Jags front office once again…”
Pick 10 – Cleveland: OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville
“The Browns may be stupid, but they’re not too stupid. Draft the best OT available so Baker can have one less excuse for his fall from grace.”
Pick 11 – NYJ: OT Josh Jones, Houston
“It’s a full out OT run with 5 OT’s in the last 8 picks! While Jones is a bit of a drop off, the Jets can ill-afford to let Sam Darnold continue to crumble under a subpar OL. It’s a reach… but it’s also the Jets.”
Pick 12 – Carolina: LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
*via LV trade*
“Imagine trading down from 7 and still landing friggin’ Isaiah Simmons. Matt Rhule… rules (I’ll see myself out).”
Pick 13 – Philly: WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
*TRADE!* San Francisco sends R1P13 to Philly for R1P21, R2P53
“Philly has been adamant to get a solid weapon for QB Carson Wentz, but sitting at 21 scares the hell out of GM Howie Roseman, who watched the first wideout already jump off the board via a trade up. As such? Philly makes the trade and jumps up for stud wideout, CeeDee Lamb.”
Pick 14 – Tampa Bay: RB DeAndre Swift, Georgia
“Tampa Brady wanted a tackle but the run on OT’s (5 already gone) has left Tampa outside looking in. No matter, give the man another weapon in the form of a pass catching back that’s top of the rookie class.”
Pick 15 – Denver: WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
“A shocker! Elway continues to believe the only way to ensure Drew Lock doesn’t fail (like literally every other QB Elway has ever drafted or signed), is to give him max weapons. As such, Elway drafts a wideout, but opts for a true technician in Justin Jefferson over Henry Ruggs. Scoff if you must… but don’t be shocked if it happens.”
Pick 16 – Carolina: iDL Javon Kinlaw
*TRADE!* Atlanta sends R1P16 to Carolina for R1P19 & R4P113
“The Panthers added a 2nd pick in Round One with their first trade down, but pair this pick with a Day 3 pick to jump back up the board and grab Javon Kinlaw to pair with Simmons, which is just unfair as all hell.”
Pick 17 – Dallas: CB C.J. Henderson, Florida
“I know… Jerrah passing up on Ruggs seems idiotic, but I think he’ll be vying for some defensive help instead (also, not interested in giving Dak toys if he won’t sign his damn deal!). Losing Byron Jones, but replacing him with CB2 in CJ Henderson should put a big ol’ smile on JJ’s face.”
Pick 18 – Miami: OT Lucas Niang, TCU
“Trading up for Tua hurt the Fins shot at getting a top-tier OT. Niang is still a very good OT. Take what’s on the table.”
Pick 19 – Atlanta: EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU
*via CAR trade*
“Atlanta has been rumored to be heavily interested in trading up (notably for a CB), but looking at their draft capital (1 pick in each R1-2-3) they don’t have much to play with here in 2020. As such, they slide back a few picks, and still manage to land Chaisson.”
https://youtu.be/VWRko11vtlk
Pick 20 – Jax: CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
“The Jags need some help at CB (among every other position) so this is strictly BPA.”
Pick 21 – SF: WR Henry Ruggs, Bama
*via Philly trade*
“The Ruggs fall finally halts & San Fran another weapon with wheels for days.”
Pick 22 – Minnesota: CB A.J. Terrell, ClemsonÂ
“The Vikes are pissed about the Ruggs-SF pick after ousting Stefon Diggs last month, but it’s cool. They opt to go with Terrell here, as CB is an equally major need.”
Pick 23 – Indy: QB Justin Herbert
*TRADE* New England sends R1P23 to Indianapolis for R2P34, R3P75 & R3F2021
“I know the Patriots haven’t made a Round One move since 2013, but this one feels kinda obvious. The Patriots lost a ton of pieces in the offseason and are watching the rest of the AFC East (well, at least the Fins and Bills) load up around them. The smart money here is that Belichick sees Day 2 as the golden ticket, and the Colts are his key to getting there. And no, I don’t think they’re drafting a QB this year.”
Pick 24 – New Orleans: LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
“I’ll let you know right now- NO is taking the only iLB in Rd1, and while he’s not ‘my guy,’ Murray will be a solid starter and great fit in N’awlins.”
Pick 25 – Minnesota: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
“3 picks later, the Vikes land their new wideout to pair with Adam Theilen.”
Pick 26 – Detroit: EDGE Zach Baun, Wisconsin
*via Miami trade*
“Plenty of folks seem to enjoy the Baun/Van Noy comparisons (not my cup of tea), so naturally I can see former Patriots DC/current Lions HC Matt Patricia reaching/looking to add a versatile player in Baun to be his new Van Noy-toy.”
Pick 27 – Cincy: iOL Cesar Ruiz, Michigan
*TRADE!* Seattle sends R1P27 to Cincy for R2P33 & R5P147
“Seahawks trade down for the 7th time in a handful of years, opting to add picks. Cincy continues to bulk up their O-Line to protect new QB Joe Burrow. I’m sure some Ravens fans would throw the TV remote if this happens.”Â
Pick 28 – Ravens: WR Michael Pittman Jr., USC
“I stick to my guns here based on my 7 Round Ravens mock. Pittman is WR5, but goes WR6 in this mock. Yes, there’s a scenario in which they drop into early R2 to make this pick, but the 5th Year Option has it’s value too…”
Did you know the Ravens have drafted more players from USC than from any other PAC-12 team? Check out this graphic, from our friends at Vivid Seats:
Want to see how your alma mater stacks up? Interested in the position breakdown of the Ravens most recent drafts? Check out all four of Vivid Seats’ interactive visualizations here.
Pick 29 – Tennessee: OT Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
“The loss of Jack Conklin spurs a Round One Tackle grab by the Titans.”
Pick 30 – Green Bay: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
“The Packers load up Rodgers with a versatile weapon that they’ve coveted all along. 7 wideouts in Round One?! 7 wideouts in Round One.”
Pick 31 – LAC: QB Jordan Love
*TRADE* San Francisco sends R1P31 to the LA Chargers for R2P37 & R4P112
“The Bolts said they’re ready to give Tyrod the reigns- I don’t doubt that- but Jordan Love fell like a ton of bricks and the Chargers were ready to scoop him up before another team jumped into the fray. The 5th year option for a QB always helps too. In turn, the 49ers get even more needed Round 2-4 picks.”
Pick 32 – KC: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
“I had Jonathan Taylor here, but CEH is my RB2, and giving Patrick Mahomes another weapon in the passing game, while also adding a stout running back makes too much sense for KC… and also pisses me off/scares me.”
There ya have it folks. It’s insane. It’s ludicrous. Every pick is 100% wrong.Â
But we’ll surely miss all of this outlandish chaos that comes with the NFL Draft once it’s behind us and we’re doing nothing more than sitting and waiting for the return of sports…
