Joe Burrow has been the best quarterback in college football this season, and we need to start talking about him potentially going No. 1 overall. For real.
The LSU passer is completing nearly 80 percent of his passes at 10.8 yards per attempt with 30 touchdowns and four picks playing in the SEC. Goodness. He's been mostly very poised inside the pocket and has flashed athleticism on scrambles. As a former top recruit, he has the inherent ability to be the top pick, and in this mock, he goes No. 1 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals.
A wild Week 8 is almost in the books and there's a lot to go over. Fortunately Will Brinson, John Breech, Ryan Wilson and Sean Wagner-McGough are here to break everything down on the latest episode of the Pick Six Podcast. Listen to the full show below and be sure to subscribe right here for daily NFL goodness.
The draft order below is based on records and strength of schedule. Position rankings are based on my Top 32 Big Board.
Now, to the picks.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
In back-to-back drafts, the quarterback who's been the first pick got there after a meteoric rise up draft boards. Burrow would make it three in a row for that trend.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
The tank for Miami nets Tagovailoa at No. 2 overall. Have to consider that a win for the organization.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
No need for any movement for the Redskins' pick. Thomas is the best left tackle in college football, and the team is likely going to have a gaping hole at the position next year.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Atlanta's defense is porous and the secondary has gotten exploited every week. Okudah would help a great deal, as he's a super-athletic, ball-hawking outside cornerback.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Stuck between Young and Jerry Jeudy here for the Jets would be a nice draft-day dilemma. While Darnold needs more offensive weaponry, Young is the better prospect overall, and New York desperately needs more outside pass rush.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Jeudy is instantly Daniel Jones' No. 1 target -- especially on the outside -- and his fluidity as an athlete gives him positional flexibility. He'll be an awesome fit in Pat Shurmur's West Coast offense.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Vic Fangio is likely going to go shopping for an interior pressure creator or two this offseason, and adding Kinlaw would work wonders for the defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Cleveland has problems at guard and both tackle spots. Wirfs' play strength, relatively impressive athleticism, and versatility would make this a prudent pick for John Dorsey.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
The Jameis Winston era is trending toward being done after 2019, so the Buccaneers have to turn their attention to the quarterback position. Herbert has all the high-end tools to thrive with Bruce Arians.
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From
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1 - Pick 10
The Dolphins are trying to add cornerstone pieces to the franchise at premier positions. Tagovailoa at No. 2, and the experienced, long, and athletic Jones at No. 10.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Philip Rivers can still play, but it's time for the team to draft his eventual successor. Eason isn't very experienced but is the most physically gifted passer -- think arm strength -- in the class.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Can't quit this pairing. The Raiders are slowly but surely improving, yet the defense needs a true, game-changing player in the back seven. That can be Simmons, a prototypical, modern-day linebacker.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 13
I have a feeling Ruggs is going to erupt at the combine, and the Raiders would likely be interested in adding another speed receiver.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Pairing Brown with 2019 third-rounder Zach Allen would give the Cardinals two big, powerful movable chess pieces on their defensive line.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Malcolm Jenkins has been a leader on the Eagles' defense for years but turns 32 in December. Perfect mentor-mentee situation here.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Diggs is an imposing presence at 6-foot-2 with plus athleticism and outstanding ball skills. He'd really help to keep the Jaguars defense as one of the better units in the AFC.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Corey Davis has not panned out as expected in Nashville, and there's an outside chance Mike Vrabel and Co. would be content with Ryan Tannehill under center to start 2020.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Even if the Lions don't trade Darius Slay, the defense has gotten to be a problem to a certain degree. Fulton would give the secondary a much-needed boost.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Gallimore is a smooth athlete for the position and is strong enough to bull rush NFL interior blockers. He's what the Panthers need, especially with Kawaan Short turning 31 in February.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 20
While Simmons seemingly stands out as a physical freak of a linebacker, Murray isn't too far behind him athletically.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Hall is out for the season with an ankle injury, but the Cowboys weren't afraid to draft Jaylon Smith and that turned out to be a coup for them. Hall has tremendous all-around ability at the outside corner spot.
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From
Houston Texans
Round 1 - Pick 22
Same selection as last week for Miami. So in this first round, they nabbed a quarterback (Tagovailoa), left tackle (Jones), and edge rusher (Epenesa).
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Henderson can play anywhere, and the Chiefs must add more secondary reinforcement via the draft while Patrick Mahomes is still on his rookie deal.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Minnesota is ecstatic about this selection, and it gives them a serious receiving talent after Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Gross-Matos is just scratching the surface of his full potential and has a large frame to which he could add more weight. He'd be a perfect base defensive end in Sean McDermott's system.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Shenault is a big-bodied wideout with impeccable skills after the catch because he's twitchier than most wideouts his size and has plus contact balance.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
While, as a whole, the Seattle offensive line has improved, it's still not the level of where it should be. Throckmorton has played everywhere up front in his Oregon career.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Aaron Rodgers is getting it done without his top target, Davante Adams, on the field. But Wallace would provide Green Bay with a major deep threat.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Baltimore has a dangerous secondary yet could be more imposing across the defensive line. Weaver has been an alpha rusher since his freshman season at Boise State.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Weaver might not "win" at the combine, but he's a tackling machine and savvy zone coverage defender, plus he has awesome size for the linebacker spot.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
More defense for San Francisco? Sure. Davis is a super-rangy center fielder at the safety spot.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Small, incredibly-twitchy with plus ball skills. That's the one-sentence summary on Reagor right now, and Bill Belichick loves wideouts like that.
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