#ceedee still looks insanely good

[realtapiocafan]

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fuck cancun, fuck cabo-

paris on 3! 1, 2, 3!

[racingtoaredlight]

RTARL’s 2020 NFL Season Week 8 Extravapalooza

Well, here it is. The last week of football before Election Day. Nobody knows what the hell things are going to be like society-wise in the immediate aftermath, no matter which candidate is declared the winner (or WHEN a winner will be declared, for that matter). Will Leitch thinks that if Trump wins, or at least refuses to concede, athletes might decide not to play anymore. I don’t think I can go that far, I’m probably too cynical to believe that anyone would really give up the giant piles of cash that a truly prolonged protest would cost. It would be pretty damn wild if it happened, though. Maybe things post election will be pretty much business as usual, with perhaps a bit more weeping and gnashing of teeth on our Facebook timelines than we’re used to. Whatever the case, at least we have this one last oasis of NFL action to enjoy in peace and relative calm before things go buckwild. 

My picks are in BOLD, and the lines come to us courtesy of our friends at Vegas Insider. I use the “VI Consensus” line, which is the line that occurs most frequently across Vegas Insider’s list of sportsbooks. Your sportsbook of choice may offer a different number, and if you’d like my opinion on said number A) you are insane, and B) leave a comment below and I’ll try to answer at some point before things kickoff today. 

EARLY GAMES

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-6.5)

In what will be the case for several games on the slate this week, the weather looks windy, cold and miserable for this one. A dysfunctional Vikings team that already looks to have thrown in the towel playing in shitty, uncomfortable conditions against a dick like Aaron Rodgers who would gleefully run it up on anybody at any time seems like a recipe for an ass-whoopin’ featuring many hilarious shots of bundled up, checked-out Vikings on the sideline.

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (-4.5)

In case you were wondering how things are going in Pats Nation, I was visiting with my grandmother this past Wednesday and she was wondering aloud if they should try playing Julian Edelman at QB since he played there in college. Since this conversation, both Edelman and fellow WR N’Keal Harry have been ruled OUT, so my grandmother’s outside-the-box thinking can’t be properly utilized even if she’d managed to convince Bill Belichick to try it via a steady campaign of email harassment. QB Cam Newton has looked like he’s trying to play while wearing a medieval suit of armor for the past 2 games and now he has absolutely nobody to throw to outside of RB James White. Oh, and reigning DPOY CB Stephon Gilmore is also out for this game and might be on the trade block. Not great! If the Bills don’t cover here I’m officially declaring them frauds, and the AFC East will join the NFC East as true dumpster divisions whose winners absolutely should not be permitted into the playoffs.

Tennessee Titans (-7) at Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals will be missing 3 starting offensive linemen for this one, which you’d think would be less than ideal for my boy Joe Burrow. But A) his offensive line has been absolute trash all year anyway, and B) the Titans are terrible at generating a pass rush. If there’s ever a situation where missing 3/5 of an O-line is okay, it’s this one. Joey’s gonna sling it all over the yard, baby! Well, except for the huge chunks of the game when Tennessee uses Derrick Henry to chew clock and grind the Bengals defense into dust. Joey won’t be slinging anything then.

New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs (-20)

You should only be able to view this game on the Dark Web.

Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns (-2)

The weather is supposed to be fairly nasty for this one, with rain, strong wind gusts whipping off of Lake Erie, and gametime windchills in the low 30s. Both teams like to run the ball a ton as it is, so they won’t have to adjust strategies all that much. With that said, the Browns run defense is much stronger than that of the Raiders, so I’m giving them the nod. My nonsensical-but-very-real vendetta against the Raiders may also be a factor.

Indianapolis Colts (-3) at Detroit Lions

I was pretty surprised to see the Colts as road favorites here. Since getting studmuffin WR Kenny Golladay back in Week 3, Detroit is 3-1 and looking pretty good. Indianapolis has had a very cake-like schedule, and I’m not sure they’re as good as their 4-2 record would indicate. Gimme Stafford and the Lions all day.

Los Angeles Rams (-3.5) at Miami Dolphins

I feel bad for Miami (now backup) QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. He seems like a great dude, and the team was playing reasonably well with him at the helm. That said, I’m excited to see what Tua can do. If he’s 100% healthy, I think he’s gonna be a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Not so much this week, though. The Rams D and Aaron Donald are a rough way to break in.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-4)

It’s weird, but even though this looks like a high-quality game between two legit contenders who happen to be bitter division rivals, I don’t really have anything to say about it. It’s the marquee matchup of the week, I have no idea who will win, and you should watch it if you can.

LATE GAMES

New Orleans Saints (-4) at Chicago Bears

Here’s another game where the weather could be a factor, with the forecast calling for sustained winds of 25mph with gusts up to 40 mph. The combination of the wind, the Bears’ excellent pass defense, and the fact that WRs Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are once again OUT would seem to suggest that increasingly noodle-armed Drew Brees is gonna have a rough go of it.

Los Angeles Chargers (-3.5) at Denver Broncos

This is absolutely a game between a couple of AFC West teams, don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (-3)

San Francisco looks like the best team in football when they get a decent lead and can just pummel their opponent into submission via Kyle Shanahan’s masterfully schemed running game. Whenever the game situation calls for a shift to a more pass-heavy attack, they’re in trouble. Every Seahawks game this year has been a shootout, and they’ve failed to score at least 30 points in a game only once. I can’t bank on Handsome Jimmy to keep pace with Russell Wilson.

SNF: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (-11)

Yeah, I know, Dallas is starting a Madden Create-A-Player named “Ben DiNucci” at QB for this game. But, this Philly squad that lost to the Football Team by 10 and only managed to beat the Giants by 1 doesn’t deserve to be a double-digit favorite against anybody. Even if DiNucci is pretty bad (and he most likely will be), he still has Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Zeke Elliott at his disposal against a not-particularly-strong Eagles defense. GRIP IT AND RIP IT, BENNY BOY!

MNF: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-12.5) at New York Giants

Oh boy, I bet Giants Head Coach and cartoonishly over-the-top redass Joe Judge is gonna make his guys practice EXTRA HARD after this beatdown. Everybody that knows the douchier and more hostile you are, the better your football man brain is. It’s science.

Last Week’s Record: 5-8

Season Record: 49-46-4

[junker-town]

Here’s our latest NFL mock draft, right after the combine

Where Tua Tagovailoa will end up is one of the biggest question marks of the 2020 NFL Draft.

A potential bombshell was dropped at the NFL Scouting Combine. What happens if Washington doesn’t draft Chase Young?

The NFL Scouting Combine is a wrap, and it’s leading to some serious speculation about the second overall pick.

We all know that the Cincinnati Bengals are poised to take LSU quarterback Joe Burrow first overall. But headlines were made when new Washington head coach Ron Rivera spoke to the media about his intentions with the second pick in the draft.

“Everything is an option,” Rivera said when asked about Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. “We’re not closing the door on anything.”

For now, that opens things up to discussion about Washington not taking Ohio State’s Chase Young. Here’s a look at how that could alter the first round, as well as some players who helped their stock at the combine.

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Offseason needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle, linebacker

Forget that silly false narrative — Burrow has no problem playing for the Bengals. Adding to that, Bengals player personnel director Duke Tobin all but shot down the notion of trading the first pick in the draft. Put that together and the case is even stronger that Burrow is the No. 1 pick.

2. Washington: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Offseason needs: Offensive tackle, pass rusher, wide receiver, cornerback

You can’t dismiss the fact that Rivera was not part of the organization when it drafted Dwayne Haskins last year. And while Rivera said a team can win with Haskins, this seemed like much more of a damning quote.

“He’s not anointed, that’s for sure,” Rivera said during his media session. “I expect him to come in and compete and work, and we’ll see what happens.”

3. Detroit Lions: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

Offseason needs: Cornerback, defensive tackle, pass rusher, wide receiver

No one will be happier if Tagovailoa goes second than the Lions. That leaves Young, the best player in the draft, for them. After giving Trey Flowers a five-year, $90 million contract last offseason, the Lions would have a lot of money tied up in their pass rush. But defensive ends of Young’s caliber make it worth it.

4. New York Giants: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

Offseason needs: Offensive tackle, pass rusher, linebacker, cornerback

Simmons, somehow, exceeded expectations at the combine with his insane workout. Call him a Derwin James clone. Or a taller Thomas Davis. No matter the comparison you prefer, Simmons is going to be a star in the NFL.

5. Miami Dolphins: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Offseason needs: Quarterback, pass rusher, offensive tackle, running back, cornerback

Herbert stole the show during the quarterback portion of combine workouts, but not so much that he becomes one of the first two quarterbacks off the board. But if Tagovailoa is the No. 2 pick, the Dolphins could sit back at No. 5 and take Herbert.

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Offseason needs: Quarterback, offensive tackle, cornerback, guard

Arguably no team will be hit harder by Tagovailoa going second than the Chargers. It would mean there’s a strong possibility on missing out on Herbert and going into next season either starting Tyrod Taylor or a free agent signing. Whomever is the quarterback in Los Angeles needs an improved line. If the Chargers can fix their line and add a couple of pieces here and there, they could be one of the surprise teams in the NFL next season.

7. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

Offseason needs: Linebacker, defensive tackle, cornerback, quarterback

If three quarterbacks go in the first five picks, the Panthers can find themselves in position to get one of the draft’s elite players. Brown, at 325 pounds, is a powerhouse defensive tackle who can stuff the run and get after the quarterback. As new head coach Matt Rhule reshapes Carolina’s roster, Brown could be the centerpiece on defense.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Offseason needs: Offensive tackle, defensive tackle, wide receiver, pass rusher

It’s hard to decide who had the single most impressive combine, but you can’t go wrong saying it was Wirfs. He set a record for offensive linemen in the broad and vertical jumps, and he had the fast 40-yard dash time of all blockers in Indy this year. That was all at 320 pounds, too. Wirfs’ athleticism is legendary. The craziest thing? It’s all evident when you watch him play.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

Offseason needs: Cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker, safety

Okudah had a brief injury scare at the combine, but it in no way should impact his draft stock. If the Jaguars target a defensive player and Simmons is gone, Okudah should get the nod over anyone else. He can lock down lead receivers for Jacksonville, and take a lot of the pressure off veteran A.J. Bouye.

10. Cleveland Browns: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Offseason needs: Offensive tackle (both sides), safety, linebacker, slot cornerback

Becton tipped the scales at the combine at 364 pounds and still managed to run the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds. That’s a lot of force at play. More importantly, Becton has shown he uses his size against defenders, both at the edge and in space.

11. New York Jets: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

Offseason needs: Pass rusher, offensive tackle, wide receiver, cornerback

Leading up to the start of free agency, there are rumors of the Jets being the landing spot for Titans right tackle Jack Conklin — unless they are not. What happens with Conklin will determine what the Jets do with the 11th pick. If Conklin signs elsewhere, the Jets could take the fifth offensive tackle in first 11 picks. In most drafts that would be ridiculous. But in any other year, a player like Thomas would be in contention for the first five picks.

12. Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

Offseason needs: Wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, quarterback

The Raiders could have their pick of wide receivers if we do see a big run on offensive tackles. Raiders general manager Mike Mayock explained what he’s looking for in a wide receiver, and Lamb fits the bill nicely.

13. Indianapolis Colts: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Offseason needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle, defensive lineman

The Colts seem poised to sign a veteran quarterback this offseason, with Philip Rivers the likeliest possibility. If that happens, the Colts will be in win-now mode. With a good offensive line and solid running game, Indianapolis’ offense could be rounded out with a sure thing of a wide receiver like Jeudy.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

Offseason needs: Quarterback, pass rushing defensive tackle, pass rusher, offensive tackle

Kinlaw sat out the combine because of tendinitis, but it shouldn’t ding his draft prospects. For the Buccaneers, Kinlaw would give them the type of pass-rushing interior defensive lineman that they need next to Vita Vea.

15. Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

Offseason needs: Wide receiver, offensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker

Although Ruggs didn’t break John Ross’ 40-yard dash record, he still had an excellent combine. That means the discussion point will be about whether or not he’s jumped over Jeudy or Lamb. The Broncos should hope not. Ruggs is a perfect complement to Courtland Sutton and would give Denver a strong wide receiver duo.

16. Atlanta Falcons: K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

Offseason needs: Edge rusher, interior pass rusher, cornerback, offensive tackle

Whether it’s Takkarist McKinley or Vic Beasley, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has shown he has a preferred type of pass rusher. This draft’s version is Chaisson, a speedy standup rusher with good athleticism.

17. Dallas Cowboys: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

Offseason needs: Safety, cornerback, defensive tackle, pass rusher

With the fate of Amari Cooper, Byron Jones, and Dak Prescott up in the air, the Cowboys are the most intriguing team going into free agency. What happens with that trio will determine the direction Dallas takes in the first round. Jones is the most likely to leave, putting defensive back squarely at the top of the team’s needs. McKinney bowed out of the combine with cramps, but he’s considered by many as the top safety this year.

18. Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh Steelers): A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

Offseason needs: Quarterback, pass rusher, offensive tackle, running back, cornerback

If Epenesa slips past Atlanta and Dallas, the Dolphins should pounce. While they do need offensive line help, good pass rushers are hard to come by. Epenesa can play inside or outside for the Dolphins.

19. Las Vegas Raiders (via Chicago Bears): Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

Offseason needs: Wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, quarterback

While everyone is rightfully excited about what the offensive linemen and wide receivers did at the combine, it’s easy to overlook Murray’s performance. He ran a 4.52-second 40 and had good vertical, bench press, and broad jump numbers. There’s some ambiguity to his exact position as a linebacker, but the Raiders need a talent like him on their defense.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: (via Los Angeles Rams): Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

Offseason needs: Cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker, safety

Jefferson was a first-round player before the combine and did well to bolster his draft status. Jefferson is a stellar slot receiver with speed and sure hands.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

Offseason needs: Wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, safety

There was plenty of speculation from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah during the combine broadcast that Henderson is a top-15 pick. If he happens to drop to this range, the Eagles should snag him. Philadelphia has multiple free agent cornerbacks, and Rasul Douglas and Sidney Jones just haven’t developed as expected.

22. Buffalo Bills: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU

Offseason needs: Pass rusher, big wide receiver, interior defensive lineman, cornerback

With Tee Higgins sitting out the combine and Laviska Shenault limited by injury, Reagor could rise ahead of them in April. Reagor may not be the 6’2 or 6’3-type of receiver the Bills need, but he plays bigger than his 5’11 size, and he showed it with a 42-inch vertical leap.

23. New England Patriots: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

Offseason needs: Pass rusher, tight end, offensive tackle, quarterback

Even if the Patriots get Tom Brady back, or acquire a veteran quarterback, they should strongly consider Love if he’s available. Love is a project, but the Patriots could refresh their franchise if he’s coached up correctly.

24. New Orleans Saints: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado

Offseason needs: Cornerback, interior offensive lineman, wide receiver, quarterback

A cornerback will be intriguing here, but in Drew Brees’ final years, the Saints could stack their offense for a Super Bowl push. Shenault didn’t do much in Indianapolis and has to undergo surgery. In other words, you have to trust what Shenault did at Colorado to justify a first-round pick.

25. Minnesota Vikings: Austin Jackson, OT, USC

Offseason needs: Cornerback, offensive line, defensive tackle, wide receiver

If Jackson and Houston’s Josh Jones are both available, the Vikings should flip a coin and choose whichever one it lands on. Both are a step below the top four offensive tackles, but have starting ability as rookies. Jackson is a quick blocker and handles speed rushers nicely. In a division with Khalil Mack, Za’Darius Smith, and potentially Young, the Vikings will need that type of blocker.

26. Miami Dolphins (via Houston Texans): Josh Jones, OT, Houston

Offseason needs: Quarterback, pass rusher, offensive tackle, running back, cornerback

If the Dolphins come out of the first round with a new starting quarterback, pass rusher, and offensive tackle, that’s an A+ draft. That’s right, we’re already talking about draft grades.

27. Seattle Seahawks: Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia

Offseason needs: Pass rusher, wide receiver, interior offensive lineman, offensive tackle

Going into the combine, people were sleeping on the massive Wilson. Maybe it’s because he was only a redshirt sophomore and sat out Georgia’s bowl game. But the long-limbed, 350-pound right tackle looked good at the combine and may have pushed his way into the first round.

28. Baltimore Ravens: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

Offseason needs: Linebacker, wide receiver, pass rusher, cornerback

I’m sticking with this pick from last week. Queen suffered a hamstring injury at the combine, yet still put up a 4.5 in the 40. That shows his athleticism to a degree. It’s the type of athleticism Baltimore needs on defense.

29. Tennessee Titans: Julian Okwara, Edge, Notre Dame

Offseason needs: Pass rusher, offensive tackle, quarterback, tight end

A leg injury limited Okwara to only doing the bench press at the combine, which is unfortunate. Several teams in this range are after a pass rusher, but Okwara might slide over concerns about his health. If he does, Tennessee could take a chance in the back for the first round and find a partner for Harold Landry.

30. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

Offseason needs: Wide receiver, linebacker, offensive lineman, tight end

This would be a great spot for either Jefferson or Reagor, but both were gone in this scenario. This is actually a tough draw all around for the Packers. The best offensive linemen and linebackers are all gone, and there isn’t a tight end worth a first-round pick this year. Aiyuk is a fringe first-round player with his ability to get deep and make a play after the catch.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Grant Delpit, S, LSU

Offseason needs: Safety, cornerback, offensive lineman, linebacker

Despite an impressive showing by Lenoir-Rhyne’s Kyle Dugger at the combine, I’m still sticking with Delpit to the 49ers. With Jimmie Ward potentially gone in free agency, the 49ers can find his replacement near the end of the first round.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

Offseason needs: Linebacker, cornerback, running back, offensive lineman

Between Fulton, Clemson’s A.J. Terrell, or Mississippi State’s Cameron Dantzler, the Chiefs should have some solid cornerback options with the 32nd pick. Fulton had 25 passes defensed the last two seasons and comes out of an LSU program that knows how to develop secondary players.

[packernet]

New Post has been published on https://www.packernet.com/blog/2019/12/10/2020-nfl-mock-draft/

2020 NFL Mock Draft

Team draft order is via tankathon.com. Big board can be found here.

1 Bengals Joe Burrow QB LSU

There is a ton of debate between taking the QB of the future of Chase Young. On one hand, Chase is elite and it may be early for a QB. On the other hand, I watched the difference between Burrow and Fromm on television and I can tell you I have no interest in taking a flyer in the second round. If we want to draft a QB of the future, this is the best chance we’re going to have.

2GiantsChase YoungEDGEOhio State

This is the best possible situation for the Giants. This is parade-worthy.

3RedskinsAndrew ThomasOTGeorgia

The pick makes a lot of sense for a lot of reason. It really won’t matter until they address the front office but that’s a discussion for another time. Haskins needs help. He has a WR, let’s get him a tackle.

4DolphinsTua TagovailoaQBAlabama

I always hate dropping a QB in a terrible situation but such is the life of a lot of these QB’s. We’ve got 3 picks in the first so let’s get Tua and start building.

5LionsJerry JeudyWRAlabama

It’s not a massive need but how do you pass it up? This is also, by the way, a bad situation for the Packers. Better be ready for a shootout.

6CardinalsJeffrey OkudahCBOhio State

The Cardinals need a lot of things so taking the best available is probably the best option. Fortunately for the Okudah is a stud and their corners are horrible, even with Peterson who is likely gone next year.

7JaguarsTristan WirfsOTIowa

A WR feels like the right thing to do but we need a solid foundation first and we just simply don’t have it. Get the OL, protect the QB, establish the run, THEN worry about passing the ball all over the yard.

8FalconsA.J. EpenesaEDGEIowa

Not only are we not getting enough production off the edge but McKinley, Clayborn, Hegeman, Bailey, and Means are all either free agents prior to 2020 or after it. We have to address this.

9JetsCeedee LambWROklahoma

I’d love to get some OL help but there isn’t much available and this is a team that just needs a spark. We got a flashy new QB, Le’Veon Bell is our RB, and we are the most boring offense in football. Let’s liven this up a little.

10ChargersTyler BiadaszIOLWisconsin

Just when everything seemed to be going right, the offensive line decided they would all at once decide to play like garbage. Okung fell off a cliff… Well actually everyone else has always kind of been trash. All the more reason.

11BroncosKristian FultonCBLSU

Another time I really wanted to get a WR to see if I could just super power this offense but the corners are about to ruin what could otherwise be a great defense. Fangio has this defense humming but take Harris out of the corner group and it is beyond horrible.

12PanthersJustin HerbertQBOregon

Lots of folks won’t like this but it seems to already be in the works. They are looking for a new HC already and the rumors of moving on from Cam are already swirling. They have other needs but it looks like the Panthers are looking for a full rebuild and Kyle Allen is the answer to nothing.

13EaglesTrevon DiggsCBAlabama

The corners have been an issue here for a while. It’s a little bit of a reach but I’m going need over value here.

14RaidersIsaiah SimmonsLBClemson

Being patient pays off for the Raiders because there are 3 top tier talents available. This might be the lesser of the 3 but we need a LB badly and Simmons is a great one.

15ColtsDerrick BrownDLAuburn

If you didn’t know any better you’d assume this was a Colts fan mock draft because Brown falling to 15 is insane. But alas, here we are. Brown is considered by many to be a top 3 talent but is 7th on my board. Still a massive slide and a huge pick up for a team that could really use him.

16BucsGrant DelpitSLSU

This is the 3rd of 3 to slide massively because of reasons, and is another huge get for a team that needs a safety. In fact I would argue they need one more than any other team. This is absolute best case scenario… Well maybe one of the QBs falling but whatever, this is big.

17BrownsJavon KinlawDLSouth Carolina

I wouldn’t say I’m in love with the pick and if I was doing trades in this mock I might do one here but the defensive front isn’t great and Kinlaw could be a monster interior pass rusher.

18Raiders (CHI)Henry RuggsWRAlabama

We added some defensive help with Simmons, now we’re going to get a little firepower. An Alabama replacement for Cooper feels right also.

19TitansCreed HumphreyIOLOklahoma

The Titans are similar to the Chargers in that their roster is nowhere near as bad as their record. With Tannehill playing well and possibly about to get an extension, let’s get a tad more help along the interior and see if we can get this thing going.

20Jaguars (LAR)Laviska ShenaultWRColorado

We added a tackle earlier in the draft with Wirfs and I halfway regretted not getting a WR because we just have nothing at the position. We have a few option but I think the trigger just needs to be pulled here.

21CowboysXavier McKinneySAlabama

The Cowboys have been begging for safeties in FA and aren’t very covert about it. McKinney is near the top of the board so I’m not going to hesitate.

22Mia (PIT)Alex LeatherwoodOTAlabama

As I said, we got Tua, now it’s our job to not ruin him. Getting a tackle is the first step.

23Mia (HOU)D’Andre SwiftRBGeorgia

And then I’ll take, protect the QB with a receiving back for 1,000, Alex.

24VikingsC.J. HendersonCBFlorida

Slight reach but it’s the most obvious glaring issue and is the thing that would probably upset me the most so here ya go.

25BillsJonathan TaylorRBWisconsin

I’ve been saying for a while J.T. to the Bills makes a ton of sense. Why stop now.

26ChiefsYetur Gross-MatosEDGEPenn State

Well at least that payday for Clark worked out for Clark. As for the Chiefs, this defense needs a lot of help and getting help off the edge isn’t a bad place to begin looking.

27PackersDylan MosesLBAlabama

OL, WR, and LB are the biggest wants of Packers fans. Seeing Moses, who is #20 on my board, still available made this decision very easy. Most think the Packers would never take a LB in the first but I think that’s silly. They definitely prioritize different positions more highly but if a LB is the highest on the board and your next highest is ranked 27th, Gute will skip down Vegas to turn the card in personally.

28SeahawksJedrick WillsOTAlabama

Ya I’m reaching for offensive linemen for the Seahawks cause it’s a mock published on a day ending in Y. Not that it’s a prediction. if I wanted to predict a pick I’d scroll to guys that are a 3rd round value, close my eyes, and poke the screen. But in this mock I’m the GM and once again, we’re going to try and actually build a legitimate NFL offensive line.

29PatriotsRaekwon DavisDLAlabama

If I was forced to pick a weak spot, defensive line (not edge) would be near the top. I considered Tee Higgins but we just took a WR in the first last year. Davis just feels more like a Patriots pick anyway. Massive monster that can’t be moved along the DL.

30SaintsTee HigginsWRClemson

Because it’ll make everyone else say “Oh no”

31RavensCurtis WeaverEDGEAuburn

Judon is a stud and will probably get paid but we lose Za’darius and Suggs, and McPhee might be on the way out. Gotta reload.

3249ersKenneth MurrayLBOklahoma

The 49ers are solid but there are a surprising amount of holes. They just paid Kwon but I don’t care, that was stupid. Let’s actually get a good LB on the team.

[xlewandowski]

NFL Mock Draft — 2021

Cracks fingers and neck

LET’S GO!!

It’s that time of year again ladies and gentlemen! 

It’s time for my annual mock draft!

Been running this baby for 10 years now(!!!) and have yet to be noticed from the NFL media, except for that one time Charles Davis responded back to me and said to tone it back on the amount of running backs taken in the 1st round (he’s not wrong) and also when Bruce Murray (@brucemurraynfl) said my name flawlessly on the air; you’re a great man Bruce, with even greater hair!

Before I ultimately layout how I believe the first round will unfold (goal is to get 10/32!) I want to share my rankings of the 5 top quarterback prospects for this year, as I feel that after Trevor Lawrence it’s a tossup within the NFL world.

Trevor Lawrence

Justin Fields

Zach Wilson

Trey Lance

Mac Jones

Trevor Lawrence, my man! Is far and a-way the number one quarterback; I know Matt, tell me something I don’t know. This is why I will keep his brief. He has been ranked the best prospect since not just Andrew Luck, but I believe Peyton Manning. There is so much to like about this kid, the size, the arm strength, the leadership, THE HAIR! He’s got everything and then some. Also, I truly believe that if the Jets had the #1 overall pick he would have went back to Clemson for his Senior Year.

Justin Fields I have second as it just makes sense. I ask you, what changed from the end of the college season for him to be rated the second quarterback behind Lawrence to now the third or fourth guy? I’m serious, nothing changed. Zach Wilson threw a cool pass at his Pro Day off balance, k… Fields, for some reason has taken heat and I don’t know what for. He has the leadership and (especially) toughness that teams dream of, and he has the mobility that fits the new age NFL. Though for some reason he has been slandered. I do believe that he will have a bit of a Lamar Jackson tumble in the draft, I hope I’m wrong and I hope he goes in the top 2, yes 2.

I’m going to combine Zach Wilson and Trey Lance here as I believe they are a 3a and 3b ranking for me. Though they may be on similar platforms they are both very different players with a very high risk/high reward feel to them. Wilson I see as a hybrid of Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield, in that he has a similar build between the two but can also make savvy plays in and outside the pocket. Lance to me would be a hybrid (going green again) of Josh Allen and… can I say his name? I hope it’s ok… Colin Kaepernick. He has the elite size teams want and very good mobility, it’s just he is very raw and may (should) be given time to develop. 

If both these guys are thrown into the fire right off the bat I only think one of them walks out with a great NFL career.

Lastly is Mac Jones, who has all the accolades, a fresh National Championship, but just feels like a guy who was in the right place at the right time, but hey, it worked for Joe Burrow. Since Alabama won the Championship to now, I don’t think there is a player in this draft who has skyrocketed up draft boards more than Jones. Not long ago was viewed as a second rounder to now being viewed as potential top 3 pick. I personally don’t buy it. And please, this is not me hating on Jones, it’s me ranking the quarterbacks and if I was GM and had all these guys on the board he would be locked into my fifth choice.

Now, without any further ado, lets get this baby rolling!

Please note, that I will not be predicting trades.

Trades are inevitable but also impossible to predict; ex: who saw the San Francisco/Miami/Philadelphia trades happening? My prediction is between 5-7 trades on Thursday night.

Jacksonville, you are on the clock!

Jacksonville Jaguars — Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback This pick has been locked in since the end of the 2020 draft, the only thing that needed to be sorted was the team. Jacksonville gets the cornerstone franchise quarterback they have been dreaming of since they came into existence. The fans have bought him gifts from his registry for his wedding. This man is already beyond loved and he hasn’t even crossed the boarder into Florida. Don’t screw this up, Jacksonville!

New York Jets — Zach Wilson, Quarterback I want this pick to be Justin Fields, I really do, but I can’t do it as Wilson to the Jets has felt like a lock for months now. New York looks to be building their franchise right, they have a great GM, one of the best new hires for a head coach in Robert Saleh and they have the draft capital to surround their new Broadway quarterback with talent. Wilson needs to preform right out the gate and not let the headlines get to him, if he can do that, he has a shot.

San Francisco 49ers — Trey Lance, Quarterback Surprise! But is it though? Look, when the 49ers sold the farm for this pick it’s not for Mac Jones, who would have been there for them at #12. San Francisco is going for the highest ceiling pick here; you knew when those comparisons to Patrick Mahomes came up that some team was going to get infatuated. Lance can be brought in slowly with the team keeping Jimmy Garoppolo and having him start the season. If Lance can develop into the star San Francisco believes he is, the draft capital they gave up will feel like a bargain.

Atlanta Falcons — Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle Atlanta is in a very interesting situations their team doesn’t feel like they should be drafting in the top 5 with the talent on their roster. They have a former MVP in Matt Ryan who is beyond underrated who is in his only in his mid-30s and an offence that can still put up points. The issue with Atlanta is they can’t run the ball that well, and the hire of Arthur Smith who had the back-to-back rushing champion Derrick Henry in Tennessee, Smith knows that the best way to win is to take pressure off the quarterback and and hammer the defense with a running game. Sewell is by far and away this years best offensive tackle and getting him at 4 feels like an absolute win for the Falcons.

Cincinnati Bengals — Ja’Marr Chase, Wideout I mean, a bengal is essentially a tiger, is it not? Joe Burrow needs protection, and if Sewell was on the board that would be the pick, but with the fifth pick being a bit rich for Rashawn Slater, Zac Taylor and the gang take Chase and reunite him with his college quarterback. Some may have Kyle Pitts and his upside here, however, I believe Cincinnati makes the smart choice and go with familiarity (at least for Burrow) here and try to recapture that LSU magic.

Miami Dolphins — Micah Parsons, Linebacker This may be my boldest pick of this draft. The narrative right now for Miami is to surround Tagovailoa with as much talent as they can so he can be successful, right? Though I argue, did he not have success? Now it may not be to the insane statistical standards, but as just a pure quarterback, he preformed well in spurts. One of the biggest needs for Miami, before offensive playmakers, is a defensive playmaker. People tend to forget that defence is what takes you over the top, just look as recently as the Super Bowl, and within that Super Bowl what did Tampa have that completely floored Kansas City? Playmakers at the linebacker position. Parsons is an elite linebacker with range and pass rushing ability. Flores had great players at the linebacker position in New England, now it’s time for him to start building that in South Beach.

Detroit Lions — Jaylen Waddle, Wideout Detroit is in need of outside talent for the offence. With newly acquired quarterback, Jared Goff, the best way to maximize his skillset is to surround him with talent. Goff’s best season came when he had a deep threat in Brandin Cooks at his disposal, enter Jaylen Waddle. Waddle has drawn comparisons to Tyreek Hill minus the off-field issues. With his playmaking ability and top gear speed, this is a pick worth investing in.

Carolina Panthers — Kyle Pitts, Tight End With newly acquired Sam Darnold, Carolina opts to help out their young quarterback (crazy that he is still just 23) than give him competition. Pitts is the pick here as the tight end is the quarterbacks best friend, and with how Darnold played the last couple of years, he’ll need all the friends he can get. Pitts is by far and wide the best tight end in this years class, but count me out as one of the believers that think he is one of the best players in this years draft. He has the size, wingspan and ability to be a great tight end, I’m just not ready to say he is the best non-quarterback in this years class, and I am especially not ready to call him the next Megatron. But hey, I’ve been wrong before!

Denver Broncos — Kwity Paye, EDGE Probably one of my more shocking picks here as Denver elects to pass on both Fields and Jones here. The reasoning, Denver has gone pretty heavy on the offensive side as of late, which is a bit shocking considering Vic Fangio is an old school defensive minded coach, well, with John Elway relinquishing some of his power and pulling a back a bit on player personnel, the pick here is Kwity Paye, arguably the top edge rusher in the draft. With Von Miller and Bradley Chubb already in place, Paye has the ability to perfect his craft, learn and contribute to a Denver defense that has reloaded quite quickly.

Dallas Cowboys — Jaelan Phillips, EDGE I know the infatuation Jerry Jones has with making splashy picks on offense and that we’ve heard him say how Kyle Pitts would be great to have on his team, but Dallas needs to go back to those unflashy, bland, boring picks. Tyron Smith wasn’t flashy but was the best left tackle for years, Travis Frederick wasn’t flashy, but was arguably the best centre before injury, Zach Martin wasn’t flashy….look, you see my point. Dallas got cute last year with drafting Ceedee Lamb when they should have been rebuilding their defense. In drafting Phillips they get a player who is just scratching the surface of his potential. Teaming him up with Demarcus Lawrence gives Dallas the pass rush that will severely help out a secondary that has been one of the worst, statistically.

New York Giants — Caleb Farley, Cornerback Farley is in the conversation as the top corner in this years draft with his blend of speed and size, the main factor holding him back is his lengthy injury history, having dealt with an ACL tear and herniated disk. If he can find away to stay out of the trainers office and remain on the field, New York will be set in the secondary for years to come – just imagine if Deandre Baker had worked out…

Philadelphia Eagles — DeVonta Smith, Wideout Raise your hand if you’ve heard this one before, but the Philadelphia Eagles needs playmakers at the wideout position. This is a team that has blown it multiple times in successive years at the wideout position. I mean, could you image if this team had drafted DK Metcalf AND Justin Jefferson?! Could have been unreal, but instead, it’s back to the drawing board for Philadelphia. Some can argue that DeVonta Smith is the best wideout in this years class, and with the year he just put up at Alabama I wouldn’t blame you, but since winning the Heisman concerns over his size have grown, and to be fair, yes, he is bit too small (weight wise), but to quote (paraphrase) Kyler Murray a couple of years ago, “I have always played at this size, it’s nothing new to me”, can be used for Smith. Will he sacrifice a few yards if it means staying healthy? It worked for Marvin Harrison..

Los Angeles Chargers — Rashawn Slater, Offensive Tackle The Chargers have shown their hand a bit too much in this years draft process with them being vocal that they need an upgrade at the tackle position, and you know what, it’s not hard to see why, they absolutely hit a grand slam in Justin Herbert last year, and the best way for them to finally make it back into the playoffs is to protect that young man, I mean, also not blow late game leads, all their defensive stars getting injured, all their offensive stars (sans Herbert) getting injured, etc., etc.. Slater is this years second best offensive tackle after Sewell. Slater can be an absolute mauler in the trenches and immediate contribute at the left tackle position.

Minnesota Vikings — Justin Fields, Quarterback Minnesota hits the absolute jackpot with Justin Fields inexplicably falling. Though the Vikings may have Kirk Cousins under contract they need to start thinking about the future and building around their already young stars in Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook. Cousins is an average quarterback at best, with Fields they could be catching lightning in a bottle twice with similarities to what they had in the early 2000s with Daunte Culpepper, Randy Moss and Michael Bennett. Fields is the second best quarterback in this years draft, and the only quarterback in this years draft who has beaten the unquestioned number one quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. Fields offers the arm strength, the mobility and the toughness that you want in todays NFL.

New England Patriots — Christian Barmore, Defensive Line There may be some reading this that are scratching their heads with New England passing on Mac Jones, but I just don’t see it. I feel Cam Newton will have a much better year this year, especially being in the McDaniels system for a second consecutive season, plus New England needs to get better on the defensive side of the ball to be in the closer games they will now be accustomed to. Belichick trusts Nick Saban, and Alabama doesn’t mess around when it comes to defense. Barmore is the top defensive tackle in this years draft, and getting him in the middle of the first round seems like a dream scenario for the former powerhouse that is New England.

Arizona Cardinals — Patrick Surtain II, Cornerback Surtain II to me is the best corner in this years draft, not only does he have NFL bloodline, but put simply, he just passes the eye test. He has the size, height and speed to play along any wideout in todays NFL, he can also play any scheme a defensive coordinator will throw at him. Arizona had a great run with Patrick Peterson, and with the Surtain II pick, they can hopefully transition without skipping a beat.

Las Vegas Raiders — Mac Jones, Quarterback Some may view this too low for the former Alabama quarterback, but midway through the first round just seems right. Jones is an average quarterback that made the absolute best out of his situation in Alabama; he has great adaptability, which is something NFL teams should be ecstatic about. Las Vegas has always seemed like they are flirting with Derek Carr, they like him enough but aren’t in love with him. Gruden and Mayock ultimately want to groom their own quarterback from the start, with Jones they (finally) get THEIR quarterback of the future.

Miami Dolphins — Kadarius Toney, Wideout After getting their playmaker on the defensive side, it’s time to address the offensive side. Miami currently has an offense that is middle of the pack, but doesn’t have the one player that defenses have to plan around. Kadarius Toney is that game changer the Dolphins have been searching for. He doesn’t have the prototypical size but he does have the ability to break games wide open. Think of him as a hybrid between Percy Harvin and Deebo Samuel minus the always being broken part.

Washington Football Team — Zaven Collins, Linebacker If anyone knows the importance of having a leader at the linebacker position it’s Ron Rivera. In being a linebacker himself and having one the best at the position at Carolina in Luke Keuchly, Washington cements another defensive cornerstone in Collins. Collins has the skillset to be a sideline-to-sideline linebacker, plus he has the size be a real difference maker. The biggest challenge for Collins will be honing in these challenges and realizing his full potential.

Chicago Bears — Jaycee Horn, Cornerback Chicago is at their best when their defense can say the same. Chicago wasn’t able to retain the very hot and cold Kyle Fuller, which leaves them with a need at the cornerback position. Jaycee Horn gives the Bears the perfect running mate alongside Jaylon Johnson. The knock on Horn is that he can be a touch aggressive, but with Chicago having the elite safety help in the backfield, those aggressive plays will look more like positives than negatives.

Indianapolis Colts — Christian Darrisaw, Offensive Tackle With Indianapolis banking on getting 2017 Carson Wentz and not 2020 Carson Wentz, the Colts realize they need to keep him upright and a strong run game. Darrisaw provides both those and can be slotted immediately in to the left tackle position with Anthony Castonzo recent retiring.

Tennessee Titans — Rashod Bateman, Wideout Bateman is one of the more under-the-radar wideouts in this years class. He has natural catching and playmaking ability, and though he may lack the elite size at the position, only 6ft, that didn’t stop AJ Brown from being the game breaker he is. Wideout became more of a position of need for Tennessee as Corey Davis left in free agency, but with teams keying in on Derrick Henry, now is the time to break in a new receiver to hopefully take off the pressure of Henry.

New York Jets — Greg Newsome II, Cornerback The Jets have a plethora of needs but have slowly chipped away at it in free agency. With their quarterback of the future already in tack they start to address the defense. Saleh is a master at getting the most out of his defensive line, but to further the development you need a strong secondary. Enter Newsome II who can play any style of coverage; will fit perfectly into whatever scheme the Jets roll out.

Pittsburgh Steelers — Travis Etienne, Running Back There are some that believe that the running back position doesn’t belong in the first round, I am not one of those believers. Though they may have one of the shortest shelf life of any position, they also provide the most immediate impact, which is a perfect segue into the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh is in win now mode, and for however long Ben Roethlisberger is under centre. Etienne can excel at every level a running back needs to excel in; he can run, he can catch, he can block. Aside from that one year from James Connor Pittsburgh severely misses Le’Veon Bell, with Etienne they gain a player that’s fits the new motto for Pittsburgh, speed.

Jacksonville Jaguars — Teven Jenkins, Offensive Tackle Jacksonville has done a great job building a respectable offense since their near Super Bowl berth a few seasons ago. Though it may not show in the win column, the Jags could have a sneaky good offense this season with Lawrence at the helm. To ensure that, potential success Jacksonville invests into their offensive line, enter Teven Jenkins who has the raw power to hold up in this league. Only issue may be his footwork, but with Lawrence’s savvy and quick realize, that can be fixed on the fly.

Cleveland Browns — Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Linebacker Would you believe that Cleveland doesn’t really have a true weakness on their team? I know that it’s hard to believe, but with how their roster has been built since their 0-16 season there hasn’t been that many questionable draft decisions. Owusu-Koramoah gives them the range at the linebacker position that would put them over the top. With the ability to cover backs, tight ends and even the odd receiver, Owusu-Koramoah has the potential to be something special, in Cleveland of all places.

Baltimore Ravens — Trevon Moehrig, Safety It feels like every since Ed Reed retired Baltimore has been looking to fill the void at safety; they tried Matt Elam (bust), Eric Weddle (short term fix), and most recently Earl Thomas (still blocking for Derrick Henry). Nothing has stuck, until Trevon Moehrig. Moehrig is at the top of a very shallow safety class, after him there is a sharp drop off. With him Baltimore gains a do-it-all safety that can support against the run and have the deep coverage skills that have severely been missing in the Ravens backfield.

New Orleans Saints — Azeez Ojulari, EDGE With it looking more and more like a questionable pick in Marcus Davenport, New Orleans quickly reloads in drafting Ojulari who has had a bit of a fall in this mock. Average height for the position, but terrific burst will help in getting to the quarterback quickly, though he may need to add a bit more to his frame to hold up in the run game. New Orleans is in a bit of transition on the offensive side, so if the defense can make more strides to make sure the fall in the wins column may not be as great as some may be predicting.

Green Bay Packers — Jamin Davis, Linebacker I know, I know, everyone was hoping for a skill position, more specifically a wideout for Green Bay, and to be honest I did have Rondale Moore in initially but ultimately, the Packers don’t love Aaron Rodgers like the rest of us do. Jamin Davis is the pick here as the Packers defence is still weak against the run and he is a tackling machine. With Davis in the middle and the Smith brothers on the edge, the defense will start to win the Packers games, meaning Rodgers doesn’t always have to play hero ball.

Buffalo Bills — Joseph Ossai, EDGE Buffalo continues to bolster their defensive line; with players like Ed Olivier, Harrison Phillips and others, Ossai joins in the rotation in giving Buffalo more and more pass rush. This will be beneficial for Ossai as he hasn’t been around football as long as his fellow draftees. With the physical tools to be a great pass rusher, Buffalo needs to bring him along slowly to reap the rewards.

Baltimore Ravens — Levi Onwuzurike, Defensive Line With the trading of Orlando Brown netting Baltimore an additional first round pick, the Ravens look to continue their infusion of youth on the defensive side. Though wideout would make sense here, Baltimore is hoping some of the prospects still left on the board fall to them in the later rounds. Onwuzurike gives them more depth along the defensive line as well as a player who can learn alongside Calais Campbell. Onwuzurike has the explosive first step you want in a man his size, but needs to improve on his pass rushing ability, a feat that has been learned by many in the Baltimore system.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Asante Samuel Jr., Cornerback Tampa hit on a second generation defensive back in Antonie Winfield Jr. why not go to the well one more time with Asante Samuel Jr.? Samuel Jr. has a lot of similar traits to his father, he’s an undersized scrappy player that jumps breaks to make game changing plays. With this pick, Tampa continues its steps in becoming an elite defense.

And there you have it!

Thank you everyone who has made it to the end!

Can’t believe that I have been writing these mocks for a decade – the world was a very difference place 10 years ago, I mean, we could go outside freely, malls, sporting events, shake people’s hands, not wait in massive lines, oh wait… that was just 14 months ago…

I hope that your teams gets the player you want or fills the position of need, unless you’re an Eagles fan like me, then prepare to be disappointed and look at your screen in disbelief when Howie Roseman drafts a late second rounder with the 12th pick because new head coach Nick Sirianni liked the competitiveness they brought to their rock/paper/scissors bout. I’m not bitter, just confused!

Enjoy the 2021 Draft everyone!

[realtapiocafan]

still can't get over how insanely pretty they are

i will be Thinking on these two specific photos for a Long Time... ja'marr looking slightly surprised at whatever obj is showing them on his phone... ceedee looking at ja'marr so fondly while resting his chin on his hand... then ja'marr laughing and grinning as hard as he can - oh you can sense the Joy through the screen, hear that contagious hahaha ...

and i will literally never shut up about ceedee's loose bun, it looks so fucking good wtf... ooh ceedee has two (2!) piercings... all of them having intricate hand tattoos... ja'marr wearing like... five (wow) rings... lmao wait is ceedee charging his phone midgame?

also the Narrative of flying halfway across the world to fucking Paris, just to sit courtside at an NBA game with your friends (instead of just meeting up in your home state like normal folks do).... 😭😭😭

[junker-town]

Check out our latest NFL mock draft right here

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Everyone has Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert in the first round. But is there a surprise QB?

There is only one game left in the NFL season, with the Kansas City Chiefs slated to play the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. If that has you down, attention will soon shift to the 2020 NFL Draft.

This week’s mock draft goes back to Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa landing in the top five, and Joe Burrow and Chase Young going No. 1 and 2, respectively. But there are plenty of different possibilities projected. That includes a new quarterback landing in the first round.

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

There have been a couple developments with the first pick in the draft. The first being that, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bengals have no intention of trading the No. 1 selection. Of course, if the Bengals were truly trading open to trading it, letting it out this early would kill some of the return in value.

The second development was that Burrow doesn’t like Cincinnati’s famously disgusting Skyline chili. That take alone warrants the No. 1 pick.

2. Washington: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

To my knowledge, Young has not weighed in on Washington’s culinary scene. Getting jacked with Arnold Schwarzenegger is kinda fun, though.

Look, Washington is going to take Young second overall unless something insane happens. I have to find new ways to say why every week until the draft.

3. Detroit Lions: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

The Lions could go a number of ways with the third pick, and that could spark a trade-down scenario. That will be explored in a future mock draft — in two weeks actually, so mark your calendar. If the Lions can move around and still land Brown, they should do it. Head coach Matt Patricia stressed getting pressure up the middle, and Brown can destroy a pocket.

4. New York Giants: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

Simmons officially joined the draft pool on Saturday and is poised to be a high pick. He can dominate games from various parts of the field and was arguably the best player in the national title game last week after Burrow.

5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Last week’s mock draft explored the idea of what could happen if Tagovailoa falls because of injury concerns. Let’s check out some feedback:

My heart is just shattered. Anyway, as the draft process drags on, we’ll learn more about the truth of Tagovailoa’s health status. That will prove whether or not he slides, gets picked fifth overall, or goes even higher in a trade-up scenario.

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Philip Rivers is moving his army of a family to Florida, so let the baseless speculation commence. Sure, you can argue that the Chargers should fix their woeful offensive line before gambling on a first-round quarterback. But if they fall in love with Herbert, this pick won’t be a shock.

7. Carolina Panthers: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

With James Bradberry and Ross Cockrell both entering free agency, the Panthers have a large hole in the secondary. Drafting for need this high usually isn’t smart, but Okudah is one of the draft’s top players who can make an impact early in his career.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

Arizona would be fortunate if it gets its choice of offensive tackles with the eighth pick. Obviously, the tackle they select will be based on grades first, but the Cardinals also have a decision to make on left tackle D.J. Humphries. While he hasn’t exactly played like a first-round pick, the Cardinals could still use the franchise tag on him. If they do, they could take a more natural right tackle like Tristan Wirfs of Iowa.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

With two first-round picks this year thanks to the Jalen Ramsey trade, the Jaguars have the ammunition to move up if they love someone like Simmons or Brown. If they stay at No. 9, an offensive tackle might be the move. Wills was on the right of Alabama’s offensive line, but the Jaguars could use him at either spot.

10. Cleveland Browns: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

The Browns need to hope Herbert goes in the first nine picks. If he does, Cleveland should get one of the coveted top three offensive tackles. Any of Thomas, Wills, or Wirfs is a smart pick for the Browns.

11. New York Jets: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

Of course the Jets would prefer one of the top tackles, but getting their choice of wide receivers has its advantages. Lamb is a more dynamic playmaker than Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, so he could get the nod on draft night.

12. Las Vegas Raiders: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Jeudy is one of the most sure-thing prospects in this draft thanks to his elite route running and hands. Sure, the Raiders have struck out on can’t-miss first-rounders before, but screwing it up with Jeudy seems impossible.

13. Indianapolis Colts: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

Just about every mock draft has the Colts going with a wide receiver with the 13th pick. However, Indianapolis is pretty average on defense, and could use a player like Kinlaw to stop the run and get after the quarterback.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

Shaquil Barrett, Carl Nassib, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh are all free agents on Tampa Bay’s defensive line. After a successful season rushing the passer, the Buccaneers can’t let that area of their defense fall apart. Especially if someone like Barrett prices himself out of town. Epenesa can work on the inside and outside, and is a good all-around player.

15. Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

Although Courtland Sutton blossomed into a legitimate No. 1 receiver with 1,112 receiving yards this season, the Broncos don’t have much after him. DaeSean Hamilton disappointed as the team’s secondary wide receiver, so a receiver like Ruggs would be a smart choice. That would surround quarterback Drew Lock with Sutton, Ruggs, and tight end Noah Fant.

16. Atlanta Falcons: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State

The athletic Gross-Matos could be a draft riser considering he plays a premium position, has good size at 6’5 and 265 pounds, and is coming off a season of 9.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Pass rush has been an issue for the Falcons for a few years, and they could finally solve it this draft.

17. Dallas Cowboys: Grant Delpit, S, LSU

This should be the absolute floor of Delpit’s range in the first round. He’s a good all-around safety prospect who showed this season he’s capable of being a single-high coverage safety.

18. Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh Steelers): Curtis Weaver, DE, Boise State

Miami has been in the bottom six of the NFL in sacks the last three seasons, and bottomed out as the worst in the league in 2019. That could force a move on a player like Weaver in the first round. He reminds me of Clelin Ferrell, whom the Raiders took fourth overall last year.

19. Las Vegas Raiders (via Chicago Bears): Jacob Eason, QB, Washington

It will only take one team to fall in love with Eason’s massive 6’6 frame and even more massive potential. The Raiders have fallen in love with traits plenty of times in the past and could see a franchise player in Eason.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: (via Los Angeles Rams): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

Other than D.J. Chark, the Jaguars lack difference-making wide receivers. Chris Conley and Dede Westbrook are solid, but not spectacular. Higgins, though, has star potential. Ideally there would be a defensive tackle or linebacker worth the 20th pick, but it’s hard to value one here. It could be more of a second-round consideration.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado

Speaking of receivers with star potential, the Eagles could get a steal with a receiver like Shenault. In most years Shenault would be a top-15 pick or higher. But with this draft being loaded at the position, teams will get lucky in the middle of the first round.

22. Buffalo Bills: K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

The Bills go into the offseason needing a hybrid rusher who can line up at multiple positions. In this range, Chaisson and Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray will be in consideration. Chaisson is the better pass rusher while Murray is the better true linebacker.

23. New England Patriots: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

Love’s Senior Bowl is a must-watch storyline this week. With a good week, his draft stock could skyrocket into the top 15. The Patriots have taken a quarterback in three of the past four drafts, but none in the first or second round. This could be the year, whether it’s Love, Herbert, or even Eason.

24. New Orleans Saints: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

New Orleans has several key free agents this offseason, including cornerbacks Eli Apple and P.J. Williams. The Saints should let both walk and target a corner like Diggs. He would finally give the Saints a quality cornerback opposite Marshon Lattimore and help take some pressure off.

25. Minnesota Vikings: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

The Vikings are another team that should look to upgrade from disappointing veterans at cornerback. In Minnesota’s case, it is Xavier Rhodes, whose play has regressed dramatically the past two seasons. Fulton is a man coverage specialist on the outside, and the Vikings’ Mike Zimmer should be able to coach up Fulton’s tackling deficiencies.

26. Miami Dolphins (via Houston Texans): Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Becton bolted for the NFL after starting three seasons at Louisville, and should have a spot in the first round locked down. Now it’s just a matter of figuring out how high he could go. The Dolphins would be wise to pair Tagovailoa with a blocker on the edge, and Becton fits the bill.

27. Seattle Seahawks: Julian Okwara, Edge, Notre Dame

Chances are the Seahawks won’t be picking here on draft weekend considering general manager John Schneider’s usual transactional gymnastics. If the Seahawks happen to stay at No. 27, they could target a pass rusher. Okwara should test off the charts with the analytics community, and good coaching will take advantage of his traits.

28. Baltimore Ravens: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

After LSU’s national title win, Jefferson jumped to the NFL and could land a spot in the top 32. He has impressive hands, and is coming off a season with 111 receptions for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Ravens may have taken Marquise Brown in the first round last year, but they need another pass catcher.

29. Tennessee Titans: Terrell Lewis, Edge, Alabama

It was clear during the AFC Championship Game on Sunday that the Titans need to get a better pass rush. Harold Landry is a solid player, but Tennessee’s options after him are limited. Lewis is a good standup rusher who has the strength to set the edge against the run.

30. Green Bay Packers: K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State

When the 49ers shut down Davante Adams for much of the NFC Championship Game, it was apparent that the Packers badly need a quality No. 2 wide receiver. Even if Hamler is not the biggest at 5’9 and 176 pounds, he can make a big play any time he touches the ball.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

Getting to the Super Bowl and still finding a top-line linebacker in the draft is the dream for the Chiefs. Murray is an active linebacker who will rush the quarterback and track the ball against the run.

32. San Francisco 49ers: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

A starter for two-and-a-half seasons at Florida, Henderson would give the 49ers a defensive back who can work on the outside or be used in the slot. Don’t forget, Richard Sherman is a free agent after the 2020 season.