The first season of the PML has come and gone, but more importantly, the very first draft of the cycle is near and a lot of teams are hoping to turn last year’s misery into a new beginning. This is going to be a three part mock draft where we will break down each team’s needs, the best player fit for them, and the potential of the prospect. We have already seen a trade for the first overall pick that has shaken up the draft a bit, but going forward this mock draft will assume all remaining picks stay with the teams that currently own the pick.
11. New York Giants – Demarvin Neal, DT, Texas A&M
The Giants are in desperate need to beef up and add youth to their defensive line and that is why Demarvin Neal is the perfect pick at this spot. His size suggests he will move to an interior role on the defensive line, but he has shown to be proficient in every technique on the line. He is explosive off the line when it comes to pass rushing but he wasn’t tested as much as a run defender, although his size/strength at the line of scrimmage would suggest that won’t be a problem for him. He is the exact player that will be able to start instantly for the Giants roster and contribute to their defensive success that they so desperately need.
12. Washington Football Team – Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
This is the second selection for the Washington Football Team and they are going to want to keep their new franchise Quarterback upright and that starts with finding him a dominant offensive lineman to hand him the ball. Some scouts argued that Tyler Linderbaum is the best offensive lineman in the class. Linderbaum is a gifted athlete. He ran a 5.01 40 yard dash and had the best showing in the vertical jump (32.3”), broad jump (10’5”), and 3-cone (7.34). He is at his best when he is pass blocking, but that’s not to say he can’t throw a very strong impact block. Chase Roullier is 29 years old and regressing, but the Washington Football Team can move him to RT where there is a demanding need at the position. They could also ask Linderbaum to test out the tackle position if they’re comfortable with his ability to transition positions.
13. Miami Dolphins – Ikem Ekwonu, LG, NC State
The Dolphins are a pass heavy team and in order to achieve a perfect passing offense, they need to protect their franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and give him as much time as he needs to throw. This is where Ikem Ekwonu fits perfectly for this team, although they are set at the tackle position for another year or two they are in need of beefing up their interior. Ekwonu is a very aggressive run blocker and very good with his hands when it comes to the passing game and that’s not even the best part about him. He is able to play almost any position on the line having played guard and tackle on the line which is a huge benefit to this Dolphins team when Mitchell Schwartz looks to move on.
14. Minnesota Vikings – Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson
The Vikings have almost a complete roster when it comes to the defensive side of the ball, and sure they could upgrade some positions but they definitely aren’t in any hurry to do that. When you look at their cornerback depth, it’s mostly older vets who are on their last legs or players who that just aren’t good enough. Andrew Booth Jr is a fantastic pick at this point in the draft, he has the height you would want in a corner at 6’0 and he has the speed needed for the position, running a 4.43 speed during the combine. He’s a raw prospect when it comes to the intangibles of football but if the Vikings take their time on him and develop him properly he will become a stud in a division that has Aaron Rodgers in it.
15. New England Patriots – Breece Hall, HB, Iowa State
The Patriots running back room has become lackluster and depleted, so I think Breece Hall at this pick in the draft will work wonders for them. He may be a bit of a reach with him just being a strict running back but he has all the tools in his arsenal to become the best running back in PML. He’s a powerful runner who has the vision and patience to guide himself through open holes, but what’s surprising about him is that he has amazing speed out of the back field too. Behind that mountain of an offensive line that the Patriots have, Breece Hall would exceed all expectations.
16. Las Vegas Raiders – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
The Raiders have one of the worst interior defensive lines in the league and when I say one of the worst I mean it’s God awful. It’s filled with aged veterans who don’t have much time left in the league and that is why they NEED to select Jordan Davis with this pick. A 340-pound behemoth who stands at an imposing 6’6″, he demonstrates good reactive athleticism and lateral agility for a young man his size. His best game is in the run game; however he only has sufficient upside in the passing game. In a division with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, you need interior guys like Davis who can continue to cause havoc for two of the best quarterbacks in the league.
17. Houston Texans – Kedon Slovis, QB, USC
This might be an unusual pick that people don’t expect but I personally believe that Kedon Slovis is the perfect fit for this Texans team. He has impressive pocket presence and is proficient at escaping pressure which is perfect for this Texans team after just getting used to having a quarterback with a similar skill set in Deshaun Watson. Although he can avoid the big boys running at him, his best skill is his ability to throw the ball accurately at an elite level. He can put the ball in any tight window and have defenders looking lost out on the field. This is the quarterback that this Texans franchise so desperately needs right now in their rebuild.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars – Aidan Hutchinson, LE, Michigan
The Jaguars were so close to making the playoffs, they were just one game away but that’s okay because this player is going to make sure that in season 2, they achieve that playoff berth. Michigan edge defender Aidan Hutchinson is the prototype when it comes to defensive ends. Strength, power, fundamentals, effort, and speed are all hallmarks of Hutchinson’s game and that’s not even the best part of it. He can play with his hand in the ground if the Jaguars wish to run a 4-3 or he can rush the quarterback standing up. Hutchinson has one of the best skill sets out of all the edge rushers in the draft this year. If this draft wasn’t completely loaded I would say he’s a top 10 pick but the Jaguars get a steal here if he manages to fall.
19. New Orleans Saints – Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma
With both Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill on their way out of New Orleans, the Saints are in need of a franchise quarterback to keep this offense running and to help them make another appearance in the playoffs. With four quarterbacks already off of the board, Spencer Rattler is the next best quarterback in line for that job. He is coming out of an elite program in the Oklahoma Sooners and they have produced former first overall picks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Rattler is a pro-style quarterback, but he also displays good athletic ability to escape from a broken pocket, which is his best asset. Rattler has one of the best arms in this draft but his accuracy needs to be worked on, but with Kamara, Thomas, and Trautman on that offense, it will make his job a lot easier. If the Saints do decide to take a quarterback, this is the kid that they need to get.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
Listen, Tom Brady is 45 years old and he doesn’t have much left in the tank after throwing over 40 interceptions last season. If the Bucs were to make a move in getting a new quarterback, it’d be this year. Sam Howell being selected by the Bucs is a huge win for this team because they can either sit him behind Brady and let him learn from one of the greatest of all time or they can instantly shove him in and relieve themselves from the cap that Brady is holding hostage. He played in a spread offense when he was in UNC and with the weapons that this Bucs roster has, there is no doubt in my mind that he will instantly be up to speed when it comes time to start in the PML.
21. Kansas City Chiefs – Adam Anderson, LOLB, Georgia
Now Adam Anderson isn’t an established player in this draft, but he is definitely a project that is worth it for this Chiefs defense. If you look at their roster, you’ll notice that their outside linebacker position is thin and needs an immediate upgrade. Anderson has most of the physicals that you would want in a linebacker, but his greatest asset is his speed. His game starts with his speed, he’s like a bullet being shot out of a gun and when it comes to rushing the quarterback. He’s also able to track down the runner through gaps instantly. He is definitely worth being looked at this point in the draft. If Anderson isn’t the selection here, expect it to be another linebacker.
