The second season of PML has come and gone, but more importantly, the second 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/or the potential of the prospect. We have already seen a few trades for first round picks that will shake up the draft a bit, but this mock draft will assume all picks stay with the teams that originally owned the pick.
21. Dallas Cowboys – Nick Anderson, MLB, Tulane
The Cowboys currently have only 5 linebackers on their defense. They have starter quality players on their left and right side, however, the middle of their linebacking core is severely lacking. Anderson will slot in perfectly to command this defense. He isn’t the fastest, strongest or tallest guy but he can jump the highest. He is a guy who will recognize the play, pursue the ball carrier then make the tackle all in one swoop. Nick Anderson was a tackling machine in college, he led Tulane’s defense in tackles the past two seasons and his ability to get up in coverage is off the charts.
22. Seattle Seahawks – Jordan Addison, WR, Pittsburgh
After trading away DK Metcalf, the Seahawks proved that they didn’t need elite speed to win. Although elite speed is not necessary to play the receiver position, age is. The Seahawks have one of the oldest trio of receivers in the league and interjecting their core with fresh young talent is what is needed. Addison isn’t the fastest guy, however, his acceleration is top tier and his sure hands will ensure that he gets open and makes the catch. He ran a 4.54 40 yard dash, but he has a 6 foot frame and a 40.3” vertical that is sure to help him come down with most 50/50 balls.
23. Las Vegas Raiders – Storm Duck, CB, North Carolina
With the exception of one lone superstar, the Raiders defense consists of young unproven players. They are in dire need of a plug and play corner who can do it all. Duck has the ability to play man or zone while making sure to tackle anyone that comes near him. Pairing him with Trayvon Mullen will solidify this corner tandem for years to come. Storm Duck really amplified his draft stock at his college pro day. He originally ran a 4.53 40 and improved on that time to a 4.48 at his pro day. He is a very strong corner that likes to play close to the line of scrimmage. He isn’t afraid to get down and dirty to make a tackle in the backfield either. He is one of the better tackling corners in this draft class.
24. Las Angeles Chargers – Anton Harrison, RT, Oklahoma
The Los Angeles Chargers only have 6 offensive linemen, some of which are a lot older, so they are in need of another. Harrison is the perfect guy to compete with Bulaga and either take over the right tackle spot or learn from a veteran. Either way, picking Harrison will ensure that Herbert is protected for years to come. Anton Harrison’s strength was a big concern for most scouts, but his athleticism makes up for his lack of strength. He isn’t a weak guy by any means, but his is more a finesse style offensive linemen and the Chargers shouldn’t expect to see Harrison mauling over any defensive players, but he will be able to hold his own when trying to block elite defensive talent.
25. Baltimore Ravens – Logan Brown, LT, Wisconsin
The fastest left tackle in the draft goes to the team with the fastest quarterback in the league. The offensive line is in need of a serious overhaul and with Ronnie Stanley getting older, the Ravens will soon have no one that will be able to protect Lamar Jackson. The overhaul starts here with a player who is all about pass blocking. With Brown and Stanley at the end, Lamar will no longer have to also look to run and he can focus on passing from the pocket, which will ultimately help contain the pass rush. We’ve seen some very strong linemen and some very quick lineman, but so far, there hasn’t been any with both qualities. Logan Brown is the total package after running a 4.85 40 and putting up 37 reps on the bench press.
26. Indianapolis Colts – Gervon Dexter, DT, Florida
Deforest Buckner is an absolute monster on the defensive line, but there was a period of time this season when he was injured and the defensive front of the Indianapolis Colts suffered because of it. They have a few defensive tackles already, but with the addition of Gervon Dexter, they will inject some youth into their defensive front. Gervon Dexter wouldn’t be expected to make an impact right away but he could learn behind Deforest Buckner and will be a situational player throughout his rookie season. Gervon Dexter has a real shot at being given a dev, but he only put up 32 reps at his college pro day, which was 3 less than the 35 that he put up at the NFL combine.
27. Green Bay Packers – Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
The aging Packers defense needs an injection of young talent, especially along their defensive line. Collins is a fast passing rushing machine who will pair perfectly with Kenny Clark. Alfred Collins ran a 4.71 at his college pro day and he improved by .6 seconds from his original time of 4.77 at the NFL combine. He can be treated as a defensive tackle/defensive end hybrid. The Green Bay Packers could rotate him as a pass rusher on the outside. He has outstanding play recognition and awareness, so he’ll be able to get off his blocks quickly on outside runs.
28. Seattle Seahawks – Miles Murphy, DE, North Carolina
What are the odds the two best defensive ends in this class have the same name? It has to be pretty slim. Miles Murphy out of North Carolina isn’t as physically imposing as his counterpart out of Clemson, but there is still a lot to love about him. His 34 reps on the bench press, 33.9” vertical jump, and 4.76 speed will allow for him to be an impactful player right out of the gate. The Seahawks have a porous and old defensive line and it is imperative for them to address the trenches in this draft.
29. Seattle Seahawks – Jovon Foster, LT, Mississori
The average overall of the Seattle Seahawks starting offensive line is a 73 and that is only four players because they currently do not have a right tackle on the roster. Jovon Foster would come in and immediately start for this team. The Seahawks could kick him from LT to RT and it would bolster their shaky line. Jovon Foster is best known for his strength and power. He has elite quickness and will be able to get out and block downfield with ease. He is very strong with his pass blocking footwork. The Seahawks could boost both trenches with back to back picks and with half a season under his belt and a revamped offensive line, Tua Tagovailoa would be able to sit in the pocket and not have to rush his throws.
30. Dallas Cowboys – Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU
The Dallas Cowboys only have two tight ends on their roster at the moment and Blake Jarwin is 29 years old and a 72 overall. Grant Calcaterra is the second best tight end in the class, falling just short of the playmaking ability of Micheal Mayer. Calcaterra ran a 4.64 40 at his pro day and had a 34.4” vertical jump. He is faster than most linebackers in the league and has the ability to jump up for a contested ball against safeties and corners. The Dallas Cowboys need to address the position at some point in the draft, but if they’re able to pick up Calcaterra this late in the first round, it will be a steal for them.
31. Houston Texans – Emmanuel Foster, CB, Mississippi State
This is our fifth cornerback that was taken in the first round. It screams at how deep and talented the class is. Emmanuel Foster is a bit of a dark horse though. He ran the second fastest 40 yard dash (4.37) at the combine and then improved his time to 4.35 at his pro day but so did a few other corners. Although, out of the four taken before him, Foster is the fastest of them all. He has elite acceleration, agility, and speed but he will need to improve on his coverage skills. He is better in a man-based defense, but he could be developed to play better in space. He has excellent ball skills, physicality, and is very disciplined when going to tackle the ball carrier. He didn’t miss a lot of tackles in college and he has been known to force a fumble or two against ball carriers that didn’t take him seriously.
32. Denver Broncos – Bijan Robinson, HB, Texas
The super bowl champions could land the steal of the draft if Robinson does indeed fall this far. Robinson didn’t have an explosive combine, but he ran a 4.44 40 yard time which should give him sub 90 speed. He isn’t imposing, but at 6.0” and 219 pounds, he broke an average of 4 tackles a game at texas. He is an excellent pass catching back and is dangerous in space. He has a tendency to avoid big hits after the catch and will make defenders miss in open space. In their offense, the Broncos rely on catches coming out of the backfield, and Robinson could lead the league in receptions if the Broncos take the chance on him.
