I’m sure everyone has gotten tired of my draft opinions, so for this edition of the Premier Madden League Mock Draft, we are going to have some guest pickers. Featuring a group of seven (now 6 RIP Zad) total guest pickers, this mock draft is going to have a wide variety of viewpoints and opinions, much like what we will see on draft day. Some skills and attributes matter more to some coaches, while other coaches value different skills. Each team evaluates players differently, and this group mock draft will reflect that. The draft order is based on how it appears in-game as of Friday, November 6. It will certainly change by draft day, but this is the most accurate draft order we currently have.
Bacon – With the 1st overall pick, the Carolina Panthers select:
Justin Fields, Quarterback, Ohio State
The Carolina Panthers have had a bit of a dud of a season, highlighted by their 84-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers (please don’t kick me JT). Despite their lack of stability under center, they actually haven’t had a bad passing attack, ranking 11th in PML. With Tyree Jackson leading the way, throwing for 2988 yards, and Tommy Stevens close behind with 1754, this team gained yards despite consistent talent. Even though these passers aren’t great as players, they still combined to complete over 60% of their passes. However, a deeper look at the statistics reveals how erratic this offense was. The quarterback-by-committee threw 36 touchdown passes, which is a pretty good number. If you scroll over just a bit more in the stat sheet, you see that they threw 68 interceptions, leading the league by 10.
Getting a player like Justin Fields under center would do wonders for this offense. Gaining yards was not an issue for them, but decision-making was. Fields has proven to be a very cerebral quarterback who will make very few mistakes and can truly make any throw you need him to. Though they didn’t do so very successfully, this Carolina offense wants to get their quarterback involved in the running game, and Justin Fields would be able to do so in a way they haven’t seen since Cam Newton’s departure. Not only is he a very capable runner, but the former Buckeye is also a phenomenal passer. This draft pick would improve the Panthers from day one and could help them potentially make a run at the NFC South title.
Bubba – With the 2nd overall pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams) select:
Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, Clemson
It’s not every day we see a prospect like Trevor Lawrence, especially going past #1 in the draft. With the Kaepernick experiment not going as planned in Jacksonville, Lawrence will walk right in and be the guy in Jacksonville. Lawrence has spent 3 years at Clemson, and in his time has been one of the best players in CFB and even helped Clemson capture a national championship.
In Jacksonville Lawrence will have no shortage of weapons, The Jaguars will surround the young QB with superstar WR DJ Chark, speedster Dede Westbrook, and breakout rookie RB Laviska Shenault. Not to mention the Jags also have another top 10 pick to possibly land another top weapon for Lawrence. For Jags fans everyone rejoice, the #TankForTrevor has worked.
Zstar – With the 3rd overall pick, the Cincinnati Bengals select:
Penei Sewell, Offensive line, Oregon
There are a few options for Cincinnati here, he could keep the pick and continue to build around Joe Burrow or trade back to acquire more assets. I believe Arod will go with Penei Sewell, LT out of Oregon. In order for Joe Burrow to be able to establish him as a top tier QB, he has to be able to throw the football. That starts with the offensive line, and the Bengals have a subpar offensive line. Adding the top offensive lineman in the class will go a long way toward improving that unit.
Another potential selection here could be the explosive Jamarr Chase, the reigning Biletnikoff winner. Far too often Arod’s offense relied on him taking deep shots to John Ross. So much so that he will probably be suspended heading into the next season. It is imperative that the Bengals give Joe Borrow more weapons and with AJ Green probably on his way out, Jamarr Chase would be an impressive addition to a WR core consisting of the speedy John Ross and the underrated Tyler Boyd.
Dramaman – With the 4th overall pick, the Denver Broncos select:
LT Samuel Cosmi, Texas
The Broncos are coming off a historically bad season on offense. In last year’s draft, the team sought to surround young QB Drew Lock with weapons at all the skill positions, drafting deep threat WR Jerry Jeudy and WR KJ Hamler to run routes alongside Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant. After acquiring HB Melvin Gordon III last offseason, the Broncos made a move during the regular season which sent starter Phillip Lindsay to the New England Patriots, in return for New England’s 1st pick this year and power back Sony Michel.
With their first pick in this first round, the Broncos will look to sure up a young O-line to provide more time for Lock to see the field, and hopefully open up some lanes for their runners. At 6’7, 300 pounds the stout Cosmi is the consensus 2nd best lineman in this year’s class behind Oregon’s Penei Sewell. By adding a solid LT the Broncos can maybe give Drew Lock an opportunity to show what he is made of and help propel this team from the bottom of the league in offensive production.
Zad(RIP) – With the 5th overall pick, the Green Bay Packers select:
Ja’Marr Chase, Wide Receiver, LSU
With Green Bay having much more of a subpar season than expected (lol), the moves to be made could be anywhere really. With an aging Rodgers, you easily have a QB to plug and play with Jordan Love. But with a young QB like this, I feel like you need to surround them with as much talent as you can.
Already having weapons like Devante Adams and Aaron Jones, you seem to have to ponder about where are the holes they would need to fill. Do they go TE? Do they go receiver? Or how about beefing up that OL for Love? Honestly, it could go literally either way.
But in the best interest of this Packer team, I believe that the cheese heads will be taking Jamarr Chase, LSU, or Kyle Pitts, Florida.
Both being huge offensive weapons for any team that drafts them, they are instant playmakers. With Chase’s speed and his play on-ball ability, he is a headache for defenses to gameplan for. His ability to get in and out of routes as well makes him a nuisance for DB’s who aren’t used to that type of stop and go speed. Now, at 6’6 240, Kyle Pitts has been called “elite”, a “for sure first-round talent”, and “a wide receiver and a tight end all in one” all by one man whose word we shouldn’t take lightly: Kirby Smart. You could never go wrong bringing a talent and physical presence like this into your locker room. The size and speed of a TE like this have been known to be detrimental to defenses. Just take Darren Waller for example. Big tight end that runs and catches just like a receiver but can block like a true TE. Seems like a win-win to me.
With all of this said, it will be interesting to see where this Packers team decides to go with this high first-round pick. But I say that, for the long run, Green Bay will go with Jamarr Chase. Too good of a top tier talent and athlete to pass up on.
Antdog – With the 6th overall pick, the Arizona Cardinals select:
Creed Humphrey, Center, Oklahoma
With an aging line and an air it out style offense I have the Arizona Cardinals beefing up the offensive line with Humphrey’s. The big 6’5 315-pound lineman is extremely strong. He has a great football IQ and is technically sound. He is excellent in his use of leverage which is in part due to his time as an amateur wrestler. Humphreys is a great leader; in film, he can be seen directing the other lineman in protection schemes and assuring everyone is on the same page. He still has room to grow in pass protection but overall is still a top lineman. Ultimately Humphrey’s is the way to go to help protect Kyler Murray and also help establish the run
Papagreeny – With the 7th overall pick, the New Orleans Saints select:
Zach Wilson, Quarterback, BYU
With Drew Brees retirement seemingly up in the air for a few years, the Saints find his replacement. Zach Wilson did not start the year as a first-round Qb but he has done more than enough to justify the pick. Coming into the year it looked like Trey Lance was the consensus third Qb in this draft but due to a lack of game tape this year and one up and down outing he has been pushed down a bit. Zach meanwhile has led BYU to an 8-0 record while compiling 2,511 passing yards and an eye-popping 21-2 td-int ratio. The most impressive portion of Wilson’s game though has been his short-intermediate production through the air. This fits exactly what the Saints like to do currently. He possesses above-average arm strength to make the throws downfield but will need to continue to develop his touch and accuracy on those throws. At 6’3 212 lbs, he has an nfl ready body, who as a freshman was used as more of a dual-threat Qb. He can make plays with his feet specifically in the redzone but he does not rely on this. With one of the best play-callers in the game Sean Payton being the coach, this may be a perfect fit for Zach and the Saints.
Bacon – With the 8th overall pick, the Kansas City Chiefs select:
Najee Harris, Running Back, Alabama
This Kansas City offense loves to play through their running backs, but Clyde Edwards-Helaire simply hasn’t cut it for them thus far. CEH finished with 800 yards rushing and 82 receptions, totaling about 1500 yards. This is actually a good number, but more due to scheme rather than overwhelming talent in the backfield. Edwards-Helaire is a solid player but just isn’t built for success in Madden. If the Chiefs want to go back to their winning ways, they are going to either need to build this team to their strengths as a coaching staff or alter their scheme to play to the strengths of their current roster. We’ve seen the LA Chargers dominate their division this year, and something must change if KC wants to compete in the AFC West.
Najee Harris is a do-it-all running back who has been compared to Matt Forte due to his elite receiving ability. A big bruiser on the ground, he has the strength to run through a defender and the elusiveness to make them miss. He can be a guy who you give the ball to 30 times a game, but can also be a strong complementary piece that gets 12-15 touches per game. Either way, he will outperform their current backfield talent by a wide margin. Having an elite running back is key in PML, and Najee Harris has the potential to be one of the best after dominating the SEC with the Alabama Crimson Tide for three years.
Bubba – With the 9th overall pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars select:
Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Penn State
After addressing their QB problem with the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck, the Jags somehow also get another elite talent at number 9. Micah Parsons has an absolute steal at 9 overall and Jags get to add an ILB to lead that lackluster Jags D. Parsons has been an athletic freak during his time at Penn State, in 2019 he totaled over 100 tackles and 5 sacks in his All American season. Parsons fits the mold of today’s NFL linebacker, he can play sideline to sideline with great speed, and also finds a way to get to the QB as a rusher. Parsons doesn’t have the best coverage skills but will be able to lean on Myles Jack who is an elite coverage player. Overall the 9th pick is a home run and the Jags get a whole lot better adding Parsons.
Zstar – With the 10th overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select:
Patrick Surtain II, Cornerback, Alabama
Being as polite as possible, Burn is in big-time trouble with his roster. Moving into the 2021 season of PML, he has the worst cap space in the league and a ton of aging veterans with terrible contracts coming off a 5-11 season. The first place he should look to get younger is in his secondary. Darius Slay is 30 years old, and his next best options at corner are pushing 28+, or still developing in Avonte Maddox. What better way to start a youth movement than by taking the best cornerback in the draft in Patrick Surtain II. He’s a battle-tested corner coming from the SEC and should check all of the boxes in terms of being a potential shutdown corner. Another option here could be Caden Sterns, FS from Texas. From the previous PML cycle, we all know what Caden Sterns is capable of in the right hands. Burn needs a player of his caliber to be able to contend with the high-power passing offenses in the NFC East. Either way he decides to go, he has to address his secondary.
