With Week 12 of the 2018 NFL season in the books, let us take a look at what the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft could look like in our latest mock draft.
The San Francisco 49ers continue to hold the first overall pick in next April’s NFL Draft, as they fell on the road to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Arizona and Oakland round out those teams with only two wins this season, and the New York Jets and Giants round out the top-5 if the season ended tomorrow.
Here is our latest 2019 NFL Mock Draft.
The San Francisco 49ers were beaten by a pretty bad Tampa Bay Buccaneers team this past weekend, and it is clear that they are going to end up towards the top of the first round next April. In fact, if the season ended tomorrow, they would have the first overall selection in the first round, and they should use it on the best player this draft class has to offer.
Although he is no longer playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Nick Bosa showed enough during his time there that he is going to be an elite player at the next level. He is an incredible pass rusher, and moves so easily when trying to get around offensive tackles to get to the quarterback.
With San Francisco, he would give the team that standout on the edge that they are currently lacking, and with Jimmy Garoppolo back next season, they should be a much better team than they are right now. This rebuild was supposed to be over, but injuries have derailed their 2018 campaign, and Bosa may be the prize they receive because of it.
The Arizona Cardinals got out to a fast start against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, as they led 10-0 in the first quarter. However, it was all Los Angeles from that point on, as they reeled off 45 straight points, sending Josh Rosen and the Cardinals to their ninth loss of the season, and keeping them in the No. 2 spot in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Rosen was the team’s first round pick this past April, as they traded up with the Oakland Raiders to select the UCLA quarterback No. 10 overall. During his rookie season, Rosen has stepped in as the starter, and has done a nice job, but he just does not have time in the pocket, and very little weapons on the outside.
With the team’s first round pick next April, they should look to add a player that can keep Rosen upright, and the best offensive tackle in this draft class is Jonah Williams from Alabama. Thanks to Williams, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is having a monster season, and the Crimson Tide are once again the best team in college football.
Rosen is going to be a good quarterback, and it is clear they definitely got their man when they moved up to get him. However, no quarterback can succeed under the kind of pressure he faces every week, so utilizing such a high draft pick on an elite prospect at the tackle position makes a lot of sense for this franchise moving forward.
The Oakland Raiders lost their grip on the first overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft two weeks ago, when they went into Arizona and beat the Cardinals on the road. While the win means that they likely will not be getting Nick Bosa to replace Khalil Mack on the edge, their consolation prize is nothing to shake your head at.
Clelin Ferrell would have been a top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, but decided to head back to Clemson to pursue a second national title. While it remains to be seen whether or not his team can beat the Alabama Crimson Tide for the second time in three years, one thing is for sure, he is lock to go early in the first round next April.
On the Raiders, Ferrell would join a very young, and talented defensive line, one that should only get better as the years go on. Guys like PJ Hall and Maurice Hurst have been solid in their rookie season, and fellow rookie Arden Key is going to be a very good edge rusher with more experience.
In Paul Guenther’s 4-3 scheme, Ferrell could come in and start right away, giving the Raiders some serious talent up front for years to come. It looks really bad in Oakland right now, but they have a ton of cap space entering the 2019 offseason, and hold three first round picks. Ferrell would be a nice way to get the party started on draft day.
The New York Jets hung with the New England Patriots for longer than expected on Sunday, as the game was actually tied 13-13 at the half. However, Tom Brady and company ended up putting two touchdowns on the board, and keeping the Jets out of the end zone the rest of the way, pulling away in a 27-13 victory.
For the Jets, this is another season of disappointment, and their prized first round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft is not even playing right now. Sam Darnold earned the starting quarterback job out of camp, but has been battered behind a terrible offensive line, and has not played for the Jets over the last two games.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Jets need help in all three levels of the defense, especially at cornerback. They went out and spent big money on Trumaine Johnson this past offseason, but the team would be wise to use their premium early first round draft choice on bringing in a starter for the other side in 2019.
The best cornerback in this draft class is Andraez Williams, who has been an absolute star at the position during his time with the LSU Tigers. Greedy, as he is affectionately referred to, is a guy who can straight up shut down one side of the field, and the Jets have not had two good cornerbacks in a very long time. They bolstered the safety spots in recent drafts, now its the cornerbacks turn.
The New York Giants lost a game they should not have this past weekend, as they dominated the Philadelphia Eagles in the first half by feeding their 2018 first round pick. Saquon Barkley was selected by the Giants with the No. 2 overall pick back in April, and the plan was to utilize him to get Eli Manning back to the Super Bowl.
However, the Giants decided to move away from Barkley in the second half, after he scored two first half touchdowns, and ended up blowing a 19-3 lead. With the loss, the Giants fell to 3-8 on the season, and pretty much ended any chance they had of making a miraculous run towards the playoffs after starting out 1-7.
While Manning has played better in recent weeks, the Giants have to starting thinking about the future at the position, and if they are picking in the top-5, they have to grab Justin Herbert. There has been some rumblings that Herbert will stay at Oregon for his senior year, but after getting injured last weekend, he would be wise to come out early.
With the Giants, Herbert could learn for a year under Manning before having to take over as the starting quarterback in the New York market. He has all the skills to be a good player at the next level, but the Giants still do not have an offensive line, and we have seen what can happen to a rookie behind a bad offensive line this season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars made two very big moves on Monday, as they look to try and piece together the rest of their season. First, they decided to fire Nathanial Hackett, the offensive coordinator who helped lead the team to the AFC Championship Game last season, and looks like a head coach in waiting.
Then, the team announced that Cody Kessler would replace Blake Bortles as the starting quarterback, so there was no way I could not have the Jaguars selecting a quarterback in the first round next year. While there are not too many first round quarterbacks in this draft class, Drew Lock from Missouri certainly is one, and could go to the Jags at No. 6 overall.
Lock has been a monster under center for the Tigers, shredding defenses in the best conference in college football. The Jaguars have a team that is playoff ready, and the only thing missing is a lead at quarterback, which is what Lock proved to be during his time at Missouri.
The Jaguars do not figure to win many games with Kessler under center, so incredibly, they could go from an AFC title game, to picking in the top-10 of the 2019 NFL Draft. That is quite the fall for this team, and you have to wonder how they even won games with Bortles under center in the first place.
The Atlanta Falcons went into New Orleans for the nightcap of the Thanksgiving Day slate, looking for an opportunity to gain some ground in the NFC South. Instead, they ended up on the losing end of a 31-17 decision, and it is starting to look like they will end up finishing outside of the playoffs this season.
The offense in Atlanta is loaded with talent, as quarterback Matt Ryan gets to throw to guys like Julio Jones and Austin Hooper. The loss of Devonta Freeman has taken a huge weapon away, leaving just Tevin Coleman to shoulder the load in 2018, but he has done a nice job in the role.
On defense, this team needs some help up front, and a guy like Quinnen Williams from Alabama would be a perfect fit in the middle of their defense. Williams is a big body who is tough to grasp, and is by far one of the best defensive tackles this draft class has to offer.
If the Falcons are ever going to get back to the top of the NFC South, they have to get better on defense, as Drew Brees was able to pick them apart on Thursday night. They still have the talent to get the job done on offense, but when you defense cannot get stops, it makes it very difficult to win games in the NFL.
The Detroit Lions went into their Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Chicago Bears with a lot of things going their way. First, they were playing at home on Thanksgiving, which is an annual tradition. Second, the Bears were without their quarterback, as Mitchell Trubisky missed the game with a shoulder injury.
All that did not matter, as the Bears ended up beating Detroit on the road, as they continue to display their dominance in the NFC North. The Lions, on the other hand, look to be headed for a winter outside of the playoffs, and you have to think they need to make wholesale changes to this defense.
Sitting at No. 8 overall, the Lions could end up getting a guy like Ed Oliver, who has seen his draft stock take a bit of a hit over the last few weeks. First, he was seen blowing up on head coach Major Applewhite on the sidelines, and the next week, was seen crying on the sidelines. Not a good optical for a guy who wants to go early in round one.
Still, when it comes time for the NFL Scouting Combine, Oliver’s talent will show through, and he will likely find himself drafted in the top-10 of the 2019 NFL Draft. If he does fall to the Lions, they have to grab him, as he would be their best defensive tackle since Ndamukong Suh manned the middle of their defensive line.
The Buffalo Bills were not given much of a chance this past weekend, as they were taking on a Jacksonville Jaguars team that was trying to turn their season around. However, Josh Allen was back under center for the Bills, and they were able to get the job done against the Jaguars, beating Jacksonville by the score of 24-21.
Allen looks like he is going to be a good player at quarterback, though he does have a long way to go in terms of his accuracy moving forward. The Bills do not have many options for him to throw to, but they are also lacking up front, which is where they should use their first round pick next April.
Of all the offensive tackles in this draft class, Greg Little is right up there with anybody, and may be the second-best behind Jonah Williams. Like Williams, he is a guy who is going to be able to stay on the left side at the next level, and the Bills definitely need someone who can fill that role moving forward.
The left tackle spot has been a weakness since the team traded away Cordy Glenn, so bringing in Little early in the first round makes sense. Allen has to be treated like the team’s best asset, because as we have seen in Indianapolis with Andrew Luck, putting good players up front makes all the difference.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned back the clock this past Sunday, as quarterback Jameis Winston actually played well, and led the team to a victory. Sure, they were playing the San Francisco 49ers, but it was a key win in terms of his confidence, as they continue to look to see if he is their future at the position.
When it comes to the defensive side of the ball, the Buccaneers are getting older in the secondary, and that is where they should focus their first round pick next April. One player who should be picked in the first half of the first round is DeAndre Baker from Georgia, who is as good as it gets at his position in this draft class.
During his time at Georgia, Baker has helped lead a defense that has become one of the best in the SEC, which is the best conference in college football. He is a very good cover corner, but also has nice hands, and great speed, making him a legitimate first round prospect at the cornerback position.
With the Bucs, Baker would slide right into the starting lineup, and in the NFC South, you need a good secondary if you are ever going to succeed. The division has some of the best quarterbacks in football, and bolstering the secondary may actually help the Buccaneers escape the cellar for once.
The Green Bay Packers took another loss on Sunday Night Football, losing to division rival Minnesota 24-17. For the Packers, it will take a miracle for them to get to the playoffs this season, but we have seen Aaron Rodgers pull it off before, so there is not telling what this team will do the rest of the way.
One of the other big stories surrounding this team is whether or not head coach Mike McCarthy will be back after the season. He seems to be at odds with Rodgers, and if the organization has to decide between the two, then you can be sure they are going to keep arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game.
The Packers have struggled on the defensive side of the ball this season, and they need to start adding some young talent to their defensive line. One player who could be available at No. 11 is Rashan Gary from Michigan, who declared early for the 2019 NFL Draft on Monday.
Gary is a guy who can play along the defensive line, displaying the kind of versatility that should play in a big way at the NFL level. This Packers defense needs to get better if it is going to get back to the top of NFC North, because as it stands now, they may be the third-worst team in the division.
The Cleveland Browns took on the Cincinnati Bengals and former head coach Hue Jackson on Sunday, and came away with a huge division win. In fact, it was as sweet a win as you can get in a season like theirs, as they beat not only a former head coach, but one who was fired a couple weeks back, and went within the division for their new job.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield did not mince words after the game, basically calling Jackson a traitor, as he brushed off his former coach’s attempt at a hug after the game. For Mayfield, he had his best game as a pro against the Bengals, throwing for four touchdowns, leading the team to a 35-20 victory.
There are a lot of things to be excited about when it comes to this team, and while Mayfield is certainly one of them, so are weapons David Njoku and Antonio Callaway, two young, explosive players in the passing game. With the No. 12 overall pick in 2019, the Browns should look to add another weapon, possibly the best wideout in the draft class.
That man is N’Keal Harry, an explosive wide receiver from Arizona State who declared early for the 2019 NFL Draft on Monday. Harry is a guy who can take the lid off a defense, and with the Browns, he would be just another playmaker to help Mayfield continue to develop as a franchise quarterback.
The Miami Dolphins looked to have the Indianapolis Colts dead to rights on Sunday, as they got out to a big lead against the red-hot AFC South team at home. However, this Colts team is playing on another level right now, and Andrew Luck led his team back for the victory, as they inch ever closer to .500.
For the Dolphins, this is a team without an identity, and there is no word as to whether they are going to roll with Ryan Tannehill under center after this season. The organization has been waiting for Tannehill to step up and be a franchise quarterback, but injuries and inconsistent play have really hurt his development.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins have some exciting young players, but their best pass rushers is definitely getting up there in age. Cameron Wake is a still a very good NFL player, but the Dolphins have to start looking to the future, and they may want to add an outside linebacker who can rush the quarterback in the first round next April.
That player could be Josh Allen from Kentucky, who is not only a terrific tackler, but has that rare ability to really get after the quarterback. He would be a perfect fit on a Dolphins defense looking to get younger, teaming with guys like Jerome Baker, Raekwon McMillian, and Minkah Fitzpatrick in the next era of Dolphins football.
The Denver Broncos are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the AFC, after beating two teams in back-to-back weeks that are expected to make it to the playoffs this season. A week after beating the Los Angeles Chargers on the road, the Broncos welcomed the Pittsburgh Steelers to town, and managed to pull off a victory despite allowing over 500 yards of total offense.
When it comes to the Broncos, they may be ready to make a run to the playoffs, and they have a guy under center who did a nice job of doing just that last year with the Minnesota Vikings. Case Keenum did not play particularly well on Sunday, as running back Philip Lindsay really led the way, but made enough plays to get the win against a very good Steelers team.
While Keenum is a good placeholder for the Broncos, they need to start thinking long-term when it comes to the quarterback position. There is no doubt that John Elway wants to get a guy in there he can count on for the next ten seasons, so it would not be a shock if they decided to roll the dice on Will Grier here at No. 14.
Grier was once the best high school quarterback in the country, and then went on to have a roller coaster of a career in college. Still, he is a guy who can make all the throws at the NFL level, and you have to think that Elway has his eyes on every potential first round quarterback coming into the draft next April.
The Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl hangover has continued, and on Sunday, they almost lost to a three-win team at home against the New York Giants. This team just looks lost on both sides of the ball, and had it not been for running back Josh Adams, they would have suffered a terrible loss inside Lincoln Financial.
However, with the win, the Eagles keep their playoff hopes alive, and in the NFC East, it is anybody’s ballgame outside the Giants. The Washington Redskins currently lead the division, but lost quarterback Alex Smith for the season two weeks ago, and the Dallas Cowboys still have a ton of question marks as well.
When it comes to the Eagles roster, they need to add some depth on the offensive line, as it has been downright bad at times this season. Starting left tackle Jason Peters is headed to the Hall of Fame, but he is getting up there in age, and the team should think about drafting his replacement in the first round in April.
One player who should go in the first round is Trey Adams, as he should grade out well at the NFL Scouting Combine once he is healthy. He has missed most of this season due to a back injury, but after having what was supposed to be season-ending surgery in September, he returned in November, showing the kind of warrior he is, helping the Washington Huskies to the Pac-12 title game.
The Cincinnati Bengals are a team that is very hard to judge from week-to-week, but it may have gotten a bit easier now that Andy Dalton is done for the season. With Jeff Driskel under center, the Bengals will likely find it hard to win football games, and could find themselves picking even earlier in round one than No. 16.
When it comes to the Bengals, they could be in the market for a new head coach, as Marvin Lewis has never won a playoff game in 15-plus years at the helm. They recently hired fired Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson, and if they do let Lewis walk, you have to think Jackson would be in the running for the position.
The Bengals defense was absolutely roasted by those same Browns this past weekend, as rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield tossed four touchdowns. They need an upheaval at all three levels of the defense, starting at linebacker, where they could get the best middle linebacker this draft class has to offer.
Devin White has been a monster in the middle for the LSU Tigers during his career, and is going to be a guy that comes into the NFL and dominates right away. He has the athleticism to play sideline to sideline, and when it comes to delivering hits, he is one of the hard-hitting linebackers in the SEC.
The Tennessee Titans took on the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football to close out Week 12 of the 2018 NFL season, and looked pretty bad on both sides of the ball in a 34-17 loss. The Titans have a solid young quarterback in Marcus Mariota, but he takes way too many hits, and does not have many weapons to throw to in the passing game.
Back in 2017, the Titans made wide receiver Corey Davis their first round pick, and he has continued to get better this season. However, he is the only real threat the Titans have when Mariota drops back to pass, so they would be wise to spend their first round pick in 2019 on an elite wide receiver prospect.
When it comes to this draft class, Ole Miss wideout AJ Brown is the best prospect in his position group, and should be the first one off the board. Not only does he have the ability to beat a defender deep, but he is not afraid to go over the middle, and would give the Titans a wrinkle they currently do not have.
If Mariota is to continue to progress as a franchise quarterback, the Titans need to do a better job in surrounding him with playmakers. Having both Brown and Davis on the outside would give him two legitimate threats, making it much easier for him to make plays without having to rely on his feet all the time.
At the beginning of the 2018 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts looked like a team that was destined to finish last in the AFC South. They had a quarterback coming off a serious shoulder injury, and the team just looked lost on both sides of the ball, losing five of their first six games.
However, since then, they have become one of the hottest teams in the NFL, and some experts like them to come all the way back in the division and take the crown from the Houston Texans. While they have a long way to go before that, it is clear their method of protecting Andrew Luck is working, and the smart play was drafting offensive guard Quenton Nelson in the first round this past April.
Next April, they should look to bolster the other side of the line, as they were run all over by Frank Gore and the Miami Dolphins last week. They were able to come back and get the victory, but in the AFC, you have to be able to stop the run, becuase it is going to be an ex-factor come playoff time.
Frank Reich is proving to the world that he is a legitimate head coach in the NFL, and Luck is playing at an MVP level. These Colts are for real, and if they could add another couple of pieces next Spring and Summer, they could be a Super Bowl contender in the AFC before too long.
The Seattle Seahawks pulled off another huge win this past weekend, as they went on the road and beat the Carolina Panthers. With the win, the Seahawks continue to make their move towards a possible Wild Card spot, while the Panthers, look like a team in disarray right now.
When it comes to the Seahawks, it all revolved around Russell Wilson, who is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Wilson can do so much to help the Seahawks win, and on Sunday, he once again took the team on his back and led them to the victory despite being down by seven points with under seven minutes left in the game.
It was not too long ago that the Seahawks went to back-to-back Super Bowls, as Wilson was aided by arguably one of the better defenses we have seen in a long time. While the Legion of Boom is no longer a thing, this defense has really stepped up, and are playing their best football ever since Earl Thomas went down with an injury.
In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seahawks should look to draft Thomas’ replacement, as his contract is over, and he is definitely not heading back to the team. The best safety in this draft class is Deionte Thompson, and with Seattle, he would slide right into the starting lineup, giving them elite talent at the position once again.
The Carolina Panthers suffered a terrible loss this past weekend, as they let a seven-point fourth quarter lead slip away at home against the Seattle Seahawks. The loss was made even worse by the fact that it was the Seahawks that beat them, as these two teams are both jockeying for a Wild Card spot in the NFC Playoffs.
Carolina has the talent on the offensive side of the ball to beat anybody, and we got to see a breakout performance by running back Christian McCaffrey this past weekend. McCaffrey was the team’s first round pick back in 2017, and after spending their 2018 round pick on an offensive player as well, it is time to use one on the defense.
Enter Brian Burns, who has been one of the more elite edge rushers in college football over the past couple of seasons. Burns is a guy that can come in and take over for the ageless Julius Peppers, who has to be looking down the barrel of possibly his last season in the NFL in 2018.
Burns not only is great at getting the edge, but is a phenomenal tackler, and this Panthers defense sometimes has trouble wrapping up. Head coach Ron Rivera is a former defensive coordinator, and was once a member of the best defense of all-time, so you have to think he would love to bring in some defensive talent with the first round pick next April.
Two weeks ago, the Washington Redskins playoff hopes took a terrible hit, as they lost starting quarterback Alex Smith to a possible career-ending leg injury. Incredibly, the injury occured on the same day, 33-years later, than the one that ended Joe Theismann’s career, and he just happened to be in the building.
This past weekend, the Redskins were on national television during Thanksgiving Day, rolling with Colt McCoy under center against division rival Dallas. Washington ended up losing that game to Dak Prescott and company, and is no longer in first place in the NFC East, as both them and Dallas are 6-5, and the Cowboys own the tiebreaker.
When it comes to the Redskins, they have to start thinking about their future at quarterback, as Smith’s career is in serious jeopardy. They may want to draft a signal-caller in the first round in 2019, and a guy like Dwayne Haskins has all the talent to be a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL.
Haskins has had a monster season for the Buckeyes, leading them to an 11-1 regular season record, a blowout win against Michigan, and a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Redskins need to find an answer at quarterback moving forward, and they just may roll the dice on the big fella from Ohio State.
The Oakland Raiders decided to trade away star wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys at the trade deadline, and the deal certainly has worked out for the boys in Dallas. Cooper had a breakout game on Thanksgiving Day, proving his worth, and has played a big role in the Cowboys getting to the top of the NFC East.
For Cooper, the Raiders received Dallas’ first round draft pick next April, which they are likely to use on the secondary. The team has gotten great effort from 2017 first round cornerback Gareon Conley in recent weeks, and he finally looks like a first round pick, so now they must surround him with some talent.
Byron Murphy from Washington is widely considered one of the better cornerbacks in college football, and would be a nice compliment to Conley in this Raiders defensive backfield. He has the talent to cover the best wide receiver on the field, and is not afraid to come up and make tackles, which has been an issue for Raiders cornerbacks.
This Raiders team is in full rebuild mode, and they are going to have to address their key needs with their three first round picks next April. Getting an edge rusher early makes sense, but until they can add more talent to the defensive backfield, guys like Patrick Mahomes and Philip Rivers are going to shred them twice a season in the AFC West.
The Baltimore Ravens took on the Oakland Raiders at home this past weekend, and were the dominant team, especially late in a 34-17 victory. The Raiders went into Baltimore looking for their second straight win, and while they hung touch for a half or so, it was the Ravens who proved to be the better team on Sunday.
Lamar Jackson was making his second NFL start for the Ravens, and ran his record to 2-0 with the victory. The Ravens tried to utilize his arm in the first half to no avail, as the Raiders picked him off twice, and actually only trailed by three heading into half time. After the break, they kept the ball on the group.
With this Ravens team, you know you are going to get good defense, and we certainly saw some from them in Week 12. The ageless Terrell Suggs actually scooped up a fumble and outran a wide receiver all the way to the end zone, putting the icing on the victory for Baltimore.
While Suggs can still play, they should look to draft his replacement, and Zach Allen from Boston College has a similar skill set to what Suggs likes to do. He is a dominant tackler, and an incredible edge rusher, and when Suggs is ready to finally call it quits, he would be a perfect player to take the reins from him in Charm City.
The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Denver needing a win to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots for a bye in the AFC Playoffs, and should have won the game. They gained over 500 yards of total offense, Ben Roethlisberger threw for over 450 yards, and they still lost to Denver by the score of 24-17.
With the loss, the Steelers are now in serious trouble, as nobody wants to go to New England or Kansas City for a possible AFC Championship Game. Still, they have a long way to go this season, and actually play the Patriots later on in the year, so they just need to take care of business and start stacking up wins.
When it comes to this team, there is a lot to like, especially on the offensive side of the ball. While they struggled to punch the ball into the end zone, they did rack up a ton of yards, as Big Ben is having one of his better statistical seasons. On defense, they need to get better, and that includes their edge rushers.
Montez Sweat from Mississippi State is one of the better edge rushers in this draft class, and would be a perfect fit in the Steelers’ base 3-4 defense. He has the size to play defensive end, and the athleticism to play outside linebacker, making him one of the more versatile defensive players in this draft class.
The Minnesota Vikings defense has been suspect all season long, looking nothing like the unit that helped lead them to the NFC Championship Game last season. However, they looked very good during their Sunday Night Football win against the Green Bay Packers, as they kept Aaron Rodgers at bay, holding the Pack to only 17 points in the game.
Minnesota made a huge splash this offseason, signing free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to be their franchise guy for the next couple of seasons. He rewarded them on Sunday night, throwing for three touchdowns, leading the Vikings to a huge victory within the NFC North division.
When it comes time for the playoffs, the defense needs to be better, as they have a wealth of talent on the offensive side of the ball. If the Vikings end up picking later in round one next April, they need to make sure they get someone to bolster the defensive line, and Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence would be a nice get at No. 25 overall.
Lawrence and his Tigers teammates have had another incredible season, and are looking for their third straight trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He is a beast in the middle alongside Christian Wilkins, who also could be a first round guy next April, and would be a solid addition to the defensive front in Minnesota.
The Houston Texans took on the Tennessee Titans in a huge AFC South battle on Monday night, and came away with a very decisive victory. Led by quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Texans went up and down the field against the Titans defense, as they won their eighth straight game after starting out at 0-3.
For the Texans, there is a lot of good things to say about this team on both sides of the ball, but they are coming up against a very important offseason. They have some big-name players with expiring contracts, and need to make sure they keep this thing together moving forward, especially with Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts nipping at their heels.
When it comes time for the 2019 NFL Draft, the Texans need to add more depth along the offensive line, and adding an offensive tackle that can be an anchor for years to come would be a good way to go. David Edwards from Wisconsin has long been one of the best offensive tackles in college football, and would be a perfect fit in Houston.
Edwards is a guy who will likely start on the right side at the NFL level, but has the size, and feet to move over to the left for the rest of his career. He is as strong as they come, and when the players get down to the NFL Scouting Combine, he should grade out as one of the better offensive linemen in this draft class.
The Oakland Raiders have three first round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, and two more in the 2020 NFL Draft, thanks to trades they made with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. The trade they made with Chicago was for Khalil Mack, a 27-year old former Defensive Player of the Year who is in the prime of his career, so they better hit with the two first rounders they got for him.
Thanks to the fact that Mack has helped turn the Chicago Bears into contenders in the NFC, the pick the Raiders got for him will likely be very late in round one. With that pick, they could look to bring in another Mack, Mack Wilson that is, who is one of the better middle linebackers this draft class has to offer.
Wilson is a guy the Raiders can plug into the middle of their defense alongside guys like Nicholas Morrow and Tahir Whitehead in the starting lineup. The Raiders are seriously lacking when it comes to depth at the linebacker position, so adding a player of Wilson’s caliber makes a lot of sense, especially this late in round one.
During his time at Alabama, Wilson has had to fight his way up the depth chart, but is one of the smartest football guys in this draft class. Oakland needs players that can come in and be leaders, and after a successful 2018 draft, they need to make sure they hit in 2019 and 2020 to turn this franchise around.
The Los Angeles Chargers got back on the winning track this past weekend, as they shook off a home loss to the Denver Broncos the week before. On Sunday, the Chargers had a much easier task at hand, as they were taking on the 2-8 Arizona Cardinals, though they did get off to a slow start, as they were down 10-0 in the first.
However, the cream rose to the top, and by the time the whistle blew for the end of the game, the Chargers had run off 45 straight points. The Bolts were aided by an all-time game from their legendary quarterback, as Philip Rivers completed 25 passes in a row, and finished the game 28-of-29 against the Cardinals secondary.
The Chargers have the talent to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender this season, but they need to do a better job on the defensive side of the ball. The return of Joey Bosa will help the pass rush, as when he is teamed with Melvin Ingram, they form one of the best tandems in the league. However, they need more help in the interior of that defensive line.
That is where they should draft their first round pick next April, and Jerry Tillery from Notre Dame is a guy who could be available this late in round one. Brown is a big body that can really clog up the middle against the run, and also has the athleticism to chase down backs in the backfield. He would be a stellar addition to an already solid front.
The New England Patriots got all they could handle from the New York Jets in the first half this past Sunday, as the two AFC East foes went into the locker room at halftime tied at 13. However, Tom Brady showed his magic once again against a divisional opponent, reeling off 14 straight, and leading the Pats to a 27-13 victory on the road.
New England is once again one of the teams to beat in the AFC this season, and they are inching ever so close to home field advantage in the playoffs. Remember, they have already beaten the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Pittsburgh Steelers loss this past week to Denver hurts their chances of catching the Pats big time.
Like they usually do, when they hold on to their first round pick, the Patriots will be picking towards the bottom of the first round next April. With the selection, they should look to get better along their defensive line, and Derrick Brown from Auburn is a guy who could still be there this late in round one.
Brown has been a cog in the middle for the Auburn Tigers during his college career, and has helped them have one of the better defenses in the SEC. On the Pats, he would fill a weakness along their defensive line, as we have seen the Pats look very beatable on that side of the ball at times during the 2018 campaign.
The Los Angeles Rams have only one loss on their resume this season, although it did come to the only other one-loss team in the NFC this season. The New Orleans Saints and these Rams are on a collision course for the NFC Championship Game, and the hope is that both teams can find their way there.
This Rams team is loaded on the offensive side of the ball, starring a Pro Bowl quarterback in Jared Goff, an elite running back in Todd Gurley, and weapons on the outside like Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods. The defense was also upgraded this offseason, as they brought in veterans Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and Ndamukong Sug to name a few.
During the trade deadline, the Rams also brought in some defensive talent, as they nabbed Dante Fowler Jr. from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fowler will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, and the team may want to replace him with a collegiate player who is as explosive off the edge as he is.
Michigan linebacker Devin Bush can hurt an offense in so many ways, as he is a stellar outside linebacker who can also get the edge in the pass rush. He would fill a big void in this Rams defense, and with so much money being spent on free agents, would be a nice cheap player to play a key role on their defense moving forward.
The Kansas City Chiefs finally had their bye week this past weekend, as they look to finish out the year strong in the AFC West. When they return to action this Sunday, they will be taking on one of the worst teams in the NFL, as they head to Oakland to take on the 2-9 Raiders in an AFC West matchup.
This season, the Chiefs have been almost unstoppable on the offensive side of the ball, as first-year starter Patrick Mahomes is playing at an MVP level. It is not often that a team trades away a starting quarterback that has led them to back-to-back division titles, but the move has definitely worked out in the Chiefs favor this season.
The defense, on the other hand, is nothing to write home about, and we have seen them lay an egg on many occasions this season. That has to be worrisome for Chiefs fans, who see their team dominate on one side of the ball every week, only to see their defense let teams go up and down on them as well.
When it comes time for the Chiefs to draft next April, they have to look at their secondary, where the cornerback spot took a hit when Marcus Peters was traded. Amani Oruwariye is a guy who can fill a starting void right away at the NFL level, as he showed himself to be one of the better cover corners in the Big Ten during his time at Penn State.
During the 2018 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers traded with the New Orleans Saints for their first round pick in 2019. Unfortunately for the Packers, that selection is looking more and more like it will be close to the end of the first round, as the Saints are one of the best teams in the NFL this season.
When it comes to this Packers roster, they need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball, especially in their secondary. The additions of guys like Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson, and Kevin King are solid at the cornerback position, but the safety spot needs more depth.
While they do have some good young cornerbacks in recent drafts, but the loss of HaHa Clinton-Dix is a big one. They may surprise the NFL once again and make a run towards the playoffs, but the likelihood is they will miss out, and heads will roll if that is the case.
The marriage between Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers looks to be on this ice, and the Packers cannot afford Rodgers being unhappy with his current situation moving forward. McCarthy had a nice run in Green Bay, but you have to think their will be changes at the top coming this offseason.