2019 NFL Draft: 2nd round mock draft
By Joe Romano
49. Cleveland Browns—Sean Bunting, CB, Western Michigan
One of the five teams without a first round pick were the Cleveland Browns. A year after crushing it with two top-five picks, Cleveland used its 17th-overall pick to steal Odell Beckham Jr. from the Giants. In the second round, the Browns address another position of need at cornerback. Last year’s fourth overall pick, Denzel Ward, looks like a lock-down player on one side and Central Michigan’s Sean Bunting would be a great running mate. Bunting is a big, physical corner with excellent speed and fluid hips. He’s bigger than Ward and would give Cleveland two active cover guys on the outside for their new look defense.
50. Minnesota Vikings—Dre’Mont Jones DL Ohio State
There was a clear path for the Vikings in the first round and it was to get a player that can protect Kirk Cousins. That manifested in North Carolina State interior offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury. The selection of Bradbury opens the door for the Vikings to enter day two with few holes on their roster. A spot that they can upgrade is along the defensive line after losing Sheldon Richardson. Dre’Mont Jones of Ohio State is an incredible athlete capable of rushing the passer at a high level from the interior. Minnesota has a pair of disruptive edges and Jones would feast on the one-on-one matchups he’d see on this defense. He needs to work on his anchor and leverage in the run game but he’s got traits a team would be wise to gamble on.
51. Tennessee Titans—Irv Smith, Jr. TE Alabama
Tennessee was the team that pulled the trigger on the talented-but-troubled Jeffrey Simmons in round one. Simmons is recovering from a torn ACL and likely will miss most of the season. That makes the Titans second-round pick even more important as they need to get a player to help them immediately. Despite being the youngest player in the draft, Irv Smith of Alabama can be that player. Delanie Walker is aging and they need more weapons for Marcus Mariota. Smith is a great athlete on tape and can be a complete prospect at tight end.
52. Denver Broncos—Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame
The Denver Broncos under new head coach Vic Fangio will look to feature a dominant defense to compliment their offense. Mack Wilson earlier in this round will help in the middle of the defense. On the outside they need to find a corner to help Chris Harris out, if he sticks around. Julian Love of Notre Dame is the type of corner Fangio could target. A bigger corner with great length, he’s not afraid to mix it up in the running game, a staple of Fangio corners. Love’s got work to do with his technique but he’s got great traits and can be a solid outside corner in this scheme.