Tuesday night was podcast night for me and Revenge of the Birds Radio cohost Seth Cox, and this show (No. 116) was our yearly mock draft. As it has been in previous years, it is actually two mock drafts, as both Seth and I discuss how each of us played out Round 1.
Before we got into the draft, we discussed the rumor that went around early in the week about the Cardinals perhaps moving receiver Michael Floyd in a trade for a pick or to move up in the draft. The wording of the sources was important -- "wouldn't be surprised". It wasn't "watch out for" or "there is a deal in the works." So it was just the notion that Floyd is really the team's only tradeable asset.
Then the mock -- I will post the full results below, but I had five quarterbacks getting selected in Round 1, with Paxton Lynch being the guy to fall all the way to end of the first round. Christian Hackenberg is a surprise pick by the Redskins (listen to the show for my rationale as to why it could happen).
But where you all probably care is what we had the Cardinals doing. Seth has them taking versatile offensive lineman Cody Whitehair. He is the guy who checks off all the boxes. He is versatile. He was a captain. He is athletic. He is projected to play center. Seems like a perfect pick.
My pick was Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee, who I did not expect to see available. I chose him over Whitehair and defensive tackle Chris Jones. Lee is an upgrade over Kevin Minter and could sub in for him in passing downs to start and then replace him completely after this season when Minter inevitably walks in free agency.
Here is the entire first round for both of us.
Team | Jess' pick | Seth's pick |
QB Jared Goff | QB Jared Goff | |
QB Carson Wentz | QB Carson Wentz | |
DB Jalen Ramsey | DL DeForest Buckner | |
DL/OLB Joey Bosa | RB Ezekiel Elliott | |
LB Myles Jack | DB Jalen Ramsey | |
OT Laremy Tunsil | DE/OLB Joey Bosa | |
DL DeForest Buckner | OT Jack Conklin | |
RB Ezekiel Elliott | OT Laremy Tunsil | |
CB Vernon Hargreaves | DE/OLB Shaq Lawson | |
10. New York Giants | DE/OLB Shaq Lawson | OLB Leonard Floyd |
11. Chicago Bears | DT Andrew Billings | CB Vernon Hargreaves |
DT A'Shawn Robinson | QB Paxton Lynch | |
13. Miami Dolphins | OT Ronnie Stanley | OT Ronnie Stanley |
14. Oakland Raiders | OT Jack Conklin | DT Sheldon Rankins |
15. Tennessee Titans | DE/OLB Noah Spence | OT Taylor Decker |
16. Detoit Lions | DT Sheldon Rankins | DT Robert Nkemdiche |
17. Atlanta Falcons | OLB Leonard Floyd | LB Myles Jack |
WR Laquon Treadwell | C Ryan Kelly | |
19. Buffalo Bills | DT Robert Nkemdiche | DE/OLB Noah Spence |
20. New York Jets | QB Connor Cook | QB Connor Cook |
21. Washington Redskins | QB Christian Hackenberg | WR Laquon Treadwell |
22. Houston Texans | WR Will Fuller | WR Will Fuller |
WR Josh Doctson | WR Josh Doctson | |
DE/OLB Emmanuel Ogbah | WR Corey Coleman | |
CB Williams Jackson III | CB William Jackson III | |
26. Seattle Seahawks | C Ryan Kelly | OT Jason Spriggs |
DT Jarran Reed | DT Kenny Clark | |
CB Eli Apple | CB Eli Apple | |
29. Arizona Cardinals | LB Darron Lee | G Cody Whitehair |
WR Corey Coleman | LB Darron Lee | |
31. Denver Broncos | QB Paxton Lynch | DT Chris Jones |
Listen to the show for the full explanation. Listen with the embedded player above or below. Or download the show directly here to listen to later.