THE ADVOCATE NFL MOCK DRAFT 2019 (TOP 13)

The 2019 NFL draft was held Thursday evening in Nashville, after the Advocate press deadline.

But here is one fan’s look at the needs of several teams drafting early in the first round (who could trade their picks); their 2018 season record and projected 2019 season strength-of-schedule; and discussion of some of the most likely college players for them to select.

TEAMS AND NEEDS:

Arizona Cardinals Record: 3-13 (.527 strength of schedule) Biggest needs: OL, WR, TE, DL, CB   The biggest needs haven’t really changed here since the end of the season. There’s plenty of work to do on an offensive line that ranked dead last in the league last season, per Pro Football Focus, and whether quarterbacks Kyler Murray (draft pick) or Josh Rosen (currently on roster) are under center next season, the Cardinals’ QB1 will need an improved collection of pass catchers.

San Francisco 49ers Record: 4-12 (.504)  Biggest needs: WR, S, CB, DL, OL  There’s still a need for a true No. 1 wide receiver in San Francisco, although there are some nice complementary targets in place (and a true WR1 isn’t easy to find, including in this year’s draft). On defense, the secondary would benefit from more young players who can challenge for starting spots, and another pass rusher wouldn’t hurt, even after the addition of former Kansas City defensive end Dee Ford.

New York Jets  Record: 4-12 (.506)  Biggest needs: Edge, OL, CB, TE, WR  Anthony Barr’s last-second change of heart in free agency means the glaring void at edge rusher remains. However, Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan needs to invest in the O-line, too – he must give Sam Darnold a better front five in Year 2. We haven’t even mentioned this club could use a corner or two. It all adds up to the feeling that Maccagnan, who doesn’t hold a second-rounder, needs to trade down from No. 3 overall to acquire more picks.

Oakland Raiders  Record: 4-12 (.547) Biggest needs: Edge, TE, CB, RB, LB  Adding a whole lot of juice to a pass rush that produced a league-low 13 sacks last season (no other team had fewer than 30) has to be the top priority for Coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock. From there, they could go in a variety of directions, from adding more weaponry for quarterback Derek Carr to bolstering the back seven on defense.

Tampa Buccaneers  Record: 5-11 (.523)  Biggest needs: LB, CB, S, RB, DL  The focus ought to be on giving coordinator Todd Bowles the pieces he needs to turn the defense around. There’s a big hole to fill right in the middle of the D, with Kwon Alexander departing for the49ers, but the secondary is also a concern: Tampa Bay allowed a league-worst 110.9 passer rating in 2018. On the other side of the ball, a playmaking RB1 would ease the burden on quarterback Jameis Winston.

New York Giants  Record: 5-11 (.527)  Biggest needs: QB, DL, CB, WR, OL   With two-first round selections and a league-high 12 picks total, the Giants must walk away with one of the draft’s top QBs this year. They also have to restock the defensive line after dealing away Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon, as well as the cornerback position, where they lack proven difference makers beyond Janoris Jenkins. While picking up the veteran Golden Tate helps, they still need to add explosiveness to an OBJ-less wide receiver corps.

Jacksonville Jaguars  Record: 5-11 (.549)  Biggest needs: OL, TE, WR, S, RB   They have a QB. Now, what about the rest of the offense? There are needs just about everywhere else on that side of the ball, especially at right tackle and tight end, where former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has been accustomed to having a safety valve. They’re a little light at safety after the release of Tashaun Gipson, and they lack depth behind Leonard Fournette at RB.

Detroit Lions  Record: 6-10 (.504)  Biggest needs: CB, edge, OL, TE, WR  GM Bob Quinn did some nice work in free agency, but the defense could still benefit from a corner to challenge Teez Tabor and new help for Trey Flowers in the pass rush. The right side of the offensive line could use an upgrade or two. Adding another complementary piece at tight end and a wide receiver to develop would make sense.

Buffalo Bills  Record: 6-10 (.523)  Biggest needs: DL, OL, TE, CB, RB  GM Brandon Beane did good work in free agency, shoring up areas of weakness like wide receiver and the offensive line. There’s still room for a franchise left tackle, but the more pressing priority is on the other side of the line, where Buffalo could use more pass-rush help. Journeyman E.J. Gainesand the oft-injured Kevin Johnson are playing on one-year deals – the Bills still ought to be looking for their next corner. I wouldn’t stop at Tyler Kroft when it comes to adding at tight end for Josh Allen, and they should infuse a veteran RB room with some youth.

Denver Broncos  Record: 6-10 (.523)   Biggest needs: OL, ILB, DL, TE, QB  Denver gave Ja’Wuan James big money to put out a fire at tackle, but things are still burning on the interior after the departure of Matt Paradis. Reinforcements are needed up the middle of a run defense that was in shambles at times last season. While GM John Elway sees a 34-year-old Joe Flacco entering his prime, and I for one am ecstatic (yes, a fan!) for what the implications of having Flacco with this offensive line could mean for the Broncos. Drafting a QB would still make sense to us just because Flacco is 34 years of age and the Broncos need a next-gen QB, and the same goes for tight ends, where there’s a combination of unproven and often-injured players.

Pittsburgh Steelers Record: 9-6-1 (.504)  Biggest needs: ILB, WR, edge, CB, S  The front seven on defense and the wide receiver corps should be weighing most heavily on the minds of the Steelers’ decision makers heading into the draft. Inside ’backer has been a need since Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal injury in 2017, and it’s time to add competition off the edge, with Bud Dupree producing just 20 sacks in four seasons. JuJu Smith-Schuster may indeed be ready for WR1 duty, but the departure of Antonio Brown looms large over a weakened receiving corps that added Donte Moncrief. In the secondary, Joe Haden and Sean Davis are a year away from free agency. The offensive line, specifically right tackle, should be a consideration here, too.

Seattle Seahawks  Record: 10-6 (.484)  Biggest needs: DL, WR, CB, S, OL  The franchise tag has been applied to defensive end Frank Clark, but GM John Schneider and Pete Carroll still need to find a player who can create pressure opposite him off the edge. It’s worth adding to the interior, too, around Jarran Reed. Receiver was already an area of need, but the news about WR1 Doug Baldwin needing further surgeries only heightens the priority. Adding depth to the secondary and offensive line should be on the to-do list, as well. 

Los Angeles Chargers  Record: 12-4 (.477)  Biggest needs: OT, DT, S, CB, LB  If longtime QB1 Philip Rivers is ever going to make his Super Bowl dreams a reality, he’s going to need better performance from the right tackle position. The Chargers resigned 34-year-old Brandon Mebane, but the work at shoring up defensive tackle isn’t done yet. A center fielder who can complement Derwin James at safety could make this good defense even better.