Mock Drafts are fun. They allow both the reader and the writer to express and explore creativity and imagination between what could happen, what might actually happen, and what should happen.
For the most part, draft writers enjoy doing them. Some like the creative process of it all, but there are many who take pride in making their mocks as accurate as possible in hope of pounding their chest with a celebratory, “I called it!” when a foretold pick is announced. However, once that first trade of the night happens on Day 1 of the NFL Draft, so many of those picks and predictions can be thrown out the window.
With early mock drafts in January and February, there’s really no point to predicting trades. You’re still trying to identify team needs, and the potential partners for trades haven’t even emerged yet. But, now that we’re less than one month away from draft night, throwing out some trade scenarios makes sense, since you know they’re coming.
In this mock, we have five trade. Around them you’ll see five quarterbacks get selected, all three top running backs, all three top wide receivers, and all three top tight ends. Thought it’s pretty standard at the very top, the farther down you go, the more we shake things up.
Here’s a look at some possible trade scenarios and the picks that come before, after and during.
| # | Team | Pick | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland Browns | Myles Garrett | Analysis |
| 2 | San Francisco 49ers | Solomon Thomas | Analysis |
| 3 | Chicago Bears | Marshon Lattimore | Analysis |
| 4 | Cleveland Browns (TRADE) | Mitchell Trubisky | Analysis |
| 5 | Tennessee Titans | John Ross | Analysis |
| 6 | New York Jets | Deshaun Watson | Analysis |
| 7 | Los Angeles Chargers | Malik Hooker | Analysis |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | Dalvin Cook | Analysis |
| 9 | Washington Redskins (TRADE) | Mike Williams | Analysis |
| 10 | Buffalo Bills | O.J. Howard | Analysis |
| 11 | New Orleans Saints | Jon Allen | Analysis |
| 12 | Jacksonville Jaguars (TRADE) | Jamal Adams | Analysis |
| 13 | Denver Broncos (TRADE) | Garett Bolles | Analysis |
| 14 | Philadelphia Eagles | Christian McCaffrey | Analysis |
| 15 | Indianapolis Colts | Leonard Fournette | Analysis |
| 16 | Baltimore Ravens | Corey Davis | Analysis |
| 17 | Cincinnati Bengals (TRADE) | Reuben Foster | Analysis |
| 18 | Tennessee Titans | Gareon Conley | Analysis |
| 19 | Seattle Seahawks (TRADE) | Forrest Lamp | Analysis |
| 20 | Arizona Cardinals (TRADE) | Patrick Mahomes | Analysis |
| 21 | Detroit Lions | Haason Reddick | Analysis |
| 22 | San Francisco 49ers (TRADE) | Deshone Kizer | Analysis |
| 23 | New York Giants | David Njoku | Analysis |
| 24 | Oakland Raiders | Fabian Moreau | Analysis |
| 25 | Houston Texans | Evan Engram | Analysis |
| 26 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TRADE) | Budda Baker | Analysis |
| 27 | Kansas City Chiefs | Davis Webb | Analysis |
| 28 | Dallas Cowboys | Carl Lawson | Analysis |
| 29 | Green Bay Packers | Marlon Humphrey | Analysis |
| 30 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Derek Rivers | Analysis |
| 31 | Atlanta Falcons | Charles Harris | Analysis |
| 32 | New Orleans Saints | Adoree’ Jackson | Analysis |
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About the Author: Trevor Sikkema
If we got 2 third rounders doing this, I’d have to say Hell Yeah!!!!!
GO BUCS
Shameless pandering to the Budda Baker fan club on The Red Board.
Or it could be that (a) Trevor actually has integrity (unlike the implication you’re making), (b) is accurate in his assessment, and (c) PR has a wee bit of scoopage that the Bucs are high on Baker.
*ding ding ding*
Logic is hard when I’M AN ANGRY INTERNET POSTER, YOU WILL FEEL MY WRATH has you under its sway.
Well tbh I have never seen this guy on here before so it could be some trolling. OR just somebody joking, hard to tell with no sarcasm font.
Was being sarcastic.
I just read that John Lynch is very high on Stanford’s Solomon Thomas and Christian McCaffery. Shock coming?
I hope and pray you are right about 2 QB’s in the top 6 and Cook going to Carolina.
How do the Jags pass on Fournette in this mock? And for another safety?
No way the Colts take a RB in round 1. They need OL, CB and LB.
With the second over all pick in the draft the 49ers will select D Watson Q.B.! Why? John Lynch knows full well he’d have more rings if his old Buc teams had a franchise Q.B.. Lynch, and his offensive minded coach have six year contracts. If not now, with time on their side, and the second pick, then when? Watson fits the mold of a west coast quarterback, Hoyer is there to mentor him along,nothing more. The Browns might beat them to the punch. They’re picking at one because they pinned their hopes on McClown, like we did by passing… Read more »
I wonder if the Bucs have the discipline to trade down ? They love to trade up and reach for players that are not worth it, but trading down takes discipline. Especially if there is a blue chip player on the board that you really want.
The discipline to trade down- like they did last draft?
And yes, they did reach on Aguayo, but at least they got Spence with their first 2nd round pick, then tried to get creative…
The extra pick that the Bucs used to trade back up into the late second round from their third round pick was paid for by the Bucs trade down in the first round, where they still got their man (VHIII).
So yes, the Bucs Jason Licht has plenty of discipline, up or down, or pat.
Do you really see Jamal Adams sliding down to 12? Sheesh…love the trade back tho. I’m thinking the Giants and Texans would be prime partners to do so with. Giants being extremely interested in McCaffrey, and the Texans getting the QB they want for the future.
Box safeties don’t go Top 10. Not saying it can’t happen, but history is against it.
That would be great if five teams reach out and grab QB’s who don’t look like they qualify for first round status to me. It would shock me much less if no QB’s went on Thursday night.
Good job. We get one of the best players at a position of need at a draft slot appropriate to his ranking. We get extra picks that will be very valuable in this draft. This is how you win the draft. My favorite tight-end (not counting O.J. as we have no chance of getting him) is Engram. He has the size 6’3″ and the speed 4.4 to play tight-end, specifically move tight-end. With his athleticism we could move him around. Line him up as tight-end, or move him outside and put DeSean Jackson in the slot or put him in… Read more »
I consider drafting a safety a luxury pick, we have Tandy who has earned the right to start and Wilcox who I think is the perfect compliment. Conte can play either spot if needed and be serviceable so I just dont see the need to address this position in the first round. I would prefer we take J.Davis the LB from Florida if we are taking BPA at least he can start at SLB, be a potential replacement for Lavonte and provide some position flexibility. Not that its the way I would prefer we go bc obviously we need more… Read more »
As much as I root for Conte he is just a stop gap. Sorry Chris. Baker seems to be pretty good. I’ve seen him compared to Eric Berry. Doubtful he is that good though.
GO BUCS
Wilcox isn’t a very good safety though. He is much better kept way far away from the back end of the defense like Dallas did with him last year. He lost his starting job in Dallas, and was playing more of the hybrid role. I would be cautious about penciling him in as a starter quite yet. If mine is an accurate assessment then we are one injury away from a disaster if Conte or Tandy goes down, and I recall Conte struggling last year for a long stretch. I think safety should probably be addressed this year. We are… Read more »
Certainly not endorsing Conte but I can’t say that drafting another undersized player for the back end is the solution to our problems. Wilcox has flashed some things that could help us but Im not sure adding another undersized member to the secondary will fix our issues. Budda could work out but we need to address our inabaility to handle the bigger receivers that we struggled with last year, adding somebody 5’10 does address that IMO.
So if we are hoping to trade back and get two 3rds, then I’m hoping we use em to try and nab jordan willis in the top half of the second while maintaining our already 2nd rd pick. Seems like something Mr Licht would do and then add weapons for our offense. If he can pull it off, why not?
If Adams does slide to 12 what are the chances the Bucs try and trade up to get him? I haven’t heard much chatter linking the Bucs to either Hooker or Adams – is this because they think they will be long gone? If they’ve done their due diligence then would a trade up make sense?
In my opinion we have too many holes to fill to use up a 3rd round pick (or equivalent compensation). Just interested in other’s views.
I do not see the Bucs trading up in this draft. I think it’s too rich of a class to give away picks
But Trevor … does not the same logic apply to every other team that picks after our 19? That’s the thing – everybody in the NFL universe knows exactly how deep this draft is at many positions, and so unless their GMs are ignorant dummies, they’re thinking exactly the same thing as Jason Licht is. And Seattle’s GM is no dummy. They’re in a rebuild mode now (Lynch gone, Sherman about to be gone, and an aging team all around) and they can certainly use those compensatory picks in the late 3rd more than most teams. This trade down is… Read more »
Budda Baker and two 3rd rounders? Yes please. You just won the draft.
Trevor, you hurt us with Dalvo going to the filthy Panthers, only to redeem yourself with the selection of Budda late in the first. Lol. Trading back and getting a player like Budda is the perfect scenario (outside of Corey Davis, Davlo, Williams, or Howard falling to 19) in this years draft. Secure additional picks and get a talented/need player.
I think Cook makes the most sense for the Panthers. I know Bucs/Noles fans would be sad, but then they’d know what it’s like to be a Gators fan and have Cook run all over your favorite team, haha.
He does make sense for them. I’d legit be beside myself if he ends up with the Panthers. *shudder* I can only hope they grab Fournette.
Cam Robinson & Derek Barnett still on the board and the Bucs pick a safety?
That’s a real head-scratcher…
That trade down could very well go to a pass rusher (Barnett, Willis, etc.). I still don’t see O-Line.
Budda Baker is a good player. IMO bucs need a taller DB we have I think3-4 ,5’10 DB’S so another one makes NO SENSE.
If we don’t take TE David N. That would be a surprise.
A “Buccaneer corner” is a real thing. Not that they run their team in absolutes, but they have their preferences and types.
In this scenario, I could see us taking Budda at 26, a pass rusher (Jordan Willis maybe?) or WR (Curtis Samuel?) at 50, and then trading back in to the 2nd to take someone like Adam Shaheen.
Or we really slow play the TE position and target someone like Roberts in the 4th.
SO MANY POSSIBILITIES!!!
I didn’t think you could trade compensatory picks?
They changed the rule at this year’s owners meeting to allow compensatory pick trading starting this year.
A few thoughts – all just my opinions of course: 1) I think if the Bucs are high on Baker, then they should just take him at 19. Getting cute, when there’s one guy you want, in order to pick up some mid-round choices (probably not two 3rds) could backfire…if Baker is the guy they really want. This almost happened last year to us, thank goodness for the NY Giants. 2) I like Baker, and I think he would be an immediate upgrade at safety. I respect @stlbucsfan that safety is a bit of a luxury pick, but the guys… Read more »
@EastEndBoy Maybe I need to rewatch some games but I feel like once Tandy became the starter that our coverage was pretty good on the backend. I attribute the struggles they had late in the season to an inconsistent pass rush more than terrible safety play. The Oakland, Arizona, Rams and 2nd Atlanta games stick out as horrible performances by the secondary and they all occurred before the change was made at safety. Adding Chris Baker and returning JacSmith should help that problem. If they have Budda graded out that high then I will take the wait and see approach… Read more »
I’m aligned with you on safety as a luxury – I think our focus should be on offense too – not that we don’t have holes around the roster, but I just think we’re pretty close on offense to having something that we could lean on to carry us through hard games (like we used to lean on Sapp/Brooks/Lynch/Rice/Barber)…it’s not there yet IMO, but close enough that one or two more pieces might just about do the trick.
Personally, I love the trade down scenario if it plays out like this. All of the offensive weapons we would want in the first would be gone, so why not. I like Budda Baker as well, but man safety just doesn’t seem like our biggest need. A need no doubt, but not our biggest. Although I like that pick of Baker over Obi. Obi could very well turn into a workout warrior as after watching some of his film, his is really lazy and sloppy at times. I am a little depressed that you have Evan Engram going that high.… Read more »
Trevor,
Do you think we go RB or te? If one of the big 3 or Howard falls to us somehow?