By Scott Salomon
Yesterday we went through picks one through 10. Today we examine picks 11-21 in my Mock Draft 2.0.
11. New England Patriots – Bo Nix, Quarterback, Oregon
The Pats traded back from No. 3 and roll the dice on Bo Nix from Oregon who has leadership and offensive fit but could be a big reach this high.
12. Denver Broncos – Michael Penix, Jr., Quarterback, Washington
It’s no secret that the Broncos need a quarterback and Sean Payton was kicking the tires on Nix, big time, as they sent their whole staff out to Oregon for his Pro Day. With Nix going to the Vikings at 11, the Broncos take the best quarterback available and that is Penix, Jr. who had a tremendous off season. Payton is not giving the keys to his offense to Jarrett Stidham so this is a pick of necessity.
13. Las Vegas Raiders – Amarius Mims, Jr., Tackle, Georgia
Raider fans know that they need a tackle to help keep Gardner Minshew upright. You might be pounding the table for Taliese Fuaga, but I really believe that Mims is the better pro because he faced NFL-type pass rushers and defensive fronts in the SEC every week.
14. New Orleans Saints – Taliese Fuaga, Tackle, Oregon State
Fuaga is a fine tackle who plays the position with authority, but he simply is not as good as Mims. However with Mims off the board, the Saints go with Fuaga as they need offensive line help desperately. This is a plug and play pick and Fuaga is a starter from day one.
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15. Indianapolis Colts – Malik Nabers, Wide Receiver, Louisiana State University
Nabers finally gets picked. He had a tremendous pro day, but receiver was not really a pick of need in the draft until now. He is the third receiver off the board. I don’t know why, but his stock drops in the off season, despite good workouts. The Colts go with the best player available here.
16. Seattle Seahawks – Troy Fautanu, Tackle, Washington
Geno Smith’s biggest problem last year was that he was always running for his life and constantly scrambling out of the pocket and trying to make plays on his own because of the line breakdowns. Fautanu doesn’t have a long drive from the Seattle campus and finds a home on the Seahawks line as a plug-and-play tackle for the next 10 years.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars – Quinyon Mitchell, Cornerback, Toledo
The Jaguars need to replace most of their secondary and they take a giant step in the first round as they take the best cornerback remaining on the board and go with Mitchell. They seemed to have solved some problems in free agency on offense so they work the backfield on defense in the first round.
18. Cincinnati Bengals – J.C. Latham, Tackle, Alabama
This is a position of need for Cincinnati and they upgrade their offensive line with the big guy from Alabama. Alabama tackles don’t have a rich history in the NFL, but Latham was coached well and faced top competition every week in the SEC. I like the pick of Latham here and he starts from day one and protects Joe Burrow’s blind side.
19. Los Angeles Rams – Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
This is the first real surprise of the draft as the Rams look for their apparent to Matthew Stafford who is not getting any younger and is showing signs of fading into the abyss. Rattler will ride the pine and learn the first season, but takes over the Rams offense in year two.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Graham Barton, Guard, Duke
This pick has ramifications for the Steelers and the Dolphins, who pick next. The Steelers protect their quarterback by drafting the top interior offensive lineman on the board and take him away from Miami, who was looking for their plug and play left guard. Barton will play next to Broderick Jones, last year’s top pick and they will form a formidable duo for Najee Harris to run behind.
21. Miami Dolphins – Xavier Worthy, Wide Receiver, Texas
The Dolphins hit a homerun here with speed and more speed and add a piece to their offense that seems patently unfair. Worthy ran a 4.21 at the Combine and when you add him to the same high-octane offense with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, you give Tua Tagovailoa three different weapons that he can use downfield to score points. The Dolphins go with Worthy over Adonai Mitchell solely on speed, which Mike McDaniel can never get enough of. Worthy might be picked a little early, but McDaniel will overspend for the speed.
Tomorrow, we examine picks 22-32 and finish the first round.
