Renny Thomas’ Mock Draft 1.0

Pick #1: Arizona Cardinals  – Kyler Murray, Quarterback, University of Oklahoma

With the least productive and lowest scoring offense and a bottom ten defense, the Cardinals have needs all over the roster.  The Cardinals should be picking the best player available, which would be defensive end Nick Bosa, but it looks like the Cardinals are enamored with the possibilities that Kyler Murray can provide.  Murray’s ability to run and the recent success of Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield have the Cardinals overlooking his height deficiencies. They will hope that he can provide the electricity he provided for the Oklahoma Sooners last year, en route to the Heisman Trophy.

Pick #2: San Francisco 49ers  – Nick Bosa, Defensive End, The Ohio State University

The 49ers wanted to drastically improve a pass rush that ranked 22nd in the NFL with 37 sacks last year.  While the offseason addition of Dee Ford will significantly help, being able to draft the most talented defensive end player in the draft in Bosa will make their pass rush a source of strength for San Francisco.  While the team will look to addressing their pass catchers and their defensive backs, they would be hard pressed to pass on a talent like Bosa.

Pick #3: NY Jets – Quinnen Williams, Defensive Tackle, University of Alabama

The Jets will look to add Quinnen Williams who will be an absolute disruptor in the middle of the Jets defensive line.  Pairing Williams with current Jets defender Leonard Williams will give the Jets two cornerstone defensive lineman that should act as the cornerstone for the Jets defense for the next decade.  While Williams would be a great pick here, New York may be looking to move back in the draft and acquire more picks, and get someone who fits a bigger need, like a pass catcher for quarterback Sam Darmold.

Pick #4: Oakland Raiders – Montez Sweat, Defensive End, Mississippi State University

Along with the Cardinals, this may be one of the most depleted rosters in the NFL.  Luckily for coach Jon Gruden and new GM Mike Mayock, they will have four picks in the top 35 to address their many needs.  When the Raiders traded away Khalil Mack last year, they created a huge pass rushing void. Sweat is an incredible athlete, running a 4.41 forty yard dash at the NFL combine and was productive for Mississippi State with 22 sacks in the past two years. For a team that totaled just 13 sacks last season, Sweat should be a good start to rebuilding the Raiders pass rush.

Pick #5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devin White, Inside Linebacker, Louisiana State University

Much like almost every other team in the NFL, the Buccaneers could definitely use a pass rusher or a cornerback here.  However, since they lost their former talismanic inside linebacker, Kwon Alexander, to free agency, the Bucs may look to replace him with the 5th pick and take Devin White from LSU.  White is an exceptionally instinctive linebacker as a pass rusher and has great range in coverage. He should be an anchor for this Buccaneers defense for years.

Pick #6: New York Giants – Josh Allen, Defensive End, University of Kentucky

Josh Allen, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, is a dynamic edge rusher with premier first step.  His productivity at Kentucky, where he totaled 17 sacks, and athleticism should be welcomed on a defensive line that ranked second to last in the NFL with just 30 sacks and traded away Olivier Vernon in the Odell Beckham trade.  The Giants will look hard at possibly drafting a Quarterback here but rumor is that they aren’t convinced with any of the top quarterback prospects this season.

Pick #7: Jacksonville Jaguars – Jawaan Taylor, Offensive Tackle, University of Florida

The Jaguars spent a lot of money this offseason acquiring Nick Foles to lead their offense this upcoming season and Jacksonville will hope to protect that investment by drafting the Florida Offensive tackle to fill in at right tackle.  Taylor is a good pass rusher but he should excel as an exceptional zone run blocker who will be essential in getting Leonard Fournette back to the top of the league as a running back.

Pick #8: Detroit Lions – Rashan Gary, Defensive End, University of Michigan

With Ezekiel Ansah looking increasingly unlikely to come back, the Lions will look to bolster their defensive line with the addition of Rashan Gary.  While the Lions did sign the former Patriots standout Trey Flowers this offseason, pairing him with Gary should form a formidable pass rush. Gary is one of the most athletic players in the draft whose production at Michigan never quite lived up to his skill level.  Pairing him with a player of the character of Flowers should be a good influence on the young player. The Lions could also look to draft a pass catcher at this spot and one that may be on their radar may be Iowa’s T.J Hockenstein.

Pick #9: Buffalo Bills – Ed Oliver, Defensive Tackle, University of Houston

Former run stuffing extraordinaire Kyle Williams retired this offseason and the Bills could draft his replacement in Houston’s Ed Oliver.  Oliver is a disruptive one-gap run defender with a high motor and terrific closing speed. He also is a highly effective pass rusher from middle of the line, as noted by his 39.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in his first two seasons at Houston.  He was plagued by injuries this past season but if he is healthy, he will be a dynamic defensive tackle for the Bills for years to come. The Bills may also be looking for a receiver for young quarterback Josh Allen and they may be considering taking one of the highly rated receivers like Marquis Brown or D.K Metcalf here.

Pick #10: Denver Broncos – Drew Lock, Quarterback, University of Missouri

While the offseason signing of Joe Flacco is a nice stopgap solution to the quarterback issue in Denver, he is not the future of the franchise.  With Drew Lock, the Broncos will find the big armed, mobile quarterback that they’ve been hoping for. He is a relatively raw product but he has the arm strength to make any throw and the agility to buy time in the pocket.  While his footwork is lacking at this point, under the right tutelage, he can clean up his game and be a very good quarterback in the NFL.