We take up the second half of this mock draft courtesy of the Fox Sports football staff. A team of eight NFL writers and one college football analyst came together for this one.
They made no allowances for draft day trades and picks 1-15 were pretty solid for the most part.
Can they continue the trend to close out the first round? And who do they see the Cowboys drafting with the 26th pick?
Let’s find out…
16. Washington Commanders: Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.
This pick makes more sense than drafting a tight end, as predicted in the previous mock draft.
Washington is playing in a division loaded with wide receivers and tight ends.
They are going to need to cover these guys.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jack Campbell, ILB, Iowa
The Steelers have a history of drafting great linebackers.
This pick would continue that tradition and makes more sense than taking a tight end.
18. Detroit Lions: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
Again, this is just my opinion, but I think Detroit’s offense is in good shape. What they need is an improved defense.
Branch would be another piece of that puzzle the Lions need to solve.
Do The Bucs Move Up Or Stay Put
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
The Bucs clearly need help on the offensive line and Jones would be a great addition. But something tells me Tampa Bay will be on the move looking for Tom Brady’s replacement.
I’m thinking they go all the way up to #3 and grab Levis.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
I don’t know about this one.
Seattle needs too much on defense to pick any wideout here.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
This pick makes more sense to me than the previous mock, which has Bijan Robinson going here.
Kincaid, to me, is the best tight end in the draft. (Ducks all the hate from the Irish fandom) He’s a target Justin Herbert desperately needs.
Lamar Jackson’s Future Revealed With This Pick
22. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Addison WR, USC
I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt here because this mock was done before the Ravens inked OBJ.
Could they still go with a receiver here? Yes.
Will they? Nope.
Baltimore could trade up and draft a quarterback, bidding farewell to Lamar Jackson. It’s a possibility Ravens fans are going to have to come to terms with.
Even if Baltimore doesn’t move up, there are one or two quarterbacks that they could draft.
Anthony Richardson or Max Duggan could be wearing purple and black unis in the fall.
23. Minnesota Vikings: Keion White, Edge, Georgia Tech
This would fill a very big need for the Vikings.
I think they’ve got this pick correct.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
The Jaguars need to do a better job of protecting Trevor Lawrence if they want to get past the divisional round of the playoffs.
Wright would be exactly what they need.
25. New York Giants: Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
This pick happens only if the top wide receivers are off the board.
In this draft, as it stands, that means they have to address their needs in the defensive backfield. But I think Johnson will still be backstage and the Giants will grab him as fast as they can.
The Cowboys Pick At 26 Is…
26. Dallas Cowboys: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
The drafter in charge of this pick is David Helman and he’s a writer who I respect a lot. But if Bijan Robinson is still sitting backstage when the Cowboys go on the clock and they don’t pick him?
I’ll be on the next plane to DFW looking for some answers.
Even Helman says Robinson should probably be the pick but he likes Smith a little more.
I like Smith as well, but only if Robinson is off the board before Dallas picks here.
27. Buffalo Bills: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
I don’t see Robinson getting this far. He’s just too good.
And Buffalo needs to shore up its offensive line before Josh Allen gets packed off to an early retirement.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
Mayer does make sense, but what prevented the Bengals from making back-to-back Super Bowl appearances was their pass rush.
I think they take Nolan Smith here if Dallas passes on him and takes Robinson.
Defense closes out the round
29. New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco through Miami and Denver): Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
There seems to be a lot of teams in need of defensive help in this draft. Add the Saints to this list.
I like this pick and I think it happens.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: DT Bryan Bresee, Clemson
The Eagles took a big hit on defense during free agency.
They have to address it here if they don’t with their earlier pick in this round. Bresee would be a great addition and a pain in the neck for the Cowboys’ offensive line for years to come.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Will McDonald, Edge, Iowa State
The Chiefs have needs at receiver, offensive line, and defensive line.
Who they pick here will be determined by who is the best player remaining out of the three possibilities. As this draft is compiled, that is definitely McDonald.
32. Nobody – No one.
The Dolphins were stripped of their first-round pick due to tampering with both Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
An expensive violation, doubly so as they landed neither man.
This mock draft was compiled by:
AFC South reporter Ben Arthur (@benyarthur)
NFC South reporter Greg Auman (@gregauman)
Dallas Cowboys reporter David Helman (@davidhelman_)
AFC East reporter Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis)
NFL and betting analyst Geoff Schwartz (@GeoffSchwartz)
NFC West reporter Eric D. Williams (@eric_d_williams)
NFC East reporter Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano)
NFC North reporter Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV)
College football analyst RJ Young (@rj_young)
Other mocks have him going in the top 10: NOBODY KNOWS!! That said if we draft defense I WILL BE HAPPY
Can’t see us taking an Edge with the 1st pick, particularly if Robinson is on the board
They need to snag Bennett!!!! Qb
At least this mock doesn’t have us taking an unnecessary TE like many moronic mocks do. The needs are O-line, DT, WR. Getting Bijan would be a luxury sexy pick if he’s still there at 26.
Steve Preciado we need a LB, that’s our only weakness. You didn’t even mention that, you obviously know nothing
Dave Gallipoli Dave don’t be one of those “U know nothing” dipshits. Phuck off. We also need a back up QB for later but obviously thats not a priority as the first 3 positions i mentioned.
Steve Preciado we resigned Cooper Rush. You just proved again you know nothing… we do not need a WR. We have 3 good ones and still are developing the young ones we got
Steve Preciado like I said, Parsons is a full time DE now unless a injury happens to one of our LBs. Cox is a bust, why are you even mentioning him for? Clark hasn’t shown anything special even tho he didn’t get a fair chance yet… yes I am fine with Rush as our backup QB, he’s 5-1 in his career, he’s a good game manager. Gallup was coming off a ACL injury last year, he will def be better this year, Lamb is a top 5 WR in the league and Cooks is still a legit WR, he was on the pathetic Texans his last 3 years and still put up good numbers. Again, you know nothing at all.
Dave Gallipoli. And YOU don’t even remember what you said before because no you didn’t mention Parsons being a full time DE now. I mentioned Cix and all those no name linebackers because i was making fun of you mentioning Rush and Gallup as still good players. Obviously you don’t remember Rush in preseason, I do. He tried to leave this team but found nobody to pay him (gee I wonder why). Don’t ger me wrong – I like him and I like that the ball was out of his hands in 3 or less seconds which was part of his success during the season. But he’s not going to be here much longer which is why we need new blood in the QB bull-pin. I hope ur right about Gallup but I need proof and not hope to justify my stance on him that he’s gonna get replaced. Cooks basically has a 2 yr contract. I know he’s good for two years but he will be replaced as well. If a stud receiver drops to the Cowboys they’ll grab him. If a stud LB drops to them, I have no doubt they’ll grab him too. Im just saying once the 2 or 3 top WR and LB are off the board, and there’s a top O-line guy or DT, they should take that instead of the #4 WR or LB. I’m taking into consideration what I think will be left by the time we pick. Will Anderson, Tyree Wilson, Nolen Smith should all be gone before pick #26. I’m for a top O-line guy or DT. Lets just have a gentlemans bet that Cowboys will take one of my 3 positions (WR, OL, DT) before grabbing a Linebacker?
Steve Preciado i literally stopped reading when you said “have you seen rush in preseason” what a idiot comment since he played good in the regular season and went 4-1.. what a moron.. goodbye
Steve Preciado Who did Rush play with in the preseason? A bunch of practice squad players? He played good with the starters… but your too stupid to realize that
Dave Gallipoli Afraid of the bet dude? Just say it.
Steve Preciado whay bet? I didn’t read all that nonsense I told you I stopped reading after you mentioned preseason
Steve Preciado they are definitely not drafting a WR before LB.. that’s a fact., they might not even draft a WR at all
Dave Gallipoli Maybe so. Bet?
I’ll grab Darnell Wright OT instead @26
Mazi at 26 to beef up DL
Michael Allen Randall pick 26 or 58 defensive line offensive line,could also use a nice guard.
Like we need more players at the edge position FFS
All I hope is if and I say if Mayer is still sitting there at 26 they have to take him. He will solidify the pass and run game. There is plenty of defensive players to pick up in other rounds.
Noooo.ROBINSON
Folks…90% of these Mocks for Jerry at #26…has no idea who’s on this roster. And probably none has watched one game last season to see where that first round pick should go. What a bunch of dumb-a$$es these Mocks are for Jerry at pick #26.
They will draft according to need like they always do. They never draft best available player
Joshua Bedard guess you missed the 2020 draft
Dave Gallipoli one player out of how many? They also needed another receiver and Lamb just happened to drop to them so it was a no brainer
Joshua Bedard actually they’ve drafted the best player on their board for a minute now.
You guys have no idea
We don’t need edge at all. Do what we do best, O Line.
I’m praying for bijan Robinson.. if we get him I think our whole team gets better.. or derick Henry.. I like what tony can do but he’s to small to handle the whole load on his own ..
We need O-line.
Stuck on Stupid
this guy is great at standing up for a 3-4 defense not on a 4-3 that Dallas runs. Bad fit
We need a QB
I like this move if it helps move on from Tank. This is a futures move, not a right now move
Adrian Thomas nobody in this draft can replace tank…..
Dennis Dimasi down the line
Best player on the board
Robinson will be gone by the 10-15th pick.