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McShay's best-case three-round NFL Mock Draft: How all 32 teams get an A

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Josh Jacobs can simply run people over (1:49)

Former Alabama running back Josh Jacobs runs with a full head of steam, can catch the ball and isn't afraid to get out there and block. (1:49)

In an ideal world, all 32 teams would hit home runs with each of their 2019 NFL draft picks. And today -- and today only -- they do.

Below is my three-round mock draft in which every team gets an A grade. I play general manager for each team at each pick, from No. 1 to No. 102.

To be clear, I'm not projecting picks. This is what I see as the best selection for the team -- but no trades allowed! It's how I would pick based on needs, value and availability. Each team's preferences don't matter here.

There's a team-by-team look below, plus all 102 picks in order at the bottom so you can see how the picks progressed and get an idea of who was off the board when each team selected.


Arizona Cardinals

Round 1 (1): Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
Round 2 (33): Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Round 3 (65): Dru Samia, G, Oklahoma

In this scenario, the Cardinals are able to ship Josh Rosen off before the draft and go all-in on Murray's elite athleticism running Kliff Kingsbury's offense. A Murray-David Johnson duo would be pretty explosive for Arizona. Plopping the 342-pound Lawrence in the middle of a front seven that already features Chandler Jones and Terrell Suggs is a pretty good way to kick off Round 2, and getting the reliable Samia in the third round provides some protection for Murray. After all, we have to protect our 5-foot-10 quarterback whom we just spent the No. 1 overall pick on, right?


San Francisco 49ers

Round 1 (2): Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Round 2 (36): Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
Round 3 (67): Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State

If you can address three key needs and lock up the most talented player in the entire draft in the first three rounds, you have to walk away happy. Bosa immediately gives the Niners an elite pass-rusher off the edge to pair with Dee Ford. San Francisco fills a void at safety with the instinctive Rapp and creates all sorts of matchup issues for defenses by taking McLaurin in the third. Jimmy Garoppolo would be taking snaps in the middle of a track meet with McLaurin and Marquise Goodwin lined up outside.


New York Jets

Round 1 (3): Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
Round 3 (68): Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
Round 3 (93): Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State

Williams is ferocious in the middle, and I see him as a top-two talent in the draft class. Between Williams and Allen, the Jets take a solid step forward on the defensive line. Williams has a great first step, and Allen transitions from speed to power very quickly. By taking Harmon late in the third, the Jets get Sam Darnold a hands catcher with size.


Oakland Raiders

Round 1 (4): Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky
Round 1 (24): Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
Round 1 (27): Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
Round 2 (35): Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple

It would be hard for the Raiders to botch this situation. Three first-round picks, including No. 4 overall, give Jon Gruden a lot of options. Allen recorded 17 sacks last season in the SEC, so he'd be welcomed to a defense that recorded just 13 as a whole last season. Jacobs' violent running style puts an exclamation mark on the rebuilt Oakland running game, which now features Isaiah Crowell. Rounding out the early Raiders selections are a pair of cornerbacks to start anew in the secondary. Baker has the best instincts of the defensive backs in the class.

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Clelin Ferrell is ferocious

Check out some highlights from NFL draft prospect Clelin Ferrell's 2018 season with the Clemson Tigers.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Round 1 (5): Devin White, ILB, LSU
Round 2 (39): Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
Round 3 (70): Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson

The Buccaneers need linebacker help with Kwon Alexander headed out of Florida, so getting the rangy White to be an every-down leader on defense is key. With Gerald McCoy's status up in the air, taking Tillery in the second round gives the Bucs a big, quick alternative to develop. Value wasn't there for an edge rusher, but Tampa Bay gets a smooth corner in Mullen to cover another heavy draft need.


New York Giants

Round 1 (6): Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
Round 1 (17): Brian Burns, DE/OLB, Florida State
Round 2 (37): Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
Round 3 (95): Mack Wilson, ILB, Alabama

The Giants have a lot of needs, but everything starts at quarterback. Haskins is the purest passer in the draft, so that's a no-brainer for me at No. 6 overall. If Haskins is there, I'm taking him. OK, now we need a pass-rusher. Enter Burns, who had 10 sacks for the Seminoles in 2018. Howard would help improve the offensive line in front of Haskins (or Eli Manning if the Giants smartly let Haskins learn behind the veteran for a bit), and then New York gets real value with Wilson's coverage ability all the way at the back of Round 3.


Jacksonville Jaguars

Round 1 (7): Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
Round 2 (38): N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
Round 3 (69): Amani Hooker, S, Iowa
Round 3 (98): Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis

Taylor's strength and smooth feet help keep Nick Foles upright, Harry's height and body control give him a reliable target, and Henderson's vision and high-end second gear provide a change of pace to Leonard Fournette. Harry is basically an Alshon Jeffery for Foles in Jacksonville. On defense, Hooker's ball skills come in handy for a secondary that just lost Tashaun Gipson to a division foe.


Detroit Lions

Round 1 (8): T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
Round 2 (43): Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
Round 3 (88): Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State

Detroit fans might feel the hairs on the backs of their necks stand up when they see a first-round tight end after Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew didn't quite work out, but Hockenson's rare combination of size, speed and athleticism should make him an immediate high-impact weapon for Matthew Stafford. The off-the-charts collegiate production of Ferguson (FBS-high 17.5 sacks in 2018) addresses the glaring need of an effective edge rusher, and Butler provides a bit of a vertical threat.


Buffalo Bills

Round 1 (9): Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
Round 2 (40): Erik McCoy, C/G, Texas A&M
Round 3 (74): Kahale Warring, TE, San Diego State

These first two Buffalo selections are about taking the best available player. Oliver is a beast inside, and Kyle Williams' retirement means the Bills could use a reliable run-stopper. McCoy could slide in at guard with Mitch Morse at center, taking steps toward protecting the team's franchise QB, Josh Allen. For the team's third pick, we go back to the areas of need and take a pass-catching tight end for Allen to target.

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NFL draft profile: L.J. Collier

L.J. Collier is a defensive end prospect from TCU who recorded five sacks in his senior season.


Denver Broncos

Round 1 (10): Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
Round 2 (41): Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
Round 3 (71): Nate Davis, OT/G, Charlotte

Based on how the first nine picks went, I'm taking Lock here. Develop the mobile gunslinger under Joe Flacco's tutelage before you let him shred defenses by throwing bullets at his new slot receiver. Once Samuel has the ball in his hands, it's tough to tackle him. Davis, the Broncos' third-rounder, makes up for the loss of Billy Turner on the offensive line.


Cincinnati Bengals

Round 1 (11): Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan
Round 2 (42): Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington
Round 3 (72): Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn

If the Broncos hadn't just taken Lock, I might have taken him here. But with those top three quarterbacks off the board already, Bush makes a lot of sense as a speedy linebacker with range in a unit that desperately needs playmakers. McGary is a strong run-blocker for Joe Mixon in the second round. Then the Bengals take that developmental QB in Stidham. The Auburn signal-caller needs time to work on his reads and progressions before he takes over an NFL offense.


Green Bay Packers

Round 1 (12): Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
Round 1 (30): Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama
Round 2 (44): Darnell Savage Jr., S, Maryland
Round 3 (75): Germaine Pratt, OLB, NC State

I've been preaching for months that the Packers need to get Aaron Rodgers some help in this draft. Getting a burner with the ability to pluck and run like Brown would be a huge win. But why stop there. Let's get a matchup nightmare in Smith at the tail end of the first. The Packers were aggressive in free agency on defense -- Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Adrian Amos are all in Wisconsin for 2019 -- and Savage further shores up the secondary. Pratt could make an impact in the edge-rushing rotation as a rookie.


Miami Dolphins

Round 1 (13): Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan
Round 2 (48): Ryan Finley, QB, NC State
Round 3 (78): Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State

No top-tier QB here, so I'm opting to take Gary's athleticism at value in the first round for a rebuilding club before looking to Finley in the second round. Finley has fast eyes and reads the defense well. With Ryan Tannehill gone, Finley could start, at least at some point in 2019. But for what it's worth, I don't think the Dolphins will go QB in the second round, instead positioning for Tua Tagovailoa in 12 months. Oruwariye has the potential to become an effective press corner for a unit that doesn't have much behind Xavien Howard.


Atlanta Falcons

Round 1 (14): Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
Round 2 (45): Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State
Round 3 (79): Ben Banogu, DE/OLB, TCU

Wilkins is the best player on the board and makes sense for the Falcons with Grady Jarrett on the franchise tag in 2019. He has good range for a 315-pounder and displays a high motor as a pass-rusher. Atlanta also will want to get some offensive line depth and find a pass-rusher; it does both in its next two picks. Risner flashes some upside on the line, and Banogu has the speed and body control to turn the corner and attack in the pass rush.


Washington Redskins

Round 1 (15): D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
Round 2 (46): Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida
Round 3 (76): Chuma Edoga, OT/G, USC
Round 3 (96): Joe Jackson, DE, Miami (Fla.)

Let's begin by saying I'd trade for Josh Rosen. That opens up some opportunities, including taking Metcalf at No. 15. The tales of Metcalf's physicality, strength and speed are well-documented at this point, and he'd fit in nicely on a team that has been hunting for a receiver for years. Gardner-Johnson could eventually be a starting safety, but I like him as a nickelback to begin his NFL career, incidentally filling a hole here for Washington. Edoga handles speed rushers well, and Jackson is disruptive as a pass-rusher.


Carolina Panthers

Round 1 (16): Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
Round 2 (47): Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
Round 3 (77): Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn
Round 3 (100): Michael Deiter, OT, Wisconsin

Sweat was spectacular at the Senior Bowl and combine, earning a bump in draft stock. The Panthers really want an edge rusher after registering just 35 sacks in 2018, so he is the logical pick here. Adderley and Dean bring a little life to a slightly barren secondary, and Deiter gives Carolina a versatile lineman to help make up for the loss of the Kalil brothers.


Minnesota Vikings

Round 1 (18): Jonah Williams, OT/G, Alabama
Round 2 (50): Gerald Willis III, DT, Miami (Fla.)
Round 3 (81): David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State

Free-agent signing Josh Kline helps the Vikings' line, but Williams is the best player on the board at No. 18, and he'd further improve a line that has struggled the past two years. Willis is a fierce interior presence on the other side of the ball and could fill Sheldon Richardson's spot. Montgomery would serve as a third-down back with some burst and route-running ability to spell Dalvin Cook.


Tennessee Titans

Round 1 (19): Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
Round 2 (51): Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State
Round 3 (82): Jalen Jelks, DE, Oregon

Delanie Walker will turn 35 in August, and Fant's 4.50 speed and 6-foot-4 frame would create some dangerous mismatches. When we go get Campbell and his 4.31 speed in the second, the AFC South will collectively sigh; Corey Davis, Adam Humphries, Campbell and Fant is a group that could do some damage in the passing game. Pass-rushers are a little harder to find in the third round, but Jelks has good initial quickness and can fight through double-teams when pursuing the QB.


Pittsburgh Steelers

Round 1 (20): Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
Round 2 (52): Chase Winovich, OLB, Michigan
Round 3 (66): Miles Boykin, WR, Notre Dame
Round 3 (83): Justice Hill, RB, Oklahoma State

Murphy has the best ball skills of the corners in the class, and despite signing Steven Nelson, the Steelers need playmakers at that position. Winovich is a twitchy, versatile pass-rusher, and with Antonio Brown gone, Boykin provides another option in the passing game. Hill and his 4.40 speed would jive nicely with James Conner's running style in a reborn Pittsburgh offense.


Seattle Seahawks

Round 1 (21): Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
Round 3 (84): Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia

I'm just dealing with the Simmons ACL injury for a year. It's worth it at this point in the draft. He's extremely talented and fits with Seattle. Then I'll take Calvin Ridley's brother to give Russell Wilson a weapon in the middle of the field.


Baltimore Ravens

Round 1 (22): Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
Round 3 (85): Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M
Round 3 (102): Terrill Hanks, ILB, New Mexico State

With the highly productive Ferrell still available, we address the edge to start. Ferrell had 11.5 sacks at Clemson last season, and the Ravens lost a good chunk of their front seven to free agency. Williams comes in as a versatile piece of a running back committee, and Hanks locates and tracks the ball well at the second level of the defense. Baltimore badly needs to revamp the linebacker corps.


Houston Texans

Round 1 (23): Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
Round 2 (54): David Long, CB, Michigan
Round 2 (55): Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
Round 3 (86): Justin Hollins, OLB, Oregon

Dillard is the obvious first-round pick here. The Texans gave up 62 sacks last season. You can't have a franchise QB such as Deshaun Watson taking that many hits. Houston lost Tyrann Mathieu, Kareem Jackson and Kevin Johnson to free agency (while adding Tashaun Gipson and Bradley Roby), so I want to restock the secondary with Long's instincts at corner and Thornhill's ball skills at safety. Taking Hollins gives the Texans an edge rusher with the versatility to line up as a defensive end or stand up as an outside 'backer.


Philadelphia Eagles

Round 1 (25): Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
Round 2 (53): Elgton Jenkins, C, Mississippi State
Round 2 (57): Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

Philly needs some secondary help after the team allowed the third-highest passing yardage in 2018. Williams is what we call a buffet tackler -- he picks and chooses -- but he has length and speed to overcome it and contribute. Thompson is rangy, with good ball skills on the back end. Jenkins would provide some depth behind Jason Kelce at center, though he has the versatility to play other positions.


Indianapolis Colts

Round 1 (26): Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
Round 2 (34): A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
Round 2 (59): Dre'Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State
Round 3 (89): Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame

Abram is intimidating at strong safety, taking great angles and closing with conviction. Brown is the top slot receiver in the draft. Jones has a great first step and a good motor. Love shows above-average instincts in coverage. This is a good haul for a team that was difficult to stop in the second half of the 2018 season. Abram and Love will further limit big plays on defense -- something Indy was quite good at to begin with -- and Brown will give Andrew Luck a reliable option in the passing game.


Los Angeles Chargers

Round 1 (28): Cody Ford, OT/G, Oklahoma
Round 2 (60): Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB, Kentucky
Round 3 (91): Max Scharping, OT/G, Northern Illinois

Ford is an absolute mauler who played both guard and tackle at OU, and Scharping has great feet. That offensive line needs some reinforcements, especially at right tackle, and we'd take care of that early here for the Bolts. Then a press corner such as Johnson would provide another option behind Casey Hayward and Desmond King.


Kansas City Chiefs

Round 1 (29): Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State
Round 2 (61): Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State
Round 2 (63): Jachai Polite, OLB, Florida
Round 3 (92): Andy Isabella, WR, UMass

Bradbury is arguably the most NFL-ready offensive lineman in the draft with great agility and awareness. Mitch Morse is in Buffalo now, and Cameron Erving has been pretty disappointing, so the O-line needs a difference-maker. On defense, taking a gamble with Polite could pay off. He has fallen quite a bit the past few months, but he has burst off the edge. Why not add some more fun to this high-octane offense? The Chiefs get their running back with the powerful and patient Sanders and add another speedy receiver in Isabella. The UMass burner can flat-out fly. I would have liked to get a corner, but the opportunity wasn't there. It wasn't worth reaching as far as I would have had to, so I'd look to stock up on secondary in the later rounds.


Los Angeles Rams

Round 1 (31): Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College
Round 3 (94): Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
Round 3 (99): David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin

Let's fill the void left by Rodger Saffold with a real grinder in Lindstrom. Edwards would further shore up the offensive line with his heavy hands and strong lateral mobility. I'd look for a center in the later rounds as well. L.A. also will be looking for some running back depth behind Todd Gurley, and Love would be an excellent fit. The Rams can afford to take a chance on a player such as this here, and with Love's effectiveness in space, it could pay off handsomely if the Stanford product stays healthy.


New England Patriots

Round 1 (32): L.J. Collier, DE, TCU
Round 2 (56): Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
Round 2 (64): JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford
Round 3 (73): Dawson Knox, TE, Ole Miss
Round 3 (97): Josh Oliver, TE, San Jose State
Round 3 (101): Corey Ballentine, CB, Washburn

Wow, do the Patriots have a lot of picks! It makes my job easy here as the fill-in GM. Jones is a developmental QB project for Bill Belichick to work on before Tom Brady hands over the keys to the offense. Collier is effective both as a pass-rusher and against the run. Then we can get some weapons on offense. Arcega-Whiteside is a big red zone target, and a pair of tight ends would be a step toward finding a Rob Gronkowski replacement. It would be the third time in the Belichick era that the Patriots took two tight ends in the same draft.


Cleveland Browns

Round 2 (49): Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State
Round 3 (80): Michael Jordan, G, Ohio State

Cleveland doesn't have a first-rounder, but it'll be OK with that, considering it got Odell Beckham Jr. Layne provides depth at corner, and Jordan makes sense after the Browns traded Kevin Zeitler in the offseason.


Dallas Cowboys

Round 2 (58): Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion
Round 3 (90): Marquise Blair, S, Utah

Ximines is quick off his break and has snap in his hands as a pass-rusher, and getting him at No. 58 is decent value. Dallas needs to add some safety help as well, so we're taking Blair in Round 3. He's stout in run support. I'd also be looking for a tight end in the later rounds to join Jason Witten.


New Orleans Saints

Round 2 (62): Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M

The Saints need a tight end, and Sternberger has a huge catch radius and is already advanced as a pass-catcher. The team did sign Jared Cook, but the veteran is 32 years old.


Chicago Bears

Round 3 (87): Damien Harris, RB, Alabama

Chicago doesn't pick for a while but has to be happy with Harris this late in the draft. He is explosive and pairs well with Tarik Cohen after Jordan Howard was shipped to Philadelphia.