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It’s been a good week for mock drafts.
Mocking the Draft’s Dan Kadar had his Monday mock update that had the Los Angeles Rams taking Ohio St. CB Denzel Ward. Then we had the first mock draft from NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks that pinned the Rams to Louisville CB Jaire Alexander.
And we now have our first mock from NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein to throw on the pile.
First, his pick for the Rams:
23. Los Angeles Rams: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
Oliver is still a little raw in coverage, but his length and speed will be appealing to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
And a quick rundown on the three major mock angles.
Top 5
It seems as if a top 5 is solidifying in USC QB Sam Darnold, UCLA QB Josh Rosen, North Carolina St. DE Bradley Chubb, Penn St. RB Saquon Barkley and Notre Dame G Quenton Nelson. What will be interesting is to see if any mocks interrupt this top 5 heading into the combine at month’s end or coming out of it.
The QBs
Zierlein has Darnold at #1 and Rosen at #2 with Wyoming QB Josh Allen coming next at #6 to the New York Jets. Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield goes at #13 with Louisville QB Lamar Jackson being the fifth and final QB of the first round at #29 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cornering the cornerbacks
Is it fair to say Ward and Iowa CB Josh Jackson are the top two on the CB big board? They certainly seem that way from most mocks. LZ has Ward all the way up at #8 to the Chicago Bears and Jackson at #14 to the Green Bay Packers. I suppose I need to go back and look at the major mocks and see what other teams are being mocked to the corners. I’ll try to get that up today or tomorrow.
Oliver’s the third corner of the round to us and there’s a final one in UCF CB Mike Hughes at #32.
A couple of surprises in the back half of the mock.
Zierlein has Ohio St. OT Jamarco Jones at #24. I’m not sure I’ve seen him in a first-round mock to this point.
South Dakota St. TE Dallas Goedert goes at #27 as the only tight end in the mock. Not exactly a banner year for tight ends right now.
And he’s got UTEP G Will Hernandez in his first round. I’m a fan, but I’m not sure Hernandez is first-round material for an interior offensive lineman.