NFL Mock Draft: 16-20
NFL Mock Draft Picks 16-20
The NFL draft is now very very close, with only a short 6 days left until the day. Don’t worry, I will be writing to post and make up m articles as fast as I can. But for now enjoy my next mock draft. Some picks surprise you; while others may feel warranted.
16. The Atlanta Falcons select CJ Henderson, CB from Florida
Despite his surging stock, Henderson can be taken anywhere between 6-20. This is definitely a hot take; for him to be on draft boards for this long but it’s also the best fit. Previously, you could’ve seen plenty of teams in the area taking him, but many revamped their secondary in the offseason (Chargers, Eagles, Raiders, Miami etc.) Trufont left in the offseason, and the secondary has been injury prone in the past. Henderson is the perfect player to step in.
While CJ isn’t the most complete corner in the draft, he still has some upside over Okudah. Based on pure coverage skills, CJ edges Okudah out. His long arms allow to make plays on the ball, and reach just about anywhere. His catch radius is great for a corner and he reacts decently to most throws, making him an efficient ball hawk. He also has great tackling abilities and is able to actively pursue his targets with. Above-average speed allows him to go to all levels to make a play. He is a little lanky and skinny, but with NFL trainers he can improve on. He also isn’t amazing on stopping runs but he can cover just as good as any prospect.
17. The Dallas Cowboys select Xavier McKinney, S from Alabama
The Cowboys lost Byron Jones to the Miami Dolphins in the offseason, and their secondary now needs some serious work. It has been declining since 2015, and it seems almost gone. They have had subpar passing defenses in the past, but now more than ever does the situation dire. While they have Ha Ha Clinton Dix, that is literally it. The #1 corner on that team is Chidobe Awuzie. Adding McKinney would give them the second most versatile defensive player, and the potential for the next great NFL safey tandem.
McKinney’s best ability is his vision. He see movements and recognizes patterns in offensive movement, blocking, formations, etc. He is a true field general and will be able to make calls and quick fixes so something like a hole in coverage will not happen. He developed and refined his instinctive skills under Nick Saban, and is poised for NFL success.
18. The Miami Dolphins select Justin Jefferson, WR from LSU
A bit of a surprise pick, but I believe that the Dolphins are going to want to surround Tua (I put him in my 1 to 5 Mock). The Dolphins have stockpiled defensive assets, and signed Jordan Howard who had a good stint with the Eagles. With Tua and Jefferson arriving here, you can bet things are going. Parker will continue player on the outside, and Jefferson will thrive as a threat from the slot.
Jefferson is the best slot WR and redzone target in the draft. Last season he had 11 catches on 16 targets for 8 TDs in the redzone. He also will elevate any and all 3rd down offense. He performed exceptionally well with 27 targets, 24 receptions, 17 1st downs, 6 TD (Most among draft eligible WRs). He can make adjustments on the fly and is a powerful WR. But what you have to love about him is his physicality. He has no fear and wants to be that man in the jump ball situation. His only major concern is his route running, but DK Metcalf came in with the same “issue” and still had an amazing rookie year. So if put with this Dolphins teams I expect the same out of him. Especially alongside Devante Parker.
19. The Oakland Raiders select Tee Higgins, WR from Clemson
The Raiders stockpiled on assets during the first few days of free agency, making 8 signing that could have a contribution. However, where they still lack is WR. While they signed Nelson Agholor, they still need way more talent. Nelson had a very strange career in Philly. He started as a bust, but contributed very successfully for the 2 years after that including a SB. Then, he had a major drop off out of no where. It certainly didn’t help that every fan in Philly wanted him out. That definitely played changed how confident in his ability. Tyrell Williams only averaged 46 yards per game, and basically all they have Darren Waller. He exploded onto the scene and pairing him up with Tee Higgins would be perfect. Raiders also have a trend for selecting Clemson players, with Mayock saying:
“They all played in a bunch of big football games in their collegiate careers. They’ve all competed at the highest level, including against Alabama for national championships,”
“It’s knowing what kind of program they came out of, which preaches accountability to yourself, your teammates, and your coaches. … And, at the end of the day, there better be some talent there. We felt like they all had that.”
Tee Higgins would provide the offensive firepower the Raiders lack, especially inside the 25. Standing at 6’4″, with an impressive frame, he is your one-on-one guy. He runs hard and athletically, and can run after the catch. He needs some work on blocking but he has the potential to score a lot.
20. The Jacksonville Jaguars select Kristian Fulton, CB from LSU
The Jaguars are the most desperate team for corner in the NFL. D.J. Hayden, Tre Herndon and Rashaan Melvin would be the starters, and they are gonna get burnt if they don’t add one more. Last year, they were in the middle of the pack in terms of opponent pass yard per game, ranking 16th, yet had 3rd fewest total INTs by all teams. That was when they still had players like AJ Bouye. Now with even less depth, they need someone like Fulton. This draft has an abundance of corners and it’s hard to rank the ones in that 3 to 7 range. There is no consensus between them. However, I believe that Fulton is best suited for the Jaguars.
Fulton is a player that exudes swagger and confidence. He has no fear, and takes on ever WR like no other CB. He will not back down from anyone. He has played in more press coverage and zone coverage than any other CB, and PFF lists him as the best coverage CB in the nation. He has an arsenal of weapons, and can fit into any defensive scheme at the next level.
Milan Varia – @sportstimesanddimes