NFL mock draft: Look for Raiders to move up to No. 1 to select QB Kyler Murray
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Ready, set … trade.
That’s how The Times’ first NFL mock draft of 2019 begins, with the Oakland Raiders moving up three spots to take a quarterback with the opening pick. In this scenario, the Raiders send Arizona the Nos. 4 and 27 first-round selections. The clubs made a trade with each other last season, paving the way for the Cardinals to draft quarterback Josh Rosen.
It’s a little hypothetical hype, but isn’t that what mock drafts are all about?
A look at one way the first round could unfold:
1. Oakland (proposed trade with Arizona): QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma — Raiders have the ammunition to move up and could reboot with the Baker Mayfield model.
2. San Francisco: DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama — It’s almost inconceivable that a 300-pound man can move that fast. The 49ers need someone to get to the quarterback.
3. New York Jets: DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State — Like his older brother, Joey, Bosa figures to make an instant difference. The Jets have needs at virtually every position except quarterback and safety.
4. Arizona (proposed trade with Oakland): DE Rashan Gary, Michigan — The 277-pound Gary covered 40 yards in 4.58 seconds, a scorching time for a man his size.
5. Tampa Bay: OLB Josh Allen, Kentucky — Todd Bowles wants to get younger along the defensive front, and Allen is in the elite tier of pass rushers in this class.
6. New York Giants: QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State — Haskins could sit behind Eli Manning for a year before taking over. The Giants need to find their quarterback of the future.
7. Jacksonville: DE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State — Freakish numbers at the combine have Sweat climbing the draft boards. Can the Jaguars also land QB Nick Foles in free agency?
8. Detroit: WR D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi — The Lions badly need a tight end, but Metcalf is such a physical specimen, he might be too tough to resist. A weapon for Matthew Stafford.
9. Buffalo: OT Jonah Williams, Alabama — The Bills were a disaster along the offensive line last season and might have to find three starters in the draft. This is a big one.
10. Denver: DT Ed Oliver, Houston — The Broncos have gotten their edge rushers in recent drafts and now can focus on the interior of their defensive line.
11. Cincinnati: Tight end T.J. Hockenson, Iowa — Hockenson is a top-10 talent and could wind up in Detroit. The Bengals need to restock the shelves at the position.
12. Green Bay: DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson — Ferrell is just the kind of disruptive talent the Packers need as they retool their defense.
13. Miami: QB Daniel Jones, Duke — The 6-foot-5 Jones has prototypical size for an NFL quarterback, and he’s a smart player. Time for the Dolphins to move on at the position.
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14. Atlanta: CB Deandre Baker, Georgia — The Falcons are nothing special at cornerback and were 26th at defending the opponent’s No. 1 receiver. Here, they stay local.
15. Washington: QB Drew Lock, Missouri — Four quarterbacks in the first 15 picks? The uncertainty of Alex Smith’s injury probably makes that a reality.
16. Carolina: LB Devin White, Louisiana State — White might have been the best linebacker in college football the last two seasons.
17. Cleveland: WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma — “Hollywood” doesn’t have the size the Browns covet at receiver, but he has the uncommon speed to turn heads.
18. Minnesota: OT Andre Dillard, Washington State — The Vikings spent $84 million on Kirk Cousins last year, and now they have to focus on protecting their investment.
19. Tennessee: DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson — The Titans could use help along the defensive line where there figures to be a youth movement.
20. Pittsburgh: CB Andraez “Greedy” Williams, Louisiana State — Just because the Steelers almost never take a cornerback in the first round (it has happened once since 1997) doesn’t mean there isn’t a need.
21. Seattle: DE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech — Ferguson had 45 sacks in college. The Seahawks need a bookend rusher to complement Frank Clark.
22. Baltimore: RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama — In rebuilding their run-based offense around quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Ravens need a durable three-down back.
23. Houston: OT Greg Little, Mississippi — The Texans will be parting ways with their right tackle, and their starting left tackle is under contract but replaceable.
24. Oakland: OLB Jachai Polite, Florida — This isn’t to suggest he’s Khalil Mack, but Polite led the nation last season with six forced fumbles.
25. Philadelphia: OT Kaleb McGary, Washington — The tough and durable McGary played right tackle in college, but scouts tried him on the left side at the Senior Bowl and liked what they saw.
26. Indianapolis: OLB Brian Burns, Florida State — The Colts need to beef up their pass rush, and Burns would help. He had 24 sacks and seven forced fumbles in college.
27. Arizona (proposed trade with Oakland): WR N’Keal Harry, Arizona State — The 6-3 Harry, who grew up in the Phoenix area, could learn at the elbow of Larry Fitzgerald, one of the best big receivers the game has had.
28. Chargers: DT Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame — Either immediately or eventually, the Chargers will move on from Corey Liuget and Brandon Mebane. Tillery would help the transition.
29. Kansas City: CB Kendall Sheffield, Ohio State — The Chiefs are in dire need of a shutdown corner. Sheffield could be one of those corners who excels in the pros.
30. Green Bay: S Deionte Thompson, Alabama — The Packers have made a significant investment at cornerback, but could use an upgrade at safety. Or they could bail out for more picks.
31. Rams: CB Byron Murphy, Washington — The Rams could swap out one Washington corner (Marcus Peters) for another, although Murphy has that same gambling playmaker style.
32. New England: DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State — The Patriots have had success before with character risks. Simmons has talent but a checkered past.
Follow Sam Farmer on Twitter @LATimesfarmer
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