A Mock After a Mega Deal - then more Mega Deals

By: Jason Sarney

Now that we are just days away from the NFL Draft, mock draft scenarios are running rampant and so are trade rumors of a specific player. The worst kept secret in NFL trade-rumors is the fact Yannick Ngakoue is all but certain to be heading out of Duval County, and onto another team’s defensive line.

In an article predicting a trade with the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars involving Ngakoue, this follow-up will feature the Mock Draft 1st round behind it.

After the smoke clears, the Jaguars will still have two top-20 selections, and the New York Giants will leave April 23rd with a premier pass-rusher who will be a star in New York, as well as a 20th overall pick in a loaded class.

The 9th pick for the Jaguars could be in play here since a lot of money comes along with signing Ngakoue, but for this case lets stick with the 20th.

Perhaps a few other picks can be moved to balance the scales if needed, but that is the framework. *Mind you, please, to simulate this deal, I used a Jaguars 2nd round pick in 2021 to be the part of Ngakoue to make the deal fair. This is also a 1 Round mock, and for this case, just an example of getting the deal done, so there were some 7th round toss-ins...but you all get the idea.

For articles sake, let’s hypothetically say this deal goes down on April 22nd, creating a massive explosion within the Miami and Chargers war-rooms. The Jaguars may force a hand to make one team call Detroit, to ensure they get their guy, who may or may not even be the Jaguars target.
 
Miami is the clear favorite to make the first call, and they could be forced to dial Detroit for #3 or even Cincinnati for #1. While I believe Joe Burrow is a solid bet to be a very big star in this league, there is a set price in my mind and the Dolphins are wise to toss a mid-low-ball deal to the Bengals, especially with the fake-Jags-deal we just mocked.

Here is the MOST I would offer, which is surely to be turned down by Cincinnati:

Not to my surprise, it was declined, but “who cares?” says the virtual Chris Grier I am pretending to be.  He has proven in his lead of this front office, that he will not force his hand or be forced into one. He proved that in 2019’s draft when he got extra capital from New Orleans and then made the Josh Rosen deal with Arizona.

He didn’t waste money on veterans after an initial offer was rejected by Melvin Gordon’s camp, and potentially the same is to be said with Los Angeles and Todd Gurley.
 
Plan B time. Miami tried to make a move to #1, the Bengals didn’t bite, so they see if the Lions are hungrier. Again, there is a limit to Grier's desire to move picks, as 14 remain and 10 free agents were signed.  Something has got to give. But at cost.

The Lions are called and offered a "take-it-or-leave-it" deal for L.A. Josh Rosen, the Miami 5th, and the 39th" (*i will simulate Rosen for a 2021 4th rounder to see if the Lions take the bait).

They do not, and Grier says, "Let's see what happens, good luck."

The Lions call Los Angeles, and give them the baseline offer they need, and the Chargers can't stomach it. The Lions look to make their pick, as the Jaguars still lurk.  The draft begins in the Bengals' jungle, as the Heisman hero in Joe Burrow is selected followed by Chase Young to Washington and Jeffrey Okudah to Detroit.

And now the fun begins for some, and horror for others.

The Jags strike and it was a devastating blow to fans all over the coasts of Miami and all the way North to New York as well as West to the beaches of L.A. The Jaguars made a statement, and are ready to roar, while Miami is cool in the war-room regardless of the heat outside and around the league.

They have a plan. The Chargers are sent reeling as they may have to settle for QB3 on their board, perhaps.

The Dolphins have options to select a QB in Justin Herbert or Jordan Love. While it is too early for Love, and there is some worry on my end about never being under center in a shot-gun-style quarterback in Herbert, the play may not be QB here, since Tua was taken.

Is Isaiah Simmons the pick?  The draft changes things, certainly, and a few teams threw in that wrench, surprisingly and unseen, much like the Bears did in selecting their QB after a trade a few seasons ago. 

Whoops.

Miami is running out of time, and they need to make a move. They do what Grier wants and that is get the best-player-possible-available, knowing he has many chips to work with for the rest of Day 1 with two more picks, and more to play with.  He has a plan.

The Dolphins take Isaiah Simmons, and now are building a monster defense for Brian Flores, and Grier sees teams to call as he looks at his stack. Lets call Carolina, who needs more picks after Los Angeles "settles" for Herbert.

Miami gives a call to a Panthers team that needs more pieces and could even land a stud at a position of need at #18. The deal with CAR, thinking they need more 2021 ammo as well. Also, Miami can't even roster 14 new rookies with 10 free agents signed, so those Day 3 picks are trading-chips.

Miami gets their QB they very well may have wanted all along in Jordan Love at number seven, while already having Simmons in the can, and 2020 picks.......

Miami now sits back, and plans their next moves, and the top 18 went like this....Oh, the Panthers get South Carolina monster Javon Kinlaw, who is simply a quick drive away from getting to his new employer to start work.  A steal for Carolina, and they are more loaded with picks for 2020 and 2021.

With picks 19-25 shaping out in a pretty predictable, positional fashion with team needs, the Dolphins now must focus on the offensive line, and help any Quarterback, mainly Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2020 and Love beyond.  Josh Jones is a stud prospect left tackle who can be an even higher 1st round pick.  A left tackle must be secured to protect the blindside.

Miami had a great 1st round in getting a stud defender, "football player," who can play all over the field for Flores. They get a potential franchise QB in Jordan Love to train and his protector in Josh Jones. The 39th and 70th picks should be two of the following; Safety or running back or more offensive line.

Day 3 picks can help move up to get into the 2nd or 3rd again, and get a sleeper edge pass-rusher in a guy I am a huge fan of in Charlotte's Alex Highsmith. Here is how the 27th through the end of the 1st round played out, with plenty of big-time prospects remaining for Day 2.

What Miami came away with combining players selected and 2020 remaining picks.

With key positions filled, pick #39 will look for safety Antoine Winfield, Jr., running backs JK Dobbins or Jonathan Taylor, or Michigan-man, Cesar Ruiz to play guard in 2020 and maybe even Center in 2021. This model will also allow the 141st and 153rd to move into the 80's or 90's hopefully to secure that edge sleeper.

There are thousand's of permutations Chris Grier and the Dolphins can mix and match with to vastly improve their roster both immediately, as well as the long-haul.

Follow Jason on Twitter @OrangeAquaman