NFL teams completed 10 trades involving first-round picks a year ago, while teams traded more than ever before at the 2017 NFL Draft. With increasingly progressive front offices league-wide, not to mention increasing incentives for wheeling and dealing, it should be no surprise if picks are being swapped all over the place when the 2019 draft kicks off on Thursday.
That's why, for this mock draft, there are not one or two or three but nine projected first-round deals.
As for the actual draft, you'll be able to stream our live coverage right here on CBS Sports HQ (or download the CBS Sports app for free on any mobile or connected TV device) breaking down all the picks and everything you need to know during draft weekend.
Does the reality of so much movement make it even harder to correctly predict picks? Sure. But guess what? Mock drafts are always wrong anyway. So you're just as well off forecasting trades as you are pretending all 32 teams are just going to stand pat.
With that said, let's get to the good stuff.
Among the highlights of this nine-trade mock draft:
- The Atlanta Falcons jumping all the way into the top five
- The Seattle Seahawks moving back -- twice
- The New England Patriots landing a Pro Bowl veteran
- Four QB selections, including one after a late trade
The entire rundown is just below. Feel free to print this (it's free!) so that it can be framed and hung once it's proven 100 percent accurate on draft weekend. On the off chance it's not completely accurate, feel free to reach out on Twitter @CodyJBenjamin to let me know why you deserve an NFL front-office job.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
After internal deliberation, the Cardinals decide not to pass on the splashiest option for a No. 1 pick -- a new QB that Kliff Kingsbury will adore and a big-play talent that ownership can sell. A defensive centerpiece tempts them, but the sway of introducing another hotshot franchise QB ultimately takes precedence.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Knowing full well they can get out of Dee Ford's mega deal sooner rather than later, the Niners get a new face for their defense, not to mention the most promising of any of their many first-round D-linemen.
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Mock Trade from
New York Jets
Round 1 - Pick 3
With Murray off the board and extra picks on hand, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock embrace their best chance at filling Khalil Mack's shoes by ensuring they land Allen's elite size and speed. The Raiders pull off a Bears-ian one-spot swap to get their guy, sending No. 4, No. 106, a 2020 third and 2020 fourth to the Jets.
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Mock Trade from
Oakland Raiders
Round 1 - Pick 4
Instead of addressing the edge at No. 3, New York gets its wish of adding picks (see Raiders' selection) and happily settles on perhaps the top prospect in this class -- a freak who can pair with Leonard Williams to form one of the NFL's most fearsome interiors.
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Mock Trade from
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1 - Pick 5
Atlanta makes its latest first-round blockbuster and its biggest since the move up for Julio Jones in 2011, betting a slew of picks that Oliver is the next big thing on the inside. Traded to Tampa Bay as part of the move: No. 14, No. 45, No. 117, No. 137 and a 2020 fourth-round pick.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Dave Gettleman refuses to bow to the pressure of Giants fans desperate for a new QB and instead takes a gamble on one of the highest-upside pass rushers of the draft, nailing down a long-term replacement of Olivier Vernon.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
A playmaker or a longer-term QB would be nice, but instead, the Jags snag the best all-around tackle of this class, giving Nick Foles added protection up front.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Detroit fields trade offers to move down but ultimately 'settles' on a Grade-A pass rusher to start opposite Trey Flowers, giving defensively-geared Matt Patricia a much-improved front four.
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Mock Trade from
Buffalo Bills
Round 1 - Pick 9
Washington lands perhaps the best raw arm talent of the draft. Jay Gruden has downplayed picking someone who can't help D.C. right away, but he also said at the NFL owners meetings that Lock 'could come compete right now.' Washington sends No. 15, No. 76 and a 2020 third-rounder to Buffalo to move up.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
With Lock off the board, John Elway considers the next best thing in Dwayne Haskins, but only for a split-second, as White is a surefire top-five talent who fits Denver's need at ILB like a glove. This is a match made in heaven.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Despite cautious endorsements of Andy Dalton, Zac Taylor declines to pass up a prime opportunity to get his own guy, keeping Haskins in Ohio and giving Cincy a strong-armed long-term plan at QB.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Instead of reaching slightly for OL help, Green Bay weighs the top two pass-catching TEs -- Hockenson and Noah Fant -- and opts for the more complete package, giving Aaron Rodgers a big-bodied target to pair with Jimmy Graham.
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Mock Trade from
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 13
Rick Spielman gets aggressive to fix a unit long overdue for improvement, sending a package to Miami in order to land Williams, who could instantly see time at either OG or OT blocking for Kirk Cousins. Shipped to the Dolphins as part of the move up: No. 18, No. 81 and CB Mackensie Alexander.
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Mock Trade from
Atlanta Falcons
Round 1 - Pick 14
After passing on a perfect fit in Devin White to move down, the Bucs still manage to secure the 1B of this year's LBs, filling the void left by Kwon Alexander's departure with a play-making presence for the middle of Todd Bowles' defense and getting more picks to rebuild.
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Mock Trade from
Washington Redskins
Round 1 - Pick 15
Tempted by a big body or speed rusher for their DL, the Bills instead prioritize help for young QB Josh Allen, securing maybe the top pass protector of the OT class.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Carolina benefits from the deep edge-rushing class and finds an enticing replacement for Julius Peppers, not to mention the younger brother of former Panthers DE Stanley McClover.
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From
Cleveland Browns
Round 1 - Pick 17
Gettleman sticks it to Giants fans once more, passing on a QB to double dip in the trenches, this time with a potential top-15 talent on the interior. Love or hate New York's commitment to Eli Manning, but adding both Gary and Wilkins instantly juices up Big Blue's defense.
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Mock Trade from
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1 - Pick 18
After injecting some upside into their secondary by landing Mackensie Alexander in their move down with Minnesota, the Dolphins get Brian Flores another defensive chess piece n Ferrell, who just so happened to play for Miami's DL coach at Clemson.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Had Christian Wilkins fallen into their laps, they wouldn't have hesitated to scoop up a Jurrell Casey complement. Instead, they give Marcus Mariota a much-needed safety valve for the passing game, all but filling their need for receiving help in the process.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Resigned to watch Devin Bush come off the board in the top 15 and thus bow out of trade talks to move up, the Steelers take the best all-around CB of the draft -- a Steven Nelson insurance policy and long-term starting material.
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Mock Trade from
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 21
The Texans refuse to sit back and miss out on a potential Deshaun Watson bodyguard, taking advantage of Seattle's obvious desire to trade back and getting a big man who could develop at either OG or OT. Sent to Seattle as part of the deal: No. 23, No. 161 and a 2020 sixth-rounder.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
After watching Lamar Jackson literally run John Brown and the deep passing game out of the offense, the Ravens grab the 'rough' and 'tough' WR John Harbaugh said he wants. While Metcalf may not be the most polished of the receivers, he's a tantalizing find here.
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Mock Trade from
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 23
Armed with an extra second-round pick, the Chiefs deal No. 92 along with No. 25 to leapfrog their rivals and get maybe the most athletic of the top CB prospects. Andy Reid leans into his affinity for ball-hawking DBs, and Williams joins Tyrann Mathieu to boost the secondary.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 24
Mayock is unmoved by the Chiefs taking Williams off the board, instead filling Oakland's CB need with a more gritty, well-rounded prospect that happens to share a Philadelphia connection with the Raiders GM after coming out of Temple.
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Mock Trade from
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1 - Pick 25
Figuring they can address OL or S with their next pick, the Chargers instead butt in front of two AFC foes, sending No. 28 and No. 130 to the Eagles, to land an underrated riser who can pair with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram to form one of the league's top starting D-lines.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
With hopeful eyes on WR A.J. Brown for their early second-round selection, the Colts beef up their interior with one of the best run-stuffers in the 2019 class.
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From
Dallas Cowboys
Round 1 - Pick 27
Not one to worry about overvaluing a RB in 2019, Jon Gruden gets good value at No. 27 with a multipurpose bulldozer to help take some pressure off Derek Carr -- and whomever else Oakland considers bringing in later in the draft.
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Mock Trade from
Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1 - Pick 28
With an extra pick in tow from the move down, Howie Roseman drafts for value and saves OL, DL and RB depth for later. With Nelson Agholor's future beyond 2019 up in the air, he gets a potential top-15 talent and DeSean Jackson successor for the post-Carson Wentz extension days.
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Mock Trade from
Kansas City Chiefs
Round 1 - Pick 29
After collecting three picks from two trades down, Seattle finally makes a selection, welcoming a big-bodied target to a WR corps topped by a banged-up Doug Baldwin. Harry isn't a consensus first-rounder, but the Seahawks don't care, adoring his size, physicality and run-blocking abilities.
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From
New Orleans Saints
Round 1 - Pick 30
Despite plans of prioritizing a S or OT here, Green Bay jumps at the chance to end Bradbury's slide, grading him as a top-25 prospect with the potential to impact the line from the get-go.
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Mock Trade from
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 31
John Elway can't restrain himself with Jones still on the board, trading back in to secure a fifth-year option for a Joe Flacco successor. Jones fits Denver's offense and Elway's profile for a heady QB, and at No. 31 overall, he can be sold like a potential steal. Sent to Los Angeles as part of the deal: No. 41, No. 148 and a 2020 third.
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Mock Trade from
New England Patriots
Round 1 - Pick 32
The Bucs trade up from the second round to get another defensive stud -- one who may have gone in the top 15 if not for an injury and can ultimately take over for Gerald McCoy, who goes to the Patriots as part of the deal. Also sent to New England: No. 39 and No. 137.
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