Second thoughts have been added to this year's progression of mock drafts that ultimately predict who the Detroit Lions will take with the eighth pick overall on April 25.
As the tag line "Second Thoughts" indicates, it's a look back at my first three mocks – from Mock 8 1.0 First Selection to Mock 3.0 -- Combine Impact. The 3.0 picks were supposed to hold up in the final mock because they were based on Combine performances.
However, a lot happens from mock to mock to cause second thoughts about picks. Call it mock shock.
One potential change in a team's pick for any reason – rumors, comments about possible trades, rising and falling stock of prospects – causes shock waves that affect picks below it.
Some of that in Mock 8 4.0 creates the second thoughts.
Following are the second thoughts on my Mock 8 3.0, and why they might cause me to change picks in Mock 8 5.0—Final Selection, my set-in-stone final mock.
Included are my first three picks in order for each team:
1. Arizona Cardinals (3-13):
Mock 8 3.0 pick: QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma.
Previous mocks: DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State, in both.
Second thoughts: I think Bosa is the right pick for the Cardinals to build a franchise.
And I think Murray is the right pick to give the franchise a badly needed shot of adrenaline.
Bottom line: It's 50-50 in my mind on whether to stick with Murray or switch in my final mock draft. Hardly a comforting thought, because getting the first pick wrong can make the rest of the mock draft fold faster than Mary Poppins' umbrella in a hurricane.
2. San Francisco 49ers (4-12):
Mock 8 3.0 pick: DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State.
Previous mocks: DE/OLB Josh Allen, Kentucky, in both.
Second thoughts: Everyone's giving the 49ers the best pass rusher on the board with this pick. That should be comforting, except for one thing: When has everybody been right about anything in projecting draft picks?
Bottom line: The 49ers are at the mercy of the Cardinals and whether they'll take Murray or Bosa. Or – the draft gods forbid – somebody else.
3. New York Jets (4-12):
Mock 8 3.0 pick: DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama.
Previous mocks: Quinnen Williams in both.
Second thoughts: None. I think Williams is the best player in the draft.
Bottom line: It's uncomfortable feeling this sure about anything. It gives me second thoughts about not having second thoughts.
4. Oakland Raiders (4-12):
Mock 8 3.0 pick: DE/OLB Josh Allen, Kentucky.
Previous mocks: DE Rashan Gary of Michigan in both.
Second thoughts: It's the Raiders. That says it all. They've been unpredictable since Jon Gruden was hired as head coach last year. Gruden has been interviewing quarterback prospects this year, despite having three-time Pro Bowler Derek Carr back for his sixth season.
Bottom line: Be ready for anything with the Raiders – except doing the obvious.
5. Tampa Bay Bucs (5-11):
Mock 8 3.0 pick: DE Rashan Gary, Michigan.
Previous mocks: CB Greedy Williams of LSU, then OL Jonah Williams of Alabama.
Second thoughts: Buyer's remorse comes from what's being projected currently about the Bucs' draft plans, not from having given them three different players in the first three mocks. The consensus is that they'll take LSU Devin White – who I had going to the Lions in Mock 3.0.
Bottom line: Sweat it out for two weeks and hope the consensus on White is wrong.
6. New York Giants (5-11):
Mock 8 3.0 pick: OL Jonah Williams, Alabama.
Previous mocks: QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State, in both.
Second thoughts: My pick of Jonah Williams was a product of breaking my no-trade caveat in mock drafts and predicting that the Cardinals would trade QB Josh Rosen to the Giants in a deal that did not included the Giants' first-round pick this year. It still makes sense to me – assuming I'm right about the Cardinals drafting Kyler Murray. In other words, I have to be right on a lot of things.
Bottom line: There's still a chance to get both picks right in Mock 5.0.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11):
Mock 8 3.0: pick: TE T.J. Hockenson.
Previous mocks: Kyler Murray, then QB Drew Lock of Missouri.
Second thoughts: All wrong with the first two mocks, but there was an excuse. Both were made before the Jags signed free agent QB Nick Foles. Hockenson looks like a good pick for the Jags, but there's a lot of sentiment out there for the Jags to take an offensive lineman.
Bottom line: There's some consolation in projecting that the Jags would fill their needs at quarterback, but that doesn't help the crumbling state of my mock draft.
View photos of NFL prospect T.J. Hockenson.
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa's T.J. Hockenson (38) enters the end zone with ease in the first half of a NCAA college football game against Illinois, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2017, file photo, Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson catches a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois, in Iowa City, Iowa. Hockenson is leaving school early for the NFL. The Hawkeyes announced on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, that Hockenson, a redshirt sophomore, will join teammates Noah Fant, Anthony Nelson and Amani Hooker as early entrees in the draft. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indiana defensive back Juwan Burgess (1) tries to tackle Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (38) as he rushes the ball up field during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. Iowa won 42-16. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (38) rushes the ball up the sideline and into the end zone to score during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. Iowa won 42-16. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (38) rushes the ball into the end zone to score during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. Iowa won 42-16. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson, center, catches a 10-yard touchdown pass between Ohio State defenders Jordan Fuller, left, and Denzel Ward, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa's T.J. Hockenson (38) is tackled by Northwestern's Nate Hall (32) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Jim Young)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson warms-up during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (38) is tackled by Northwestern defensive back Travis Jack Whillock (7) after making a reception during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson warms-up during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson runs from Northern Illinois safety Trayshon Foster, left, after making a reception during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 33-7. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (38) gets tripped up by Mississippi State safety C.J. Morgan (29) during the second half of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (38) is tackled by Maryland linebacker Tre Watson (33) after making a reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 23-0. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (38) leaps over Northern Iowa defensive back Suni Lane after making a reception during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The ball flies toward Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (38) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. Iowa won 42-16. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson, right, is tackled by Illinois defensive back Bennett Williams, left, after making a reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 45-16. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose, center, and defensive back Greg Eisworth (12) tackle Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 13-3. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
8. Detroit Lions (6-10):
Mock 8 3.0 Pick: LB Devin White, LSU
Previous mocks: DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson, in both.
Second thoughts: Where to start?
How about with being sold on Clelin Ferrell twice, and now it looks like he won't even be a top 15 pick?
Or that GM Bob Quinn said in a recent national podcast that he's "open for business" in listening to offers to trade down in the first round to get more picks?
And then there's the recent national tidal wave of support for the Bucs to take Devin White at No. 5.
It all adds to a lot working against White even being available at No. 8.
What to do?
Bottom line: Getting it right Mock 8 5.0 is what counts. All the others were Mock Draft OTAs – noncontact practice for the real thing.
In fact, I probably could have skipped one or two and showed up the week of the draft.
Stay tuned.
