2019 NFL Mock Draft: Projected first round after college football season

It’s fair to wonder whether Dexter Lawrence’s suspension for a positive drug test will have a serious impact on his draft stock, but he’s probably too talented to fall out of the first round regardless.

Clemson didn’t seem to miss the hulking defensive tackle as they rolled over Notre Dame and Alabama in the College Football Playoff, but the Crimson Tide’s success running the football, at least in the first half, may have been quelled by Lawrence’s imposing presence on the inside.

Lawrence is a 340-pound space-eater in the middle, and was a major reason why the Tigers boasted one of the college football’s best run defenses in 2018. Calling him just a space-eater is a disservice to his talent, though, as Lawrence has shown a surprising nimbleness that helps him blow up plays in the running game. He’s got a strong bull rush as well, which could lead to him being a solid interior pass rusher in the NFL.

The Chargers won 12 games this year and already have one road playoff win under their belt as they head to Foxboro to battle the Patriots. Their window for a Super Bowl is closing quickly, though, even with a roster filled with young talent. That’s because Philip Rivers is approaching the end of his career, and the Chargers have yet to begin grooming a QB to ultimately replace him.

That could lead LA to target a QB, potentially Duke’s Daniel Jones, at the end of the first round as they look at identifying their QB of the future. I suspect they will look at bulking up a defensive line that will likely be replacing Brandon Mebane and Damion Square as more of a priority, hoping to retool and make another push at a Super Bowl next season.

Keep an eye on the Chargers on day two, however, as they are likely to spend an early round pick on a QB.