Building your own NFL mock draft in 2019 lets you test predictions against expert consensus and team needs. This guide walks you through realistic scenarios, positional rankings, and red flags that shape credible mock drafts.
Use this structure to compare prospects side by side and refine your board before official announcements.
| Phase | Key Actions | Common Pitfalls | Tools & Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research | Watch game film, review combine data, read team beat reports | Overweighting highlight reels | DraftRadar, PFF, NFL.com scouting |
| Board Building | Rank top 50, assign tiers, note positional fit | Ignoring scheme fit and character risks | 247Sports composite, ESPN grades |
| Team Needs | Map departures, cap space, and draft capital | Underestimating front office patience | Spotrac, team media days, insider news |
| Mock Simulation | Run multiple scenarios, adjust for trades | Overtrading Day 1 picks | Mock draft apps, shared spreadsheets |
Pre-Draft Research Pipeline
Film Study Framework
Evaluate technique, consistency, and football IQ across multiple seasons. Track how prospects handle varied coverages and pressure looks to avoid one-game snapshots.
Combine & Pro Day Metrics
Use broad jump, bench press, and cone drill trends to validate athletic traits. Combine numbers should complement film, not replace nuanced evaluations.
Building Your Personal Board
Ranking Methodology
Start with a tiered list, grouping prospects by clear talent and risk levels. Update tiers weekly as new practice footage and injury reports surface.
Positional Scarcity
Account for the value of playing time at premium spots like edge rusher or interior linebacker. Scarcer positions can climb higher even with comparable athletic profiles.
Team Needs Analysis
Departures & Timeline
Catalog retirements and free agent exits to identify replacement urgency. Teams rebuilding at multiple spots often reach earlier than expected.
Scheme Fit & Cap Room
Check whether a prospect’s skill set suits a 3-4 edge or a zone-heavy secondary. Cap pressure can limit immediate upgrades, affecting late-round trade value.
Mock Draft Scenarios
Safe vs Reach Paths
Run a conservative version to benchmark consensus picks, then stress-test with reach scenarios. This reveals which names hold and which fall unexpectedly.
Trade Route Mapping
Simulate compensatory picks and late swaps to see how teams reload. Note how comp picks can move backward when multiple teams package assets.
Execution Checklist
- Compile multi-year film for top 30 prospects at each position
- Layer combine and pro day metrics into your film notes
- Map 2019 team departures, cap constraints, and schematic trends
- Run at least three mock scenarios: safe, balanced, and reach-heavy
- Track trade value by modeling compensatory picks and package swaps
- Update tiers weekly as new practice footage and injury reports drop
- Calibrate your board against two trusted expert sources before finalizing
FAQ
Reader questions
How do I balance athletic traits versus technique when ranking edge rushers?
Prioritize repeatable moves and gap discipline first; elite athletic tools only help if they translate to consistent pressure in varied coverage shells.
Should I adjust my mock for players who struggled with injuries in 2018?
Review medical reports, strength timelines, and workload trends; downgrade durability risks but avoid discarding talent if recovery milestones are met.
What is the best way to model team needs for trades on draft night?
Map cap space, expired deals, and positional depth charts; then simulate multiple trade windows to see which combinations unlock extra picks.
How can I validate my positional rankings against expert boards?
Overlay your tier list with PFF, ESPN, and 247Sports grades, tagging mismatches for deeper film review instead of blindly following consensus.