2019 NFL Mock Draft: Redskins, Patriots trade up in at-the-buzzer projection

27. Oakland Raiders (via Cowboys): Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

When the future of Marshawn Lynch with the Oakland Raiders was still up in the air, the buzz that Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden could potentially take a running back with one of their trio of first-round picks was there. Now that Beast Mode has elected to take his Skittles home and retire, it seems inevitable that one of these selections will be used on a running back. That pick is No. 27 in this mock draft, and the player is Josh Jacobs.

The 2019 running back class is fascinating in that there are no sure-fire players, even if there are a ton of guys with coveted traits. Josh Jacobs fits that bill with limited, but impressive, film, yet some questionable athletic testing as he looked average in that regard. Having said that, he appears to be the only player at the position with first round buzz, so that’s who the Raiders nab to replace Lynch in the backfield.

28. Los Angeles Chargers: Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma

People continue to sleep on the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2019 offseason, though that’s not hard to do as they are the ever-present sleeper in the AFC. They quietly go about their business and then come out on the field and show that they can match up with most any team in the NFL. Thus, it’s fitting that the Bolts will go into the 2019 NFL Draft and make a quietly savvy pick for them, even though it won’t be flashy.

Sam Tevi is currently slated to start at right tackle with Russell Okung on the left for the Chargers. Therefore, bringing in Cody Ford makes too much sense for them. Ford is an elite physical player with tremendous size and athleticism up front. He needs technical refinement to be an elite player, but the potential for him to develop that is evident and is too obvious for Los Angeles to look past at this point in the draft.