Niner Noise
FanSided

2019 NFL Draft: Full Round 1 mock with trades, April Fools’ version

By Peter Panacy

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands at the podium during a moment of silence for the victims and those others affected by the Bombing at the Boston Marathon in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stands at the podium during a moment of silence for the victims and those others affected by the Bombing at the Boston Marathon in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
33 of 33
Next
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 2: Tight end Noah Fant #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs in for a touchdown after a catch in the second quarter in front of cornerback Tyler Hall #9 of the Wyoming Cowboys on September 2, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 2: Tight end Noah Fant #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs in for a touchdown after a catch in the second quarter in front of cornerback Tyler Hall #9 of the Wyoming Cowboys on September 2, 2017 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Iowa. Noah Fant. 32. player. 47. . Tight End

Well, it finally happened.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski elected to finally call it a career, going out with yet another ring amid the New England Patriots’ still-impressive dynasty run.

That throws a bit of a monkey wrench into the Pats’ long-term plans, although one has to figure head coach Bill Belichick was anticipating something like Gronk’s retirement happening for some time now.

Good this this year’s NFL Draft is laden with quality tight end prospects.

While he might have slipped below his Iowa teammate, T.J. Hockenson, in terms of overall draft stock, Noah Fant is certainly still an option in play during the first round. And one can only think how useful a commodity he could be as a catch-and-run safety blanket for quarterback Tom Brady.

Fant would be an immediate-impact weapon, capable of giving the Patriots the kind of impact Gronkowski was able to produce on a regular basis when healthy.

Plus, knowing how New England operates, the team’s other needs in the pass rush and at wide receiver will be addressed by relatively no-name players, who suddenly turn into those late-round gems Belichick and Co. seemingly always find on a year-to-year basis.

Look for Fant to be the guy closing out Round 1 of this year’s draft.

Next. 49ers' 15 best first-round NFL Draft picks of all time. dark

The 2019 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET.

And we hope you got someone with a good April Fools’ joke, too.