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Pete Fiutak

2019 NFL Draft: 20 Best Free Agent Players. Where Did They Sign?


Who are the best free agent players available after the 2019 NFL Draft and where did they sign? 


Contact @PeteFiutak

Three Greatest Draft Picks For Each Team
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
Ranking All 130 College Teams Drafts
2020 Top 32 NFL Draft Prospects
Top 32 NFL Draft Picks of All-Time
2019 1st Round Pick Breakdown & Thoughts

20. OG Ryan Bates, Penn State

There’s absolutely nothing sexy about his game. He was a good tackle for the Nittany Lions who needs to work as a guard. Versatile enough to get a long look at several spots, he might make the Eagles only because of his ability to fill in the gaps where needed. More athletic than he gets credit for, the 6-4, 306-pounder has just enough to make the cut.

Original Projection: Free Agent
Signed By: Philadelphia

19. OG Shaq Calhoun, South Carolina

It’s all about his height. He’s a 6-2, 310-pound bowling ball of a blocker with decent bulk and great leverage for the running game. There’s enough talent and versatility to play either guard spot and he should get a long look as a part of a rotation, but he’s missing the raw bulk to be a consistent starter for an O that needs a power blocker.

Original Projection: Sixth Round
Signed By: Miami

18. OT Mitch Hyatt, Clemson

The 6-5, 303-pounder has decent size, and the one-time super-recruit more than held his own for the criminally underappreciated Clemson offensive line in big game after big game. He’s missing the NFL athleticism and tools, but he knows how to block. He might bounce around, but he’ll see time in the league on the inside.

Original Projection: Free Agent
Signed By: Dallas

17. DE Jonathan Ledbetter, Georgia

The 6-4, 280-pounder isn’t going to blow away anyone with his speed and explosion, but he’s a good-sized end who can hold up against the run. He made 56 tackles last season, but he only came up with one sack and wasn’t a regular in the backfield. However, he’s got intriguing upside to work in a rotation.

Original Projection: Seventh Round
Signed By: Miami

16. S Andrew Wingard, Wyoming

A hitting machine with a special knack for getting around the ball and coming up with big hits, he’ll make a team as a special teamer and will end up finding his way into a secondary with better athleticism and raw speed than he gets credit for.

Original Projection: Seventh Round
Signed By: Jacksonville

15. DT Albert Huggins, Clemson

It just so happened that he was the fifth-best lineman on one of the great defensive front fours in college football history. The 6-3, 305-pounder is freakishly strong, but he won’t do a whole lot in the backfield and he might be limited in what schemes he’ll fit in. Nah, he won’t start for Houston, but he’ll find a role against the power-running teams.

Original Projection: Free Agent
Signed By: Houston

14. S Maik Gant, Marshall

If you want a tone-setting hitter, here you go. He’s not going to do enough when the ball is in the air at the next level, but he brings the effort and energy on every play. He’ll start out as a killer on special teams, and he’ll be fantastic against the run – once he finds the right team after a few tries.

Original Projection: Fifth Round
Signed By: New England

13. S Lukas Denis, Boston College

He slid out of the draft because of his 5-11, 190-pound corner size, but he’s not afraid to get his nose dirty. He made 49 tackles last season with a pick, but was a ball-hawking machine as a junior with seven interceptions and ten broken up passes. There might not be a set spot for him, but Buccaneer defensive coordinator Todd Bowles just might just find a way.

Original Projection: Sixth Round
Signed By: Tampa Bay

12. WR Preston Williams, Colorado State

A highly productive 6-4 target who started out his career at Tennessee before moving over to Colorado State. The athleticism and explosion weren’t there in workouts, there were off-the-field issues in the past, and there are just enough worries to keep him from getting drafted. However, he went to the right spot with Miami where he’ll get a very, very long look.

Original Projection: Sixth Round
Signed By: Miami

11. WR Penny Hart, Georgia State

Oh that’s just GREAT. As if Andrew Luck doesn’t have enough weapons to work with, now he has another explosive playmaker to work with. He’s really small, will get shoved around too much, and … that’s not what the Colts care about. He’ll make things happen as a return man and whenever he gets the ball in his hands.

Original Projection: Sixth Round
Signed By: Indianapolis

NEXT: Top 10 NFL Free Agents

10. CB Saivion Smith, Alabama

A great-sized corner with the 6-1, 200-pound size to potentially work as a safety if needed. There’s no flash, and he’s going to need time to grow into the role of a starting corner – or a free safety – but the Jaguars don’t necessarily need him to become a star right away. If he can stick, he’ll eventually be a nice piece of the great defensive puzzle.

Original Projection: Fourth Round
Signed By: Jacksonville

9. WR Anthony Johnson, Buffalo

An ultra-productive catching machine who somehow fell through the cracks, he’s a crafty target with a physical 6-2, 210-pound frame. He might not be an NFL No. 1 target, but he should shine as a reliable go-to target who’ll grab everything that comes his way. Throw it at him, and he’ll fight and go get it.

Original Projection: Fourth Round
Signed By: Tampa Bay

8. RB Elijah Holyfield, Georgia

The 217-pounder brings the expected thump as Evander’s son, but he dropped out of the draft because his painfully slow 4.78 40. There’s no questioning his toughness, and he’s more productive than he got credit for in his offseason workouts. He might not be a flash, but he averaged 6.4 yards per carry last year with 1,018 yards and seven scores. There’s a shot he finds an instant role around the goal line.

Original Projection: Fifth Round
Signed By: Carolina

7. Terrill Hanks, New Mexico State

There’s a lot there to like. He’s a big power-hitter with 242-pound bulk and the toughness to be a volume tackler against the run. The speed, though, isn’t there, pushing the 5.0 range in the 40. He’ll start out making the Dolphins as a special teamer, but he might just find a home on the inside of the linebacking corps after a little bit of work.

Original Projection: Fifth Round
Signed By: Miami

6. OG Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin

The size and overall skill are there to work in a variety of spots. While he can be tried out at right tackle, his potential is at guard with the ability to wall off his man and even blast away a bit. He’s quick, has 6-6, 310-pound size, and again, he could be a nice swing blocker, but the skills aren’t there at a high enough level to be a sure-thing starter.

Original Projection: Fourth Round
Signed By: UNSIGNED

5. LB TJ Edwards, Wisconsin

It’s not a total surprise that he went undrafted. He’s undersized, and he’s not at that fast, but he’s always working and he’s always in on plays. The instincts are undeniable, and he’s not bad in pass coverage. He should’ve been an easy Day Three pick on his intangibles and production, and now he might just be a steal for the Eagles as a part of their linebacker rotation.

Original Projection: Fourth Round
Signed By: Philadelphia

4. Tyree Jackson, Buffalo

Someone should’ve taken a shot at him in the late rounds. He needs a whole lot of work, he needs a whole lot of seasoning, and he needs a whole lot of time. But with his 6-7, 249-pound size and the best arm in the draft – and with his mobility – the tools are undeniable. The accuracy and consistency aren’t there, but for Buffalo, he has the Josh Allen upside to be special … with time.

Original Projection: Fourth Round
Signed By: Buffalo

3. LB Te’von Coney, Notre Dame

This just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The 234-pound big-hitter was good enough to be a key leader of a strong Irish defense, comping up with 313 stops and with the ability to suck up everything that comes his way. However, he doesn’t have any one true NFL tool to work off of. As long as he’s kept between the hash marks – and is surrounded by speed – he’ll make a whole lot of plays.

Original Projection: Third Round
Signed By: Oakland

2. DT Gerald Willis, Miami

Of course Baltimore gets the terrific undervalued defensive talent with the chip on his shoulder. He’s not huge, he’s underpowered, and he has to be an interior pass rusher to make an impact, but he should’ve been a late Day Two guy. Now he’ll find a role as part of the Raven defensive tackle rotation as long as he doesn’t have to be a big-time run defender.

Original Projection: Third Round
Signed By: Baltimore

1. WR Emanuel Hall, Missouri

It’s not crazy to suggest that he’s going to be the most impactful player in the Bear draft class. There are some good talents in the late rounds – Iowa State RB David Montgomery will be solid – but the 6-2, 200-pound Hall could rip apart defenses and be a devastating deep threat for Mitchell Trubisky. With his 4.3 speed, he’ll do one thing, but he’ll do it really well.

Original Projection: Fourth Round
Signed By: Chicago

Three Greatest Draft Picks For Each Team
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
Ranking All 130 College Teams Drafts
2020 Top 32 NFL Draft Prospects
Top 32 NFL Draft Picks of All-Time
2019 1st Round Pick Breakdown & Thoughts

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