Every year, winning the NFL draft is about maximizing value with each pick. That means all 32 teams will be mining the 2019 draft class for underrated players who are still on the board despite being worthy of a higher slot.
Here are my picks for the most underrated players at every position in this year’s draft:
QUARTERBACK
Will Grier | West Virginia
It might seem strange to see Grier in this spot, but I’m putting him here because I don’t understand why he’s not in the same breath as someone like Duke’s Daniel Jones, who appears to be a first-round lock. Grier has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback at the next level, and if teams are valuing Jones in the first round, Grier absolutely belongs in that conversation. If he’s still available on Day 2, some team will end up getting a huge steal at the game’s most important position.
Runner-Up
Jordan Ta’amu | Ole Miss
RUNNING BACK
Devine Ozigbo | Nebraska
There may not be a Saquon Barkley in this class, but the value of this year’s running back group is the depth it should offer teams in the middle rounds. While there are bigger names who will likely come off the board sooner, Ozigbo has the skill set and the production of a runner who should be getting much more attention. After being snubbed by the NFL Scouting Combine, Ozigbo lit up his pro day workout, logging numbers that prove he should have been invited. Don’t be surprised if he outplays many of the runners taken ahead of him in this draft.
Runner-Up
James Williams | Washington State
WIDE RECEIVER
Ashton Dulin | Malone
Malone has never had a player picked in the NFL draft, and it looks like Dulin may be both the first and last. Coming from a football program that was officially disbanded following the 2018 season, Dulin put on a show at the NFL Combine, backing up his dominant tape. Teams may be skeptical about his level of competition, but his combination of size and athleticism should allow him to carve out a long career in the pros. He’ll be a huge steal anywhere on Day 3.
Runner-Up
Reggie White, Jr. | Monmouth
TE
Tyre McCants | USF
I don’t know where NFL teams plan to play McCants, but frankly, I don’t really care. If the league is looking for versatile weapons who just get the job done in every way, McCants is the perfect fit. A physical presence as both a blocker and a receiver, McCants uses his thick frame to bully would-be tacklers after the catch. He’s a vocal leader who would be a fantastic addition to any locker room, and a creative offensive coordinator could easily turn him into a dangerous weapon at the next level.
Runner-Up
Dax Raymond | Utah State
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Max Scharping | Northern Illinois
A versatile blocker with experience at both tackle spots and even some action at guard, Scharping has all the tools to be one of the top tackles taken in this draft, but more well-known names from bigger programs are likely to push him down the board. That will give some team a bargain, considering Scharping’s impressive physical tools and track record of durability, having started all 52 games of his collegiate career.
Runner-Up
Oli Udoh | Elon
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Lamont Gaillard | Georgia
Despite being the anchor for one of the most dominant ground attacks in college football over the last few years, Gaillard still doesn’t seem to be getting credit as one of this year’s top interior blockers. A first-team All-SEC pick, Gaillard racked up 43 consecutive starts for the Bulldogs, proving his durability and knack for neutralizing some of the best players in the country. Despite being somewhat undersized, Gaillard is the kind of player who can be a quality starter for the next decade, and he’ll be a bargain if he’s still on the board when Day 3 begins.
Runner-Up
Nate Davis | Charlotte
EDGE DEFENDER
Maxx Crosby | Eastern Michigan
This year’s draft is loaded with talented edge rushers from powerhouse programs, but one NFL team is going to get the steal of the class if they land Crosby anywhere outside the first two rounds. A complete player with the frame, skill set and versatility to make an impact in any scheme, Crosby backed up his impressive tape and solid production with a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, finishing among the top performers in multiple events.
Runner-Up
Malik Reed | Nevada
INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE
Khalen Saunders | Western Illinois
Every year, there are a few small-school prospects who take full advantage of the chance to prove themselves against better competition during the all-star circuit, and Saunders was one of this year’s biggest winners. A massive mauler in the middle, Saunders had a dominant week at the Senior Bowl, and showed off his impressive athleticism with a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s a scheme-versatile defender who will make an immediate and sustained impact at the next level.
Runner-Up
Renell Wren | Arizona State
LINEBACKER
Drue Tranquill | Notre Dame
It may be strange to see the underrated label slapped on someone from South Bend, but Tranquill is a top-five linebacker in this class, and that doesn’t seem to be the consensus opinion among draft media. Still, his film and athletic testing at the NFL Scouting Combine paint the picture of a complete defender who is tailor-made for what the league is asking of its players at the position these days, and he’ll be one of this year’s best values if he lasts past Day 2.
Runner-Up
Ulysees Gilbert III | Akron
CORNERBACK
Derrick Baity | Kentucky
While teammate Lonnie Johnson, Jr. has been getting more attention throughout the predraft process, Baity is the Wildcat corner who will end up being the better value on draft weekend. A long, athletic cover man with impressive instincts and ball skills, Baity has all the traits to develop into a quality starter at the next level. As a player who is projected by most as a mid-to-late-rounder, Baity could easily end up making plenty of teams sorry for passing on him in the earlier rounds.
Runner-Up
Jimmy Moreland | James Madison
SAFETY
Marquise Blair | Utah
A junior-college stud, Blair was somewhat of a late-bloomer for the Utes, but he made a huge impact in his first year as a full-time starter in 2018. A long, rangy playmaker, Blair earned second-team all-conference honors, proving his lean frame doesn’t keep him from playing with a physical, punishing style. This year’s safety class is loaded with depth that will give teams plenty of quality options on Day 2 and into the middle rounds, and if Blair comes out on the back end up that group, he’ll be a bargain.
Runner-Up
Malik Gant | Marshall
