The 2019 NFL Draft is approaching. There are so few certainties at this point, but everyone likes to venture their own guess as to what each team will do. So, here is my educated guess, after analyzing each team’s needs, drafting habits, and schemes.
1. Arizona Cardinals – Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
The Cardinals and Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury reportedly LOVE Kyler Murray. This is no secret. The only problem is that they drafted Josh Rosen last year. While Rosen certainly had his share of struggles, his offensive line really gave him no chance to succeed. I’m not sure that Murray is the true franchise changing player, but his combination of athleticism, arm strength, and poise have the Cardinals thoroughly intrigued. At this point, I can’t see the top pick being anyone else.
2. San Francisco 49ers – Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio St
Many experts have Nick Bosa as the top overall player in this draft. The 49ers have some building blocks on their defensive line already with DeForest Buckner and Dee Ford. But, Bosa gives them the young building block at Left End as a two-way defender.
3. New York Jets – Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky
Personally, I have Alabama Defensive Tackle Quinnen Williams as the best player in the draft. But, the Jets are infatuated with Allen’s potential off the edge. He has the prototypical size and build to wreak havoc on an offense’s game plan.
4. Oakland Raiders – Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
Williams was the most dominant player in college football this past year. Some scouts are concerned that he seemed to have only one big season. But, they should just look at the tape and his ability to regularly beat double teams as both a run defender and as an inside pass rusher. Pairing Williams with Maurice Hurst for the long haul is mighty enticing. If Williams is on the board, this should be a no-brainer pick for the Silver and Black.
*5. Miami Dolphins (via trade with Tampa Bay) – Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
The Dolphins have many, many holes. They just signed Ryan Fitzpatrick as a stop-gap Quarterback. So, Haskins can hold the clipboard for a season while the Dolphins reload. Now, the price is expensive in jumping from 13 all the way to 5, but it’s a worthwhile gamble for a team that hasn’t had a true franchise quarterback since Dan Marino.
6. New York Giants – Juwaan Taylor, OT, Florida
The Giants spent big money on left tackle Nate Solder last offseason. They acquired left guard Will Hernandez in the 2018 NFL draft. Then, they traded for right guard Kevin Zeitler this offseason.
The temptation will be to find a replacement for Odell Beckham as a playmaker, but the smart pick would be to continue to find ways to protect aging Quarterback Eli Manning and to open holes for all-world running back Saquon Barkley.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – DK Metcalf, WR, Mississippi
Metcalf is a polarizing prospect. He’s enormous at 6’4” and 225 pounds. Metcalf also ran a 4.33 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. But, he had a neck injury in college that will cause hesitation among NFL front offices.
Also, he’s not a complete receiver. He’s excellent vertically, but his twitch is something that executives question. Can he run the full route tree? If you’re going to be selected this high, teams would like to know that you can. However, his potential is so high that I think the Jags take the chance that Metcalf is both healthy and productive.
8. Detroit Lions – TJ Hockensen, TE, Iowa
The Lions took a tight end in the top-10 just a few short years ago. They watched the player struggle for a few seasons and let him leave via free agency. That player happened to have a Pro Bowl season this past year while playing for Indianapolis. Yes, that player was Eric Ebron.
T.J. Hockensen is not Ebron. He’s a better prospect. He is an underrated athlete, but a mountain of a man that absolutely dominates in the run game. He is the most complete tight end to enter the draft in a long time.
9. Buffalo Bills – Andre Dillard, OT, Washington St
Dillard is NFL ready as a pass blocker right now. He needs to get nastier and more physical in the run game, but why not protect your franchise QB with an elite pass blocker? Metcalf could be the pick here if he falls, but Dillard is a safe pick with elite upside.
*10. Atlanta Falcons (via trade with Denver) – Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
Oliver has elite upside as an interior pass rusher. He’s on the smaller side for a defensive tackle, but his quickness more than makes up for it. I see his ceiling as John Randle, who is only a Hall of Famer as an undersized interior lineman.
11. Cincinnati Bengals – Devin White, LB, LSU
White may be a top-five prospect in this draft. But, in this mock, he’s falling, and the Bengals couldn’t be happier. They are a team with a handful of needs and could be in the market for a quarterback. But, White will replace the departed Vontaze Burfict as a true three-down Linebacker with elite athleticism and playmaking skills.
12. Green Bay Packers – Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida St
Burns continues to be one of my favorite players in this draft. His athleticism off the edge will immediately play at the next level. He has his limitations as a run defender, but he could be an 8+ sack artist as a rookie with plenty of room to develop. He could go as high as fourth to Oakland, but the Packers are happy about his fall.
*13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via trade with Miami) – Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
The Bucs would have taken White if they had stayed at No.5. However, Bush may be a better fit, and they picked up a couple picks in doing so. Bush has sideline-to-sideline athleticism to go along with natural instincts as both a run and pass defender. He will replace departed Lineback Kwon Alexander from Day 1 as an every-down player.
*14. Denver Broncos (via trade with Atlanta) – Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
Williams is another polarizing prospect. Many viewed him as an easy top 5-10 pick early in the draft process. However, he seems to have settled as a mid-to-late 1st round prospect. He possesses elite size and speed for the position. Williams is outstanding in press man coverage. However, he has some flaws with his technique and needs some work to reach his sky-high potential.
15. Washington Redskins – Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
Gary is a large, large man with unbelievable movement skills. He can play on the edge or move inside on passing downs. His versatility will undoubtedly come into play to allow him to impact the game in many ways. Some scouts question his work ethic and his motor as he seemed to disappear at times while at Michigan. If coached properly, this could be a steal for the Redskins.
16. Carolina Panthers – Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
As the draft process started, Williams seemed like a lock to be the first offensive lineman off the board. He was viewed as the best tackle in college football and as safe as they come. The combine answered some of the questions about his size, particularly his arm size, for his ability to remain a tackle, rather than kick inside to guard.
I believe he’ll be a solid tackle, but has legitimate All-Pro potential at guard. The Panthers have a huge hole, so this is a case where best player available meets need.
17. New York Giants – Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
Jones to the Giants seems to be gaining plenty of steam. He played for David Cutcliffe at Duke. The same Cutcliffe who worked with Peyton Manning on his way back from neck surgery. The same Cutcliffe who maintains an extraordinary relationship with Eli Manning. With Manning under contract, Jones can be eased into things and take over in either 2020 or 2021.
18. Minnesota Vikings – Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa St
Vikings fans may hate me for not going for an offensive lineman with this pick. But, they need to add a playmaker. Late last year, teams doubled both Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, and nobody else could make a play in man coverage.
Enter Hakeem Butler. A big, physical, athletic specimen that can make plays out of the Vikings’ three-wide sets.
19. Tennessee Titans – Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
Fant is an athletic freak at the tight end position. He could be an option for Minnesota one pick sooner, but the Titans will be extremely happy if he falls here. Delanie Walker is not getting any younger, and he’s been racking up some injuries. Fant gives quarterback Marcus Mariota another weapon to play with.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia
Baker has outstanding film from his days at Georgia. However, he did not test well. I think he’s best suited to play press coverage in a zone scheme. With Joe Haden on the opposite side locking up the top receivers, Baker can play physically near the line of scrimmage with some safety help. This seems like a perfect fit.
21. Seattle Seahawks – Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi St
Sweat was diagnosed with a heart condition at the NFL Combine. But, it’s not considered career-threatening at this point. He was a top 10 prospect before the diagnosis, so he slides to where the Seahawks are comfortable with the risk. One thing we know about the NFL is you can never have too many good pass rushers.
22. Baltimore Ravens – Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
The Ravens defense was outstanding last season. This is not exactly a need filler for Baltimore, but Lawrence is deserving of going much higher. The Ravens could certainly use a playmaker on the perimeter, but they decide to take the best player available.
23. Houston Texans – Garrett Bradbury, C/G, North Carolina St
Bradbury has soared up draft boards since the Senior Bowl. He is a natural center but can play guard, as well. The Texans have needs across their offensive line, so they take the best player available up front.
24. Oakland Raiders (via Chicago) – Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas St
They signed left tackle Trent Brown, moving second-year man Kolton Miller back to the right side. They also shipped left guard Kelechi Osemele to the Jets in a pick-swap. Risner could play anywhere on the line from left guard out to right tackle. He’s a mauler, and I think he fits in perfectly at left guard for head coach Jon Gruden.
25. Philadelphia Eagles – Jeffrey Simmons, DT, Mississippi St
Simmons is coming off a torn ACL, which he surrendered during the draft process. But, his upside is limitless. He may not play in 2019, but pairing him with Fletcher Cox for 2020 and beyond is a seemingly unstoppable duo in the middle.
26. Indianapolis Colts – Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida
The Colts would love for Butler to fall here to add a playmaker to the offense. But, they add to the pass rush, which never hurts anyone. Polite has had his stock fall a bit through the draft process, but he’s still extremely agile coming off the edge and could make a significant impact opposite newly signed Justin Houston.
27. Oakland Raiders (via Dallas) – Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
The Raiders have added players in the trenches with their first two picks. This time, they add a major piece to their defense with Murphy. Young cornerback Gareon Conley is a budding star, so it only makes sense to fortify the opposite side of the defense with a player like Murphy.
28. Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Layne, CB, Michigan St
The Chargers are one of the most complete teams in the league. The secondary, however, has been decimated by injuries over the last couple of seasons. Enter Justin Layne.
Layne is a big, physical cornerback with great traits. He possesses everything you would look for in a starting corner, so the Chargers are fortunate to be able to draft and develop him here.
29. Kansas City Chiefs – Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame
The Chiefs would have loved to grab either Layne or Murphy here, but since both are gone, they take the next cornerback on their board; Julian Love from Notre Dame. He has excellent twitch and could certainly develop into a top-flight starter.
30. Indianapolis Colts (via Green Bay and New Orleans) – Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
The Colts move back into the first round to ensure they get their guy. They added an edge rusher a few picks earlier, but now add a playmaker on the interior of the defensive line.
Jerry Tillery is taller for a defensive tackle, but he plays with great leverage and has outstanding quickness. With Andrew Luck returning to full health last year, the Colts scored a ton of points. Now they look to add to their defense for when they inevitably play with some leads.
31. Los Angeles Rams – Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
Ndamukong Suh is still a free agent, but I don’t think he will return to the Rams. So, they find a replacement to pair along the defensive interior with the baddest man in the league in Aaron Donald. Wilkins is a jack of all trades, master of none kind of defensive tackle and should help clog lanes in the run game.
32. New England Patriots – Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
The third Clemson defensive lineman to go in the first round should probably have been the first taken. Clelin Ferrell is an excellent edge prospect with exceptional strength and above average agility. The Patriots have lost a ton of talent this offseason, but here is the ready-made replacement for departed EDGE Trey Flowers, who left for Detroit.
