The time is upon NFL teams to find out if they got the goods when they made their draft picks in 2019. With the season upon us, a look at how each team’s first-round selection has done in the preseason and what is expected of them early in the regular season.
32. New England Patriots: N’Keal Harry
The WR from Arizona State will begin his rookie season on IR. He has fought ankle and hamstring injuries and now will miss at least the first eight weeks of the season.
31. Atlanta Falcons: Kaleb McGary
Kaleb McGary underwent a cardiac ablation procedure during training camp and missed significant time in the preseason. He did, however, play in the team’s final preseason game.
30. New York Giants: Deandre Baker
One of a trio of first-rounders for Big Blue, the CB from Georgia made a quick impression and head toward first-team status. Then, he sprained his knee on Aug. 11. The Dawg is confident he will be ready for Week 1 in Dallas. That will be a test with the Cowboys’ potent attack.
29. Seattle Seahawks: L.J. Collier
L.J. Collier has been battling a high ankle sprain. Don’t be surprised if Seattle doesn’t push him to play against Cincinnati. “This is not the injury or the guy, in my mind, to rush,” Pete Carroll said recently. “He just hasn’t been with us enough, to think he’s going to come in and save the day, I’m not doing that with him. We’ll get him well and make sure he’s well. But, if we can get him back to practice, that would be really important for us. We’ll see what happens. He did good stuff before, but he just hasn’t had enough body of work to go on right now.”
28. Los Angeles Charger: Jerry Tillery
Former Notre Damer Jerry Tillery had surgery to repair a torn labrum in March. “We saw flashes of it,” Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. “You’re like, ‘Oh, OK! We just saw a flash of Jerry Tillery.’ He’s mentally [strong], but he just needs the physical part of it now — the lining up, the block-reaction and things like that.” Tillery did have a sack in his first game, which was against the Saints. “I felt great,” Tillery said. “No issues with my body. I think we’re a very conditioned team. That’s what I’ve been working on all offseason, all training camp. It felt good to get out there again.”
27. Oakland Raiders: Johnathan Abram
In addition to becoming a star on “Hard Knocks,” for his brashness, the DB from Mississippi State has wowed Jon Gruden & Co. “I just think he’s wise beyond his years,” Oakland defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said, per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. “He doesn’t act like a rookie. When he’s out there, he sounds like a seven or eight-year vet. I think the players take notice of that. Just how he prepares, how he studies, how he communicates with the guys on and off the field. The thing is not too big for him. The players see that. He doesn’t act like your typical rookie.”
26. Washington Redskins: Montez Sweat
Montez Sweat is facing similar challenges to Rashan Gary in Green Bay. Sweat is faced with going forward and backward in the NFL. “I’m not just rushing the passer anymore,” Sweat told the Washington Post. “I got to learn coverages, know when to drop down, when to rush and, when I do drop, am I in man [coverage] or am I in zone? Just stuff like that.
25. Baltimore Ravens: Marquise Brown
The fleet wideout from Oklahoma is going to be a key player in Baltimore’s receiving corps. He missed the first two preseason games while recuperating from foot surgery in January. However, “Hollywood” has been cleared for takeoff and should become a favorite target of Lamar Jackson … once he gets the reps.
24. Oakland Raider: Josh Jacobs
The Raiders drafted the Alabama RB with the intent of making him their bellcow running back. Nothing has changed and expect to see Derek Carr handing off to Jacobs early and often. It will be intriguing as the season goes along to see how much the extra work impacts Jacobs.
23. Houston Texans: Tytus Howard
Offensive lineman Tytus Howard has been hampered by a broken finger. “I feel pretty good, just trying to get back this week, getting accustomed back to the speed and trying to practice each and every day to get ready for the Saints,” Howard told the Houston Chronicle. “It’s all a mindset just going out there and competing and trusting your technique. I got the coaches behind me, got my teammates, got a great training staff.” His status for the opener with the Saints rests with coach Bill O’Brien.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Andre Dillard
In addition to playing left tackle, don’t be stunned to see Andre Dillard on occasion at tight end. That’s why Doug Pederson has kept two TEs on the Eagles’ roster. He’s used offensive linemen in the position in the past and is ready to do so, gain.
21. Green Bay Packers: Darnell Savage
Well, the popularity of Darnell Savage might have dipped for those Green Bay fans who purchased his jersey with the No. 26 on it. Savage decided to switch to 21, you know, 21 Savage, He can get back into the good graces of Green Bay with some stellar secondary play.
20. Denver Broncos: Noah Fant
The other TE drafted from Iowa. He’s going to be a mainstay as an option for Joe Flacco, who loved to use his TE in 2016-17, his last complete seasons in Baltimore. John Elway has liked what he has seen in Fant. “He’s been good,” the GM said during training camp. “He’s what we thought he would be. The thing we’re really excited about is the fact he’s a better blocker (than anticipated). He’s physical and he still can get better there, but very physical, sticks his nose in there and (is) very strong.
19. Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons
Jeffery Simmons starts the season on the non-football injury list. Simmons suffered a torn ACL while preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine. Simmons will miss the first six weeks of the season, a period during which he can’t practice with the team.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Garrett Bradbury
The Vikings are going to have a rookie in the middle … of their offensive line Former North Carolina State center Garrett Bradbury is going to be snapping the ball to Kirk Cousins and being counted on to block for the QB and Dalvin Cook and the RB corps.
17. New York Giants: Dexter Lawrence
It seemed like every other or third pick had a Clemson connection. The Giants grabbed Lawrence with the hope he will add to their defensive line. Expect him to switch between NG and DE.
16. Carolina Panthers: Brian Burns
Brian Burns is giving the Panthers the kind of edge they hoped they would get when drafting the Seminole. Expect to see him pressuring the quarterback on many occasions this season with Carolina.
15. Dwayne Haskins
The future is not the present in Washington … for the time being. Dwayne Haskins will watch and learn as Case Keenum is the starting QB. This pick is intriguing because no QB from Ohio State has had superstar success in the NFL in the Super Bowl era. Did Washington get a gem or will Haskins continue and unusual trend?
14. Atlanta Falcons: Chris Lindstrom
It appears as if Chris Lindstrom will be protecting Matt Ryan as the starting right guard against the Vikings.”I think he has a rare ability to recover quickly. If he sees something, he can come back and fix it even during the play. If there’s a mistake that’s made, he’s able to come back, see the correction, take it and apply it,” Dan Quinn said. … He’s exceeded what I thought and I already had high expectations in those two areas.”
13. Miami Dolphins: Christian Wilkins
Christian Wilkins loves plays, whether they are the Broadway kind or on the football field. “I’m a sucker for plays, musicals, the whole performing arts stuff,” the former Clemson star told the Miami Herald after a Dolphins training camp practice. “I’m being 100 percent honest. My goal or my dream is to have at least one small role in a play. Broadway, it don’t matter. I could be at the Broward [Center for the] Performing Arts. Small role. I want to walk on stage, say one word, walk off.” The stage will have to wait as Miami is counting on Wilkins to do big things for its defense. He is listed as a starter on the team’s depth chart.
12. Green Bay Packers: Rashan Gary
Former Michigan star Rashan Gary suffered a neck injury that slowed his preseason. He returned and is expected to play a significant role on the Green Bay defense. One test for Gary is the transition from a hand-in-the-ground defensive lineman to stand-up outside linebacker.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonah Williams
The Bengals won’t get anything out of Jonah Williams in 2019. The big tackle from Alabama had shoulder surgery that will cost him the season. “I never thought it would be that bad,” Williams said. “I didn’t think it was painful enough to warrant six months [of recovery]. But there’s just this lack of stability in that region, and it’s really important for a left tackle to have a stable left shoulder. So I get it. It’s really just terrible luck. I never missed a start in college. For me to get hurt in OTAs is pretty terrible luck.”
10. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Bush
Devin Bush is listed behind Mark Barron on the team’s depth chart. Don’t let that fool you. Expect the rookie from Michigan to see a great deal of playing time.
9. Buffalo Bills: Ed Oliver
Ed Oliver is going to be a key contributor on the defensive line. The rookie from Houston has huge cleats to fill as the Bills are looking to replace Kyle Williams on the interior of the defensive line.
8. Detroit Lions: T.J. Hockenson
One of two Iowa TEs to go in the first round, the Lions need immediate results from T.J. Hockenson. “So far,” TE coach Chris White said about the draft’s No. 8 pick. “We’ll see when we get live bullets against Chandler (Jones) and (Terrell) Suggs, but he’s done a nice job on the line and in space.” Hockenson had four catches for 74 yards in preseason.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Allen
The Jaguars grabbed Josh Allen from Kentucky and are thrilled with what they have seen. The Jags are working from strength at defensive end and want to keep Allen on the field as often as possible. “We have to be able to tweak our system a little bit, but that’s our job as coaches is to put them in position to be successful and hopefully we can do,” defensive coordinator Todd Wash told Jacksonville.com.
6. New York Giants: Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones impressed in the preseason, earning respect from the tough New York media. The quarterback from Duke will start the season behind Eli Manning. It feels more a question of when rather than if he will see playing time. Jones completed 29-of-34 passes for 416 yards and 2 TDs in preseason.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White
Devin White is being counted on to be the leader of the Bucs’ defense. His preseason production was modest, mainly due to limited action since he is a first-teamer: five tackles, including three assists. However, he is ready to roll, saying, “The bigger the game, the better I am.” Tampa Bay certainly hopes so.
4.Oakland Raiders: Clelin Ferrell
The Raiders are happy with the progress of Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell. Not everyone is as sold on the No. 4 overall pick. Pro Football Focus took him down some here: In two games for the Raiders — he missed Week 3 — Ferrell managed single-game grades of 68.9 and 34.9, recording just two hurries from his 32 snaps as a pass-rusher.
3. New York Jets: Quinnen Williams
Quinnen Williams beings a “smile to my face,” says Jets’ defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. For the time being, he is listed as a second-teamer behind 10-year vet Steve McLendon. Expect Williams to be on the field early and often.
2. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa
Nick Bosa, the star lineman from Ohio State practiced for the first time Monday since spraining an ankle on Aug. 7. He wants to play in the Niners’ opener against Tampa Bay. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as motivated in my life to get back,” Bosa said. “I’ve had my sights set on playing my first NFL season and every waking hour was spent getting my ankle right.”
1. Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray
The rookie QB from Oklahoma will start for Arizona against the Detroit Lions Sunday. Murray was 23-of-36 for 193 yards in the preseason. He had five rushes for 13 yards in limited playing time.
