I'm going to go out on a limb here (not really) and say the first pick of the 2019 NFL draft will either be a quarterback or a defensive lineman.
This isn't because the draft class is loaded with defensive lineman (it is) or quarterbacks (it remains to be seen). It's because the NFL draft works this way. Since the 2000 version, 17 of the 19 top overall selections have either been a quarterback (13 times) or a defensive lineman (four times).
The other two top picks were offensive tackles _ Jake Long (2008) and Eric Fisher (2013) _ but Jonah Williams, the top offensive tackle in this draft class, isn't worthy of the top spot. In fact, the last time the top pick wasn't either of those three positions was 1996 (Keyshawn Johnson).
This makes sense. The NFL is a quarterback-driven league and defensive linemen take down quarterbacks.
The NFL draft has become a nice appetizer before our main course in September. A mock version of said draft is meant to educate, and even entertain. At very least, it helps you pass the time.
What follows is an early attempt at figuring out the best players available in this season's draft class, and which teams they'd match up well with considering the current draft order according to NFL.com.
Here's an updated first round of my 2019 NFL mock draft:
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