The 2019 NFL Draft is a few months away. We’re kicking off our NFL Mock Drafts in early January. Here’s a look at who all 32 teams (and most importantly, the Redskins) are picking.
The 2019 NFL Draft may seem far away, but in reality, it is fairly close. All of the pre-draft buzz for teams outside of the playoff race is starting to heat up now and with events like the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl on the horizon, NFL teams have a lot to get excited about.
The Redskins are one of those teams. Though the fan base is unhappy right now due to the immense amount of turmoil that the organization is facing, the front office has done a solid job drafting the past couple of years. Their first-round picks have been game-changers on the defensive line while their other draft picks have taken on solid roles in the organization as well. So, at the very least, fans can hope for a repeat performance of that in order to salvage what has, so far, been a hopeless offseason.
The are plenty of quality players that will be available for the Redskins with the No. 15 pick, but obviously, who they pick depends on who is picked before them. We’ll try to sort through the mess the best we can with our first 2019 NFL Mock Draft of the season. Let’s dive in.
I would honestly be surprised if the Cardinals end up keeping this pick. With no need at quarterback, a strong class of defensive linemen, and as many as five teams potentially willing to deal up for a passer, the Cardinals are in prime position to move this pick.
That said, it’s too early to project a trade with any sort of confidence. Plus, the Cardinals have yet to hire their new head coach, so it’s unclear what his philosophy might be regarding the draft. So, we’ll have the Cardinals hang on to the top selection for now.
With the top pick, the Cardinals are almost certainly going to target help on the defensive line. They lack a quality partner for Chandler Jones and they also have never adequately replaced Calais Campbell following his move to the Jaguars. For that reason, Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams are the top two options with this pick, but Bosa has the edge for now.
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Bosa was a force for Ohio State as a freshman and sophomore, and he racked up 13.5 sacks over the course of his first two seasons despite playing behind and alongside other talented pass rushers. He was on his way to a massive junior campaign, posting four sacks in three games and putting relentless pressure on his opponents, before suffering an injury that kept him sidelined for some time.
Instead of risking returning and worsening the injury, Bosa elected to skip the rest of the season and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. This drew a bit of scrutiny at a first glance, but the fact of the matter is that Bosa was protecting his financial future in what ended up being a shrewd move, as he still has a very good chance to be the No. 1 overall pick.
With the Cardinals, Bosa would create a dynamic duo alongside Jones and could help to reinvigorate an Arizona defense that disappointed last season. He could be a double-digit sack artist at the next level, and the presence of Jones could turn him into one of the league’s best, young pass rushers.
I think that Quinnen Williams well may be the best player in the draft, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he goes No. 1 overall in this class. Thus, I think that the 49ers will be more than happy to grab the Alabama product here to help shore up their defensive line.
The 49ers could stand to add some talent to their defensive tackle group. While DeForest Buckner is an excellent player, the team doesn’t have much next to him, as Earl Mitchell is merely a decent nose tackle while Sheldon Day is a solid rotational player. Williams would give the team a huge upgrade and could wreak havoc along with Buckner.
Williams possesses everything that teams are looking for in modern defensive tackles. He has an excellent first step that allows him to quickly shoot through gaps and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. His instincts also help him to quickly diagnose plays and make it easy for him to use his quickness to his advantage. That’s a large part of why he was able to notch eight sacks this year, a big number for an interior lineman.
Also, it’s notable that Williams has solid size at 6-foot-4, 289-pounds. He will have the opportunity to add more muscle to his frame in the NFL, if deemed necessary, and that will help turn him into a stronger, more well-rounded player. Either way, he has the skill set need to succeed in the NFL.
With Williams on the line, the 49ers would have a starting unit made up entirely of former first-round picks, at least for one season. That group of athletic, strong linemen could do a lot to create a disruptive pass rush, so it will certainly be interesting to see if that can become a big-time strength for the 49ers if they add Williams in the draft.
It seems like the Jets haven’t ever had a great edge rusher. And if they did, it’s been over a decade since that time. They are in prime position to continue to retool with their solid, young roster, and Josh Allen would be an excellent option for them in the draft.
And yes, there is another Josh Allen in this year’s draft. There was some thought that he would declare for the draft in 2018 — he could have been a late first-round pick if he did — but ultimately, he ended up returning to school. That was good for the sake of draft analysts (as the confusion of having two Josh Allens might have been a nightmare) and it ended up being great for his draft stock as well.
At Kentucky, Allen put up one of the best seasons of any player in college football. He lived in opposing backfields, racking up a ridiculous 17 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. He demonstrated good quickness, athletic ability off the edge, and pass rushing moves that should help him succeed at the NFL level.
Allen is a do-it-all linebacker with scheme versatility between the 3-4 and 4-3. He can cover, he can rush the passer, he has length, and he has athleticism. With this well-rounded skill set, he is a perfect fit for the modern NFL, as he can pretty much be used anywhere in the linebacker corps and make an impact.
With the Jets, Allen would be an immediate starter and would create a solid linebacker group for the team, featuring himself, Avery Williamson, and Darron Lee. He is just a perfect fit and is well worth the No. 3 overall pick.
Ed Oliver was once considered to be the potential sure-fire No. 1 pick. After his freshman season at Houston, a year that saw him put up a ridiculous 22 tackles for loss and five sacks, Oliver had all sorts of buzz. But in a loaded class on the defensive line, his buzz has cooled off a bit.
This year at Houston, his third with the school, Oliver only played in eight games. That said, he performed well and continued to be a force in the run game, notching 14.5 tackles for loss to give him 53 in his three-year career. He has a good all-around skill set, but his athleticism and motor are what really separates him from the pack.
The one concern with Oliver is that he may be a bit undersized, as he hasn’t packed on a lot of strength at the collegiate level. That could change in the NFL, as he has the capability to add muscle mass, but the one weakness is how he deals with stronger players. That’s what may ultimately keep him out of the top five, though we don’t see him falling below this pick at this point.
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The Raiders need to focus on adding talent everywhere on their roster, and it seems highly likely that they will take the best available player. Their defensive line is lacking, especially after trading Khalil Mack, and Oliver could be a great fit at defensive tackle for them. He would give Jon Gruden a very good starter, and armed with three first-round picks, Gruden will really have a chance to rapidly rebuild the Raiders into a contender.
If the Raiders elect to go with a different defensive lineman, Clemson’s Christian Wilkins and Mississippi State’s Jeffery Simmons will both garner consideration here.
On paper, defensive tackle may not seem like a major need for the Bucs, as they just drafted Vita Vea in the first round last year and they have Gerald McCoy on the roster as well. However, the team could decide to part ways with McCoy and if they do, they would have a big hole at the position.
Luckily for the Bucs, this is a loaded defensive line class, and Jeffery Simmons is arguably the best player on the board. Simmons has been a versatile force at Mississippi State and in the last two seasons, he has combined for 30 tackles for loss. Considering that he plays in the SEC, that’s very impressive.
Also impressive is the fact that Simmons already has a 6-foot-4, 300-pound frame. That will give him the size and strength needed to make an immediate impact at the next level. Plus, he has solid quickness too, so his pass rushing skills should translate (seven sacks in the past two seasons).
Playing him next to Vea will make it very hard for opponents to run the ball against the Bucs. Having two stout, big-bodied guys would make a major difference for the defense. So, if McCoy is gone, this would be a sensible pick, even if it means spending back-to-back first-round picks on defensive tackles.
If the Bucs keep McCoy, they will probably opt to address either offensive tackle, the pass rush, or cornerback here. Jawaan Taylor (Florida) and Jonah Williams (Alabama) would probably make the most sense here as they are two of the top offensive tackle prospects in this class.
Dwayne Haskins is going to be tied to the Giants for a majority of the draft process. The Giants need a new quarterback, as they have a solid team that is hamstrung by Eli Manning, and Haskins is the best quarterback in this class.
Haskins only has one year of starting experience at Ohio State, but that won’t stop him from being the top QB taken in this class. It didn’t stop Mitchell Trubisky, and it certainly won’t stop Haskins. And this is especially true because Haskins put up prolific numbers in his lone season as the starter.
In 2018, Haskins was a force for the Buckeyes. He threw for over 4,800 yards and a ridiculous 50 touchdowns. He flashed great accuracy and ball placement ability, and if he can continue to showcase that at the NFL level, he will be a solid passer at the NFL level.
Washington Commanders
Of course, there are concerns with Haskins. The first is that he is, on occasion, slightly off in terms of his accuracy and that can impact his ability to get the ball to his playmakers. In certain outings, Haskins missed his receivers slightly high, and they were unable to make plays on the ball as a result. That can’t continue at the NFL level, and if Haskins continues to miss high, that will create opportunities for interceptions.
The second problem is that Haskins only has 14 starts during his career. That’s a small sample size, and despite his success, he is still raw as a prospect. That said, declaring for the draft was the right move, as a return to school could have caused his stock to plummet in a Cardale Jones-esque fashion.
For the next level, Haskins is reminiscent of Jameis Winston, though his mobility is more similar to that of Ben Roethlisberger. Haskins has the talent and skill set needed to be a franchise quarterback, but he might need some time to develop. Either way, Haskins would be an upgrade over Manning for the Giants, so expect them to pull the trigger on him (or trade up to land him).
In terms of experience, Drew Lock is almost the inverse of Haskins. Lock has seen extensive action in four seasons at Missouri, and his starting experience will do a great deal to make him appeal to NFL teams. That’s why the Jaguars will strongly consider nabbing Lock with the seventh overall pick.
It’s no secret that the Jaguars have issues at quarterback. The team foolishly decided to rely on Blake Bortles as their starter a year after their defense and running game carried them to the AFC Championship game. That predictably backfired, and Bortles struggled greatly in 2018 before being benched.
However, despite Bortles’ benching, the Jaguars didn’t improve. That’s because their top backup, Cody Kessler, is merely a below-average backup who struggles to throw the ball. That was on display when the Jaguars played the Redskins and Kessler had only 20 net passing yards.
Lock would be an upgrade over both Bortles and Kessler. He has a cannon of an arm and has been called a “quiet personality” by WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell. That could be refreshing to the Jaguars’ locker room, which is already loaded with a bunch of personalities, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
The one area that Lock has struggled with throughout his career in his accuracy. Because of his strong arm, Lock is prone to putting too much heat on balls, and that can lead to overthrows and turnovers. He improved upon this a bit as a senior, demonstrating a better ability to put touch on the ball and logging a career-high completion percentage of 62.9, but he certainly has to continue to improve in that area moving forward.
Lock’s bowl game performance will help to heat up his draft stock, and if he performs well at the Senior Bowl, he should continue to establish himself as a top quarterback prospect.
The Lions have had issues on the interior defensive line since Ndamukong Suh left in free agency all those years ago. They have a great opportunity to upgrade that group with this pick, and Matt Patricia won’t miss an opportunity to do that.
Both Christian Wilkins and Rashan Gary make sense as options with this pick, but after his performance in the College Football Playoff, the edge on my big board goes to Wilkins.
Wilkins has been a big playmaker throughout his entire Clemson career. He has a quick first step and is great at shooting gaps and getting into opposing backfields. In the National Championship game, he consistently wreaked havoc against a solid Alabama offensive line and made life difficult for Tua Tagovailoa and company. That’s exactly what teams will hope that Wilkins can do at the next level.
Wilkins should be a good all-around talent at the next level, provided that he goes to a team that mostly runs 4-3 concepts. He’s an excellent fit in that scheme, as that is not only what Clemson ran, but it allows him to utilize his strengths well. The Lions have that and pairing him long term with Damon Harrison should cause Detroit’s woes on the interior to disappear.
The Bills need to keep building around their franchise quarterback, Josh Allen, so they will be looking to add offensive line and receiver help early in the draft. With this selection, the best option appears to be on the offensive line, so they’ll roll with that for the time being.
Some may be surprised to see Jawaan Taylor as the first offensive tackle off the board, but it remains a definite possibility. Taylor seems to be a sure bet at tackle in the NFL. Meanwhile, Jonah Williams, the other top tackle in this class, may be best served to play on the right side or at guard.
While Buffalo really has needs all across the offensive line — though Dion Dawkins seems like a solid starter at one of the tackle positions — Taylor simply has an NFL-ready frame and could end up being a good left tackle at the next level. He is 6-foot-5, 328 pounds and could end up becoming a mauler in the run game. Either way, he’s a well-rounded option that should help the team out greatly in protection.
If the Bills elect to target a receiver, they will likely consider one of the Ole Miss players (D.K. Metcalf, A.J. Brown). However, if they elect to do that, it would make more sense to trade down.
The Broncos elected to avoid the top quarterbacks in last year’s draft class. In fact, they avoided the position altogether despite the fact that they had only added Case Keenum in free agency. After missing the playoffs and continuing to have some problems at quarterback, they won’t make that mistake again.
Armed with the No. 10 pick, the Broncos should be in the position to nab one of the first-round quarterbacks. They’ll end up taking whoever falls to them and in this mock, that happens to be Daniel Jones.
Jones is my second favorite quarterback prospect in this draft behind Haskins. He has a solid 6-foot-5 frame, good athleticism and mobility, decent accuracy, and most importantly, he has gotten great college coaching. David Cutcliffe has been a very good quarterback developer for his entire career, and Jones is familiar with more of a pro-style offense as a result of this. Cutcliffe’s tutelage will make Jones a better, smarter quarterback from the outset of his NFL career.
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With the Broncos, Jones would challenge Keenum for the starting job in camp, but if he didn’t win it, he could sit out for a season. Or, he could sit out at least until he’s ready during his rookie campaign. The good news is that the team should have a solid running game to support him whenever he is thrust into action, as Phillip Lindsay looked great last year while Royce Freeman (a third-round pick in 2018) should improve in his second season.
The one issue that could impact Jones’ value is that he has dealt with injuries at times during his career. During the team’s bowl game, he left for a brief while attending to an injury before coming back and demonstrating his prolific ability as a passer. His ability to hit receivers in stride with solid ball placement on any throw will certainly help him out in the NFL.
Jones may not seem like a top-10 guy right now. But if he impresses during the Senior Bowl and at the Combine, he will certainly move up draft boards. After all, he put up 2,674 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just nine picks this past season despite having minimal talent in his supporting cast. Working with more NFL-ready players could make Jones even more appealing, and it’s possible that he could leapfrog Lock at some point. But for now, he makes sense as the No. 10 pick.
The Bengals could have some trouble in their linebacker corps. They struggled to cover anyone last season when Nick Vigil missed time, and Vontaze Burfict’s career may be in jeopardy after suffering another concussion. They’ll need to think about upgrading the position, and Devin White is a tremendous value at this point.
White has been nothing short of spectacular during his three-year LSU career. The team’s star linebacker has racked up a whopping 256 tackles in the past two seasons including 25.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and an interception. And he has been as good as those numbers indicate.
White has really good instincts and is a very smart player. He tends to react quickly to the ball and makes plays as a result of that. He was the catalyst of a very good LSU unit and is far and away the best linebacker in this draft class. Considering that do-it-all linebackers are becoming more important in the NFL, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see White go higher than this, as teams will be very high on his potential.
There are not really many holes in White’s game. He seems like a safe pick, and the Bengals’ new coach (whoever that may be) will be glad to scoop him up and utilize him to help fix the team’s woeful run defense from last season. And if Burfict and Vigil return healthy, that linebacker unit will be a very strong one for the Bengals.
The Packers have some big needs that they need to fill during the 2019 offseason. They particularly need to get their defense some extra help. They could use help on the edge, on the defensive line, at safety, and maybe even at inside linebacker. With an offensive-minded head coach Matt LaFleur now in town, the team will probably target a defensive player early in hopes of developing the many receivers they took last season into solid contributors.
That said, the Packers will target the best player available on defense with that pick. In this case, that would be Clelin Ferrell.
Ferrell was part of Clemson’s monster defensive line that wreaked havoc on college football all of last season. He has racked up 20 sacks in the past two years and is easily one of the better edge players in this year’s class.
Ferrell has a nice combination of athletic ability, strength, and motor. When he’s on the field, he will be a threat to get to the quarterback, as his pass rushing moves are fairly solid as well. There have been some concerns that he wasn’t quite as fast and explosive as he was last year, but that won’t drop him very far. The production and raw skill set are still there for Ferrell.
With the Packers, Ferrell would immediately become their best edge rusher and would take some of the pressure off the aging Clay Matthews as his decline continues. With Ferrell and Kyler Fackrell — a player who demonstrated good pass rush ability last season with 10.5 sacks — the team’s pass rush would be in much better shape, and that should help out their young secondary.
The Dolphins overachieved last year. They reached a mark of 7-9 despite lacking the defensive personnel needed to field a quality unit. They also did this with an injured Ryan Tannehill as their primary quarterback. And, oh yeah, the Dolphins also fired their head coach after all this as a scapegoat.
That’s a sensible decision, right?
Regardless of the state of the Dolphins franchise at the moment, the team will be looking to rebuild this offseason. They need a new quarterback to replace Tannehill, but they aren’t in position to be drafting one at this juncture. Instead, they’ll have to settle for the best player on the board, and that’s not a bad thing, as Greedy Williams is available.
Washington Commanders
The Redskins would be sad to see Williams come off the board, as he could garner consideration with their No. 15 pick. I pointed that out in a recent piece and said the following of Williams.
"Williams is one of the best corners in the 2019 NFL Draft class, and the LSU corner has been a great playmaker the past two years. He has racked up eight picks in just 24 college games, and opposing teams tend to avoid throwing his way when they can. at 6-foot-2, 182 pounds, he has the size needed to cover true No. 1 receivers and shouldn’t be hampered by any limitations at the next level."
Williams would be a nice fit on the Dolphins. They have Xavien Howard as their top corner, but they don’t have much across from him. Minkah Fitzpatrick is being used as more of a safety/slot corner hybrid, but adding Williams would give their defense elite coverage potential. They could opt to target a stopgap veteran QB in free agency and then build up their defense via the draft, which should be a smart move. And grabbing a true top corner like Williams would be a good start.
Of course, if the Dolphins are desperate for a quarterback, they could trade up to get one. Or, even worse, they could reach for one at this juncture and take a second-day value like Will Grier. That would be similar to the Vikings’ pick of Christian Ponder many moons ago, but it’s way too early in the process to foresee if something like that will happen.
The Falcons were banged-up badly this year, but it’s clear that they missed Dontari Poe in the middle of their defense. They need to add another quality interior defender to play next to Grady Jarrett, and Rashan Gary could be the guy.
Gary was a former No. 1 overall recruit in the ESPN 300 and spent three seasons at Michigan. There, the defensive lineman showed solid overall ability and athleticism, and he should be able to turn himself into a good pro as a scheme-versatile defensive lineman.
Joe Marino of The Draft Network said the following of Gary’s ability in a player profile done in early December.
"Rashan Gary offers an intriguing tool box and his ceiling is high should he develop. His power, short area quickness and heavy hands lay a solid foundation to work with. That said, his hand technique, processing skills and inconsistent motor must improve. His lack of flexibility limits his upside as an every down EDGE so moving him up and down the defensive front is wise to maximize his ability to make an impact. By year three, Gary has the upside to be a productive starter in a multi-front defense. His pass rushing upside is considerably high from interior."
Atlanta runs a 4-3 defense, so Gary would have the ability to play on the edge and then move inside for pass rushing situations. He’s the perfect candidate to do that. He’ll be able to set the edge on early-downs while wreaking havoc in the middle of the defensive along with Jarrett in obvious passing situations. The Falcons will feel lucky to grab Gary at this juncture, as it’s possible that he could go in the top 10 with a strong combine.
If Gary is off the board, the team will consider other defensive linemen, and if Christian Wilkins makes it this far, they won’t hesitate to add the Clemson talent to their defense.
The Redskins are going to have a big need on the edge if Preston Smith leaves in free agency. And while they’re probably hoping that Clelin Ferrell might fall to them at this juncture, he’s off the board at this point.
With Ferrell gone, the Redskins’ focus will shift to Jachai Polite and the remaining offensive line prospects as potential fillers at left guard. Receiver will get some consideration as well, but it’s a deeper class at the position, so it remains likely that they will target a second-round prospect at that position.
Ultimately, Polite seems like the best option for the Redskins at this point. The edge rusher out of Florida had a phenomenal year, getting 11 sacks and generating constant pressure on opponents. Polite has elite athletic ability and should be able to succeed as a speed rusher at the next level.
Polite would bring something to the table that the Redskins have lacked in recent years on defense. That is speed. They have the necessary strength and athleticism-based players to collapse the pocket from the interior, but they need one quick player to have a shot at rapidly getting to the quarterback. Polite could be that and would be an excellent foil to Ryan Kerrigan.
If Smith ends up re-signing with Washington, this pick will obviously go in a different direction. But, for the time being, it makes the most sense to mock an edge player to the ‘Skins, especially since he’s one of the best players left on the board at this point in the draft.
The Panthers definitely need some help on their offensive line. Aside from Trai Turner and Daryl Williams (a free agent this season), they don’t have a lot of quality players on the unit. And in particular, their left tackle situation isn’t a good one.
Matt Kalil is currently the team’s starter at left tackle, but he has been bad when on the field in recent seasons. Even worse, he couldn’t stay healthy last year and ended up on IR. With Kalil’s future as a starter in question and the aforementioned Williams hitting free agency, the team may have to bring in some help at the tackle position.
Luckily for the Panthers, Jonah Williams is available in this scenario. Williams is one of the best offensive line prospects in this draft, and he could end up being a top-10 pick. In this mock, he slips out of circumstance and the fact that I have a slightly higher grade on Jawaan Taylor than Williams at the moment.
Williams is a seasoned veteran who saw a ton of action as a starter at Alabama. He should turn into a quality tackle at the NFL level — on either the left or ride side of the line — and he could also be asked to play guard if necessary. The Panthers would likely try to use him at left tackle while trying to retain Daryl Williams on the right side.
Ultimately, improving Cam Newton’s protection should be a major goal of the Panthers this offseason. And adding Williams is the easiest way to do that.
The Browns have done a great job of rebuilding their roster under John Dorsey, and it seems likely that the team will continue to take the best football players they can find with their top selection. They could use another presence on the interior defensive line, but don’t discount the possibility of the team adding a cornerback, too.
Though the Browns selected Denzel Ward — who looks like a stud — last season at No. 4 overall, the team could stand to add another high-impact corner to be their No. 2 guy. Terrance Mitchell and T.J. Carrie both were solid last year, but E.J. Gaines never panned out after getting injured. Pairing Byron Murphy with Ward would create a dynamic corner duo that could be the next step in making the Browns a solid overall defense.
Our own Matt Valdovinos is high on Murphy and had him listed as the No. 5 option for the Redskins on his first round big board. Here’s what he said about the Washington corner.
"Murphy is a do-it-all cornerback with excellent body control and elite ball skills. I’m convinced this dude could catch anything. Murphy has average size, but incredible athleticism and body control. His ability to shadow a receiver anywhere on the field is elite."
When watching Murphy’s tape, it’s clear that he’s a great playmaker with excellent cover ability. He should fit in well in Cleveland and is a value pick that could fill a need. That makes it easy for the team to pull the trigger on him.
The Vikings got their first taste of Kirk Cousins last year. Safe to say, they didn’t like it. The team was supposedly set to be a Super Bowl contender with the addition of Cousins, but he performed poorly. However, the Vikings are locked into their investment for another two years, so they will have to keep building around Cousins in hopes of getting back to the playoffs.
One area that the Vikings could stand to clean up is their offensive line. Their unit regressed this season and they lack talent at the guard and right tackle positions. That’s why Cody Ford would be a good fit for them.
Ford is a mammoth, 338-pound offensive lineman who had a great season at Oklahoma. He has the size and strength needed to be a solid all-around player in the NFL, and he is surprisingly nimble for his size. He has good footwork and should be able to succeed at right tackle or guard in the NFL. It’s just a matter of where teams want to play him.
With the Vikings, Ford could move inside and fill the hole the team has at left guard. Or, he could kick outside to right tackle and the Vikings could move 2018 second-round pick Brian O’Neill inside to guard. Either way, Ford would be a starter and should have a chance to provide better protection for Cousins in hopes of rejuvenating the offense.
If the Vikings don’t go with an offensive lineman, they could target a linebacker like Mack Wilson to help their unit in coverage (an area in which they struggle). For now, Ford is the better value.
The Titans need to do something to improve their passing game. Marcus Mariota wasn’t healthy for most of the season, but it didn’t help his cause that he lacked solid receiving weapons. The team needs a top receiver to play across from Corey Davis, and they could find one in the first round.
The question here is, which receiver would interest the Titans the most? It’s likely one of the two Ole Miss guys in D.K. Metcalf or A.J. Brown. While Brown might be the safer selection overall, Metcalf has higher upside and with a solid Pro Day and Combine, he could solidify his status as a first-round option.
Jon Ledyard of The Draft Network outlined Metcalf’s abilities in a recent scouting report, and his description of Metcalf perfectly embodies the potential pitfalls and successes a team might have when selecting him.
With the First Pick
"Receivers with Metcalf’s raw talents don’t come around very often, as his size, speed, quickness, high-point ability and vertical prowess make him a truly special prospect. He is absolutely not fully developed yet, so his landing spot will be key to reaching his lofty peak in the NFL. Ole Miss’ offense did him no favors by limiting him to a predictable linear plane as a receiver, so a diverse approach in the NFL could unlock even more potential. Metcalf has to get better at the little things like where he breaks his routes, being more efficient with his footwork and consistently finishing in the air, but he has no true weaknesses. His movement skills are top-notch, he’s explosive and physical after the catch and he can run by defensive backs as easily as he can outwork them at the catch point. There is some risk involved for sure, but the payoff with Metcalf is well worth it. He should be one of the top receivers off the board in April, provided his neck injury clears medical evaluations at the Combine."
In short, Metcalf has all the tools needed to be a top receiver in the NFL. His 6-foot-4 frame and athletic ability should make him a great red-zone threat, but he has even more potential because he has solid speed and cutting ability. That said, the injury concerns with Metcalf are real, so teams will have to carefully look over his medicals to ensure that everything checks out.
With a top duo of Davis and Metcalf at receiver, the Titans’ offense could move from being a mostly one-dimensional, run-heavy unit to being a well-balanced one. And that’s one of the reasons they could pull the trigger on Metcalf with this pick.
Joe Haden isn’t going to play forever. Artie Burns has had an up-and-down career to date. Mike Hilton is a restricted free agent. The Steelers need to add some help to the secondary just to ensure that they are deep enough to hold up in coverage.
And with the 20th overall pick, DeAndre Baker is a great value.
Baker has been a long-time starter at the University of Georgia, and he has been one of their best players in each of the past two years. He has logged five interceptions in that span and has consistently covered opposing No. 1 receivers. And in that role, he has done well.
Baker is a smart, savvy cornerback who has great instincts and runs with the receivers he covers. It’s tough to gain significant separation against Baker, and that alone should give him the opportunity to be a No. 1 corner in the NFL. Sure, he doesn’t have great speed, but he makes up for it with his physical play and tight coverage.
With the Steelers, Baker could start across from Haden with Burns moving into more of a backup role until he’s ready to take over for Haden. It’s also notable that Baker is a steal with the 20th pick, as he could easily go in the early-teens. So, the Steelers will pounce and be happy to land the well-rounded SEC product.
The Seahawks vastly outperformed expectations this year and made it to the playoffs in what was a great coaching job by Pete Carroll. As long as Russell Wilson is the team’s quarterback and they can field a good run game, they should be in position to compete in the NFC.
That said, the team still does have one major hole on the offensive side of the ball. That’s at the tight end position. Will Dissly looked good to start last season, but the rookie tore his patellar tendon. That’s a tough injury to come back from at the NFL level, so it’s tough to recommend relying on him as a top option.
Meanwhile, Nick Vannett and Ed Dickson are merely solid backups. The team needs a real receiving threat and red-zone weapon like they had when Jimmy Graham was in town. Albert Okwuegbunam could fit the bill.
Noah Fant would be a solid addition to the Seahawks TE corps. In 24 games played in the past two season, he has 18 touchdowns. He has an athletic, 6-foot-5 frame and should have the ability to work the middle of the field in the NFL. And in the red-zone, he could be one of the league’s best.
Fant should be the top tight end off the board, especially since Albert Okwuegbunam went back to school. Irv Smith Jr. will be another option to consider, but for now, Fant is the cream of the crop at tight end.
Some may be surprised to see Joshua Jacobs as the first running back off the board, but it’s quite possible that could happen. The Alabama product has closed out the season well and with little tread on the tires, he could appeal to a number of NFL teams.
The Ravens would be one of them. With Lamar Jackson at quarterback, the team fielded one of the league’s best rushing attacks. This was impressive given that they were led by Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon down the stretch. Edwards is a solid lead back, but Dixon had issues with fumbling the ball. If the team wants to have a true one-two punch at running back and continue to operate with at run-heavy offense, they will need to invest an early pick in a solid lead back.
Jacobs could provide just that. Though he saw only 140 touches this year at Alabama, he totaled 14 touchdowns and looked great as a runner. He always seemed to find small creases in the lineup and was seemingly able to gain yardage on every carry. In the SEC Championship and College Football Playoff, Jacobs had a few of his best games of the season, and against Georgia, he looked particularly explosive.
For the next level, Jacobs is a great-looking power back who has nice top-end speed. It’s easy to see why he was once a well-regarded recruit. Jacobs could bring the Baltimore rushing attack to the next level in tandem with Edwards, and given that the team has few other glaring needs, Jacobs could be the sensible option here.
If C.J. Mosley leaves in free agency, the team could look to go after Mack Wilson with this pick. A receiver like A.J. Brown will also garner consideration. That said, Jacobs just seems like such a good pick for the style of offense that the Ravens are trying to run moving forward.
Once upon a time, when the Texans were a new expansion franchise in 2002, they selected a man named David Carr with their first ever pick. Carr was expected to be the team’s franchise quarterback, but that never panned out. And part of that was thanks to the team’s horrible offensive line.
In his first season with the Texans, Carr was sacked an NFL-record 76 times. Despite the team’s shoddy offensive line, they were unable to upgrade it properly during Carr’s tenure with the team. In five seasons, Carr posted a 22-53 record and was sacked a whopping 249 times — good for almost 50 a season. That had a massive negative impact on Carr’s career, and he never truly developed into the quarterback that many had hoped he would as a result.
So, why am I bringing this up? It’s because the Texans seem to be on track to making the same mistakes with Deshaun Watson. Watson was sacked a league-high 62 times. That number was tied for the fifth-most in NFL history. While the offensive line isn’t too blame for all of Watson’s sacks, it certainly has played a role in the issue.
The team’s starting tackles, Julie’n Davenport and Kendall Lamm, are both below-average at best. And on the interior line, Nick Martin is really the only above-average player. The team needs to add some talent to their blocking group, and Greg Little could provide that.
Little was a solid tackle at Ole Miss and stands at 6-foot-6, 325 pounds. He is still a bit raw and could stand to develop as a tackle, but he’s better than what the Texans have at the position right now. Little could develop into Watson’s blindside protector, so grabbing him in the late first round is a nice value for the Texans.
It’s funny that the Raiders are using their two first-round picks to attempt to replace players that they traded away. Of course, you can always view this through the lens that the Raiders are getting cost-controlled players for guys that would have otherwise had to sign massive extensions, but I digress.
The Raiders need to add some help at receiver. Trading Amari Cooper and losing Martinis Bryant has left them thin in the receiving corps. Marcell Ateman showed some upside last season, but he’s still just a former seventh-round pick that looks more like a big, jump-ball receiver. They need someone who might be capable of becoming a true No. 1 guy.
A.J. Brown just might fit the bill.
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Brown was a part of the excellent Ole Miss receiving corps, and he is a strong all-around player. He is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 1,250 yards and he has put up 17 scores over the past two seasons as well.
Despite being the focus of most SEC defensive backs this year, Brown had a solid season overall. He posted six 100-plus yard games and went on a tear after the team lost D.K. Metcalf. At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Brown has the size needed to be a solid all-around player. And his athletic ability is good as well.
Brown could easily go in the teens, so this is a great value pick by the Raiders. Brown can become Derek Carr’s No. 1 weapon, and it will be interesting to see if the duo can develop more chemistry than Cooper and Carr had together.
Two Alabama running backs in the top 25? Why not?
The Eagles have a need at the running back position. Jay Ajayi is a free agent with knee problems who is coming off an ACL tear. The team has a solid stable of rotational backs including Corey Clement, Josh Adams, Darren Sproles, and Wendell Smallwood, but they don’t really have a true backfield leader. And adding one would definitely help Carson Wentz to succeed.
Harris is an experienced runner who has played a lead role in the Alabama running back rotation for each of the past three years. He has logged at least 876 yards in those three years despite never logging more than 150 rushing attempts. Even more impressive is the fact that he had two 1,000-yard seasons as a sophomore and junior.
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Harris runs with good physicality, has solid burst, and is just a smart overall runner. WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell had an interesting comparison for Harris in his 2019 NFL Draft prospect rankings. Here’s what Campbell said.
"In speaking with scouts across the league, they really like Harris and think he has turned himself into a well-rounded player through hard work and dedication. Some sources have compared Harris to the good version Doug Martin for the NFL. They say that Harris has elite vision, good contact balance, and strength. From watching the Crimson Tide in practice as well, these same sources say that Harris is a good receiver even though Alabama doesn’t feature him in that role."
Having “the good version of Doug Martin” would definitely be an upgrade for the Eagles. Harris seems to be one of the best players available, and he’s one of the only players here that fills a need for the Eagles without being a big reach.
Montez Sweat has been a consistent pass rusher for Mississippi State in the past two seasons. He has a total of 22.5 sacks in that time coupled with 30 tackles for loss. He consistently gets into opponent’s backfield, and his 6-foot-6 frame has plenty of length and athleticism to make him a contributor in the NFL.
The Colts can afford to take the best player available with this pick. They may like to add another receiving talent to their roster, but they’ll have a chance to do that in the second round. Sweat’s upside is too good to pass on at this point, and it’s possible that Sweat could be a top-20 pick on draft day.
By adding Sweat, the Colts would continue to build their young, fast, athletic defense. They already added a couple of edge guys last year in Kemoko Turay and Tyquan Lewis, but Sweat could work in conjunction with Jabaal Sheard on the other side of the line. Plus, with Margus Hunt hitting free agency, adding depth to the defensive line certainly wouldn’t hurt the Colts.
Sweat is the best player available, and Matt Eberflus will easily figure out a way to incorporate him into the defensive rotation. The Colts will be happy to land him at this juncture.
With their third first-round pick, the Raiders are able to grab a potential difference maker for their secondary. It may not be a player that many are expecting to see in the first round, but it is certainly something that could happen.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is a player whose draft stock is starting to heat up. He played very well this season for Florida, and he was a force in their dominant bowl game win over Michigan.
Against Michigan, Gardner-Johnson was all over the field. He made five tackles, had two interceptions, and logged a defensive touchdown on one of them. He showed great athletic ability and instincts in those contests, and that’s probably one of the reasons he elected to sell high on his stock and declare for the draft.
At the NFL level, Gardner-Johnson will likely be a safety, but he could also play slot corner in sub packages. He’s the type of defender that could play all over the field, and his 6-foot, 208-pound frame will allow him to become a well-rounded player overall.
Gardner-Johnson would likely start alongside Karl Joseph in the Raiders’ defensive backfield, taking over for the veteran Reggie Nelson. He would help add youth to the team’s defense and give Jon Gruden more playmakers for that defense that sorely needs some.
For those wondering why Deionte Thompson wasn’t the selection here, I’m anticipating that he will return to Alabama. If that changes, he will likely be the pick here over Gardner-Johnson.
The Patriots have an interesting group of guys on the defensive line. That seems to be the best way to describe it. Trey Flowers is an excellent edge player and Deatrich Wise also has been good this season. That said, the talent they have around those two is a mash-up of veterans role players, and the team could stand to add some talent to that group, especially since Flowers is set to be a free agent this offseason.
Zach Allen is being underrated in this draft, in this analyst’s opinion. Allen has had a very good career at Boston College, and he has been a tackling machine despite playing on the defensive line. He is a unique player and while he may not have a lot of pass rushing moves yet, he is going to carve out a good career in the NFL.
Allen has a relentless motor and very good instincts. That’s part of the reason he was able to notch a ridiculous 100 tackles as a junior with BC in 2017. He didn’t get as close to that lofty number as a senior, but he still lived in opposing backfield, racking up 15 tackles for loss to give him 40.5 during his three years as a part of the Boston College rotation.
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Allen may look like a positional tweener to some, but in reality, he is scheme versatile. He can play the five-technique in a 3-4 defense while he would likely move around a defensive line in a 4-3 scheme. On early downs, he would serve as an edge-setting run defender while kicking inside as an interior rusher on passing downs. Early in his career, Allen may see more action on running downs, but he could develop into a superb all-around player if he continues to grow as a pass rusher.
Allen reminds me a bit of a poor man’s J.J. Watt. He doesn’t have the same athletic ability as Watt, but he has that same motor and really good strength that should make him a solid starter at the NFL level. And if Allen continues to grow and develop as a player, he could end up being a steal.
The Patriots will be happy with the value they get on Allen at this point. Don’t be surprised to see him rise during the draft process if he continues to impress.
Andy Reid loves bolstering the trenches on both sides of the ball. And with this pick, he is in perfect position to add a potential contributor.
Allen Bailey’s contract is up at the end of the season for the Chiefs, and it remains unclear whether or not he will return to the team. Bailey is a solid but unspectacular player, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the team add a big-bodied man up front anyway to start over Bailey, even if he re-signs.
Dexter Lawrence would qualify. Yet another member of Clemson’s stellar defensive line, Lawrence checks in at 6-foot-4, 340 pounds. He should be an excellent run defender in the NFL, but he also offers pass rushing ability too.
Though Lawrence had only 10 sacks during his college career (6.5 of which came as a freshman), he has the athletic ability and skill set needed to become a solid pass rusher at the next level. He will have the ability to play the nose tackle position or five-technique in the Chiefs’ defensive alignment, so that will be a positive as well.
The one question with Lawrence is that he failed a drug test that caused him to be out for the two games Clemson had in the College Football Playoff. He should be able to clear up those issues in pre-draft interviews.
Reid will love the idea of adding a massive man to help fix the team’s bottom-barrel run defense in 2019. Lawrence is the best value on the board at this point, so grabbing him now is certainly a sensible move.
The Rams have a fairly loaded roster overall, but it would be nice to see them add some depth on the offensive line or target a linebacker who can excel in coverage. Mack Wilson would provide the latter.
Wilson has had a solid season for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and he has been particularly great in coverage. In the modern NFL, it’s critical to have linebackers that know how to cover the field in man and zone concepts. Wilson can do both and do them well. Thus, targeting him would be a smart move by the Rams.
Wilson would immediately become a big-time player for the Rams. He would be on the field in coverage situations while relegating either Mark Barron or, more likely, Cory Littleton, to a role as an early-downs run defender. Wilson has the potential makings for a three-down linebacker, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go earlier than this. The only real area for improvement he has is taking better angles when tackling.
If the Rams pass on Wilson here, they could consider taking some interior offensive line help, and both Chris Lindstrom and Garrett Bradberry would be solid options. Still, Wilson is far and away the best fit, provided that he makes it to this pick.
The Chargers need a bit more strength on their defensive line. Corey Liuget has missed time this year with an injury while Brandon Mebane (a 34-year-old free agent this offseason) has also been in and out of the lineup. Luckily for the Chargers, Dre’Mont Jones is available here and should be a great option with this selection.
Jones really came into his own this year at Ohio State, despite the fact that Nick Bosa wasn’t with the team for most of the year. Jones was one of the team’s best pass rushers, and he managed to log 8.5 sacks during the season.
Jones will be able to help Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa pressure opposing quarterbacks. And I’m sure he won’t be disappointed to team up with a Bosa brother again. It’s also notable that the Chargers may lose backup defensive tackle Damion Square to free agency in addition to Mebane, so that makes this an even more important pickup as the team will need interior defensive line depth.
In the modern NFL, where interior pressure is becoming the next best thing on defense, Jones will have a chance to outperform his draft slot and give the Chargers and excellent value in back to back years.
To be abundantly clear, I don’t think that the Packers will take Kyler Murray here. That said, I do think it is well within the realm of possibility that the Packers, who acquired this pick from the Saints, could sell it to the highest bidder on draft night so a team can move up to take Murray.
Murray is going to be one of the most polarizing players in this draft class. He looks like a Russell Wilson clone on the field, but he’s even smaller than the diminutive Seahawks passer. At 5-foot-10, or possibly even 5-foot-9, Murray is going to have a tough time quelling the concerns about his height as he looks to become a true NFL quarterback.
That said, Murray still has the arm talent and playmaking ability that teams are looking for in modern quarterbacks. If Murray could add a bit of muscle, that would take away at least some concerns about his durability. It may not be enough for him to get to the upper part of the first round, but like Lamar Jackson, he could go at the end of Round 1 to a quarterback-needy team willing to trade up.
If the Packers keep this pick, they will probably target a defensive back (like Johnathan Abram) or a receiver (Marquise Brown and Parris Campbell stand out as top options). But, they are in prime position to trade and could pick up some assets if they move down.
Teams that could move up to target Murray include the Redskins, Dolphins, and maybe even the Cardinals (if they were to try and trade Josh Rosen). Still, this is highly speculative for now, and Murray going in Round 1 is no sure thing. But as we’ve seen time and time again, quarterbacks go early, even when there are concerns surrounding them.