2019 NFL Draft: Top 150 draft prospects big board, surprise in top three
By Ian Cummings
No. 46-50
50. Texas A&M TE Jace Sternberger (TE4)
With length and athleticism, Jace Sternberger makes a case for himself as a top 50 prospect. He has some refinement to undergo in his game, but he has the natural ability and length to warrant a high selection, once the top three tight ends are off the board.
49. Alabama RB Joshua Jacobs (RB1)
David Montgomery bests Joshua Jacobs with his contact balance, but Jacobs bests Montgomery in many other categories. While Jacobs doesn’t possess top-end speed, he’s able to maximize each opportunity with vision, physicality, elusiveness, and burst. He’s not necessarily the elite prospect that some have labeled him as, but he’ll have a primary role in the NFL, and he’ll thrive.
48. Florida EDGE Jachai Polite (EDGE7)
Jachai Polite was once a surefire first-round pick. Then the pre-Draft process happened, and bad interviews, bad physical testing, and weight concerns sent Polite’s stock spiraling. Now, he’s more likely to go on Day 2 than Day 1, although it’s hard to say how far he might drop. On tape, he has nearly unparalleled burst off the line, and he’s a tenacious pass rusher who’s relentless in pursuit. His lack of length and leverage hurts him at times, and limits his three-down upside, but his potential as a pass rusher is immense. It all depends on whether he’s worth the risk, in the eyes of NFL franchises.
47. Washington S Taylor Rapp (S4)
There’s a certain price teams will pay for reliability on the back end, in the new age of explosive offenses and big shot plays. Taylor Rapp doesn’t have the athletic traits or the playmaking ability, but he’s a very sound player who wins with strength, awareness, and attention to detail. As a strong safety, his skill set may best be utilized, but Rapp is an all-around solid player who will have a role as an NFL Draft prospect.
46. Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown (WR8)
There’s a reason they call him Hollywood. Marquise Brown has a habit of putting on a show. In the modern NFL, offenses aim to please every week, and Brown can help his next team accomplish that star-studded feat. He’s substantially undersized as an NFL Draft prospect, weighing in at 166 pounds at the NFL Combine. That said, Brown possesses game-breaking speed, and the quickness at the stem to generate separation and find open field on any given play. He’s a big play threat like few others, and in today’s league, big plays are very coveted things.