2019 NFL Draft: Top 150 draft prospects big board, surprise in top three
By Ian Cummings
No. 11-15
15. Ole Miss WR D.K. Metcalf (WR1)
A 6-foot-4, 230-pound receiver shouldn’t be able to move like D.K. Metcalf does. But, spoiler alert: D.K. Metcalf is 6-foot-4, 230. And he moves like D.K. Metcalf: With relentless explosion off the line, 4.33 long speed, and a 40.5-inch vertical, to take the top off of defenses, both laterally and vertically. With violent, methodical hands, Metcalf shakes off press coverage better than most NFL receivers, and while his agility at the combine was a source of controversy, he has the foot speed to improve his route running in time. It’s not that he can’t break off of route stems with quickness; he just wasn’t asked to run a complete tree at Ole Miss. Metcalf has otherworldly physical ability and length, and at the next level, he provides exciting upside and versatility.
14. Florida OT Jawaan Taylor (OT3)
One of the longest linemen in the 2019 NFL Draft, Florida’s Jawaan Taylor brings an impressive skill set to the NFL level. He may not be as light on his feet as some linemen in the 2019 NFL Draft, but he offers good mobility to go with his dominant wingspan. Taylor has the length and the strong hands to hold a solid anchor in pass protection, while also possessing enough athletic ability to mirror his man. Taylor struggled at left tackle and thrived on the right side at Florida, so he may not be as positionally versatile as some would prefer. But he has the traits to start and flourish right away, if used correctly.
13. LSU LB Devin White (ILB2)
Devin White is fairly new to the inside linebacker position, and it shows up on tape. As an athlete, White is one of the best in the class, and he shows off that athleticism with burst, change-of-direction skills, and the speed to cover the length of the field. He’s a bit bigger than his counterpart at the top, but White is still lacking somewhat in the diagnostic aspects of the game. Play action fakes can be a problem for him, but as long as he continues to follow his upward trend, and solidify his mental game, he can be the best linebacker from this class.
12. Michigan LB Devin Bush (LB1)
A bit undersized as a linebacker, Devin Bush makes up for his lack of length with his sheer speed on the second level. Bush can cover ground faster than almost all linebackers in the 2019 NFL Draft, and with his speed, he’s hard to shake in pursuit. Bush also presents an advanced understanding of the position itself, and his high football I.Q. showed up consistently on tape, as he emerged as the vocal leader of Michigan’s defense. Bush will be a plug-and-play starter who could earn accolades with his play in time.
11. North Carolina State iOL Garrett Bradbury (iOL1)
Athleticism isn’t the end-all for offensive line prospects, but there’s a certain threshold among testing criteria that many linemen must pass in order to start, unless they have overwhelming technical ability. Garrett Bradbury easily passes the athletic testing portion of the evaluation, possessing very impressive burst and balance in the trenches. Bradbury’s relative athletic score is in the top thirty all-time among offensive guards, and he has the blocking I.Q. and mauler mentality to compound his traits and start early. Bradbury can do more, in terms of converting his strength to on-field power, but his athletic upside is almost unprecedented.