The 2019 NFL Draft is coming around the corner – Thursday, April 25 until Saturday, April 27, 2019. It will be held in Nashville, home of the Tennessee Titans. Who will these teams add to their roster? Could there be a surprise trade or two? Is there any intrigue with the top pick or are the Cardinals locked in? Is Oakland content to stick and pick?
First Round
1. Arizona Cardinals – Kyler Murray QB Oklahoma
– Much has been made of this selection. Murray is probably the most likely pick for Arizona.
2. San Francisco 49ers – Nick Bosa EDGE Ohio State
— Another edge prospect and a talented one as Bosa is can’t hurt to have.
3. New York Jets – Quinnen Williams DL Alabama
– Williams broke out last season. He was a monster and should fit well in the Jets’ scheme.
4. Oakland Raiders – Josh Allen EDGE Kentucky
— As you may have heard, the Raiders are in the market for a pass rusher. Allen is the best one of the bunch not named Bosa.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Devin White LB LSU
– White fits as a much-needed upgrade to the collection of linebackers that the Bucs have. He’s a hugely talented prospect.
6. New York Giants – Dwayne Haskins QB Ohio State
– The Giants get their next QB in Haskins despite all the rumors having them going in the opposite direction.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jawaan Taylor OT Florida
– A franchise left tackle or a decent right tackle option for a team sorely lacking in options at those positions besides Cam Robinson.
8. Detroit Lions – Rashan Gary EDGE Michigan
– Gary is all about potential as he didn’t produce to the caliber of his recruitment. He fits the Lions as an Ansah replacement.
9. Buffalo Bills – Andre Dillard OT Washington State
– The Bills need to upgrade their offensive line to protect potential franchise QB Josh Allen. Dillard fits that bill to a T.
10. Denver Broncos – Drew Lock QB Missouri
– John Elway takes another swing at landing a quarterback for the future even with Joe Flacco on the roster as a placeholder. The Broncos were reportedly all in lock during the offseason.
11. Cincinnati Bengals – Cody Ford OL Oklahoma
– The Bengals need to add some offensive linemen as they don’t have much depth at any position there. Ford is the best of the guard prospects.
12. Green Bay Packers – Jonah Williams OT Alabama
– The Packers have some OL issues to deal with. Bryan Bulaga is effective when healthy but he’s often injured. Williams is one of the best tackles in the class and should push for immediate playing time at left tackle.
13. Miami Dolphins – Ed Oliver DT Houston
– Miami lost some key pieces off their front seven and need to rebuild the line in particular. Oliver is likely a top 10 selection based off his Combine and Pro Day. Jesus been getting a ton of hype since high school and he has delivered. An athletic freak that was asked to do linebacker drills at the Combine.
14. Atlanta Falcons – Brian Burns EDGE Florida State
– The Falcons need to rethink their pass rush plans due to Vic Beasley not being what he once was and Takk McKinley having some issues on and off the field. Burns is that guy to fill in. He has elite bend and burst off the edge.
15. Washington Redskins – Daniel Jones QB Duke
– Despite trading for Case Keenum, the QB situation is still untenable in Washington. Jones isn’t a good prospect but in a down year, he’s a first round pick.
16. Carolina Panthers – Christian Wilkins DL Clemson
– The Panthers have some defensive issues to sort out. Wilkins can play both end and tackle.
17. NY Giants – DK Metcalf WR Ole Miss
– I don’t know if you’ve heard but a certain blond haired receiver is no longer in New York. Plus the remaining receivers are largely uninspiring. Metcalf is the WR1 and a guy young Dwayne Haskins can grow up with.
18. Minnesota Vikings – Garrett Bradbury OL NC State
– Bradbury has really rocketed up the charts during this offseason and the Vikings have a need on the line.
19. Tennessee Titans – Montez Sweat EDGE Mississippi State
– The 2019 draft hosts select one of the premier pass rushers in the class. Sweat will pair up with Harold Landry to form a dynamic duo off the edge to go with veteran Cameron Wake.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Devin Bush ILB Michigan
– The Terrible Towels take a Michigan Man to fill in for the tragically injured Ryan Shazier. The Steelers continue the legacy of legendary linebacker play with this pick.
21. Seattle Seahawks – T.J. Hockenson TE Iowa
– Now that the speculation over Russell Wilson’s future has been put to bed, it’s time to upgrade his weapons. Hockenson is the TE1 in the class.
22. Baltimore Ravens – Hakeem Butler WR Iowa State
– Lamar Jackson needs a receiver to grow with. Butler is a great red zone weapon.
23. Houston Texans – Chris Lindstrom OL Boston College
– The Texans rebuild their shaky offensive line to better protect Deshaun Watson. Lindstrom has had an outstanding offseason.
24. Oakland Raiders – Irv Smith, Jr TE Alabama
– The Raiders have a ton of holes. TE is one of them. Smith has been getting a lot of love as of late.
25. Philadelphia Eagles – Josh Jacobs RB Alabama
– The Eagles have a hole in their running back room with Jay Ajayi being hurt. In steps Josh Jacobs. He’s been touted by some as the top RB in the class.
26. Indianapolis Colts – Greedy Williams CB LSU
– The Colts further add to a growing secondary. Williams once had top ten buzz but that has gone down a bit.
27. Oakland Raiders – Byron Murphy CB Washington
– The Raiders fill yet another hole by adding to their CB group. Murphy is very athletic and had an outstanding career in Seattle.
28. LA Chargers – Jerry Tillery DL Notre Dame
– Tillery goes to the Chargers due to a need there on the line. He’s a first round type of talent, depending on who you ask.
29. Kansas City Chiefs – Mack Wilson LB Alabama
– Have you seen the Chiefs defense? Exactly. More assets need to be devoted to fixing it.
30. Green Bay Packers – Dalton Risner OL Kansas State
– More OL help for Aaron Rodgers. Risner can play all three positions on the line so that helps.
31. Los Angeles Rams – Deandre Baker CB Georgia
– Baker gets the nod in LA for a retooling Rams defense.
32. New England Patriots – Parris Campbell WR Ohio State
– The Patriots aren’t done adding to their much-maligned receiving corps even after the DeMaryious Thomas signing. Campbell is really fast and should fit in well with the champions.
Second Round
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33. Arizona Cardinals – N’Keal Harry WR Arizona State
– After taking their new franchise QB, it’s time to upgrade the receiving corps with a local product in Harry. Future Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald is back for another go but 2019 could be his last season so an heir apparent needs to be found before too long. Harry fits the mold perfectly.
34. Indianapolis Colts – Chauncey Gardner-Johnson S Florida
– The Colts upgrade the safety room even further with one of the best safeties in the class in CGJ. Yes, the safety group is seemingly set with Clayton Geathers and recent first-round pick Malik Hooker but more depth couldn’t hurt in today’s passing driven league.
35. Oakland Raiders – Devin Singletary RB Florida Atlantic
– Singletary is one of the best running backs in this class and the Raiders need a running back even after signing Isaiah Crowell.
36. San Francisco 49ers – Julian Love CB Notre Dame
– The 49ers could use an upgrade or two in the secondary and a future replacement for Richard Sherman. Love is the best available cornerback at this juncture.
37. NY Giants – Michael Dieter OL Wisconsin
– The Giants need more help on the offensive line even after some expensive free agent additions, particularly at tackle where its depth is thinnest. The right tackle spot is a complete unknown. Enter Michael Dieter, who can play guard and tackle. He can slide over to left tackle once the team figures out what to do with Nate Solder, who has been less than inspiring for Big Blue.
38. Jacksonville Jaguars – Clelin Ferrell EDGE Clemson
– Jacksonville needs young, controllable assets due to their immense cap bill that has come home to roost. The Jaguars had to let go of several key defensive players during the offseason. Ferrell shouldn’t be available here but somehow slips to the second round.
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Justin Layne CB Michigan State
– The next time Vernon Hargreaves puts together a consistent season will be his first. He has been a bust so far in his pro career. Layne has been a draft darling for many teams due to his size and length. The Bucs upgrade a tremendously bad defense from last season.
40. Buffalo Bills – Dre’Mont Jones DL Ohio State
– After fortifying their offensive line in the first round, the Bills turn to the defensive side and select Jones to stabilize the interior. He would immediately slot inside next to Star Lotuleilei. Jones is really underrated due to the depth of the defensive line class.
41. Denver Broncos – AJ Brown WR Ole Miss
– The Broncos don’t have much in the receiver room behind longtime veteran Emmanuel Sanders and young guns Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton. Brown would fit in nicely with presumptive first-round pick Drew Lock.
42. Cincinnati Bengals – Noah Fant TE Iowa
– Yes, the Bengals have Tyler Eifert on the roster but he can’t be relied upon due to his unfortunate luck with health. Fant would do well in Cincy as the eventual TE1. He’s one of the best tight ends in the class.
43. Detroit Lions – Amani Oruwariye CB Penn State
– The Lions need a running mate for one of the best corners in football, Darius Slay. AO fits the bill as a CB2 and definitely upgrades the depth chart there. He’s been rising steadily up the boards during the offseason process.
44. Green Bay Packers – Darnell Savage S Maryland
– Savage is one of the best safeties in the class and would immediately help the Packers beleaguered safety room. He really stood out at the Senior Bowl. He would at least compete with Josh Jones to play alongside high priced free agent signing Adrian Amos, who came over from the rival Bears.
45. Atlanta Falcons – Jeffery Simmons DL Mississippi State
– The Falcons have a looming contract battle with Grady Jarrett since he was franchise tagged. In the event that Jarrett can’t be resigned to a long term deal, Simmons would step in after a redshirt season to learn and heal from his torn ACL suffered during offseason. Either way, Simmons would make the defensive line more impactful across the board instead of having to rely on one man.
46. Washington Redskins – Connor McGovern OL Penn State
– Washington has most of its offensive line set but for the left guard position in which the abjectly abominable Ereck Flowers was signed to a one year deal. McGovern is a steady riser who can play both center and guard. He can compete with Flowers for the guard spot.
47. Carolina Panthers – Amani Hooker S Iowa
– Carolina signed a deal with Eric Reid but the spot beside him is a position in flux. Hooker would help solidify things on the backend.
48. Miami Dolphins – Chase Winovich EDGE Michigan
– The Phins need an impact edge rusher after seeing longtime stalwart Cameron Wake slowly fade and eventually leave for the Tennessee Titans. Winovich is that guy to jumpstart the pass rush for new head coach Brian Flores.
49. Cleveland Browns – Vosean Joseph LB Florida
– The offseason’s hottest team needs some help in the linebacker corps badly as more talent infusion is needed. Joseph is the man for the job after a stellar Florida career. He can play both inside and outside.
50. Minnesota Vikings – Dexter Lawrence DL Clemson
– An already fearsome front four gets another piece to scare opposing offenses with Lawrence in the fold. He can help take the load off of star tackle Linval Joseph.
51. Tennessee Titans – Deebo Samuel WR South Carolina
– Have you seen the Titans depth chart at receiver? Not exactly the most ideal bunch. Deebo would immensely help take the load off budding star Corey Davis and newly acquired slot receiver Adam Humphries.
52. Pittsburgh Steelers – J.J. Arcega-Whiteside WR Stanford
– You may have heard of this but the Steelers have a problem with depth in the receiver room. Breakout social media star and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster needs a partner in crime to help take defensive attention away from him. JJAW would be a good number two option to have as baby Mike Evans.
53. Philadelphia Eagles – Nasir Adderley S Delaware
– The Eagles secondary is a mess beyond old reliable veteran warhorse Malcolm Jenkins, to put it mildly. Avante Maddox had some moments here and there but the other guys weren’t as good as expected or injured. Adderely has been climbing the boards steadily as the offseason has progressed.
54. Houston Texans – L.J. Collier EDGE TCU
– Franchise tagged Jadaveon Clowney is a contract issue and JJ Watt has had back issues in the past and those are tricky to deal with. More depth on the edge with this pick and a local pick to boot.
55. Houston Texans – Yodny Cajuste OT West Virginia
– The very same franchise that ruined David Carr’s career is on the verge of doing the same to Deshaun Watson if they don’t get him more protection. Cajuste will help in that regard.
56. New England Patriots – Jachai Polite EDGE Florida
– Polite on film: good. Polite calling out teams at the Combine aka the biggest job interview he’s had: not so good. The reigning champions stop his slide here at 56. They seem to love SEC pass rushers and with Trey Flowers moving on to Detroit, they have an opening for a pass rusher.
57. Philadelphia Eagles – David Edwards OT Michigan
– The Eagles need a succession plan in place for possible future Hall of Fame tackle Jason Peters. Lane Johnson may be that plan so Edwards can slide in at right tackle. Or that Edwards could be the heir to Peters’ throne.
58. Dallas Cowboys – Jace Sternberger TE Texas A&M
– Things in the Cowboys’ tight end got so bad that inconsistently consistent broadcaster Jason Witten was brought back into the fold. He’s merely a “veteran presence” now in his career. Sternberger can sit and learn behind one of the game’s all-time best.
59. Indianapolis Colts – Kelvin Harmon WR NC State
– The Colts need a receiver to complement TY Hilton and the Devin Funchess signing wasn’t it. Harmon would at the least challenge Funchess for WR2 honors off the bat.
60. LA Chargers – Marquise Brown WR Oklahoma
– Hollywood goes to Hollywood. Another weapon for the Energizer bunny NFL QB Phillip Rivers to throw to. Brown would help the vertical attack with his deep speed. He’s coming off a foot injury so that drops him into the second round even if he’s a first round talent (spoiler: he is).
61. Kansas City Chiefs – David Long CB Michigan
– The Chiefs need some help at cornerback. Enter David Long (the corner version, there’s a linebacker with the same name in the class). Long would help the depth and add to a solid secondary of Honey Badger, Kendall Fuller, and Bashaud Breeland.
62. New Orleans Saints – Terry McLaurin WR Ohio State
– New Orleans needs to add some help for stud receiver Michael Thomas. Tedd Ginn is aging, Tre’Quan Smith is not there yet, and Cameron Meredith is a guy. Terry Mac is a burner, clocking a 4.3 40 at the Combine on top of his excellent Senior Bowl performance.
63. KC Chiefs – Wyatt Ray EDGE Boston College
– The Chiefs continue to upgrade their defense by adding an edge rusher to bolster what they lost in free agency and trade. Ray didn’t get as much hype as his teammate Zach Allen but he projects as a better pro.
64. NE Patriots – Juan Thornhill S Virginia
– The world champions have a good secondary but safeties Jason McCourty and Patrick Chung are aging a bit and more depth is needed. Thornhill is extremely athletic for his position and has corner experience.