Well, that was interesting! Is probably the best way to describe the 2019 NFL draft, which once you got past the first 3 picks had its fair share of surprises. What we can take away from this is that the New York Giants are officially in rebuild mode, Josh Rosen is heading for pastures new, and DeShaun Watson looks like being among the most sacked quarterbacks again this year. Anyway, without further ado here are the 1st round picks.
1 Arizona Cardinals Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
No surprise here, given that Kliff Kingsbury was obviously in love with Murray. Is he better than Rosen? Only time will tell. Our grade Grade: C-
Kyler Murray The second consecutive Oklahoma QB to go No 1 Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
2 San Francisco Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
The best pass rusher in this class and about as safe as you can get in this draft. Given they had signed Dee Ford we thought they may have gone with Quinnen Williams but apart from possible durability issues, there is nothing not to like about this pick. Grade: A+
3 New York Jets Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
Kliff Kingsbury should be top of the Jets Christmas card list as he really should have gone one or two. Williams will really stiffen the D line and had a look at future Pro Bowler about him Grade: A+
4 Oakland Raiders Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
Okaay the Raiders needed to replace Khalil Mack but this looks a little high for Ferrell (we had him going 14 to Atlanta) and Josh Allen was still on the board. We had Ed Oliver pegged for this position and think they may come to regret not taking him. Grade: D+ (based on the position drafted)
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Devin White, LB, LSU
A solid pick, but again slightly higher than we would have pegged it, given how the board was forming. We had Josh Allen going to them here and think that given how things have panned out they should have taken Ed Oliver. Grade: B-
6 New York Giants Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
We have been quietly defending David Gettleman’s decision-making up until now but can’t understand this pick? Jones is the decent quarterback but taking him number 6? Surely, they could have traded back a few spots and still got him especially with Josh Allen still on the board. Not a great day at the office. Grade: E (based on position drafted)
7 Jacksonville Jaguars Josh Allen, Edge, Kentucky
The Jaguars probably couldn’t believe their luck when Allen fell to them at number 7. The Jags defence is going to be awesome again this year, shame the offence probably isn’t going to match it. Grade: A++
8 Detroit Lions T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
Excellent player, but not really the biggest need on the Lions team. We had them going edge rusher but expected Hockenson to go top 10. At least Matthew Stafford will be happy. Grade: B
9 Buffalo Bills Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
Buffalo probably didn’t desperately need a defensive tackle but when a player of Ed Oliver’s calibre drops to you, you can’t say no. Grade: A+++
10 Pittsburgh Steelers Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
The Steelers needed to replace Ryan Shazier who suffered a tragic injury and decided to trade up to do so. Bush is a very good Linebacker but were not sure they needed to trade up this far to get him. Denver will be chuffed though getting picks 20 and 52 this year and a 2020 third round pick). Grade: B-
11 Cincinnati Bengals Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama
Nice pick for the Bengals, who need to sort out their right tackle position. We had him pegged going higher and it’s hard to find fault with this. Grade: A
12 Green Bay Packer’s Rashan Gary, EDGE, Michigan
With Hockenson gone it properly came down to Gary or Noah Fant. Of the 2 Gary is higher risk but higher reward and providing that shoulder injury doesn’t come back to haunt them this could be a very good pick. Grade: B- (based on injury risk)
13 Miami Dolphins Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
The Dolphins are not going to win many games in 2019 so instead of reaching for a QB they instead have grabbed a long term defensive piece. Solid move but with Haskins still on the board they might have been better taking him and sitting him for the season. Grade: C+
14 Atlanta Falcons Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College
They need help on both lines and with Brian Burns still available this was a slight surprise. Still a solid pick and Lindstrom will be a welcome addition as far as Matt Ryan is concerned. Grade: B
15 Washington Redskins Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
Another case of a player falling further than expected and being too good to pass up. The Skins can sit him for a season if they want and add more pieces next season. Grade: A-
16 Carolina Panthers Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State
We had Burns going here and he can step straight into the Julius Peppers role (big shoes to fill though). Plenty of speed and has bulked up a bit too. Great pick who should make an immediate impact Grade: A
17 New York Giants Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
The Giants have now accepted they are in rebuild and Lawrence should be a long-term starter on the line. Safe if not overly glamorous pick. Grade: B
18 Minnesota Vikings Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State
Bradbury had been moving up the draft boards and looks a solid pick for the Vikings. Their offensive line was not good last year and starting right in the middle is as good a place as any. Grade: B
19 Tennessee Titans Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
Great player, but not sure that this was the pick for the Titans at this spot. Mariota needs a supporting cast around him and the quality wide receiver or Noah Fant would have made more sense to us. Grade: C+
20 Denver Broncos Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
Denver will be very happy having grabbed Noah Fant after trading back in the draft. Some may have preferred a quarterback, but Flacco is only 34 and with better receivers around him can still do the job. Grade: A-
21 Green Bay Packers Darnell Savage, S, Maryland
Somewhat lost for words with this pick. Yes, Safety is an area of need kind but having added Amos we are not sure it was a first-round, never mind trading up to get one. We are at a loss to decipher why they moved up given that he would most likely have still been available at pick 30. Grade: D+
22 Philadelphia Eagles Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
Another trade up, only this time we can see the logic. The Eagles needed help on the offensive line and Dillard would probably have gone to Houston with the next pick. Grade: B+
23 Houston Texans Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
Another head scratching decision given that there was some serious talent still on the board was still on the board. Almost looks like snap decision given that they missed out on Dillard thanks to the Philadelphia trade. Deshaun Watson took a beating last year so hopefully Howard is as good as a Texans think. Grade: D
24 Oakland Raiders Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
We had just Jacobs pegged for the Raiders but at pick 27 instead of 24. Great player who fills a need, what’s not to like. Grade: A
25 Baltimore Ravens Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
Nice work by the Ravens trading down and still getting what they needed. We had Paris Campbell pegged for them, however, Brown may be smaller but he’s quick. If it turns out to be as good as his cousin Antonio Brown this could be the pick of the round Grade: A (thanks to the extra value gained)
26 Washington Redskins Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State
Health issues caused Sweat to fall considerably (we had him pegged as a top 10 choice) and many teams that took him off the board due to the heart concerns. The Skins gave up quite a bit to trade back into the 1st round but we think it was worth it. Grade: B+
27 Oakland Raiders Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
Secondary help was a priority although we thought they would have probably gone for a Corner at this stage. There are a lot of decent if not outstanding safeties in this draft and we think that this was a bit of a reach. Grade: C-
28 Los Angeles Charges Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
We had Tillery going to the Chargers in our final mock. Solid pick which will add depth to an already formidable defence. Grade: A+
29 Seattle Seahawks L.J. Collier, EDGE, TCU
The Seahawks need to replace Frank Clark and got some additional value by trading back, however, we feel this is a bit of a reach and there were better options available (although probably not at edge). Grade: C+
30 New York Giants Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
The Giants are in full rebuild and despite having picked up extra draft picks in free agency we were a little surprised that they traded back into the 1st round given that they held pick 37 which could have been enough to get Baker. We’re not sure that giving up a 2nd 4th and 5th represents good value. Grade: C+
31 Atlanta Falcons Kaleb McGary, OL, Washington
The Falcons didn’t have a long-term answer at right tackle and did need to strengthen the offensive line, however giving up a 2nd and 3rd round pick to move back into the 1st round for McGary looks like a reach. With Yodny Cajuste, Cody Ford, Dalton Risner, and Jawaan Taylor (who slid due to a knee injury) still on the board as a fairly good chance that they could have saved that third-round pick. Grade: C-
32 New England Patriots N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
We expected the Patriots to go Wide Receiver but thought Harry would be off the board by now. Tom Brady should be pleased with this pick. Grade: B+
So congrats to the likes of Jacksonville & Buffalo for grabbing bargains and to Baltimore for leveraging a little extra draft capital out of their pick while still getting their man. Good luck to Deshaun Watson and as for the Giants well we are sure you have a plan.
