The 2019 NFL Draft starts April 25 in Nashville at 8 PM and runs through April 27th. Let’s take a look at the position groups and rankings. The first part of this series will be for offensive prospects.
QB
Top TIER
Kyler Murray (Top 5): The Raji special from Oklahoma at 5’10 207 won the Heisman this past season. He was an absolute playmaker and could go number 1 overall to the Cardinals with new coach Kliff Kingsbury (former Texas Tech coach).
Dwayne Haskins (Top 10 maybe): 6’3 231 pounder threw 50 TDs for Ohio State. He is a big bodied QB with a good arm.
Drew Lock (surprise top 10 or 1st round): Big armed QB with some accuracy issues but has good pocket presence
Daniel Jones (late 1st or 2nd rounder): Duke QB. 6’5 and 221 pounds. Productive three year starter in ACC with a quick release, good accuracy and pocket presence. He could sneak into late Round 1.
Second TIER
Ryan Finley (NC State), Will Grier (WVU) and Tyree Jackson (Buffalo) and Jarret Stidham (Auburn) could be day 2 picks in this QB class.
Third TIER
Clayton Thorson (Northwestern), Brett Rypien (Boise State), Gardner Minshew (Washington State), Trace McSorley (Penn State), Nick Fitzgerald (Miss State), Easton Stick (North Dakota State) should be day 3 developmental picks.
Running Backs
Pretty weak class for backs this year but there are some solid day 2 options.
Josh Jacobs (late Round 1 or Round 2): Compact power runner with some speed but not great speed. Productive for Alabama his junior year. Jacobs stands 5’10 and weighs 220 lbs and could be the only Round 1 running back.
Day 2:
Damien Harris Day 2: Another solid power back from Alabama with some speed but not great speed. Good in pass protection. May be better than Jacobs and was more productive than him this season. 5’10 219 lbs is good size for this back.
David Montgomery Day 2: Another 5’10 220 pound back. Good jump cut and balance and a decent receiver. Two very productive years for Iowa State.
Miles Sanders Day 2: Finally got a chance to shine with Barkley gone to the pros at Penn State this past season. One cut runner with some strength and is a good receiver. Has return abilities for special teams play.
Devin Singletary Day 2 or 3: Only 5’7 but 203 pounds from Florida Atlantic. Good play speed but not timed speed. Very agile player that does well in open space.
Darrell Henderson Day 2 or 3: 5’8 208 pounds in the mold of Singletary. Home run hitter in the open field. 1,909 yards and 22 TDs this past season. Super productive for Memphis.
Day 3:
Elijah Holyfield Day 3: The C Jammin special. 5’10 and 217 pounds. Effective between the tackles but timed very poorly.
Justice Hill (Oklahoma State), Rodney Anderson (Oklahoma), Bryce Love (Notre Dame), Benny Snell (Kentucky, Mike Weber (Ohio State), Trayveon Williams (Texas A&M) round out the potential day 3 backs.
Wide Receiver
Pretty weak class at WR but there are some good day 2 options.
Round 1:
DK Metcalf Round 1: 6’3 and 228 pounds from Ole Miss with a blazing 40 time at the combine. He needs to work on his route running but has the size and speed to be a playmaker in the league. Al Davis would be all over this guy.
Marquise Brown later Round 1: 5’9 and 166 pounds. Think DeSean Jackson. He had a lisfranc injury that didn’t allow him to participate in draft prep but he is an electric player from Oklahoma.
Day 2
AJ Brown: Another Ole Miss WR but smaller at 6’0 226 pounds. Played slot at Ole Miss.
N’Keal Harry: 6’2 228 pound big WR from Arizona State. Good jump ball guy and hard to tackle.
Deebo Samuel: Not the guy from the Friday movies. Slot WR from South Carolina.
Terry McClaurin: Do it all Ohio State WR with some speed and special team gunner ability.
Hakeem Butler: 6’5 227 pound big productive WR from Iowa State. Another jump ball guy but gets good separation too. Has drop issues.
Paris Campbell: Campbell can line up anywhere and even be used in the backfield. Had a big year for Ohio State this past season. Probably a slot guy in the NFL.
Day 3
There are plenty of day 3 WRs with JJ Arcega-Whiteside (Stanford), Riley Ridley (Calvin’s brother from the Falcons), Emanuel Hall (Missouri), Andy Isabella (UMASS, very productive slot guy), Mecole Hardman (Georgia), Miles Boykins (Notre Dame) round out the class.
Tight End
Deep tight end class this year.
Round 1:
TJ Hockensen: Supposed to be a poor man’s Gronkowski. Possible top 10 pick. This guy has Lions written all over it. Just kidding but maybe not.
Noah Fant: Another Iowa tight end with first round potential. He can’t block well but is very athletic in the slot and down the seam. What’s in the water in Iowa. Corn is the answer.
Day 2:
Irv Smith: Good receiver/blocker combo but had a poor draft prep and combine. Productive for Alabama. Smith could sneak into Round 1.
Jace Sternberger: Good receiver for Texas A&M but not a blocker at all.
Dawson Knox. Another Ole Miss guy. I guess they had a good offense with all these weapons.
Day 3
Foster Moreau: YAC and separation for this guy but limited blocking.
Josh Oliver: San Jose State guy. First time I’ve seen that. They won 2 games in like two years but he might be good.
Kahale Warring: Underrated tight end that can block and run good routes. Poor mans Kyle Rudolph.
Offensive Line
Round 1
Jawaan Taylor: Mauling right tackle from Florida that could be a stud guard in the right scheme
Jonah Williams: Long time left tackle for Alabama. He has short arms so may have to kick in to guard but is more of a dancing bear than a mauler. MIB is a dancing bear too.
Andre Dillard: Like most Washington State and Mike Leach guys, good at pass pro but needs work in the run game
Cody Ford: Productive tackle for Oklahoma that will have to kick in to guard.
Garrett Bradbury: Super stud center from NC State that should be a day 1 starter. The Shooter special
Day 2
Dalton Risner: Small size and probably a right tackle but athletic
Erik McCoy: Athletic guard prospect from Texas A&M
Greg Little: Left tackle prospect from Ole Miss that dropped into day 2
Elgton Jenkins: Powerful center from Mississippi State
Yodney Cajuste: Boom or bust tackle from West Virginia. Great name
David Edwards: Wisconsin tackle, enough said
Michale Deiter: Wisconsin guard, enough said
Connor McGovern: Guard/center from Penn State that could start for teams.
Tytus Howard: Small school tackle project from Alabama State
Michael Jordan: No not that Michael Jordan. Good guard/center from Ohio State but probably can’t dunk from the foul line.
Day 3:
Bobby Evans (breakfast place guard), Beau Benzschawel (more Wisconsin), Nate Davis, Ben Powers (possible super hero) are some day 3 options. Strong day 2 but weaker day 3 in this class.
This is more of a defensive heavy draft but there are some future contributors and starters on offense in this draft. The Vikings, Lions and Packers could nab an offensive line man, especially the Vikings and Lions at guard. Packers are probably in the Packer business with Spriggs and Bulaga as free agents next year. The Packers and Lions could draft a tight end in Round 1 or day 2. Nobody should take a QB until day 3 but stranger things have happened. Day 2 running backs are options for the Bears and Vikings but less likely for the Lions and Packers. Bears (Round 3), Vikings, Packers and Lions could use WR help from day 2. Bears don’t have a first or second round pick folks. But Mack is a super stud. Enjoy the draft.