6:03 pm | April 25, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:
The 2019 NFL draft is finally here, and the order is set. We’re tracking every pick for Rounds 1-7, and you can track all of the best available prospects in the class.
NFL Nation reporters assess every first-round pick:
1. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma | Highlights
Why they picked him: The Cardinals drafted Josh Rosen in the first round last season, so they don’t need a quarterback. But there was no way first-year coach Kliff Kingsbury was going to pass on Murray, who he has known since 2012 when he started recruiting him out of high school. The Heisman Trophy winner ran the Air Raid offense under coach Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma with success, and Murray will be running the same offense for Kingsbury in Arizona.
Biggest question: Can Murray be the same dynamic, playmaking, big-armed quarterback in the NFL he was in college? Murray’s skill level is not in question. What is in questions is whether the 5-foot-10 quarterback can run the Air Raid effectively when everyone else on the field is as or more athletic than what he faced at Oklahoma. Murray’s athleticism and ability to create plays was unmatched in college. But in the NFL, Murray’s injury risk is much greater, and the Cardinals can’t afford for the No. 1 overall pick to get hurt. — Josh Weinfuss
2. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State | Highlights
Why they picked him: The 49ers added former Kansas City defensive end Dee Ford via trade but coach Kyle Shanahan is a firm believer that edge rusher is the most important position aside from quarterback. Over the past two seasons, the Niners have lost 11 one-possession games, buoying Shanahan and general manager John Lynch’s desire to add what Shanahan calls “closers,” the type of players who can make that one big play to turn losses into wins in the fourth quarter. Bosa is widely regarded as that type of player and, given his brother Joey’s success in a similar defensive scheme with the Chargers, it’s not difficult for the Niners to envision Bosa teaming with Ford to form a tandem akin to Los Angeles’ Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.
Biggest question: Can Bosa stay healthy and productive given the rigors of the NFL? Bosa played in just two-plus games before a bilateral core injury ended his junior season and college career. That injury came less than three years after he suffered a torn ACL in November 2015. — Nick Wagoner
3. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama | Highlights
Why they picked him: Looking to minimize risk, GM Mike Maccagnan – on the hot seat – takes the safest player in the draft. “No flaws,” one AFC scout said of Williams, a disruptive force who produced a nation-leading 52 pressures among interior pass rushers. The Jets believe Williams, the 2018 Outland Trophy winner, is a potential “Gold Jacket” player. He was a full-time contributor for only one season at Alabama, so he’s not even close to reaching his ceiling – and that’s scary. This is fifth time since 2011 the Jets have taken a defensive lineman in the first round.
Biggest question: Why not Kentucky OLB Josh Allen? He would’ve filled a big hole in the Jets’ base 3-4 front, which lacks an edge-rushing linebacker. Another question: Where does Williams fit? He plays the 3- and 5-technique positions, which makes him similar to Leonard Williams and Henry Anderson. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams can play multiple fronts, but it won’t be easy to get all three on the field at the same time. Leonard Williams is entering the final year of his contract; this could hurt his negotiating leverage. — Rich Cimini
4. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson | Highlights
Why they picked him: The Raiders, who had a league-low 13 sacks last season, need a pass-rushing defensive end in the worst way. Introducing the reigning Ted Hendricks Award winner from the national champions. Ferrell goes a tad higher than expected but he does address a need with 27 career sacks, 11.5 last season.
Biggest question: Surely Ferrell could have been taken later, so why didn’t the Raiders trade down and gather some more picks? At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds with 4.8 speed in the 40, Ferrell is a specimen. But is he a Khalil Mack-type edge rusher? That’s what the Raiders are still missing. — Paul Gutierrez
5. Devin White, ILB, LSU | Highlights
Why they picked him: The Bucs needed a viable replacement at middle linebacker after losing Kwon Alexander and may have found themselves the next Patrick Willis. Like Alexander, White also served as a team captain at LSU. In fact, when the Bucs were interviewing White, they actually had Alexander’s picture on the wall. Like Alexander, White is a highly effective blitzer – perfect for Todd Bowles’ scheme. He recorded the second-best pressure percentage among FBS players with at least 100 pass rushes in 2018, according to ESPN Stats and Information. He’s also demonstrated reliability in coverage.
Biggest question: The Bucs, who up until last year hadn’t had a player reach double-digit sacks in 12 seasons, passed on the draft’s best edge rusher in Josh Allen. Many would argue that Allen, who registered 17.0 sacks last year, could provide a more immediate impact. By passing on Ed Oliver, they also lost one of the best possible replacements for Gerald McCoy. As for White, there aren’t many weak spots, other than getting sucked up at times in play-action and needing to get better at diagnosing such plays. — Jenna Laine
6. Daniel Jones, QB, Duke | Highlights
Why they picked him: The Giants needed a future franchise quarterback. Manning is 38 years old and on the final year of his current contract. One coach who watched Jones’ college tape thought he had a “fairly high ceiling” and thought he checked all the boxes, especially behind the scenes and off the field. General manager Dave Gettleman recently said that was important for a quarterback stepping into Manning’s footsteps in New York. It also doesn’t hurt that Jones was trained by respected Duke coach David Cutcliff, who also worked with Eli and Peyton Manning in college. It helped refine and prepare Jones for the NFL
Biggest question: Does Jones have franchise quarterback talent? One scout thought Jones was a “backup” with “pedestrian talent.” Jones went to Duke as a non-scholarship player and isn’t exactly blessed with a cannon arm or a dynamic skillset. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay didn’t see it with Jones, either. He had him ranked as his 59th-best player in the draft. The Giants took him significantly higher. — Jordan Raanan
7. Josh Allen, DE, Kentucky | Highlights
Why they picked him: They couldn’t pass up the value. Allen became available when Oakland surprised everyone by taking Clelin Ferrell with the fourth pick. Tampa’s selection of Devin White meant Ed Oliver and Josh Allen were going to be available and that was a dream scenario. Allen was an extremely productive at Kentucky (31.5 sacks, including an SEC-high 17 last season) and immediately makes the Jaguars’ pass rush even more dangerous as a complement to Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell.
Biggest question: Allen was a 3-4 linebacker at Kentucky and the Jaguars play a 3-4, so he’ll likely have to move to defensive end with the Jaguars. He doesn’t quite fit as the team’s “big” end (the spot that Calais Campbell plays) even though he’s 6-foot-5, 262 pounds but will be used extensively in the third-down package. — Michael DiRocco
8. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa | Highlights
Why they picked him: Hockenson is the best offensive playmaker left on the board and the clear best tight end in the draft. He’s a complete tight end and one who can handle both blocking duties and is a strong pass catcher. All along, general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia pointed to tight end as a clear need for the franchise. They signed Jesse James in free agency, but clearly they view Hockenson as more of a complete tight end. The position was useless for Detroit this year. Now, the Lions have to hope Hockenson can solve that.
Biggest question: Why not Ed Oliver? Oliver is a potential transcendent defensive talent and someone who could play all across Detroit’s defensive line. With Oliver on the board, the biggest question is why Detroit needs a tight end. There’s no question about that. And Hockenson is a very, very good talent. But if Oliver ends up being an Aaron Donald-type player and Hockenson doesn’t develop into a top 5 NFL tight end, this pick could be reminiscent of the last time the Lions took a tight end in the top 10. — Michael Rothstein
9. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston | Highlights
Why they picked him: Oliver was considered a near-lock to be a top-10 pick in the draft and fell to the Bills at No. 9 with help from the Oakland Raiders’ surprise selection of Clelin Ferrell at No. 4. He was the obvious selection for a team that lost stalwart defensive tackle Kyle Williams to retirement this offseason. He should start immediately alongside Star Lotulelei for coach Sean McDermott, who personally attended Oliver’s pro day at Houston.
Biggest question: The Bills won’t raise too many eyebrows by picking Oliver, who was the common-sense choice at the spot. One question is whether the Bills should have traded down in the first round and targeted another player slipping down the board. Also, picking Oliver also does not help the Bills’ offense, which finished 30th last season and still could use help across the board. However, general manager Brandon Beane stayed true to his philosophy of taking the best player available. — Mike Rodak
10. Pittsburgh Steelers from Denver
Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan | Highlights
Why they picked him: The Steelers made the bold decision to jump 10 spots in the first round to get one of the best overall players in the draft. Pittsburgh needed to replace Ryan Shazier once and for all with a playmaking inside linebacker that can run sideline to sideline. Bush has 4.4 speed and loves to hit at 234 pounds. Huge get for Pittsburgh. One AFC exec called him the second-best player in the draft next to Kyler Murray.
Biggest question: Can the Steelers strengthen the rest of the roster without a second-round pick in this week’s draft? The Steelers gave up this year’s second-rounder and next year’s third-rounder for Bush. That’s a reasonable haul, but the Steelers still need help at cornerback, tight end and outside linebacker, among other positions. Pittsburgh has a strong roster but isn’t without its holes. — Jeremy Fowler
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