The 2019 NFL Draft has plenty of exciting players, especially on the defensive side of the ball. We may see a major changing of the guard along the defensive front when this class finally gets to hit the field.
1. Nick Bosa EDGE
The brother of Pro Bowler Joey Bosa, Nick was the most followed and talked about defender during the 2018 college season, even if he only played in three games.
2. Quinnen Williams DT
Williams is right there with Bosa, competing to be the best player in this draft. I think he’ll be capable of doing more from the DT position than Bosa will be able to from the edge.
3. Josh Allen EDGE
Allen has been quiet, producing little buzz in the last few weeks while other prospects have been rising and falling. He’ll be a top-five selection in the draft.
4. Ed Oliver DT
There are plenty of questions Oliver will have to answer, but in terms of raw talent, he’s one of the best players in this draft.
5. Montez Sweat EDGE
His combine performance was something special. Sweat drew the eyes of all scouts with a record fast 40-time and now people are wondering how his athleticism will translate to the next level.
6. Christian Wilkins DT
Wilkins doesn’t put up big sack numbers, but he makes plenty of plays in the backfield and against the run. He’s also a great personality and leader.
7. Rashan Gary EDGE
It’s hard to place Gary. He could go as high as five or as low as 12. He’s got a lot of upside but there are other players that seem to present more guaranteed success.
8. Devin White LB
White was the definition of a do-it-all linebacker at LSU. In 2018 he won the Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s most outstanding linebacker and was a Consensus All-American.
9. Kyler Murray QB
The 2018 Heisman award winner is the best speedy dual-threat quarterback to enter the draft since Robert Griffin III. He has more arm talent than Lamar Jackson and should be able to start from day one.
10. Noah Fant TE
Fant’s college numbers don’t stand out as much as his Iowa teammate, Hockenson’s, do. Still, Fant had the better combine showing and will have a chance to jump Hockenson for the top tight end position.
11. Jawaan Taylor OT
Florida has produced a number of offensive linemen throughout the years and Taylor looks like he’s next in line.
12. T.J. Hockenson TE
He finished with 760 receiving yards in 2018, which was the most on his team. Fant and Hockenson are 1A and 1B at this point as to which tight end gets drafted first.
13. Andre Dillard OT
Dillard is talented enough to challenge Taylor for the top tackle spot in this year’s draft.
14. Jonah Williams OL
The 2018 Consensus All-American has seen his hype trail off over the past few months and could end up going more towards the middle of the first round, despite being one of the best interior offensive linemen in the draft.
15. Marquise Brown WR
He’s my top receiver in the draft. Brown had back to back 1,000-yard seasons with the Sooners and set college career highs in 2018 with 75 receptions, 1,318 yards, and ten touchdowns.
16. Clelin Ferrell EDGE
Ferrell got progressively better every year in college and will now look to pursue a Super Bowl title after winning a National Championship with Clemson in last season.
17. Devin Bush LB
There have been questions about Bush’s height, but he’s eased the minds of scouts over the past year. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a Consensus All-American in 2018 and followed it all up with a tremendous showing at the combine.
18. Dwayne Haskins QB
While he has no straight-line speed, Haskins put up great numbers in his final college season and was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
19. Josh Jacobs RB
He’s the only running back worth a first round pick this year and there’s no guarantee he’ll go that early.
20. D.K. Metcalf WR
While Metcalf absolutely destroyed the combine, we need to check the hype train a little bit. He never had more than 650 receiving yards in a season in college, but he’s physically drawn comparisons to Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones.
21. Garrett Bradbury OL
North Carolina State isn’t exactly a pro producing powerhouse, but Bradbury has been a high riser since the end of the 2018 season. He was a Consensus All-American in his senior season.
22. Drew Lock QB
I really like Lock and I think he could be the best quarterback from this class out of the gate. He should be a top 12 selection but could slide if quarterback-needy teams decide to address other needs.
23. Byron Murphy CB
Analysts seem to have Murphy ranked a hair higher than the other top cornerbacks in this class. It wouldn’t be shocking if he wasn’t the first corner taken though.
24. Greedy Williams CB
I am in love with Williams as a player. The 2018 Consensus All-American had eight interceptions in two seasons with LSU and will be a day one starter in the NFL.
25. Dexter Lawrence DT
The other Clemson defensive tackle, Lawrence is a massive space-eater who can close off the entire interior of the line to running backs and occupy double teams all at once.
26. Deandre Baker CB
Another 2018 Consensus All-American, my biggest concerns about Baker are regarding his athleticism. He seems to have more question marks than the two corners ranked above him.
27. Cody Ford OT
The Oklahoma offensive lineman has been a steady riser since the end of the college season and should hear his name called in the back half of the first round.
28. Rock Ya-Sin CB
Besides having one of the best names in the draft, Ya-Sin is a physical corner who has the size to compete with bigger receivers.
29. Jeffery Simmons DT
He would be in the top 20 if he hadn’t torn his ACL a few months ago. That being said, he’s so talented that he could still hear his name called in the first round.
30. Irv Smith Jr. TE
On a team with three great running backs, three receivers with over 700 receiving yards, and Tua Tagovailoa, Smith’s 710 yards and seven touchdowns are often overlooked.
31. Dalton Risner OT
Risner perhaps put together the most complete college career out of all of the offensive linemen in this draft.
32. Nasir Adderley S
The safety position is hard to judge this year and there are a couple of players competing for the top spot. Right now, Adderley holds it.
33. Jaylon Ferguson EDGE
He holds the NCAA career sacks record with 45 and also recorded over 60 tackles for loss during his time at Louisiana Tech. That’s still not enough to break into the top EDGE players in this draft though.
34. Jerry Tillery DT
Tillery will probably be a mid to high second round pick. The Notre Dame product is buried underneath a deep and talented group of defensive tackles.
35. Brian Burns EDGE
Burns was a consistent force at Florida St. for three seasons. Some analysts have him higher up the rankings that I do, but I think he falls into the mid to late second round because of the depth at his position.
36. A.J. Brown WR
Brown produced back to back 1,200-yard seasons at Ole Miss. He recorded 75 receptions, 1,252 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 2017 and 85 receptions, 1,320 yards, and six touchdowns in 2018.
37. Taylor Rapp S
He’s not a terrific coverage safety, especially against speed, but Rapp isn’t afraid to come up and make a big hit.
38. Jachai Polite EDGE
His stock took a heavy hit after the combine when he underwhelmed scouts after having a breakout junior season at Florida.
39. Johnathan Abram S
Is he the best safety in the draft or does he even belong in the top 40 prospects? I can’t figure Abram out. All I know is that he filled the stat sheet in his final year of college ball, recording 90 combined tackles, three sacks, four passes defensed, two interceptions, and a forced fumble according to ESPN.
40. Riley Ridley WR
His brother, Calvin Ridley, never caught fewer than 750 yards worth of passes in his three years at Alabama. In three years at Georgia, Riley Ridley never surpassed the 600-yard mark, but scouts still have him pegged as a top five wide receiver.
Best Remaining- Daniel Jones QB, Erik McCoy OL, Kaleb McGary OT, Mack Wilson LB, Julian Love CB
