On the eve of the 2019 NFL Draft, here’s my fourth and final look at how teams will pick when Round 1 begins on Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee.
This is my seventh year covering the draft for NFL Media and this is by far the most challenging first round I’ve tried to project. There’s more misinformation and less solid info known about teams’ interest in prospects than I can recall encountering in past years. I do expect we’ll see a lot of movement on Thursday, especially in the back half of the opening round. Get your popcorn ready!
To see every draft pick each team holds in the 2019 NFL Draft, click here.
School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior (RS)
There’s a lot of chatter about the
Cardinals being undecided on what they’ll do with the first pick. I’m sticking with Murray as their choice.
Nick Bosa – Edge
School: Ohio State | Year: Junior
The Niners can’t go wrong with Bosa or
Quinnen Williams here, but I think Bosa is a better fit.
Quinnen Williams – DT
School: Alabama | Year: Sophomore (RS)
A lot of options for the
Jets between Williams,
Ed Oliver,
Josh Allen or trading down. I think they’d prefer to trade down. In this case, they take the best player available.
Ed Oliver – DT
School: Houston | Year: Junior
It wouldn’t shock me if
Dwayne Haskins is the pick, but the
Raiders are desperate for pass-rush help and Oliver can help them in that area.
Devin White – LB
School: LSU | Year: Junior
In this scenario, it’ll be a tough call for the Bucs between White and
Josh Allen. I’ll give them White to replace
Kwon Alexander.
Josh Allen – Edge
School: Kentucky | Year: Senior
The
Giants need a pass rusher and a quarterback. I’m hearing they’ll look to get a pass rusher first, and they land one of the best available this year in Allen.
T.J. Hockenson – TE
School: Iowa | Year: Sophomore (RS)
This decision could come down to Hockenson vs.
Jonah Williams or
Jawaan Taylor. However, if you study the great teams Tom Coughlin’s been a part of either as a head coach or member of Bill Parcells’ staff, there’s been a powerful inline tight end on the roster (I’m thinking of guys like Jeremy Shockey and Mark Bavaro). Hockenson will have an impact in the run and pass game.
Andre Dillard – OT
School: Washington State | Year: Senior (RS)
PROJECTED TRADE WITH LIONS. There are a lot of rumblings about Detroit and Buffalo looking to trade down, and the
Texans are desperate for tackle help. They could afford to part with one of their two second-round picks this year (they hold Picks 54 and 55) as well as a Day 2 pick next year to get up into this range.
Jonah Williams – OG
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Buffalo would love to trade down, but their offseason has been all about trying to support
Josh Allen. Williams is a steady, solid player who will help keep the QB upright.
Devin Bush – LB
School: Michigan | Year: Junior
The
Broncos have done a lot of work on this year’s QB class, but they ultimately address the defensive side of the ball in Round 1. Bush has a chance to be an elite player in this defense.
Brian Burns – Edge
School: Florida State | Year: Junior
Burns is a polarizing player around the league, but no one doubts that he has the best get-off quickness in the draft. Cincinnati needs help on defense, and Burns fits the bill.
Jawaan Taylor – OT
School: Florida | Year: Junior
If
Andre Dillard were to fall, he’d come into play here. With him off the board, they still are able to address the offensive line. Taylor is a plug-and-play right tackle who will be an upgrade over
Bryan Bulaga.
Christian Wilkins – DT
School: Clemson | Year: Senior
Dolphins D-line coach Marion Hobby coached Wilkins during his first two seasons at Clemson. He’s one of the safer picks in the draft and fills a need.
Cody Ford – OT
School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior (RS)
The
Falcons love
Christian Wilkins, but with the
Dolphins beating them to the punch, they look to get younger and more talented on the offensive line.
Dwayne Haskins – QB
School: Ohio State | Year: Sophomore (RS)
There’s a lot of chatter about the
Redskins trying to move up for a quarterback. Some believe their target is Haskins, others believe it’s
Daniel Jones.
Montez Sweat – Edge
School: Mississippi State | Year: Senior
Sweat will be fascinating to follow on draft day. He’s an elite talent, but some teams are concerned about
his heart condition.
Daniel Jones – QB
Garrett Bradbury – C
School: N.C. State | Year: Senior (RS)
The
Vikings must address the O-line. Bradbury is one of the best center prospects of the last five years, and
Pat Elflein would move to guard to clear a spot for him.
Marquise Brown – WR
School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior
I know some believe Tennessee will go with a D-lineman, but this is a huge year for
Marcus Mariota. They give him some more help. However, there have been some rumblings that the
Titans could be a surprise entrant into the QB market with
Drew Lock as their target.
Rock Ya-Sin – CB
School: Temple | Year: Senior
The
Steelers need to add playmakers in the secondary. Ya-Sin is probably the safest corner prospect in the draft.
Rashan Gary – Edge
School: Michigan | Year: Junior
There are a lot of teams interested to see where Gary ends up going. It wouldn’t shock me if he went in the top six or if he were to fall toward the bottom of the first round. He goes to a team with a glaring need off the edge after trading
Frank Clark to the
Chiefs.
Elgton Jenkins – C
School: Mississippi State | Year: Senior (RS)
I believe the
Ravens will try to trade back and recoup the 2019 second-round pick they gave up in the trade to land
Lamar Jackson last year. It’s easy to envision Baltimore continuing to reinforce the O-line with a player like Jenkins.
Byron Murphy – CB
School: Washington | Year: Sophomore (RS)
PROJECTED TRADE WITH TEXANS. Detroit has spent a lot of time evaluating cornerbacks leading up to the draft. They land my top-rated CB after trading down.
Josh Jacobs – RB
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Even before the news about
Marshawn Lynch retiring (again), the
Raiders had a need at the RB position. The question is, do they take Jacobs here or do they wait and find a back in the middle rounds, where there’s still value?
Clelin Ferrell – Edge
School: Clemson | Year: Junior (RS)
I could see the
Eagles trading back, but in this scenario, they take the best player available in the trenches and one of the cleaner players in the draft.
Jeffery Simmons – DT
School: Mississippi State | Year: Junior
GM Chris Ballard is big on upside and the
Colts have a patient plan that would allow them to wait for Simmons’
eventual impact — he suffered an ACL tear in February — as a top-five talent in this draft.
Darnell Savage – S
School: Maryland | Year: Senior
There are a bunch of teams picking late in the first round that are looking at safeties, and I think Savage will find his home in this range.
Joejuan Williams – CB
School: Vanderbilt | Year: Junior
It would surprise some people to see Williams go this early, but he’s a great fit for coordinator Gus Bradley’s scheme.
Johnathan Abram – S
School: Mississippi State | Year: Senior
Seattle finds its next version of
Kam Chancellor. I also wouldn’t rule out Clemson DT
Dexter Lawrence being picked here.
Drew Lock – QB
School: Missouri | Year: Senior
Lock is one of the most difficult players to project in this draft. I could see him going with the sixth pick or falling to the bottom of the first round. Whether it’s the
Packers or another team that trades up for him, I don’t see Lock getting out of Round 1.
Chris Lindstrom – OG
School: Boston College | Year: Senior
The
Rams need to get some reinforcements for the offensive line and Lindstrom is a perfect fit.
Noah Fant- TE
School: Iowa | Year: Junior
I’ll be surprised if Fant lasts this long, but I could see the
Patriots targeting him in a trade-up if he were to slip in the draft.
Follow Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter @MoveTheSticks.