Top 5 Position Rankings for the 2019 NFL Draft
Quarterbacks
1. Kyler Murray QB Oklahoma
2. Dwayne Haskins QB Ohio State
3. Daniel Jones QB Duke
4. Drew Lock QB Missouri
5. Ryan Finley QB NC State
Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins are the easiest players for me to grade out of this group. I think Murray is the most balanced dual-threat we've ever seen come out of college. He is equally as good at throwing as he is at running. Dwayne Haskins is a great leader and can be a "plug and play" starter. I love what he does pre-snap and does a great job making proper reads. Daniel Jones is super competitive and I think he will be the best "game-manager" in this draft. Drew Lock has arguably the greatest potential out of these quarterbacks. I think he needs to sit behind a veteran quarterback and learn to make the proper decisions against certain coverages as well as doing a better job with anticipation. But his potential is through the roof. Ryan Finley is probably the most underrated quarterback in this draft. I think he can be a starter a little bit later into his career. Finley is a great improviser and is good at directing traffic. Finley can be a day two steal!
Running Backs
1. Josh Jacobs RB Alabama
2. Miles Sanders RB Penn State
3. David Montgomery RB Iowa State
4. Bryce Love RB Stanford
5. Darrell Henderson RB Memphis
Josh Jacobs has that game changing ability which is why he's my number one running back. He was unstoppable in the college football playoffs and can be a work horse once he gets into the league. Miles Sanders is the most slippery running back coming out this year. He has tremendous contact balance which is why he's my number two back in this draft. It's also just a plus that he got to learn from Saquon Barkley. David Montgomery is a big back who is a great runner between the tackles. The first defender can almost never bring him down and he has shown that he can "tote the rock" 20+ times a game. If it wasn't for Bryce Love's knee injury, he would potentially be my number one running back. He's extremely similar to his mentor, Christian McCaffrey and is a patient runner. I think he starts as a change of pace back for who ever he plays for and could potentially develop into an every down back. Darrell Henderson has the best burst in the draft, but I'm not sure if he'll be capable of being an every down back. Henderson is a "home run" hitter, but I want to see him get more patient behind the line of scrimmage.
Wide Receivers
1. AJ Brown WR Ole Miss
2. N'Keal Harry WR Arizona State
3. Deebo Samuel WR South Carolina
4. Marquise Brown WR Oklahoma
5. D.K. Metcalf WR Ole Miss
AJ Brown is a GAME CHANGING receiver. My two favorite traits about him are his separation skills and his work ethic. I think he is the best receiver in the draft and will be a game changer in the NFL. N'Keal Harry is the most reliable receiver in this class. No matter how many corners are defending him, he finds a way to the ball. He's like a magnet. I'd like to see him get a faster release off the line, but I think he'll have the best rookie season out of all the receivers. Deebo Samuel is the master of run after catch. His routes help him create separation and I think his floor will be Golden Tate. Deebo will thrive in the "Z" position and make his money on the short drag and slant routes. Marquise "Hollywood" Brown has a similar work ethic to his cousin Antonio. Hollywood plays with a combination of swagger and speed. I'm worried Hollywood turns out as mostly a deep threat in the NFL, but if he ends up in the right situation they will develop him as a route runner and be a run after the catch guy. D.K. is the most raw receiver prospect I've ever seen come out of college, and he has genetic traits that I've never seen before. If a coach can develop him, OOOWWEEE, expect Julio Jones and more.
Tight Ends
1. TJ Hockenson TE Iowa
2. Noah Fant TE Iowa
3. Irv Smith Jr. TE Alabama
4. Jace Sternberger TE Texas A&M
5. Caleb Wilson TE UCLA
The two Iowa tight ends run the show for me. I compare TJ Hockenson to George Kittle. A monster in the pass game, and even better in the run game. Hockenson is the most complete tight end that I've ever seen come out of college. For his teammate Noah Fant, he is a "new age" tight end. He's basically a wide receiver playing tight end. I think he can be similar to Eric Ebron and be dangerous on third downs. Irv Smith is all about swagger, I think he's similar to Evan Engram... but he can be even better. Being from Alabama, he played against elite competition and he is just an other component of this extremely talented tight end class. Jace Sternberger and Caleb Wilson are two extremely talented route runners. I think Sternberger is more pro ready, but I think Wilson has greater potential. After watching the UCLA vs Texas A&M game two years ago, you'll see the potential. Wilson took over in that game and you see what he's capable of, and that's why I'm so high on him.
Offensive Tackle
1. Jawaan Taylor OT Florida
2. Jonah Williams OT Alabama
3. Andre Dillard OT Washington State
4. Dalton Risner OT Kansas State
5. Cody Ford OT Oklahoma
Jawaan Taylor is the most well rounded lineman in this class. He plays with great balance and is both a bully in the pass and run game. Jonah Williams might have to kick inside due to arm length, but if you start on the offensive line as a freshman at Alabama you have to be pretty darn good. Andre Dillard is by far the best pass blocker in this class, but I have questions about his limited run blocking snaps. Risner is a player with a mean streak behind him and is great with his hands. Cody Ford is the leader for an extremely talented Oklahoma offensive line. He can play both Tackle and Guard and has the versatility that scouts love.
Interior Offensive Linemen
1. Garrett Bradbury C/G NC State
2. Chris Lindstrom G Boston College
3. Erik McCoy C/G Texas A&M
4. Elgton Jenkins C Mississippi State
5. Michael Jordan C Ohio State
Being a former tight end, Garrett Bradbury has phenomenal feet. He has nice body control and quick hands. I prefer him at guard and I can see him going in the 20's. Chris Lindstrom has the versatility to start at all 5 positions on the offensive line, but I like him at guard. Lindstrom is extremely smart and can start day one. Erik McCoy will be a center once he gets into the league and plays extremely low which I like. His hands are sticky and defenders usually don't get off him. He's ranked three because I don't think he's going to be able to pull at the next level due to his lack of speed. On the offensive line, you want your leader to be the center... and that's exactly what Elgton Jenkins is. He knows how to read a defense and should be a starting center from day one. Finally is Michael Jordan from Ohio State, and while I am no Brian Baldinger, I can tell when you have a baller offensive lineman, and that is exactly what Michael Jordan is. He's extremely flexible and has good hips. I think this is a really solid interior o-line draft.
Defensive Tackles
1. Quinnen Williams DT Alabama
2. Ed Oliver DT Houston
3. Christian Wilkins DT Clemson
4. Dexter Lawrence DT Clemson
5. Jeffery Simmons DT Mississippi State
Let's start with Quinnen Williams, he is both the best and one of my favorite players in the entire draft. He is a living highlight reel and doesn't have any red flags... at all! He has the highest floor and the highest ceiling, the sky is the limit for Quinnen Williams. Ed Oliver also has a high floor. If he can add some weight while maintaining his speed, Oliver can be the next Aaron Donald. Christian Wilkins is your pro-typical defensive tackle and is arguably the cleanest player off the field in this class. He has been sky rocketing up draft boards and could be a surprise top 10 pick. Dexter Lawrence is gigantic and can swallow up the offensive line. While he hasn't been able to put up numbers like he did his freshman year, he has shown that he's capable of being an all-pro defensive tackle. Jeffery Simmons could be the steal of the draft, he was supposed to be a top 10 pick this year until he suffered a torn ACL. If a team who was in the playoffs last season can pick up a potential top 10 pick, they could elevate themselves into super bowl contenders because there is a chance that Simmons comes back for the playoffs.
Edge Rushers
1. Josh Allen OLB Kentucky
2. Nick Bosa DE Ohio State
3. Montez Sweat DE Mississippi State
4. Clelin Ferrell DE Clemson
5. Brian Burns DE Florida State
Josh Allen has been one of my favorite players throughout this entire process. He is the fastest player off the edge and has the stats to show for it. I think Josh Allen becomes the next Khalil Mack. Nick Bosa is the most pure defensive end in this draft. His hand usage is better than any other d-lineman and I have yet to see an offensive tackle who can block him. Montez Sweat is a high character guy who uses both speed and power, but is just genetically FREAKISH! He is the Julio Jones or the D.K. Metcalf of defense. A defensive coordinator will love to be able to develop Sweat and make him the next Danielle Hunter. Clelin Ferrell is a guy who was made to be in the NFL. He has the fastest get off and does a great job anticipating the snap. He is also the most polished if it's his spin move or his rip move, he knows how to play defensive end and win at the position. Finally we have Brian Burns who has my favorite trait out of all these edge rushers. It's bend! He can get low off the edge and it's practically impossible block. He has done a phenomenal job putting on weight throughout this entire process and that only goes towards his work ethic. I think Burns can end up the best edge rusher out of this bunch.
Linebackers
1. Devin White LB LSU
2. Devin Bush LB Michgan
3. Mack WIlson LB Alabama
4. Germaine Pratt LB NC State
5. Blake Cashman LB Minnesota
Devin White is a monster, I think he is a solidified top 5 pick and is hands down the best linebacker in the draft. Both him and Devin Bush are incredible blitzers with sideline to sideline speed. Mack Wilson is more so the OG middle linebacker. He reminds me a lot of CJ Mosley and I think he is one of the best players in this draft when it's all said and done. Germaine Pratt reminds me too much of Darius Leonard for him not to be on the board. He's a converted safety so you know he can cover and is good with his feet. I think we see him go sometime in day two. Blake Cashman is a sleeper for me. Cashman has natural instincts and fights for everything he wants. These are the types of guys who go far in this league.
Cornerbacks
1. Byron Murphy CB Washington
2. Greedy Williams CB LSU
3. Deandre Baker CB Georgia
4. Lonnie Johnson CB Kentucky
5. Rock Ya-Sin CB Temple
Byron Murphy is a guy with great technique. He's smooth with every thing he does. I think he's the most well rounded corner and can play both man and zone. Greedy Williams is the best man corner in the draft. He can run with any receiver he plays against and has the production to prove it. I think he could be the next Patrick Peterson. Deandre Baker is my number one ranked zone corner. He has outstanding confidence and is a lockdown player. Lonnie Johnson is a long corner who thrives in man coverage. You don't see that very often, and I think he could be a surprise day one pick. Rock Ya-Sin is one of my favorite prospects in this class, he is the definition of "Temple Tough". He was voted one of the toughest players at the school by his teammates and was a high school wrestling champion. I think he goes round one and I could see him being the first corner selected tonight!
Safeties
1. Johnathan Abram S Mississippi State
2. Taylor Rapp S Washington
3. Nasir Adderley S Delaware
4. Darnell Savage S Maryland
5. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson S Florida
If you guys follow me on twitter, you know that Johnathan Abram is my favorite player in the draft. He is a hard hitting, smack talking strong safety that can play in the box, over the top, and can even come off the edge. Abram is my favorite player in the draft and I'll be a fan of his no matter where he ends up. Taylor Rapp is and extremely intelligent safety, which is important to have at that position. People will give him a hard time because of his 40 time, but he will always be in the right spot on the field. Nasir Adderley is a mid-fielder and a ball hawk. He can return punts and has single handedly my favorite play in college football history. He ran a dude over and stared at him for two seconds, then he continued to run broke tackles and scored a touchdown. Darnell Savage is the highest riser in the past few days, I think he'll sneak into the first round and if there was one word I'd use to describe him it would have to be hustle. Savage can run with slot receivers and plays receiver when the ball is in the air. He had seven interceptions in the last two seasons, and two of them went back to the house. Savage is going to be a sleeper first round pick. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is the most versatile player in this draft, if he wanted to he can even play corner on the outside. He has great skills in coverage and can play both in the box and over top. He is going to be a day two pick.
