Live 2019 NFL Draft First Round Grades
We grade all of the first-round picks of the 2019 NFL Draft live. From the First Overall Selection to the 32nd Overall Selection. Check them out below after your team’s pick.
1.-Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma/ Grade = C+: The Cardinals invested a first round pick a little over 365 days ago on another quarterback in Josh Rosen. Poor coaching and a lack of surrounding talent led to Rosen having a pretty disappointing season. Don’t get me wrong – Murray has incredible potential. But in terms of how Arizona invests their assets, this was not a spectacular pick by any means. Now the question for this team is what happens with Rosen and where he goes to. Only time will tell how this pick pans out.
2.-San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State/ Grade = A: San Francisco took the best player in the draft with the second overall selection. Nick Bosa is a dominant pass rusher with all the tools to be elite at his position in the NFL for years to come. This is the best pick the 49ers could have made and they did.
3.-New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, IDL, Alabama/ Grade = A: New York went with the safest pick available. Lots of rumors leading up to tonight had them going with Ed Oliver. Williams gives them the presence they need on the inside and complements this defense well. This is a very solid pick for the Jets.
4.-Oakland Raiders: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson/ Grade = D-: Wow. Wow. Wow. It was nearly impossible for Oakland to botch this first round. Yet, they found a way. Clelin Ferrell is a great pass rusher. But you do not draft him over Ed Oliver, Josh Allen, or even Brian Burns. Those are elite guys. This was a major reach. They might have had a chance to grab him at #24 or #27. I’m in shock.
5.-Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White, LB, LSU/ Grade = B+: Tampa Bay’s defense has been abysmal for years. This offseason, they let Kwon Alexander walk. Devin White is the best linebacker in this class, and besides Ed Oliver, their best chance at improving it right away is with White. This was the pick talked about all along for the Buccaneers. Solid job Tampa Bay.
6.-New York Giants: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke/ Grade = F: At least they got a QB. But Daniel Jones should not have been the guy. He’s average at best. I have nothing more to say.
7.-Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky/ Grade = B: The Jaguars took the consensus best player available, although I’d argue there were much better fits with guys like Jawaan Taylor, Jonah Williams, T.J. and Hockenson still available. The Jaguars should do prioritize their defensive line over everything else.
8.-Detroit Lions: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa/ Grade = A-: Josh Allen would have been a spectacular pick for Detroit, but with Allen taken right before by Jacksonville, Hockenson was the next best guy. Really good pick by Detroit to give Stafford another weapon while also being able to upgrade the running attack on offense.
9.-Buffalo Bills: Ed Oliver, IDL, Houston/ Grade = A+: Ed Oliver is my second overall prospect of this class, and he slipped right into the Bills laps at #9. This is the ideal pick for Buffalo, as Oliver gives their defense an instant boost in the pass rushing attack and potentially gives the team the defensive cornerstone they need for 10+ years.
DENVER BRONCOS TRADE #10 PICK TO PITTSBURGH STEELERS
(#10 for #20, #52, and 2020 third round pick)
10.-Pittsburgh Steelers (via Denver Broncos): Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan/ Grade = B: The Steelers traded up to get their guy in linebacker Devin Bush. It’s a perfect fit for Pittsburgh, but trading up comes at a price. Still a solid move by the Steelers, as Bush will hopefully provide the presence in the middle of their defense that they have lacked since Ryan Shazier’s unfortunate injury a few seasons ago.
11.-Cincinnati Bengals: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama/ Grade = B+: Cincinnati needed to provide pass protection for Andy Dalton if he wants to be anything better than he has the last few years, and they got the best pass protecting tackle of this class in Williams. Solid pick by the Bengals to help Zac Taylor get the offense he wants.
12.-Green Bay Packers: Rashan Gary, EDGE, Michigan/ Grade = C-: I’m not a fan of Rashan Gary. But, Green Bay needed a presence on the edge and got their guy. I would have ran to the podium and taken Brian Burns had I been in charge, but the Packers took Gary. Not a great pick, but at least it wasn’t Daniel Jones.
13.-Miami Dolphins: Christian Wilkins, IDL, Clemson/ Grade = B: Wilkins fits what the Dolphins need on the inside of their defensive line. He’s a phenomenal pass rusher who gets to the QB at will. This is a good pick for Miami, but Dwayne Haskins would have been my choice here. Nonetheless, decent job Dolphins.
14.-Atlanta Falcons: Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College/ Grade = B-: Lindstrom is a very good offensive guard. But I would have rather taken Cody Ford or Garrett Bradbury if an interior offensive lineman was what they wanted. Wilkins was supposed to be the pick but was selected right before by Miami. Atlanta can take solace in the fact they got a guy to protect Matt Ryan for the rest of his career in Lindstrom.
15.-Washington Redskins: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State/ Grade = A+: Washington loved Haskins throughout this whole process. A lot of rumors have surfaced over the past week about them trying to trade up for him, but he lands right into their laps. Haskins was the ideal pick here for the Redskins.
16. Carolina Panthers: Brian Burns, OLB, Florida State/ Grade= A+:
Carolina got a steal here with Burns at 16. Burns was a projected top ten pick and has immense potential. With Julius Peppers reaching the end of his career Burns will step in immediately and become a major player for the Panthers fiesty pass rush.
17. New York Giants: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson/ Grade= C+: The third of three Clemson stud defensive lineman, Clelin Ferrell (4th- Oakland) and Christian Wilkins ( 13th- Miami), will look to fill a massive hole left by Damon Harrison. This is a questionable pick as the Giants need help off the edge, but Lawrence should impact and solidify the Giants D-line.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Garrett Bradbury, C, NC State/ Grade= A+: The Vikings thought they got their guy at QB in Kirk Cousins in last years free agency but failed to protect him. This year the Vikings get the top IOL and will be able to stabilize their line through Bradbury.
19. Tennessee Titans: Jeffrey Simmons, DT, Mississippi State/ Grade= B+: Simmons fell in large part to a torn ACL and an altercation that occurred in 2016. Simmons is a massive player and massive game changer who will make a massive impact inside for the Titans. Simmons is quite possibly the third best DT, behind Quinnen Williams (3rd NY Jets) and Ed Oliver (9th Buffalo).
20. Denver Broncos: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa/ Grade = A: Noah Fant could easily be the best TE in this class and is an absolute freak athlete. Denver has not had a great TE since Shannon Sharpe and Fant could become that next great Bronco TE. New Broncos QB Joe Flacco had his best seasons in Baltimore when he was throwing to former TE Dennis Pitta.
Seattle Seahawks TRADE #21 PICK TO Green Bay Packers
(#21 for #30, #114, and #118)
21. Green Bay Packers: Darnell Savage Jr., S, Maryland/ Grade= A: Besides having one of the best names in the draft, Savage is one of the best safeties in the draft. A ballhawk in Savage paired with an all-around stud in free agent acquisition Adrian Amos the Packers will now have solid safety play for the first time in years.
Baltimore Ravens TRADE #22 PICK TO Philadelphia Eagles
(#22 for #25, #127, and #197)
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State/ Grade =A+: Perfect selection for the Eagles as they move towards 100% commitment to QB Carson Wentz. Left Tackle Jason Peters is aging and is close to retirement, Dillard is the perfect replacement for Peters and the Eagles will not lose a beat once Peters retires.
23. Houston Texans: Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State/ Grade = C: Look, the Texans definitely needed to go with an offensive lineman with their first-round pick. But I can’t get behind taking a guy like Tytus Howard when top prospects at offensive tackle such as Cody Ford, Jawaan Taylor, and Yodny Cajuste. Howard was a fan among many in draft analyst circles, but as a third or fourth round selection. Not a first. But at least they invested in the offensive line.
24. Oakland Raiders: Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama/ Grade= C+: The Raiders need a running back as both of their main backs, Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin, are not on the roster anymore. While Jacobs is a questionable selection at 24, Gruden will attempt to get the most out of him.
25. Baltimore Ravens: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR, Oklahoma/ Grade= B-: Baltimore gets a receiver for QB Lamar Jackson in the form of the smaller and faster cousin of Raiders WR Antonio Brown. While a big-bodied wideout might have been a better fit it seems as though they will place a bigger emphasis in their two tight ends and hope Brown can blow the top open.
Indianapolis Colts TRADE #26 PICK TO Washington Redskins
(#26 for #46 and 2020 second round pick)
26. Washington Redskins: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State/ Grade= A+: This is a steal. Washington is getting a top ten player at 26 and in exchange for two-second rounders. Sweat is a freak athlete and will have an immediate impact across from LB Ryan Kerrigan.
27. Oakland Raiders: Jonathan Abrams, S, Mississippi State/ Grade= B: This is a Gruden pick. Abrams is a super physical safety who gets to the football and makes sure his presence is felt. Abrams is a perfect fit for Gruden’s defense.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame/ Grade= B: Tillery fills a glaring need for the Chargers that was made evident in their playoff game against the Patriots. If the Chargers get the Tillery that actually seemed interested in playing, then this is a solid fit.
29. Seattle Seahawks: L.J. Collier, DE, TCU/ Grade= C+: A questionable selection for the Seahawks late in the first, but they need to replace Frank Clark somehow. Expect head coach Pete Carrol to turn this into another Bruce Irvin situation.
Seattle Seahawks TRADE #30 PICK TO New York Giants
(#30 for #37, #132, and #142 )
30. New York Giants: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia/ Grade= B: The Giants desperately needed secondary help and get with the Thorpe award winner. They will get supplement draft pick Sam Beal and Baker next year in an attempt to produce a dangerous trio along with Janoris Jenkins.
Los Angeles Rams TRADE #31 PICK TO Atlanta Falcons
(#31 and #203 for #45 and #79)
31. Atlanta Falcons: Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington/ Grade= B-: Atlanta went O-line with the 14th pick and continue the trend here. McGary will be a vital piece to protecting QB Matt Ryan.
32. New England Patriots: N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State/ Grade= A: Harry has elite size, is an elite athlete and does nothing but make plays. The Patriots make have lost TE Rob Gronkowski, but Harry will become an instant threat for QB Tom Brady.
