2019 NFL Draft - Favorite Players

Favorite Players in the Draft: these are all guys that I would want on my team if I were to start a team and could just grab whomever I wanted in this draft within reason. Earlier in the week, I outlined my Rule of Two Challenge, unlike that, this will be a mix of top tier, middle tier, and perhaps later tier players and there will be some overlap of course.

Quarterbacks: One of the things that Duarte and I have discussed over the years is the importance of fight in a quarterback. Certainly, you could say that about any position but adversity is an important part of a Quarterback. Being able to stand up after getting beaten down over and over again turns you into a leader that others will believe in and fight for. Clearly, that is a common trait among my favorites in this draft class. People tend to forget about some of the greatest things about Brett Favre and that it was at his lowest point that he became the greatest of legends. A man that had portions of his intestines removed in college and on May 14^th 1996, he told the media (Not an exact quote), “I may have an addiction to Vicodin…I am checking myself into rehab…but we are going to beat this and we are going to win the Superbowl” and HE DID! He fought through it all. The day after his father passed away the team came together and we watched one of the greatest performances by a QB to date. That is who you want at QB, a guy that faces adversity and wins.

Daniel Jones Duke –Jones played for a not so great team but he made them much better. He did not have a strong supporting cast, yet he looked good. He stepped up at the Senior Bowl and played his heart out. He is a winner!

Jarrett Stidham QB Auburn – This guy is simply a gamer and I admire the fight in him. He still has some development needed but if he goes to a team that is patient enough, he could pay serious dividends.

Trace McSorley – You want to talk about fight and stepping up on the big stage, McSorely is your man. I don’t know if he really will make it in the NFL, but I certainly do not want to count him out. He reminds me of Mark Brunell and I could imagine him ending up with a similar career.

RB:

David Montgomery Iowa State – Montgomery simply produces regardless of his measurable. Is he the most dynamic running back, no. But neither was Kareem Hunt, Matt Forte, or Terrell Davis (his combine performance was astoundingly bad). But they were all just good football players who understood how to play the game. Montgomery could turn out to be the best RB in this draft when all is said and done.

Ryquell Armstead Temple – I keep watching tape on Armstead and I keep wondering if I am the crazy one for liking him so much. He is not for everybody and not a complete running back yet, but oozes with potential and I love his quick feet and power.

Tony Brooks-James – I simply love watching tape on this guy as he is so slick in the way he runs. I am very confused as to how he did not get more touches as he seems to make a play every time he touches the ball, has good hands, and is hard to take down.

FB:

Trevon Wesco West Virginia – Really he could be an HBack, FB, or TE but he is a brutal blocker in any of those positions. With that being said, I think his best NFL position is FB where he can use all of his best skills and be a surprise sneaky runner and receiver.

WR:

DK Metcalf Ole Miss – I know that there were some injury issues but I think the sky is the limit with Metcalf. His combine blew him up a bit but I felt he was a good player prior to that and that he has more than just straight-line speed. He does need a good solid season to refine his game but he will pay dividend in the long run.

Deebo Samuel South Carolina – Again, I know that there are potential injury issues here but he just seems to always make plays, has solid speed, and great hands. There is something so smooth about his game and he is so reliable.

Andy Isabella Massachusetts – A playmaker who always seems to catch the ball. One of the things I like about his game is that he is clearly not going to be a major factor as a blocker at his size, yet, he puts in a 100% effort in his blocking. That is a team player for sure. Compound that with his quickness, savvy route running, and hands and you have a really great football player and teammate. I love watching this guy’s game and somebody is going to look smart in drafting him.

TE:

TJ Hockenson Iowa – Hockenson is the best TE I have seen come out in the draft since Rob Gronkowski. In fact, I cannot remember a TE I have ever liked on draft day as much as I like Hockenson. He blocks like an Offensive Lineman, has good hands, runs routes well, and has enough speed. This guy is going to be a Superstar.

Irv Smith Jr. – Smith will not be like his Dad at all, he is going to be the real deal in the NFL. The thing I really love about Smith is that he plays with a high motor. He blocks with effort has solid speed and good hands. He is a bit short but that should not get in the way of him doing quite well in the NFL.

OT:

Jonah Williams Alabama – Williams may not be quite the complete package from a physical standpoint but too many times, people obsess over that. Dude has a lot of the skills and size so throw all of that talk out. He is a real football player with a nasty streak and smarts to go with it. I see him as a 10 year starter at LT.

Max Scharping Northern Illinois – Scharping’s game is not complete at this point but he has the tools to be very good in the NFL. More of a RT than anything else but a solid starting RT for 10 years is gold in the NFL and that is what he will be.

Mitch Hyatt Clemson – You do not start for this long for such a big team without being a good football player. Hyatt is going to go mid-round but I think he could be similar to Andrew Whitworth.

OG:

Cody Ford Oklahoma – No surprise here that since he is the top guard who may be able to play RT as well. Ultimately, he should play guard in the NFL as he is a powerful road grader type with a nasty streak.

Christ Lindstrom Boston College – The other type of guard from Ford, Lindstrom is more of a quick pulling guard but he is excellent at that. Essentially, pick your ice cream flavor as The Godfather Gil Brandt says.

Dalton Risner Kansas State – The definition of a Swing Offensive Lineman who can move around and play all five positions. Probably going to be a guard for a zone blocking team but should be a very good one.

C:

Garrett Bradbury NC State – Bradbury has all of the things you look for in a Center, strong blocking, smarts, quickness, and a mean streak. Should be a very good NFL player.

Lamont Gaillard Georgia – What I love about Gaillard is his quick twitch transition from snapping the ball to his blocking assignment. Being a Center is never easy because your transition puts you at a disadvantage so that skill is highly underrated. His skills are not flashy but he will make a team quite happy.

Edge Rushers:

Nick Bosa Ohio State – I know, no surprise here huh? But Bosa is going to be a great player in the NFL. Not quite his brother but he makes some pretty astounding plays.

Montez Sweat Mississippi – I keep thinking about Sweat as essentially the same situation as Jason Pierre-Paul when he came out. I think that Sweat is a bit more refined but has just as much upside. He has the health concerns but plenty of players have been red flagged for more.

Jaylon Ferguson LA Tech – If Ferguson goes to a 3-4 team he is going to be a dominant pass rusher. 4-3 team and he should be solid. When I watch him play, he seems like he could be better with some space. He is being a little underrated at this point.

Anthony Nelson Iowa – Nelson is more of a blue-collar type of DE and his sack total will likely not ever be astounding but teams will appreciate his motor and contributions to being a solid DE.

Corbin Kaufusi BYU – Maybe I just want to see a 6’9” LB in the NFL, but I really like this guys motor and skills. I think he could be a real dark horse in this draft.

DL:

Quinnen Williams Alabama – It is not secret that he is a rare athlete and he is going to be dominant wherever he goes so no need to bore anybody with details.

Khalen Saunders Western Illinois – Saunders is my second favorite DT in this draft only to Quinnen Williams and he is going to go much lower in the draft. If he goes in the 3^rd round, it is a steal. He is strong, thickly built, and quick. He showed at the Senior Bowl that he could step up in competition with little issue. Love this guy!

Dexter Lawrence Clemson – I think he is going to be the best of the Clemson Defensive Lineman but the stat line will never show it. He is a strong and quick run plugger who deserves to go ahead of Christian Wilkins even though he won’t.

LB:

Josh Allen Kentucky – Allen could also be considered an Edge Rusher but I am separating him out here as he is just a great OLB that is scheme versatile. He is not as good as Kahlil Mack but he is the same type of player. Wherever he goes, he will likely be the defensive rookie of the year.

D’Andre Walker Georgia – He is a bit more limited than some of the other LBs in this draft but he is a brute that will play really well for somebody.

Bobby Okereke Stanford – He is all over the field and has good speed. I kept trying to stop thinking about Blake Martinez since they were both Stanford when I watched him but that is who he reminds me of. With that being said, Martinez is a bit more instinctive but not quite as athletic as Okereke.

Andrew Van Ginkel Wisconsin – Van Ginkel went from somebody I did not bother with to one of my favorite LBs because of the Take Two Challenge. I guess that is what happens when you challenge yourself, huh? I absolutely love the way that this guy plays and think he is being highly underrated.

Kahlil Hodge Buffalo – There is something about this guy that makes me think he is going to eventually be a surprise starter in the NFL. If not, he will lay day and die for his team on special teams.

CB: There is not one CB in this draft that I can state is one of my favorite players. But if I must choose a few here you go.

Byron Murphy Washington – I am finding holes in all of the CBs games that I watch. I have never been so unexcited for this position. However, I like the way that Murphy plays and think he is the safest bet in this draft.

Kris Boyd Texas – I know he has a few issues with ball awareness and playing the ball but I like his feisty attitude and the way that he sticks his nose in there when it is a run play.

S:

Darnell Savage Jr. Maryland – I have been singing this guy praises for months. He is the best coverage safety since Earl Thomas but not quite the full plyer that Thomas was coming out of college. Savage is another one where I just love watching his tape because he is such a good football player overall.

Jaquan Johnson Miami – I was scratching my head when I saw that this guy was not higher rated. I was also surprised at his combine performance, on the field he looks much faster and more aware. One of the first safeties I evaluated that I absolutely loved.  

K:

Cole Tracy LSU – The only draftable kicker in this draft. He had no issue with stepping up in competition and should continue that trend into the NFL. He does not have the strongest leg but go ask the Bears if they regret letting Robbie Gould go.

No Punters or LS worth discussing but I do love that there are some, shall we say, huskier punters in this years draft.

Alrighty, on to DRAFT NIGHT! Thanks for reading!