2019 NFL Draft 1st round Reflections - Grades and Ranks

Grades and Rank: For this feature, I am going through all of the 1^st round draft picks and providing a grade for the pick and then also ranking them from 1 (best pick) to 32^nd (worst pick) to differentiate the quality of pick. This is all based on quality of player and where they were picked with a small factoring of if the team traded up for them to get to that pick.

1	Cardinals	Kyler Murray	The issue here is that the Cardinals showed their cards (no pun intended) too early and now they are going to receive 25 cents to the dollar on Rosen. It is a huge gamble here and the Cardnials are going all in.  Rank: 16  Grade: B
2	49ers	Nick Bosa	The 49ers made a smart move here. I thought they may go with Josh Allen or trade down but standing pat, they got either the best or second best player in the draft and probably the safest pick in the draft. Rank: 2 Grade: A
3	Jets	Quinnen Williams	Not a sexy pick here but he will be a major contributor and put pressure on the QB. I like the pick. Rank: 5 Grade: A
4	Oakland	Clelin Ferrell	I am not sure what the Raiders were doing here. Ferrell is such an average player that played on a very good line. Good dude but he is not going to ever be dynamite. Rank: 24  Grade: C+
5	Buccaneers	Devin White	I do not know what to think of Devin White. Part of me thinks he is a little too intense but he is a good football player. He also has some injury history that could be scary. The Bucaneers needed him here so it was a good pick for them. Rank: 12 Grade: B+
6	Giants	Daniel Jones	Unlike Giant fans, I like this pick. Jones is going to develop for a year or two and then step in and look very good. I do not think he will be as successful as Eli Manning but he will be very good. Sure, it was a little higher than we think it should be but you never know if other teams were jockying to trade up for him. Rank: 10 Grade: A-
7	Jaguars	Josh Allen	The Jaguars got the first official steal of the draft. Allen could very well be the best player in this entire draft and the Jags sat back and grabbed him. He is such a high motor and talented player. Rank: 1 Grade: A+
8	Lions	TJ Hockenson	While TE was not the greatest need for the Lions, they went with a high end player who blocks like an OT. Hockenson looks to be the best TE to come out since Rob Gronkowski. Rank: 3 Grade: A
9	Bills	Ed Oliver	I am really torn on Oliver, I really like him but I also think that some of his maturity issues are concerning. I am not as concerned with his last season being a slight disappointment. Very high ceiling. Rank: 14 Grade: B+
10	Steelers	Devin Bush	I like Bush a lot but I am not sure if the Steelers really need to panic this much and trade up this far. Regardless, I think it was a solid pick and the type of MLB you want to have on your team even if he is a little short. Rank: 13 Grade: B+
11	Bengals	Jonah Williams	The Bengals made a good pick on a high character player. I repeat, HIGH character player. I was not awared that they were allowed to do so. I think Williams is going to be a solid starter for a decade. Williams is not ever going to be the best OT in the league but he will be very good. Think Joe Staley type of career. Rank: 8 Grade: A-
12	Packers	Rashan Gary	I think this is an odd fit for the Packers but apparently he was the apple of their eye. All potential here, if he legit just wanted to be out of high school for 3 years then it is a good pick, if we saw his maximum effort in college, then it is not a good pick. Rank: 21 Grade: B-
13	Dolphins	Christian Wilkins	I do not feel that Wilkins is an elite player. So, this is not going to be a great pick. With that being said, he is a high character guy so he will be decent for them. Rank: 25 Grade: C+
14	Falcons	Chris Lindstrom	Lindstrom was considered one of the top two Gs in this draft so it is a pick your flavor situation. He is more athletic and should fit the Falcons system well. Guards are not a sexy pick but that does not mean that it was the wrong pick. I like Lindstrom a lot and the Falcons need offensive line help bad. Rank: 9 Grade: A-
15	Redskins	Dwayne Haskins	The Redskins apparently coveted Haskins and they let him fall to them. There is little pressure for him to start right away. Haskins makes a lot of impressive throws and to get him at 15 is a steal. Nice pick. Rank: 7 Grade: A
16	Panthers	Brian Burns	I am not the biggest fan of Burns, he plays at hyper speed 100% of the time but he tends to just use speed to get past the blocker. He has a lot of tools and athelticism but the question is, can he move on from just being a better athlete than his opponent? A real Boom or Bust here. Rank: 27 Grade: C+
17	Giants	Dexter Lawrence	I like the player a lot here as Lawrence is going to be a top notch run stuffer and his athleticism is underrated. With that being said, this is an absolute head scratcher of a pick to me. They needed a pass-rusher bad and they missed out on a few really solid ones by taking Lawrence here.  Rank:  18 Grade: B-
18	Vikings	Garrett Bradbury	The Vikings made a very good move here by not taking a defender (NO MORE CBs) and building up their line that needs a lot of help. Bradbury is versatile so they will figure out his best position but either way, instant starter for them. Nice pick. Rank: 6 Grade: A
19	Titans	Jeffery Simmons	Stunningly odd pick to me. Simmons is a good but not great football player and the Titans need some instant help. Long-term maybe it pays off but they really need to think about the present. I am also not convinced that he is going to even be good once he comes back. Rank: 30 Grade: C-
20	Broncos	Noah Fant	Fant is one of the bigger boom or bust picks in the first round. Was Hockenson that much better than him or was Fant just a tease in college? His skills dictate that he is worth the gamble, but is this really what the Broncos needed here? Rank: 20  Grade: B-
21	Packers	Darnell Savage	I am not sure that the Packers needed to trade up to get Savage but they must have had some inclination right? With that being said, the fit of Savage and the Packers is perfect. When I watched Savage's tape my first reaction was, "Earl Thomas" and I am going to stick to that. I love the player but the price was a little high. Still, you are better off having a player you love. Rank: 4 Grade: A
22	Eagles	Andre Dillard	The Eagles got aggressive and traded up for a player they wanted. I like Dillard but I think he is a bit of a gamble and I am not sure that the Eagles needed an OT this bad. Still, not a bad pick.  Rank: 19 Grade: B
23	Texans	Tytus Howard	This feels like a reactive reach here. I like Howard but to project him into a starting role as a rookie from Alabama State is going to be a bit of a stretch. A huge boom or bust situation that was probably not necessary. Rank: 31 Grade: C-
24	Raiders	Josh Jacobs	David Montgomery was the RB that made more sense here for the Raiders so I was a bit surprised. I want Jacobs to be good in the NFL but want and reality might be two different things. Still, he is a talented high character player. Rank:  23 Grade: C+
25	Ravens	Marquise Brown	Brown scares me because its so hard to imagine that he is going to be able to hold up over time. I like the player but its tough to draft this much of a boom or bust in the first round. Huge gamble here when they could have taken a sturdier receiver. Rank: 22 Grade: C+
26	Redskins	Montez Sweat	The Redskins trade back in and get a steal here. I hear that Sweat's attitude dropped him a bit which is understandble but the guy oozes talent and drive. I feel like he is a guy that will mature in the NFL so I like this pick a lot. Rank: 15 Grade: B+
27	Raiders	Johnathan Abram	This pick was the moment where I turned to Chris and said, "The Raiders really have had an uninspiring draft for having three picks" and Abram is the scariest of them all. You have to wonder if he will be able to control himself a bit more in the NFL than college. Talent is there so it may work out but he needs to scale his game back a little bit. I am not a huge fan of this pick. Rank:  Grade: C
28	Chargers	Jerry Tillery	I had heard the Tillery was moving up the boards and he had good stats but I am not too sure about him. I do not think he will be a bust but I also feel like he may just be average at best. Strange pick to me. Rank: 26 Grade: C
29	Seahawks	LJ Collier	Speaking of confusing picks and moving up boards, here is another guy. Sometimes the Seahawks grab an odd bird and I am like, "Yeah okay, I get it, I like this guy" then they grab a guy and I am like, "Super average at best" this is the latter. I do not really like this pick but he will be okay. Rank: 28 Grade: C
30	Giants	Deandre Baker	The Giants trade back up, credit the Seahawks for trading out here, and go after…a CB? A little surprising considering that they really need a pass-rusher or even pass-catcher, but they grabbed a solid player. Rank: 17  Grade: B
31	Falcons	Kaleb Mcgary	The Falcons make a shrewed move and jump back into the first round to really strengthen up their offensive line. I like the player, I like the strategy, and it instantly made the Falcons better. Really nice pick. Rank: 11 Grade: B+
32	Patriots	N'Keal Harry	N'Keal Harry is one of my least favorite players in this draft. Oozing with talent but low on effort and he telegraphs run plays. The Patriots are not going to put up with that so maybe he makes it, but this is my least favorite pick in the first round hands down. Rank: 32  Grade: D+

2019 NFL Draft 1st round Reflections: Safest to Biggest Boom or Bust

Safest pick to the biggest boom or bust: Removing where the player was drafted, this is the list of whom I feel are the safest to the riskiest of the 1^st round draft picks. So this has nothing to do with me grading the pick it is simply who I feel are the safest picks to contribute to their teams down to the biggest boom or bust picks. Which also means that the players in the middle have the least amount of potential to boom.

32	Nick Bosa
31	TJ Hockenson
30	Quinnen Williams
29	Josh Allen
28	Jonah Williams
27	Darnell Savage
26	Garrett Bradbury
25	Devin White
24	Clelin Ferrell
23	Chris Lindstrom
22	Daniel Jones
21	Dexter Lawrence
20	Josh Jacobs
19	LJ Collier
18	Dwayne Haskins
17	Kaleb Mcgary
16	Devin Bush
15	Christian Wilkins
14	Deandre Baker
13	Montez Sweat
12	Andre Dillard
11	Ed Oliver
10	Rashan Gary
9	Johnathan Abram
8	Kyler Murray
7	Jerry Tillery
6	Noah Fant
5	Jeffery Simmons
4	Tytus Howard
3	Marquise Brown
2	Brian Burns
1	N'Keal Harry

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!

2019 Draft: Busts, Overrated, Scared

2019 NFL Draft Busts, Overhyped, Scared: 

For this feature, I am going to outline players that are considered top level players, essentially projected in the first round to early second round, that I feel will be busts or are going to just be average in the NFL. Basically, if I were a GM Busts and overhyped are off my draft board and scared of drops them at least a round or two but might be worth a gamble if they happened to fall that far.

Busts

Jachai Polite Edge Florida – Polite just pins his ears back and rushes the passer. His effort on running plays is sad. He also had the odd interview responses, it’s like “Dude, this is the NFL where the media is going to potentially roast you, coaches will roast you, fans will roast you”.

Brian Burns Edge Florida State – I wanted to like Burns but the more I watched him, the more I saw a guy that relies too much on his athleticism and not enough on thinking strategy while rushing the passer. The talent and effort are there but he needs to slow his game down a bit and I am not sure that he is going to do it.

Drew Lock QB Missouri – Lock is the greatest practice player that exists but when game time rolls around something is missing. All you heard about during Senior Bowl week was how great he looked, then he was outperformed by QBs that are mid-rounders at best. I can see that if he happens to go to a team named the Patriots that he would be successful but that is the only scenario that I can see him doing well in.

Jawaan Taylor OT Florida – When I watched tape on Martez Ivey I was stunned to not be able to identify him over the other OT that was supposed to be better. Both him and Ivey are terribly inconsistent. Taylor reminds me a bit of King Dunlap in that he will have some times when he looks great and other times where you are just scratching your head.

N’Keal Harry WR Arizona – I love watching tape on players, it is exciting, except that I hate watching tape on Harry. He turns it on and off so many times in games. Does the defense need a cue that it is a run play, just check out Harry. I wanted to like him, I really did, but his lack of effort in games scares me.

Parris Campbell WR Ohio State – Campbell reminds me too much of Ted Ginn Jr. as he is getting hyped up because of his speed but his game is just speed and his catches seem to be too contested at times. It all depends on where he goes but if he is drafted in the first or second round, he will disappoint.

Overhyped

Clemson DL: When you have a whole line of top players you have to wonder if the whole is better than the parts.

Clelin Ferrell DE – I like Ferrell but he is not a top tier DE in my book. With that being said, I think he will be a solid DE for somebody. Perhaps a bit like Chris Long if you remove his 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Christian Wilkins DT – I just do not see the same guy on tape that others have been seeing. He looks decent but I do not see him being anything more than an average to low end starter.

Greedy Williams CB LSU – Williams has some talent and all but I do not see him as a #1 CB in the NFL. The issue is that he is tier 2 talent that acts like he is a Pro Bowler. There are holes in all of the top CBs this year so I guess he is the best of the bunch, though not my favorite corner. I have a distinct feeling that he is going to be a bit like Justin Gilbert was.

Rock Ya-Sin CB Temple - Ya-Sin looks like a capable CB but he got a bit toasted when the competition stepped up at the Senior Bowl. I see a mid-round player, not a bottom of the 1^st or high 2^nd rounder.

Guys that scare me

Johnathan Abrams S Mississippi State – The walking fine waiting to happen needs to calm himself down. He would have been a stud that everybody loved 30 years ago but not today. Overaggressive hard hitting safeties are not the best guys for your team.

Ed Oliver DT Houston – I like Oliver, but my gosh, what an attitude at his pro day complaining about things. Those types of red flags make you wonder what you are getting yourself into. The talent is there on the field but you have to also dedicate yourself in practice and that is the part I am questioning after that report.

Marquise Brown WR Oklahoma – Brown is fun to watch and a heck of a player but you are going to have to really be careful with him. Is it worth gambling a first or second rounder on a guy that may not be able to hold up for more than a few years?

We are one day away from draft day. Stay tuned for tomorrows final feature!

2019 NFL Draft: Take two challenge

Take two challenge: For this feature I am going to follow a rule of two so I can only grab two players from each position. I aimed for guys that would not likely be drafted in the first 3 rounds but that is always unpredictable. Additionally, they must be considered at least a tier 2 player or below. A few exceptions exist: Fullback was only 1 player. Punter, Kicker, and Long Snapper were excluded. Plus, two wild cards!

QBs:

Tyree Jackson Buffalo – Jackson has as much potential as any QB in this draft as evident by his Senior Bowl. It is a mystery as to why he came out early but he did so somebody could get a mid-round steal here. One thing to consider is that if he is given a shot at QB and it is clear that he cannot make it at that position, try him at TE since he is such a good athlete.

Easton Stick North Dakota State – This guy is such a winner and I am not sure why he is being so undervalued. I really like the way that he plays the game. He might not ever be a star but he reminds me of everybody’s favorite back-up now starter Nick Foles in the way that he plays the game.

RBs:

Ryquell Armstead Temple – His crazy quick feet, size, and strength are so much fun to watch. He seems like a guy that is perfect for a zone blocking scheme where you tell him, “go to this hole no matter what and run” and he finds success that way.

Benny Snell Jr. Kentucky – Snell’s 40 time is a bit slower than you would like but he is a real football player. His power running and receiving skills are going to serve him well in the NFL even if he will just be a grinder over a big play RB.

FB/Hback: Okay, rule of two has been removed here because this is not a very utilized position anymore. I was not going to even include any but I like one guy!

Trevon Wesco West Virginia – It is tough to say if he falls more into the TE or FB category but his hands are a little inconsistent and what he does best is block. He looks like a steam roller out there! Fun to watch and should find his way to a team whether he is drafted or not.

WRs: I originally had Terry McLaurin who I do like a lot but he was pushed out with my second choice impressing me more.

Andy Isabella Massachusetts – Both Isabella and Hunter Renfrow stepped up at the Senior Bowl and looked as good as anybody. Isabella has a bit more talent and is a bit twitchier of an athlete so I give him the nod here.

Cody Thompson Toledo – I really wanted to think Thompson was being overrated as an underrated prospect. Does that make any sense? Nope of course not. So in watching him I thought about who he reminds me of and came to the conclusion that he was similar to Cooper Kupp, that is to say, a guy that just knows how to play the game but maybe is considered a step slow. From a straight up measurables perspective, Thompson has the edge. Watch him play, he does not look slow. Additionally, he had some crazy punt blocks in college so that ups his value.

TE: I wanted to put down Jace Sternberger here but I think he might be a bit too close to 2^nd round so I skipped over him here.

Kahale Warring San Diego State – Warring’s situation may turn out to be a bit similar to Jimmy Graham when he came out of college. That is not to say that they are even close to the same type of player but Graham clearly had a boatload of talent but needed a year to learn the position a bit better. Warring has the skills to be a more well-rounded tight end and has some interesting potential once he can learn all of the nuances.

Dax Raymond Utah State – Even though this may sound like reverse logic, I was initially watching tape on Darwin Thompson when I noticed Raymond. He feels like one of those sneaky guys that finds the soft spot and makes the plays when his team needs him to. Will he be a top player, not likely, but he could be one of those complimentary 2^nd TEs.

OT: Tytus Howard has been skyrocketing up boards so I am eliminating him from contention for this challenge.

Max Scharping Northern Illinois – Scharping is simply one of my favorite players in this draft. Certainly, he has some flaws but with NFL coaching and conditioning he could turn out to be a major steal for somebody. One of those mean grinder types that reminds me a lot of Bryan Bulaga.

Mitch Hyatt Clemson – Hyatt is a good example of when you should throw out measurables and put on game tape. Okay, he has short arms we all get it, but he sure looks solid out there. While not perfect, he should be a solid starting pro.

OG:

Nate Davis Charlotte – Looks to be a bit of a misfit at OT in college as he is not quite nifty enough to handle speed moves. However, he moves his legs well and anchors well so he should be an excellent fit at Guard in the NFL.

Michael Jordan Ohio State – While he played Center last year, he is going to be much more of a guard in the NFL, perhaps even an emergency Tackle. This is a situation where his versatility to play so many positions makes him more valuable of a player. With that being said, he is very experienced at a big time program and when he gets low enough, defensive lineman are going to really have a hard time gaining leverage.

C: Center is such an odd position because you could go into a draft and get a dynamite center in the first round or the seventh round and it seems to happen every year.

Lamont Gaillard Georgia – He has a lot of those small things that make centers successful such as initial quickness, stout, aware, and mean. While he may not be huge or have off the chart mesurables he is just a good football player.

Ross Pierschbacher Alabama – One common thing with recent Alabama centers has been that they are well prepared mentally and physically for the NFL. He is not a great prospect but he will be able to start for somebody or be an excellent inside started at center or guard.

DT:

Khalen Saunders Western Illinois – When Saunders needed to step up at the Senior Bowl he dominated. The fact that he has not been pushed up to round 2 (Who knows maybe he has) is astounding to me. He reminds me so much of Mike Daniels. He is going to make somebody happy by the end of the 2019 season.

Anthony Rush Alabama Birmingham – Rush is a big dancing bear that is flying a bit under the radar. Slightly smaller school and he plays a position that does not draw a lot of attention since his job is to set others up and clog up the middle. But make no mistake, he could be a great 1^st and 2^nd down type of nose tackle.

DE/Edge:

Corbin Kaufusi BYU – Kaufusi is a bit of an oddball because he is as lanky as a 275 pound player can be because he comes in at about 6’9”. He was also not able to perform at his pro day due to postponing surgery to help his team. So, he played hurt and still produced last year. I am not sure if he is a true DE or if he should play OLB (Maybe I am just entertained by a 6’9” OLB?) but he has a high motor and might be a nice dark horse from this draft.

Maxx Crosby Eastern Michigan – Crosby is one of the strangest players to watch play. He looks almost clumsy when you watch him play as he kind of flops around a bit. He is also very skinny so he needs to throw on some weight. With that said, his quickness in his hands and feet ooze potential.

LB: With the Linebackers it is a little complicated since OLBs in a 4-3 can also be great ILBs in the 3-4 so the take two is more of a take 4

Andrew Van Ginkel Wisconsin – He is a bit skinny but that does not seem to hold him back. He just always seems to be making plays all over the field and has big play awareness. Could throw on some weight and be an edge rusher, stick to OLB, or be an interesting MLB.

Bobby Okereke Stanford – Okereke always seems to be where the play is and has solid make-up speed to catch up to the play if he has any missteps. Could be a stronger tackler but is typically there. I really like watching his read and react to a play and that he is not afraid to stick his nose in there.

Cole Holcomb North Carolina – High energy football player that has a tendency to over pursue a little but also makes plenty of plays. Maybe not a high end starter but a guy that can start in the NFL and at the very least be a dynamite special teamer. His motor does not stop and those are the plyers you want on your team. It is surprising that so many were surprised at his pro day, his athletic ability jumps off the screen when you watch him.

Drew Lewis Colorado – Aware linebacker who can rush the passer and make use of pass-rushing moves who is also pretty good in coverage. Can he hold up at his size or does he need to throw a bit more weight on him? Either way, a good football player.

CB:

David Long Michigan – Long is likely to be a slot corner back more than an outside CB but he is very good at that. With the amount of passing going on in the NFL now, three CBs are needed and a really good third can strengthen a defense greatly. That is not to say that he cannot play outside but inside might be his best position.

Kris Boyd Texas – Boyd is a feisty and athletic cornerback. He certainly has some issues with a bit too much contact but with coaching he should be able to correct that. I just love cornerbacks that are not afraid to mix it up a bit and take ball carriers head on.

S:

Jaquan Johnson Miami – I have been scratching my head as to how this guy has not gotten more press. He seems like a big playmaker who has no problem sticking his nose in. His workout numbers do not add up to the guy on the field. I wonder if this is going to be one of those safeties that teams wonder how he slipped past them. Perhaps a bit like how Lemarcus Joyner’s situation was.

Chris Johnson North Alabama – I am a little underwhelmed with the second tier Safeties, so why not dig really deep into a D-II prospect? It is tough to say how Johnson would handle the jump in competition but he is fast and instinctive along with having some solid coverage skills for a safety. A roll of the dice but at least you looking at a guy that has the talent.

Wild Cards: These are guys that I think belong in the NFL that are just great to have on your team

Trace McSorley QB Penn State -  McSorely is just super competitive and has always risen to the occasion. Do not discount the will of a player at the QB position. McSorely has a very strong shot at making it at QB in the NFL. Give him the shot at QB first then if it is clear he cannot make it, try to convince him to move elsewhere.

Tony Brooks-James Oregon– Plain and simple, I love watching this guy play. He is super fast but is also super slick and does not allow for defenders to easily take him down despite his size. He also has pretty good hands to boot. Maybe he is just a returner and part time player but often times, those are the x-factors in games.

Keep reading this week as I will keep posting content leading up to Christmas in April!