As is tradition, here’s my entire, seven round 2019 NFL Mock draft. It’s done for fun, not accuracy, which is good because no one really knows who’s even going #1 overall. But here’s my attempt at projecting everything that happens over the next three days. As a bonus, I’ve assigned each team three undrafted free agents.
Enjoy the draft everyone and let me know your thoughts below.
Round One
1. ARI – Kyler Murray/QB Oklahoma: Despite the recent rumors the team will not draft Murray, who I admit his status here at #1 seems much less of a lock than even two weeks ago, I’m more inclined to chalk those up as pre-draft rumors typically associated this time of year. If they think Murray is the future and it’s wise to admit their mistake on Josh Rosen, this is the move they gotta make.
2. SF – Nick Bosa/DE Ohio State: Although the 49ers have been down this road before, taking another defensive linemen early, they still finished with only 37 sacks last year, bottom third in football. Bosa might be the best player in this draft or one small step behind Quinnen Williams. He’ll play opposite Dee Ford.
3. NYJ – Josh Allen/OLB Kentucky: It feels like it’s been years since this team has had a talented outside linebacker. Allen has a blend of strength, speed, and versatility that’s uncommon for the position. They found their franchise QB last year. Now they have to find a cornerstone defensively to stand alongside Jamal Adams.
4. OAK –Quinnen Williams/DT Alabama: Nearly chose Ed Oliver here as the Raiders reported surprise, I think Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock will both come to the conclusions that Oliver is a “football player” capable of transcending scheme concerns, but Williams is the #1 player in this draft. No need to overthink it. Williams’ elite hand use made him impossible for any team to block. If Kyler Murray falls here though…watch out.
5. TB – Devin White/LB LSU: Maybe one of the easier calls to make in the draft shoulder Oliver be gone and White remains on the board. Perfect replacement for Kwon Alexander, signed by the 49ers to a mega deal in free agency. White is a three-down player who tested off the charts at the Combine. Could go with Quinnen Williams but with how deep the interior DL class is, they can wait.
6. NYG – Daniel Jones/QB Duke: It may come down to Jones vs Dwayne Haskins though David Gettleman is always a wild card with his approach and clingy nature to Eli Manning. Jones’ lack of college production doesn’t tend to paint a picture of NFL success but if they believe he’s “the guy,” there’s no point in waiting.
7. JAC – Ed Oliver/DT Houston: Almost went T.J. Hockenson here but Tom Coughlin is going to work the trenches here. Oliver is a wildcard but if you can’t make him productive, the coaching is the issue, not the player. He’ll replace Malik Jackson and a depleted Jags’ defensive line.
8. DET – Brian Burns/DE Florida State: There’s gotta be at least one pick that raises an eyebrow in the top ten, right? Though there’s local product Rashan Gary on the board, I think the Lions want to go after a higher impact pass rusher. Burns is scheme versatile but shows flashes of dominance when asked to turn the corner while showing advanced hand use and ways to rush the passer. There’s questions about his size, strength, and games where he struggled (Florida vs Jawaan Taylor is a great example), but the ceiling is sky high.
9. BUF – Christian Wilkins/DT Clemson: The run on defensive linemen continues. Wilkins can by their Kyle Williams and pair inside with Star Lotulelei along the interior. Buffalo allowed 17 rushing touchdowns in 2018.
10. DEN – T.J. Hockenson/TE Iowa: Had a little trouble figuring out where to go here. Quarterback is possible but not terribly likely and offensive line can wait, though Jonah Williams would fit great with OL coach Mike Munchak. Ultimately settled on the top tight end in this class, who can do it all at a high level. Jeff Heuerman isn’t the answer.
11. CIN – Devin Bush/LB Michigan: The Bengals boasted one of the worst linebacker groups in all of football last year and are desperate for some athleticism. Bush ran 4.43 at the Combine and projects as a three-down linebacker who can start for the next ten years.
12. GB – Jonah Williams/OT Alabama: If Hockenson falls, he feels like a perfect match in Green Bay. He didn’t so I struggled with this pick more than others. Williams might have some question marks about his length but his football IQ, preparedness, and SEC battle-tested resume is all impressive. Day One right tackle. Bryan Bulaga is 30, in the last year of his deal, and has played all 16 games just twice in his career. The length might be a concern to some but Bulaga carved out his career with just 33 1/4 inch arms.
13. MIA – Jeffrey Simmons/DT Ole Miss: Let’s be honest – Miami is punting on 2019. Quarterback is possible, and without predicting trades they tend to slip in these mocks, but I think they wait until 2020. So why not get top talent who, no, might not even play in 2019, but could be immense value once you actually start to build a team? Taking Simmons here is on the high end of course but it works with their franchise outlook. He would’ve been a Top 10 player had it not been for character and medical issues.
14. ATL – Montez Sweat/DE Mississippi St: Sweat’s heart concerns may drop him down and his draft status feels unpredictable right now. But he performed one of the freakiest Combine workouts we’ve ever seen, though I see some tightness in his cornering that has me concerned. Still, a physical, big body teeming with upside.
15. WSH – Drew Lock/QB Missouri: Lock becomes the third quarterback off the board. Alex Smith’s career is in serious doubt while Colt McCoy and Case Keenum are stop gaps. Lock has a big arm and good mobility who can sit for Year One if the team deems it best.
16. CAR – Rashan Gary/DE Michigan: Really get to look at how loaded this defensive line class is when you go through these mock drafts. Gary is another name from that group off the board. He’ll contribute heavily on early downs with Bruce Irvin able to pin his ears back on third and long. Gary has great power though probably will never be a 10+ sack guy.
17. NYG – Greedy Williams/CB LSU: Edge rusher would be nice here after getting their CB but there aren’t any great options remaining. Corner is still a top need after dealing Eli Apple last year. New York ran a lot of man coverage last year and that’s where Williams will thrive.
18. MIN – Cody Ford/OG Oklahoma: Could play tackle but more likely to kick inside to guard for the Vikings. Offensive line is their number one priority. Ford could be the first offensive linemen off the board.
19. TEN – Chris Lindstrom/OG Boston College: Bit of a surprise here but I Lindstrom is one of those plug ‘n play dudes who’s going to start for the next ten years. He’ll slide into a weak right guard spot and make up for an excellent offensive line, joining Taylor Lewan, Jack Conklin, and Roger Saffold.
20. PIT – Clelin Ferrell/OLB Clemson: Devin Bush is long gone but Ferrell is a good consolation prize. Ferrell is high character, high production, and could be the starting ROLB in 2020 if the team moves on from Bud Dupree. Good value here, too.
21. SEA – Byron Murphy/CB Washington: This feels like an ideal match. Seattle runs as much Cover 3 as anyone and they get one of the draft’s top zone corners who gets to stay local. Murphy picked off seven passes in just 20 games and is among the most physical corners, too.
22. BAL – D.K. Metcalf/WR Ole Miss: Metcalf’s stock has cooled down a bit since he blazed a 4.33 40 yard dash but he meshes well with the vision of the Ravens’ offense. Vertical threat, size will help him as a blocker, and that catch radius will help minimize some of Lamar Jackson’s accuracy issues. Good luck covering him for 5+ seconds when Jackson scrambles around, too. Valid questions about his ability to separate and change directions but he’s an ideal Z receiver.
23. HOU – Andre Dillard/OT Washington State: Still some really good tackles on the board and no team is as desperate for one than the Texans, who have neglected the o-line for too long while Deshaun Watson has paid the price because of it. Dillard had some concerns about the Air Raid scheme he played in but had a great Senior Bowl week to quell those concerns.
24. OAK – Marquise Brown/WR Oklahoma: Could be the first receiver taken off the board in a class without the top “guy” but he goes off second here. He joins his cousin Antonio Brown to give this team a couple of excellent vertical threats for Derek Carr.
25. PHI – Rock Ya-Sin/CB Temple: Ya-Sin stays local. An average athlete, Ya-Sin makes up for it with physicality and tenacity and a profile that’s likely to get better after just one year in the FBS level. Will be ready to start full-time in 2020 when there’s likely to be a vacancy or two.
26. IND – Dexter Lawrence/DT Clemson: Slips a little here because of his size that feels a little old-age but he racked up 6.5 sacks his freshman year and will be a hulking figure to occupy the middle of the defensive line.
27. OAK – Noah Fant/TE Iowa: Keep loading up weapons for the Raiders’ offense. Good luck covering Brown, Brown, and Fant. Another vertical threat who can win over the middle when teams want to bracket AB. Great replacement for Jared Cook.
28. LAC – Dalton Risner/OT Kansas St: One of my favorite players in the draft, few have the mean streak and desire to finish like Risner. Probably kicks inside to guard in LA but he could start at right tackle too. Team drafted Forest Lamp for similar tools. Not flashy but gets the job done.
29. SEA – Jawaan Taylor/OT Florida: Pass rusher might make the most sense here positionally but there isn’t a name worth the pick. Taylor drops further than most think so the Seahawks jump on the value. Germain Ifedi has struggled after being taken as their first round pick in 2016 and in the last year of his rookie deal before the fifth year option kicks in (that they probably won’t pick up). Slight concerns about a shoulder injury send Taylor to the end of the first but I like his size and athleticism.
30. GB – Nassir Adderley/FS Delaware: The first small school player off the board. Adrian Amos will play SS after being inked early in free agency but there’s still question marks over the FS spot. Adderely played well at the Senior Bowl and proved to be a ballhawk. Nice connection with his grandfather being a Packer, too, but the talent here is legit.
31. LAR – Garrett Bradbury/C NC State: Could go higher than this. “Safe” is a dangerous word but there might not be a safer player than him, who could start Day One inside and round out the Rams’ offensive line, that might need a boost with Todd Gurley’s knee a lingering question.
32. NE – Dwayne Haskins/QB Ohio St: The heir to Brady? Haskins might not be mobile but Tom Brady, at least outside the pocket, has never been a threat. He only started for one year at Ohio State and is far from a polished, finished product which makes this a perfect scenario for him to sit behind the best QB of all-time.
Round Two
33. ARI – Parris Campbell/WR Ohio State: Sounds like the Cardinals are targeting a receiver at the top of round two. Campbell is an big, fast, YAC threat. He becomes the new age type of slot receiver who needs to be used more vertically than the Buckeyes did.
34. IND – Deandre Baker/CB Georgia: The best cornerback left on the board. Plays faster on tape than he tested but proved to be one of the most dominant corners in recent SEC history. They brought back Pierre Desir but don’t have a great starter opposite.
35. OAK – Erik McCoy/OG Texas A&M: Third straight offensive pick. He mostly played center for the Aggies but saw a little work at guard and could open up the year at left guard. Good blend of athleticism and size. He may sneak into the first round.
36. SF – Darnell Savage Jr./FS Maryland: Savage is absolutely on the rise and could go ten spots higher than this. Playmaker who can hit, he picked off nine passes for the Terps and one of the rocks of that time. Little undersized but has 4.36 speed and will get to play in space for the 49ers. Really good fit.
37. NYG – A.J. Brown/WR Ole Miss: Run on receivers might start here. They did sign Golden Tate and lock up Sterling Shepherd long-term but you need three receivers to function in the NFL today. Brown gets overlooked being Metcalf’s teammate but a good player who can win vertically, too.
38. JAC – Tytus Howard/OT Alabama St: Still building through the trenches. Right tackle is a glaring need for the offensive line with Jeremy Parnell gone. Howard is one of the top sleepers not just at tackle but the entire class with great size at 6’5, 322.
39. TB – L.J. Collier/DT TCU: Potentially versatile defensive linemen who probably plays plenty of 3 tech for Tampa, who are poised to move on from Gerald McCoy. Collier hasn’t wowed with athleticism or production but is expected to go high in the draft. Six sacks for the Horned Frogs in 2018.
40. BUF – Hakeem Butler/WR Iowa St: Big receiver to compliment John Brown and give Josh Allen more weapons than he had in his rookie year. Butler has a great blend of size, physicality, and athleticism. He averaged 22 yards per catch last year.
41. DEN – Elgton Jenkins/C Mississippi St: Best center left on the board, a need after losing Matt Paradis in free agency. Jenkins is one of the best finishers in the draft with good starting experience against SEC competition.
42. CIN – Will Grier/QB West Virginia: New head coach Zach Taylor gets his potential QB of the future. Grier stays relatively local after a successful career with the Mountaineers. He won’t start right away but Andy Dalton isn’t taking this team on a deep run again and had just two years left on his contract.
43. DET – Irv Smith Jr/TE Alabama: Little undersized but highly productive tight end capable of doing a ton of damage after the catch. He’ll compete with newly signed Jesse James for the #1 role though for a rookie tight end, I’d expect Smith to begin the year as the #2. Still, plenty of snaps to go around.
44. GB – Josh Jacobs/RB Alabama: Maybe a bit of a surprise pick here and definitely not a glaring need but Jacobs, the first back off the board, is strong value heading into the middle of Round Two. Jamal Williams hasn’t rushed for more than 3.8 YPC the last two years and while Aaron Jones had a very productive 2018, this creates an excellent one-two punch.
45. ATL – Germaine Pratt/LB NC State: A former safety turned linebacker, that fits the mold of the type of linebacker the Falcons have targeted. Good athlete, productive, and could play right away. Duke Riley played poorly last year.
46. WSH – Deebo Samuel/WR South Carolina: One of my favorite prospects of the whole draft, Samuel could step into the slot to replace the departed Jamison Crowder. But Samuel is versatile, able to play inside/out, while being an asset in the kick return game. A history of leg injurie are a concern but when healthy, he found the end zone at a remarkable rate.
47. CAR – N’Keal Harry/WR Arizona St: Receiver runs continues, which most people expect in Round Two. Panthers have plenty of space players like D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel but Harry gives them a big downfield threat who can make contested catches.
48. MIA – D’Andre Walker/OLB Georgia: Being up on pass rushers and big bodies who can set the edge in the run game. Walker’s name has gone under the radar for most of the draft process but racked up 7.5 sacks last year for the Bulldogs. Defensive-minded Brian Flores looks to revamp Miami’s front seven.
49. CLE – Jonathan Abram/SS Mississippi St: Little lower than probably projected and expected here. Morgan Burnett shouldn’t be counted on. Abram is one of the classes’ best missiles and willing to sacrifice his body. That’ll work well in the gritty AFC North. Browns finally get to turn in their first card of the draft.
50. MIN – Juan Thornhill/S Virginia: Vikings get strong value here. Thornhill is a playmaker with 13 career interceptions, seven as a senior, before blowing everyone away with an incredible Combine workout. Corner/safety versatility that at worst, gives them good depth, but is talented enough to find a role for. Put him next to Harrison Smith? Whew. Look out, NFL.
51. TEN – Dawson Knox/TE Ole Miss: The top tight end on the board. Jonnu Smith had his moments last year but Knox creates a good pairing. He was underutilized in college with all the weapons around him but could go on to having a better NFL career with the way he tested and looked at the Combine.
52. PIT – Miles Boykin/WR Notre Dame: A relatively raw but big-play X receiver to help replace Antonio Brown. Steelers showed a lot of interest in Boyd throughout the pre-draft process and he could see starter’s snaps by midseason.
53. PHI – Darrell Henderson/RB Memphis: One of the most dynamic players in college football, the Eagles get a more rocked up version of Darren Sproles. Good compliment to Corey Clement and Jordan Howard. Eagles have no problem using a committee at this position.
54. HOU – Lonnie Johnson/CB Kentucky: They did sign Bradley Roby in the offseason but only to a one-year deal. Johnson is a long, athletic corner but shows tightness when asked to change direction. Reports indicate he could go even higher, though.
55. HOU – Jerry Tillery/DE Notre Dame: Good value here. Tillery battled through a torn labrum last season but was still productive. Strong fit for their 3-4 defense who can stuff the run and get after the QB. He can move around their front.
56. NE – J.J. Arcega Whiteside/WR Stanford: No amazing options at tight end here so the Pats go with a big receiver who can function like a tight end in Arcega-Whiteside, who can win on jump balls in the red zone. Tested really well at his Pro Day, too. 28 career touchdowns, 14 last year for the Cardinals.
57. PHI – Mack Wilson/ILB Alabama: Replacement for Jordan Hicks, who cashed in out West in Arizona. Wilson slipped after an underwhelming junior season with only average testing but he’s fluid in coverage with hopefully his best football ahead of him.
58. DAL – Taylor Rapp/SS Washington: Jeff Heath has been serviceable but Rapp is a clear upgrade here. A poor 40 time hurts his stock a little bit but few are as aggressive and tenacious as Rapp, who will thrive near the LOS in the NFL.
59. IND – Kelvin Harmon/WR NC State: Harmon didn’t test great but is a big body with heavy production as a member of the Wolfpack. His ability to separate late in routes will be critical for his NFL future. Devin Funchess was signed but only to a one-year deal.
60. LAC – Justin Layne/CB Michigan St: Corners falling a bit here but with so many teams loading up on receivers, you gotta get guys who can cover. Layne has some concerns with average speed and some hip tightness but tracks the ball exceptionally well and able to play the catch point. Former receiver who will play on the outside.
61. KC – Julian Love/CB Notre Dame: He can replace the departed Steven Nelson. Love has the speed and athleticism to play in the Chiefs’ man-heavy scheme. This is probably on the low end of where he’ll wind up in the draft so KC gets solid value with this pick.
62. NO – Zach Allen/DE Boston College: Saints finally get on the board here. I don’t see a glaring need on this team anymore after wrestling Nick Easton away from the Minnesota Vikings to replace the retired Max Unger and when you don’t get to pick until late in the second round, you focus on value. Allen is one of my favorite players still on the board who can play up and down the line from 4i to kicking inside. Powerful strike, quick first step, and high effort dude The starters are strong but depth is important and Cameron Jordan turns 30 in July.
Love is arguably the best player remaining on the board. Eli Apple is a free agent after the season.
63. KC – Miles Sanders/RB Penn State: Sanders going a little lower here but still the third running back off the board. Signing Carlos Hyde isn’t going to move the needle much and though they have several options on the roster, there isn’t a clear, #1 guy. Sanders rushed for over 1200 yards in his only year as the Nittany Lions’ starter but impressed at the Combine, running in the high 4.4’s.
64. NE – Chase Winovich/DE Michigan: Feels like a Patriot, doesn’t he? One of the highest motor players in the draft, excellent production, and an impressive sub-7 second three cone time, he’ll help replace Trey Flowers. Scheme versatile too, though he’ll have to learn how to play backwards.
Round Three
65. ARI – Amani Hooker/S Iowa: Versatile player used in Iowa’s “Star” position last year. Can come in for sub-packages immediately, even if he won’t be an every down player out of the gate. He’ll add what the defense has missed without Tyrann Mathieu.
66. PIT – Isaiah Johnson/CB Houston: Johnson is another former receiver who hacked it at corner. Long, lean, with speed (4.40), he’s raw but as a third rounder, can be viewed as a developmental prospect. May start in 2020 should the team not re-sign Joe Haden.
67. SF – Kaden Smith/TE Stanford: For a run-oriented offense, they grab a local product in Smith, who pairs nicely with George Kittle as the backup tight end. 49ers are going to be a grind-it-out type of offense with their three-headed attack at running back. Smith can move the sticks though, catching 70 balls the last two years.
68. NYJ – Kaleb McGary/OT Washington: Strongly considered a cornerback here but the value with McGary is too tough to pass up. Kelvin Beachum and Brandon Shell are each in the final year of their contracts. McGary is a great story who overcome a ton of adversity to make it into the league.
69. JAC – Deionte Thompson/FS Alabama: Thompson’s stock was dinged with injury stalling out his pre-draft process but he shows plus range and ball skills in centerfield. Playmaker in the back end this defense requires to be successful and the second member of the Crimson Tide they’ve selected in this draft.
70. TB – Amani Oruwariye/CB Penn State: Bit of a fall for Oruwariye but the cornerback class is such a jumbled mess it’s difficult to predict who is going where. Defensive heavy draft for the Bucs but they have a couple excellent pieces to work with. Oruwariye has good length and high points the ball well but shows some stiffness and problems finishing his tackles.
71. DEN – Blake Cashman/ILB Minnesota: A riser in the pre-draft process thanks to a great Combine workout, the Broncos could use an athlete in the middle after losing Brandon Marshall to free agency. Inside linebacker isn’t a dire need but getting an athlete like Cashman is good value in the arly portions of the third.
72. CIN – Nate Davis/OG Charlotte: The offense line isn’t in great shape and guard Alex Redmond was bounced in and out of the starting lineup. Davis is a squatty body with a stance that basically scrapes the ground but one of the top small school linemen to pay attention to who held his own at the Senior Bow.
73. NE – Trysten Hill/DT UCF: Hill was in a weird situation last season, failing to start the season despite his obvious talent. He put that talent on display at Indy. If there’s any team that can get the most out of a player, it’s the Patriots. He’ll help replace Malcolm Brown inside but his versatility will work well in their hybrid front.
74. BUF – Jace Sternberger/TE Texas A&M: Though they did sign Tyler Kroft in the offseason, he isn’t a dynamic receiver. Sternberger could be that guy, testing well and going for more than 800 yards and eye-popping 10 touchdowns last season.
75. GB – Charles Omenihu/OLB Texas: Had a tough time figuring out where to slot Omenihu but this seems like a reasonable range. Tweener at 280 pounds but could compare a bit to Mike Neal, who has had a successful career.
76. WSH – Sean Bunting/CB Central Michigan: Josh Norman still well paid for the next two years but has struggled and there isn’t much else in the secondary. Washington was top ten in man coverage last year and that’s the best fit for Bunting, a physical corner who defends the deep part of the route tree as well as anyone in this class.
77. CAR – Drue Tranquill/LB Notre Dame: A safety turned linebacker whose overcome a couple of torn ACLs in his life? Sounds a lot like Thomas Davis. Tranquill ran well at the Combine and is a physical force. Good fit next to Shaq Thompson and Luke Kuechly.
78. MIA – Greg Little/OT Ole Miss: Got the Tunsil/Little reunion going on here. Dolphins lost talented RT Ja’Waun James to Denver in the offseason, leaving a big role on the right side. Again, focus is on building up the trenches before going all-in for their QB in 2020.
79. ATL – Drew Forbes/OG SE Missouri St: Interior line depth, Forbes is a small school gem and good fit for the Falcons’ zone scheme. Forbes played tackle in college, a three-year starter for the Redhawks.
80. CLE – Khalen Saunders/DT Illinois St: Saunders may go 25 spots higher, watch out for New England as a fit, but regardless, Saunders impressed as an impressive athlete who can move around their front despite his squatty stature. You’ll see the clip of him doing a backflip at least 20 times on ESPN.
81. MIN – DreMont Jones/DT Ohio St: Back-to-back defensive tackles. Like the value here. Jones tested poorly and doesn’t have great length but a high amount of production with the ability to disengage from blocks. Good depth along their interior d-line.
82. TEN – Chauncey Gardner-Johnson/S Florida St: Versatile DB who can play in the slot or down in the box. He may start opposite Kevin Byard by 2020 but for his rookie year, play in a sub-package role. Mike Vrabel’s kind of dude.
83. PIT – Renell Wren/DE Arizona St: Another versatile defensive linemen who can play all along the Steelers’ front. Few prototypical odd front defensive ends in this draft but he’s one of them, testing really well at the Combine with a 5.01 40, 32 inch vert, and 30 reps on the bench. College production was poor, however.
84. KC – Mecole Hardman/WR Georgia: Tyreek Hill’s status is up in the air and a suspension could definitely be coming. So they’ll need another big-play threat. Hardman fits that bill as well as anyone in this year’s draft, and the Chiefs are reportedly very interested in him. Could be their selection in Round Two.
85. BAL – Andy Isabella/WR UMass: Ravens taking two receivers with their first two picks but wow, do they need the help here. Isabella is a totally different dude than Metcalf and will likely fit inside, but this is a team that selected Tavon Young, an undersized corner, and played him outside earlier in his career. Isabella won’t be confined to one spot.
86. HOU – Michael Deiter/OG Wisconsin: Another offensive linemen. Deiter is one of the more versatile players in this draft, logging time at guard, center, and tackle. For the Texans, they’re open to getting help wherever they can. He’ll likely fit inside at guard in the league.
87. CHI – Mike Edwards/SS Kentucky: Chicago finally on the board. Welcome to the party, pal. Maybe a little higher than expected here, Garnder-Johnson would’ve been a superb fit, but Edwards wore a lot of hats and tested better than expected in the pre-draft process. He’ll play next to Eddie Jackson to make up a physical safety tandem and Edwards’ ability to take angles to the ball lets him make plays in space.
88. DET – Trayvon Mullen/CB Clemson: Mullen’s stock takes a dip here but again, this corner class is difficult to predict. Not the most athletic nor the greatest in run support, he’ll have to make up for those traits when the ball is in the air. He picked off three passes as a sophomore in 2017.
89. IND – Tyree Jackson/QB Buffalo: Colts taking a flier here. Jacoby Brissett’s in the last year of his deal and will certainly be playing elsewhere in 2020. Gives the big bodied Jackson a year to sit and learn behind two smart QBs. He’s got a great arm and ability to throw off-platform but raw and highly inconsistent. Having three picks in the top 60 lets them stick their neck out for a luxury pick here.
90. DAL – Justice Hill/RB Oklahoma St: Zeke Elliott is clearly the dude here but depth is thin. Hill can be used creatively to get on the field, perhaps at the same time as Zeke, and an excellent compliment. One of the most dynamic runners in this class.
91. LAC – Dontavius Russell/NT Auburn: Whopping 49 career starts with an impressive 153 career tackles. He’ll look to add to their defensive line and play behind Brandon Mebane before possibly taking over in 2020.
92. SEA – Oshane Ximines/DE Old Dominion: Defensive line run continues. Seattle dealt Frank Clark on draft day, creating an immediate need for pass rushing help. Ximines has good size and production, racking up 12 sacks in 2018. He’s the first ODU player in school history to receive a Senior Bowl invite.
93. NYJ – Jamel Dean/CB Auburn: Start to see a drop off in corners at this point but Dean is an interesting, SPARQ-forward player who picked off a pair of passes for the Tigers last year. Blazed a 4.30 flat at the Pro Day and like his big build. May see significant snaps as a rookie.
94. LAR – Jaylon Ferguson/DE La Tech: The Rams were one of many teams Ferguson visited in the pre-draft process but sitting down and talking with him is a must after being uninvited from the Combine. Adding pass rush help is how this team has been so successful.
95. NYG – Maxx Crosby/DE Eastern Michigan: Adding pass rush help to a team who really needs it after dealing Oliver Vernon to the Browns. Crosby racked up 20 sacks in his MAC career and may go a little higher than where he’s slotted here.
96. WSH – Connor McGovern/OG Penn State: McGovern could play guard or center at the next level, two areas that Washington needs help with. Hard to put too much faith in the Ereck Flowers Conversion Project (dibs on the band name).
97. NE – Kahale Warring/TE San Diego St: Now the Patriots get their athletic tight end to replace Rob Gronkowski. Warring flew under the radar for most of the pre-draft process but picked up steam late. He caught eight touchdowns as an Aztec.
98. JAC – David Montgomery/RB Iowa St: Leonard Fournette’s footing with the organization has been shaky and his play on the field hasn’t always been inspiring either. Montgomery tested fairly average but highly productive with excellent contact balance and the ability to break tackles.
99. LAR – Jordan Brown/CB South Dakota St: Big, athletic corner from the FCS level. Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters are in the final year of their contracts. Proactive more if either of those players aren’t retained after the season. Brown ran in the 4.4’s at the Combine. .
100. CAR – Trey Pipkins/OT Sioux Falls: Tons of small school sleepers along the offensive line this year. Pipkins won’t start but Daryl Williams’ knee is a big concern so depth is critical here. Good developmental prospect. Three year starter, played in the Shrine Game, and first Cougar to ever get the invite to Indianapolis. Would be only the second player from his school to make it to the NFL, joining one-time Pro Bowler and long-time punter Brian Hansen.
101. NE – Saquan Hampton/S Rutgers: Bill Belichick taking a Rutgers player? Seems like a draft staple. Creates depth behind Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty, the latter entering the final year of his deal. Hampton intercepted three passes playing on a bad Scarlet Knight team.
102. BAL – Anthony Nelson/OLB Iowa: Nelson just feels like a Raven. They love big, long players for their front seven and Nelson fits that bill at 6’7, 271 with nearly 35 inch arms. Terrell Suggs finally left the organization after an incredible career. Nelson can probably play with his hand down in sub-packages and few defenses are as varied and flexible as Baltimore.
Round Four
103. ARI – Mark Fields/CB Clemson: Cardinals in search of a slot corner but unfortunately, not a ton of them in this draft class and not many highly rated ones. Perhaps a bit of a reach with Fields not seeing the field much but many project him to have a much better NFL career and at times, looked like a better prospect than teammate Trayvon Mullen.
104. SF – Vosean Joseph/LB Florida: Linebacker is in decent shape here if the money they spend on Kwon Alexanader pays off but the WILL LB spot isn’t the strongest. Joseph is an excellent athlete who put it together last season. Explosive player who works best when able to play clean.
105. NYJ – Riley Ridley/WR Georgia: Ridley was hurt by poor pre-draft testing and nothing about his bio sticks out at you. But he’s a strong route runner capable of creating separation. Jamison Crowder will man the slot with Ridley and Robby Anderson on the outside. Anderson will be a UFA next year.
106. OAK – Bobby Okereke/ILB Stanford: Oakland had a rough LB group this year and though they added to it in free agency, they didn’t sign top shelf players. Brandon Marshall and Vontaze Burifct probably won’t be Raiders two years from now. Okereke stays West and was a two-year starter for Stanford.
107. TB – Damien Harris/RB Alabama: Harris falling here a little bit and I can see the Bucs go with a different type of back but the value is too tough to ignore here. Harris was productive for Bama, splitting time with Josh Jacobs. Ronald Jones had a rough rookie season so Tampa takes their first offensive player in the draft.
108. NYG – David Long Jr/ILB West Virginia: The Giants’ linebacker group is still pretty bad. Long is a hit and miss prospect who can run himself out of position but an above average athlete who made a ton of plays in Morgantown. They need someone capable of splash plays.
109. JAC – Jazz Ferguson/WR Northwestern State: Big body for Nick Foles to target. Once a top recruit at LSU, he transferred to the FCS level, where he dominated last year. Some lapses in concentration leads to double-catches and drops but he makes big play after big play and is a jump ball winner. Jacksonville finished 31st in red zone offense in 2018.
110. CIN – Gerald Willis/DT Miami (FL): Bengals pride themselves on having great rotational depth. Willis falls a little bit further than probably expected so this comes out to be excellent value. Willis had a great 2018 campaign with 18 TFL and four sacks. Geno Atkins just turned 31.
111. DET – Isaiah Buggs/DT Alabama: New head coach but GM Bob Quinn drafted Bama alum A’Shawn Robinson in the second round of the 2016 draft. They go back to Tuscaloosa to take Buggs, who lacks length, but had an outstanding season. He finished 2018 with more sacks than Quinnen Williams (9.5 vs 8).
112. BUF – Devin Singletary/RB Florida Atlantic: Singletary could certainly go lower than this but they’ve had a back in Lesean McCoy who didn’t test great and won with lateral quickness moreso than straight line speed. Reminds me of Singletary, who had one heck of a college career. He’ll be the #3 this year behind Shady and Frank Gore.
113. BAL – Tevon Coney/ILB Notre Dame: Baltimore has some in-house options to replace C.J. Mosley in Patrick Onwusaor and Kenny Young, two names who flashes last year, but Coney creates good depth. More of a throwback linebacker and that nicks his value in today’s league.
114. GB – Hunter Renfrow/WR Clemson: Receiver probably isn’t as big of a need as its perceived so the Packers wait until the 4th round to grab one. Renfrow is a different body type to the big receivers on the roster and someone who might develop good chemistry with Aaron Rodgers, the ability to find soft spots in zone and separate on underneath routes. His ceiling does feel limited though.
115. CAR – Trayveon Williams/RB Texas A&M: Christian McCaffrey almost never comes off the field but if he gets hurt, even for a short amount of time, the Panthers will be in trouble. Williams is a well-rounded, three-down back but tested poorly in the pre-draft process.
116. MIA – Ryan Finley/QB NC State: Taking a quarterback in the fourth round certainly won’t prevent them from taking one early in 2020 and could give them a quality #2 option and another route should they not land a rookie next year or in the case that future prospect isn’t ready. Finley steadily progressed throughout his college career and finished with 63 career TD passes. He’s rumored to go Round Two.
117. ATL – Kingsley Keke/DT Texas A&M: Interior line depth after taking Montez Sweat to play end in the early rounds. Came on strong as a senior, posting 7.5 sacks for the Aggies. 21 TFL in his career. Deadrin Senat had a quietly excellent rookie year but Grady Jarrett is still without a long-term deal and depth is thin here.
118. GB – Jachai Polite/OLB Florida: Polite tumbles into Day Three after an absolutely disastrous pre-draft process. He could go higher, his draft slot feels entirely unpredictable, but the Packers reportedly were high on him before things came apart at the Combine. Well worth the flier because the tape is excellent and his effort shows up. Bad pre-draft workouts aren’t a death sentence for the NFL. Ravens right tackle Orlando Brown looks like a gem and long-term starter after bombing this time a year ago.
119. CLE – Bobby Evans/OT Oklahoma: 40 game starter despite declaring as a redshirt junior who saw work at both tackle spots. Left tackle spot isn’t entirely settled though Greg Robinson played well after Desmond Harrison was benched. Evans could play inside, too.
120. MIN –Josh Oliver/TE San Jose St: Athletic, potential move tight end, and a good compliment to Kyle Rudolph, who has moved more into a blocking role. He’s averaged 9.6 yards per catch the last two seasons, the second lowest average of any TE with 100+ catches. Only Jack Doyle (8.8) has a lower mark.
121. TEN – Daylon Mack/NT Texas A&M: Depth is an issue along the defensive line. Though Mack never quite lived up to the hype as one of the Aggies’ top recruits, he’s got a great first step and the ability to convert to power. A former RB in high school, he’ll bolster a run defense that finished middle of the pack in 2018. The third A&M player to be selected in the last ten picks.
122. PIT – Ben Burr-Kirven/ILB Washington: Steelers again missed out on some of the top inside linebackers but settle on a guy who racked up 176 tackles for the Huskies last year. Questions about his size and playmaking, shockingly few TFL for all the tackles he had, but his hand use and athleticism is what the team needs at Mack linebacker.
123. BAL – Sheldrick Redwine/S Miami (FL): For all the sub-packages the Ravens use, I can’t think of many better fits than Redwine, who lined up everywhere for the Hurricanes. Came to school as a corner before playing safety but can align in the slot, centetfield, or in the box. Tested well at the Combine too. Could overtake Anthony Levine’s job.
124. SEA –Emanuel Hall/WR Missouri: He and Tyler Lockett will be a pain to cover, especially against zone defenses. Hall was used almost exclusively as a vertical threat in college. He’ll have to show more trustworthy hands to see the field, however, if he wants to stay on the field.
125. DEN – Jarrett Stidham/QB Auburn: Stidham feels like John Elway’s type of quarterback. He’s one of the most inconsistent players I saw on tape but also one of the toughest, willing to sacrifice his body if it means making the play. He threw only 13 picks in three years.
126. CHI – Yodny Cajuste/OT West Virginia: Good depth here and swing option behind Charles Leno Jr and Bobby Massie. Cajuste tore his quad and had surgery in March otherwise he would’ve gone higher but was 1st team Big Ten as a redshirt senior. Wouldn’t be a surprise if he went higher.
127. PHI – Easton Stick/QB North Dakota St: What better place for Stick to go than to join Carson Wentz? The Eagles don’t have a ton of holes on the roster at this point in the draft and lack the security blanket of Nick Foles for Wentz, who has struggled to stay healthy. Stick won three National Championships, including taking over for an injured Wentz way back in 2015, and was a three-time captain. He’ll battle Nate Sudfield.
128. DAL – Drew Sample/TE Washington: Jason Witten is out of the booth and on the field but will be on a snap count. Geoff Swaim signed with Jacksonville, leaving a vacancy here. Rookie tight ends typically have a steep learning curve but Sample’s blocking ability gives him an advantage. Fourth round pick and fellow Huskie Will Dissly played well for Seattle last year before getting hurt.
129. IND – Michael Jordan/OG Ohio St: Good value here as an swingman who can play most spots along the offensive line. Fixing their line has been a critical part in Chris Ballard turning the Colts around and making them AFC South favorites.
130. LAC – Jordan Brailford/OLB Oklahoma St: Chargers get some additional pass rush help. MVP of the Shrine Game, Brailford broke out for 17 TFL and 10 sacks as a Cowboy last season. No team can have too many pass rushers.
131. BUF – Ben Banogu/OLB TCU: Depth at outside linebacker. Banogu is explosive off the ball though lacks some bend to win the edge. Nice Senior Bowl week and college production, notching 8.5 sacks each of the last two years. Lorenzo Alexander has played well but 35 and in the last year of his career.
132. NYG – Marvell Tell III/S USC: Good value here. Tell posted excellent numbers at his Combine workout. Some think he could play corner at the next level but for now, he’ll offer safety depth behind the aging Antoine Bethea and traded-for Jabrill Peppers.
133. LAR – Gary Jennings/WR West Virginia: Rams get a big slot receiver as a backup plan for Cooper Kupp isn’t ready for Week One coming off a torn ACL. Jennings had the luxury of free releases in college but is a true vertical threat who made big play after big play at WVU.
134. NE – Oli Udoh/OT Elon: Patriots already making heir 7th pick of the draft here in the fourth round so at this point, they’re rounding out some depth up front. Front five still intact after losing Trent Brown but the depth isn’t the best here. Udoh was a four-year starter invited to the NFLPA and Shrine Game during the pre-draft process. Important exposure for a small school player.
135. IND – John Cominsky/DE Charleston: Another small school player who tested absurdly well at Indy. 6’5, 286 who ran 4.69 with a 33.5 inch vert and 7.03 three cone. 16.5 TFL as a senior who got the Mobile invite.
136. DAL – Austin Bryant/DT Clemson: A name lost in a deep Clemson bunch, he did have an impressive 21 sacks in his career, including 8.5 last year. Cowboys have some serious talent to get after the QB but Bryant will add depth along the interior. Pec injury didn’t allow him to workout at Indy and hurt his stock a bit.
137. ATL – Travis Homer/RB Miami (FL): Running back isn’t a critical need even after losing Tevin Coleman. Ito Smith has come in and played well for the Falcons. But Homer gives them a third option and his ability to catch and pass protect are important. Good special teams player too, capable of running down kicks Year One.
138. PHI – David Edwards/OT Wisconsin: Tackle depth behind Lane Johnson and Jason Peters. Eagles like their tackles to be big dudes and Edwards comes in at 6’6 308. QB in high school who flipped to the offensive line and made 31 starts despite leaving school a year early.
Round Five
139. ARI – Foster Moreau/TE LSU: Bit of a slip for Moreau but chalk that up to a deep tight end class. Ricky Seals-Jones came on strong last season but he’ll create quality depth either as the #2 or #3. Good blocker to help David Johnson have a comeback season.
140. OAK – Ryquell Armstead/RB Temple: Big, bruising back to replace Marshawn Lynch. Waited a little bit longer to address the position but the Raiders’ offense looks in excellent shape for 2019. Armstead crossed the 1000 yard mark as a senior for the Owls.
141. PIT – Marquise Blair/S Utah: Best safety still on the board. Blair is a plus athlete who picked off a pair of passes as a senior. Hasn’t played much football so hopefully they’re getting a better NFL product than college.
142. NYG – Justin Hollins/OLB Oregon: One of the top edge rushers on the board as the Giants look for as much pass rush help as possible. Hollins played well in the draft bowls and has experience playing hand up and hand down.
143. NYG – Alex Barnes/RB Kansas St: Strong college career with football bloodlines. Tough runner with good athletic testing. Backup for Saquon Barkley after struggling to find hits with Paul Perkins and Wayne Gallman.
144. CLE – JoeJuan Williams/CB Vanderbilt: Taking some of the best talent left on the board. Williams is a big press corner but unfortunately, tested like it too. Browns going to maximize the few picks they have.
145. TB – Joe Jackson/DE Miami (FL): More defensive line help and again, focusing on the top players remaining. Jackson will serve as depth as a strong side end in their 4-3. Impressive 22.5 sacks in his three years for the Canes. Love the value here.
146. DET – Darius Slayton/WR Auburn: Slayton is a track star who burned a 4.39 at Indy and plays to that speed on tape. His tracking, hands, and overall ability to finish the play are all fair questions but put him in the open field and good luck catching him. They’ll have a trio of big play threats in him, Kenny Golladay, and Marvin Jones
147. BUF – Kendall Sheffield/CB Ohio St: Sheffield got good news on the torn pec he suffered at the Combine but it still could hurt his value to have him slide down. Potential nickel corner for a Bills team who may make an impact mid-season.
148. DEN – Will Harris/SS Boston College: Harris ran well and can pack a punch, sorta reminding me of Will Parks, but his lack of playmaking in college was a serious problem. Does have value on special teams though.
149. CIN – Terrill Hanks/LB New Mexico St: Hanks has an ugly 40 time but blame that on a pulled hamstring, not a lack of athleticism. An instinctual playmaker, Cincinnati double dips at linebacker but need all the help they can get. Devin Bush can be the MIKE/SAM with Hanks probably working as the WILL.
150. GB – Matt Gay/K Utah: Kicker alert! First name off the board. Mason Crosby has had a rocky past two seasons, his FG percentage hovering around 80%, and is in the last year of his contract so if they want to move on, there won’t be much dead money. Gay has a big leg and used to kicking in poor weather conditions, making Lambeau a good jump. Former soccer player who won the Lou Groza Award his first year playing college football.
151. MIA – Jahlani Tavai/LB Hawaii: Interesting prospect a bit all over the map in terms of his projection. Dolphins need some help at linebacker despite investing in the position heavily the past two years. Tavai was a tackling machine, 392 in his career.
152. ATL – Alize Mack/TE Notre Dame: Best tight end on the board to backup Austin Hooper. Came on strong as a senior with above average testing numbers. 4.70 40, 36 inch vert, 10 foot on the nose in the broad.
153. WSH – Martez Ivey/OT Florida: Washington going back-to-back offensive linemen, this time with a tackle. Trent Williams and Morgan Moses are a strong duo when healthy but they’ve struggled to stay on the field and played through a ton of injuries. After losing Ty Nyekhe, a valuable swingman, to Buffalo, they’ll target Ivey, who started nearly all four years as a Gator.
154. CAR – Ben Powers/OG Oklahoma: Panthers also taking their second linemen. Interior depth isn’t great and Powers could potentially push Van Roten at LG. After spending one year the JUCO level, he shined for the Sooners and part of the o-line that won the Joe Moore Award, given to the top front five in college football. Spent time at both guard spots.
155. CLE – T.J. Edwards/LB Wisconsin: Linebacker depth even though they have three solid starters. Jamie Collins was smartly released so Edwards replenishes the unit as a #4 linebacker. He had 366 total tackles, 37.5 of which went for a loss.
156. DEN – Christian Miller/OLB Alabama: Organization moved on from Shane Ray while Shaq Barrett signed a surprisingly cheap contract with the Bucs so edge rusher is important behind Bradley Chubb and Von Miller. Miller slips a bit here, in part due to injury, in part due to one year of production. But he works off blocks well and is physical at the point of attack.
157. TEN – Terry McLaurin/WR Ohio State: Interesting receiver prospect. May not see the field much Year One but he’s a tremendous gunner and cover player with speed for days. One of several Buckeye receivers in this draft.
158. BUF – Clayton Thorson/QB Northwestern: A tough, experienced quarterback who has some shades of Josh Allen. That unfortunately include a lot of turnovers too. 45 of them in his career. That’s why he falls into the middle of the 5th round and could go lower. Coaches have to be able to trust you to make a profit each snap.
159. SEA – Cody Barton/ILB Utah: Like the value here. Solid starters, led by the elite Bobby Wagner, but Mychal Kendricks’ legal situation has to offer up some question marks. Barton tested well and may go a round higher. He’ll hope for his brother, Jackson, to get picked before the end of draft day.
160. BAL – Alec Ingold/FB Wisconsin: Because if there’s any team going to take a fullback, it’s the Ravens and their offense from yesteryear. Ingold is the best one at his position. Found the end zone 17 times so he’s got a nose for it.
161. HOU – Mitch Wishnowsky/P Utah: First punter off the board and to be honest, this might be on the low end of things. Averaged over 45 yards per punt in his career, including almost 48 yards as a freshman. Current punter Trevor Daniel finished tied for 29th in average last year.
162. CHI – David Long/CB Michigan: Not a lot of picks but luckily, not many needs either. Long is one of the top corners on the board, a blend of speed and physicality. Broke up 12 passes and intercepted three for Michigan.
163. PHI – Cortez Broughton/DT Cincinnati: Sleeper climbing boards late in the process. Interior depth for the Eagles, Broughton had an encouraging senior season, finishing with 7.5 sacks. Ran a sub 5.00 40 at his Pro Day. A little Cedric Thornton, maybe?
164. IND – Malik Gant/SS Marshall: Hard hitting safety with plus production, especially around the line of scrimmage. 14 career tackles for loss, nine of which came as a senior for the Thundering Herd. He’ll create a physical trio with Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers.
165. DAL – Chuma Edoga/OT USC: Some standard offensive line depth but his body type, athleticism, and of course, school all remind me of Tyron Smith. I think Edoga can stay at tackle but even if he moves inside, I like his NFL future.
166. LAC – Caleb Wilson/TE UCLA: Big-bodied tight end who put up weird Combine numbers; sub 4.6 40 time but just a 29 inch vertical. On tape, he made plays downfield with a healthy 16 yards per catch average. Stays out west as the Chargers get some depth with the door finally, maybe closed on Antonio Gates.
167. KC – Armon Watts/DE Arkansas: Defensive line depth to replace Allen Bailey. Watts was just a one year starter but there aren’t many 3-4 ends who project well in this class so he’s worth taking a bit higher than expected. Like his hands and hips. Recorded seven sacks on a bad Razorbacks team in 2018.
168. NO – Michael Jackson Sr/CB Miami (FL): First pick in awhile for the Saints. Add some corner depth with Eli Apple set to be a free agent after the season. Jackson tested like a top tier athlete at the Combine, running in the mid 4.4’s with a 40 inch vertical.
169. LAR – Devine Ozigbo/RB Wisconsin: The Rams matched Detroit’s offer to keep Malcolm Brown but you have to think he’s gone after this season. They land on Ozigbo to be the #3, who tested above average who averaged seven yards per carry as a senior.
170. CLE – Mike Weber/RB Ohio State: Duke Johnson wants out and Kareem Hunt won’t be available until midseason. Weber is a smaller back but has big play ability and of course, gets to stay in Ohio.
171. NYG – Brandon Hitner/OT Villanova: Two year starter for the Wildcats. With the Giants addressing most positions with their bundle of draft picks, they circle back to work on some offensive line depth. Tons of small school offensive linemen worth mentioning this year.
172. ATL – Jimmy Moreland/CB James Madison: Small school gem who tested like a small schooler needs to. Had the production too – 13 interceptions over the last two seasons. Got the Senior Bowl call but a Combine snub. Falcons could definitely take a corner earlier than this thought.
173. WSH – Greg Gaines/NT Washington: One of the more underrated prospects in the draft. Big base, powerful, but much quicker hand use than you’d expect, Washington gets a good run stuffer. Different role but same idea as taking Matt Ioannidis, who has been a gem.
Round Six
174. ARI – Max Scharping/OT Northern Illinois: Bit of a weirdly bit offensive tackle but has ideal height and length to play the position. The Cardinals traded a sixth round pick for Marcus Gilbert, a top right tackle when healthy, but that health has been fleeting the last two seasons.
175. PIT – Trevon Wesco/TE West Virginia: Throwback, old-school tight end who is as tough and physical as they come. Not going to offer much as a receiver but floor is a solid block who can push for the #2 job to replace Jesse James.
176. SF – Dru Samia/OG Oklahoma: Another Sooner linemen off the board. Interior line depth is pretty weak for the Chiefs. Samia a people mover who put up 28 reps on the bar and has a whopping 48 career starts. Team seems likely to move on from Josh Garnett so this adds depth behind RG Mike Person.
177. NO – Dennis Daley/OT South Carolina: The Gamecocks have a couple linemen worth talking about on Day Three. Daley beats out Zack Bailey to be first off the board. Like his size, versatility as a left tackle/left guard, who put on good tape after transferring from a JUCO.
178. JAC – Tim Harris/CB Virginia: Late riser after an awesome Pro Day workout. Falcons could definitely take cornerback earlier than this but Harris may turn out to be a steal. Biggest issue is that he’s got this whole Animal House thing going on. Spent six years in college, injuries in 2016 and 2017 knocking him out of action.
179. ARI – Cameron Smith/LB USC: Weakside backer with excellent athleticism who posted strong numbers the last two seasons. Maybe linebacker is taken a bit higher even after the Jordan Hicks signing but by drafting Hooker, you can play plenty of sub-package football with him spinning down to the box. Sorta like Deone Bucannon. Only better.
180. NYG – Ed Alexander/NT LSU: Giants have spent a chunk of this draft finding edge rushers. Now they work inside. Alexander probably didn’t make the best decision declaring early but he’ll be a plugger in the middle, working to replace Snacks Harrison.
181. BUF – Tyrel Dodson/LB Texas A&M: Dodson is a good mover and super high character but I have questions about his tackling and ability to hold up against the run. Still, he’s the type of linebacker I think the Bills like. Good special teamer, at worst.
182. DEN – Xavier Ubosi/WR UAB: Sleeper who could go as high as the 4th round but with such a deep receiver class, it’ll be tough for him to crack. Averaged a whopping 23.9 yards per catch as a senior for the Blazers, two years after the program was thankfully revived. On profile and testing alone, pretty darn similar to Courtland Sutton.
183. CIN – Bruce Anderson/RB North Dakota St: Small schooler who ran all over the FCS level with good contact balance and good tape across the board. Joe Mixon is the guy here, clearly, but he hasn’t played 16 games in either of his first two seasons. Gio Bernard enters the last year of his deal.
184. DET – Zedrick Woods/S Ole Miss: Mostly an unknown before he turned in the fastest Combine of anyone on the final day of workouts, running a 4.29 official. Matt Patricia will aim for a better NFL career, though Woods did pick off six passes in his career. Question is if he can live up to his testing.
185. GB – Wes Martin/OG Indiana: Dude feels like a Green Bay Packer. Arguably one of the strongest players in the draft who was actually disappointed in putting up *only* 38 reps at his Pro Day. It shows on tape. Love his nastiness and willingness to find work.
186. ATL – Isaiah Prince/OT Ohio State: Adding more to the offensive line depth, Prince could compete at right tackle. One of several Buckeye linemen in the draft, Prince started 41 games there throughout his career, named team captain as a senior, and was a top recruit out of high school.
187. CAR – Saivion Smith/CB Alabama: Big cornerback but a slow 40 times slides him down the draft board. He was active as a junior, recording 60 tackles and intercepting three passes. But his lack of tape, just one year at Bama coming from a JUCO before declaring early, has to make teams concerned about what they’re getting.
188. TEN – Benny Snell/RB Kentucky: Bit of a fall for one of the most productive running backs in SEC history but a slow 4.66 40 time historically doesn’t bode well for the position. Still, he helped turn around a subpar football program into a 10 game winner by the time he left. High character with football bloodlines too; his uncle Matt Snell was the starter for the Jets in Super Bowl III and still ranks fourth in career rushing yards.
189. CLE – Lamont Gaillard/C Georgia: No-nonsense, hard-working man in the middle is something every new head coach can get on board with. Gaillard offers an impressive resume, too. Three-year starter named All-SEC by coaches last year.
190. MIN – Anthony Johnson/WR Buffalo: Really good value here. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen make up one of football’s most dynamic duos but Laquon Treadwell hasn’t panned out like the team hoped. Johnson put up dynamic numbers the last two years, going over 1000 yards while averaging 17 yards per catch in each.
191. BAL – Ty Johnson/RB Maryland: He’ll stay local for the Ravens. Home run hitter who truly is feast or famine but few created big plays as often a Johnson did. Like his size at 212 pounds. While he suffered some injuries and didn’t always look like the best back for the Terps, he’s a self-made dude as a light recruit out of high school. Backup to Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards.
192. PIT – Dexter Williams/RB Notre Dame: AFC North going back-to-back running back. Williams is a bigger body type the Steelers tend to look for but tested really well, too. Kevin Colbert attended his Pro Day workout. He’ll come in as the #3 behind James Conner and Jaylen Samuels.
193. BAL – Jhvonte Dean/CB Miami (FL): The other other Miami defensive back. Dean isn’t generating much buzz but tied for the team lead with three picks last year. Lanky but a frame to grow into, he ran in the 4.4’s. Easy to see him as a surprise draft selection, especially late Day Three where draft boards begin to fan out.
194. GB – Zach Gentry/TE Michigan: Functional blocker with great size and length. His ceiling is Marcedes Lewis, which comes in handy since the Packers signed Lewis two years ago. To his credit, Gentry did average more than 16 yards per catch last year on 32 receptions.
195. HOU – David Sills V/WR West Virginia: Little difficult to peg exactly where Sills will end up in the draft but it’s impossible to ignore his production. Or his story. The 13 year old offered a scholarship to play QB by Lane Kiffin, Sills never made it under center, even after leaving WVU to play quarterback at a JUCO. So he circled back to Morgantown and rattled off 33 touchdowns the last two seasons. Questionable if he can separate or make contested catches at the next level but late in round six, it’s a good chance to take.
196. NYJ – Donald Parham/TE Stetson: Interesting late round flier who showed serious flashes, even considering the level of competition. Chris Herndon was able to separate himself but beyond that, it still seems like a mess.
197. PHI – Stanley Morgan/WR Nebraska: Excellent route runner with good size and testing. Nelson Agholor will play plenty this year but in the final year of his contract and may not return. Morgan could replace him in 2020.
198. CIN – Chidi Okeke/OT Tennessee State: Once a top recruit committed to LSU before he transferred, the Bengals hope they can take that talent and unearth a gem. The Bengals signed Bobby Hart this offseason which seems all the more reason to load up on offensive line depth.
199. IND – Emeke Egbule/LB Houston: Colts rounding out their draft by taking their first linebacker. Egbule with a pair of 60+ tackles, two sack seasons in 2017 and 2018. He ran 4.65 at the Combine.
200. LAC – Tyron Johnson/WR Oklahoma St: Looking for a speedster to replace Tyrell Williams? Enter Johnson, who ran 4.36 at the Cowboys Pro Day. Production was light but he came on scene last year, hauling in 53 passes for 16 yards per catch and seven touchdowns.
201. KC – Iosua Opeta/OG Weber St: They don’t come much stronger than Opeta. He put up 39 reps on the bar at the Combine. Small-school, yes, but this is a team who had success with Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who came way north of the border.
202. NO – Rodney Anderson/RB Oklahoma: Saints rolling the dice here. While I wasn’t as impressed by Anderson’s 2017 tape as much as others, even the biggest fans of his know his medical concerns will scare off many teams. He’s broken bones in his leg, tore his ACL, and broke a bone in his neck. He’s most recently coming off the ACL injury that cut his 2018 season short. But when he was out there, he averaged six yards per carry and shows good long speed considering his size.
203. LAR – Kaden Elis/LB Idaho: Sleeper who crushed his Pro Day. That got him on the radar. 6.63 three cone, even if that number is off by .2 of a second, is incredible. He’ll probably work as a linebacker in the NFL but even played some tight end snaps in the Kibbie Dome. Either way, he’ll look to make noise on special teams.
204. DET – Brett Rypien/QB Boise State: Depth behind Matt Stafford is thin. Connor Cook has thrown only 21 regular seasons passes while Tom Savage probably shouldn’t make it out of training camp. Rypien is viewed as one of the top QB sleepers in some draftnik circles.
205. NE – Ulysees Gilbert III/LB Akron: Athletic, high effort player who can help out on special teams right away. Reminds me a bit of Elandon Roberts, who turned out to be a great selection. Gilbert finished his career with more than 350 tackles for the Zips.
206. WSH – Ryan Connelly/LB Wisconsin: Solid, steady starter for the Badgers as Washington rounds out the draft with some linebacker depth. He’s a long ways away from making an impact defensively though.
207. PIT – Ugo Amadi/S Oregon: 51 career games with good production, nine interceptions and a handful of forced fumbles, who could play nickel or free safety. Frame makes him an inconsistent tackler but the effort is there and the dude makes plays on the football.
208. TB – Jackson Barton/OT Utah: Bucs could – maybe should – take tackle here but a lack of draft capital, tons of needs, and some value picks that fell into them push the position down. Barton a big man at 6’7 310. Comes from an athletic family. His brother was selected earlier in the draft, his dad pitched for the Blue Jays, and his mother played basketball and volleyball at Utah when she was in school.
209. MIN – Kris Boyd/CB Texas: Mike Zimmer signed Texas’ Holton Hill as a UDFA last year and it turned out pretty well in 2018. But now he’s suspended for the first month of 2019. Boyd can be too grabby in coverage but is a good athlete and you gotta be one to last in the league.
210. CIN – Ashton Dulin/WR Malone: Small school receiver who got the Combine invite and tested well. Good triangle numbers. 21 receiving touchdowns the last two years with kick return value. His extensive track background, competing throughout college, is interesting too.
211. CIN – Ross Pierschbacher/C Alabama: With roughly a billion picks by Cincy to end the sixth round, they’re picking off the best players still on the board. Whopping 57 career starts, a stat that totally blows my mind. But we’ve seen some of those Crimson Tide linemen maxed out by the time they get into the league. That’s a concern here.
212. SF – Ken Webster/CB Ole Miss: Webster blew up the Combine and projects to the slot at the next level. Broke up 20 passes in his college career but had just three picks. Secondary depth for John Lynch and company.
213. CIN – Nate Brooks/CB North Texas: Looking for a playmaker? Look no further than Brooks, who intercepted ten passes in his time with the Mean Green. That included six as a senior. Size and speed are an issue but hard to ignore that level of production, regardless of level.
214. KC – Curtis Akins/ILB Memphis: Akins popped up on the Pro Day radar, running sub 4.6. That’s good because he’s on the smaller side at 6’1, 235 but that can work in today’s NFL. More small linebackers than ever. 100 tackles his senior year.
Round Seven
215. TB – Jaquan Johnson/S Miami (FL): Lower than anticipated, yes, but every draft has players who fall further than anyone thinks. The 4.69 he ran at just 191 pounds at the Combine really hurts him and he failed to better that number at his Pro Day. He did create some splash in college, including six forced fumbles, and he’ll have to keep that up to stick on special teams.
216. KC – Iman Marshall/CB USC: Possible move to safety here. His tape was inconsistent and Marshall admitted a lack of effort at times. But he’s physical and plays the run tough who if he puts it together, could carve out a solid NFL career.
217. NYJ – Gary Johnson/ILB Texas: Inside linebacker depth with the Jets possibly dealing Darron Lee, who is in the last year of his rookie contract anyway with an option that certainly won’t be picked up. Johnson’s 4.43 40 may get him drafted earlier than this but that 40 time might be the most impressive part about his bio.
218. OAK – Jordan Ta’amu/QB Ole Miss: Because a mock draft isn’t sufficient unless Jon Gruden drafts a quarterback. Ta’amu is a two year starter who completed over 64% of his passes while tossing 30 touchdowns.
219. PIT – Zack Bailey/OL South Carolina: Versatile player with leadership and quality starting experience. Steelers always looking to add healthy competition to the offensive line room, even if they’re still in pretty good shape.
220. HOU – Demarcus Christmas/DT Florida State: Bit undersized for the scheme but so was Earl Mitchell and he manned the middle all those years. Christmas didn’t test well but had a decent FSU career.
221. CLE – Jalen Hurd/WR Baylor: Played running back for Tennessee before wanting to change positions and transferred to Baylor. Little bigger but could have a similar use as Duke Johnson should he get his wish and be dealt.
222. CHI – Javier Edwards/NT Colorado: Just the fourth pick for Chicago in this draft. Big man in the middle. He changes directions as well as oil tankers but clogged the middle and had 61 tackles the last two years. Edwards is a large man at 6’1 323.
223. CIN – Dax Raymond/TE Utah State: Tight end one of the few positions I haven’t addressed yet and their long snapper signed in November so I couldn’t throw one in here. Raymond is a good athlete who can play behind the oft-injured Tyler Eifert.
224. DET – D’Angelo Ross/CB New Mexico: Sleeper cornerback who ran one of the fastest 40 times of anyone during the Pro Day circuit, a 4.32 to pair with a 39 inch vertical. Lions attended his Pro Day so sure he caught their eye.
225. BUF – Keegan Render/C Iowa: Bills haven’t taken an offensive linemen yet. Render may not get drafted but like his experience and considered one of the Hawkeyes’ top leaders. I think he may make the 53.
226. GB – Chris Slayton/DE Syracuse: Near prototypical 5 tech/4i in a class that’s lacking those types of bodies. Slayton had 30.5 TFL in his career with the Orange. Weighs in at 6’4 307.
227. WSH – Wyatt Ray/OLB Boston College: Mostly one-year of production but finished strong with nine sacks last year. Easy, fluid mover dropping into coverage at the Combine. Flier on a pass rusher.
228. BUF – Michael Dogbe/DL Temple: Temple fans weren’t happy to see him as a Combine snub. Strong workout who can stuff the run, even if he’s a little bit of a tweener. Fifth year senior with seven sacks in 2018.
229. DET – Dan Gosdil/LS Indiana: Long snapper alert! Warms your heart. Gosdil is considered the best player for snaps longer than usual snaps. Detroit has had Don Muhlbach since the Nixon administration but only signed to a one-year deal.
230. ATL – Khari Willis/SS Michigan St: Dime player who packs a punch. High character dude who will be great for the community. Reminds me a little of Kemal Ishmael. 189 tackles for Sparty.
231. NO – Drew Lewis/ILB Colorado: Late round flier on an athletic linebacker capable of carrying tight ends down the seam in Cover 2. Had some questions to answer in his career, dismissed by Washington before landing at a JUCO and winding up in Boulder but he’s worth the risk with the final few selections.
232. NYG – Olamide Zaccheaus/WR Virginia: Versatile gadget player who played running back and wide receiver and caught nearly 200 passes the last two seasons. Ran sub 4.5 at the UVA Pro Day. Some comparisons to Tyquan Mizzell, who is still hanging around the league.
233. MIA – Stephen Denmark/CB Valdosta St: 6’2 corner who runs and jumps like he’s 5’10. Former receiver still learning the position but Miami did similar with Tony Lippett, under an old head coach, I know, and saw a little bit of success.
234. MIA – Alec Eberle/C Florida St: FSU stays relatively local. Combination of starting experience and leadership, named captain the last two seasons. Knocks against him are that he’s undersized and didn’t test well.
235. OAK – Shareef Miller/OLB Penn St: Miller may go a bit higher but didn’t have a strong Combine workout. Decent production in Happy Valley – 31.5 TFL and 14.5 sacks.
236. JAC – Cole Holcomb/LB North Carolina: Jags have no issue plucking undersized linebackers, Holcomb is 6’1 231, who run well. 327 total tackles for the Tar Heels with some hit power, forcing four career fumbles.
237. DEN –Yosuah Numan/OT Virginia Tech: Broncos take the chance on an upside tackler. Would’ve had better starting experience but struggled with injuries. Good size (6’6 314) who tested like a really good athlete. Someone for Mike Munchak to coach up.
238. CHI – Sutton Smith/OLB Northern Illinois: Classic dilemma of insane production with poor measurables. At 233 pounds, Smith is one of the smallest players coming off the edge. That didn’t prevent him from notching 30 sacks in his career. 29 of those came over the last two seasons. Two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
239. NE – Alex Bars/OL Notre Dame: Patriots might get a steal here because of course they do. Bars suffered a season-ending fractured ankle but is reportedly ahead of schedule. Versatile who has played up and down the line. Could play tackle or guard in the NFL. Got good coaching and had he stayed healthy, would’ve been drafted in the mid-rounds worst case scenario.
240. IND –Kerrith Whyte Jr./RB Florida Atlantic: Add some running back depth to finish off the draft. Not too often a pair of backs from FAU but Whyte put himself on the map with a 4.36 40 at his Pro Day. That speed translates to the tape.
241. DAL – Corey Ballentine/CB Washburn: Small schooler who attended the Senior Bowl and Combine, performing well at both. Five career picks and was named the Cliff Harris Award winner, given to the defensive player of the year at the D2 level.
242. LAC – Jack Fox/P Rice: Improved throughout his college career averaging 45.5 yards per attempt as a senior. Little bit of work as a kicker too, mainly handling extra points, but that’s a nice feather in his cap. Chargers need a punter.
243. NE – Nick Scott/S Penn St: Flier on one of the most surprising testers during his Pro Day. 4.41 40 and a 41 inch vert at 200 pounds. His one year of production is a worry though. Did have 65 tackles and three picks as a senior.
244. NO – Travis Fulgham/WR Old Dominion: Small schooler who got the all-important Combine nod. Not saying he’s the next Marques Colston but Fulgham busted out for his first 1000 yard season as a senior.
245. NYG – Isaac Nauta/TE Georgia: Navigating around the positions with the 12 picks the Giants have collected. Nauta could become an H-Back type. Not much of an athlete but good hands and a solid blocker with experience putting his hand in the dirt.
246. NE – Michael Walker/WR Boston College: Another receiver but with so many picks here, they have that luxury. Walker is arguably the top return specialist in the draft. He averaged 25 yards per kick and 13.3 yards per punt, returning one of the latter for a touchdown. He stays local.
247. MIN – Spenser Thompson-Meyers/K St. Norbert: Best name. Best school. Dan Bailey is not a good kicker so the Vikings address a need here at the end of the draft. He went 13/18 (one kick blocked) last year, including nailing a 50 yarder on his only attempt.
248. ARI – James Williams/RB Washington St: Williams had to catch in WSU’s Air Raid. 202 career receptions on his resume. 27 total touchdowns rushing and receiving who tested a little above average at the Combine. Works well for Kliff Kingsbury’s system and backup to David Johnson.
249. ARI – Beau Benzschawel/OG Wisconsin: Versatile, tough linemen but may be maxed out. Your typical dude from the Badgers. He’ll be most comfortable at right guard in the NFL but has also played tackle. Maybe a little B.J. Finney-ish.
250. MIN – Jamal Davis/LB Akron: Played on the edge for the Zips. Good mover with effort but lacks a pass rush plan. Like him better off ball at the next level. Actually reminds me a bit of Anthony Barr, who the Vikes wrestled away from the Jets to re-sign him to a long-term contract.
251. LAR – Darius West/S Kentucky: Like the value here. West blazed a 4.39 at the Combine, leaving teams scrambling to check out the tape again. Rams lost Lamarcus Joyner to Oakland in the offseason. West had 188 tackles in his college career.
252. NE – Trayone Gray/FB Miami (FL): Selection out of left field for the Pats final pick of the draft. Buried on the depth chart at running back, the Canes switched Gray to fullback last spring. He carried the ball a little bit but is getting drafted based on his testing. Ran 4.45 at 230 pounds. Patriots still heavily involve their fullback in the offense with James Develin.
253. WSH – Terry Beckner Jr./DE Missouri: Washington starts with a Missouri product and ends with one, too. Beckner has good size and solid production but lacks length and athleticism. Defensive line depth.
254. ARI – Byron Cowart/DE Maryland: Mr. Irrelevant. Coward has excellent length (34 3/4 inch arms) for his frame. Auburn transfer who had three sacks for the Terps last year. Maybe their next Josh Mauro.
Undrafted Free Agents
Three of them per team just to talk about some super sleepers and top names I didn’t have in the top 254.
Arizona
Johnny Gibson/OG Arkansas
Tommy Sweeney/TE Boston College
Derrick Baity Jr/CB Kentucky
Sweeney had a decent showing at the Senior Bowl while Baity is one of the many, many athletic but raw Kentucky defensive backs. Gibson started 2 1/2 years for the Razorbacks.
Atlanta
Lil’Jordan Humphrey/WR Texas
Kyle Shurmur/QB Vanderbilt
Albert Huggins/DT Clemson
Humphrey’s 4.7 40 time at the Combine tumbles him out of the draft. Huggins might be a steal, crowded behind a great Tigers’ defensive line.
Baltimore
Jakobi Myers/WR NC State
Jordan Jones/ILB Kentucky
Nick Fitzgerald/TE Mississippi State
Jones tested well with moderate production. Fitzgerald is going to have to make a position switch to have a shot in the NFL. He’ll be roughly the 54th tight end on Baltimore’s depth chart.
Buffalo
Marc Orozco/K Grambling
Jalen Jelks/OLB Oregon
C.J. Conrad/TE Kentucky
Jelks had a poor Combine and didn’t do enough at Oregon to hear his name on draft day. Conrad had a brief scare with a possible heart condition but was cleared to workout late in the draft process.
Carolina
Jalin Moore/RB Appalachian State
Ross Reynolds/C Iowa
Mike Bell/S Fresno St
Moore is a late riser in the process and stays local. Reynolds is your classic Hawkeye. Bell shows ball skills in centerfield but terrible tackler who ran way too slow to get selected in the top 254.
Chicago
Papi White/WR Ohio
Emmitt Carpenter/K Minnesota
Daniel Wise/DL Kansas State
Bears were at Carpenter’s Pro Day. White is a sleeper with legitimate return value. Over 3000 yards from scrimmage a a Bobcat.
Cincinnati
Diontae Johnson/WR Toledo
Amani Bledsoe/DE Oklahoma
Mitch Hyatt/OT Clemson
Johnson was productive on offense and special teams for the Rockets. Bledsoe has decent size while Hyatt is one of the biggest names to fall out of the draft.
Cleveland
Charles Baldwin/OT Youngstown State
Demarkus Lodge/WR Ole Miss
Gerri Green/OLB Mississippi State
Baldwin was a top recruit who bounced around before ending up with the Penguins. Lodge gets lost in the shuffle with all the Ole Miss wideouts. His poor testing sure didn’t help.
Dallas
KaVontae Turpin/WR TCU
Joshua Miles/OG Morgan State
Trace McSorley/S Penn State
Turpin got in trouble at school and TCU wouldn’t let him workout at their Pro Day. But he held a private workout which the Cowboys attended. Miles may get drafted. McSorley changes positions, even if he doesn’t want to. They converted Isaiah Stanback to wide receiver about a decade ago.
Denver
Sione Takitaki/ILB BYU
Johnnie Dixon/WR Ohio State
Bryce Love/RB Stanford
Dixon’s name is easy to lose with all the OSU wideouts. Love’s terrible season and medical unfortunately knocks him out of the draft. Rare care where in hindsight, he should’ve declared early.
Detroit
Kyle Phillips/DE Tennessee
Myles Gaskin/RB Washington
Derrek Thomas/CB Baylor
Gaskin was a bit disappointing with his testing. Thomas is a long corner with upside. Phillips had only seven career sacks for the Vols.
Green Bay
Samuel Thomassin/OL Laval
Andrew Van Ginkel/OLB Wisconsin
Jeff Smith/WR Boston College
Green Bay traveled north of the border for Laval’s Pro Day. Van Ginkel is a good athlete who can compete on special teams but must get stronger.
Houston
Paul Adams/OT Missouri
Penny Hart/WR Georgia State
Chris Westry/CB Kentucky
Hart had surprisingly poor workouts. Couple that with his size and it’s easy to see him fall out of the draft. Westry is 6’4 200 who ran in the 4.3’s at his Pro Day. Could get drafted late.
Indianapolis
Ryan Farr/LS Florida
Antoine Wesley/WR Texas Tech
Montre Gregory/DB Bowling Green
Wesley was productive for the Red Raiders in 2018, putting in a 1400 yard season. Farr reportedly had a good workout and impressed scouts.
Jacksonville
Lukas Denis/FS Boston College
Hjalte Froholdt/OG Arkansas
Dillon Mitchell/WR Oregon
Denis intercepted seven passes as a junior but the tape doesn’t match up. Froholdt is from Denmark. Mitchell shows long speed and inside/out versatility. He’s good enough to be drafted.
Kansas City
Chase Hansen/OLB Utah
Elijah Holyfield/RB Georgia
Corbin Kaufusi/DE BYU
Holyfield has really good tape but didn’t run like a back needs to. Kaufusi is a mountain of a man at 6’8/4 279 with 36 inch arms. Reminds me a bit of Tanoh Kpassagnon.
Los Angeles Chargers
Jaylen Guyton/WR North Texas
George Aston/FB Pittsburgh
Evan Worthington/FS Colorado
Guyton is a late riser in the process. Worthington is a bit contact adverse but a true centerfielder.
Los Angeles Rams
Hamp Cheevers/CB Boston College
Ethan Greenidge/OL Villanova
Marcus Marshall/RB James Madison
Cheevers picked off a bunch of passes last year but is undersized and will have to kick to the slot. Makes the All-Name team, though. Marshall thrived in Georgia Tech’s option offense early in his career before transferring and splitting time in a less run-heavy offense.
Miami
Lexington Thomas/RB UNLV
Marcus Epps/S Wyoming
Maurice Simba/OL Concordia
Cole Tracy/K LSU
Thomas could hear his named called late on Day Three with a strong workout. Epps had nine interceptions his first three years but failed to pick one off as a senior.
Minnesota
Matt Kaskey/OT Darmouth
JonVea Johnson/WR Toledo
Rob Rolle/S Villanova
Kaskey is a sleeper up front who may get drafted. Roll had 53 tackles last year while Johnson is one of three Toledo wideouts to watch out for.
New Orleans
Gardner Minshew/QB Washington St
Tony Pollard/RB Memphis
Tyree Kinnel/S Michigan
Pollard is a space player who doesn’t have a true position at the next level, though was one of college football’s top kick returners. Kinnel is your classic thumping strong safety without much in the way of ball skills.
New England
Otaro Alaka/ILB Texas A&M
Immanuel Turner/DL La Tech
LJ Scott/RB Michigan State
Alaka is a bigger body at inside linebacker. Turner has played end and linebacker but bulked up to play the former. Scott was on his way to a strong career before an ankle injury limited him to five games in 2018.
New York Giants
Ryan Pope/OT San Diego State
Tim Ward/DE Old Dominion
Wilton Speight/QB UCLA
Ward has a shot to hear his name called. Speight transferred to the West Coast after flaming out at Michigan. Pope has started at both tackle spots.
New York Jets
Josiah Tauaefa/ILB UTSA
Jordan Scarlett/RB Florida
AJ Cole III/P NC State
Taueafa recorded over 100 tackles in each of the two years he stayed healthy. Scarlett has leg drive and some change of direction but poor burst and character concerns drop him out.
Oakland
KeeSean Johnson/WR Fresno State
Demetrius Knox/OG Ohio State
BJ Blunt/LB McNeese State
Knox came on strong at the end of his Buckeyes career. Blunt is undersized but can run and hit on special teams.
Philadelphia
JT Hassel/LB Florida Tech
Reggie White Jr./WR Monmouth
Matt Sokol/TE Michigan State
Sokol is your classic blocking tight end. White isn’t *that* Reggie’s dad but his father played four years in the NFL, making seven starts. Still, couldn’t pass up the name for the Eagles. Hassel transferred from South Dakota State, recording 4.5 sacks last year.
Pittsburgh
Mathieu Betts/OLB Laval
Dare Odeyingbo/DE Vanderbilt
Cody Thompson/WR Toledo
The Steelers were at Betts and Thompson’s Pro Day. Odeyingbo wore a lot of hats and is a good athlete, playing running back at high school.
Seattle
Kaulana Apelu/LB Oregon
Rafael Araujo-Lopes/WR Pittsburgh
Clifton Duck/CB Appalachian State
Apelu is severely undersized at under 210 pounds but I love his effort, story, and hit power. Araujo-Lopes has a slight shot of getting drafted while Duck joins Cheevers in the All-Name team.
San Francisco
Austin Kelly/FB Iowa
Tre Lamar/ILB Clemson
Rodney Randle/DB Lamar
Kelly was hardly used at Iowa with the ball in his hands but put up a 39.5 inch vertical at his Pro Day. Lamar can play the run but struggles terribly in space.
Tampa Bay
Alexander Mattison/RB Boise State
Robbie Grimsley/S North Dakota State
Blace Brown/CB Troy
Maybe a little surprising to see Mattison’s name with the UDFAs but a heavy snap count – over 300 carries last year – may scare teams off. Brown ran too slow at the Combine.
Tennessee
Keelan Doss/WR UC Davis
Donovan Wilson/S Texas A&M
Joe Giles-Harris/LB Duke
Wilson is a sleeper prospect at safety who can at least carve out a niche on special teams. Doss had an impressive Pro Day workout that puts him on the map.
Washington
Keisean Dixon/CB South Carolina
Ahmad Gooden/OLB Samford
DeAndre Thompkins/WR Penn State
Gooden finished last year with 15.5 TFL and 5 sacks. Thompkins was a bit-player for the Nittany Lions but turned heads at his workout, running a 4.34 40.
