2019 NFL Draft Recap: 32 Bold Calls for 32 Teams (Plus Draft Grades)

Posted on May 7, 2019 Updated on May 8, 2019

For those that follow my draft coverage, you know I do things differently here at Draftstock.net. I do not subscribe to the notion that mock drafts can only be predictive measures of how the actual draft will play out, which is why I give you all a prediction mock draft as well as one where I take control of all 32 teams.

Another thing Draft Experts do that I wildly disagree with is traditional Draft Grade recaps. Draft Grades are based off of the writer’s individual analysis of players. The person giving the grade is using their own analysis to determine who was a reach and who was a steal. In short, Draft Grades are just a reflection of your personal big board pre-draft.

That’s why my draft recap is always a little different. In this article, you will not only get a draft grade for the team based on the selections they made, but you will also get a bold prediction. This shows a better representation of how I think certain players will do in the schemes they were selected to. I think this is a much better way to do a Draft Recap because it takes into account the future for the prospects and if they stand a good chance to succeed or fail. This also gives more of an unbiased look into each team’s draft.

Having said that, Draft Grades are a necessary evil for Mock Draft Analysts, and that is why you will also see draft grades and a summary of each team’s draft during the analysis of each bold prediction. Occasionally you will see draft recaps in the form of “Editor’s Notes,” if I could not fit the draft recap into the prediction smoothly. Essentially, this is the best of both worlds, and I hope you all agree.

Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, Byron Murphy, Andy Isabella, Zach Allen, Hakeem Butler, Deionte Thompson, Keesean Johnson, Lamont Gaillard, Joshua Miles, Michael Dogbe, Caleb Wilson (Draft Grade: B+)

Bold Prediction: The Kyler Murray-Kliff Kingsbury Experiment Works Because of This Draft- Whether you agree with the decision to draft Kyler Murray or not, Arizona had a terrific draft after that point. They grabbed my top cover corner by far in Byron Murphy, two quality pass catchers in Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler, and two other solid defensive pieces with starter potential in Zach Allen and Deionte Thompson.

The biggest steals were Butler and Thompson on day three. Butler’s athleticism and ability to high point the ball will be a terrific weapon for Kyler Murray both down the field and in the red zone. If Thompson’s knee is okay (this was the reason he fell), the Cardinals took one of the top cover safeties in the fifth round. Bottom line, this draft was stellar. If the Kyler-Kliff experiment works, it’s because Steve Keim had a terrific offseason and set up both to succeed.

Atlanta Falcons: Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary, Kendall Sheffield, John Cominsky, Qadree Ollison, Jordan Miller, Marcus Green (Draft Grade: C)

Bold Prediction: Chris Lindstrom is a Consistent All-Pro- I’ve alluded to this during all my mock drafts and my big board write ups. Chris Lindstrom lacked top ten buzz strictly because he was a guard, and that positions holds inherently less value. He shows athleticism when pulling, quality footwork and a strong lower base. This hasn’t been much of a secret if you’ve followed my pre-draft coverage, but I love Lindstrom as a player. I also love the team he went to.

Editor’s Note: This draft besides Lindstrom is garbage. Trading up for McGary, and selecting him over Jawaan Taylor, was a massive mistake. Kendall Sheffield can contribute if healthy but that’s about it for the rest of the selections. It’s not what you want.

Baltimore Ravens: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Jaylon Ferguson, Miles Boykin, Justice Hill, Ben Powers, Iman Marshall, Daylon Mack, Trace McSorley (Draft Grade: B-)

Bold Prediction: Justice Hill Makes the Biggest Year One Impact- It was tough to create a bold call for the Ravens because their draft is very straightforward. This was the ideal scheme fits for Hollywood Brown and Miles Boykin, particularly Brown. He should be Lamar Jackson’s top target in the west coast scheme, and the two will make a deadly connection down the field.

Jaylon Ferguson is someone who I have no faith in, regardless of scheme. His athletic testing was just too poor, and I never saw any dip and bend ability on film that would translate.

Out of the day three selections, the most interesting is Justice Hill. His breakaway speed is second to none in this draft class. The game changer is the one thing the Ravens backfield currently lacks, making Hill a natural fit in this offense. If he can contribute on third downs (Hill was not the best pass catcher and he was a poor blocker), Justice Hill could be the lightning to Mark Ingram’s thunder in the Ravens backfield.

Buffalo Bills: Ed Oliver, Cody Ford, Devin Singletary, Dawson Knox, Vosean Joseph, Jaquan Johnson, Darryl Johnson, Tommy Sweeney (Draft Grade: B-)

Bold Prediction: Cody Ford is a Bust*- Even though this bold prediction is negative, I do like the Bills draft as a whole. Ed Oliver is going to be a beast in Sean McDermott’s defense. His athleticism and quickness will be matchup nightmares for opposing offensive lines. I also love the scheme fit for Dawson Knox. He will be a three down tight end for the Bills, someone who can help them as a blocker in the run game and a pass catcher against linebackers that cover him. Day three is a bit of a minefield, but Vosean Joseph is someone who could contribute on running downs because he takes aggressive angles and shows unique athleticism.

Cody Ford is also in a very good scheme fit… if he is played at guard. As I’ve mentioned during this draft process, Ford as a tackle is a bit of a scare. His kickslide is weak in the vertical set and I question is ability to get his hands on more athletic pass rushers. I have a feeling the Bills will opt to play him at Right Tackle, which has me concerned about his effectiveness.

Now if they play him at guard, they have a quality starter, which is why this bold call comes with an asterisk. Ford is quick to get his hands on defenders and he gains leverage with inside hands plus sheer power. He’s a natural fit at right guard. 

The question for Ford’s career will be where he lines up, and the answer could determine his NFL success.

Carolina Panthers: Brian Burns, Greg Little, Will Grier, Christian Miller, Jordan Scarlett, Dennis Daley, Terry Godwin (Draft Grade: B)

Bold Prediction: Dennis Daley is More Productive than Greg Little- I thought the Panthers had a very solid draft. Brian Burns is going to be an elite pass rusher, and possibly one of the best players to come out of this draft class. Christian Miller can be an effective rotational pass rusher as well, especially if the Panthers stay true to the rumors and transition to a 3-4. Don’t sleep on Jordan Scarlett and Terry Godwin on day three either. Scarlett could take short yardage carries for the Panthers, and Godwin can develop into a quality slot receiver.

Every draft comes with a question mark, and that question mark, for me, is Greg Little. Many think Little is going to be one of the Panthers starting tackles, and I will admit that the scheme fit is ideal. Having said that, Little’s footwork is just so poor, I cannot imagine him reverting to the five star recruit he once was. I think Dennis Daley has much more upside because he progressed during his collegiate career, as opposed to Little who regressed. Daley is equally as good of a run blocker as Little. What separates the two for me is their ability in pass protection. I like the way Daley is able to adjust and counterpunch. Once Daley is able to become more consistent with his ability off the snap and his kickslide improves, he could prove to be a better right tackle than Greg Little long term.

Chicago Bears: David Montgomery, Riley Ridley, Duke Shelley, Kerrith Whyte, Stephen Denmark (Draft Grade: C)

Bold Prediction: David Montgomery Scores More Touchdowns Than Tarik Cohen This Year- It’s tough to make a bold prediction for the Bears draft because they lacked assets due to the Khalil Mack trade. David Montgomery is the easiest person to predict because he will step into Jordan Howard’s role from previous years. Montgomery is a really good runner between the tackles, but like all the running backs in this draft class, he had flaws. He lacks the breakaway speed necessary for the next level, and I think he has a tendency to look for the home run play instead of taking what the play gives him.

Fortunately for him, the Bears will ask him to be their heavy hitter between the tackles. He will be the compliment to Tarik Cohen’s playmaking ability. This means Montgomery will see more goal line touches, and consistently be the guy on designed running downs. Assuming the Bears get a lot of goal line opportunities, it’s not unrealistic to think Montgomery could be a six to eight touchdown guy, even if he doesn’t pile up yards.

Cincinnati Bengals: Jonah Williams, Drew Sample, Germaine Pratt, Ryan Finley, Renell Wren, Michael Jordan, Trayveon Williams, Deshaun Davis, Rodney Anderson, Jordan Brown (Draft Grade: B-)

Bold Prediction: Germaine Pratt, Renell Wren and Jordan Brown are Starters Next Year- The three defensive players I’ve chosen to highlight in this prediction are all stepping into situations where the incumbent starters are less than stellar. Germaine Pratt is the obvious one because the Bengals linebacking core is so weak. His cover skills and should have him as a likely candidate to start out of training camp in year one.

Renell Wren and Jordan Brown project as role players early, but I think both can start in year two. Wren can easily take the nose tackle job from Andrew Billings because he’s more athletic and he’s quicker off the snap. Technique wise, he plays with his pads too high at times, but so does Billings. Ultimately, I think Wren is the better player than Billings right now, so there’s no reason he can’t start for the Bengals soon.

Brown has the tougher challenge based on the way the NFL valued him. Personally, I think his man cover skills were really impressive on tape. I also liked his ability to make plays on the ball in multiple different defensive packages. This may be a stretch, but I think Brown can be a nickel corner by year two, and eventually transition to an outside spot, should he be asked.

Editor’s Note: I chose to exclude Jonah Williams from this prediction because my infatuation for him has been well documented throughout the draft process. He’s going to be a superstar.

Cleveland Browns: Greedy Williams, Sione Takitaki, Sheldrick Redwine, Mack Wilson, Austin Seibert, Drew Forbes, Donnie Lewis (Draft Grade: B)

Bold Prediction: Greedy Williams Becomes an All-Pro Corner- What a phenomenal job John Dorsey did with limited assets in this draft. To come away with multiple depth pieces, and potential year one starters in Williams and Redwine, is impressive.

The prize, however, was Greedy Williams. Cornerback was the obvious need for the Browns heading into this draft, and Cleveland landed the corner with the most upside in this draft. Williams is at his best in man coverage where he can mirror and trail receivers. His ability to turn out of his backpedal needs work, it was the big reason he fell to where he did. Having said that, Williams has the length and athleticism to be a quality player. In Cleveland, he will play in lots of cover one and cover three, which puts his strengths on full display. This is an ideal fit and could set up Williams to be the player many thought he was two months ago.

Dallas Cowboys: Trysten Hill, Connor McGovern, Tony Pollard, Michael Jackson, Joe Jackson, Donovan Wilson, Mike Weber, Jalen Jelks (Draft Grade C+)

Bold Prediction: Trysten Hill Wins A Starting Job in Training Camp- Dallas drafted mostly depth pieces, a few of which have some upside like Joe Jackson and Connor McGovern. The one pick I liked was Trysten Hill. Hill can stack and shed blockers against the run, and he’s disruptive as a pass rusher. The one big question with him is his work ethic, and unfortunately that’s not something I can speak about with the information I am privy to. What I can tell you is that Hill has the athleticism and the game to beat out the other defensive tackles on the Cowboys roster. A three down defensive tackle was the goal at 58, and they got him. Don’t be surprised if Hill is a starter before the Cowboys suit up week one.

Denver Broncos: Noah Fant, Dalton Risner, Drew Lock, Dre’Mont Jones, Justin Hollins, Juwann Winfree (Draft Grade: B-)

Bold Prediction: Drew Lock Actually Works Out- The Broncos hit a home run with their first two picks. They traded down in round one and still selected a top ten talent in this draft. In round two, they took a physical offensive lineman that will help them run the ball better in 2019 (Risner is also a leader, and he will help change their attitude up front).

Drew Lock is the man of conversation though, because he’s a quarterback. After all, who needs a game changing, All-Pro caliber tight end and a guard who can start for many years in this league? The conversation is all about Lock because the only position that matters is Quarterbacks…. apparently.

Now based on my outrage in the previous paragraph, you might think I’m not a fan of Lock. Guess what? You’d be right. However, this is “Bold Predictions,” and the setup here might be perfect for Drew Lock. He should benefit from sitting a year and learning how to read defenses. He should also come in to a better situation in 2020 than if he started in 2019. The Broncos young offensive pieces will all have an extra year under their belts. If his mechanics improve, and his anticipation gets better, maybe Lock is finally the quarterback John Elway has been searching for.

Detroit Lions: TJ Hockenson, Jahlani Tavai, Will Harris, Austin Bryant, Amani Oruwariye, Travis Fulgham, Ty Johnson, Isaac Nauta, P.J. Johnson (Draft Grade: C+)

Bold Prediction: Only TJ Hockenson Finishes His Rookie Contract as a Member of the Lions- Hockenson is obviously the crowned jewel of this draft group for Detroit, and he will excel in the Lions offense. Outside of the Iowa tight end, however, this wasn’t a stellar draft.

Jahlani Tavai and Will Harris were productive college players, but both were overdrafted. Tavai isn’t a good enough athlete at the next level and Harris does not cover a lot of ground in the back end of the defense. Austin Bryant is more of the same. He’s a good run stopper, but he’s not a great athlete and he wasn’t very impressive on film as a pass rusher considering all the one-on-one opportunities he got at Clemson.

Amani Oruwariye is where this prediction could go sideways. I absolutely love this fit for Oruwariye. The Lions play a lot of multiple coverages, which plays to Oruwariye’s biggest strength; his footwork in off coverage. Truth be told, I think Oruwariye will fit very nicely in Detroit.

Here’s what scares me about the potential fit; Oruwariye is not the best in press coverage and his ability in cover one still needs work. Head Coach Matt Patricia not only runs multiple coverages like I mentioned earlier, but he also likes to play aggressive. While I personally think Oruwariye will be just fine in this scheme, if he’s asked to play a lot of aggressive man-to-man early on, there’s a chance he flops at the next level. 

Green Bay Packers: Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage, Elgton Jenkins, Jace Sternberger, Kingsley Keke, Ka’dar Hollman, Dexter Williams, Ty Summers (Draft Grade: B+)

Bold Prediction: Jace Sternberger Has the Best Statistical Rookie Season of the Tight Ends in This Draft Class- Green Bay addressed a lot of needs during this draft. Rashan Gary’s athleticism and versatility are exactly what the Packers need up front. The same can be said about Darnell Savage in the backend. He can come into the box and make plays against the run, and he has the cover skills to hunt the ball from sideline to sideline. The two underrated and undervalued selections will be Elgton Jenkins and Jace Sternberger. Green Bay has lacked offensive line depth for many years now, and Jenkins’ ability to play guard or center should help fix that (don’t be shocked if Jenkins beats out Corey Lindsay for the starting Center position sooner rather than later). The Packers have also lacked a true playmaker at the tight end position. Sure, Aaron Rodgers has made a solid report with guys like Richard Rodgers and what’s left of Jimmy Graham.

Sternberger is a different cat though. He separates well in and out of breaks and he’s able to run a fair amount of route combinations from multiple positions on the field. I think Sternberger will quickly become a favorite of Aaron Rodgers, and I would not be surprised if the “sleeper,” fantasy football players are talking about in 2019 is Sternberger.

Houston Texans: Tytus Howard, Lonnie Johnson, Max Scharping, Kahale Warring, Charles Omenihu, Xavier Crawford, Cullen Gillaspia (Draft Grade: B)

Bold Prediction: Tytus Howard and Max Scharping Start for the Texans in 2019, And Both Become Successful Pros- This is one of the more aggressive takes I’ve had in this article, but it’s also one I’m oddly confident in. Howard and Scharping are incredibly similar. Both players can improve on their footwork and technique in pass protection, but both players have NFL size and length, plus experience at both left and right tackle. They both show the smarts necessary to succeed at the position. It’s very likely they will be called upon to start early in 2019 because the Texans offensive line is so bad. Even though both could have benefited from being brought along slowly, I think both will continue to improve in their technique and prove to be valuable starters early in their careers.

Editor’s Note: I chose the positive spin here, but there is a really good chance this draft goes awry for the Texans. Howard and Scharping are both susceptible to being thrown off balance during their kickslide in pass protection, and starting early could hurt them, as I mentioned. I was never impressed by Lonnie Johnson’s tape, and I think he will be exposed by the route runners he will see in the NFL. I do like Charles Omenihu and Kahale Warring; both should be solid contributors at the next level. Nevertheless, missing on your first three picks would be detrimental to a team that is competing for a championship in a crowded AFC.

Indianapolis Colts: Rock Ya-Sin, Ben Banogu, Parris Campbell, Bobby Okereke, Khari Willis, Marvin Tell, E.J. Speed, Gerri Green, Jackson Barton, Javon Patterson (Draft Grade: B)

Bold Prediction: The Most Important Move the Colts Made in This Draft Was Acquiring a Second Rounder in 2020- This was not Chris Ballard’s best draft, but his weaker draft is still better than most. Rock Ya-Sin was a player I was much higher on than others. I had a first round grade on him because of his toughness, ball skills and technique in man coverage. Parris Campbell should be a quality fit in the Colts offensive scheme. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands, and he showed elite level quickness during the agility drills at the combine, which makes you think he will be able to win consistently out of the slot. Ben Banogu was a bit of a reach, but he has the athleticism to be a quality sub-package player at the next level.

Interestingly enough, the best move they made was acquiring a high pick in next year’s draft. Indianapolis traded back from 26 and acquired a 2020 second round pick from Washington. That asset could allow them to move up the board next year for one of the many offensive playmakers that will headline next year’s draft. Or they could use it to move up for a defensive line player like Derrick Brown or Nick Coe (yes I named both Auburn standouts, they should dominate this upcoming season). Next year’s draft class appears to be much better than this one, and that asset could yield a better player than they could have selected at 26 in this draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Allen, Jawaan Taylor, Josh Oliver, Quincy Williams, Ryquell Armstead, Gardner Minshew, Dontavius Russell (Draft Grade: B)

Bold Prediction: Josh Allen Becomes the Best EDGE Rusher in This Draft- Jacksonville could have went home after their first two selections and still had one of the better drafts in 2019. Allen and Taylor are day one starters, and both are in perfect schemes. Let’s start with Taylor (because the bold call is about Allen). The Jaguars run the ball a lot and play a physical style of offense. That fits Jawaan Taylor perfectly. He’s a mauler in the run game, playing with poise and inside hands on a consistent basis to gain leverage. I love this fit for Taylor; he should be a quality right tackle in this scheme.

Allen was not as high on my personal board as he was on the big boards of media members, but that does not mean I didn’t like the player. He’s a strong edge rusher with terrific dip and bend ability. He also moves around the front seven a lot, and even shows the ability to drop in coverage. I thought a LEO linebacker role in the NFL would have been a really interesting use of his skill set. Jacksonville has the capability of playing him all over their defensive front, including a 4-3 LEO linebacker. He will see lots of one-on-one pass rushing opportunities with all of the Jags defensive talent. Allen has one of the brightest futures among this draft because of where he wound up. He should thrive because of it.

Kansas City Chiefs: Mecole Hardman, Juan Thornhill, Khalen Saunders, Rashad Fenton, Darwin Thompson, Nick Allegretti (Draft Grade: C+)

Bold Prediction: Despite Being in the Perfect Scheme Fit, Mecole Hardman Is a Bust- Before attempting this bold call, because I’m not even sure I can sell it, let’s dive into the Chiefs draft as a whole. Their defensive selections range from average, to terrific, to awful. Juan Thornhill should be a solid fit next to Tyrann Mathieu in the back, unless he’s asked to cover a lot, in which case disaster could happen. Khalen Saunders, on the other hand, is a much more straightforward selection. He can play multiple spots along the defensive front and help Chris Jones see less double teams. The Chiefs should have selected a cornerback earlier than round four (and better than Rashad Fenton), which is why I do not love this draft as a whole.

Now onto the bold prediction. Hardman was selected a bit early and ahead of some more versatile receivers, but the fit is ideal. He’s a speedster that explodes in and out of cuts. Putting him in the Chiefs offense is essentially cheating, and could prove to be the most undervalued pick of 2019.

What if it doesn’t work? What if Hardman is not far enough along in his development to read zone coverages? What if his lack of a true catch radius hurts him? Hardman is explosive as an athlete, but he does not always run the cleanest routes. Does this hurt him considering he will be thrown into the fire right out of the gate?

Don’t get me wrong, I think Hardman will flourish in this system. However, there is a chance that the Assuming Tyreek Hill does not return to the Chiefs, Hardman will have to grow up quickly, and that’s a tall order.

Los Angeles Chargers: Jerry Tillery, Nasir Adderley, Trey Pipkins, Drue Tranquill, Easton Stick, Emeke Egbule, Cortez Broughton (Draft Grade: C+)

Bold Prediction: Nasir Adderley Starts Week One- This draft is very black and white, so creating a prediction based on this draft was tough. Tillery and Adderley should be productive pros, and the rest of the draft has zero upside, in my opinion. Tillery will line up next to either Melvin Ingram or Joey Bosa, and help this pass rush generate even more pressure. I had been mocking the idea of the Chargers taking a defensive lineman since February, so I’m a huge fan of them selecting one with their first round selection.

Adderley should be a starter sooner rather than later in the Chargers defense, especially with all the sub-packages they run. Adderley can also play nickel corner, so he will be used early and often during his rookie year. Whether he starts, or is used only in sub-packages, Adderley will be tested early in his NFL career.

Los Angeles Rams: Taylor Rapp, Darrell Henderson, David Long, Bobby Evans, Greg Gaines, Davis Edwards, Nicholas Scott, Dakota Allen (Draft Grade: C-)

Bold Prediction: None of These Players Finish Their Rookie Contracts with the LA Rams- I thought the Rams traded down one too many times on during the early portion of the NFL Draft, and then capped off their mistake with Taylor Rapp, who was one of my least favorite players in the draft. I never saw an athletic in-the-box strong safety on tape. I just saw a guy who often over pursued plays and could not cover. The rest of the draft was not much better. Darrell Henderson is a backup running back that the Rams selected in the third round despite having other needs, and the remaining selections are all depth pieces. There are two picks here that give me pause for concern; David Long and David Edwards.

Long is athletic, but his coverage skills are up and down. He can trail receivers in man coverage, but he struggles in off coverage and his hips are stiff at times. I think he will be eased into the Rams defense because Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters still have a year left on their respective contracts. This could help him develop, but he has a ways to go towards becoming a starter in the NFL.

Edwards is a smart player but he needs to improve in his technique. As I’ve mentioned in my mocks and other draft related pieces, I still think he can succeed if given time. He will get the opportunity to see what he has learned next year once Andrew Whitworth retires, but if the Rams pursue a tackle early in next year’s draft or via free agency, that opportunity may not exist.

Even though I like the fit for both Long and Edwards because they will be eased into the NFL, it’s not improbable to assume that this draft class becomes a big whiff by the Rams.

Miami Dolphins: Christian Wilkins, Michael Dieter, (Acquired Josh Rosen), Andrew Van Ginkel, Isaiah Prince, Chandler Cox, Myles Gaskin (Draft Grade: C+)

Bold Prediction: Josh Rosen Flops… Again- I think Josh Rosen has to be included in the Dolphins draft of 2019 because they swapped a second round selection for the former UCLA stand out. In turn, they got their QB of the present, and hopefully the future. This is why the bold call is centered around Rosen.

Miami entered the 2019 NFL Draft in a clear rebuild. They selected the best player available at 13 in Christian Wilkins (and he should have a stellar career in the middle of the Dolphins defense), they opted for a guard that many held in high regard pre-draft (I had a fifth round grade on Michael Dieter, which is one of the reasons the Dolphins draft grade is not as high from me as it may be from other media personalities), and they continued to rebuild their team inside the trenches on day three.

The clear direction of a rebuild made the aggressive pursuit of Josh Rosen perplexing. This team is not built to win in 2019. They did not re-sign any of their offensive line, nor did they look to replacing the EDGE rushers that departed during this offseason. Miami’s entire offense is weak, including the weapons Rosen will be throwing to. He will spend his first year in Miami attempting to get the most out of a team that is not built to win, and that is a tough ask for a young QB in a new system. 

Now for the Dolphins, this is a calculated gamble. Josh Rosen will have two years to make the players around him better. If he can do that, the Dolphins will be able to expedite their rebuild. If Rosen struggles with a subpar receiving core and a less than stellar offensive line, the Dolphins are in prime positions for Trevor Lawrence in two years.

In short, sometimes quarterbacks “bust,” because of talent, and sometimes they do not work out because of the situation they have been placed into. Josh Rosen feels like he is going to be the latter.

Minnesota Vikings: Garrett Bradbury, Irv Smith, Alexander Mattison, Dru Samia, Cameron Smith, Armon Watts, Marcus Epps, Oli Udoh, Kris Boyd, Dillon Mitchell, Olabisi Johnson, Austin Cutting (Draft Grade: B+)

Bold Prediction: Bisi Johnson Beats Out Laquon Treadwell for the #3 WR Spot- Well Vikings fans, your front office listened to your offensive line complaints. Garrett Bradbury will start at either Center or Guard from day one and excel. Dru Samia and Oli Udoh should be solid backup lineman, with Samia being able to start along the interior in a pinch later on in his rookie deal (he needs to work on his pad level and counterpunch when facing a strong rusher from the interior).

The Vikings also took Irv Smith to replace Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph and Kirk Cousins never had the report many expected them to. Smith will win matchups against linebackers and safeties all day long. This should give the Vikings passing offense the dimension it was missing last year.

As for the bold prediction, Olabisi Johnson was a really interesting late round selection by the Vikings. I think he fits what the Vikings are looking for in a third wideout much better than former first round selection Laquon Treadwell. Johnson does the little things well; he’s smart as a route runner, he blocks well, and he contributes on special teams. Don’t be shocked if Bisi Johnson finds himself in a competition battle early on in Vikings training camp.

New England Patriots: N’Keal Harry, Joejuan Williams, Chase Winovich, Damien Harris, Yodny Cajuste, Hjalte Froholdt, Jarrett Stidham, Byron Cowart, Jacob Bailey, Ken Webster (Draft Grade: A-)

Bold Prediction: Each One of the Patriots First Three Selections Makes a Pro Bowl- I’m going to try to do this as impartially as I can, because that is my job. Having said that… HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE PATRIOTS TO RELOAD EVEN SINGLE YEAR?! There are 31 other teams that could have done their jobs in selecting actual talent, but no. Somehow New England winds up with one of the best drafts of 2019. To make matters worse, they didn’t just reload this time, they stacked the deck.

N’Keal Harry is going to be a stud in this offense. I appreciate those wanting to wait and see on a New England WR that they draft highly because of guys like Aaron Dobson and Chad Jackson, but this is not one of those times. Harry is dynamic with the ball in his hands, he wins down the field with size and high point ability, and he’s versatile in terms of where he lines up. Oh, and he’s catching passes from Tom Brady.

Then Bill Belichick decided to flex on everyone. He took a 6’3 press cover corner with really good ball skills. Many questioned his ability to make up ground if beat, but Williams silenced those critics at his pro day. Williams can also sit in off coverage and make plays on the ball, driving off his back foot and closing ground quickly.

In the third round, Belichick selected Chase Winovich, an edge rusher who plays like his hair is on fire. He’s disciplined as a run defender and productive as a pass rusher, despite not having elite athleticism. His move-set and intelligence allowed him to be successful at Michigan, and it will help him be successful in New England.

To top it all off, Belichick snagged a running back with starter potential (Damien Harris), and two offensive lineman (Yodny Cajuste and Hjalte Froholdt) that can start in the future after their footwork improves under the tutelage of Dante Scarnecchia.

This was a phenomenal draft from the Patriots, and they will see the fruits of their labor both in the immediate future as well as the long term one.

New Orleans Saints: Erik McCoy, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Saquan Hampton, Alize Mack, Kaden Ellis (Draft Grade: B-)

Bold Prediction: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is Cut by Year Three- Let me preface this bold call with this; I think the Saints did a terrific job with limited resources. To come away with Erik McCoy and CGJ with not a lot of draft capital, is very impressive. Both can potentially start in year one, and McCoy in particular should be a stud in the middle of the Saints offensive line. I should also point out that this is a prediction I do not entirely agree with. Having said that, in every draft recap you will read what a steal Gardner-Johnson was on day three. Therefore, I’m going to take the opposite point of view, not only because I enjoy playing devil’s advocate, but also because this is a bold prediction article and well…. you know….

While CGJ was viewed by many as the best cover safety in the draft, I saw someone who often guessed where to go based on the quarterback’s eyes. The famous interception of Shea Patterson against Michigan in the bowl game is actually a misread on his part. The ball being underthrown allows him to make up ground and make the interception. Plays like this happened far too much on tape. He’s also not a great tackler either. Why would the Saints replace Marcus Williams in the secondary with lesser Marcus Williams?

Editor’s Note: Here’s where this prediction goes sideways. Even if I’m right about his ability as a single high safety, Gardner-Johnson provides value as a nickel corner. He played it a lot at Florida and played the position successfully. It’s highly unlikely that CGJ is a complete bust, but I do think NFL teams correctly judged his draft value, a statement many would disagree with.

New York Giants: Daniel Jones, Dexter Lawrence, DeAndre Baker, Oshane Ximines, Julian Love, Ryan Connelly, Darius Slayton, Corey Ballentine, George Asafo-adjei, Chris Slayton (Draft Grade: D)

Bold Prediction: Dexter Lawrence Puts Together a Hall of Fame Career- I’m going to delve into the bold prediction portion of this draft analysis first because it’s the only positive thing coming in the next few paragraphs. It has been a long time since we have seen an athlete like Dexter Lawrence. At 340 pounds, this dude essentially ran a five flat during his 40 at the combine. He is lightning quick off the ball on tape, he collapses the pocket when pass rushing as a one tech, and good luck attempting to move this guy off the spot in the run game. Lawrence was a really quality pass rusher from a three tech as well. As long as he stays healthy, the sky’s the limit for him.

With that being said…. DANIEL JONES?! I’ll be honest, even though I’ve called this for two months, part of me still didn’t believe it. There was no way David Gettleman was dumb enough to be baited into selecting him at six. Jones was an average pocket passer at Duke who showed inconsistency with his footwork and release, and the Giants took him at six… because he’s connected to David Cutcliffe? By the way, this is coming from someone who actually likes Daniel Jones and thinks he could be a capable backup in this league. I cannot see this working out, especially because Jones will suit up this year once Eli Manning shows he has very little left.

To make matters worse, the Giants traded back into round one to select a cover corner with below average athleticism and the inability to press. In case you’re unfamiliar with James Bettcher’s defense, it’s aggressive in its schemes. You know who is not suited for an aggressive style defense? DeAndre Baker. I think Baker could have been solid in a zone heavy defense, but this is just not the fit for him. Same goes for Julian Love later on.

Fret not Giants Fans, because I can wrap this up with good news! In two years, after this draft is a debacle and David Gettleman is fired, Trevor Lawrence is available. So you have that going for you, which is nice.

New York Jets: Quinnen Williams, Jachai Polite, Chuma Edoga, Treveon Wesco, Blake Cashman, Blessuan Austin (Draft Grade: B)

Bold Prediction: Despite Selecting Two Starters and Setting Up the Jets for a Playoff Appearance, Mike Maccagnan Loses His Job Because of This Draft- The Jets acquired two game changers on their defensive front with their first two selections. Many thought Quinnen Williams was the top player in this draft, and almost everyone thought Jachai Polite had first round tape. The Jets were willing to take a chance on Polite’s off the field issues in round three, and I think it will pay off. There’s no room for laziness on a Gregg Williams defense; you either play hard or you play your way onto another team. Polite will be tested, but if he answers the call, he can dominate.

Regardless of the success of this draft, I do not think the Jets did enough to establish themselves as a 9+ win team this offseason. Had they traded down, they might have had the ammo to complete this roster. Even if they had accepted lesser value, it still gave them a better chance to make the playoffs in 2019. The Jets still need a number two corner, a starting center, and one more receiving option. Trading down could have provided them the assets to address those.

Even though this draft was strong, and the Jets are a better team because of it, I do not think they will be a playoff team in 2019. Therefore, the one person who needs the team to make the playoffs to keep his job, winds up losing his job.

Oakland Raiders: Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs, Johnathan Abram, Trayvon Mullen, Maxx Crosby, Isaiah Johnson, Foster Moreau, Hunter Renfrow, Quinton Bell (Draft Grade: B-)

Bold Prediction: Clelin Ferrell Proves Worthy of a Top Ten Selection- Mike Mayock’s first draft as General Manager was not spectacular, but he took a lot of players who should be productive pros. Jon Gruden is going to love Josh Jacobs and Johnathan Abram. Both players are physical and they play with aggression and passion (sometimes to a fault in the case of Abram). I also really like this fit for Trayvon Mullen and Isaiah Johnson. Both corners have puzzling tape, but their game seems best served as man-to-man corners.

The success of this draft class will hinge upon Clelin Ferrell’s ability to warrant a Top 10 selection. Anyone who watched the draft can picture the exact reaction they had to seeing Ferrell come off the board at 4. Nobody saw that coming.

However, Ferrell does bring NFL traits to the table. He’s a physical rusher, winning with power and multiple moves, including a very effective bull rush and nice swim move. He also shows solid discipline against the run. He’s rarely bullied off the edge, and he often makes plays in the backfield. I’m not sure Ferrell is ever a guy that will push 12+ sacks in the NFL, but he will have plenty of tackles for loss and prove to be a very effective Defensive End.

Philadelphia Eagles: Andre Dillard, Miles Sanders, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Shareef Miller, Clayton Thorson (Draft Grade: B+)

Bold Prediction: Miles Sanders Becomes RB1 in This Draft Class- The Eagles had a really good draft. They used a few day three assets to move up in round one and select Dillard, a premier pass blocking left tackle. Dillard will sit for a year behind veteran Jason Peters as Peters plays what will presumably be his final year in the NFL. After that, he will step in and protect Carson Wentz’s blindside for the foreseeable future. The two offensive weapons selected on day two are perfect scheme fits. Sanders has the potential to be a three down back. He’s a terrific pass catcher, and he’s explosive in the open field. Arcega-Whiteside is one of the best 50/50 players in this draft. He uses his size to win down the field as well as in the red zone. He also rarely drops anything in his area code.

The guy I really love is Sanders. Behind a quality offensive line, Sanders should be able to find obvious holes to run through (he tends to overthink cuts in the backfield) and use his quickness to beat defenders at the second level. He can also balance out newly acquired running back Jordan Howard because Sanders can be the Eagles change of pace back, similar to what Tarik Cohen was for Howard in Chicago. Sanders should be very productive for the Eagles right from the get-go.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Bush, Diontae Johnson, Justin Layne, Bennie Snell, Zach Gentry, Sutton Smith, Isaiah Buggs, Ulysees Gilbert, Derwin Gray (Draft Grade: B)

Bold Prediction: Justin Layne Earns a Bigger Second Contract Than Devin Bush- The Steelers had a very strong draft. After moving up for Devin Bush as many predicted, the Steelers made some intriguing selections. Sutton Smith and Isaiah Buggs should be quality backs, with Smith also contributing on special teams. Bennie Snell can also contribute in short yardage situations.

Justin Layne has the biggest upside of the group. His footwork in off coverage and his ability to mirror in man coverage show that he can succeed in multiple defensive looks. Pittsburgh is known for running multiple different zone schemes in the back end of their defense, so Layne’s footwork and technique should help him fit in nicely. I expect Layne to start sooner rather than later, and if he performs well, it’s not unreasonable to think that a cornerback could haul a bigger second contract than a middle linebacker.

Editor’s Note- By no means am I calling Devin Bush a potential bust. He will be a stud in Pittsburgh.

San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, Jalen Hurd, Mitch Wishnowsky, Dre Greenlaw, Kaden Smith, Justin Skule, Tim Harris (Draft Grade: B)

Bold Prediction: Jalen Hurd Carves Out a Successful NFL Career- I’m not sure how bold of a prediction this is because many accurately pegged how great this fit was for Hurd. Kyle Shanahan is able to get the most out of his offensive weapons, and Hurd is likely to be the rule, not the exception. When you consider where Hurd started his collegiate career, the transformation into a quality NFL receiver would be nothing short of impressive. That alone warrants the prediction.

Hurd was originally a running back at the University of Tennessee, and quite a good one at that. He was physical between the tackles and he could catch out of the backfield. Eventually the hits took a toll on him and he transferred to Baylor to become a receiver. His size makes him a difficult cover in the red zone. Hurd high points the ball very well, which you would expect for someone who’s 6’5. I think both Hurd and Deebo Samuel will be immediate contributors for the Niners offense, and for Hurd, that’s a terrific transformation.

Editor’s Note: I chose to focus on Jalen Hurd because of his story, but watch out for Deebo Samuel. Shanahan runs a west coast style offense, one that suits Samuel perfectly. Samuel can win out of the slot with precise route running. He should become one of Jimmy Garoppolo’s favorite targets. For those who are reading this and play fantasy football (which I’m assuming is mostly all of you), look for Samuel later on in your respective drafts this fall.

Seattle Seahawks: LJ Collier, Marquise Blair, DK Metcalf, Cody Barton, Gary Jennings, Phil Haynes, Ugo Amadi, Ben Burr-Kirven, Travis Homer, Demarcus Christmas, John Ursua (Draft Grade: C+)

Bold Prediction: 31 Teams Will Regret Passing on Future All Pro DK Metcalf- Seattle’s draft is disgustingly bad, but the one bright spot is “Superman 2.0.” Metcalf fell in this draft strictly because of his three cone and short shuttle at the combine. This is the most egregious instance of overvaluing combine results that I can remember. When you turn on the tape, you see more than a “one trick pony” (the buzz phrase when describing Metcalf during the coverage of the NFL Draft). You see a player who can sink his hips into his routes and separate at the top of the stem in multiple ways.

Now Metcalf is never going to be a precise route runner, that’s not his game. However, that does not mean he can only one run route. Many think this because of the aforementioned poor agility drills in Indianapolis. Scouts saw the drills and then went back to the tape to confirm what they saw, which is exactly what you should do.

What I cannot figure out is how they came to the conclusion that Metcalf can only run a go route. He runs comebacks and square ins, and he separates from defenders. Not to mention, he’s unguardable at the line of scrimmage. I cannot wait for the day myself and other Metcalf supporters (shout out to The Draft Network and its contributors here) get to say “we told you so.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin White, Sean Bunting, Jamel Dean, Mike Edwards, Anthony Nelson, Matt Gay, Scott Miller, Terry Becker (Draft Grade: C+)

Bold Prediction: Anthony Nelson Thrives and Proves Me Right- Nelson was one of my favorite players throughout the draft process. I never saw much of a difference between him and Clelin Ferrell. Both players win with technique rather than sheer dip and bend ability. Both players control their gaps and set the edge against the run. What I felt made Nelson different was that he possessed the ability to get low and run the arch, despite his size. Nelson should get the chance to prove himself during training camp because of the Buccaneers weak pass rush, and I expect him to make good of his opportunities.

Editor’s Note: The Bucs draft as a whole was subpar because they passed on some obvious talent for risky selections. Having said that, Sean Bunting, Jamel Dean and Mike Edwards will all get their chance to prove their worth right from the jump. Tampa Bay’s secondary is weak, allowing Bunting and Dean to compete for starting gigs right away. Mike Edwards joins a safety group that, to put it bluntly, stinks. Todd Bowles uses a safety close to the box, which Mike Edwards can definitely be. Each one of these players will have the opportunity to prove my draft grade wrong, but I doubt they will. Bunting struggles in press coverage (which Bowles uses a lot), Dean has injury problems and Edwards does not cover well enough to be a multifaceted safety in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons, AJ Brown, Nate Davis, Amani Hooker, D’Andre Walker, David Long (Draft Grade: A-)

Bold Prediction: Tennessee Drafted Four Starters in 2019- Nothing like saving one of the most aggressive predictions for last (or second to last). Tennessee had a phenomenal start to their draft, taking two impact players at positions of need. Jeffery Simmons is an elite talent and would have definitely gone in the top 10 had he not injured himself during a February workout. Simmons has a lethal first step and quick but powerful hand strikes. He’s able to chop away the arms of pass protectors, and he has a pretty lethal rip move to boot. Once he is healthy, he will start. 

AJ Brown is a piece that Marcus Mariota has needed for a few years now. Brown is someone that can move the chains on third down, winning out of the slot with technique and quickness. Mariota needs a safety valve and a reliable third down target, and that is AJ Brown.

The two remaining players to complete this prediction are Nate Davis and Amani Hooker. Davis will immediately enter a position battle with veteran guard Kevin Pamphile, who the Titans signed to a one year deal. I was a big fan of Davis pre-draft because of his quickness and ability to pull. His athleticism is impressive, and it helps him against more athletic pass rushers along the interior. Davis winning this job out of camp would not be a shock at all.

Hooker finding his way into the starting lineup in 2019 is probably a long shot, but his versatility gives him a chance. He shows the ability to mirror receivers and tight ends from the nickel spot, he can play cover one or cover two from the safety position, and he has NFL level instincts. With Kevin Byard occupying the free safety position, Hooker will either have to slide over to strong safety (which is not an in-the-box safety position in the Titans defense), or have an injury occur that allows him to step into one of the two positions he’s comfortable in. This is probably where this prediction will fall short, but the moral of the story is that the Titans had a tremendous draft.

Washington Redskins: Dwayne Haskins, Montez Sweat, Terry McLaurin, Bryce Love, Wes Martin, Ross Pierschbacher, Cole Holcomb, Kelvin Harmon, Jimmy Moreland, Jordan Brailford (Draft Grade: B)

Bold Prediction: Kelvin Harmon and Jimmy Moreland Start in Year Two- Washington had a really strong draft. They managed to select Dwayne Haskins without having to mortgage future assets, then traded back into round one for a game changing edge player in Montez Sweat. I like the selection of Terry McLaurin as well. Not only does he have speed to burn, but he already has a report with Dwayne Haskins from their days at Ohio State.

The two late day selections that made this a strong draft were Harmon and Moreland. Kelvin Harmon is a precise route runner for a bigger receiver. He may not win route combinations with athleticism, but he sinks his hips into his cuts and wins with technique. I think Harmon could be the receiver to watch in training camp and not McLaurin.

Moreland was also a quality selection. I really liked his ability to jam receivers at the line when I watched him. That, compiled with his athleticism, should help him compete for a nickel corner spot. At worst, Moreland should find his way into special teams (he has the potential to excel there). With Washington’s weak receiving core as well as the lesser talent they have at corner, both Harmon and Moreland will have the chance to succeed early in their careers.