2019 NFL is just around the corner and here is a recap on what went down with the draft
Every year, teams in the National Football League try to improve through the 2019 NFL Draft. This year’s NFL Draft Round 1 started off with the worst team in the league, the Arizona Cardinals. It ended with the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.
Check out our analysis of each first-round 2019 NFL draft picks!
Round 1 Pick by Pick Analysis
- Arizona Cardinals – QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma State
Last season’s Heisman Trophy winner, Kyler Murray excelled in Oklahoma’s offense. New Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury runs a similar offense. Murray’s short at 5’ 10”. That could delay his pro development.
- San Francisco 49ers – DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
The consensus best player in the 2019 NFL Draft, Bosa appears to be a sure-fire can’t miss pick. The 49ers must pressure quarterbacks more this season. Bosa will help them do that.
- New York Jets – DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama
Williams developed into the best defensive tackle in the nation just this season. He should be a force on the Jets’ improving defensive line.
- Oakland Raiders – DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
The first question mark pick happened here. Clelin Ferrell is a good player. He probably isn’t as good of a player as Devin White, Joshua Allen, or Edward Oliver, though. If the Raiders had drafted one of those defenders, they would have hit a home run.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LB Devin White, LSU
Tampa must find a way to stop opponents from averaging 4.7 rush yards per game. Making Devin White their 2019 NFL Draft pick might do that.
- New York Giants – QB Daniel Jones, Duke
The Giants made the second question mark pick in Round 1. New York must improve almost everywhere on their defense. Daniel Jones could turn out to be a good professional quarterback, but Allen and Oliver were available.
- Jacksonville Jaguars – EDGE Joshua Allen, Kentucky
Allen gets after the quarterback. He may have fallen this far because he doesn’t have great run stop skills. Or, at least he didn’t show those skills in college. He can develop run stop skills. That means the Jaguars got the NFL Draft first round steal.
- Detroit Lions – TE Thomas Hockenson, Iowa
The first of two Iowa tight-ends drafted in Round 1, Hockenson has the more ready NFL skills. Detroit had a mission to find more weapons for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Drafting Hockenson helped the mission.
- Buffalo Bills – DT Edward Oliver, Houston
Before the college football season started, most considered Ed Oliver the best defensive tackle in the nation. Buffalo, like Jacksonville, got a steal when Oliver fell to pick 9.
- Pittsburgh Steelers – LB Devin Bush, Michigan
Pittsburgh moved up to draft Devin Bush. The Steelers must replace Ryan Shazier. Bush could do that.
- Cincinnati Bengals – OT Jonah Williams, Alabama
Cincinnati decided to take the safe route and draft an excellent tackle. Jonah Williams could start for 10 years in the NFL. It’s hard to knock this pick.
- Green Bay Packers – DE Rashan Gary, Michigan
A shoulder issue sent Gary tumbling in Round 1. The Packers believe they can control the shoulder problem with a harness. Green Bay took a big risk with this pick.
- Miami Dolphins – DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson
Many questioned the Dolphins drafting a defensive player when they needed a quarterback. A day after the 2019 NFL Draft, the Dolphins acquired former Arizona starter Josh Rosen. That makes drafting Wilkins at 13 a really good move.
- Atlanta Falcons – G Christopher Lindstrom, Boston College
The Falcons used their first round one pick on a solid guard. Too many times last season, defenders got to quarterback Matt Ryan up the middle. Lindstrom helps prevent that from happening this season.
- Washington Redskins – QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Washington might have gotten the third steal in Round 1. Haskins has all the tools to be a top NFL quarterback. He’s also careful with the football, which means he won’t throw interceptions.
- Carolina Panthers – EDGE Brian Burns, Florida State
Carolina has always had the mentality that they can improve their offense by improving their defense. This pick perfectly shows that mentality.
- New York Giants – DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
The Giants made a more logical choice with pick 17 than they did with draft pick 6. Dexter Lawrence is a solid defensive tackle that will immediately help the Giants.
- Minnesota Vikings – C Garrett Bradbury, North Carolina
The Vikings want to improve their rushing offense. Drafting a center is a good place to start.
- Tennessee Titans – DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel has a defense first mentality. Simmons is an underrated tackle. There’s value with this pick.
- Denver Broncos – TE Noah Fant, Iowa
Fant is the second Iowa tight-end that got drafted in the first round. He should immediately help new Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco.
- Green Bay Packers – S Darrell Savage, Maryland
The Packers continued adding pieces to their defense with this pick. Savage had a great season playing on a bad Maryland defense.
- Philadelphia Eagles – T Andre Dillard, Washington
Many analysts had Dillard ranked as the top offensive tackle heading into last season. Dillard played well. Scouts might have had a hard time correctly assessing him, which would explain why he fell past pick 20. Dillard played against bad Pac 12 defensive lines.
- Houston Texans – T Tyus Howard, Alabama State
Howard might be a reach. Or, he could be a diamond in the rough. Houston knows they must protect quarterback Deshaun Watson. They expect Howard to make an immediate impact.
- Oakland Raiders – RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama
The first running back off the board, Josh Jacobs showed immense talent last season. He has decent blocking skills, can get the edge, and has great pass-catching ability. Oakland made a good pick here.
- Baltimore Ravens – WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
Although undersized, Marquise Brown is a sure-handed wide receiver. He’s also learned some things from his cousin, Antonio Brown. AB is the best wide receiver in the NFL. Like his cousin, Marquise Brown could overachieve in the NFL.
- Washington Redskins – EDGE Shaquan Sweat, Mississippi State
Washington might have hit another home run with Mississippi State edge rusher Shaquan Sweat. Sweat spearheaded one of the best defenses in college football last season. He instantly upgrades the Redskins’ defense.
- Oakland Raiders – S Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
By drafting Johnathan Abram, Okland has signaled that they no longer believe in Karl Joseph. Joseph has disappointed since the Raiders drafted him in the first round in 2016. If Abram stays healthy, he upgrades the position.
- Los Angeles Chargers – DT Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
The Los Angeles Chargers believe they’re on the cusp of the Super Bowl. Defensive tackle Jerry Tillery could help them get there this season.
- Seattle Seahawks – DE Lawrence Collier, Texas Christian
The Seahawks had an opening at defensive end. Collier might not have been their first choice. Although that could be the case, he will excel because Seattle has a great system for developing defenders.
- New York Giants – CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
The Giants used their third pick on a talented SEC cornerback in Deandre Baker. No problem with the pick, but think about the Giants defense if they had drafted Joshua Allen instead of Daniel Jacobs? NYG might have gone from having the worst defense in the NFC East to the best.
- Atlanta Falcons – T Kaleb Mcgary, Washington
Atlanta made smart 2019 NFL draft picks in the first round. They not only provided quarterback Matt Ryan with necessary protection, but they also improved their rushing attack.
- New England Patriots – WR N’Keal Harry, Arizona State
Tight-end Rob Grownkowski retired. So, this pick makes sense. Harry will play with the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady. If Julian Edelman takes him under his wing, N’Keal could turn into a very good player.
It might be only May, but it’s never too early to be thinking about NFL and how the draft might affect your business this year.
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