A Fair Assessment of the 2019 NFL Draft

by Ben Bramhall

If you follow me on any of the social media outlets, then you’d know that I absolutely love the NFL draft.  The addition of brand-new players to the NFL, the reactions from the players and fans when picks are announced, the unbelievable stories that have led to these young men accomplishing their dreams, and the never-ending booing of Football Overlord Roger Goodell just make the draft so much fun. 

As a Philadelphia Eagles fan, I love the excitement and suspense whenever their pick is up.  But you get it, the draft is great…for some people.  Honestly, it’s a love-hate relationship for most casual fans.  People love their team’s new additions when it’s someone they wanted.  But most of the time, people hate their team’s picks because it’s not who they wanted. 

With that being said, it’s time to analyze the picks from the first round.  Keep in mind that these are my (Ben Bramhall’s) personal opinions, and I’m always willing to eat crow whenever I’m wrong.  Also, you may love my opinions, you may hate them, so be it.  That’s why we talk sports!  But enough rambling, let’s go:

1. Arizona Cardinals Pick:  Kyler Murray (QB, Oklahoma)

After months of stories and speculation, the Cardinals pull the trigger on the Heisman-winning quarterback from Oklahoma and give rookie head coach Kliff Kingsbury his man of the future.  He replaces last-year first rounder quarterback Josh Rosen, who they just shipped to Miami for solid draft capital.  The Cards skipped out on a lot of generational defensive talents, so the weight of the world will be on Murray’s shoulders.  God-speed!   Draft Grade:  B 

2.  San Francisco 49ers Pick:  Nick Bosa (DE, Ohio State)

One of the more obviously slaps in the face of a draft pick.  With Solomon Thomas proving to be a bust so far, the 49ers get a much-needed generational talent of a pass-rusher who might be even better than his brother, Joey.  Draft Grade:  A 

3.  New York Jets Pick:  Quinnen Williams (DT, Alabama)

Another obvious pick, Williams might be the most talented player in this draft class.  The Jets have seriously upgraded their defensive line by adding the Crimson Tide disruptor.  No complaints here, and Jets fans should be very pleased.  Draft Grade:  A+

4.  Oakland Raiders Pick:  Clelin Ferrell (DE, Clemson)

The first perplexing pick of the draft, the Gruden Grinders go with a pass rusher who wasn’t even the top defensive end on the board.  Don’t get me wrong, he’s a great player who could do very well, but you go with him over Josh Allen?  Even a few of my Clemson fan friends were shocked by this pick.  That should really tell you something.  Prove me wrong, Ferrell!  Draft Grade:  C+

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick:  Devin White (LB, Louisiana State)

The Bucs desperately need all the help they can get on defense, as they were one of the worst units in the NFL.  This pick is an enormous step in the right direction.  White is an incredible all-around linebacker that will vastly improve the Bucs defense.  They could have gone with edge-rusher Josh Allen, but I can’t blame them for going with the best linebacker of this draft class.  Draft Grade:  A

6.  New York Giants Pick:  Daniel Jones (QB, Duke)

The quarterback is the most important position in the NFL.  And regardless of the other quarterbacks in a class, when you feel that someone is your guy, you get him.  That being said, this pick shocked me.  Not because of the fact that the Giants picked Jones, but when they picked him.  You had defensive end Josh Allen fall in your laps and you pass on him?!?  I get that he’s your guy and believe me, I think he’s the most polished quarterback in this class, but I really don’t think that he would’ve been gone by your next pick.  Now, before everyone calls for my death sentence (the Paschal brothers have probably issued a bounty for my head), understand that I’m rooting for Jones to succeed, as he seems to be a solid guy.  I am an Eagles fan…rooting for a Giant to succeed…let that sink in, folks.  Draft Grade:  B-

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars Pick:  Josh Allen (EDGE, Kentucky)

FINALLY!  The Jags take advantage of the golden opportunity to add an uber-talented pass rusher to their already daunting defensive line.  Sure, the Jags really didn’t need a pass-rusher and they could have gone with other options.  But, with the exception of getting a quarterback, the best teams in the NFL always take the best player available off the board.  The Jags did just that, and #Sacksonville just got stronger…man that hashtag is cringe-worthy.  Draft Grade:  A+

8.  Detroit Lions Pick:  T.J. Hockenson (TE, Iowa)

The Lions have neglected to give Matt Stafford any adequate weaponry for years, and their offense has suffered as a result.  He’s not getting any younger, so the Lions finally decide to find a playmaker for the offense.  And boy did they find one.  Hockenson is the closest thing to a Gronk that we are going to get since the former Patriot tight end announced his retirement recently.  Sure, the Lions could have addressed other areas with other great selections, but I can’t fault them too much for this pick.  Draft Grade:  A-

9.  Buffalo Bills Pick:  Ed Oliver (DT, Houston)

The Bills can begin to count their blessings as they receive one of (perhaps the most) talented defensive lineman.  “But Ben, if he’s that talented, why didn’t he go earlier?”  Well…there are questions about his character.  He did have an incident with Houston head coach Major Applewhite over not obeying team rules, which led to a heated confrontation between the two on the sidelines during a game.  He’s also been described as high maintenance.  This is something you never want to hear as a fan, but there’s no denying that the talent is there.  Draft Grade:  B+

10.  Pittsburgh Steelers Pick:  Devin Bush (LB, Michigan)

Ever since the heartbreaking injury suffered by Ryan Shazier, the Steeler defense has suffered mightily.  While Shazier is making miraculous strides in his recovery, there is no guarantee that he will ever play another snap of football.  As such, they needed to add a new leader for their defense, and they got one in Bush.  This move ended up costing the Steelers a significant amount of draft capital, and I’m not a huge fan of trading a lot of assets to get a non-quarterback.  But, if Bush is anything like Shazier, it may be worth the price.  Draft Grade:  B

11.  Cincinnati Bengals Pick:  Jonah Williams (OT, Alabama)

The Bengals continue to rebuild their offensive line in order to save the Red Rifle from being broken to pieces by pass rushers.  To aid in this effort, they draft Williams, who is probably the best all-around offensive lineman in this draft.  I will never hate on drafting trench players to protect the quarterback, so good move, Bengals!  Draft Grade:  A

12.  Green Bay Packers Pick:  Rashan Gary (DE, Michigan)

I will not deny for a second the freaky athletic ability of Gary.  I will question why his abilities never translated to the stat sheet.  Green Bay continues to bolster the defensive side of the ball with a player who has a crazy get-off, but needs to work on finishing and converting his pass rushes into actual sacks.  I believe he has what it takes, but we shall see.  Draft Grade:  B+

13.  Miami Dolphins Pick:  Christin Wilkins (DT, Clemson)

The second Clemson Tiger off the board, and this one actually landed right around the area I thought teams would take him.  You can make the argument that Miami needed to find their new quarterback with this pick, but the Dolphins are in the middle of a rebuild, and this is an excellent pick in terms of acquiring talent and value.  Plus, they ended up getting Josh Rosen from the Cards.  Good job, Miami!  Draft Grade:  A

14.  Atlanta Falcons Pick:  Christopher Lindstrom (OG, Boston College)

I consider this pick to be a reach, but I understand the intent behind the move.  Atlanta needs to add some youth and talent to their offensive line, and they hope that Lindstrom can improve the interior.  That being said, this pick makes me feel that the Falcons wanted to trade back, couldn’t find a trade partner, and ended up taking the guy they wanted instead.  Not a terrible pick, but I will knock them for failing to acquire more value for it.  Draft Grade:  B-

15.  Washington Redskins Pick:  Dwayne Haskins (QB, Ohio State)

Redskins fans can rejoice knowing that they got the quarterback that they wanted all along without having to use draft capital to move up in the draft.  Haskins may only have one season of play under his belt, but he consistently showed improvement throughout this past season, which is always a good sign for those wondering what his ceiling may be.  He’s a perfect fit for Jay Gruden’s offense, and doesn’t necessarily have to play right away as he can sit behind Case Keenum until they feel he is ready.  In summary, solid move.  Draft Grade:  A

16.  Carolina Panthers Pick:  Brian Burns (EDGE, Florida State)

I have a lot of Panthers fan friends who were very upset with this pick.  Honestly, I can understand their frustration.  This was another obvious need pick, but it also confirms the rumors that the Panthers are attempting to change to a 3-4 defense.  So, while I understand the need to acquire an edge rusher for this defense transition, the Panthers have a lot of other needs that could have been met by other, more-talented players.  Draft Grade:  C

17.  New York Giants Pick:  Dexter Lawrence (DT, Clemson)

Yet another Clemson defensive lineman off the board.  While I consider this to be another pick that is a bit of a reach, Lawrence is a beast, and will be a great asset to the Giants defensive line.  He was an unsung hero at times due to Wilkins and Ferrell dominating the line of scrimmage, but his presence was always felt.  Again, a small reach, but a solid pick, nonetheless.  Draft Grade:  B+

18.  Minnesota Vikings Pick:  Garrett Bradbury (C, North Carolina State)

In my opinion, this was the most underrated pick of the entire first round of the draft.  Bradbury is the best center in the draft by a mile, and the Vikings need to continue retooling the interior of their offensive line.  Kirk Cousins is getting A LOT of money, and this pick will help protect the Viking’s golden goose.  Draft Grade:  A-

19.  Tennessee Titans Pick:  Jeffery Simmons (DT, Mississippi State)

If not for the ACL tear that will keep him from playing in his rookie season in the NFL, Simmons would’ve been LONG gone.  This is a stash pick by the Titans, who are hoping that the injury won’t slow him down and that he’ll provide the Titans defense with a Pro-Bowl caliber player for the foreseeable future.  He does have a checkered past, but seems to be well liked by his coaches and teammates.  However, I’m just not sure that the Titans are really in a position to make this type of pick.  In any case, they’re getting a stud if he comes back healthy.  Draft Grade:  B+      

20.  Denver Broncos Pick:  Noah Fant (TE, Iowa)

Joe Flacco loves throwing to his tight ends, and it appears that the Broncos did their homework by providing the newly acquired Flacco with a security blanket/playmaker to have at his disposal.  Fant isn’t the complete package like his Iowa tight end counterpart, T.J. Hockenson. However, he is a fantastic playmaker who can stretch defenses.  This is a solid pick, but the real value comes from the trade they made with the Steelers to move down to this spot.  The Broncos got a really good haul from the trade and got a solid offensive weapon in the process.  Draft Grade:  A

21.  Green Bay Packers Pick:  Darnell Savage (S, Maryland)

The Packers had two first-round picks in this draft, but decided to trade up in the first-round to select a very rangy and excellent cover safety, which is something that the Packers desperately needed.  I personally had a late first, early second grade on Savage, but I will not fault the pick because he is an excellent player.  I also give credit to the Packers for value of this pick, as they did not have to give too much to trade up.  Draft Grade:  B+

22.  Philadelphia Eagles Pick:  Andre Dillard (OT, Washington State)

As a fan, I absolutely loved this pick.  While the Eagles offensive line is one of the NFL’s best, they are starting to show age and could use some youth in order to protect Carson Wentz.  Dillard is one of the best pass-protectors to come out of the college ranks in years, and is an excellent heir to the blindside spot held by future HOF Jason Peters.  What really gives this pick great value is the fact that the Eagles leapfrogged the Texans (who REALLY need some offensive line help) as they traded up to make this pick.  This guy should have been long gone by now, but Eagles fans (myself included) won’t complain.  Draft Grade:  A+

23.  Houston Texans Pick:  Tytus Howard (OT, Alabama State)

In my opinion, this was the absolute worst pick that was made in the first-round of this draft.  This pick screams “dang it, the guy we wanted just got picked and we need to pick the next-best player at that position.”  Even then, was this guy really the best available offensive linemen?  What was wrong with Cody Ford, Jawaan Taylor, or Greg Little?  I mean, Deshaun Watson did get mauled last year because of terrible offensive line play so picking a player at this position makes perfect sense, but the Texans could’ve done WAY better.  Draft Grade:  D

24.  Oakland Raiders Pick:  Josh Jacobs (RB, Alabama)

The Raiders used an earlier first-round pick on a stud pass rusher, so now they look to juice up their offense.  While Jacobs doesn’t necessarily have the production that screams “elite prospect” to the casual football fan, he is a very talented and versatile back that will be a huge asset to the Raiders offensive attack.  He also doesn’t have a lot of mileage on his body, which is always a plus.  Derek Carr desperately needs weapons, and with the retirement of Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch, Jacobs is a sight for sore eyes.  Draft Grade:  A-

25.  Baltimore Ravens Pick:  Marquise Brown (WR, Oklahoma)

Ravens fans are salivating over the fact that they just landed Hollywood Brown, the blazing speed demon out of Oklahoma.  The Ravens needed more speed on the outside and they checked that box instantly with this pick.  Lamar Jackson gets the deep threat that he needed, and the Ravens get the guy that they wanted along with draft capital due to the trade with the Eagles.  It was a good day for the Ravens faithful!  Draft Grade:  A

26.  Washington Redskins Pick:  Montez Sweat (EDGE, Mississippi State)

HOW DID SWEAT LAST THIS LONG?!?  Simple, a lot of teams removed him from their boards due to medical concerns surrounding his heart.  There are reports that there aren’t any medical issues, and it was all a misdiagnosis, but I guess teams weren’t convinced. 

Well, the Redskins may have gotten THE STEAL of the draft.  Sweat is a beast.  The one knock I have on this pick is the amount of capital needed for the Redskins to trade back into the first round.  Add him to a defensive line that already has guys like Ryan Kerrigan, Da’Ron Payne, and Jonathan Allen, and you might have the scariest line in the NFL.  Draft Grade:  A-

27.  Oakland Raiders Pick:  Johnathan Abram (S, Mississippi State)

The Raiders go back to adding more fuel to their defense by adding the very physical Abram.  He is solid in coverage, but is more known for being a physical thumper that is able to fly around the field and make great open-field tackles.  He will give a much-needed energy and physical boost to a defense that was toasted time and time again, last year.  Draft Grade:  A-

28.  Los Angeles Chargers Pick:  Jerry Tillery (DT, Notre Dame)

The Chargers address the need for an interior defensive lineman by selecting Tillery.  Not a guy I expected to go in the first round, but he is a solid player who can be a handful for interior offensive linemen.  There are some injury concerns, and he did just have shoulder surgery right before the draft, but this is still an solid selection.  Draft Grade:  B

29.  Seattle Seahawks Pick:  L.J. Collier (DE, Texas Christian)

Another defender whose name I didn’t expect to be called on Thursday night, Collier is the obvious Frank Clark replacement that the Seahawks needed on their defensive line.  He is essentially a carbon-copy of Michael Bennett, a former Seahawk great, who was able to play both inside and outside.  This pick was also great value for the Seahawks as they traded back to this spot and acquired some draft capital.  Draft Grade:  B+

30.  New York Giants Pick:  Deandre Baker (CB, Georgia)

The Giants trade back into the first-round the grab Baker, the Bulldog cornerback.  On tape, Baker might be the most talented cornerback in this draft class.  He is somewhat small for a typical NFL corner and doesn’t always have the best play recognition, but the talent is obviously there.  If coached properly, Baker could be an outstanding player.  The Giants better hope so, because they gave up some draft capital to move up and take him.  Draft Grade:  B

31.  Atlanta Falcons Pick:  Kaleb McGary (OT, Washington)

I’m a little confused by this pick.  The Falcons traded back in to the first round to select McGary, and didn’t have to give up a lot of draft capital in the process.  However, I don’t see the point in trading into the first round to select a guy who will more than likely be a career right tackle, as he is a solid run-blocker but is raw as a pass blocker.  Furthermore, I think McGary would’ve lasted well into the second round.  This could turn out to be a great pickup, but I feel like the Falcons could’ve gotten more value with this pick.  Draft Grade:  C+

32.  New England Patriots Pick:  N’Keal Harry (WR, Arizona State)

Another toy for Tom Brady to have at his disposal.  Harry is a physical receiver that can be used both inside and outside, which is something the Patriots love to do with their receivers.  I thought D.K. Metcalf would’ve been an amazing pick up for the Patriots, but I can’t argue with the Patriots organization and value they place on player versatility.  Draft Grade:  B+

What do you think of these evaluations?  Love them?  Hate them?  Did you like your team’s selections?  What about other picks from the later rounds?  Feel free to comment, I love some good football discussions!  B

Bramhall was born, raised, and currently lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  He attended Wofford College, is about to graduate from Gardner-Webb University with a Masters in School Counseling.  However, his true home might as well be the state of Pennsylvania.  He is a huge Penn State Nittany Lions football fan.  He’s also the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest fan, which used to be a miserable life of “what ifs” and “oh so close” moments.  But after his team won the Super Bowl, he is now a god among men and is never wrong about anything football.  If you didn’t like the Philly Special, he doesn’t like you.  The 76ers are cool, too.  #TrustTheProcess