With the 11th Pick in the NFL Draft The Cincinnati Bengals...

Exciting round 1.  Here's my reaction to the 11th pick and a very rough attempt to stack a Bengals board for round 2.

There's a lot of exciting talent queued up for round 2!

The Cincinnati Bengals select Jonah Williams!
Alright I'll admit, my first reaction to the pick was a little bit of a disappointed shoulder shrug.  Not because of the @#($& narrative that analysts always have to bring up about fans never getting excited when their team drafts an offensive lineman.. That drives me crazy.  I am smart enough to realize that in order for my team to be successful, they need a good offensive line.  Get out of here with that lazy crappy analysis.  My reaction was more about:

1. Disappointment they missed out on Hockenson
This TE class is loaded.  You could argue Detroit taking him at 8 was a blessing as Cincy will have opportunities to acquire slightly lesser prospects with a similar skill set later in the draft.  I was more let down that I had this vision of a direction they could go with the team and I wanted to see what they would do if that option was on the table. 

2. I had Taylor and Ford higher than Williams.
Originally, I put Dillard above him too, but I bumped Dillard down a slot a couple days ago.  I thought Williams had more versatility , but Taylor and Ford had better potential as high caliber starting OT's.  Williams reminds me of the Billy Price pick.  He's going to be pretty good.  Can he be great?  I'm not so sure.  That said, there are a wide variety of opinions on Williams from high quality analysts. Some think he's the best offensive lineman in the class.  Some think he's not great and he should move to center.  I fall closer to the former.  I'm not doing cartwheels, but I think he'll be a quality starter for a long time.  In a system that punishes you for missing on draft picks sometimes it's not a bad thing to pay for a floor on a prospect.  You have to be careful that you don't get carried away with that approach and box yourself into mediocrity, but with offensive line I think it's a good approach.    Seeing how the first round played out, I feel better about the pick.  Ford and Taylor both fell out of the first round which means either they have some kind of medical or off the field red flag(s) or I'm smarter than the whole league.  Again, lean heavily on the former. Also, watching Houston take a wild swing on a boom or bust developmental OT prospect also made me appreciate Williams more.

Bengals Big Board - Round 2:
1. Irv Smith, TE Alabama
Whatever disappointment I had yesterday of not getting Hockenson or uncertainty if Jonah Williams was the right OT to take would evaporate if they got Smith in round 2.  Sneaky not that much of a downgrade from Hockenson receiving or blocking.  I didn't think he'd fall this far.

2. Juwaan Taylor, OT Alabama
I can't see why he fell unless he has some dehabilitating medical issue.  If that's the case ignore this ranking.  OT, OT, might be a little aggressive and I'd have to wrestle with it more to decide if I really would actually do that, but don't rule it out.  Both Bengals starting OT's have question marks, whether it's injury (Glenn) or skill level (Hart).

3. Cody Ford, OT Oklahoma
He's really good. I could see them potentially doubling up on OT for him too.

4. D.K Metcalf, WR Mississippi
I'm also not 100% sure about taking a WR here, but the upside might be too great to pass up.

5. Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State
Another guy that could develop into an all-pro talent.. Kind of reminds me of a bigger version of Chad Johnson.  Fluid. Fluid. Fluid.

6. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S Florida
I had this guy as the best safety I watched.  He's not a thumper, but he can read, react, and tackle in a flash and his coverage skills are good enough to double as a slot corner.

7. Byron Murphy, CB Washington
Top CB in the class.  Undersized and not overly athletic, but he can cover.

8. Chase Winovich, DE Michigan
Not sure where he would stack vs. Sam Hubbard and Jordan Willis, but I'd say don't get cute and just take him.  His motor is relentless and he has on-field production and good athletic testing to go with it.

9. Parris Campbell, WR Ohio State
Really solid underrated weapon.  I think when teams ask him to do more with his routs, he will be up to the task. Sorry John Ross, you've had plenty of time to make your mark.

10. Nasir Adderley, S Delaware
Great combination of run/pass defensive skills with athleticism to make game-breaking plays.

11. Drew Lock?, QB Missouri
Drew Lock should legally change his name to put a question mark at the end.  Okay, I'm not sold on this move either.  I think they should ride out the Dalton era, but I think taking a QB in the second round might give them the best of both worlds: Decent prospect to have as a backup plan that doesn't threaten team chemistry enough to prematurely sabotage the Dalton era.

DT's or LB's?  
The draft board at this point is part of the reason this might be the time to snag Lock if he falls.  Their biggest needs are DT, TE, LB, and maybe DE.  With Tillery and my top five DT's gone, I couldn't tell you who to target next (Trysten Hill, Central Florida maybe?  I didn't get to his tape.  I'm not sure. I've heard a mixed bag on him).  They are better off waiting for the board to sort itself out.  LB's?  I'll list some names to watch out for, but they could try to wait a round and see who's left.  TE?  Past Irv Smith, I think you wait.  DE?  Winovich is about the only name I'd see as an upgrade to the roster.  There are others I've heard good things about, but who knows.  I think adding depth at OT, CB, S, WR, or yes even QB might be the best option here.

LB's to watch out for:
1. Mack Wilson, Alabama
2. Germaine Pratt, North Carolina State
3. Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii
4. Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington

Other names to watch out for
A.J. Brown, WR Mississippi
Not sure how he'd fit.  Maybe he'd just be Boyd insurance?

Deebo Samuel, WR South Carolina
Tough gritty receiver.  Golden Tate-like?

Kelvin Harmon, WR North Carolina State
Good WR2 potential, but do they need it?

Dalton Risner, OT Kansas State
good OT/G prosepct. Nasty, but he looks like he should have more power than he shows while he blocks. I don't like him as much as most people.
Greedy Williams, CB LSU
Great cover guy, crappy attitude.
Rock Ya-Sin, CB Temple
Nice upgrade in the CB2 slot if Dennard never pans out there.
Erik McCoy, C Texas A&M
Can he play guard?
Zach Allen, DE Boston College
Might be just another guy like the ones they already have.

Other corners I've read good things about:
Julian Love, Notre Dame
Justin Layne, Michigan State

2019 Mock Draft!

I made it just under wire!  Here are my annual futile predictions for the festivities Thurs. night.

1. Arizona Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma
Quarterback is significantly more important than any other position and Murray has the potential to be a top ten QB in the league.  Some people might like Josh Rosen more than I do, but I think Murray has better long-term potential than Rosen and Rosen isn't exactly entrenched in the franchise to where uprooting him is going to cause strife.  The cardinals should pick Murray, but I'm going to predict a blockbuster deal with the Oak Vegas Grudens.

2. San Francisco Nick Bosa, DE Ohio State
The 49ers have invested heavily at D-line.  Matt Millen thinks they should keep up the trend.  I don't think they have another option here.  I can't see anyone trading up.  They go ahead and take the best player available. 

3. N.Y. Jets                Ed Oliver, DT Houston
The Jets are supposedly sticking with a 3-4 after hiring Gregg Williams.  I suspect they'll mix it up and adding Ed Oliver to a line that already has Leonard Williams will give them a lot of flexibility to show a lot of different looks. 

4. Oakland                Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida
The Cardinals move down in an effort to compile more talent.  Quinnen Williams is the safest pick, but D-line depth in this class allows them to go elsewhere.  Fixing the offensive line will be the top priority. 

5. Tampa Bay        Josh Allen, OLB Kentucky
The Buccaneers didn't expect Williams to fall, but DC Todd Bowles has already spent months dreaming up what he is going to do with Allen.   They stick to the plan. 

6. N.Y. Giants       Quinnen Williams, DT Alabama
Will they or won't they? There's been extensive debate as to if and when the Giants will take a QB.  If Williams falls in their lap, the answer is no.

7. Jacksonville       Montez Sweat, DE Mississippi State
I've had Hockenson penciled in here for a while, but the jaguars are d-linemen addicts.  Just the thought of a massive wingspan and a 1.5 s 10 yard split makes them...sweat.  (sorry, pun mostly intended)

8. Detroit               Devin White, LB LSU
The Lions try to stabilize their defense picking a young athletic player to stick right in the middle of it.  Oh Detroit..This should go a little better than a couple years ago when the tried it with Jarrad Davis, but I don't think they'll quite get what they're hoping for.   

9. Buffalo               Jonah Williams, OT Alabama
The Bills have drastic O-line needs.  They could slide in Williams as an upgrade at just about any spot. 

10. Denver               Garrett Bradbury, C North Carolina State

 If they want Joe Flacco to have a prayer they'll have to protect him.  They tried to address OT in free agency.  Now they sure up center.

11. Cincinnati      T.J. Hockenson, TE Iowa
The Bengals shock the world and pass on QB!  What an out of touch franchise!  How could they possibly do that???..   I can hear all of those narratives already. 

You'll see people.  Just wait. I'm telling you, this guy will plug right into their current personnel like the one missing part in a finely tuned engine .  Once he gets his feet wet, this offense will hum... as long as the o-line doesn't crumble.  Ok, maybe they'll have to go OT or G in round 2.

12. Green Bay      Devin Bush, LB Michigan
The packers stocked up on OLB's in free agency.  Now they have a shark to patrol the middle of their defense. 

13. Miami              Cody Ford, OT Oklahoma
The dolphins need… well, everything.  They have a LT, a CB, and a FS, but every other starting slot is up for grabs.  Let's start with the O-Line.  Now they have a RT too. 

14. Atlanta             Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson
The Falcons add some beef up front. 

15. Washington     Andre Dillard, OT Washington State
There's only one OT left, and there's plenty of OT hungry teams below waiting to pounce.  Houston moves up for O-line help. 

16. Carolina             Brian Burns, DE Florida State
The Panthers would have loved an OT, but the Texans snatched Dillard right out from under them.  Fortunately, they are thin at DE too.  Now they have a 6'5" screamer who bends like gumby and has a lightning quick first step. 

17. N.Y. Giants      Clelin Ferrell, DE Clemson
The Giants need help in a lot of areas, but DE is particularly bare.  I think they wait on QB. Dave Gettleman will get criticized for not taking a quarterback even though he would also get criticized for taking any of the quarterbacks available in this class. 

18. Minnesota      Dalton Risner, OT Kansas State
The Vikings have invested cap resources almost everywhere.  Now they need some cheap offensive linemen. 

19. Tennessee       Rashan Gary, DE Michigan
The Titans brought in Cameron Wake at DE, but right now he has no one to groom.  Now he has a pupil. 

20. Pittsburgh      Noah Fant, TE Iowa
Fant slid a little more than I anticipated.  The Steelers have a lot of targets to replace. 

21. Seattle             Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S Florida
He won't make them forget about Earl Thomas by any means, but when he breaks on the ball their jaws will drop.    

22. Baltimore     Irv Smith Jr., TE Alabama
NE moves up to get their TE replacement.

23. Houston             Dwayne Haskins, QB Ohio State
Washington moves down and still gets their man. As long as he doesn't go to Cincy, I'm good.    

24. Oakland             Chris Lindstrom, G Boston College
This turns into Arizona's pick with Oakland's trade up to number 1.  Keep building that O-line. 

25. Philadelphia      A.J. Brown, WR Mississippi
The Eagles bolster their offensive weapons with a punishing slot receiver. 

26. Indianapolis       Byron Murphy, CB Washington
I don't know if this is their biggest need, but it's somewhere on the list.  Murphy will be solid but Colts fans won't know what to do with a rookie that doesn't make all-pro. C'mon! Get it together Ballard!

27. Oakland              Chase Winovich, DE Michigan
Mayock and Gruden are definitely sitting in a room somewhere cackling with joy over Winovich tape right now. 

28. L.A. Chargers     Dexter Lawrence, DT Clemson
Need and value seem to match here. 

29. Seattle              Marquise Brown, WR Oklahoma
I think Doug Baldwin just got hurt some more while I was typing this.  Seattle needs a backup plan. 
Maybe picking a guy who already has a serious foot injury isn't the best plan, but I still like the fit.

30. Green Bay     D.K. Metcalf, WR Mississippi
Trades, trades, and more trades.  I'm not sure who makes this pick, but Metcalf's slide ends here.

31. L.A. Rams    Daniel Jones, QB Duke
The Giants trade back in to take their QB.  This would be annoying because all of the whining about Dave Gettleman would just go up 17 more octaves.  Personally, I like the move.  Then again, I'm just hanging out on Daniel Jones island sipping kool-aid with Dave.     

32. New England     Darnell Savage, S Maryland
Ughh.. I hope NE doesn't get this guy.  Luckily in this case they've traded out of here.   Baltimore, you can't have him either.  You're trading out of the first round all together. 

Bengals Big Board - 2019

1. Kyler Murray, QB Oklahoma
Murray has a realistic chance to develop into an upgrade at QB.  That's a chance you have to take.

2. Nick Bosa, DE Ohio State
Potential all-pro defender to build the future defense around.

3. Quinnen Williams, DT Oklahoma
Ditto on the all-pro comment.  And they could use an upgrade at the second DT starting slot where they've had a lot of injuries and mediocre play.

4. Ed Oliver, DT Houston
Again, potential all-pro defender.  Sign me up.  I paused on this one because I'm not sure how well Oliver fits next to Geno Atkins.  In the end Oliver is too talented to pass up.  Worst case you have a strong rotation and a shoe-in cornerstone of the defense for Atkins to pass the baton to in a couple of years.

5. Jawaan Taylor, OT Florida
RT might be Cincy's greatest position of need, and Taylor played RT in college.  He's talented enough to move to LT if Cordy Glenn's injury woes continue.

6. T.J. Hockenson, TE Iowa
Analysts across the league are insisting the Bengals are going nowhere with the current roster and Zach Taylor should tear down the roster and start a new era with a new QB.  After Murray's gone, there's just not enough QB talent worth chasing here. I think Taylor is going to take a different approach.  Dalton needs support, but he's better than people are giving him credit.  I think Taylor sees somebody like Hockenson sitting there and he's licking his chops.  A  blocking TE with solid receiving skills and the athleticism to threaten all levels of the defense would really unlock this offense.  Roll out two tight end sets, wind up Joe Mixon, and let him go.  Blend in play action with the tight end(s) sneaking out into routs and A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd doing their thing.  I think they could surprise some people with how efficient they could be.  Yes, they signed Tyler Eifert and C.J. Uzomah as free agents, but I don't think that stops them from making this pick.  I think they need two or three guys that can start and Eifert is a bonus if they get another year or two out of him.  It's iffy if Hockenson will fall to 11, but I have my fingers crossed.

7. Noah Fant, TE Iowa
I have Fant higher than a lot of people.  Some people think he lacks consistency catching the ball and needs too much development to snag high in the first round.   I saw him make some pretty impressive catches.  He has room to grow obviously, but I think some of his issues in college were more about playing  in an offense that had ADD and a bad quarterback.  In a more focused role with a quarterback that can deliver the ball accurately and on time Fant is going to rack up catches and bring people to their knees with his athleticism.  People also assume he's a receiver only.  He's not a great blocker, but he's not a disaster either.

8. Cody Ford, OT Oklahoma
This is higher than most people have Ford, but he was a really strong RT in college that some think could move inside to guard if need be.  The Bengals can't write off any more seasons because they weren't prepared for attrition on the O-line, and Bobby Hart is a better plan B than a plan A.

9. Jonah Williams, OT Alabama
I know, I know..I'm waffling on my OT rankings from the other day.  I am bumping Williams ahead of Dillard.  He's a little more proven and he has more versatility.  If the TE's and the all-pro's are off the board, I think OT is their best bet.

10. D.K. Metcalf, WR Mississippi
Maybe the ghosts of the John Ross pick will keep them from taking another risky WR in the top 11, but the upside is too great for me.  He has the athleticism to contribute right way and he can be groomed for a larger role in the post-A.J. Green era a few years down the line.

11. Clelin Ferrell, DE Clemson
DE isn't the greatest area of need, but I just think the LB's are a little overrated at this point.  Pass rush talent is always a plus.

Picking 11th, they're guaranteed one of the players above will be available, but let's run through the options in case they trade down.

12. Montez Sweat, DE Mississippi St.
Best player available.  I still consider DE a premium position.

13. Brian Burns, DE Florida State
Burns will need some time, but he could be a star to build around.

14.  Andre Dillard, OT Washington State
Still some O-line talent left on the board.

15. Irv Smith, TE Alabama
Another TE with decent receiving skills that can block.

16. Rashan Gary, DE Michigan
Amazing athlete with tantalizing upside.

17. Devin White, LB LSU
I'd prefer to try to find a linebacker later, but at some point need  and value are going to match up
18. Devin Bush, LB Michigan

19. Hakeem Butler, WR Iowa State
Similar to the Brian Burns pick, except with a WR

20. Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson
Cross off the DT need.  Run defense might be a work in progress but, Wilkins playing next to Atkins on passing downs could turn into a scary combo.

21. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S Florida
Gardner-Johnson's closing speed along with Jessie Bates and William Jackson would be handy trying to match up with modern offenses.

22. Dalton Risner, OT Kansas State
I still have my questions about Risner, but I'd be okay with him in this range.

23. A.J. Brown, WR Mississippi
A versatile receiver might come in handy with Boyd and Green going into contract years.

24. Dexter Lawrence, DT Clemson
More stout run stuffer with some ability to penetrate.  Might actually be a better fit fore their need than Wilkins.

25. Chris Lindstrom, G Boston College
Need to stay strong in the trenches.

26. Darnell Savage, S Maryland
Decent cover skills, outstanding in run support.

27. Marquise Brown, WR Oklahoma
Is this who they thought they were getting when they drafted John Ross?

28. Byron Murphy, CB Washington
With Jackson and Dennard in contract years, CB might be more of a need than you think.

29. Chase Winnovich, DE Michigan
Add some spark to the D-line.
30. Nasir Adderley, S Delaware
Upgrade the Shawn Williams slot.  Slight downgrade against the run to boost the pass defense.

31. Daniel Jones, QB Duke
Maybe it'd be best to wait to see if he falls to round 2, but a backup plan at QB might be in the cards.

32. Jeffrey Simmons, DT Mississippi St.
If you trade down this far, you're kind of acknowledging a mini rebuild.  Why not gamble on high-end talent that has to red shirt?

Note: I've left multiple center prospects off the board along with Josh Allen. I can't see them taking a center again and I'm not sure how well the guys available would fit at guard.  I just don't think Allen fits in their scheme.  

2019 NFL Draft - Defense Takes

DE
1. Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Bosa was anointed the top prospect in this class a long time ago. Watching his games I'll admit I was expecting him to pop a little more, but after watching pretty much all of the top prospects I still have Bosa as the best non-quarterback prospect.  I'd say his ceiling isn't quite as high as players like Murray, Ed Oliver,  Quinnen Williams, and even some of the WR prospects, but you're still talking about a guy with the potential to be an all-pro pass rusher, and  non-medically-influenced floor is higher than anybody else.

2. Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
Ferrell falls in the category of being consistently good for too long in college.  He's put mulitple years of high-end DE play on tape and now people are having trouble imagining him evolving into any more than a really good defensive end.  I think he fires off the snap better than anyone in this class.  As much as I like him, I can see the dilemma.  Would you be happy if your team drafted a Carlos Dunlap-level player in the first round?  I'd say yes.  How high would you be willing to take him if you knew that was probably his ceiling?  I think his actual ceiling might be higher than that, but  I've played around with my mock draft and I'm having trouble pulling the trigger in the 10 to 12 range.  I wouldn't fault anyone taking him there, but it would be a little bit of an "okay we'll see" shoulder shrug.

3. Montez Sweat, Mississippi
That brings us to our higher ceiling but lower floor prospects.  Sweat had great college production and backed it up with impressive combine numbers.  The pass-rush upside is a little higher, but the difference isn't significant enough to make up for the drop off in run defense and the slightly higher bust potential.

4. Brian Burns, Florida State
People are all over the map on Burns including an analyst I trust who ranks him as the best edge guy ahead of Bosa.  Burns is lightning quick, but there are concerns about his lean frame.  I'm not sure you can plug him in for three downs unless he beefs up a little.  A lot of people project him as having Aldon Smith potential (minus the off-field problems).  I thought he beat a lot of people with his first couple of steps but often lacked the power to capitalize.  He might develop  into a more well-rounded player, but I'd rather bet on the three guys I have ahead of him.  Still, he'll make a fine top 20 pick.

5.  Rashan Gary, Michigan
Gary has the athletic abiltiy at 280 lbs. to be a star, but he hasn't really proved it on the field yet.  I saw flashes of it watching him play, but not enough to trust him in the top 15.  Some people are projecting him as a DT, but I'd rather see him stick to DE.

6. Chase Winovich, Michigan
Less talent than Gary with better production.  Winovich has a high motor and a knack for finding his way to the ball.  He'll make some team picking in the last 10 picks of the first round very happy.

Edge
1. Josh Allen, Kentucky
I posted this article and then realized a day later that I forgot to include Josh Allen among the defensive prospects.  He definitely needs in the discussion, but  I'm not as high on him as everyone else.  He has great college production, but I think he'll be a good but not great as a pro.  I see him as purely a 3-4 player. .  I don't think he'll hold up if you try to play him at DE, and although he looked good on tape running downfield with TE's he doesn't quite have good enough movement skills to be successful as a 4-3 LB. Hopefully somebody snaps him up as a 3-4 OLB. 

DT
1. Quinnen Williams, Alabama
Williams has the size, strength, and quickness to give offenses fits against the run and pass.  He's not quite as sure of a thing as someone like Ndamukong Suh coming out, but he's well-worth a top 5 pick.

2. Ed Oliver, Houston
Undersized DT with elite athletic skill that shines through clearly watching his college games.  His size and skill set draws everyone's mind to Aaron Donald, but no one is willing to mention there names in the same sentence without apologizing profusely with the caveat that Oliver is not Aaron Donald.  I don't disagree, but in a way the knee jerk to avoid comparing Oliver to Donald has led to Oliver being undervalued.  Until recently people have projected Oliver towards the middle of the first round.  In a class that is relatively light on sure-fire top 5 talent, Oliver is clearly a top five pick for me.

3. Christian Wilkins, Clemson
I've seen Wilkins mocked anywhere from 9 to 32.  I think the real answer is right about in the middle of that range.  Wilkins is big and athletic enough to play 3 downs.  He penetrates well to make plays against the run and pass, but if O-linemen are able to engage him he sometimes struggles to hold his ground. I worry this will turn into a bigger problem against NFL talent.  The Clemson DT'S remind me of a couple of years ago when Alabama had the two big DT's, Jarran Reed and A'shawn Robinson.  Both were clearly good, but it was hard to tell how good.  The NFL ended up taking them in the second round.   Both have had some success in the league.  Maybe they should have gone a little higher, but nothing drastic.  Wilkins might be the best player of the four.  I'd take him in the 18 to 25 range.

4. Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi
Simmons is a top 12 talent that tore his ACL in pre-draft training.  Teams already hesitant on Simmons due to an off-field incident before college might wait to snap him up until the second round, but watch out for New England at 32.  If he were healthy with no red flags, I'd slot him third in this DT class behind Oliver.  Like Williams, he's a two-way interior player who can hold up against the run and wreak havoc against the pass.

5. Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
Lawrence has more size to occupy blockers inside, but less pass rush potential than anyone ahead of him on this list.  He's not merely a run stuffer by any means, but there's not enough pass rush upside to elevate him much higher than the mid 20's for me.

LB
1. Devin White, LSU
White has drawn plenty of hype for his college play and his speedy combine numbers have only fueled the fire.  There haven't been too many mocks slotting him outside the top 12.  That's too rich for my blood.  He's good enough to start right away, but I don't think his talent level is high enough to transcend positional value.  Once he sees the play, he attacks and makes a lot of plays in the backfield against the run and the pass.  I just saw too many instances where he read the play too slow or misdiagnosed and got washed out of the play.  He needs protection up front.  If o-linemen get to the second level he struggles to hold his ground or shed and get to the ball.  That's true for many linebackers, but not the ones I'm comfortable taking in the top 10 (even in a draft class not brimming with top 10 talent).  I wouldn't take him ahead of the top pass rushers, receivers, or OT's.  Wait until the 15 to 20 range. 

2. Devin Bush, Michigan
Bush is slightly smaller and slightly less athletic than White.  I'd actually say his instincts are a little better than White's.  White makes a few more splash plays.  Bush roams the second level a little better.  I'd still give the slight nod to White, but Bush five or ten picks later is probably better value.

CB
1. Byron Murphy, Washington
Undersized players who test on the slow side don't usually get first round consideration.  That just speaks to how solid Murphy plays in coverage.  He'll fall a little further than a normal CB1, but somewhere in the second half of the first round is likely.

2. Greedy Williams, LSU
Williams is a better athlete than Murphy and looked impressive covering some of this years's top receiving talent.   Ego, attitude, and arrogance also jumped off the screen in his game tape.  That's not necessarily a negative for many positions including corner, but in this case it seemed to lead to concentration lapses and inconsistent play.  Williams might still go in the first round, but some teams may just decide he's not worth the trouble.

S
1. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
Twitchy player with great instincts and awesome closing speed.  Gardner-Johnson is a free safety with the versatility to hold up in man coverage.

2. Darnell Savage, Maryland
Athletic safety that reads plays quickly and gets to the ball in a hurry.  Sometimes he's a little too aggressive and gets out of position, but once if he's surrounded by better talent, hopefully he won't feel like he has to do it all and he'll reign in his decision-making a little.  If he played for Alabama, I think he'd be a top 15 pick.

3. Nasir Adderley, Delaware
Well-rounded playmaker.  Looks athletic against small school competition. We'll see if he holds up in the pros.   

4. Johnathan Abram, Mississippi St. 
More of a thumper with some coverage skills.

2019 NFL Draft - QB Takes and More on Offense

QB
1. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
Murray is the clear #1 player in this class for me.  He's no sure thing, but quarterback is two to five times more important than any other position and Murray has the potential to be a top 10 quarterback in the league.  The running ability isn't quite as good as Lamar Jackson, but he's a much better passer.  He has a good arm.  Anticipation and ability to read the field is the most important QB trait for me.  It's hard to say how good he is in those areas, but he showed enough to at least check those boxes as not a concern.  He runs a lot. He'll have to reign in those instincts a little.  His running ability can and should serve as a potent weapon in whatever offense he plays in and he's good at avoiding hits, but when the best player on your team is 5'10" and scrawny I don't think you want him getting 10+ carries per game.  There were a couple plays in college games where D-linemen were only able to get one hand on him with their arm fully extended and they pulled him down like a rag doll.  That gives me pause, but I think he has a chance to be successful with the way quarterbacks are protected these days.  He showed plenty of ability to scramble and throw on the run.  People bristle when you compare prospects to elite players, but you see shades of Russel Wilson  here and there.  It feels like a lazy comparison, but it's there.   

2. Daniel Jones, Duke
I'm on a little bit of an island on this one.  A lot of analysts I trust have bashed Jones pretty hard, but I think there might be something here. Everyone agrees he is big and athletic. When you start discussing his accuracy and downfield throwing ability, my opinion diverges from the norm.  I see a guy with a strong ability to process the play as it unfolds and make quick accurate decisions with the football. I think he is really strong throwing short to intermediate routes. He doesn't have a rocket arm, but he can push the ball downfield. He has decent deep accuarcy.  Not great.  Not elite. But solid.  Above average.  Rewatching some of his games I see more of his warts,  but my initial gut reaction was that he can play.    Think Andy Dalton 2.0 with better physical traits  or very rich man's Ryan Tannehill with better processing skills. I'm not sure about plugging him in day one, but I see starter potential. Others see a guy overhyped for his protypical size with a mediocre arm and bad accuracy.  We'll see who's right!  I'm excited to see how it plays out. 

3. Drew Lock, Missouri
Lock is a late riser for me.  The first couple games I watched I almost threw up.  I thought he was almost undraftable.  Then I got to some of the games later in the year and he won me over a little bit.   He played particularly well against Florida.  He comes across as a golden boy type of quarterback:  Tall, athletic, strong arm.. I have no idea what color his hair is, but I picture it as blonde.  Still, when the crap hits the fan I'm not sure he's going to do too well off-script.    Some games he looks like he doesn't know how to throw the ball.  Other times he looks Mitch Trubisky-ish.. not that that's super high praise, but you're at least talking about a prosepct taken in the top five.  I'd lean towards the mid to late second round for Lock. Let someone else take the risk if they want to take him higher.

4. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Haskins has drawn a lot of high praise, so maybe my expectations were a little too high going in.  I was startled by his lack of deep accuracy.  He made a nice deep throw in the TCU game early in the year, but beyond that he seemed to have area code accuracy on anything more than 15 yards down the field.  The Purdue game was frightening. He looked like he couldn't handle pressure and he couldn't  process fast enough.  His lack of mobility is a concern.  I don't know if I'd count on him developing into a starter.  I wouldn't take him before the third round. 

5. Will Grier, West Virginia
Feisty player.  Never shows fear.  He has some starter potential, but he has kind of a low ceiling.  I think he has some physical limitations.  He's accurate deep down the field, but he looks like a kid trying to throw a football that's too big for him.   His vibe reminds me of Jake Delhomme or maybe Case Keenum.   

RB
1. Josh Jacobs, Alabama
He didn't run the fastest but he shows burst on his tape.  He catches the ball well, and has an unbelievable ability to deliver punishment to defenders.  He weighed in at 220 and he plays like it, but he looks much leaner on the field.  Much like Hockenson at TE, Jacobs gets a big bump due to his blocking ability compared to other prospects at his position.  Everyone raves about his character.  He might sneak into the first round, but I'd slot him more in the 35 to 40 range.

WR
1. D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi
Beyond the top 2 or 3 prospects, this draft class might be best defined by the polarization surrounding just about everyone else, and Metcalf is one of the headliners. If you're worried about Metcalf's injuries that's one thing, but I don't think his lack of college production is a problem.  He has shown he needs to sharpen his rout running skills, but that's not necessarily an indictment on Metcalf.  Think of it from Ole Miss's perspective.  You have a hundred 18 to 22 year-olds and you need to win football games in the SEC.  Are you going to undertake the process of meticulously sculpting this piece of granite into a finely tuned wide receiving ninja?  Or are you going to send the incredible hulk screaming up the field every play to occupy the other team's best athletes while you spray the ball relentlessly underneath to A.J. Brown?  It's not a surprise Mississippi opted for option 2.  Metcalf showed enough ability on comeback routs and outs to prove he's capable of becoming more refined, but worst case scenario he can reprise his Mississippi role using his eye-popping size and speed off the line of scrimmage (1.45 S 10-yard-split on his 40 time- holy crap!).  Best case?  Well, with a little luck you might end up with Terrell Owens.  He's worth the risk in my book.   

2. Hakeem Butler, Iowa State
Big receivers have taken a hit over the past few years, but they're back with a vengeance in this class.   Butler measures in at 6'5" 227 lbs. and ran a 4.48 at the combine. Butler uses his size well and makes plays down field, but my favorite trait is just how smooth he looks for such a big player. 

3. Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
Brown's foot injury and his size are holding his draft stock down, but playmakers have high end value in this league.  I still like him as a Rd 1 pick. 

4.  A.J. Brown, Mississippi
He's showed his value as a slot receiver.  Will teams take a chance on him as an outside WR?  After about pick 20, I say yes.  His floor as a slot guy is fairly high.  Best case, you get a weapon all over the field.

5.  Miles Boykin, Notre Dame
I liked Boykin when I watched him.  He didn't look overly explosive in the games I watched, but his testing showed rare atlheticism (43.5" vertical, 140" broad jump) and the on-field production was definitely there.  I jumped him up ahead of the next few guys purely based on ceiling.

6. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
Tough smaller target that makes plays all over the field.  I'm not totally confident his playmaking skills will translate against the elevated levels of defensive talent in the NFL, but somebody in the second round is going to take a chance to find out. 

7. Kelvin Harmon, North Carolina State
Solid receiver who wins with rout running.  I'm not sure he can be a WR1, but he'll likely be a fine WR2 for whoever takes him in the 50 to 60 range. 

8. Paris Campbell, Ohio State
Campbell seems a little underrated in this class. He's got game breaking speed and he stood out in an offense full of weapons.  I like his potential to develop into a reliable target.

9. N'keal Harry, Arizona State
He went to Arizona State!  He's a sundevil mannn!.. Sorry, couldn't resist.   Harry is a physical receiver that a lot of people have more highly rated than I do.  Maybe I just need to watch more, but he just didn't look very fluid to me.  His routs were clunky and he had a lot of wasted steps.  A lot of people love him, but when i was going through my list everyone above him has at least one well-defined trait that they can hang there hats on that is strong enough to outweigh any of their shortcomings to make me feel comfortable that they can be a quality starting WR in the league.  Campbells speed. Harmon's precision.  Samuel's grit.  Boykin's athleticism. Brown's cache in the middle of the field.  M. Brown's deep play making ability.  Butler's fluidity.  Metcalf's combination of size and burst down the field. 

TE
1. T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
The value of a blocking tight end with enough athleticism and receiving ability to get downfield and threaten the defense is underrated.   Hockenson is getting hype in this draft class, but it always has to be spelled out as to why you should rank a guy like this really high.  It adds so much versatility to any offensive scheme and it just feels like a lot of people don't quite grasp the full extent of it.  He's no Rob Gronkowski, but he's still well worth a top 10 pick. 

2. Noah Fant, Iowa
It's still crazy to me that one school has two elite prospects at the same position.  I would take both of these guys in the top 10.  Fant gets knocked for having less production than Hockenson, but I get the impression watching his games that it wasn't really his fault.  Iowa's offense just looked really scatter-brained to me.  They kept throwing to all of these different receivers and then they'd hit Fant on a play or two and it was like "whoa look at that guy."  He can't block like Hockenson, but I wouldn't say he's a useless blocker.  I'm not sure that it matters though.  You want this guy running routs as much as possible.  He has real Jimmy Graham potential (the good one that played with Drew Brees.. Not the one that tore up his knee and never seemed to recover).

3. Irv Smith, Alabama
I'm in on Smith too.  He's another two-way tight end. He basically seemed like a less athletic version of Hockenson.  I'd be surprised if he doesn't sneak into the back half of round 1.

OT
1. Jawann Taylor, Florida
Played RT at Florida. He looked physical in the run game and agile in the pass game. He's not a sure-fire hall of famer or anything, but he should start day 1.  An OT starved league will gobble him up in the top 8 picks .  Don't rule out top 5. 

2. Andre Dillard, Washington State
Dillard's prospects require quite a bit of projection due to the lack of a pro-style rushing attack in the scheme he played in at Washington State, but he showed off enough size and speed in his pass blocking that I think he'll develop quickly into a starting LT. 

3. Cody Ford, Oklahoma
Some project Ford as a G, but he looked pretty good at RT to me.  He's solid.  I don't think I'd project a high ceiling for him, but I think teams will find it hard to pass up on him based on need.

4. Jonah Williams, Alabama
Some like Williams in the top 10.  He's a hair behind these other guys to me, but he's still a top 20 prospect.  He can pass block and run block, but he doesn't seem to hold up to power rushers quite as well and wasn't as effective moving defenders in the running game as Ford and Taylor. 

5. Dalton Risner, Kansas State
Risner looks physically imposing on the field, and you can see a nasty mean streak in his game.  That considered, I wonder if he has a functional strength problem.  I was surprised how many times I saw him load up to lay into a defender and get stymied.


G/C
1. Garrett Bradbury, North Carolina State
Bradbury  is the one guy I've watched a little bit.   He's expected to be a plug and play starting center in the league. Look for him to come off the board in the 12 to 20 range. 

I haven't really watched anyone else closely in this group, but here are some of the names that have been bubbling to the surface late in the process as late day 1 early day 2 prospects. 
Elgton Jenkins, G Mississippi St.
Erik McCoy, C Texas A&M
Chris Lindstrom, G Boston College