After much tinkering and weeks of film review, I have finally settled upon my final top 200 players for the 2019 NFL Draft. This is straight player rankings. It has nothing to do with predictive order, something savvy readers will pick up on quickly.
Without further ado...
- Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: Brings the brute power and tactical prowess of Ndamukong Suh with the potential to be an even better interior pass rusher. Thrived in Alabama’s ensemble but has the ability to dominate on his own too.
- Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State: Dominant power-to-speed pass rusher with polished moves and enough athleticism to be better than his brother. Durability is a viable concern, but the relative lack of productivity in college doesn’t bother me much. Unblockable for tackles with bad feet or slow punch.
- Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: Oliver has the highest ceiling of any player in this draft with ridiculous quickness inside. Find the right position for him--not NT as he played in college--and he’s somewhere between Cam Jordan and Aaron Donald, with the ability to thrive inside or outside.
- Devin Bush, LB, Michigan: Sideline-to-sideline tornado of a tackler with coverage skills and blitzing ability. A little undersized and overeager at times, but Bush hits like a cement truck and is handily the best terminator of plays in this class regardless of position.
- Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky: My comp for Allen is Von Miller, not for style as much as his ability to impact the game as a stand-up OLB attacking up the field and winning with speed or power. Once he learns to anticipate blocks better, putting Allen at 5th might be shorting him.
- Garrett Bradbury, IOL, North Carolina State: As strong of a pass protecting center to enter the draft since Alex Mack, ideal tactician with great bend and hand power. Not as mobile or rangy as some teams will want but Bradbury is handily the best lineman in this class. Week 1 starter with All-Pro potential early in his career.
- Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma: Take away the lack of experience and the concerns about adjusting to the NFL style, or rather his NFL offense playing to his strengths, and I love Murray’s potential as a more accurate Michael Vick. But those issues are legit and his potential to escape out to baseball is something I struggle with, too. Man the ability is hard to deny though...
- Byron Murphy, CB, Washington: Pesky cover man with twitchy quickness and confidence in his own playmaking. Not quite as top-end fast as desired but he’s more NFL-ready to play CB1 for a team than Denzel Ward (who was great for the Browns at No. 4 overall) was a year ago.
- Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State: Perhaps the biggest winner of the workout season, Sweat dominated the Senior Bowl and Combine. There’s enough of his power and disruptiveness on Bulldogs tape to be tantalized by the potential. Reminds of a mentally stable Aldon Smith.
- T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa: High-end all-around tight end who can block, catch and run at above-average ability. Has both a high ceiling and a high floor.
- Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State: The touch and accuracy are outstanding. Haskins lacks seasoning and doesn’t move well, but I see him as a less-caffeinated Philip Rivers with his delivery, style and presence in the pocket.
- Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State: Even though Simmons is likely to miss his rookie year with a torn ACL, his performance in the SEC was great enough to merit still being this high in the rankings. Do-it-all interior force.
- Noah Fant, TE, Iowa: More athletic than Hawkeyes teammate Hockenson. Heck, he’s faster and quicker off the line than most wideouts in this class. Fant might be one-dimensional as a supersized wideout, but what a dimension it is.
- Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State: As long as the added bulk sticks and doesn’t inhibit his ability to scream low around the edge, Burns is a Clay Matthews-like pass rusher off the edge. High boom/bust potential but the boom could be marvelous.
- Devin White, LB, LSU: Read-and-react hitter with great burst and closing power. Needs better body control and quicker eyes to find blocks. A near clone of Lions 2017 1st rounder Jarrad Davis.
- Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State: Very smooth operator in pass protection on the edge, coordinated and smart. Not a lot of power or substance in the run game or the second level, but there is no better guy in this class at keeping the QB comfortable in the pocket and that is the most important task of a left tackle.
- Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame: When on top of his game, as he was vs. Michigan, Tillery is worthy of top 10 in class. I didn’t see that guy often enough for the Irish, but when Tillery keeps his weight low and initiates the violence he’s a dominant interior presence with range to flow and blow up screens.
- Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson: Lacks sizzle, but the steak to Ferrell’s game is mighty tasty. Exceptional run defender on his way to the QB, and he gets to the passer adeptly even though he often faced off against the opponent’s top blocker.
- Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State: Rock solid edge protector who seeks to punish defenders in the run game. Reminds me a great deal of Rick Wagner when he came out of Wisconsin, and he quickly became one of the best RTs in the game with the Ravens. Risner has potential to be a great center, too.
- Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson: It’s hard to remember Wilkins weighs 300 pounds, both because of how well he moves all over the line and how poorly he anchors at times. Still a high ceiling talent who can create mismatches up front in a variety of formations.
- D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss: Built like an outside LB, Metcalf’s blazing speed at his size is amazing. He’s got some savvy to his routes but needs more experience. The neck injury and his overmuscled frame scare me enough to keep him out of the top 20.
- Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida: Reminds me of a less physical Tyrann Mathieu, a free safety who hits but also has the ability to play as one of the league’s better slot corners.
- Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State: Has the size, speed, flexibility and instincts to be a very good No. 2 CB complementing a good No. 1. His lack of physicality and starting experience is overplayed in my opinion.
- Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina: My co-editor at Lions Wire, Erik Schlitt, called Samuel a blend of Golden Tate and Anquan Boldin. I love that comparison. I just wish Deebo didn’t have such a lengthy injury history.
- Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M: McCoy’s ability to set and quickly reset his feet is special. Very athletic on the interior but doesn’t have the functional range to match the movement skills he’s shown in testing just yet.
- Chase Winovich, EDGE, Michigan
- Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
- Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
- Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State
- A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
- Chris Lindstrom, IOL, Boston College
- Darnell Savage, S, Maryland
- David Long, CB, Michigan
- Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
- Cody Ford, OT, Oklahoma: A behemoth on the edge but he moves a lot better than expected for a guy with his size and brawn. Smaller guys with initial burst give him trouble and I think he’s probably too tall/upright to kick inside to guard.
- Dawson Knox, TE, Ole Miss
- Blake Cashman, LB, Minnesota
- Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
- Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston: The converted WR is still learning the intricacies of playing defense but has proven a quick study thus far. Big-time upside and playmaking potential.
- N\\\'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
- Yodny Cajuste ,OT, West Virginia
- Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
- Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
- Dre\\\'Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State
- Elgton Jenkins , C, Mississippi State
- Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
- Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame
- Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia: Nifty and versatile smaller receiver with return ability, too. He needs better sharpness to his routes. Bright personality belies a fierce competitor.
- Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
- Jalen Hurd, WR, Baylor
- Nasir Adderly, S, Delaware
- Jahlani Tavai, LB, Hawaii: Underexposed thumper at ILB with decent range. He’s the kind of 3-4 ILB Bill Parcells would love in his defense.
- Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
- Kelvin Harmon, WR, North Carolina State
- Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M
- Michael Deiter, OL, Wisconsin
- Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple
- Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State
- Josh Oliver, TE, San Jose State
- Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
- Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
- D\\\'Andre Walker, OLB, Georgia
- Michael Dogbe, DT, Temple: Freaky strength and burst off the snap have helped Dogbe into one of the most improved prospects from 2017 to ‘18. His arc is still ascending.
- Stanley Morgan, WR, Nebraska
- Dru Samia, OG, Oklahoma
- Lonnie Johnson, CB, Kentucky
- Drew Lock, QB, Missouri: I shared my thoughts about Lock’s potential in a recent piece on prospects who are difficult to judge this year.
- Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M
- Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama
- Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis
- Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington
- J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford
- Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State
- Chuma Edoga, OT, USC
- Daniel Wise, DT, Kansas
- Sean Bunting, CB, Central Michigan
- Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
- Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State: Butler strikes me as a more severe example of Devin Funchess, a big/slow wideout who thrives in traffic and kills in the red zone but seldom really gets open.
- Damien Harris, RB, Alabama
- Nate Davis, OG, Charlotte
- Charles Omenihu, DL, Texas
- Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU
- Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State
- Saivion Smith, CB, Alabama
- Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech: Incredible collegiate production and he’s got the length and football IQ to back it up, but his abysmal athletic testing is troublesome.
- Max Scharping, OT, Northern Illinois
- Josh Jacobs, RB. Alabama
- Anthony Nelson, EDGE, Iowa
- Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt
- Tyree Jackson, QB, Buffalo
- Emeke Egbule, LB, Houston
- Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson
- Jimmy Moreland, CB, James Madison: Pure playmaker at CB but in a 5-foot-11, 175-pound package that won’t work for every team.
- Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida
- Dax Raymond, TE, Utah State
- Amani Hooker, S, Iowa
- Bobby Okereke, LB, Stanford
- Cortez Broughton, DT, Cincinnati
- Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
- Emanuel Hall, WR, Missouri
- Damarkus Lodge, WR, Ole Miss: Not flashy but Lodge worked the underneath routes quite well and does all the little things that help offenses succeed consistently.
- Devine Ozigbo, RB, Nebraska
- Myles Gaskin, RB, Washington
- Lamont Gaillard, IOL, Georgia
- Austin Bryant, EDGE, Clemson
- Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
- Anthony Ratliff-Williams, WR, North Carolina
- Michael Jackson, CB, Miami FL
- Marquise Blair, S, Utah: Teams that prefer interchangeable safeties instead of strong/free specialists will like the hard-hitting ballhawk that Blair has become.
- Devin Singletary, RB, FIU
- Justin Hollins, EDGE, Oregon
- T.J. Edwards, LB, Wisconsin
- Greg Gaines, NT, Washington
- Jordan Brailford, EDGE, Oklahoma State
- Kingsley Keke, DT, Texas A&M
- Alex Bars, IOL, Notre Dame: Don’t forget about Bars just because he was injured in 2018. Can play either guard spot or right tackle, playing with and handling power quite well.
- Antoine Wesley, WR, Texas Tech
- Connor McGovern, IOL, Penn State
- Christian Miller, EDGE, Alabama
- Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida
- Ben Powers, OG, Oklahoma
- David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State
- Malik Carney, LB, North Carolina
- Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
- Isaiah Buggs, DT, Alabama
- Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern: Accurate, fearless and more athletic than advertised, Thorson makes a lot of great plays but too many mistakes. If he learns to curb the bad decisions, he’s got potential to be another Kirk Cousins.
- Justice Hill, RB, Oklahoma State
- L.J. Collier, EDGE, TCU
- Andy Isabella, WR, UMass
- Malik Gant, S, Marshall
- Joe Giles-Harris, LB, Duke
- Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia
- David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin
- Jakobi Myers, WR, North Carolina State
- Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M: Strongly-built one-cut runner with advanced ability in the passing game, both as a receiver and the best pass-blocking RB in this class.
- Foster Moreau, TE, LSU
- Drue Tranquill, LB, Notre Dame
- Gerald Willis, DT, Miami FL
- Wyatt Ray, EDGE, Boston College
- KeeSean Johnson, WR, Fresno State
- Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State
- Benny Snell, RB, Kentucky
- Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Eastern Michigan
- Dennis Daley, OT, South Carolina
- Anthony Johnson, WR, Buffalo
- David Sills, WR, West Virginia: Converted QB has excellent size and is dominant in the red zone with his strong hands, but he doesn’t reliably get open on his own or threaten defenses over the top.
- Montre Hartage, CB, Northwestern
- Renell Wren, DT, Arizona State
- Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
- Zach Gentry, TE, Michigan
- Terrill Hanks, LB, New Mexico State
- D\\\'Cota Dixon, S, Wisconsin
- Drew Sample, TE, Washington: Inline blocking tight end extraordinaire with reliable hands as a safety valve receiver who can bull through tackle attempts from DBs.
- Bunchy Stallings, OG, Kentucky
- Tre Watson, LB, Maryland
- Oshane Ximines, EDGE, Old Dominion
- Cody Thompson, WR, Toledo
- Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford
- Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma: Lisfranc injuries are almost always devastating for players who rely on burst and lateral quickness. When a 5-9, 166-pound, one-note WR gets one, it’s tough to believe in him even when Brown’s playmaking on the outside was so impressive in college.
- Jalen Jelks, LB, Oregon
- Karan Higdon, RB, Michigan
- Oli Udoh, OT, Elon
- Travis Fulgham, WR, Old Dominion
- Bobby Evans, OT, Oklahoma
- Hamp Cheevers, CB, Boston College
- Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR, Texas
- Kahale Warring, TE, San Diego State
- Ryquell Armstead, RB, Rutgers
- Andrew Beck, TE, Texas
- Taryn Christion, QB, South Dakota State: Prolific dual-threat weapon with incredible college numbers, Christion has the arm strength, field vision and creativity to compete. He’s well-known by scouts from his passing to current Eagles TE Dallas Goedert.
- Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn
- Nick Brossette, RB, LSU
- Malik Reed, EDGE, Nevada
- Armon Watts, DT, Arkansas
- Corey Ballentine, CB, Washburn
- Beau Benzschawel, IOL, Wisconsin
- Penny Hart, WR, Georgia State
- Yosuah Nijman, OT, Virginia Tech
- Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson: Loads of experience blocking for NFL QBs current and future and being the bedrock of a strong OL, but Hyatt lacks requisite playing strength to be more than a swing tackle. Good swing tackles can be hard to find, however, and Hyatt should become a good one.
- Tim Harris, CB, Virginia
- Germaine Pratt, LB, North Carolina State
- Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
- Te\\\'Von Coney, LB, Notre Dame
- Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson
- Mike Edwards, S, Kentucky
- Caleb Wilson, TE, UCLA
- John Cominsky, DE, Charleston: Great story as a converted HS option QB to D-II standout pass rusher. Needs seasoning and more countermoves but his athleticism and drive are exciting. Proved he’s draft-worthy at the Senior Bowl.
- Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington
- Travis Homer, RB, Miami FL
- Jazz Ferguson, WR, Northwestern State
- Terry Godwin, WR, Georgia
- Sutton Smith, EDGE, Northern Illinois
- Gardner Minshew, QB, Washington State
- Deion Calhoun, IOL, Mississippi State
- Blace Brown, CB, Troy: Struggled at the Shrine Game in man coverage, but his film showed enough awareness and pluck to take a chance on in the later rounds.
- Tyler Roemer, OT, San Diego State
- Keelan Doss, WR, UC Davis
- Jamal Peters, CB, Mississippi State
- Ulysees Gilbert, LB, Akron
- Kendall Sheffield, CB, Ohio State