Looking for a gem
Every NFL team tries to find perfect fit in the draft. Here are our picks for the top-30 talents available.
A true indicator of why this year’s draft class is overhyped is the fact that some NFL teams intend to exercise patience and wait for the quarterback bonanza that should be coming next year when Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Georgia’s Jake Fromm are available.
But for now NFL teams plan to make the most of what’s available in the upcoming draft (April 25-27), which is deep with trench players that can fortify an offensive and defensive line.
That’s most of what you’ll find when examining this list of the top-30 prospects.
This list doesn’t factor in each team’s draft needs, or how some positions have more value than others. It’s strictly a projection of who are the best talents in the draft. Here’s a look at how the South Florida Sun Sentinel would rank them:
Smith, who caught 58 passes for 838 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Crimson Tide, is a wellrounded tight end who should be able to contribute early to any team. He’s a fluid athlete with suddenness, whose full potential hasn’t been reached yet.
Campbell is a gifted athlete, who was a catch-and-run specialist for the Buckeyes. That ability to make plays with the ball in his hands should translate to the NFL, but Campbell needs to add more polish as a route-runner to become a well-rounded receiver and shed his gadgetplayer label.
Brown, a ChaminadeMadonna High product, is a speedy receiver with gamebreaking talent that reminds evaluators of Desean Jackson. He’s small (5 foot 9, 166 pounds) so he can easily be re-routed, but he’s dangerous in open space.
Lock is the best arm talent in the 2019 draft. He has a knack for throwing with zip while off balance, or scrambling, and doing so he resembled Aaron Rodgers. Problem is, he struggled with his accuracy throughout his fouryear career at Missouri, completing just 56.9 percent of his passes while throwing 39 interceptions. Only one quarterback with a draftable grade has thrown more.
Metcalf is a freakish athlete that possesses the size (6 foot 3, 228 pounds), speed (4.33 time in the 40-yard dash) and strength (27 reps of 225 pounds) most teams can only dream about for a receiver. But his college production wasn’t impressive (67 receptions for 1,228 yards and 14 touchdowns in three years). There are concerns he’s this generation’s version of David Boston, and will breakdown physically.
Adderley’s size (6 foot, 206 pounds), fluid hips and ball skills (11 interceptions and four forced fumbles in college) make him an ideal center fielding free safety at the next level. He has the skill-set to play cornerback in the NFL, and might need a minute to grow into a safety role.
Harry’s ability to body-up opponents and win with ball skills is undeniable. He’s a master at making back-shoulder catches, and is an asset as a run-blocker. While he possesses respectable speed (4.53 time in the 40-yard dash) he lacks the quickness needed to create separation from defensive backs in the NFL.
Murphy was a productive cornerback in college who does a great job of reading routes. He pulled down seven interceptions and broke up 27 passes in just 87 career targets over the past two seasons. What he lacks in size (5 foot 11, 190 pounds) and speed (4.55 time in the 40-yard dash), he makes up in football intelligence.
Abrams, who contributed 170 tackles, two interceptions and forced three fumbles in his two seasons with the Bulldogs, is a strong safety with speed (4.45 time in the 40-yard dash) and range. His aggressive style will make him an asset in run support.
Gary is an explosive athlete who plays with strength and power. But as a pass rusher, he has limited moves and mediocre hand usage, which explains why his production at Michigan (134 tackles, 10.5 sacks in three seasons) fell short of expectations. He’d be an ideal fit as a 3-4 defense end, or a left side end in a 4-3 scheme.
Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence
Lawrence, who produced 131 tackles and 10 sacks in his three seasons with the Tigers, is a massive nose tackle who has the potential to eat double teams, opening up the field for his linebackers to roam free. But he missed Clemson’s final two games of 2018 season after testing positive for ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug. Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker
Baker, a Miami Northwestern High product, is a physical cornerback who excels in press coverage. He can be prone to committing penalties when receivers get behind him, but he reacts very well when the ball is in the air (seven interceptions), and should be able to play right away as a rookie.
Bush, a Flanagan High product, contributed 181 tackles, 10 sacks and one interception in his two seasons as a starter for the Wolverines. He’s an instinctive playmaker, who has a knack for getting off blocks. His size limitations (6 foot, 237 pounds) will concern some teams, possibly keeping him out of the first round.
Taylor has prototypical size (6 foot 5, 325 pounds) for an offensive tackle, and he’s one of the nastiest finishers in this draft. Those traits should allow him to become an immediate starter at right tackle, but he needs to work on his technique because he occasionally oversets.
Williams is a long (6 foot 2, 189 pounds) and athletic cornerback. He’s fast (4.37 time in the 40-yard dash) and reacts very well when the ball is in the air (eight interceptions in two seasons), but needs to get stronger to handle the physical receivers he’ll face in the NFL.
Mississippi State pass rusher Montez Sweat Sweat, who recorded 101 tackles and 22 sacks in his two seasons with the Bulldogs, is one of the most unique athletes in this draft. He’s long (6 foot 6, 260 pounds), athletic (125 inch broad jump) and faster (4.41 time in the 40-yard dash) than most NFL receivers. However, there are concerns about a heart condition that could affect when he’s drafted.
Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins Wilkins, a four-year starter at Clemson, is an athleticism, productive 3-technique defensive tackle, who has outstanding character and plays with a high level of intensity. He wasn’t a dominant college defensive lineman, but he’s credited as the player who held Clemson’s defense together.
Dillard’s outstanding feet helped him become a four-year starting left tackle. He’s incredibly light on his feet, which explains why he ran a 4.96 time in the 40-yard dash. However, he lacks strength (24 reps of 225 pounds) and it shows up in the run game. He’s built for more of a finesse offensive line.
Clemson pass rusher Clelin Ferrell
Ferrell, who tallied 27 sacks and forced five fumbles during the past three seasons, is a consistent playmaker who wins with quickness and hand usage. He plays with strength and has closing speed when the quarterback is within reach. His frame indicates he’s better suited for a 4-3 scheme.
Haskins, a one-season starter for the Buckeyes, has the arm strength and size (6 foot 3, 236 pounds) that NFL teams are searching for. He completed 70 percent of his throws and threw 50 touchdowns in 2018. But his downfield accuracy needs work, and he struggles at times when defenses apply pressure, forcing him off his spot.
Brown was highly productive at Ole Miss, catching 160 receptions for 2,572 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns in his three seasons. He has good size, strength and power, which indicates that he can be a Jarvis Landry-like slot receiver in the NFL.
Williams uses angles, technique and body control to thrive in all aspects of his game. There are some concerns that he doesn’t have long enough arms to play left tackle, but he’s strong enough to play right tackle, and nimble enough to move inside to serve as an immediate starter at guard.
Jacobs spent most of his college career overshadowed in a crowded Alabama backfield, but by the end of last season he had established himself as prototypical workhorse back, displaying balance and power. His best trait is his ability to consistently run through tackles, but he did benefit from a superior supporting cast at Alabama.
Murray, the Heisman Trophy winner from this past college season, is a combination of Michael Vick and Drew Brees because of his impressive blend of athleticism and accuracy. His legs allow him to extend plays, and they dictate that defenses must cover him with a spy. But there are concern as Murray only had one season of college production and is 5 foot 10 and 190 pounds, which means he could be fragile in the NFL.
In an era when most of the 2018. tight ends coming from the college ranks are glorified receivers, Hockenson is dominant blocker who is a safe bet to become an immediate contributor. Hockenson, who caught 73 passes for 1,080 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons at Iowa, has runafter-catch ability, and high points the ball on a consistent basis.
Allen, who recorded 220 tackles (42 for loss), 31.5 sacks and forced 11 fumbles during his four seasons at Kentucky, is a phenomenal athlete who possesses size (6 foot 5, 262 pounds), speed (4.63 time in the 40-yard dash) and power (28 reps of 225 pounds). He runs well, and is quick when it comes to diagnosing plays. He’s scheme versatile, but might excel more in a 3-4 defense.
Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver
Oliver is a quick and explosive trench player who was a wrecking ball at Houston when healthy, contributing 193 tackles (54 for loss), 13.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in the 33 games he played. Some teams will hold his small frame (6 foot 2, 280 pounds) against him, but others favorably compare him to Pro Bowler Geno Atkins.
White had a phenomenal two seasons as a starter for the Tigers, making plays both inside and outside, and producing 8.5 sacks. He possesses speed (4.42 time in the 40-yard dash) and great body control, but he’s a bit small (6 foot, 237 pounds) which creates concerns about his durability.
Williams had a season worth of highlight-reel-level production that allowed him to skyrocket to the top of the draft board. His one dominant season at Alabama, where he produced 66 tackles and nine sacks, has NFL teams concluding he’ll be just as productive as his former Crimson Tide teammate Jonathan Allen, who dominated as a rookie last year.
Ohio State pass rusher Nick Bosa
Bosa, a former St. Thomas Aquinas High standout, is a terrific edge player who uses speed, leverage, hand usage, and power well. He had a productive college career (77 tackles, 17.5 sacks and two forced fumbles) before missing all but three games of his junior season with a core injury. However, some of his political views could make him a divisive player in a lot of NFL locker rooms.