USA TODAY International Edition
Defensive players rule Class of ’19 prospects
Ranking NFL draft prospects regardless of position can be a futile enterprise and one that might seem especially foolhardy not long after all seven rounds have passed by. Yet balancing various needs and assessing the worth of disparate prospects is exactly what general managers will have to do this week starting Thursday, when the first round begins in Nashville, Tennessee.
With that in mind, USA TODAY ranked the top prospects. Keep in mind this is a reflection of expected value, not draft position:
1. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State: Bosa might not earn the same acclaim former top pass rushers and No. 1 overall picks Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney did, but he’s the most promising prospect in his class. His approach is surprisingly advanced for a player of his experience, as he integrates refined hand work and jolting power with his quick first step. Comparisons to older brother Joey, the Chargers’ standout and former No. 3 overall pick, are inevitable but apt.
2. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama: The Crimson Tide have produced a litany of first-round defenders during Nick Saban’s reign, yet Williams is more than just next in line. The Outland Trophy winner needed only one season as a starter to emerge as college football’s most dominant defender. Though he looks the part of a space-eating defensive tackle, Williams vexes offenses by routinely disengaging from blockers or evading their grasp with his abnormal elasticity.
3. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston: The three-time All-American is in a class of his own at firing off the snap and snaking into the backfield. Improving his hand usage will be crucial in his push to keep stronger offensive linemen from negating him, but he’s difficult to double-team given his aptitude for squeezing through blocks.
4. Jonah Williams, OT-G, Alabama: The lingering question about whether he has the length to excel at left tackle has obscured Williams’ overall value as the best offensive lineman available. A technician determined not to be outsmarted or outworked, Williams handles his duties both in pass protection and run blocking with elevated poise. Even if he moves to guard, he has all the making of a high-end starter.
5. Josh Allen, DE-OLB, Kentucky: Returning for his senior season appears to have paid off for Allen, who might have been a first-round pick last year but instead diversified his set of passrush moves while becoming a consensus All-American. He still needs to become less reliant on his pure speed around the corner, but his skill set is in high demand.
6. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa: Amid the proliferation of tight ends who primarily operate flexed out wide, he is somewhat of a blend of old school and new. The Mackey Award winner fights for every pass thrown his way and piles up yards after the catch, but he carries that same aggressive mind-set to his work as a blocker at the line.
7. Brian Burns, DE, Florida State: Flexibility is the hallmark of Burns’ game, as he can bend and turn the corner with ease to close in on quarterbacks. Proving that the 21 pounds of bulk he added isn’t just for show will be an important step, as he’s too often pushed around when trying to set the edge or dip inside.
8. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson: Coaches and general managers who place a premium on locker room leadership will gravitate toward Wilkins, who graduated in 21⁄2 years and was the heartbeat of the Tigers’ College Football Playoff title team. A rubbery rusher who easily finds the ball, Wilkins is best aligned for a team that will allow him to get upfield.
9. Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State: Perhaps the most fluid and fleetfooted pass protector this draft class has to offer, Dillard could find himself in high demand given the prevalence of speed rushers in the NFL.
10. Noah Fant, TE, Iowa: After sharing the spotlight with Hockenson on the Hawkeyes, Fant could be in line for a more sizable share of targets. Cutting down on drops and bulking up should be the top items on his to-do list, but his combination of size (6-4, 241 pounds) and speed (4.50-second 40-yard dash) should fluster linebackers and safeties trying to keep up in coverage.
11. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State: If not for a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in February, Simmons would be widely recognized as one of this class’ top-tier defensive talents. A possible redshirt year of recovery could push him down draft boards, but a patient team could get a steal if he’s able to recapture his explosiveness.
12. Devin White, LB, LSU: Follow the ball, and White likely won’t be far behind. The Butkus Award winner can fly from sideline to sideline both in coverage and in pursuit of ballcarriers, though reeling back on some of his more aggressive tendencies would give his game a needed sense of control.
13. Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State: In his first year as a starter, Haskins demonstrated a mastery of the Buckeyes’ offense, throwing for a Football Bowl Subdivision-high 4,831 yards and 50 touchdowns. Yet the transition to the pros could prove jarring, as learning to make more reads and maintain poise in the pocket will be essential steps for him to take advantage of his impeccable arm strength.
14. Byron Murphy, CB, Washington: Measurements don’t tell the full story on Murphy, who is very nearly the complete package in his on-field work despite lacking prototypical height, length and long speed for the position. While he might not be a shutdown corner in the most literal interpretation, he thrives both in yielding little room for receivers to operate and contesting throws in his area.
15. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma: There’s not really an established precedent by which one can comfortably project Murray, a singular player given his height (5-10), athleticism and dynamic playmaking talent both as a passer and as a runner. Despite the challenges with adjusting to the timing and rhythm of NFL passing games, the Heisman Trophy winner could tilt games by keeping defenses off balance.
16. Devin Bush, LB, Michigan: An uncommonly small build (5-11, 234 pounds) for a linebacker didn’t prevent Bush from making his mark in the Big Ten. So long as he can avoid being engulfed by bigger blockers, he could continue to break the mold in the NFL.
17. Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State: The two-time all-Southeastern Conference selection has bolstered his case to be a top 10 pick with strong showings at the Senior Bowl and the combine, where his 4.41-second 40 set a record for defensive linemen. His stock, however, might hinge on teams’ assessment of a heart condition that was flagged at the combine.
18. Garrett Bradbury, C, North Carolina State: The former tight end moves like a much lighter player and sizes up as a staple for a zone-blocking team.
19. D.K. Metcalf, WR, Mississippi: Good luck defending this 6-3, 228pound target with a 4.33-second 40 and 401⁄2-inch vertical. A Day 1 threat on deep throws, Metcalf will stretch the field and use his body positioning and extended catch radius to haul in passes while learning to become a more complete route runner, which could be difficult given questions about his agility and limited role within Ole Miss’ offense.
20. Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma: At 5-9 and 166 pounds, Browns has earned comparisons to DeSean Jackson both for his rail-thin build and sublime speed. Throws in high-traffic areas won’t be his bag, but he generates a serious spark as a downfield target and runafter-the-catch threat.
21. Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame: Comfortable both pushing back offensive linemen or ripping past them, Tillery has an assortment of ways of breaking into the backfield.
22. Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida: A bulldozer in the run game, he has significant upside as a pass protector if he can learn to keep defenders out of his frame.
23. Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware: The cousin of Hall of Famer Herb Adderley uses his extended range in coverage to handle his single-high safety responsibilities, though he isn’t afraid to mix it up in the run game, either.
24. Cody Ford, OT-G, Oklahoma: Surprisingly mobile for a player of his size, Ford will make his mark early on by paving the way for running backs while he works on his pass sets.
25. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson: A solid base end with good length and ample know-how as a pass rusher, Ferrell is a steady edge defender, albeit one who will be hard-pressed to replicate his efficiency in college (50 tackles for loss and 27 sacks in last three years).
❚ To see the complete Top 50 prospects, check out nfl.usatoday.com