With the Super Bowl behind us, it’s time to look ahead to the NFL Draft.
The Cardinals are in an extreme rebuild phase. Bosa is an elite-level talent and projects to be a perennial All-Pro from the defensive end projection. Arizona selects the best player available in the draft.
The Bednarik Award winner (nation’s top defensive player) would give the 49ers a promising pass rush when matched with 2018 No. 3 overall pick Solomon Thomas. Allen could be the X-factor their defense needs to help them push for a playoff berth next year.
I believe the Jaguars will jump the Giants and go for their quarterback of the future. Haskins led the nation in passing yards and touchdowns while leading the Buckeyes to a Big Ten Championship in 2018. Blake Bortles has been a dud in Jacksonville, so maybe the playmaker out of Ohio State can revitalize their failing offense.
The Raiders surrendered two of their best players last year for first-round draft selections. That means they need to find the best talent, regardless of position, to begin filling the many holes on their roster. Quinnen Williams was Alabama’s best overall player last season. He was almost unblockable at the college level — will professionals be able to stop him?
PICK: GREEDY WILLIAMS, CB, LSU, RS-SOPH.
The Buccaneers need to find a solution in their secondary. Williams would give them a lockdown, rangy cornerback that can take away the opponent’s top receiver.
Lock turned heads at the Senior Bowl with an impressive performance. He displayed composure and confidence in a way that the Giants haven’t had pre-2012. He was the highest rated quarterback at the beginning of the season. Do the Giants see him the same way?
The Jets ranked 25th in total defense and 29th in points allowed last season. They need to find answers at the linebacker position, and White is the best available. He is a converted running back that evolved into a hyper-athletic interior linebacker. He will make big plays at the NFL level.
Ferrell was the best pass rusher on the dominant Clemson defensive line that some call the best in college football history. The Lions may lose their best pass rusher to free agency and don’t have an answer otherwise. Ferrell can give them a strong anchor for years to come.
Bills longtime defensive lineman Kyle Williams retired at the end of the season. Michigan’s Rashan Gary is an athletic interior lineman that can create pressure on the quarterback. This selection would give them elite-level potential at each level of their defense.
The Broncos thought Case Keenum would solve their quarterback problem, but the veteran could not get the job done. Murray is the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and one of the most athletic quarterback prospects of all time. Murray’s size (5-10, 180) may be an issue, but he has a cannon for an arm and could give life to a dull Broncos offense.
Williams started on the Alabama offensive line as a true freshman. That should not go unnoticed. The Bengals lost star left tackle Andrew Whitworth to free agency prior to the 2018 season, which means Williams would slide right into the left tackle slot for the Bengals.
The Packers have an aging pass rush and need to find some young talent to revitalize the defense. Sweat has ideal size (6-6, 270) and athleticism to be a dominant pass rusher. The Packers could use someone racking up double-digit sacks year after year.
Oliver was ranked as the top college prospect at the start of the 2018 season. An on-field altercation with a coach and character questions have hurt his draft stock a bit, but he’s still a dominant player. The Dolphins need to stop the run, and Oliver is a powerful, quick interior lineman that makes a ton of tackles for loss.
The Legion of Boom is now defunct with star safety Earl Thomas on his way out. The Seahawks jump the Redskins for the top-ranked safety in the draft.
The Redskins miss out on Alabama’s Williams and Thompson, so they go with the next best lineman in the draft. Ford has experience playing multiple positions along the offensive line, and the Redskins could use someone with experience after a disastrous ending to the 2018 season.
Little’s physical tools are elite and he’s been a top-rated prospect since he was a freshman in high school. He hasn’t developed into the elite status people expected but still is an outstanding player. The Panthers take a shot on a potential All-Pro left tackle.
Simmons falls all the way to the Browns just because of the sheer talent at the defensive line position in this draft class. The Browns need solid defensive tackles in their 4-3 defense. Simmons would give them a rising star at the defensive tackle position to pair with Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett.
The Vikings appeared to have put together a fantastic defense last season, but they struggled to stop the run. Wilkins is a three-time All-American and a two-time National Champion and would give the Vikes’ D-line a big boost.
Washington has produced several defensive backs who went on to have successful NFL careers. Murphy looks reminiscent of former Husky and All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters. Murphy is a hyper-athletic defender who stays attached in man coverage and shows veteran knowledge of zone schemes.
Polite is a strong pass rusher that could pair well with Steelers’ T.J. Watt. The Steelers have a strong defense, but could stand to create pressure from both sides of the ball. Polite would give the Steelers a solid option.
The Falcons were depleted by injuries throughout last season, but still need a solid No. 2 at the cornerback position. Baker has been a highly touted prospect since his first season at Georgia. He would give them an athletic corner that is solid in man coverage.
The Ravens thought that the addition of WR John Brown would help the offense in making big plays. That did not happen. The Ravens made the playoffs off of a strong rookie performance from standout QB Lamar Jackson. Harry (6-4, 216) would give Jackson a big, talented receiver who can go up over defenders in the red zone and create big plays after the catch.
The Texans have had issues for a long time on the offensive line. Taylor has tremendous size and slides his feet well. He isn’t the top lineman prospect but has enough ability to make Houston consider him in this spot.
Brown (6-1, 225) is a stocky, but explosive outside threat who had two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in a strong SEC conference. He has strong hands and breaks tackles after the catch. The Raiders lost Amari Cooper to the Cowboys but luck out with a tremendous talent at the bottom part of the draft.
Adderley (6-0, 200) comes from prestigious bloodlines (his distant uncle Herb Adderley is in the NFL Hall of Fame). The Delaware-product had an interception in the Senior Bowl and has been one of the best players at the FCS-level for a couple years. These two factors have led to his first-round grading by NFL scouts.
The Philadelphia-native has NFL athleticism and a high football IQ. He hits with more of a thump than his size would show and can play multiple positions in the secondary. This bodes well for the Eagles, whose secondary was decimated by injuries. Adderley could help give the Eagles a lasting answer at the safety or corner position.
Metcalf received higher grades than his teammate, A.J. Brown, at the beginning of the season, but suffered a season-ending neck injury. Chargers receiver Mike Williams suffered a similar injury and bounced back strong. Metcalf would give the Colts a big-bodied talent at the flanker position, complementing the short, quick T.Y. Hilton.
Bush was Michigan’s top tackler and was the Big Ten’s most dominant defender. The Raiders have almost zero experience and depth at the linebacker position, and the former Wolverine would fit in at any spot.
The Chargers have not had a consistently strong linebacker since the days of Shaun Phillips. Wilson has been a freak for Alabama, making huge hits and flashing tremendous talent. The Chargers should use their low draft pick to give the mighty Wilson a shot.
Mullen was the National Champions’ best cover cornerback, highlighted by his clutch interception in the CFP semifinal. The Chiefs traded away Marcus Peters last season and need to find his replacement. Mullen would give them a solid No. 2 cornerback right away, with potential to become their No. 1 in a short time period.
The Packers need to keep their quarterback safe and create more holes along the line. Deiter has tremendous size and can play anywhere on the interior of the line. It would serve Green Bay well to select a player as consistently dominant as the All-American lineman.
Rapp is a hybrid safety trying to cut a role similar to big hitters like Atlanta’s Keanu Neal. He hits hard and plays well alone the line of scrimmage. If the Rams decide to bolster their secondary, Rapp would be a good choice.
Will Rob Gronkowski return or retire? Either way, the Patriots rely on their tight ends, and Fant (6-5, 241) is a long and athletic TE that still needs work in his blocking but could give them an immediate answer in the receiving game.