2019 NFL Draft
By: Alex Khvatov
FIRST ROUND
BEST PICKS
9th Overall Pick DT Ed Oliver (Houston) – Buffalo Bills
The Bills were targeting Houston DT Ed Oliver, and there were rumors that they might trade up to select him. They stayed put at No.9 and got their guy. Oliver is tremendous value here. He is a relentless pass rusher with a lightning quick first step and a non-stop motor. Other teams will regret passing on him.
11th Overall Pick OL Jonah Williams (Alabama) – Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals needed to address their O-line in this draft. They selected a versatile OL Jonah Williams from Alabama. He was a three-year starter (spent one year at RT and two years at LT). He is a technically sound OL who excels as a run blocker. I like him more as an interior OL, but he will be penciled in as the starter at RT from day one.
21st Overall Pick S Darnell Savage (Maryland) – Green Bay Packers
The Packers traded away the 30th, 114th and 118th picks in this draft in order to move up to this spot. Savage is a playmaker with good ball skills. He is a versatile DB with great speed and instincts. He is always around the ball. He will form a great duo with the recently signed Adrian Amos.
22nd Overall Pick OT Andre Dillard (Washington State) – Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles traded up in front of the Texans to select Washington State OT Andre Dillard. The Eagles have a made a habit in drafting OL in the first round in recent years. Dillard is a natural LT with quick feet. He excels in pass protection. This pick is all about the future and is an insurance policy for Jason Peters who has missed a lot of games over the past two years. Peters’ career is winding down.
30th Overall Pick CB Deandre Baker (Georgia) – New York Giants
The Giants traded up into the first round and selected a talented Georgia CB Deandre Baker. He was the best corner in this draft. He slipped because of character concerns, but he is a shutdown corner. He is a physical player who excels in press coverage. He has good ball skills and displays smooth footwork. This pick is tremendous value at this point.
WORST PICKS
6th Overall Pick QB Daniel Jones (Duke) – New York Giants
The Giants have found their heir apparent for QB Eli Manning. But they drafted QB Daniel Jones in the top 10, and I had a second-round grade on him. He got better as the season progressed last year. He is a tough, smart QB with good fundamentals who can hurt you with his arm or his feet. However, he has average arm strength and his accuracy runs hot and cold. A major reach for New York.
12th Overall Pick DE Rashan Gary (Michigan) – Green Bay Packers
Gary has everything that you look for in a DL. He has very good size, long arms, athleticism and speed. He holds his ground well at the POA and is an above average run defender. However, his production at Michigan was underwhelming. He was an underachiever in college. He is a fit in the Packers’ scheme as a 3-4 DE, but should have been selected in the latter part of the first round.
23rd Overall Pick OT Tytus Howard (Alabama State) – Houston Texans
The Texans hit the panic button with this pick. They were leapfrogged by the Eagles who selected Andre Dillard, a player that the Texans were enamored with. They reached for an OT with this pick. The Texans should have traded down. Tytus Howard would have been available in the second round.
31st Overall Pick OT Kaleb McGary (Washington) – Atlanta Falcons
McGary was the second OL that the Falcons selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. They addressed the RT position that was a major need for them. He is an aggressive run blocker who struggles in pass protection. He has average feet and needs to play with better leverage and knee bend. McGary was a late second or early third-round pick at best.
