Re-Examining the 2019 NFL Draft: 1st Round

With the 2020 NFL Draft just about one week away, I thought I would take a look at the 2019 draft and second-guess every incorrect decision that was made! Just kidding, I'll give out props for sleepers picks too. This first article will focus on last year's first round exclusively, but I'll dive deeper into certain key positions as we lead up to this year's draft. How did your team draft in 2019?

Every pick from the 2019 1st Round. Photo Credit: Reddit (FoxSports)

The first two picks of 2019 have lived up to expectation so far. Kyler Murray looks like the franchise quarterback for Arizona to rebuild around, and Nick Bosa looks like the best player in the draft class period after a dominant rookie campaign (47 total tackles, 9 sacks). Third overall is where things take a turn for the worse, with the New York Jets of course.

Josh Allen should have been the 3rd overall pick in 2019, sigh. Photo Credit: Jacksonville Jaguars

If you've read my work before, you might remember I'm a Jets fan. As a fan of New York, I was very high on edge rusher Josh Allen heading into the draft last year. I even over-ambitiously compared him to Khalil Mack. I also liked Bosa, but Allen was the guy I legitimately wanted... and thought the Jets could actually get. I did not want Quinnen Williams for a plethora of reasons, but after the draft I attempted to convince myself that he was a decent pick as well. So far, HE WASN'T! Williams had an almost non-existent 2019 playing for one of the best defensive coordinators in the game. Hello Leonard Williams part two, they even have the same last name!!

That's enough Jets ranting for one article though, the 4th overall made me immediately feel better as a Jets fan. Clelin Ferrell was already busted for use of illegal substance in college after his best season at Clemson. He was immediately labeled as a massive reach by Gruden and co., and although he was okay in 2019, he didn't look like a 4th overall talent. In fact, he was generally out-shined by Raiders rookie teammate and 4th round (106th overall) sleeper, Maxx Crosby, who plays the same position (10 sacks in 2019 for Crosby).

The next first round debate was Devin White or Devin Bush at inside linebacker. Nice of their parents to give them the same first name in preparation for the 2019 draft. Neither looks like a bust after their rookie seasons, although White made Bucs fans sweat a bit more after his early injury. Assuming both stay on the field, White looks like the better NFL MLB, while Bush excelled more as a playmaker. Plus grades for both players though.

It's clear that the controversial Daniel Jones pick is not a bust, but was it still a reach? Photo Credit: Yardbarker

Not going to lie, I was one of the people that buried the Daniel Jones selection at 6, especially with my guy Josh Allen still on the board and the Giants in need of edge rushers. I was wrong about "Danny Dimes," but not wrong about the situation. It remains to be seen whether or not Big Blue needed to selected Jones that high. They might have been able to select Allen and still get Jones at 17 (the Redskins were high on Dwayne Haskins from the start). They also might have been able to trade down and draft Jones before the Redskins pick, while also recouping more draft picks. Giants GM Dave Gettleman reached on Saquon Barkley the year before, and as of now Jones still looks like a reach in 2019, even if he turned out to be a decent quarterback prospect.

A+ for Jacksonville. Josh Allen was a top three talent in this draft that fell to 7th overall. The Jags didn't even need an edge, but they knew better than to let him slip by. For some reason I just knew Allen would be an NFL star, and when the Jets passed on him that only confirmed my beliefs. Well, Josh Allen led all rookies in sacks in 2019 with 10.5 QB takedowns. There are no emoji's on here, but I'm doing the one where you smack yourself in the forehead right now.

Rounding out our top ten is one steal and one reach. Ed Oliver flourished in Buffalo's system year one, while T.J. Hockenson only fed the belief that you NEVER take a tight end in the top ten. Bills win, Lions lose, and their 2019 records reflect that sentiment. Another loser was the Bengals, who's left tackle of the future never played a snap. Jonah Williams should return to block for Joe Burrow in 2020, and hopefully his ability will be worth the wait.

From here on, it's really about the players who made an impact their rookie season, and the ones who didn't. We'll start with the HAVE NOT'S (in order of bust value):

L.J. Collier (SEA)- Complete bust in 2019, barely saw action in Pete Carroll's defense.

The Giants hope Baker fits better as a CB2, adding James Bradberry in free agency. Photo Credit: Big Blue View

Deandre Baker (NYG)- Totally outmatched in his rookie season, Baker did not look like an NFL CB1 in year one.

Jerry Tillery (LAC)- Played an unexciting 15 appearances for the Chargers in 2019.

N'Keal Harry (NE)- Showed flashes during the final weeks, but overall this was a total bust for Bill Belichick. The injury coupled with breakouts by rookie WR's drafted much lower both sunk this pick.

Chris Lindstrom & Kaleb McGary (ATL)- The guard, Lindstrom, got injured and didn't factor much in his first season. He has more potential than the tackle, McGary, who looked like a bust.

Jonathan Abram (OAK/LV)- Abram had the personality of a Jamal Adams type in Hard Knocks, but injury kept him off the field in 2019, which was disappointing for both Oakland and the NFL.

Jeffery Simmons (TEN)- Positive moments that were derailed by injury.

Rashan Gary (GB)- Overshadowed by the "Smith Brothers" (not actually brothers) in 2019. Gary did okay in limited action, but his skill didn't demand snaps.

Dwayne Haskins (WSH)- Too early to say for sure, but Haskins currently looks worse than division rival Jones AND sleeper QB's Drew Lock & Gardner Minshew.

Noah Fant (DEN)- Has shown promise as an offensive weapon, but poor blocking technique and unspectacular receiving categorize this as a reach so far.

The HAVE'S (drafted 11--32, in order of success):

Jacobs has gone from childhood homelessness to the NFL. All the respect in the world goes to this man. Photo Credit: NBC Sports

Josh Jacobs (OAK)- An up-and-down first round did provide one bright spot for Raider Nation. Jacobs was the first running back drafted in 2019, and he's been the best one too, good value here.

Marquise Brown (BAL)- Hollywood Brown may not end up being a top-shelf all-around NFL receiver, but his skill-set definitely fits the Ravens offense. He had 584 yards and 7 TD's in 2019.

Dexter Lawrence (NYG)- Selected at 17, Lawrence's play mirrored that of Oliver, Q-Will, and Christian Wilkins at a lower draft status. Gettleman is much better at drafting "Hog Mollies."

Christian Wilkins (MIA)- The Dolphin DT was quietly consistent for Brian Flores, but didn't necessarily impress over Oliver or Dexter Lawrence.

Garrett Bradbury (MIN)- The center helped stabilized the Vikings offensive line, which was awful in 2018. In 2019, they had an incredible rushing attack behind Dalvin Cook.

Montez Sweat (WSH)- Similar stats of edge rusher Brian Burns, but at a lower status.

Brian Burns (CAR)- The aforementioned Burns was not on the level of Allen or Bosa, but he looked more dynamic than Ferrell and Gary.

Andre Dillard (PHI)- Dillard took over for Jason Peters at left tackle in 2019.

Tytus Howard (HOU)- Howard was drafted just behind Dillard, and the two had almost identical PFF ratings in their rookie campaigns, only Howard plays RIGHT tackle for the Texans.

Darnell Savage (GB)- He didn't blow the doors down with his play, but Savage did start at safety for the Packers and accumulate 55 total tackles with 2 interceptions in 2019.

Just some statistical trends from 2019 for the gamblers out there. 18 defensive players were drafted in the first round last year, compared to 14 offensive players. There were three quarterbacks taken in the first round, with only one running back and two wide receivers selected. The leading offensive position drafted in '19 was offensive tackle. The leading defensive positions drafted were defensive end/edge rusher at seven, and defensive tackle at six. These two positions actually led all NFL positions in dominant fashion, while others like linebacker (two), tight end (two), safety (two), cornerback (one), guard (one) and center (one) all fell by the wayside. We'll see if these trends follow suit in 2020. There should definitely be more WR's drafted early than normal.

Speaking of wide receiver, I'll be going into detail and recapping our 2019 rookie receivers, running backs, quarterbacks and select defensive positions during the next week. Don't miss it!