The latest 2019 NFL mock draft sees new faces enter the fold, while a major roster move in Kansas City has changed the outlook of the NFL Draft and the franchise.
Our 2019 NFL mock draft series has seen the regular names stay at the top of the board, but a few teams dealing with injuries, or improved play has made this week very interesting.
Washington will have to come to terms with the loss of Alex Smith, and we will have to wait and see what the future holds for Kareem Hunt.
A few draft-eligible players have already opted to skip their team’s bowl games in preparation for the NFL draft, and we should see that become the norm over the next couple of seasons, as one injury can hurt a player financially when coming out of college. At the very least, it won’t hurt the draft stock of those eligible players who chose to move on to the NFL Draft.
With the San Francisco 49ers on the clock let’s take a look at our updated first round of the 2019 draft.
Besides DeForest Buckner, the 49ers pass rush hasn’t done much this season. He leads the team with seven sacks, but the next highest players are sitting at the top with three and a half each.
Would the 49ers be in the number one spot in Jimmy Garoppolo were healthy? Probably not but the game isn’t played on what if’s and the team has had trouble with consistent play on both sides of the ball.
San Francisco sits in the middle of the pack with 247 passing yards allowed per game. Nick Bosa would be able to help not only on their pass rush but the secondary as well by forcing the quarterback to get rid of the ball sooner than they would like.
Although Bosa’s career ended prematurely he is still the best player in the draft and racked up 17 sacks in 29 games for the Buckeyes. If San Francisco decides not to go with Bosa then look for Houston stand out Ed Oliver to be the pick.
The Raiders have been a train wreck all season long. John Gruden has been a punchline in sports media since taking over the job by making a number of questionable moves as head coach. During free agency, he signed a number of veteran players, which made the Raiders the oldest team in the league.
He then decided to trade superstar linebacker Khalil Mack who has a defensive player of the year award on his already impressive career resume.
With the second pick of the draft expect the Raiders to select Ed Oliver, and shore up the defensive line. The Raiders are currently 30th in a league in points allowed giving up 29.7 per game while also allowing 151 rushing yards per game which is dead last in the NFL.
Oliver has shown that he can be a force in any game and has racked up double-digit tackles in multiple games this season.
Although teams may be nervous about his current injury that has sidelined him the last few games he’s still one of the surest picks to become an all-pro in the draft.
With a new regime and a new quarterback leading the way, and the Arizona Cardinals weren’t expecting to contend for the NFC West crown this season. The Cardinals were very lucky to have Josh Rosen fall to them in last year’s draft and they seem to have their quarterback of the future.
Rosen has experienced growing pains as he has thrown for 1,521 yards with 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading Arizona to a 2-9 record.
If the Cardinals want to protect their franchise player they will draft a tackle capable of protecting his blind spot. Jonah Williams can be inserted into the starting lineup and quickly make an impact on the offensive line. Alabama’s offense has hummed all season long, and the offensive line is a major part of that success.
They have given up just 10 sacks this season and Williams has helped pave the way for over 205 yards rushing per game. If Arizona passes on Williams look for them to select a quality defensive lineman as that unit is seeing the wrong end of 30 in key spots.
Although Todd Bowles future is uncertain heading into the off-season, the Jets future is set after picking their franchise quarterback Sam Darnold in last year’s draft.
Clelin Ferrell has been one of the best pass rushers in the country for the last two seasons. It is a surprise he’s not being spoken of in the same breath as Bosa and Oliver but he has completely dominated ACC play for the Tigers.
After leading the Tigers defense in the ACC championship game victory over Pittsburgh Ferrell has posted 47 tackles with 10.5 sacks as the Clemson defensive line continues to be one of the best in the country. The defense has shut opponents down and the Tigers have won their last five games by 20 or more points.
The Jets currently ranked 16th in the league in passing yards allowed giving up 245 per game. Selecting Ferrell with the fourth pick would be the smart option for a good defensive coaching staff that needs to get more pressure on the quarterback.
Tampa Bay has a bottom three defense in the league this year. There is talent at each unit of the defense, with a star defensive tackle, a good linebacker core, and playmakers at defensive back.
However, the talent hasn’t turned into results as seemingly every week a quarterback and wide receiver have the best game of the year against the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers can go with a few talented defensive backs with this pick, but I would bet it on being Greedy Williams out of LSU.
He is the most athletically gifted quarterback in the draft and you can’t go wrong by selecting a defensive back with LSU’s track record at the position.
Williams has been a stud for the Tigers defense, helping lead the team to a 9-3 record.
Tampa Bay can also be in line to trade down from this position as a few teams behind them will want to potentially select a franchise quarterback at that position.
Buffalo could go a number of ways with this selection. They can look to draft a quarterback, although after selecting Josh Allen with the first pick of the draft from last year would seem like a waste.
They can also go for a playmaker at wide receiver to help him on the outside. However, the best selection will be Rashan Gary on the defensive line out of Michigan. His numbers aren’t eye-popping but he has 38 tackles with three and a half sacks this season while leading one of the top defenses in the country.
On Monday he announced that he is entering the NFL draft and although he missed a few games this season, he is still one of the best players in the country at stopping the run. His sophomore season he finished with 58 tackles and 11.5 tackles for a loss so getting into the backfield to shut down opposing running backs won’t be a tough task for the 6-foot-5, 283 pound junior.
The AFC East has quality running backs that such as Sony Michel of the New England Patriots so picking up Gary would be the smartest call to improve their defense.
The Giants had an opportunity to select their franchise quarterback of the future in last year’s draft and they opted to select Saquon Barkley the talented running back out of Penn State.
Barkley has made a number of big plays this season and should be an all-pro In the future. With Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. on the outside, the Giants offense needs a young quarterback to lead this offense into the 2020s.
This is where Justin Herbert comes in as the talented Oregon Duck should be the first quarterback off the board. Oregon didn’t have the season they were hoping for finishing with a record of 8-4 but Herbert still put up good numbers this season.
He posted 2,985 passing yards with 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions and could top 30 touchdowns after the Ducks bowl game.
Herbert’s height is a potential issue as he stands at 6-foot-7 and quarterbacks that size typically do not translate well into the NFL. If the Giants don’t select a quarterback here they could target an offensive lineman or help at the linebacker position.
The Jaguars made major changes this past weekend firing the offensive coordinator and benching quarterback Blake Bortles. Could Jacksonville go with a quarterback in the spot? It is the most likely scenario even though they could also use help at linebacker.
The Jaguars would be in a good spot selecting either Finley or Dwayne Haskins if he elects to go pro, but in this scenario we have Jacksonville selecting the more seasoned quarterback. Finley has led the Wolfpack offense to very good numbers over the course of the season.
North Carolina State is averaging 35 points per game and Finley has thrown for 3,789 passing yards and 24 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
Jacksonville is in a win-now mode and selecting a quarterback that can simply not lose them the game is the safest bet. There is talent at the running back position, with Leonard Fournette playing as one of the best backs in the game.
Add that with a top-flight defense and they could turn into a Super Bowl contender quickly. If the Jaguars do not go with a quarterback look for Devin white out of LSU to be the pick here.
You won’t see a big run of quarterbacks go back to back to back, even though Miami has a need at the position. The AFC East still has Tom Brady, and Sam Darnold looks like a very good quarterback to build your team around.
The smart play by the Dolphins will be to draft one of the top corners in the draft in Georgia Bulldogs standout Deandre Baker.
Baker is the true definition of a shutdown corner, posting 37 tackles, two interceptions, and nine passes broken up. His play has helped the Georgia Bulldogs secondary give up only 175 yards per game through the air.
In the SEC championship game, he had just three tackles in the Bulldogs 35-28 loss.
The Dolphins are in the bottom 12 in pass defense, giving up 258 yards per contest and Baker would quickly become a full-time starter in the defensive backfield.
If Miami opts to pass on Baker they could go with a safety as that is another pressing need.
After coming over from the Bill Belichick coaching tree, Matt Patricia’s first stint as a head coach has not gone smoothly. The season started with reports of the players not adapting to his tough coaching style, and there have been a number of games where the Lions simply look outmatched and outcoached.
Although the passing defense has been fairly good, giving up only 238 yards per game through the air (13th in the league heading into this weekend), the Lions are giving up 26 points per game.
Drafting Deionte Thompson would improve the defense considerably, as he can make plays in the backfield and help cover tight ends and receivers over the top of the defense.
The fourth-year junior has made plays all over the field for the Crimson Tide, as he has posted 70 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles this season.
Heading into the SEC title game Alabama was giving up a little under two touchdowns per game (13.8), and Thompson is a big part of it. If the Lions pass on Thompson an offensive lineman could be the pick here.
Atlanta’s pass rush has been formidable the last two seasons, as they used clever playcalling and strong edge rushers to make the Super Bowl two years ago.
Although they came up short in one of the most historic collapses in NFL history, the talent still made enough plays to keep them in contention for another Super Bowl run last year.
This season that seems to be non-existent, as the defensive line is playing inconsistently as Atlanta has struggled to a 4-7 record. The Falcons will look to improve their play from the unit by drafting Jefferey Simmons out of Mississippi State.
There are character issues with Simmons, but his talent may make him worth the risk at such a high spot.
Simmons could lock up first team All-American honors as he has 15.5 sacks to go along with 59 tackles. He can’t be blocked one on one by SEC caliber offensive lineman, and his skillset should transition well to the league.
As good as Simmons is getting to the QB he has been very effective in stopping the run, as the Bulldogs are giving up only 104 rushing yards per game this season.
I don’t see the Falcons going for another positional need at this spot but if the price is right they could trade down with a team desperate to grab a quarterback.
Was Hue Jackson the reason Cleveland struggled so much the last three seasons? Jackson’s tenure ended with a 3-36-1 record, easily making it one of the worst head coaching runs in NFL history.
The team has a potential star in the making in Baker Mayfield, and the offense looks to be set at running back with former Georgia Bulldog Nick Chubb. With Myles Garrett already dominating on the defensive line, look for the Browns to add another force in the middle with Christian Wilkins.
There’s no denying the level of talent on Clemson’s defensive line, and Wilkins has been a major part of the Tigers success over the last few seasons.
Clogging up the gaps is one of Wilkin’s biggest strengths and he has 12 tackles for a loss this season. The Tigers are giving up only 84 yards per game on the ground this season, which is second in the nation and haven’t allowed a runner to reach the 100 yard mark on them.
He made a few big plays in the Tigers beatdown of Pitt in the ACC title game, finishing with three tackles and a pass deflection.
Wilkins may be gone before this spot, but if he’s available the Browns would be foolish to let him pass them by.
To say the Bengals pass defense has been bad would be a severe understatement. It’s been atrocious as Cincinnati is giving up over 290 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks. This pick can go a number of ways, with cornerback also being a need out of sheer lack of consistency from the position.
One way to help a poor performing secondary is by drafting a dynamite pass rusher. Josh Allen has been one of the best at getting to the quarterback in the FBS this season, posting 14 sacks to go along with an amazing 84 tackles. It has been a steady improvement each season for Allen, and his athleticism gives him the ability to drop back into coverage as well.
Vontaz Burfict is still one of the hardest hitters in the NFL, but picking up Allen would immediately help out a defense with two young signal callers in the division drafted in the first round of last year’s draft.
After acquiring Alex Smith in a trade with Kansas City this past offseason, it looked like Washington had a good replacement for Kirk Cousins. After Smith’s gruesome leg injury two weeks ago, the team will need to draft their quarterback of the future in the 2019 draft.
Dwayne Haskins is an intriguing prospect. The third year sophomore has been able to sit behind JT Barrett the last two seasons, and has the physical and mental makeup to handle the toughest situations.
In Ohio State’s rivalry game against Michigan last weekend, Haskins torched the Wolverines secondary for six touchdown passes. Those numbers are more impressive when you factor in that he faced the nation’s number one total defense (also first defending the pass).
The only major concern for Haskins is his slow starts to a number of big games this season. Ohio State’s offense looked sporadic in the Big 10 championship game, and while Haskins put up solid numbers it could make teams wary that he may not look fully prepared at the start of games.
Washington may need a season for Haskins to get accustomed to the speed of the game, but it’s clear once Haskins has a grasp of the playbook the Heisman candidate can put up excellent numbers (put in stats).
The Packers offensive line has struggled this season. As transcendent as Aaron Rodgers has been on the football field, he can only do so much when the unit protecting him is giving up 34 sacks this season (tied for sixth in the NFL).
Green Bay is a long shot to make the playoffs at 4-6-1, and if they miss out on the postseason it could give them a prime opportunity to draft a top tackle prospect.
Greg Little could be an impactful offensive lineman at the next level, as he has been one of the catalysts behind the Ole Miss offense ranking 7th in the nation in total yards.
The former five-star prospect out of the state of Texas would provide a boost to this unit as Rodgers career enters its final chapters.
If the Packers don’t go with an offensive lineman look for them to target a prospect on the D-line.
The Tennessee Titans organization has done a good job drafting offensive players the last few drafts. Starting with offensive tackle Taylor Lewan they have slowly picked up impactful pieces on the offensive side of the ball, and still have a shot at getting a wild card berth.
Mike Vrabel hasn’t exceeded the expectations for the Titans fan base, but it is clear he is one of the few Bill Belichek protegés that knows what he is doing to build his team’s identity.
Reinforcing the defensive line is a major priority this offseason, with divisional opponent’s Deshaun Watson continuing to grow and Andrew Luck player better than he was pre-injuries.
Sweat has been a sack machine this year, racking up 14 sacks after posting 15.5 as a junior last season. The Titans defense is currently second in the league with 39 sacks, so adding the dynamic edge rusher would make that defense even more formidable.
The Broncos traded Demaryius Thomas to the Texans for a fourth and seventh rounder in next year’s draft. Emmanuel Sanders is still playing at a potential Pro Bowl level, but he is on the wrong side of 30 the Broncos should invest an early pick in selecting a wideout for the future.
N’Keal Harry has been one of the best wide receivers in the FBS this season, and has been the go-to weapon in a resurgent Sun Devils offense.
Harry will have a chance to surpass his 2017 numbers with a good bowl game. He has caught 73 passes for 1,088 yards and nine scores. Over his career, his per game averages round out to six catches for 82 yards per game.
He can be a consistent playmaker over the middle and can stretch the field with his speed. Denver has missed on a few early round picks under John Elway, but this one could be a homerun.
Losing first-round stud defensive tackle Star Lotulelei has left a void in the Panthers defensive line. He helped lead the Panthers defense during their run to the Super Bowl a few seasons ago, but his departure hasn’t slowed down the Panthers on that side of the ball. He signed a five-year $50 million deal with the Bills and Carolina should use their first pick on a quality replacement.
The Panthers are currently sixth in the league giving up just 96 yards per game on the ground, but with the talented offenses in the division, stocking up on the front seven is a necessity.
Brown can plug up the gaps against the offensive line, and get to the point of attack very quickly. He has been very consistent for the Tigers, posting 45 tackles with 9.5 tackles for a loss while helping Auburn finish the regular season with one of the best rushing defenses in the SEC.
If the Panthers don’t go for a defensive lineman look for them to target a wide receiver.
While there may be a quarterback controversy brewing once Joe Flacco returns to the starting lineup, the Baltimore offense is full of veteran wide receivers on the outside. Michael Crabtree is still a solid player, but selecting A.J Brown could set the franchise up for success for the next six to seven years.
Brown is arguably the best receiver in the draft and although skeptics may look at Laquon Treadwell as a cautionary tale, Brown is more than capable of dominating opposing corners in the SEC.
The transition to the AFC North would work out well for him (besides the cold temperatures), as the top teams in the conference are oozing with NFL talent.
A.J. caught 75 passes for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2017 and is following that campaign up with 85 catches for 1,320 yards and six scores.
He may be off the board by this point, but if he is available Baltimore will make the smart play picking up the talented receiver.
The Seahawks secondary will enter the offseason completely removed from the Legion of Boom era, as it is highly likely that All-Pro safety Earl Thomas will not be resigned after breaking his leg earlier this year.
The changes should include drafting local fan favorite Byron Murphy out of Washington, who is one of the best cornerbacks in the NCAA. The Huskies have one of the best passing defenses in the country, ranking 25th in the nation while giving up only 189 yards per game through the air.
Although Murphy is only listed at 5-foot-11 182 pounds, he makes up for his lack of size with excellent agility and the ability to play the ball better than anyone in the Pac-12.
He has picked up 55 tackles and broken up 13 passes this season, and he had a good game in the Pac-12 championship with a tackle, two interceptions (one he took to the house).
Seattle needs to make sweeping changes to the defense, and Murphy could be the start of a smooth transition into the next strong Seahawks defensive era.
Jason Peters isn’t getting any younger, and the Eagles will deep back into the Seattle area by selecting Murphy’s teammate Trey Adams with their first-round pick. Adams should have been a lock to end up in the first round of the 2018 draft, but after tearing his ACL he opted to return for his senior season.
He has the athleticism to get to the second level, and standing at 6-foot-7, 334 pounds, it will be tough for any edge rushers to get around him. Carson Wentz blind spot will need to be protected heading into the nnext decade, and Adams will quickly become an important part of the Eagles offensive line.
Adams can also run block with the best of them, as Myles Gaskins is having another banner season behind the Huskies O-line. If the Eagles don’t select Adams another possibility is Brian Burns out of Florida State, or Devin Bush from Michigan, to get ore speed at the linebacker position.
Andrew Luck is looking like an MVP caliber player again, and the Colts weapons are gelling well with the dynamic quarterback. The defense has been up and down so far this season, and the pass rush is dead last in the league with 11 sacks this season.
Dre’mont Jones is a raw prospect, but he could blossom into an excellent player in the mold of Jason Pierre Paul, and get to the quarterback with reckless abandon. With Nick Bosa leaving the team, Jones had to step up and has been one of the key pieces on the defensive line.
After being a dominant force in the Big Ten title game he has 40 tackles with eight and a half sacks, and could end up reaching double digits if you include the Big 10 championship and bowl games.
If Jones is picked before this selection another pass rushing prospect should be on deck.
The Raiders will look to the defensive side of the ball with their second of three first-round picks, snagging rangy linebacker Devin Bush out of Ann Arbor. Bush was exposed in pass coverage against Ohio State, getting beat on a number of wheel routes, but he still has the athleticism to make plays all over the field.
After posting 95 tackles and five sacks last season, he has followed it up with 66 tackles and four sacks. Bush will have to work on his coverage against faster running backs, but pairing him up with Ed Oliver and Bruce Irvin could vastly improve the defense in 2019.
The AFC West is full of talented offensive weapons, but one poor game shouldn’t expose Bush as a prospect you can overlook.
If the Raiders decide not to select Bush this could be an intriguing position to trade out of the first round and pick up a few extra picks in the middle rounds to improve the depth on the roster.
Minnesota’s defense hasn’t played up to standards we were used to seeing over the last few seasons, but that doesn’t mean they are lacking talent. Harrison Smith is still one of the best defensive players in the league, and adding Brian Burns to a talented defensive line could have a huge effect on the NFC North.
The Minnesota defense is fifth in the league against the pass, giving up only 221 yards per game. Burns can make a drop back pass turn into a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks and seeing him play a full 16 games could be scary for Stafford, Trubisky and Rodgers.
Florida State has had a down year, finishing 5-7, but that is not due to Burns play, as he has 52 tackles, 10 sacks, and three forced fumbles this season. The Seminoles are tied for 49th in sacks with 28, but when you pair Burns with the talented secondary of Minnesota, the Vikings defense should return to form next season.
Houston’s pass defense is pretty much in the middle of the pack in a few major statistical categories (16th in touchdown passes allowed and completion percentage, so bolstering the secondary should be one of the first moves of the draft.
The Texans will need to improve in that area with Andrew Luck playing great again, and the Titans are one big playmaker away from really making more noise in the division.
Trayvon Mullen would be an excellent addition to a defense that can get to the quarterback quickly. J.J. Watt has been phenomenal, and Jadaveon Clowney should receive an extension this offseason (or get designated with the franchise tag).
Mullen stands at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and would be able to withstand the physical corners in the conference. In the ACC championship game against Pittsburgh, he posted just one tackle, but he didn’t have many opportunities as the Panthers tried to stay away from his side of the field as Clemson cruised to another spot in the College Football Playoff.
If Houston doesn’t go with a defensive back look for them to target a linebacker towards the end of the first round.
This may seem like a surprise selection, as Los Angeles currently has the seventh-best opposing QB passer rating in the league, but Julian Love has been making plays for the Fighting Irish all season long.
You will rarely find him out of position, and he has the ball skills to pick passes off and take them to the house, evidenced by his two interception returns for touchdowns during the 2017 season.
This season Notre Dame’s defense has been one of the toughest in the nation, easily shutting down opposing quarterbacks week in and week out. He has been one of the biggest reasons Notre Dame’s defense has helped them reach the college football playoff.
Heading into the semifinals Love has 61 tackles, an interception, and 15 passes broken up. It is a wonder offenses are still throwing to him, as he has proven he can take away his half of the field with ease.
If the Chargers don’t go with a corner could they pick a QB? Philip Rivers isn’t getting any younger and this would be the good range to take a flier on a potential successor.
After selecting two potential franchise changers on the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders find their replacement for Amari Cooper in South Carolina wideout Deebo Samuel. The Gamecocks passing offense isn’t at the heights that it was under Steve Spurrier, but Samuel can make a case as one of the best receiver’s in the SEC after another strong season.
After starting his junior year off great in 2017, Samuel’s year was cut short with a broken left leg. Wary of how much of an impact he would make this year, Samuel has been the go to guy in the Gamecocks passing game.
He has hauled in 62 passes for 882 yards and 11 touchdowns, including an excellent performance last week in the rivalry game against Clemson. Samuel made easy work of the talented Clemson Tigers secondary, as he caught 10 passes for 210 yards and trree electrifying scores.
He is the big play threat the Raiders offense needs, and could become an excellent sidekick to Derrick Carr. If the Raiders don’t go for a wideout look for a running back to be in play, as the running game has been inconsistent with Doug Martin leading the team in rushing with just 384 yards on the ground.
Pittsburgh’s defense hasn’t been the same since Ryan Shazier was injured, and filling his void hasn’t been easy for the Steelers front office. Finding another instinctive linebacker should be the Steelers first priority in the draft, and Mack Wilson fits the bill.
Alabama should be considered linebacker university at this point, as they have had a number of linebackers go on to be productive players in the NFL (although Reuben Foster has been a major character concern, there’s no denying his impact on the field).
Wilson can read the opposing offenses quickly, and has 57 tackles this season. He can also drop back and play the pass, evidenced by his six interceptions over the last two seasons.
Rushing the passer isn’t a problem for Pittsburgh, as TJ Watt and company lead the league in total sacks with 39, but adding Wilson into the mix could make them even more devastating.
James Connor has had fumbling issues but he seems to be the running back of the future, so don’t expect another replacement for Le’Veon Bell to be drafted at this spot.
New England currently sits a game behind Kansas City in the race for home field advantage, but they have the pieces on offense to close the season out strong. Sony Michel has been an excellent piece to the offense, and has become extremely versatile for Josh McDaniels gameplans.
The defensive side of the ball has seen a few moments of greatness, but not enough to put it all together for a strong playoff run.
Getting to the quarterback has been a major problem for the front seven, and while there isn’t much that can be done between now and the playoffs, the larger picture should see that problem addressed with the selection of Jachai Polite in next year’s draft.
He may be on the small side for the defensive line standing at 6-foot-2 242 pounds, so having him be a dominant edge rusher will more than likely be the move for Belichick and company. He has 11 sacks this year to go along with 43 tackles and five forced fumbles.
Polite would be the best move here and I don’t see the Patriots letting him slip by them (unless they trade down like they normally do).
The graphic and disturbing video of Kansas City Chiefs star running back Kareem Hunt assaulting a woman has made waves around the nation this weekend. Ultimately the Chiefs had no choice but to cut Hunt, receiving scrutiny on both sides of the spectrum for their decision.
However, we aren’t here to discuss whether they should have made this move sooner, only to figure out what they will do with their first pick. Finding Hunt’s replacement is the biggest need for the Chiefs on offense next offseason. Spencer Ware is a serviceable back, but he shouldn’t be counted on in the long run to be a feature back.
Bryce Love would instantly give the Chiefs offense a workhorse running back. He would have been a first round pick last season, and although he is having a down season by his standards, he is hands down the best running back in this draft class.
After rushing for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior, he has 739 yards and only six touchdowns this season, but is making more of an impact receiving the ball this with 18 catches.
If Kansas City doesn’t select Love they could go with defensive back help.
The L.A. Rams have been one of the darlings of the NFL this season, as their young coach and offensive core have taken the league by storm. With two losses to potential Super Bowl contenders, the Rams could still find themselves earning a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
The defensive line currently boasts Aaron Donald, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and pairing him with a dominant edge rusher could take this defense to new heights in 2019.
Zach Allen has been a force on the Boston College d-line for the last two seasons. After posting a 100 tackle campaign in 2017, he has followed it up with a 61 tackle, six-sack regular season.
The Rams are in the middle of the pack in terms of getting to the quarterback, so picking up Allen would be an excellent move by the front office. If they don’t go with a defensive lineman then look for them to target another wideout on the outside.
The Green Bay secondary has been very good this season, and the talent they have acquired in the last couple of drafts will allow them to focus on other parts of the defense heading into the next decade.
Chase Winovich may be a bit of a reach with the last pick of the first round, but he has the range and speed to make plays similar to A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews. He has been a playmaker on one of the best defenses in the country.
He finished the regular season with 52 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss and four sacks. Those numbers are down compared to last year but Winovich should still be able to help a defense ranked fourth in sacks but in the bottom third for rushing defense.
If Green Bay doesn’t elect to go with the stud out of Ann Arbor they could take a flyer on a capable tight end to pair with Jimmy Graham.