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NFL Draft 2019: 5 Most challenging positions to evaluate

By Shelbie Warr

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Deionte Thompson #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide breaks the pass intended for Carson Meier #45 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Deionte Thompson #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide breaks the pass intended for Carson Meier #45 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

1. Defensive End

This may just be the hardest position to evaluate as players prepare to move from the college ranks to the NFL and one of the most important spots to fill on an NFL roster. Just look at some of the higher paid players in the NFL- JJ Watt, Demarcus Lawrence, Melvin Ingram… those guys have earned their money and earned their spot in NFL folklore if you will.

So let’s look at the edge rushers in the draft right now. You have big names like Nick Bosa, Clelin Ferrell, Montez Sweat and Austin Bryant just to name a few. These guys have to make the move to the NFL and with that- the move to bigger bodies to sack and more experienced quarterbacks to sack. Without in pads drills against players that have already been there and done that, how are NFL scouts supposed to evaluate who is going to make that jump?

Not every guy that comes out of the NCAA ranks is going to be Myles Garrett and Joey Bosa– ready to take down anyone and everyone from their outside rush positions. It just isn’t going to happen. At this point, the guys in the NFL Draft are looking to grow on the bench and hope that they can prove that they deserve a berth into playing time in 2019.

Next. NFL Draft: Projected first round entering NFL Combine. dark

Simply put though, evaluating how successful a rookie edge rusher is going to be against older and more experienced offensive tackles and guards is one of the hardest jobs for an NFL scout. If any is harder, it is the secondary, but this unit may just take that cake. It is almost a completely different position from college to NFL and that has to be taken into account in this as well. This has to be the best all around athlete on the field and finding that is hard for any scout for sure.

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