2019 NFL Draft: Matching top prospects with Marvel’s Avengers

Black Widow: Devin Bush Jr., LB, Michigan

Michigan linebacker Devin Bush has had a meteoric rise during draft season, largely due to his on-field production coupled with his outstanding combine performance (4.43-second 40-yard dash, 40.5-inch vertical, 124-inch broad jump, 6.93-second 3-cone). The diminutive enforcer at first glance might not be what one would picture as a prototypical NFL linebacker. The same holds true for Black Widow, who stands as one of the smaller and less likely additions to the Marvel superhero lineup. And then the action begins, and we see what both are capable of.

Working through her checkered past, Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) stands as one of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most deadly assassins and a key member of the Avengers. One of the original Avengers, Black Widow is set for a huge role in reversing the acts of Thanos during Infinity War.

Bush has worked through his own process of being undersold/undervalued. Now cemented almost certainly as a first-round prospect, the former Michigan linebacker has reversed the perception of him being “too small to play linebacker”.

The cliché “you can’t judge a book by its cover” may be too often overstated, but Black Widow and Devin Bush Jr. are living evidence and have constantly validated their value in this future battle. Bush’s tenacity, physicality and notable athleticism will be on display as apart of my personal Avengers Initiative.

Hawkeye: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

Hawkeye is set for an epic return to the Avengers in Endgame, ending his slight hiatus from the series. A master archer who demonstrates both brute power and precision when present, Hawkeye is a wildcard to be one of the bigger characters during the final Avengers installment. Like Hawkeye, former Missouri quarterback Drew Lock has had moments of brilliance on the field, that have had sporadic moments of absence from the action, or inconsistency in Lock’s case.

Lock has become a controversial prospect who has seen his draft stock slated all over the place, from top 10 to somewhere in the second to third round. Like Hawkeye’s role in Endgame, Lock’s career can go in a variety of directions. He could very well end up being the best quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft class. Just how impressive it is being at the top of that list is up in the air, but that will be answered very soon.

Widely considered a dud of a quarterback class, this year’s class may be a mirror of the 2011 NFL Draft where we saw duds such as Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker and Christian Ponder pushed up to the top of the class due to the constant need for quarterbacks in the NFL landscape. Perhaps even a bigger problem, this class doesn’t appear to have a Cam Newton to help soften the blow of mediocre second-tier signal callers.

Potential “bustdom” aside, Drew Lock stands firm as my Hawkeye in my battle to save the Universe, reversing the fortunes of Thanos’ snap. Also, both have some pretty doofy hair, but that is another conversation for another day.

The battle has been waged. The team has been selected. It’s time to march out my mighty Avengers team. We have entered the Endgame!