2019 NFL Draft: Finalized top 50 big board, positional rankings
By Cory Kinnan
EDGE
1. (2) Nick Bosa, Ohio State
Top-10 grade
This year’s EDGE class is completely loaded as there are four prospects with top-10 grades. Leading all of them in this class is Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, who comes in as the second overall ranked prospect. It is a shame his season was cut short with a core injury, as it would have been wonderful to get a look at his production in 2018.
However, the film he does have flashes brilliance and elite technique off the edge. Not to mention, he tested better than his brother Joey, who went third overall in the 2016 draft. While Bosa is not as fast as the other pass rushers in this class, his strength, technique and use of hands remain unmatched.
2. (3) Josh Allen, Kentucky
Top-10 grade
No one player saw their draft stock skyrocket by making the decision to return to school for their senior year than Josh Allen. H was listed as a third-round target a year ago, but now looks like a top-five lock in the draft and receives a top-10 grade here.
How does 17.5 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss, and SEC Defensive Player of the Year sound for production? At the combine, Allen displayed elite burst and agility as well after measuring in at nearly 6-5 and 262 pounds. While Allen may not be as well rounded as Bosa, the edge is razor thin between the two.
3. (4) Brian Burns, Florida State
Top-10 grade
In potentially the biggest surprise on this big board, this writer is extremely high on Florida State pass rusher Brian Burns. If he were 15-20 pounds heavier, we would be talking about Burns as the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
However, at the combine, Burns put on about 15 pounds, weighing in at 249 at nearly 6-4 and still managed to test as an elite athlete, potentially the best athlete in the entire class. Burns ranked in the 97th percentile in both his 40-yard dash and broad jump, while eclipsing the 81st percentile or above with his vertical jump and 3-cone drill.
Burns is long, fast, explosive, agile and has an absolutely unbelievable bend on film. While he may slip out of the top 10 due to concerns about his size, Burns is an elite prospect and finds himself as the fourth best prospect on this big board.
4. (10) Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
First round grade
Speaking of good combines, nobody had a better one than Montez Sweat of Mississippi State. Sweat ranked in the 92nd percentile or above in the 40-yard dash and broad jump while testing in the 81st percentile or above with his vertical jump and 3-cone drill.
Sweat may have the most explosive first step of anyone in this class, but his film often shows a lack of moves once he gets controlled by a blocker. While some teams have taken Sweat off their boards due to a heart condition which arose at the combine, Sweat gets a first round grade and will still hear his name called in the first round Thursday night.
5. (20) Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
Early second round grade
Clelin Ferrell, for whatever reason, made the decision to skip a handful of tests at the combine, and it may have been the wrong move as guys like Sweat and Burns tested off the charts and leapfrogged him on the big board; the tests Ferrell did do, however, he tested as just average.
Measuring in at 6-4 and 264 pounds, Ferrell ran a 7.26-second 3-cone drill and posted 25 reps on the bench press. While Ferrell possesses some of the best moves off the line of scrimmage, he lacks a certain explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, which will work against him in the NFL and dropping him to an early second round grade.