2019 NFL Draft: Finalized top 50 big board, positional rankings

Linebackers

1. (8) Devin Bush, Michigan

First round grade

Devin Bush is better than Devin White. It is the unpopular position, but while White may have run a faster 40, Bush tested all around better than White. Not to mention, Bush displays better gap discipline and ability to play against the run than White does as well.

While White may be better in pass coverage, Bush is adept himself in his ability to drop back into coverage. Bush is a heat-seeking missile who can fly from sideline-to-sideline and has the gritty, tough mentality to play linebacker at the next level.

2. (11) Devin White, LSU

First round grade

Ranking Bush above White is not a slight at the LSU linebacker in the slightest, as he too is a great player and a quality prospect. He is fast, strong and agile in this two-linebacker race. In fact, White is likely to be drafted higher than Bush on Thursday night and will likely ride his horse into the top 10.

A great linebacker in coverage, White is the mold of linebacker needed in today’s NFL who can stick with tight ends down the field and running backs out of the backfield.

3. (50) Blake Cashman, Minnesota

Third round grade

Blake Cashman burst onto the scene after the combine and made many go back, watch his tape and come to the realization that he is a really good football player. During his senior season at Minnesota, Cashman tallied 104 tackles, 15 of which came behind the line of scrimmage and defended five passes.

In Indianapolis, Cashman burned the track with his 4.51-second 40-yard dash and jumped out of Lucas Oil Stadium with a 37.5-inch vertical and over 10-foot broad jump. The cherry on top was his 3-cone drill, where he displayed great agility with a sub-seven-second time. Cashman is absolutely a top-50 player and gets a third round grade here.

4. (n/a) Mack Wilson, Alabama

Third round grade

Taking the opposite track than Cashman, Alabama’s Mack Wilson could see a big slide on draft day and earns himself a third round grade. While he performs well in pass coverage, Wilson lacks discipline and is often caught with his eyes in the backfield and overpursuing on plays. Wilson did not run at the combine after re-aggravating a pre-existing injury and managed to hit only an unimpressive 32 inches on his vertical jump and 9-9 on his broad jump.

At his pro day, Wilson did run his 40-yard dash, but at just an average time, hitting just 4.65 seconds. While a linebacker-needy team like the Los Angeles Chargers may reach and pick him in the first round, he is a much riskier prospect than originally thought.

5. (n/a) Bobby Okereke, Stanford

Fourth round grade

While the fifth linebacker on this big board was a heavily contested decision between Bobby Okereke, Notre Dame’s Drue Tranquill or Washington’s Ben Burr-Kirven, Okereke wins out in the end and earns a fourth round grade.

At 6-1 and 239 pounds, Okereke ran a sub-4.6-second 40-yard dash at the combine and showed good agility at his pro day by running a 7.08-second 3-cone drill and 4.21 short shuttle. During his senior season at Stanford, Okereke tallied 94 total tackles, seven and a half of which came behind the line of scrimmage, and three and a half sacks. He may not be a day-one starter, but could come in on run-heavy packages and mold into a quality starter in the NFL one day.