2019 NFL Draft tracker: Instant grades, analysis for every first-round pick

Tracking every first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and handing out instant grades and analysis for all 32 selections on Thursday night.

Questions have been plentiful heading into the 2019 NFL Draft. Will the Arizona Cardinals actually take Kyler Murray with the first-overall pick one year after trading up for Josh Rosen? Could the top four quarterbacks go in the first 10 selections? Do the Oakland Raiders have more madness to unleash upon the NFL world? This is just a sampling of what’s been asked leading up to this.

What’s certain, though, is that the 2019 NFL Draft has arrived as the event gets underway in Nashville on Thursday night. And with the first round, the initial 32 picks of the draft, the stakes are always tremendously high. Hit on a first-rounder and a team’s fortunes can change. Whiff badly with a first-round pick, and a general manager might find himself looking for a new job sooner rather than later.

It’s always a near impossible task to fully evaluate draft picks right out of the gate. After all, everything at this point is just projection based on the player’s tape, testing and fit with the team that selects them. We won’t know anything for sure until these players get out on an NFL field and play games.

Having said that, we have our pre-draft assessments for the players and teams involved, so we’re going to evaluate them all, handing out instant reactions in the form of grades for every first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

First Round: Instant Grades and Analysis

Despite the size concerns and the need for some polish, the Arizona Cardinals are hitting the reset button in a highly effective manner by taking Murray with the first-overall pick. He’s a dynamic playmaker with elite athleticism that, just by himself, gives Kliff Kingsbury a weapon to deploy and mold in his image. If it weren’t for taking Josh Rosen (after trading up) last year, this would be an A or A-. But that’s enough to knock it down a bit.

Grade: B

Granted, John Lynch and the San Francisco 49ers got a gift from the Cardinals as they took Murray, but this is a dream for the Niners. Nick Bosa is an elite edge rusher with top-tier pass-rush skills and great run-stopping play off the edge, something San Francisco lacks right now up front. With Bosa, they now look like a mean defensive group that can make a big impact. Home run for San Fran.

Grade: A+

The New York Jets were unable to find a trade partner for the No. 3 overall pick, but their consolation prize is an elite player. Gang Green may well be getting the best player in the 2019 NFL Draft class with this selection as Quinnen Williams is an absolute monster. Do the Jets have a dire need at defensive tackle? No. Are they better with Williams? Absolutely, so this is a win.

Grade: A

We all wondered if the Oakland Raiders would do something crazy — and they went out and di something crazy. Clelin Ferell is a player that I like a lot, but oh my…this is bad. Taking Ferrell is a monumental reach for the Raiders. My money is that he’s going to be a good NFL player, but this is just an awful decision by Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock to take him over guys like Ed Oliver, Josh Allen and Brian Burns, among others.

Grade: C-

Devin White is the best linebacker in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a need at linebacker. Thus, it makes sense that the Bucs would go after an elite player in a class with not a lot of depth at the position. Having said that, this was a reach as White is not a top-10 player, much less at a top-five guy. The value just isn’t there to give this anything better than a B.

Grade: B

We heard the New York Giants liked Daniel Jones, the fourth-best quarterback in the class and a Day 3 pick in my book, a lot. That turned out to be true. Woof. If only they’d had a chance at someone like Sam Darnold or Josh Allen last year…

Grade: F

The Jacksonville Jaguars have plenty of needs after they fell off a cliff last offseason, and perhaps the biggest was not grabbing an edge rusher. However, Josh Allen was clearly one of the two best players available when the seventh-overall pick came up, so they took him. Because they had other needs, I can’t give them a full “A” grade, but they get clear passing marks for the selection.

Grade: B

Taking T.J. Hockenson here is a more than fine move for the Detroit Lions. He’s a fantastic tight end that can do everything on the field from Day 1, but can get even better as he gets NFL coaching. He has a tremendous ceiling and should be great for the Lions offense. However, Detroit gets knocked slightly simply because Ed Oliver and Brian Burns, both of whom would fit well and are better overall players, are still available.

Grade: B+

Talk about a win for the Buffalo Bills. They needed a game-changing pass-rusher at defensive tackle and, according to reports, were willing to trade up to get him. However, they stood pat at No. 9 and they got Ed Oliver, who is a physical freak and force in the middle of a defensive line. He has star-caliber potential and Oliver is a steal for the Bills at this spot.

Grade: A

TRADE: Steelers trade picks No. 20 and 52 and 2020 third-round pick to Broncos for No. 10

I fully understand having to trade up to get Devin Bush, especially given how dire the need at linebacker is for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wake of the Ryan Shazier injury. However, giving up their second-rounder and a future mid-round pick is a tough way to go about it. Even still, they have to be happy with this pick as they have a flying force in the middle of the defense now, something they sorely needed. (Might have to dock the grade a bit for Bush’s wardrobe, though.)

Grade: B

Quite frankly, the Cincinnati Bengals would’ve loved to have a linebacker to beef up their defense. Having said that, this is a team that has a ton of needs and pretty bad overall roster to work with. Thus, taking a long-term answer at offensive tackle in Jonah Williams is a great move. Williams is a polished prospect that has the ability to start from Day 1 and pave the way for Joe Mixon, then improve as a pass-blocker moving forward. Great move for the Bengals.

Grade: A

While there are concerns about Rashan Gary’s torn labrum that was recently discovered, you have to like what he brings to the Green Bay Packers. He can be a rush linebacker, but also has the size and athleticism to slot down on the defensive line and make it happen. He’s a fantastically athletic ball of clay that needs to be molded by NFL coaching and Green Bay is a great environment to make that happen.

Grade: B+

The Miami Dolphins are not trying to win in the 2019 NFL season, and this pick confirms their eyes for the 2020 draft and that quarterback class. However, this is a solid pick for this team to start laying a good foundation on the defensive side of the ball. Wilkins isn’t an otherworldly athlete, but he’s a reliable and consistent force up front, in addition to being a guy that you want to grow into a leader for your defense. Given the long-term plan of Miami, this is a great pick.

Grade: A-

Chris Lindstrom is going to be a good player at a position of need for the Atlanta Falcons. The problem, however, with him is that he’s not the best interior offensive lineman in this class. Garrett Bradbury and Erik McCoy are superior players at the position, which is why it’s shocking to see the Boston College product here. I don’t hate it, but I definitely don’t like it either for the Falcons.

Grade: C+

What you have to like about the Washington Redskins getting Dwayne Haskins with the 15th-overall pick is that they didn’t have to trade up and mortgage draft capital to make it happen. And what you also have to like about Haskins is that he’s not Case Keenum. With that said, Haskins isn’t pro-ready as he comes into the league and is going to need grooming before he’s ready to take over Jay Gruden’s offense.

Grade: B+

Full disclosure, Brian Burns is a top-five player for me in this class, so for the Carolina Panthers to be able to get him with the No. 16 pick, you have to like what the team is doing here. Burns is an absolutely explosive pass-rusher, perhaps the best pure rusher in the entire 2019 NFL Draft class. The Panthers need a player of that ilk on their defense for the future and they get it with Burns. Great value, great player, great pick.

Grade: A

Someone stop Dave Gettleman from doing whatever it is he’s doing. He traded Odell Beckham Jr. to draft a Christian Ponder clone and a run-stopper with a pair of first-round picks. At least Dexter Lawrence does that well? It’s all about silver linings at this point.

Grade: D

The Minnesota Vikings decided that maybe Kirk Cousins, who is not a mobile guy, running for his life wasn’t a great idea for the future. As such, they drafted the best interior offensive lineman in the class in Garrett Bradbury. This was a predictable move, but only because the great player and need were so obvious, which makes it a good call by them.

Grade: A

Jeffery Simmons would’ve been off the board some 15 picks earlier (give or take) had he not torn his ACL working out this offseason. However, with defensive tackle prospects flying off the board and with the Tennessee Titans not wanting to reach for a receiver, they took a chance on a potential redshirt year from Simmons. It’s a great move for a strong defense that will only get stronger when they get to add Simmons to the mix down the line.

Grade: A-

Noah Fant is likely going to be a great player for the Denver Broncos, espeically with Joe Flacco at the helm, a quarterback that loves his tight ends. The Iowa product should be able to come in and be an athletic receiving threat. However, this pick gets knocked slightly in terms of the grade just because other needs where there are good players available still were ignored to take Fant.

Grade: B-

TRADE: Packers trade up to No. 21 with Seahawks for No. 30, two 2019 fourth-round picks

I really like Darnell Savage as a player. He’s a tremendous player that can make plays in the secondary as he’ll be paired with Adrian Amos on the back end of the defense. However, the thing that’s tough to swallow is that they traded up for a player that was likely a second-round caliber player. So while I like the fit and what he brings, the value and move up just isn’t great for the Packers.

Grade: C+

TRADE: Eagles trade up to No. 22 with Ravens for No. 25, 2019 fourth-round pick and 2019 sixth-round pick

While some thought defensive back might be the move, the Eagles traded up and addressed a sneaky need on the offensive line. Andre Dillard will be great in protecting Carson Wentz in the passing game, which is what they need with an aging offensive line that has been banged up in recent years. The move up to snag him ahead of Houston is smart, which you have to like to address the need.

Grade: B+

The Houston Texans need immediate help on the offensive line to protect Deshaun Watson. So, naturally, they took a project tackle in Tytus Howard. This is an incredibly baffling selection by the Texans at this spot. Take Howard in Round 3 as a project, but to not take a Day 1 offensive line contributor with No. 23 is a disservice to their star quarterback.

Grade: F

Most people saw the Josh Jacobs pick coming for the Oakland Raiders from a mile away. With the retirment of Marshawn Lynch, it seemed all too obvious that they would take the best running back in the class with one of their first-rounders, and that’s what they did. While you can argue the merits of taking a running back in the first round, he’ll have an immediate impact on the offense in Oakland.

Grade: B

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is an absolute game-breaker at the wide receiver position and makes a ton of sense for the Baltimore Ravens. As they hand the keys of the offense to Lamar Jackson, he needs weapons to throw to and Brown is a dynamic one that can break off big plays at will with shiftiness and speed. He’s a gret pick after trading down, which you have to like for this team.

Grade: A-

TRADE: Washington trades up to No. 26 with Colts (Details forthcoming)

Trading up as far as the Washington Redskins did for this pick is what keeps it from being an “A” grade, but this is a great pickup in terms of the player. Ryan Kerrigan is great for Washington, but they need help opposite him as a rusher. Montez Sweat, a freak athlete who has some good tape and good reps at the Senior Bowl, can be that guy and can really make an impact for this defense right away.

Grade: B+

This is probably colored by the fact that I don’t like Johnathan Abram’s fit in the modern NFL as a hard-hitting safety, but this is not a great pick for the Oakland Raiders here. He’s a player that is a liability in coverage at times and will likely make splash plays, but not have a significant, consistent impact on the defense. That’s not great after reaching for Ferrell at No. 4.

Grade: C

Jerry Tillery has the ability to come in and contribute right away for the Los Angeles Chargers, who are hurting at the defensive tackle spot. More importantly, though, he has the chance to develop into a star at the position with phenomenal flashes on tape to go with great athletic testing. This is great value for the Bolts at a position of need.

Grade: A

Last year, the Seahawks reached on a mid-round running back in Rashaad Penny when they took him in the first round. This year, they did the same with an edge rusher. L.J. Collier is not a bad player, but he is quite pedestrian and should not have sniffed the first round at all. Bad call by the Seahawks here.

Grade: F

TRADE: Giants trade up to No. 30 with Seahawks (Details forthcoming)

Deandre Baker is a good player and the New York Giants needed a cornerback, so they traded up to the 30th pick for a third first-round selection to grab him. Given the rest of their draft to this point, this pick looks like an absolute gem. However, it’s still not the best that they could’ve done, which is why they don’t get top marks. We aren’t grading on a curve here.

Grade: B-

TRADE: Falcons trade up to No. 31 with Rams (Details forthcoming)

The Atlanta Falcons clearly made offensive line their top priority after taking Chris Lindstrom earlier and now trading back into the first round to take Kaleb McGary. The Washington product is a good player that should be an upgrade over Ty Sambrailo, but the grade dips a little bit as Cody Ford and Jawaan Taylor are better players that remained on the board when the pick was made.

Grade: B-

When you look at the character that N’Keal Harry has and the player that he is, this makes too much sense. With Rob Gronkowski retiring, they need to get Tom Brady weapons and they do so with a guy that will fit right into the Patriot way. The New England Patriots end the first round with a great playmaker that does everything well and should contribute right away for this offense.

Grade: A

The NFL Draft always has the chance to change the fortunes of a franchise, for better or worse. That hasn’t changed in 2019 as, with not much of a consensus as to how things will fall, a wild draft night could really change the landscape of the league.