NFL Draft 2019: Picks and Preview
All eyes will be on Tennessee come April 25th as the 2019 NFL Draft begins. The last few seasons have seen a rush on quarterbacks, with teams moving up to be sure to snag a signal caller. The lack of quality under center in the league is clear and teams have been very proactive to find solutions, especially when a QB on a rookie deal allows you to make serious investment in other positions.
It is a QB once again is expected to go first in 2019 with the Oklahoma Sooners star Kyler Murray a best price of -275 to be taken first. That price, for me, is far too short. He may have been linked with the Cardinals since new HC Kliff Kingsbury was appointed. Kingsbury, famously stated in 2018 that "Kyler is a freak...I would take him with the first pick in the draft if I could."
Fate has led him to be in charge of the Arizona Cardinals, holders of the first-round pick, with a number of journalists reporting that the team is looking to offload Josh Rosen, the talented sophomore who they drafted tenth overall last year.
Rosen is a talented player and the Cardinals failures last year were in spite of him, not because of him. I think the Kyler Murray talk is all a smokescreen and a move to push up the asking price of that number one pick. I don't think he'll go first and neither will fellow QB and third favorite Dwayne Haskins (+1600) who isn't polished enough to be taken first.
If you're concerned about all the insiders claiming that Murray will be taken first then don't be, 24 hours before last years draft the consensus first overall pick was going to be Sam Darnold. It's far too early to consider anybody a lock. Even more so when that player is far from a prototypical quarterback, something the NFL has been traditionally keen on.
There are two picks that offer value here for me.
Nick Bosa
Quarterback may be the most desired position in the game but in recent years there has been a huge premium put upon elite pass rushers. Nick Bosa is the best available in this draft. He was pegged as the first pick in the 2019 draft as early as 2017 and as far as I can see there is no need to change now.
He's more talented than his brother, the Chargers' Joey Bosa, he offers dynamism that would immediately improve any defensive front in the entire league. I'm certain he'll go first overall, unless the Cardinals can convince somebody to pay big in order to move up and grab a QB. At +250 he is well worth the gamble.
Back Nick Bosa now
Quinnen Williams
If I was a general manager in the NFL I'd be looking at the LA Rams, and defenses across the league, and finding out what makes them special. Pass rushers are known to be the QB's of the defense but I'd argue that in the last 12-24 months the role of defensive tackles has become more important.
Aaron Donald has been the best defensive player in the league for some time and having an athlete who can dominate the middle of the field is key, especially when that player can still cause havoc even when taking up two blockers.
Quinnen Williams is a freak. The Alabama staar stands 6'4 high, weights just under 300lbs and has the explosion and hand skills to become one of the best players in the entire league, and the cornerstone of a team for the next decade. I think that he's arguably the best player in this draft and at +8000 he offers a value price should a QB not get taken first.
Back Quinnen Williams now