2019 NFL Mock Draft Round 1
Selections 17-32

After a stunning pick at six, the Giants raise some more eyebrows with the selection of Dexter Lawrence at seventeen. I have to imagine NYG was hoping Brian Burns fell to them here considering the lackluster pass rush, but it was not meant to be. Instead, the Giants land a mountain of a man to help anchor DC James Bettcher's 3-4 defense. Dexter Lawrence compares favorably to Damon "Snacks" Harrison that was shipped out by Gettleman in 2018. Lawrence is a MASSIVE human that will help out a bealeagured Giants' D.

Grade: C

I've had Garrett Bradbury to the Vikings virtually every CMD since the Senior Bowl, so this is not a shocking pick by any means. It was extremely evident that the Vikings were looking this direction since then, and this pick is one of the worst-kept secrets of the draft. Even though Speilman and company kept their lips tightly sealed, the suspicion all along was the Bradbury was the apple of their eye. Big props to Joe Marino at The Draft Network for being the first guy I saw to shout this one out, sometime around Day 2 of the Senior Bowl. At the end of the day, this was the smartest pick for the Vikings and it improves two positions for the price of one. Bradbury will be the starting Center, shifting Pat Elflein to Left Guard, which should bring out the best in him.

Grade: A

Tennessee likely had multiple targets, including all three Clemson D-Linemen, along the defensive front. The team took a step back in stopping the run from 2017 to 2018. While Simmons will eventually solve this issue, it's not an immediate fix, as Simmons is still recovering from a torn ACL and will not be available at the start of the season.

Simmons is a penetrator (17.0 TFL in 2018) who was projected as a Top-15 pick before his injury. He does have a troubling altercation on his record, but Jon Robinson and Mike Vrabel feel comfortable that he's grown from his mistake while still in high school.

Grade: A

Well the Mile-High Faithful can't rap John Elway for another terrible quarterback pick if he doesn't make one, right? I am baffled that they passed on a quarterback, considering all the time they spent doing their homework on this class. Still, Denver also made it clear they wanted a tight end, and they got a good one. Fant is a rare talent as a receiver, and more advanced as a blocker than most college prospects. I like Fant, but if Haskins and Lock turn out to be stars, Elway missed again. ~Austin Smith, Senior DraftTek Analyst

Grade: B+

GM Brian Gutekunst pulls off a trade with old pal John Schneider and adds an athletic FS in Maryland's Darnell Savage. Savage is a bit of a reach on our Board, but some other experts had him ranked at or near this range. Savage has tremendous athletic traits with a 4.36 forty, 39.5" vertical, and 7.03 three-cone. Savage excels in coverage with 8 INTs, 13 PDs, and no TDs allowed in the past two years when he was the primary coverage defender. Savage fills the biggest need on the Packers' roster, and adding him and Rashan Gary adds a lot of juice and big-play potential to the Packers' D.

Grade: B

The long wait is over, Eagles fans: OT Andre Dillard is our man. I've been saying for a year that LT was, in many of ways, our TOP long-term need. If you think the next 10 years of Eagles' history hinges on the success of Carson Wentz like I do, then you know his blind side protector is the second-most-important position on the team.

Many said: "There's not enough room for another O-Tackle!". IMO, you don't worry about numbers at the QB, LOT, or DE positions...you need to make sure you have stars there. Dillard is the best pure pass protector in the draft. With Peters on the payroll for one more year, Dillard will have time to get stronger, and learn from a HOFer who's willing to coach up new guys. "Hollywood" Brown = biggest Howie Roseman smokescreen ever. HA HA @ Houston for settling for Tytus Howard one pick later.

- Broz, Eagles Analyst

Grade: A

A former high school QB and basketball player, Tytus Howard gained scouts attention with a dominating performance against Auburn last season. The small-school lineman further impressed at the Senior Bowl. Howard has long arms (34") and a powerful punch off the snap. He is very raw, but he has great size and is mobile. Played a little timid in some games. He's a bit of a reach with Jawaan Taylor, Cody Ford and Greg Little still on the board.

Grade: C-

As the draft process played out, Josh Jacobs separated himself from the pack at the running back position and rose up the board, despite being the #2 ball carrier at Alabama. There is very little wear on the tires for this complete and physical back who dramatically elevates the perception of this rebuilt offense. After months of being dogged with rumors about being replaced with a RD1 draft pick, Derek Carr has to reflect on this offseason with an incredibly big smile on his face after adding Antonio Brown, Trent Brown, Tyrell Williams, and, now Josh Jacobs.

I've written extensively --as Jacobs sporatically was our pick here-- that an elite running back could do more to improve the win total that just about anybody. The concern I have is whether RB was worth a first round pick given the other needs. While I like Jacobs, it's hard not to think that Oakland could have taken Oliver at #4 and taken Sweat (or possibly even Ferrell) here at #24. With the #27 selection just a few picks away, will the Raiders give Carr another weapon, another protector, or some help via defense? A trade-back wouldn't shock me, either.

On this pick, though, the Raiders got undoubtedly better, but I can't fully be in love given my aversion to taking a RB this early unless they are in the Elliot/Barkley/Gurley category. Jacobs is likely a top 10 RB in the league, but I'm not sure he's at that next level.

Grade: B+

After trading back, Baltimore takes the speedster from Oklahoma. Marquise "Hollywood" Brown joins the Ravens' offense as the go-to guy for Lamar Jackson. Brown can take the top off of a defense. Brown gives Baltimore a number-one guy who can not only provide a quick screen game, but also a true deep threat. The Ravens have to bring in a game-changing receiver, and they did just that while also adding additional picks.

Grade:A+

So...I wanted the Redskins to take Montez Sweat with their pick at #15. They didn't. Still, Haskins was a solid, and needed, pick. The other position this team needed was EDGE, and to only give up their second this year and next is an absolute steal. You have to hope (for his sake and for the Redskins') that his heart condition won't affect him in his football career, or more importantly, his life. If he can have a full career, Montez Sweat is the new Mississippi St. EDGE rusher opposite Ryan Kerrigan in Washington.

Grade: A

- Kennedy Paynter, Draft Analyst (@Kennedy_Paynter on Twitter)

I like Johnathan Abram as a prospect. I really do. But, this pick juxtaposed with a Free Agency that included re-signing Erik Harris and adding LaMarcus Joyner (really a Nickel), Jordan Richards, and Curtis Riley is a bit odd. The light bulb seemed to go on late last season for Karl Joseph, and it looked like the coaching staff was warming up to the former #14-overall selection. It's unclear if the Raiders envision a Joseph-Abram pairing, or if the Mississippi State product is supplanting the former Reggie McKenzie selection.

Now, Abram is a heat-seaking missile and adds to the new, more physical tone the Raiders hope to set with their defense. His 4.45 run at the Combine is backed by film where he flies around and makes plays. All 3 picks today add a certain physicality, character, and love of the game that Gruden and Mayock have both stated they desire, and all three are winners who should be welcome additions to the locker room. Moreover, given the buzz around the Raiders and Darnell Savage before the draft, it shouldn't be surprising that the Raiders thought a similar player was a need. Still, this is a bit of a reach on our board, and not a major need.

Grade: B-

Jerry Tillery brings lots of things to the Chargers' defense: size, athleticism, smarts. Tillery was a leader in Notre Dame's run to the College Football Playoffs and at times he just blew up the game. The question mark is if he brings it all the time and adds to the Bolts' 5-year run of having a draft pick make the Pro Bowl, or if he takes plays off and becomes just another financial wizard playing in the trenches.

Playing on a high-end Super Bowl contender with beasts like Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram should steer the young man toward the high-achieving end of the scale. And while the Chargers didn't come into the draft with gaping needs, stoutness up the middle is a high priority which has been addressed.

Grade: A-

Seattle entered the week with just four total picks in the Draft. Schneider was able to up that number to nine by trading Frank Clark for #29 and turning #21 into four extra selections. That alone is a big win as more picks mean more chances for impact players.

There's a lot of talk that Collier was a reach but this has been Seattle's MO for several years; trade back and then draft the player they value that's left. The defensive line needs help and Collier is a pseudo-hybrid that can play multiple positions up front. He's a solid potential replacement for Clark and was the highest graded DL left that Seattle had either met with or visited - typically a pre-requisite for a Seahawk selection. Grade: B+

~Jeff Chapman, Seahawks Analyst

Deandre Baker was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded cornerback in 2018. His selection over CB's Byron Murphy and Greedy Williams is a bit of a surprise, yet the Bulldog pass defender executed his duties against the biggest and best WRs in college football very well. He is versatile and fast enough to play press coverage and has a nose for finding the football.

Baker's expertise is man coverage. He plays with aggression, forces receivers off of their routes and disrupts their timing. He played four years at Georgia, compiling 116 tackles, 23 PDs, two forced fumbles, and seven INTs. He is a good fit for a secondary which gave up over 4000 passing yards in 2018.

Grade: B+

Atlanta traded their second day of the draft to finish revamping their offensive line. The cost was very high, but they clearly felt that they couldn't wait to see if McGary would fall to pick 45. By adding both Lindstrom and McGary, the right side of the offensive line - which was admittedly a dumpster fire - now has the potential to be a real strength for the next five years. He needs polish as a pass protector, but the Falcons have demonstrated a clear desire to run the ball, and it is there that McGary truly excels. He will need to beat out Ty Sambrailo, but that really shouldn't be that hard. Here's a nice scouting report on what he can bring to Atlanta. Grade: Player A-, trade cost: B

There you have it. The New England Patriots prioritized the receiver position enough to spend a first round pick on it. The last time New England took a receiver in the first round was 1996 when they selected Terry Glenn.

N'Keal Harry is a big bodied receiver, standing almost 6'3" and weighing 228lbs. He is a 50/50 ball specialist that brings an element to this offense the Patriots don't have with all of their smaller slot receivers. Harry finished 2018 with 1,088 yards and 9 touchdowns. His 33-inch arms and 38.5 inch vertical provides Tom Brady with a massive catch radius.

-Jonathan Rosenberg