The 2018 College Football season is finally upon us, and with that, it is time we dive into the 2019 NFL Draft class. Scouts have been hyped about some of these players since before the 2018 NFL Draft even happened. Below we have ranked the top 25 draft prospects before the season begins to keep your eye on for the rest of the year.
#1. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Bosa has all the tools to be at least as good as his brother Joey was coming out of Ohio State a few years ago. He should be the number one pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. It’s as simple as that and teams shouldn’t overthink it. Bosa is a phenomenal athlete with a great build and has elite speed off the edge with a quick first step. He uses his hands very well with great quickness and keeps blockers at an arm’s length away. Bosa plays with great leverage, keeping his hips low, and strength, which makes him very valuable in the run game as well. He has a great arsenal of moves that allows him to rush around the edge or dive back inside and still get to the QB. Most importantly, Bosa has great instincts, dissecting a play quickly and putting him in the right spot to make a play. It’s hard to imagine him falling out of the top spot on my board all year.
#2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
If it wasn’t for Bosa, Ed Oliver would be an easy choice for the top pick in the 2019 Draft. Oliver is a big body with elite quickness, speed, and pass rushing ability. He combines that with strength and consistent good leverage, and he dominates against the run as well. Oliver is very versatile, and he can be placed anywhere on the line and succeed. He has good first step and great hand usage. Houston isn’t loaded with talent, so Oliver will be double teamed all year but will still make an impact; just don’t rely on box score scouting to evaluate him. Oliver is still raw and has great potential. Teams should be excited about him.
#3. Rashan Gary, DT, Michigan
Gary continues the trend of a loaded defensive line class. He is very athletic like Bosa and Oliver, and he combines that with intelligence, speed, and leverage. Gary knows how to use his body, showing great instincts along all spots on the line and routinely gets in the backfield. Gary is strong but can sometimes rely on strength instead of his hands, which puts him a step below Bosa and Oliver. Still, Gary could be the top defensive lineman in most other drafts.
#4. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
Switching over to the other side of the ball, Jonah Williams looks to be the best offensive lineman prospect since 2016. Williams has prototypical size for a left tackle in the NFL plus a rare combination of strength and athleticism. He is a tough kid who won’t get pushed around much due to his quick feet and great leverage. Williams tops it all off with great hands that latch onto defenders and don’t let them go. He projects well to the NFL as an instant starter with his current skill set and he still has this year to improve.
#5. Devin White, LB, LSU
Meet the 2019 version of Roquan Smith. White has sideline-to-sideline athleticism with good instincts and quick play recognition. White is also quick inside the box and is powerful enough to deal with just about any offensive lineman, but he needs to show more consistent block shedding and tackling. He is also good in pass coverage, but he needs to get better at recognizing routes. White has a ton of potential and he will be exciting to watch this year.
#6. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
Ferrell marks the first Clemson defensive lineman on my board for the 2019 Draft. It seems like everyone has been raving about this loaded Clemson defensive line for months already and we cannot wait to see it in action. Ferrell will lead this defensive line with a great tool set. He has a unique blend of size, strength, athleticism, and quickness. Ferrell seems to live in the backfield when watching him on tape and it is not hard to see why. He seems to do all the little things right, combining his physical gifts with great hands and leverage. Not to mention his great instincts, and Ferrell might be quickly climbing my big board as the season goes on. He has the potential to be an elite prospect. Take his stats this year with a grain of salt though, as offensive lines are not going to be able to pay him as much attention as Oliver or Bosa.
#7. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
My first skill player and first QB, Herbert surprised me with how much I liked his tape. I have been hearing for months now, even before the 2018 NFL Draft, that the 2019 crop of QB’s were nowhere near the 2018 group. But as I started watching his tape from the 2017 season, he fits right in with last year’s group. Herbert has great footwork in the pocket and puts a good zip on the ball with a strong arm. He has the athleticism to easily move out of the pocket while still looking down the field, and the ability to pick up yards with his legs. Herbert has some struggles with accuracy, especially down the field, which needs to improve this year. The biggest issue with Herbert is under pressure he seems to get antsy and rush his technique and throws. If he can work on those things his name will be called early in the 2019 Draft.
#8. A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
Brown is the top WR in this class by a pretty good margin. He has a big body, 6’1” and 225 pounds, with a lot of speed. That alone has teams excited. Brown can separate from defenders underneath and over the top due to his speed and burst. He is a good route runner with good hands and has great after-the-catch ability. Brown projects as a better receiver than anyone in last year’s draft and could lock himself into a top-10 pick.
#9. Trey Adams, OT, Washington
Adams could give Jonah Williams a run for his money as the top offensive lineman in this draft class. Adams is another do-it-all left tackle with great size, athleticism, strength, and intelligence. He shows great technique in both the passing game and run game, keeping his hips low and his feet moving in long strides. He has not shown the nastiness that Williams has, but he appears to be another can’t miss Day One starter at tackle in the NFL.
#10. Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
Another offensive lineman in a much-needed loaded class. Greg Little is a massive tackle who you do not want to mess with. He is a mean and powerful blocker who finishes blocks strong. Little might project better as a right tackle in the NFL, as he is a great run blocker but just a solid pass blocker. He is not the most athletic offensive lineman and he needs to work on his footwork in the passing game, but he will add some toughness to whichever team picks him come Spring.
#11. Andraez “Greedy” Williams, CB, LSU
This might be the most appropriate nickname anyone has ever been given. Greedy Williams is a flat-out ball hawk with a great nose for the ball. He shows great instincts paired with excellent burst and speed allowing him to stay with receivers and get to the ball. Williams has a bigger frame which is what NFL teams are searching for these days in corners. He has great technique and agility in coverage and flips his hips with ease while staying low. Williams is a top-notch CB prospect that will be a lot of fun to watch this year.
#12. Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn
Stidham is my number two QB this year behind Herbert simply because his flaws are more exaggerated, albeit similar. He has great footwork and athleticism, but therefore he tends to rely on his legs a little too much and doesn’t consistently step up in the pocket. He has a strong arm with pretty good accuracy, but a step below Herbert. Stidham will completely abandon technique when he feels pressure allowing the defense to make plays on poorly thrown balls. However, his flaws are limited and his potential is very high. A lot can, and will, happen this year and Stidham could be sitting atop this QB class in a few months’ time.
#13. Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
As usual, Alabama is loaded with potential NFL-level talent across the field. This year, they are led by DT Raekwon Davis. He is very athletic given his huge size and can get in the backfield in a hurry. Davis is an extremely strong player with great hands that can shove off blockers to make a tackle. However, poor leverage is the cause for his inconsistent ability to shed blocks and he will have to improve that to be an effective run defender in the NFL against much bigger guys.
#14. Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State
Jones pairs up with Nick Bosa to form a potentially dominant defensive line for the Buckeyes. Jones is a big body with a good amount of athleticism. Like Raekwon Davis, Jones is a better pass rusher than run stopper due to athleticism and speed, but poor leverage. The big knock on Jones is a slow get off on the snap which allows offensive linemen to get their hands on him before he can shove them away. Jones has some holes in his game, but he has great upside as a pass-rushing defensive tackle.
#15. Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
Baker projects very well to the NFL as a CB. He has great technique, flipping his hips and staying low, with great agility that allows him to stay close to receivers in small spaces. The biggest question on Baker is if he has the speed to stay with receivers downfield. He has great instincts most of the time, but occasionally he will seem several steps behind the offense. Overall, Baker should be a lock for the first round as long as he keeps questions about his speed at bay.
#16. Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson
Hyatt is under-sized for a LT and might project better as a RT or guard in the NFL. He is an intelligent player with great hand usage and good quickness and leverage. He has solid footwork but needs to eliminate the false steps he consistently has. Despite his size and footwork concerns, he is expected to be an instant starter in the NFL.
#17. Jaquan Johnson, S, Miami
Jaquan Johnson might be one of my favorite players in this draft class. He does not really have any holes in his game, he can do everything well. He has great instincts mixed with great athleticism that gives him the speed and burst to stay with receivers and the intelligence to meet the ball with the receiver. Johnson has a smaller than ideal frame but is not afraid to hit and help out in run support. He is currently far and away the best safety in a weak class and should be a first-round lock.
#18. David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s offensive line has been getting almost as much attention by NFL Scouts as Clemson’s defensive line. Edwards leads this group of projected NFL talent slightly ahead of Michael Deiter, even though he is the right tackle and Deiter is the left tackle. Edwards is a big and powerful run blocker who has great leverage and hand use. He also excels in the passing game with quick feet and surprising agility. This Wisconsin line is great, but expect Edwards to come out the best of the group.
#19. Michael Deiter, OG, Wisconsin
Deiter is currently the left tackle for Wisconsin but he does not possess the agility or quick feet to go up against speedy rushers or a lot of NFL defensive ends. Therefore, a move to guard once he hits the NFL is expected for him. Deiter has a big and powerful body which he couples with good leverage and use of his hands to make him a great run blocker. He will have to improve his pass blocking skills once he gets to the NFL even if he does move to guard, but he should still hear his name called on Day One.
#20. N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
Harry is an exciting wide receiver prospect due to his large frame, 6’4” and 216 pounds, and good speed. He is a solid route runner for his size but not very agile, which is leading many scouts to question his ability to separate at the next level. Most importantly, Harry makes spectacular catches and attacks the ball in the air. He won’t pass up AJ Brown, but he should remain as the second best receiver prospect in this class.
#21. Zach Allen, DE, Boston College
Big body with great power yet very athletic. You can’t lead off talking about Zach Allen without first mentioning his size yet strange athleticism. This makes him a very interesting defensive end prospect that could climb big boards throughout the season. Allen lacks the speed to get around the edge of NFL tackles, but he has good hips and technique and a good burst off the snap that give him the potential to improve. He needs to be more consistent with his hands, but he has good leverage. Allen is an intelligent player which should set him up to improve into a great defensive end for a long time in the NFL.
#22. Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
Alabama has yet another great linebacker prospect on its’ roster. Wilson has a ton of great tools that will translate to the NFL. He is a hard-hitter with speed, athleticism, agility, and a high IQ. He needs to work on his block shedding and he needs to wrap up better on tackles. Other than that, Wilson needs to remain healthy and stay on the field. He should still wind up in the first round.
#23. Joe Jackson, DE, Miami
Joe Jackson is a raw pass rusher who needs a bigger arsenal of pass rush moves. He has good speed, athleticism, and agility. Jackson is an intelligent player with great instincts. He has decent leverage and hands, but he needs to develop more of a shoulder dip when turning the corner on the edge. Miami’s defense is loaded with NFL level potential and Joe Jackson will lead the charge up front.
#24. Michael Jackson, CB, Miami
Rounding out the Miami players on my top 25 board is Michael Jackson. He doesn’t necessarily excel at any one thing, but he doesn’t have any real flaws either. Jackson has good instincts, speed, burst, agility, and technique. He could work on keeping his hips low when flipping them and becoming more consistent on recognizing routes. Jackson will be one of many stars on this Miami defense this year.
#25. Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Here comes the second Clemson defensive linemen. Lawrence is a very big and powerful defensive tackle. However, he is currently viewed more as a space-eater than a run stopper or pass rusher. Lawrence has the potential to be a Vita Vea, but he needs to consistently shed blockers and develop pass rush moves. His hips and leverage can be better as well, but Lawrence’s strength and big body still have me a believer he will be a top prospect all year.
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