The 2019 NFL Draft is beginning to see movement as college football’s best are making noise midseason.
1. Oakland Raiders: Nick Bosa, DE Ohio State
The Oakland Raiders have gone into rebuild mode after trading away both Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. It is important that the team finds the next cornerstone of their defense and their edge rusher of the future. The team needs work on the offensive line and every passing week makes me consider a quarterback even more for the team, but Bosa is simply too talented to pass up for a team that is almost completely devoid of talent on the defensive side of the ball. He likely won’t ever be Mack, but Bosa is the type of player that could become the defensive foundation piece the Raiders desperately need.
2. Buffalo Bills: Ed Oliver, DL Houston
The Buffalo Bills are not going to be very good until their quarterback play improves. They think they have their quarterback of the future on the roster in Josh Allen which allows the team to take the best player available. Ed Oliver might be the best player in this draft class and could be a force on a team that could use all the talent it can get. The Bills defense has not been the issue this season that the offense has been but a team that has it’s franchise quarterback can afford to take the best player available.
3. New York Giants: Justin Herbert, QB Oregon
As this season has progressed Justin Herbert has become the consensus top quarterback in the 2019 NFL draft class. He has prototypical size and arm strength. He can play in the pocket or get out and move and make plays off schedule. The Giants offense has not been as effective as the organization hoped this season, but Herbert would enter an ideal situation with a dynamic young running back to carry the load and plenty of weapons in the passing game including one of the best receivers in the league.
4. San Francisco 49ers: “Greedy” Williams, CB LSU
The 49ers could use a top-flight wide receiver for Jimmy Garoppolo but I don’t think there is one worth a top five pick in this draft which could lead to the team looking at the best player available. There are still some very talented defensive lineman on the board here, but LSU cornerback “Greedy” Williams makes more sense for the 49ers. Richard Sherman is still a great player but he isn’t getting any younger and his contract isn’t cheap. Williams would be a future star in San Francisco that wouldn’t be forced to do too much in his first season in the NFL.