Round 7:
Project pick: Traded
Actual pick: Derwin Gray OT Maryland
Honestly, I was a little perplexed by this pick, unless we think Feiler is not the answer at RT. Let’s assume the five starters on the offensive line, from left to right are Villanueva, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro and Feiler. We generally carry eight offensive linemen. Finney is the primary backup at both guard and center. We drafted “Chuks” last year and Jerald Hawkins in 2016. Unfortunately for Hawkins, he has been oft-injured, so we really don’t know what he can bring to the table. Suffice to say, Gray will be battling it out with the aforementioned Hawkins, “Chuks” and, possibly, Zach Banner. Not to the “jinx” the young man, but last year’s seventh-round pick, Joshua Frazier, did not make the team and has reportedly retired from football.
So, let’s put a bow on this discussion. How did we perform? As was previously stipulated, all draft picks own a “TBD” status. What could it signal? Each year, every team, including us, is excited about the players who were drafted. Every team, including us, dives into OTA’s and into minicamp with euphoria about the potential its newest draft class might bring to the collective. The operative word here is potential.
The NFL draft offers no guarantees as to whether or not a player will cement a spot on the roster, will make an impact, will become a Pro Bowl player or will have a Hall of Fame career. What is guaranteed with our 2019 draft class is that each player will write his story as his journey to become an NFL player commences.