NFL Mock Draft 2019: Prospects Who Will Shape Complexion of 1st Round
February 5, 2019
With the 2018 NFL season over, football fans will begin to shift their focus to the 2019 NFL draft.
The New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, finalizing the order for this year's draft. Every team has needs to address during the draft in April, even those that are coming off successful seasons. While people can predict what will happen in the draft, there are always trades and surprises that can shake things up on draft night.
Below is a look at how the first round could potentially unfold as well as which key prospects could affect the direction that the first day goes.
NFL Mock Draft, First Round
1. Arizona Cardinals: Nick Bosa, Edge, Ohio State
2. San Francisco 49ers: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
3. New York Jets: Josh Allen, Edge, Kentucky
4. Oakland Raiders: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
6. New York Giants: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
8. Detroit Lions: Clelin Ferrell, Edge, Clemson
9. Buffalo Bills: Rashan Gary, Edge, Michigan
10. Denver Broncos: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
11. Cincinnati Bengals: Devin White, LB, LSU
12. Green Bay Packers: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
13. Miami Dolphins: Brian Burns, Edge, Florida State
14. Atlanta Falcons: Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
15. Washington Redskins: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
16. Carolina Panthers: Montez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi State
17. Cleveland Browns: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
18. Minnesota Vikings: Yodny Cajuste, OT, West Virginia
19. Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
21. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
22. Baltimore Ravens: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
23. Houston Texans: Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas State
24. Oakland Raiders (from Chicago): Jachai Polite, Edge, Florida
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
26. Indianapolis Colts: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
27. Oakland Raiders (from Dallas): Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
30. Green Bay Packers (from New Orleans): N'Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
31. Los Angeles Rams: Jaylon Ferguson, Edge, Louisiana Tech
32. New England Patriots: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
The early part of the first round may be dominated by defensive players, but it could be the top tier of quarterbacks that most affect how the rest of the round unfolds.
Last year, four quarterbacks were selected in the top 10 picks, which included Baker Mayfield going to the Cleveland Browns at No. 1 and Sam Darnold going to the New York Jets at No. 3. This year, it's less likely that any quarterbacks will go in the top five.
The New York Giants could be the first team to draft a quarterback, as they'll be looking for a player who can eventually take over for the 38-year-old Eli Manning. Many mock drafts consider Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins as the top quarterback in the class, and that could be whom the Giants select at No. 6.
After that, there will likely be more uncertainty surrounding the available quarterbacks and the teams that could select them.
Oklahoma's Kyler Murray, Missouri's Drew Lock and Duke's Daniel Jones are three quarterbacks who could be selected in the first round. Each of them has different styles and strengths that they would bring to their new teams.
Of course, Murray may not even play in the NFL. He was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft, and he still hasn't made a final decision on which sport he will play to begin his professional career.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins are among the teams picking in the top 15 that could be looking to draft a quarterback. The first two have had recent quarterback issues, while the latter may need one to replace Alex Smith, who broke his leg in Week 11 this past season.
Depending on where those quarterbacks are drafted—and what that trio of teams decides to do with its early selections—the rest of the first round could take many different looks. There are plenty of teams in the middle of the round that have numerous holes to fill, and it could come down to which top players are still on the board when it's time to pick.