2019 NFL Draft pre combine prospect rankings

Just in case you haven’t noticed, the Cardinals are currently slotted with the first pick, and they have many, many needs. So, I started a position by position breakdown. Let’s get it started.

Quarterback:

1. Dwayne Haskins - Ohio State
2. Kyler Murray - Oklahoma
3. Drew Lock - Missouri
4. Daniel Jones - Duke
5. Will Grier - West Virginia
6. Nick Fitzgerald - Mississippi State
7. Ryan Finley - North Carolina State
8. Jarrett Stidham - Auburn
9. Trace McSorley - Penn State
10. Clayton Thorson - Northwestern

Haskins vs Murray vs Lock, that’s what I think it will be going into draft season. Each have the ability to be drafted in the first 15 picks. Daniel Jones is my wildcard for someone in the 20s, he’s tall with a really strong arm.

Running Back:

1. Josh Jacobs - Alabama
2. Darrell Henderson - Memphis
3. Damien Harris - Alabama
4. Mike Weber - Ohio State
5. Benny Snell Jr. - Kentucky
6. Justice Hill - Oklahoma State
7. Trayveon Williams - Texas A&M
8. Rodney Anderson - Oklahoma
9. Devin Singletary - Florida Atlantic
10. Miles Sanders - Penn State

The only round one prospect is Josh Jacobs in my opinion. It’s still a deep draft for a running back, a lot of different types, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get a guy who fits your scheme.

Wide Receiver:

1. N’Keal Harry - Arizona State
2. D.K. Metcalf - Ole Miss
3. A.J. Brown - Ole Miss
4. Kelvin Harmon - North Carolina State
5. Marquise Brown - Oklahoma
6. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside - Stanford
7. Riley Ridley - Georgia
8. Parris Campbell - Ohio State
9. Greg Dortch - Wake Forest
10. David Sills V - West Virginia

There will be a lot of good receivers in this draft, so if the Cardinals want one, hold your breath and it could happen. Harry and Metcalf should be top-15 picks, they both are big physical receivers. A.J. Brown I’m assuming is the guy you’d trade up for if he’s available at 26 or 27, he’s a very solid route runner with supremely gifted hands. Kelvin Harmon and Marquise Brown could go in the first-round if there is a run on receiver, but the Cardinals stay put, who says they aren’t there?

Tight End:

1. Noah Fant - Iowa
2. Irvin Smith Jr. - Alabama
3. T.J. Hockenson - Iowa
4. Alize Mack - Notre Dame
5. Caleb Wilson - UCLA
6. Zach Gentry - Michigan
7. Josh Oliver - San Jose State
8. Isaac Nauta - Georgia
9. Kendall Blanton - Missouri
10. Dawson Knox - Ole Miss

I like the tight end group, the Cardinals could be in prime position for anyone beyond Hockenson, as Fant, Irv Smith, and Hockenson seem like good targets in the first round. It’s a very deep tight end group this year, other than those I’ve mentioned, watch out for; Tyler Petite of USC, Dax Raymond of Utah State, and C.J. Conrad, these guys could surprise, and we could see 13 TE’s in the top 150 picks.

Offensive Tackle:

1. Jonah Williams - Alabama
2. Yodny Cajuste - West Virginia
3. Jawaan Taylor - Florida
4. Gregory Little - Ole Miss
5. David Edwards - Wisconsin
6. Andre Dillard - Washington State
7. Max Scharping - Northern Illinois
8. Kaleb McGary - Michigan
9. Daniel Cooney - San Diego
10. Mitch Hyatt - Clemson

Consistency vs expected height. Jonah Williams and Yodny Cajuste are my top-15, while Jawaan Taylor should be in the 20 range. I know some have Gregory Little ahead of those guys based on his prototypical size, but he needs to be better at combating faster guys. David Edwards is consistent and should be the last to break the first round. Andre Dillard and Max Scharping are the guys I expect to be round 2, both have great bend and should be good against the pass-rush at the next level.

Interior Lineman:

1. Dalton Risner - Kansas State
2. Beau Benzschawel - Wisconsin
3. Cody Ford - Oklahoma
4. Chris Lindstrom - Boston College
5. Garrett Bradbury - North Carolina State (C)
6. Elgton Jenkins - Mississippi State (C)
7. Michael Deiter - Wisconsin
8. Michael Jordan - Ohio State
9. Connor McGovern - Penn State
10. Erik McCoy - Texas A&M

The interior is just as strong as the tackle position, and we should see a few available in the beginning of the second round. All bets are off for Dalton Risner, he’s one of the best right tackles who I think will translate better as a pro bowl guard. Beau Benzschawel is a boring pick, but don’t let consistency confuse you. Another right tackle to guard transformation that Cody Ford must show is possible because of his short arms, but don’t worry, he’s tough and durable.

Defensive ends:

1. Nick Bosa - Ohio State
2. Quinnen Williams - Alabama
3. Clelin Ferrell - Clemson
4. Jaylon Ferguson - Louisiana Tech
5. Zach Allen - Boston College
6. Brian Burns - Florida State
7. Oshane Ximinies - Old Dominion
8. Joe Jackson - Miami (Fla.)
9. Jordan Brailford - Oklahoma State
10. Austin Bryant - Clemson

Top-7 DE’s on my board should go in the top-50 picks, and we will get very comfortable with the likes of Nick Bosa and Quinnen Williams. Bosa is a technical gamer with physical force who knows how to use it, while Quinnen is a freak force in the backfield. Clelin Ferrell built on last year’s production and showed he’s a do it all type of guy. Those three are top-10 in my opinion. Jaylon Ferguson, Zach Allen, and Brian Burns should be in the top 20 range. Oshane Ximinies played very well last year, hard to wonder if he’s a defensive end or stand up linebacker at the next level.

Defensive Tackle:

1. Ed Oliver - Houston
2. Rashan Gary - Michigan
3. Jeffery Simmons - Mississippi State
4. Dexter Lawrence - Clemson
5. Jerry Tillery - Notre Dame
6. Christian Wilkins - Clemson
7. Gerald Willis III - Miami (Fla.)
8. Dre’Mont Jones - Ohio State
9. Daylon Mack - Texas A&M
10. Lorenzo Neal - Purdue
11. Demarcus Christmas - Florida State

If the Cardinals aren’t going with Bosa or Quinnen Williams, I think Ed Oliver could be a future Cardinal. Trade back candidate. I’m even thinking of Jeffery Simmons as a trade back type of reach if you go back around 8. Rashan Gary needs time to develop, that’s just not what the Cardinals have. Dexter Lawrence and Jerry Tillery will not be around in the second round, but if you trade up, play those guys at nose and you improve the run defense. Not going to trade up for them either. When looking at Simmons, he’s an athlete that resembles the same type of athleticism that occupied Robert Nkemdiche when he came out. Would that type of player cause the Cardinals to pause?

Outside Linebacker:

1. Josh Allen - Kentucky
2. D’Andre Walker - Georgia
3. Chase Winovich - Michigan
4. Tre Lamar - Louisiana State
5. Derick Roberson - Sam Houston State
6. Terrill Hanks - New Mexico State
7. Maxx Crosby - Eastern Washington
8. Germaine Pratt - Louisville
9. Porter Gustin - Southern California
10. Dre Greenlaw - Arkansas

Josh Allen has been rumored to be the number one pick, sorry, not someone who the Cardinals would prefer at one, maybe a trade back. Everyone else is available after round two it seems to me. If you’re looking to repair the linebacker corps in the second round, D’Andre Walker and Chase Winovich are the best wrap up tackler. Third round would probably be Tre Lamar, Derick Roberson, and Terrill Hanks.

Inside Linebacker:

1. Mack Wilson - Alabama
2. Devin White - Louisiana State
3. David Long Jr. - West Virginia
4. Devin Bush Jr. - Michigan
5. T.J. Edwards - Wisconsin
6. Vosean Joseph - Florida
7. Sutton Smith - Northern Illinois
8. Kendall Joseph - Clemson
9. Ben Burr-Kirven - Washington
10. Jeff Allison - Boise State

I know I’m going to get some backlash, but that’s why this is my ranking, and it’s not changed. Mack Wilson currently ranks higher for me, and it’s not like Devin White isn’t too far. I think personally that Mack Wilson is a better wrap up tackler, while Devin White seems athletically compared to a young Navarro Bowman. Those are your trade back players. They might take an inside linebacker in the second, David Long and Devin Bush are very suitable, I think they are very crafty splitting an offensive lineman.

Cornerback:

1. Greedy Williams - Louisiana State
2. Byron Murphy - Washington
3. Trayvon Mullen - Clemson
4. Amani Oruwariye - Penn State
5. Deandre Baker - Georgia
6. Kris Boyd - Texas
7. Michael Jackson - Miami (Fla.)
8. Jamel Dean - Auburn
9. Julian Love - Notre Dame
10. Justin Layne - Michigan State

I’m not trading back for a corner, but I do like what Greedy Williams and Byron Murphy offer. Man-on-man coverage at a supreme. Trayvon Mullen could be a trade-up target at the end of round one, he’s a feisty corner with tremendous range. There are a few guys you could target in the second round, but I might not be interested in that. Amani Oruwariye and Deandre Baker are those options. Kris Boyd and Michael Jackson are tremendous options in the third round. Savvy guys who can develop into a solid number two corner.

Safety:

1. Taylor Rapp - Washington
2. Deionte Thompson - Alabama
3. Nasir Adderly - Delaware
4. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson - Florida
5. Johnathan Abram - Mississippi State
6. Amani Hooker - Iowa
7. Jaquan Johnson - Miami (Fla.)
8. Blace Brown - Troy
9. Marvell Tell III - Southern California
10. Sheldrick Redwine - Miami (Fla.)

This is probably our strongest position at the moment, the Cardinals won’t take one until the fourth in my opinion. If you’re asking about ranking, Taylor Rapp has better wrap up ability compared to Deionte Thompson, but Thompson can recover faster.