Here are 10 quick reactions to the 2019 NFL Draft as it has unfolded thus far:
1. Devin Bush was coming to the AFC North one way or another in the 2019 NFL Draft:
The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to get Devin Bush with the 10th pick. The Steelers gave up a lot to get him, but Bush fills the Steelers’ biggest need. He is a phenomenal athlete and the Steelers should finally fill the Ryan Shazier void.
One has to wonder if Lamar Jackson had anything to do with the decision of the Steelers. Getting the most athletic linebacker in the draft will help them deal with the most athletic quarterback in the league. Bush was a great pick for the Steelers but it seems like he was destined to be a rival of the Ravens. The Steelers jumped in front of the Bengals, a team that probably had Bush as plan A.
2. Clelin Ferrell went early even for me:
I had a high grade on Clelin Ferrell coming into the draft. He was my 10th ranked player, so I get it. The Raiders wanted Ferrell and he wasn’t going to be there later. It was a big surprise but the Raiders got a great player. It’s a reach in terms of the consensus but it’s a pick that makes a lot of sense for the Raiders.
3. The Atlanta Falcons lost the first round:
The Falcons traded a second and third round pick to get back into the first round to draft Kaleb McGary. In other words they took an offensive tackle they might have gotten in the second round while Jawaan Taylor hadn’t even come off the board. McGary may be a decent offensive tackle but it seems doubtful that they will get the kind of player that the Falcons obviously think he is.
4. N’Keal Harry is going to be frustratingly good for the New England Patriots:
The Ravens Flock really wanted N’Keal Harry. He was a player that we’ve talked about for a long time leading up to the draft. He has a great catch radius and he’s one of the toughest receiving prospects in this draft. Now he has a hall of fame quarterback in Tom Brady…. great.
5. The Ravens passed on a great pass rusher:
Montez Sweat was a player that the Ravens may regret passing on. Marquise Brown is a good player, but Sweat could be a great pass rusher. Sweat would have given the missing piece to the puzzle. Sweat is arguably a top 10 player and he would have been the better draft value.
6. Daniel Jones at six? Really?
Daniel Jones at six was a dumb move by the Giants because they could have gotten him later. The Washington Redskins were going to take Dwayne Haskins one way or another. Drew Lock didn’t go in the first round. The Giants took Jones, and if they really wanted to take him in the first round they could have gotten him with their second first round pick. This was a huge miss by the Giants.
7. The Panthers offensive line got ignored:
Jawaan Taylor and Cody Ford are on the board and the Panthers are on the clock with the 16th pick. The Panthers got Brian Burns. It’s hard to argue with the pick, they got an incredible pass rushing prospect. It’s just that the Panthers passing on Ford was a misstep. Cam Newton and Christian McCafferry are probably not that happy about this pick.
8. The Broncos are giving Joe Flacco a chance:
Not only did the Broncos not take a quarterback in the first round but they gave him another weapon. Noah Fant at the 20th pick in the draft may be the best steal in the entire draft. Now the Broncos have Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant and a good running game around Flacco. That could work and it’s got to be a little annoying for Ravens fans. The Broncos have given him more on offense than the Ravens usually did.