John Clayton: Best and worst picks of NFL draft’s first round
A defense-heavy first round of the 2019 NFL draft concluded late Thursday night, with three quarterbacks coming off the board in the first 15 picks.
Who were the biggest winners and losers? Let’s take a look at the best and worst picks of the first round.
Best picks
Denver Broncos: Noah Fant, TE, Iowa (20th overall pick)
By not drafting a quarterback of the future, Broncos decision-maker John Elway won the present. The team had the option of taking Missouri quarterback Drew Lock at 10th overall, but instead traded with the Pittsburgh Steelers to move back to No. 20, adding a second-round pick this year and a third-rounder next year. Then, they passed up Lock again and filled a need by drafting Fant, who provides veteran QB Joe Flacco with an athletic pass-catcher.
Washington Redskins: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State (15th)
The Redskins didn’t need to trade up to get the quarterback they wanted. Haskins fell to them at 15th overall as the team read the draft board perfectly, knowing there would be an early run on defensive linemen. Washington should also get credit for moving back into the first round to get an impact edge rusher in Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat at 26th overall.
Buffalo Bills: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (ninth)
The Bills lucked out when Oliver, one of the draft’s two best defensive tackles, fell to them at ninth overall. Some thought the team was going to trade up to No. 3 overall to land Alabama’s Quinnen Williams, but that would have cost Buffalo a lot of draft capital. Oliver has the potential to be a difference-maker for the Bills’ defense, and they didn’t have to surrender any additional choices to get him.
Seattle Seahawks: L.J. Collier, DE, TCU (29th)
OK, so Seattle should get docked some for reaching for a player in Collier who was projected by many as a Day 2 pick, not a first-rounder. But the Seahawks accomplished their goal of adding more picks, after trading Frank Clark to the Chiefs for a first-round pick, then moving down twice on Thursday. They now have nine draft choices, and left themselves well-positioned to improve their roster on Day 2.
Worst picks
Atlanta Falcons: Chris Lindstrom, G, Boston College (14th); Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington (31st)
This isn’t a knock against the players themselves, but the Falcons seemed to miss an opportunity to help their defense. Instead, they drafted two offensive linemen, including trading back into the first round for McGary, after spending a combined $11.5 million per year in free agency for guards James Carpenter and Jamon Brown and giving tackle Ty Sambrailo a $4.75 million contract extension. They might have been surprised by the Dolphins snatching away Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins with the 13th pick, but regardless, this was a puzzling first round for Atlanta.
Oakland Raiders: Clelin Ferrell, DE/OLB, Clemson (fourth)
The Raiders stunned almost everyone with the selection of Ferrell over Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen, as Ferrell was considered by most to be a middle or late first-round pick. Some would argue he might have been available with one of the Raiders’ later first-rounders. The choice of Alabama running back Josh Jacobs made sense, though they probably could have picked him at No. 27 instead of No. 24. Safety Jonathan Abram of Mississippi State is a good player, but Oakland left the first round without having filled its need at cornerback.
Green Bay Packers: Rashan Gary, DE/OLB, Michigan (12th); Darnell Savage Jr., S, Maryland (21st)
Again, this isn’t a commentary on the quality of the players, as both Gary and Savage are talented. But I question whether the Packers would have been better off taking defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who went 13th to the Dolphins, and then staying put at No. 30 to select an offensive lineman such as Oklahoma’s Cody Ford. The trade up to select Savage also cost them fourth- and sixth-round picks. One thing they shouldn’t be criticized for is not drafting a wide receiver, as that was never in the team’s first-round plans.
New York Giants: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke (sixth)
Truth be told, it would be fair to criticize all three of the Giants’ first-round picks. Clemson nose tackle Dexter Lawrence was a reach at No. 17, the first-round pick they obtained from the Cleveland Browns in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker is a good player, but in trading up to the 30th pick they had to give up two fourth-round selections. But the one that sticks out the most is Jones at No. 6. The Giants probably could have taken a top defensive player like Josh Allen or Ed Oliver, then selected Jones 17th overall – or made a modest trade back up to land him.