2019 NFL Draft recap, pick-by-pick: NFC South
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| Carolina Panthers | Notable picks: While Burns will be expected to provide the team’s best pass rush threat in years, it is Little who could be tasked with protecting the franchise in QB Cam Newton. Grier will compete with Taylor Heineke and Kyle Allen for the backup job. Scarlett has a chance to earn repetitions as the team continues to look for a viable backup to workhorse Christian McCaffrey. Daley has starting tools if he can improve his hand placement. | |||
| Round,
Selection, |
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (16) | Brian Burns | DE-OLB/
Florida State |
28/2nd Round | Burns’ energy and ability to turn the corner is exactly what the Panthers needed coming out of this draft. Burns is the first defensive end the team has taken in the first round since Julius Peppers back in 2002. |
| 2 (37) | Greg Little | OT/Ole Miss | 59/2nd Round | It would be assumed that Little can step right in to start over incumbent Taylor Moton, who was more than serviceable as a right tackle in 2018. If Little can get it done on the left side, then Moton can move back to right tackle and expect Darryl Williams to slide inside to guard. |
| 3 (100) | Will Grier | QB/West Virginia | 229/4th Round | Grier, a Charlotte native, gets an opportunity to compete for a backup role and provides insurance if Cam Newton’s shoulder doesn’t return to form. Several teams were higher on Grier than even his draft position indicates, but we think he landed in a spot where he can improve his pocket presence. |
| 4 (115) | Christian
Miller |
DE-OLB/
Alabama |
303/4th Round | We felt as if Miller’s game early on in 2019 would lead to him getting looks and the Panthers grabbed him early on Day 3. The Panthers will continue to use more multiple looks with HC Ron Rivera calling the defense due to his 3-4 background. This pick is a move in that direction. Miller improved dramatically as a pass rusher in 2018. The loss of Thomas Davis in free agency may mean that Miller competes for a spot at an exchange linebacker spot. |
| 5 (154) | Jordan
Scarlett |
RB/Florida | 293/4th Round | Scarlett landed in a good spot because he is a very physical runner. Despite some stiffness, the team’s gap-schemed runs fit his playing style very well. He has above average balance and will compete with Cameron Artis-Payne for reps. |
| 6 (212)
Acquired from Denver via San Francisco |
Dennis
Daley |
OT/South Carolina | 192/4th Round | For years, the team has lacked depth at tackle. This pick could be a backup plan if Daryl Williams leaves in free agency in 2020. Daley was one of the more nimble pass protectors in the 2019 NFL Draft, but his hand placement is inconsistent. It led to concentration lapses in school. |
| 7 (237)
Acquired from Denver via Houston |
Terry
Godwin |
WR/Georgia | 117/3rd Round | Godwin’s dominant week of East-West Shrine practices ensured a draft slot but he could have gone much higher. The former four-star recruit is adept at running all of the required slot patterns with unique quickness and savvy. At just 185 pounds, is he big enough to contribute on special teams? |
| Atlanta
Falcons |
Notable picks: GM Thomas Dimitroff decided to remake the right side of the team’s offensive line with his first two picks. After allowing 42 sacks in 2018, can you blame him? Can Sheffield fill the role of a third or fourth corner? Green was one of the better return specialists in the draft and may challenge for playing time in that role alone. | |||
| Round,
Selection, |
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (14) | Chris
Lindstrom |
Boston
College |
38/2nd Round | Lindstrom- our top-ranked guard-supplemented a stellar four-year career with outstanding work during 2019 Senior Bowl practices. He provides positional versatility (started at RT in 2017) for an offensive line that struggled to protect the passer in 2018. |
| 1 (31) | Kaleb
McGary |
Washington | 29/2nd Round | McGary’s efficiency as a right tackle was supplemented by working with longtime OL coach Howard Mudd this offseason. He could vie for a starting role in Year 1. We talked with him about his various techniques this offseason. |
| 4 (111) | Kendall Sheffield | CB/Ohio State,
Alabama |
89/3rd Round | Sheffield’s ability to play press-man is unquestioned, but he does have a tendency to locate the ball a tick late. If he can harness his overall skill-set, the Ohio State 60-meter track indoor record holder could vie for a starting role down the road. |
| 4 (135) | John
Cominsky |
DE-DT/Charleston | 253/4th Round | Standing 6-foot-5, 286 pounds, Cominsky’s ability to use his hands aids him as a solid run defender. If he can develop more counters as a pass rusher, he could become a keeper. Expect the team to work him more in base packages early as he transitions to an interior pass rush role for third downs. |
| 5 (152) | Qadree
Oliison |
RB/
Pittsburgh |
184/3rd Round | The team had too many backs with the same profile and Devonta Freeman has missed time in recent years. Ollison will be the bruiser that they have lacked on the roster and he has underrated field speed. |
| 5 (172) | Jordan Miller | CB/
Washington |
478/5th Round | Miller held his own against some of the Pac-12’s best but injuries were a factor in school. He is smooth, fast and fluid. Physicality is a question mark. The former high school triple jumper posted six interceptions in school. |
| 6 (203)
Acquired from Los Angeles |
Marcus Green | All-Purpose/Louisiana-Monroe | 482/5th Round | It was surprising that a player who tallied nearly 5,000 all-purpose yards in school became a combine snub. Green, who excels with his 10-to-15-yard burst, ran in the 4.4-range and went 39 inches in the vertical jump on ULM’s Pro Day. |
| Tampa Bay
Buccaneers |
Notable picks: Jason Licht’s selections of Bunting and Dean serve notice to former high picks Carlton Davis and Vernon Hargreaves that competition is on the way. Bunting is a pick expected to challenge for a starting role early. Give Licht credit for not being apprehensive when it came to drafting another kicker. Gay was the draft’s best placekicker and has 62-yard range. | |||
| Round,
Selection, |
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (5) | Devin White | LSU | 14/1st Round | White’s sideline-to-sideline speed is a replacement for the speed of former Kwon Alexander, who went to San Francisco in free agency. Connecting the dots on a more consistent basis could allow him to play a step faster. |
| 2 (39) | Sean Bunting | CB/Central
Michigan |
35/2nd Round | Bunting’s press-man or bump-and-run technique is as patient as any cornerback in this year’s class. The former high school hoops point guard can run too. His biggest weakness stems from a habit of ending up on the low shoulder versus wide receivers who use inside speed releases. |
| 3 (94) | Jamel Dean | CB/Auburn | 169/3rd Round | Dean’s mental toughness shined during school as he has gone through knee injuries dating back to his junior year in high school. He doesn’t play to his 4.30 timed speed but we do think he drops his weight better than given credit for. Auburn’s staff praised his ability to play different positions. |
| 3 (99)
Acquired from Los Angeles |
Mike Edwards | S-Nickel/ | 91/3rd Round | Edwards ranks as one of the more instinctive safeties in the draft and has outstanding footwork. He was often seen covering slot receivers and tight ends. The former Wildcat plays with a sixth sense on the field but needs to improve his attention to detail. |
| 4 (107) | Anthony
Nelson |
DE/Iowa | 75/2nd Round | Nelson has some similarities to current Bucs defensive end Carl Nassib. He is perhaps even more physical defending the run. It would not be a surprise to see the team use him inside on passing downs because he is adept on line games and stunts. He was a good value pick in Round 4. |
| 5 (145) | Matt Gay | PK/Utah | 320/4th Round | Gay actually had a fourth-round grade in our scoring system, but he did come in at 320 on our Big Board. Nevertheless, this is not a reach in the fifth round because he would have likely gone off the board before the team picked again. Gay will challenge PK Cairo Santos in training camp. |
| 6 (208)
Compensatory pick acquired from Tampa Bay via Philadelphia |
Scott Miller | WR/Bowling Green State | 370/5th Round | Miller lasted until the fifth round simply because of his 5-foot-9, 174-pound frame. What he brings to the table for the Bucs is 4.3 speed and hands (9 3/4”) that made him a terror in the MAC. The former high school track star totaled 215 receptions for 2,867 yards and 23 TDs in school and stood out against Power 5 competition. |
| 7 (215)
Acquired from Arizona |
Terry Beckner, Jr. | DT/Missouri | 408/5th Round | If not for two knee injuries that slowed him during school, we would likely be discussing the former five-star recruit as an early-round pick. He still produced 10 1/2 QB sack and 22 tackles for loss over his last two seasons in school. |
| New Orleans Saints | Notable Picks: Despite just two picks in the first 105 picks of the draft, we felt the Saints got two of the Top 40 players available in McCoy and Gardner-Johnson. Time will tell. One pick to monitor is Elliss in Round 7. His bend is unique and he has the type of experience in coverage to transition if he can pick up his play speed. | |||
| Round,
Selection, |
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 2 (48) | Erik McCoy | OC/Texas A&M | 22/2nd Round | Even though the Saints signed Nick Easton to a four-year deal, McCoy provides positional flexibility along their offensive front. The team’s rushing attack ranked sixth in the league a year ago, and the McCoy draft pick is an attempt to maintain that mentality along a strong offensive front. |
| 4 (105) | Chauncey Gardner-Johnson | S-Nickel/Florida | 40/2nd Round | Gardner-Johnson could have an immediate impact in sub-packages covering the slot. Versus certain formations, his flexibility could allow strong safety Vonn Bell to move into a LB-type spot. Gardner-Johnson ranks as a steal in the fourth round. |
| 6 (177)
Acquired from N.Y. Jets |
Saquan Hampton | DB/Rutgers | 417/5th Round | Hampton put it all together to become the Big Ten’s leader in passes defended. The team captain has enough foot speed to become a special teams contributor in Year 1 for the Saints. |
| 7 (231)
Acquired from Cleveland |
Alize Mack | TE/Notre Dame | 311/4th Round | Mack has been used as a U-off blocker, Y-tight end and fullback in certain sets. If he can make the team, the Saints will use him in many of its two tight end sets as a stretch the field-type. The former All-USA Today prep level star was once ranked as the nation’s No. 1 tight end coming out of high school. |
| 7 (244) | Kaden Elliss | LB/Idaho | 263/4th Round | Elliss posted a cornerback-like time of 6.63 seconds in the three-cone drill and that bend shows up when rushing the passer. His father, Luther, was once a first-round pick by the Detroit Lions. The younger Ellis finished his overlooked Vandals career with 278 tackles, 17 QB sacks, 47 TFLs, 6 FFs, 4 FRs, 5 INTs and 8 PBUs. His frame matches that of fellow Saints LBs A.J. Klein, Demario Davis and Alex Anzalone. |
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