| Denver Broncos | Notable picks: The team traded its 10th overall pick, yet still got the draft’s 21st player overall at Pick 20. In addition, the team nabbed our 32nd-ranked player in Risner early in the second round. Although Lock was deeper on our board (54th overall), we don’t think the Broncos could have waited any longer to pull the trigger on the third-best QB in the draft. Of the team’s undrafted free agents, Nevada’s Malik Reed has the most suddenness and could have easily been a draft pick. For the second consecutive year, John Elway added solid players to an underrated nucleus. Ultimately, however, this draft’s eventual grade will come down to the development of Lock. | |||
| Round,
Selection, |
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (20) Traded its first round pick (10th overall) to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the team’s | Noah Fant | TE/Iowa | 21/1st Round | Although his teammate T.J. Hockenson won the 2018 John Mackey Award, it was Fant who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as voted on by the coaches. Fant’s 4.5 speed will be a welcome addition down the seams for new quarterback John Flacco. |
| 2 (41) | Dalton
Risner |
OL/Kansas State | 32/2nd Round | It doesn’t take long to understand the value of Risner, who despite having natural lateral quickness, needs to close off the bottom of the pocket more consistently as an outside tackle. If he moves back into the center position (where he started in 2015), then we think he’ll challenge for a starting spot. |
| 2 (42)
Acquired from Cincinnati |
Drew Lock | QB/Missouri | 54/2nd Round | Lock can challenge all parts of the field with range that is comparable to Joe Flacco, the man he is asked to backup initially in Denver. We felt that the former Tiger needed a bridge quarterback and Flacco fits the bill. |
| 3 (71) | Dre’Mont Jones | DT/Ohio State | 33/2nd Round | Jones’ outstanding footwork frequently allowed him to work over guards after gaining an edge. For him to become a legitimate starter, he will have to play heavier at the point of attack. |
| 5 (156)
Acquired from Minnesota |
Justin Hollins | DE-OLB/Oregon | 202/4th Round | Hollins proved during 2019 East-West Shrine practicesthat he was at least adequate as an exchange LB. It is a big reason he took home East-West Shrine Game Defensive MVP honors. The former Duck forced eight fumbles in school. |
| 6 (187)
Acquired from Carolina |
Juwann
Winfree |
WR/ | 425/5th Round | Winfree has unique route-running skill and underrated field speed. The former Terrapin rarely has to idle himself into patterns. The Broncos struck gold by staying in-state a year ago with UDFA Pro Bowler Phillip Lindsay and hope to do so again with its sixth-round pick. |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Notable picks: The Chiefs went into the draft looking to add pieces as opposed to having to fill them. One position of note that the team didn’t address until Day 3 is cornerback. Heading into the 2019 campaign, they have a rather unproven group of outside cornerbacks. They will likely have to depend on Kendall Fuller to give them some reps on the flanks after the loss of underrated CB Steven Nelson. In addition, the team is probably depending on Emmanuel Ogbah, who has quietly posted 17 pass break-ups in his career, to be a serviceable left defensive end opposite the recently acquired Frank Clark. | |||
| Round,
Selection, |
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 2 (56)
Acquired from Los Angeles via New England via Chicago |
Mecole Hardman | All-Purpose/Georgia | 72/2nd Round | It doesn’t take long to determine where Hardman is inclined to work. He can become a serious contender for playing time in the slot if he can show increased ball skills and awareness. His biggest strength is the ability to accelerate through the reception, but he left some passes on the field. We think he is one of the top return threats in the draft. ` |
| 2 (63)
Acquired from Los Angeles |
Juan
Thornhill |
DB/Virginia | 179/3rd Round | Thornhill, a former corner at Virginia, doesn’t mind mixing it up in coverage. His biggest weakness came when routes broke away from him (either at safety or corner). The former high school basketball star uses outstanding leaping ability to supplement first-rate instincts. He was used in somewhat of a hybrid role in 2018. |
| 3 (84)
Acquired from Seattle |
Khalen Saunders | DT/Western Illinois | 179/3rd Round | Saunders has some traits that are similar to former Texas DL and current New Orleans Saints DL Malcom Brown. An above average athlete, he was a tough block for guards or tackles. Stamina is a bit of a question mark. |
| 6 (201) | Rashad Fenton | CB/South Carolina | 269/4th Round | Have you ever seen a player who may not look as fast as he really is? This is the case for Fenton, who shined as a kickoff returner at various points of his career. His quick-footed nature and overall toughness means he could get looks at the nickel back spot. |
| 6 (214) | Darwin Thompson | RB/Utah State | 306/4th Round | An explosive Pro Day forced evaluators to go back to the tape for Thompson. What they found was a patient runner with enough speed to bounce runs outside. A season that featured a 15.3 yards per reception average proved he can catch too. |
| 7 (216)
Acquired from San Francisco |
Nick
Allegretti |
OG/Illinois | 220/4th Round | The former Illini two-time team captain started 36 straight games to end his career. We feel the right guard position gives him the best chance to earn a roster spot. Why? He shifts his weight on opponents as well as any guard in this year’s draft. |
| Oakland Raiders | Notable pick: Newly-hired GM Mike Mayock selected potential core players who add substance to the roster. Ferrell and Jacobs both played large parts in each of their respective team’s national championship runs. Although Abram represented a personality pick, how different is he from former West Virginia safety Karl Joseph? The selection of Crosby means the team now has a number of edge rushers to throw at teams, even if none of them would be described as a dominant game changer. Mullen, Johnson and college free agent Keisean Nixon join a cornerback group suddenly filled with young talent and depth. | |||
| Round,
Selection, |
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (4) | Clelin Ferrell | DE/Clemson | 15/1st Round | Ferrell averaged 17 tackles for loss per year over the course of the last three seasons. His ability to finish on the quarterback is undeniable. The big knock on him was a relative lack of natural bend off the edge. He is long enough to compensate. |
| 1 (24) | Josh Jacobs | RB/Alabama | 61/2nd Round | Jacobs’ running style and receiving skill largely mirrors that of the runner who started for the Raiders the last two seasons, Marshawn Lynch when he came out of school. He is just not as fast as Lynch was coming out of school. |
| 1 (27) | Johnathan Abram | S/
Mississippi State, Georgia |
52/2nd Round | Somewhat of a Donte Whitner-type (Bills, 49ers), Abram could become a complement to fellow safety Karl Joseph. The former Georgia Bulldog has covered the slot effectively, but we don’t think that’s a role he will be asked to man consistently in the NFL. He will, however, be asked to lock down tight ends. |
| 2 (40) | Trayvon Mullen | CB/Clemson | 95/3rd Round | The former high school WR has positive hand-eye coordination and timing. During his two years as a starter, he displayed a keen sense of handling man or zone assignments. At 6-foot-1, 199 pounds, he is an adequate tackler. |
| 4 (106) | Maxx
Crosby |
DE-OLB/Eastern
Michigan |
273/4th Round | Crosby’s gangly, unorthodox style conjures up images of former Buffalo Bills star Bryce Paup. For him to make it, he has to play with more sand in the pants. |
| 4 (129)
Acquired from Indianapolis |
Isaiah Johnson | CB/Houston | 139/3rd Round | Johnson’s ability to win in zone coverage comes from his receiving background. In addition, he is one of the top gunners in the 2019 NFL Draft. Standing 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, the former wideout will find playing time in some capacity in Year 1. |
| 4 (137)
Compensatory pick acquired from Atlanta |
Foster Moreau | TE/LSU | 181/3rd Round | Although he wasn’t featured as a receiving tight end at LSU, Moreau contains underrated athleticism and will be a fine on the move or hand in the dirt Y-tight end. It would not be a surprise to see his receiving skills expand at the NFL level. He can create separation at the top of his routes. |
| 5 (149)
Acquired from Dallas via Cincinnati |
Hunter
Renfrow |
WR/
Clemson |
126/3rd Round | The operative thinking is that Renfrow turns into a multi-year contributor at the slot wide receiver position and you’re done with it…right? What about special teams production for a receiver weighing in the 180-pound range? Despite showing up at the gunner spot (ex: Russell Athletic Bowl ’15), he posted just four career tackles. He did, however, serve as the team’s emergency punter. |
| 7 (230)
Acquired from Atlanta |
Quinton Bell | Prairie View A&M | N/A | Bell averaged 13.6 yards per catch before transitioning to defense in 2018. He responded with 7.5 quarterback sacks and 10 tackles for losses. He’s bulked up in weight while still maintaining his explosiveness (41 1/2-inch VJ). |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Notable picks: Tillery’s unique athleticism (4.33 20-yard short shuttle) and heavy hands (10 5/8”) offsets an inconsistent pad level. Adderley’s range belies his timed speed. Pipkins has a skill-set and profile that closely mirrors incumbent right tackle Sam Tevi. Stick may be used in a surprise role for the team and Broughton can play multiple positions. Tranquill’s foot speed and safety experience could earn him a role in sub-packages, but we expect him to star on special teams immediately. | |||
| Round,
Selection, |
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (28) | Jerry Tillery | Notre Dame | 19/2nd Round | Tillery has all of the tools to be a multi-purpose defensive lineman in the NFL. His style lends itself to somewhat of an Arik Armstead-type (San Francisco 49ers). Both players were bunch producers in school. |
| 2 (60) | Nasir
Adderley |
DB/
Delaware |
43/2nd Round | Adderley’s timed speed does not accurately represent the speed that really matters….his eye speed. His ability to read the quarterback’s body language really was unparalleled in this year’s draft class. His major key will be finding a balance when it comes to making open field tackles consistently in space. |
| 3 (91) | Trey Pipkins | OT/Sioux Falls | 119/3rd Round | He displays positive bend, impressive mobility and an element of finish necessary to compete on Sundays. His short lateral kick-slide will have to deepen if he is going to stay outside. We went into how his outstanding NFL Combine workout would be the final factor in swaying NFL coaches and personnel. |
| 4 (130) | Drue
Tranquill |
LB/Notre Dame | 194/4th Round | The former safety uses his 4.5 speed to make plays all over the field. His stock stayed steady due to his ability to return from a couple of freak ACL injuries during school. It didn’t stop him from finishing his career with 292 tackles and 25 tackles for losses in 52 career appearances. |
| 5 (166) | Easton Stick | QB/North Dakota State | 301/4th Round | His 4.6 40-yard dash time opens eyes, but maybe not even as much as his blistering 6.65 time in the three-cone drill. It is a big reason he rushed for 41 TDs in school. He doesn’t have former Bison QB Carson Wentz’s arm, but he does have even more impressive athleticism. The Chargers will find a way to incorporate it on a deep team. |
| 6 (200) | Emeke
Egbule |
OLB/
Houston |
490/5th Round | His defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said of Egbule, “he’s our most versatile player in space.” It will be imperative for him show these traits for scouts during training camp to earn a roster spot. |
| 7 (242) | Cortez Broughton | DL/ | 247/4th Round | In a deep 2019 defensive tackle class, it probably isn’t a surprise that Broughton was one of the overlooked prospects. Aside from notching 16.5 tackles for losses in 2018, he also put together a pretty good week at the 2019 East-West Shrine Game. Icing on the cake for Broughton came on Cincinnati’s Pro Day, where he notched an impressive 33 1/2-inch vertical jump at 293 pounds. |
caught two passes on the first possession of the game and forced a holding call on cornerback Marlon Humphrey that resulted in a touchdown. For the game, he caught seven passes on nine targets for 77 yards and one touchdown. The Chiefs second-ranked scoring offense and No. 3 ranked passing game are a direct reflection of Kelce’s productivity. If a team hopes to stop the Chiefs offense, then they must prioritize defending Kelce.
Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale also switched up blitz schemes which kept Mahomes off balance and resulted in three sacks. The Chiefs still managed 92 rushing yards and 347 passing yards but the chunk plays were minimal. The fourth down 48-yard heave across the field from Mahomes to Tyreek Hill was a back breaker for the Ravens. However, besides that play and a screen pass to Spencer Ware, the Ravens didn’t give up a play of more than 25 yards defensively. Look for the Chiefs division rival, the Los Angeles Chargers, to try and replicate the Ravens defensive game plan when the two teams meet on Thursday. 
Against the Chiefs, the Ravens used their tight end as a motion man to get involved as the lead blocker in power running plays and as a safety option for Jackson in the short passing game. Jackson completed 13-of-24 passes for two touchdowns and ran for 71 yards. As he gets more comfortable, look for the playbook to expand, but for now Jackson has been productive and has put the Ravens in positions to win.
poor offensive line execution.
