The 2019 NFL draft is less than a week away. As managers put the finishing touches on the big board and future NFL stars wait for their name to be called, let’s take a look at the ideal landing spots for top rookies in the class.
2019 NFL Draft: Ideal Landing Spots for Top Rookies
Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Jacobs has been mocked as the only running back in the first round in numerous mock drafts, but mostly in the latter part of the first. Tampa Bay would most likely trade back for this scenario to happen, but it would be ideal for fantasy situations. The Buccaneers have lacked a true workhorse running back since the prime Doug Martin years, and even those were few and far between. Jacobs can give them that true three down back that their offense is missing. He will provide much needed relief in the backfield with Jameis Winston. He would also set up the play action to get receiving threats like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard open.
If Jacobs ends up in Tampa, he would only have to beat out Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones to secure the top spot in that backfield. Assuming he does that, the Alabama product would be in the Top 20 range right away. Barber had some successful games as the lead dog last year, and his talent level isn’t even close to that of Jacobs.
D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss – Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens need pass catching threats more than any other team in the NFL. Their number one wideout right now is is Willie Snead, a former role player on the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore’s slot receiver from a year ago. They have a nice young tight end duo in Mark Andrews and Hayden Hurst, but they need to get more weapons for Lamar Jackson.
Enter D.K. Metcalf, the man who set the NFL world ablaze with his combine performance in March. Metcalf seems to have all the tools to be the next great receiver at the NFL level. He’s a physical freak (6’3″, 228 lbs.) with burning speed (4.33 40-time) and herculean strength (27 reps on the bench). He jumped a 40.5″ vertical as well. The Ravens cannot pass up on a freak who has been compared to Calvin Johnson. If Baltimore takes Metcalf, he would immediately be in the WR2 range.
Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma – Pittsburgh Steelers
Some worry about Marquise Brown’s size (5’10”, 160 lbs.), but his speed makes him a perfect fit for the slot. With the departure of the Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster is in line to take over as the Pittsburgh Steelers top receiver himself next season. Putting Brown in the slot with him on the outside would be lethal for opposing defenses. Also, catching passes from a future hall of famer never hurts for fantasy. If Brown ends up in the Steel City, he could end up being one of the most productive fantasy slot receivers in the the game.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa – Jacksonville Jaguars
T.J. Hocksenson is the best of both worlds from a tight end prospective. He can block like an offensive lineman, but he can also stretch the field like a wide receiver. He made up one half of one of the best tight end duos in recent collegiate memory, along with Noah Fant, at Iowa. The Jacksonville Jaguars just brought in quarterback Nick Foles to lead them to the Super Bowl and need to surround with more weapons other than Leonard Fournette and Dede Westbrook.
It’s no secret that the Eagles used the tight end position better than almost every other team in the NFL with Foles at the helm. His chemistry with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert was fantastic, and giving him someone like Hockenson would be a huge boost for Foles and that offense as a whole. If Hockenson ends up in Duval county, he would have the potential to be a “Top 10” tight end right away.
Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma – Arizona Cardinals
This has been predicted by everyone and their mothers, but it is still an ideal fit. Getting the mobile Kyler Murray in a backfield with David Johnson would be nightmare fuel for defensive coordinators. Also, new Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury is known as an offensive mastermind and would surely get the most out of the quarterback. While concerns about his size are valid, Murray makes up for it with his accuracy and scrambling ability. If what everyone thinks will happen actually happens, Murray would be the number one quarterback from this class by far.
Other Quick Hits
- Drew Lock, QB, Mizzou – New England Patriots
- Noah Fant, TE, Iowa – Denver Broncos
- N’Keal Harry, WR, Iowa State – Miami Dolphins
- Daniel Jones, QB, Duke – New York Giants
- Andy Isabella, WR, UMass – Jacksonville Jaguars
- Bryce Love, RB, Stanford – Buffalo Bills
