1 of 32 Mark Humphrey/Associated Press Kyler Murray, Quarterback, Oklahoma Deadly accurate quarterback comparison: Somewhere between Modern Fran Tarkenton and Miniature Marcus Mariota By now, you probably already have an opinion about Kyler Murray: He’s the next Russell Wilson, or fake Russell Wilson, or new-and-improved Russell Wilson, or you wish everyone would stop comparing him to Russell Wilson; he’s a future All-Pro, future Beloit Snappers outfielder, future Toronto Argonaut, and so on and so on. So let’s focus on the Arizona Cardinals instead of trying to change anyone’s mind about Murray. The Cardinals offensive line was miserable last year, and they only made modest upgrades in the offseason. Their best receiver is a Hall of Famer who should probably already be there. The defense isn’t bad, but it won’t help produce any 16-12 victories while Murray learns on the job the way the Legion of Boom supported a young Wilson. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury is unproven, and the success rate jumping from college guru to NFL coach is discouraging. Rookie quarterbacks on teams such as the Cardinals, no matter how tall or experienced they are, often end up running for their lives, suffering injuries and developing bad habits that can cause their franchises to grow impatient and quickly sour on them. For further evidence, see Josh Rosen. The decision to entrust Murray with the keys to the Cardinals franchise, coupled with Kingsbury’s hire and the quick hook for Rosen, is so unprecedented that it’s impossible to grade like just another first overall pick. The Cardinals are the kid who brought a working nuclear reactor to a science fair full of ant farms and baking-soda volcanos. Bold and potentially brilliant? Of course. But you don’t award a blue ribbon for a potential meltdown. So let’s grade the Cardinals’ offseason instead. They didn’t address their offensive line or skill positions aggressively enough to feather the nest for Murray. They still haven’t pulled the trigger on a Rosen trade (though rumors are brewing). They sought defensive upgrades at an Atlanta Falcons flea market, of all places. Murray has the tools to be a one-of-a-kind NFL superstar and change both the fortunes of his franchise and the way quarterback prospects are perceived. But the Cardinals need to do a lot more if they want to make that happen. Grade: C-<doc-sep>The 2019 NFL draft is underway. The long-awaited Kyler Murray question has been answered (congrats, Cardinals fans), and many more selections are still to come. To help you make sense of all the Round 1 chaos, here are Danny Kelly’s grades for each pick. Check back here throughout Thursday night as we continually update this post with each pick. Here we go! I’ve been saying it for the past three months, and I’ll say it again: Fortune favors the bold. The Cardinals refused to submit to the “sunk cost” fallacy here after using a top-10 pick on quarterback Josh Rosen last year, and they selected a potential franchise-changing player in Murray. The Heisman winner and first-team AP All-American is a historical outlier at just 5-foot-10, but he has the skill set to develop into a top-tier NFL passer: He can play in structure and improvise, has a strong arm, throws with touch, has human-joystick agility and explosiveness as a runner, and makes good decisions. Murray is a perfect fit for new head coach and play-caller Kliff Kingsbury’s wide-open offense and has the talent to elevate everyone around him. While he’s relatively raw, with just 17 collegiate starts on his résumé, he was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the nation at all three levels of the field and posted the top independent QB rating under pressure among draft-eligible passers. In an ideal world, the Cardinals wouldn’t be using back-to-back first-rounders on quarterbacks, so I have to ding them in the value category (though Arizona may recoup at least a little draft capital if they trade Rosen). But if Murray turns out to be the type of quarterback I expect him to be—a dynamic and prolific downfield thrower who confounds defenses with his Tarik Cohen–esque speed and agility as a runner—no one will look back at this pick and complain about the cost. GRADE: A 2. San Francisco 49ers: Edge Nick Bosa, Ohio State This is a no-brainer for the 49ers. Bosa is a perfect scheme-and-need fit for coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense. (Note: Bosa’s brother, Joey, plays in a very similar system with the Chargers under Gus Bradley, and has done all right for himself.) Nick pairs an elite first step with powerful hands that chop, swipe, and punch away block attempts by offensive linemen. He has the speed to get to the edge, the flexibility to turn the corner and get to the quarterback, and the power to bull-rush straight through opponents. He’s a strong, active run defender too. Overall, the Niners are getting an aggressive defensive end and a plug-and-play day one starter. Adding Bosa to a group that already includes the newly acquired Dee Ford and interior stalwart DeForest Buckner should give San Francisco one of the most disruptive defensive lines in football, both in 2019 and beyond. It’s tough to quibble with the value here, either, as they’re grabbing my top-ranked player in this class and a future star at a premier position. GRADE: A+ 3. New York Jets: DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama The Ringer’s 2019 NFL Draft Guide In-depth scouting reports, mock drafts, and more analysis from Danny Kelly and our other NFL staff writers Williams is a powerful interior lineman with extraordinary quickness and strength. The 2018 first-team AP All-American shoots out of his stance with shocking speed and easily discards would-be blockers with strong, perfectly timed swipes, clubs, and swim moves that leave linemen grasping at clouds of dust. He’s a top-tier pass rusher and dominant run defender who racked up 8.0 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss last season. He has a nonstop motor and brings the versatility to line at multiple spots on the line. Going with Williams here means the Jets will have to keep looking elsewhere for a dedicated edge-rushing presence, but I’ve got absolutely no problem with their choice. Williams is one of my favorite players in this draft—he has the potential to be a high-impact player early in his career, and his ability to slice through the offensive line and make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable will be a major boon for coordinator Gregg Williams’s defense. GRADE: A+ Well, we’ve got our first shocking pick. The Raiders will likely be roundly mocked for reaching on Ferrell, but he’s the no. 6 overall player on my board for a reason: He has a high floor as a pass rusher and run defender and should be a plug-and-play starter on Oakland’s edge. The 2018 AP first-team All-American and winner of the Ted Hendricks Award for college football’s top defensive end has a solid, muscular frame, with long arms and a springy first step. He lacks elite bend at the top of his rush, but employs power and fundamental tool set of moves that keep offensive linemen off balance. He notched 11.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss in 2018. He’s a perfect fit in Paul Guenther’s 4-3 scheme. That said, I have to ding the Raiders slightly for not maximizing value here. Ferrell was largely expected to come off the board sometime in the teens or maybe even 20s, so it’s very possible that the Raiders could have traded back and still gotten their man. GRADE: B Related The Race to Make the NFL Draft an Exact Science 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Devin White, LSU The last off-ball linebacker to be a top-five pick was Aaron Curry, whom the Seahawks selected in 2009. That didn’t work out for Seattle, but the NFL is a different league in 2019. White’s a prototype for the modern linebacker, with a combination of speed and physicality that makes him a factor against both the run and pass. The first-team AP All-American and Butkus Award winner (given to the top linebacker in the country) can do a little of everything, whether that’s coming downhill to stop the run, dropping back in coverage, or rushing the passer. White plays an aggressive, physical brand of football that rubs off on his teammates and is a tone-setter as a hitter. He may need to become more disciplined at the next level, though, as opponents can use the former Tiger’s feisty downhill style against him in the play-action game or with misdirection. Overall, though, I absolutely love White’s potential when paired up with All-Pro linebacker Lavonte David in Todd Bowles’s new hybrid defense. Tampa Bay gets a slight downgrade here based on positional value and potential opportunity cost—Ed Oliver, Josh Allen, and a handful of high-upside players at multiple premium positions were still on the board—but I think White fits that defense nicely and should be an impact player from day one. GRADE: B+ 6. New York Giants: QB Daniel Jones, Duke I’d liked pretty much every pick in this draft ... until the Giants turned in their card. Jones has the physical makeup and moldable traits that you look for at quarterback, with good size, athleticism, adequate arm strength, and accuracy in the short and intermediate area. He also brings Josh Allen–lite speed as a runner—he’s capable of breaking away from defenders if he gets into daylight. But his struggles in a few crucial categories casts doubt on his ability to develop into a starting-caliber quarterback: He displayed questionable decision-making, anticipation, and deep accuracy at Duke, and he now faces a steep learning curve as he transitions to the pros after running the Blue Devils’ RPO-heavy offense. His career statistics in that scheme are, let’s say, less than encouraging: Jones averaged just 6.4 yards per attempt, finished with a 60 percent completion rate, and threw 29 interceptions to go along with his 52 touchdowns in three seasons as a starter. Jones came in at 100 on my big board, so clearly I’m not enamored of his value. He has some tools, but he’s a major project who doesn’t stand out in any particular area. On the bright side, I like the fit if only because he doesn’t have to start right away. He’ll have a chance to sit and learn from Eli Manning, which gives him better odds at turning into a starter. GRADE: D- The Jags love building through the trenches, and they stuck with that philosophy here with the selection of Allen. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner as the nation’s top defender is an explosive, agile pass rusher with top-tier athleticism and an über-versatile skill set. He’s quick out of his stance, showing bend at the top of his rush before closing ground on the QB in the blink of an eye, and when asked to drop back in space, he has an innate understanding of spacing that helps him get to his landmarks and occupy passing lanes. Allen was wildly productive at Kentucky, racking up 17 sacks, 88 tackles (including 21.5 for a loss), four passes defensed, and five forced fumbles in 2018. He has a little bit of work to do to shore up his run defense, and he often takes bad angles to the ball or lets plays get outside, but he should be a day-one impact player who fills in nicely for Dante Fowler Jr., who was traded to the Rams late last season. Allen is my no. 8 ranked player, and he was expected to be a top-five pick, so I’ve got no issue with his value at this spot. He’s a high-upside playmaker who should bring toughness and versatility to the Jacksonville front. GRADE: A Man, the Lions just love taking tight ends early. Hockenson becomes just the fourth player at his position to come off the board in the top 10 since the turn of the century, and just the second since 2007. The other in that stretch, of course, was Eric Ebron, whom the Lions took with the 10th pick in the 2014 draft. That didn’t work out too great for Detroit. But this is a new team with a new coaching staff, and I’m guessing Matt Patricia pictures Hockenson bringing a Rob Gronkowski–type presence to his offense. The John Mackey Award winner as the nation’s top tight end is a throwback combo player who can threaten the seam as a pass catcher on one snap and then bury a defender as a blocker on the next. That versatility gives Detroit the ability to do whatever it wants when he’s on the field, whether that’s running the ball down an opponent’s throat or throwing it over their head. He is one of the highest-floor players in this draft. That said, I don’t like the value of taking any tight end this high, especially when so many players at other premium positions are still available. That’s the only reason this isn’t an A grade. GRADE: B+ This pick makes all kinds of sense. The Bills lost defensive line stalwart Kyle Williams to retirement in December, but get an explosive, dynamic replacement here. The former Houston star has rare athleticism and plays with a low center of gravity, exploding into opposing linemen to quickly establish leverage and put them on their heels. He’s got the speed to shoot gaps and penetrate the pocket and shows extraordinary awareness, consistently chasing plays down from the backside, sniffing out screens, or getting his hands up to knock down throws. Oliver racked up 192 tackles—including 53 for a loss—with 13.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and 11 pass deflections over three seasons at Houston. Most of that production came while he was lined up at nose tackle, but in the pros, he’ll likely do best as a 3-technique (rushing off the outside shoulder of the guard) or even at the end, where he’ll be more able to tap into that athleticism. Oliver lacks length and can get overly aggressive at times, but he’s got almost limitless potential as a one-gapping pass rusher in the NFL. I love the player, I love the value, and I love the pick. GRADE: A+ 10. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Denver): LB Devin Bush, Michigan The Steelers defense has really struggled since losing Ryan Shazier to a serious spine injury in 2017, and grabbing Bush here gives them a similarly styled player who can set the tone for the entire unit. The former Wolverine is an explosive sideline-to-sideline linebacker with elite athleticism and range.<doc-sep>
With the No. 32 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected N'Keal Harry, wide receiver out of Arizona State. Physically imposing jump-ball receiver with deceptive speed and explosiveness who lacks in the agility department but starred at Arizona State since his true freshman season in 2016. Good, not great with the ball in his hands, Harry is a load to bring to the turf and can, in some instances, make defenders miss in space. Low-end WR1 who could flourish as a big slot at the next level. Draft tracker: Get grades for every pick Patriots: C+ Pete Prisco: I watched every one of his games and believe me it pains me to give this a 'C+,' but I just think there were better options. One thing when you look at the Patriots is they don't play fast outside, they needed to get faster. Maybe they expect Josh Gordon to come back at some point, but, for me I would have taken Parris Campbell or one of those guys, a faster, more athletic receiver. I don't love this pick. Looking for your daily fix of NFL news and analysis? Look no further than the Pick Six Podcast. CBS Sports senior writer Will Brinson (and guests) gets you up to speed each day in about 30 minutes with what's trending in the NFL world so that you're always in the know. Go subscribe right now! Fantasy impact Dave Richard: N'Keal Harry is a good, smart, NFL-ready receiver with great size and power. He's also a good route-runner -- the way he could quickly turn toward his quarterback on his route impressed me. He'll be a big target for Tom Brady, but not one who delivers with speed. Yes, he can make plays with his feet but it's his physical nature that makes him good. He'll also help in the run game as a blocker. I am sure he'll get picked in every single Fantasy draft this summer but it shouldn't be with anything more than a late-round pick. He'll be a middle- to late-round choice in long-term formats and enters the top-five conversation in rookie-only drafts. NFL comparison: Marques Colston Chris Trapasso: Here's a quote from Drew Brees, featured in an ESPN article, after Colston's first game with the Saints. "He's a big-play receiver. He's a possession receiver, he's a throw-it-up-and-let-him-jump and-get-it receiver." That is precisely the type of pass-catcher Harry is, and while he isn't a dazzling, separation creator as a route runner, he is surprisingly nimble after the catch and plays with powerful leg churn to carry defenders for extra yardage as he's finally being tackled. Colston is still the Saints all-time leading receiver and quietly crushed it from his rookie season all the way through his prime with six 1,000-yard campaigns. The big high-pointer finished with an average seasonal stat line of 71 catches, 975 yards, and 7.2 touchdowns in his 10 NFL seasons. College career Ryan Wilson: Harry became the ninth true freshman in Sun Devils history to start the season opener. He finished that season with 58 receptions for 659 yards and five touchdowns. As a sophomore, Harry had 82 receptions, 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns. And in 2018, Harry had 73 catches for 1,088 yards and a career-high nine scores. Among all FBS wide receivers, Harry ranked 21st in yards per route run, according to Pro Football Focus, and he was 26th in their deep pass catch rate metric. Strengths Ryan Wilson: Harry has great hands, can line up anywhere on the field, and he effectively excels in the screen game. His size makes him a tough matchup for any defensive back and most linebackers. The big concern is with his ability to separate, but he regularly wins the contested-catch battle. Weaknesses Ryan Wilson: Play speed will give NFL teams pause. Harry also needs to do a better job winning at the line of scrimmage, either with footwork or better hand usage.