The 2024 NFL Draft is 37 days away. As a hype-up for the NFL Draft, it has been 5 years since the 2019 NFL Draft occurred and I am going to grade every single pick made in this draft starting with the 1st round.
Keep in mind, that if I grade any selection as a HACKENBERG, that means the grade is an F. This is a tribute to one of the worst draft choices in New York Jets history, as they drafted Christian Hackenberg, who is arguably the worst draft choice in New York Jets history.
So, let’s get into the regrades for the 2019 NFL Draft, starting with the Arizona Cardinals.
1. Arizona Cardinals – QB Kyler Murray
Grade: B+
When this pick was confirmed that Arizona was going to select Murray many were laughing. Especially with how quickly the team gave up on Josh Rosen. It was clear that Nick Bosa was the best player in the draft and Arizona Bosa. While it was awful asset management, it turned out that it was the right choice.
Rosen became a journeyman quarterback and Murray put up some great performances as a Cardinal. While Murray has not been a fantastic quarterback, he has been a reliable franchise QB. The only thing that hampered Murray down was Kliff Kingsbury as the head coach and the Torn ACL 2 years ago.
Murray statistically has thrown 15,647 passing yards, 94 touchdowns, 46 interceptions, and a 66.6 completion percentage. He even has 2,448 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. The Murray pick is a thumbs-up, so the grade will be a B+.
2. San Francisco 49ers – DE/EDGE Nick Bosa
Grade: A+
Should I have to explain why the Nick Bosa grade is an A+? He legit is one of the best pass rushers in the league and is one of the main pillars on the San Francisco 49ers defense. Excluding the one year he Tore his ACL he has been a transcendent talent. A home run grand slam pick for the 49ers.
3. New York Jets – DT Quinnen Williams
Grade: A+
Mike Maccagnan’s tenure as General Manager of the New York Jets was marred by poor drafting decisions. However, among the picks, he did hit the mark with Quinnen Williams, who emerged as a fantastic addition to the Jets. Williams stands out as a cornerstone in the team’s interior defensive line, making a significant impact on both run defense and pass rush.
Although Williams encountered injury challenges early in his rookie season, his on-field performance has been nothing short of impactful. The selection of Williams turned out to be a resounding success for the Jets who eventually gave him a nice 4 year extension. With his exceptional play over the past five years, Williams is poised to be a perennial Pro Bowler and could potentially be a future Hall of Famer given his stellar contributions to the team.
4. Oakland Raiders – DE/EDGE Clelin Ferrell
Grade: HACKENBERG
This grade began as a HACKENBERG at the 2019 NFL Draft and remains a HACKENBERG five years later. The selection of Ferrell at such a high spot was incredibly surprising; it was almost comical when he was drafted so early. While acknowledging Ferrell’s potential as a dominant force at Clemson, there were undoubtedly more promising prospects available at that time.
Initially, Ferrell showed glimpses of promise in his rookie season, recording 4.5 sacks. However, his performance steadily declined over time. Jon Gruden’s tenure in Vegas took a downturn resulting in his fall from grace. Ferrell’s role diminished significantly, especially under Josh McDaniels’ “coaching”.
He was recently with the San Francisco 49ers, but Ferrell has primarily functioned as a rotational pass rusher/depth piece and will likely be that with the Washington Commanders. It’s undoubtedly a letdown considering his lofty Top 5 draft pick status in the NFL Draft and this pick was an awful move.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LB Devin White
Grade: A
Devin White stands as a pivotal figure in the Buccaneers’ defense, notably contributing to their success in winning Super Bowl 55. His performance was instrumental, evidenced by making the most tackles for Tampa Bay in that memorable game. While uncertainties loom over his long-term future with the Buccaneers, White remains a highly skilled player who significantly bolstered the team’s defense when he was drafted.
His overall impact and contributions to the team’s success have been very strong, but he did have a slow start and had a down season last year. I can’t grade this an A+, but to be fair I think an A would make sense here.
6. New York Giants – QB Daniel Jones
Grade: D
This pick was such a reach when it was made during the 2019 NFL Draft and it still is one to this very day. Jones was graded as a 3rd/4th round prospect, yet the Giants decided to take him 6th overall when they could have gotten him with the mid-1st round pick the team already had.
Jones, however, has been a lot better than originally anticipated and the Giants even had a playoff appearance with Jones as the quarterback and he even got a four-year, $160 million contract extension. Here is the problem, injures. Especially with the Neck issues, Ankle, hamstring, and even a Torn ACL as well.
When healthy he is a solid Quarterback, but with the injury issues, inconsistency, and the reach of this pick. It looks like the Giants may even be planning to move on from him in the offseason too. I did debate a C with this grade, but with his injuries popping back up I decided to downgrade it to a D.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars – DE/EDGE Josh Allen
Grade: A+
It was stunning that Josh Allen fell to this point of the draft, but it is Jacksonville’s gain. Allen has been a big piece of that Jaguars defense. Excluding the 2020 season where he suffered a knee injury Allen has had strong seasons and provided a ton of pressure to the quarterback. He has gotten above 10 sacks in two seasons, but he is still a very good player for the team. He is one of the pillars on the Jags defense and this pick is an easy A+ Grade.
8. Detroit Lions – TE T.J. Hockenson
Grade B
Hockenson was widely regarded as the top tight end in the 2019 NFL Draft at that time, and Iowa had a reputation for developing quality tight ends in college. The Lions took a chance and selected him. Interestingly, Hockenson was a Plan B for the Lions, as they were initially looking to acquire Rob Gronkowski via trade, but Gronkowski chose to retire instead of playing with the Lions.
During his tenure in Detroit, Hockenson posted decent stats. Although he never crossed the 1,000 receiving yards mark, he proved to be a reliable target for quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, and Kirk Cousins. Hockenson did face some challenges with injuries, dealing with a hand injury and suffering a concussion in his rookie season.
Subsequently, the Lions traded Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for draft picks. His performance in Minnesota has been commendable, and he is currently experiencing a career year with career highs in 95 receptions for 960 receiving yards. He even caught 5 touchdowns as well. Overall, I regard this pick positively and assign it a B grade
9. Buffalo Bills – DT Ed Oliver
Grade: B
If I had to summarize Oliver’s career thus far, I’d call it “solid.” He remains a dependable player for the team, contributing significantly to the defensive line, and even came off of a 9.5 sacks season which is a career-high. However, consistency is key, as he displays dominance in some games but appears less impactful in others. Over time, Oliver has notably improved in both run and pass defense, culminating in a recent career-best performance for the team.
Signing a four-year, $68 million contract with the Bills was a positive move for both parties. However, reflecting on the draft, there might have been considerations for different choices. In hindsight, the Bills might have leaned towards either Jeffery Simmons or Christian Wilkins if they had to redo the pick, as both have shown more success in the NFL compared to Oliver. Despite this, I would still label Oliver’s selection as a B since it has ultimately worked out well for the team.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (From Denver Broncos) – LB Devin Bush
Grade: HACKENBERG
Wow! What the hell happened to Devin Bush? Bush was once hailed as a rising star in the NFL following a highly promising rookie season and now he might be out of the league soon.
In his debut year, he amassed impressive stats with 109 tackles, 1 sack, 4 pass deflections, 4 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions. He appeared to be a crucial asset for the Steelers’ defense. However, his trajectory drastically changed after he tore his ACL in the 2020 season. Nearly all aspects of his game declined, except for his tackles. He struggled significantly in coverage, lacked the previous aggression and passion on the field, failing to recapture his earlier form.
He did sign with the Seattle Seahawks on a one-year “prove it” deal, however, the only thing he proved was how much of a bust he has turned into. It’s disappointing considering how enjoyable he was to watch back in 2019. However, his unimpressive tenure with the Seahawks might put his future in the league in jeopardy. This pick has to get the HACKENBERG grade here. Such a shame that Bush flopped after his first season as he was a very good prospect entering the 2019 NFL Draft.
11. Cincinnati Bengals – OT Jonah Williams
Grade: D
The Bengals offensive line was a trainwreck the previous year, so the Bengals decided to invest in the offensive line by selecting Jonah Williams in the 2019 NFL Draft. The only thing I can say with this pick is that it has been a super disappointment. Williams has been extremely inconsistent during his time in Cincinnati and he has had more bad moments than good ones.
It does not help as well that Williams has a problem staying healthy. In his rookie season, he had a shoulder injury and also had a knee issue in 2020. Williams even requested a trade out of Cincinnati when the team signed Orlando Brown Jr. to the team and as of now, he is still a Bengals. The team tried experimenting with him at right tackle, but that has not worked either. This has been a flop of a pick and I will give it a D.
12. Green Bay Packers – DE/EDGE Rashan Gary
Grade: A-
When the Packers initially drafted Rashan Gary during the 2019 NFL Draft, many were not thrilled. However, Gary proved to be a much better player than I had initially anticipated, despite a rough start in his first few seasons with the team. Then came the 2021 season, where he had a breakout year, showcasing exceptional pass-rushing abilities that NFL teams covet. His performance led to a significant four-year contract worth up to $107 million.
However, the grade settles in the A- range due to the awful start to his career and the injuries. Gary endured a severe knee injury in the 2022 season, and earlier in his career, he also faced ankle issues. Fortunately, he managed to overcome these setbacks and emerged as a valuable defensive player for the team.
13. Miami Dolphins – DT Christian Wilkins
Grade: A
Wilkins was a guy that I thought was drafted a little early in the draft, but man did he pan out in Miami. He has had a big impact on the Dolphins defense when stopping the run and even providing pressure to the quarterback. He has also been one of the most durable players as well as excluding a few games in 2020 he missed due to being on the Covid-19 list, Wilkins has never been hurt. This was a very good pick by the team as Wilkins is one of the pieces to this Dolphins defense.
14. Atlanta Falcons – OG Chris Lindstrom
Grade A+
No brainer A+ Grade here. Chris Lindstrom is one of the most underrated players in the NFL and honestly might be the best guard in the league in my opinion. While his rookie season was derailed by a foot injury when on the field he is an impactful player that helps protect the quarterback and opening holes for the running game. If this draft was redone, Lindstrom would be a Top 5 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
15. Washington Redskins – QB Dwayne Haskins
Grade: HACKENBERG
Oh man, this one is depressing as Dwayne Haskins is unfortunately no longer with us as he passed away tragically in 2022. He is a tremendous what-if because I believe that if he was alive today, he would have been the starting QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers today.
During his time with the Commanders, he was an absolute bust with the team. He never resembled anything close to being a starter in the NFL as a Commander and did not even last 2 seasons with the team being cut.
Sorry, but this has to have the HACKENBERG grade here.
16. Carolina Panthers – DE/EDGE Brian Burns Grade: A
Grade: A
Amidst a rough start during David Tepper’s ownership of the Carolina Panthers, Brian Burns has emerged as a bright spot on their defense. Although he’s achieved above 10 sacks in only one season, his consistent ability to pressure the quarterback and deliver in crucial moments hasn’t gone unnoticed.
When trade rumors involve multiple teams willing to trade first-round picks for a player, it underscores the impact that player has made. Too bad Carolina declined a trade that could have gotten them two extra 1st round picks from the Los Angeles Rams. At least the Carolina franchise tagged him recently so they will get his services for another season and he has been traded to the Giants.
Brian Burns has undoubtedly been a standout performer, deserving an easy A grade for his contributions to the Panthers. Hopefully, he can keep this production up with the New York Giants. It is not an A+ as he has not had multiple 10-sack seasons, but it was close.
17. New York Giants (From Cleveland Browns) – Dexter Lawrence
Grade: A+
This was the 1st round pick the Giants acquired in the blockbuster Odell Beckham Jr trade with the Cleveland Browns. I was not a fan of the Daniel Jones selection or the DeAndre Baker pick (Oh We Will Get To That), but I really liked the Dexter Lawrence selection when it was made and still do to this very day.
After all Dexter Lawrence is one of the main pieces to the Giants defense. He has been a great run-stopper and arguably one of the best in the league. He wasn’t the greatest pass rusher in the first few years of his career, but he got better the more he played. A grand slam home run pick for the New York Giants and probably the best draft move Dave Gettleman made in his career as the New York Giants GM.
18. Minnesota Vikings – C Garrett Bradberry
Grade: B+
Garret Bradberry was a solid selection as the Vikings needed a center at the time and Bradberry is dependable as a pass/run blocker. He has not been a fantastic center to the level that Jason Kelce, Erik McCoy, or Creed Humphrey, but Bradbury is still a very solid center that any team would love to bring in. Bradbury did get a 3-year extension with the Minnesota Vikings, so the Vikings still see value in him. This pick panned out for the Vikings and as for grade-wise, I will give it a B+.
19. Tennessee Titans – DT Jeffery Simmons
Grade: A+
If it was not for a Torn ACL he suffered coming into the draft, Jeffery Simmons would have gone a lot earlier. Heck, he probably would have been a Top 5 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Simmons has been one of the best interior defensive tackles in the draft and was one of the main pillars of the Titans defense. Simmons signed a four-year, $94 million contract extension with the Titans which was well deserved with how great of a player he has been. This grade is an A+ and there is no debate here. The Titans got a tremendous steal taking Simmons here.
20. Denver Broncos (From Pittsburgh Penguins) – TE Noah Fant
Grade: C
I don’t know what to think of Noah Fant. Fant has not been terrible, but he has not been great either. He has never had a season where he has had over 700 receiving yards or 4 touchdowns. He is a decent contributor on offense. Unfortunately it just never clicked with him in Denver. Fant he was part of a trade package for Denver to get Russell Wilson.
One thing is for sure, Fant has not lived up to the 1st round label that he was given. At least the Broncos were able to trade down from 10 to 20 and get a 2nd and 3rd-round pick. One of those picks was used on Lloyd Cushenberry who was one of their serviceable offensive lineman until he left free agency for the Titans.
As for this selection, I think a C grade would suffice here. A pretty average player is what Noah Fant is and a C is an average grade.
21. Green Bay Packers (From Seattle Seahawks) – S Darnell Savage
Grade: B+
When the Packers traded up in the draft, I remembered thinking they were gonna take either Montez Sweat or Andre Dillard and when the pick was announced to be Savage, I was perplexed. I had Savage as a 2nd round prospect and the Packers did not need to trade up to take him. Then watching him play in his rookie season, I saw the light as he was a perfect fit on the Packers defense.
Strong in coverage, and tackling, and was super athletic. His biggest con is his slow reaction time and inconsistent awareness level, but overall Savage has had a big impact on the Packers secondary and was a very dependable player for the Packers. He did have a noticeable regression in 2023, but he was still a very good player.
It will be interesting to see how he plays with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but this pick was a success for the Packers. I am going to give it a B+. As for the picks the Packers traded to get Savage in the 2019 NFL Draft, they turned into L.J Collier, Dru Samia, and Hjalte Froholdt
22. Philadelphia Eagles (From Baltimore Ravens) – OT Andre Dillard
Grade: D
Gosh, I remembered when Andre Dillard was once considered to be one of the Top Tackle Prospects in this draft. He at the time fell to the pick and Philadelphia decided to strengthen the offensive line and prepare for an eventual replacement for Jason Peters. Well, this did not go to plan as Jordan Mailata emerged on this team and Andre Dillard regressed a ton.
He got a little better in the 2nd half of his Eagles career, but he lacked consistency as a blocker. Dillard did sign a 3-year, 29-million-dollar contract with the Tennessee Titans, but that was a massive overpayment. Unsurprisingly he only lasted a season with the team. He was one of the worst blockers on an awful Titans o-line and even got benched. This was a complete disappointment of a selection, but at least he got better and showed some potential as a run blocker.
23. Houston Texans – OT Tytus Howard
Grade: C
The Texans were originally going to take Andre Dillard with this pick, but unfortunately, the Eagles had the earlier pick and the Texans went to Plan B. Plan B was Tytus Howard who was a reach at the time this pick was made. I remembered going back to my notes, I had Howard as a 3rd/4th Round Prospect. Let’s just say the Texans were lucky they did not get Dillard as Howard ultimately became the much better pick.
Has Howard been great in Houston? No, but he has not been terrible either. Howard was a very solid blocker for the Texans and he even got a 3 year extension from the squad. Then the injuries hit and that contract is looking like a mistake. Overall though Howard when healthy was more on the Average side and my average grading scale would be a C grade. So that is what this selection will be graded 5 years later.
24. Oakland Raiders (From Chicago Bears) – RB Josh Jacobs
Grade: A
This was the most predictable pick of the 2019 NFL Draft as almost everybody knew the Raiders were going to select Josh Jacobs in this draft. Especially as Marshawn Lynch announced his retirement and Jon Gruden loved to run the ball with his offense. The Raiders got their guy and he became a big piece on this Raiders offense the past few years. He had multiple 1,000-yard seasons and each season had at least 6 rushing touchdowns. In 2 of his seasons, he had 12 rushing touchdowns. It’s gonna be weird seeing Jacobs as a Green Bay Packer, but this selection was a success for the Raiders. I am going to grade this one an A.
25. Baltimore Ravens (From Philadelphia Eagles) – WR Marquise Brown
Grade: B+
Did you know that Marquise Brown is the cousin of Antonio Brown? Luckily Marquise Brown is not as much of a trainwreck as Antonio Brown is today and is still playing football. As for his career, Brown was solid for Baltimore. Brown was a nice receiver for Lamar Jackson to throw too and he played pretty well during his time there. Heck, he even had a year where he had over 1,000 receiving yards and multiple seasons with 6 or more touchdowns.
Baltimore decided to trade him to Arizona for a 1st round pick. He joined during the final year of the Keim/Kingsbury Era and getting him was a panic move. While Brown is still a good player, he has not been that great with the Cardinals. It will be interesting to see how Brown ring chases with the Kansas City Cheifs. This pick was a very well-made decision by Baltimore and I am going to grade it a B+
As for the 1st round pick that Arizona traded to get Marquise Brown, it turned out to be CB Kaair Elam, who has not been great with Buffalo. However the Ravens traded that pick for 2 other draft picks and they turned out to be Jordan Stout and Tyler Linderbaum, two big pieces to the Ravens roster today..
26. Washington Redskins (From Indianapolis Colts) – DE/EDGE Montez Sweat
Grade A
Sweat would have been a higher pick if a doctor did not misdiagnose him with a heart condition. This pick panned out for Washington as Sweat became a really solid piece with the Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders. Not only impacting the team by providing pressure but even by stopping the run. He was a part of the defense in 2020 that helped get Washington into the playoffs as well.
Sweat was traded to the Chicago Bears for a 2nd round draft pick and he has improved that defense a bit with his arrival. Sweat had a career year with getting 12.5 sacks and 57 tackles. He even got a well-deserved 4-year contract worth 98 million dollars. It is safe to say that a great pick was made here.
27. Oakland Raiders (from Dallas Cowboys) – S Jonathan Abram
Grade: HACKENBERG
This selection came from the Amari Cooper trade with the Dallas Cowboys. Abram showed potential as an NFL player, but consistent injuries hampered his career. Even when healthy, his on-field performance was lackluster, displaying poor awareness and coverage skills. Surprisingly, the Raiders didn’t explore using Abram as a linebacker, despite his strong tackling abilities. In one season, he recorded over 100 tackles, but Abram did not pan out with the Raiders.
Apart from that season where he had 100 tackles, Abram hasn’t made a significant impact and has transitioned between teams, playing for the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and New Orleans Saints. Ultimately, this pick didn’t pan out, and I graded this selection a HACKENBERG.
28. Los Angeles Chargers – DT Jerry Tillery
Grade: HACKENBERG
Yuck, Tillery had moments of flashes with the Chargers, especially with rushing the passer, but he mostly struggled. He also became a distraction on and off the field which ultimately led to the Chargers straight up releasing him. It also did not help that he was one of the worst run-defensive tackles in the league as well at one point. Tillery is with the Las Vegas Raiders and has mainly been a rotational piece on the Raiders. Yeah definitely giving the HACKENBERG grade here.
29. Seattle Seahawks (From Kansas City Chiefs) – DE/EDGE L.J. Collier Grade HACKENBERG
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Grade: HACKENBERG
This pick was so perplexing when it was made. Collier was an older prospect who was not projected to go anywhere near the 1st round of the draft. Collier was a complete disappointment in Seattle and while he showed flashes in the 2020 season, he had a lot more negatives than positives with the team on the field. Collier did sign with the Cardinals, but he suffered a season-ending injury and he has done nothing in Arizona. What an absolute waste of a 1st round pick by the Seahawks that the team got in the Frank Clark trade. This grade is getting a HACKENBERG grade.
30. New York Giants (from New Orleans Saints via Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks) – CB Deandre Baker
Grade HACKENBERG
Deandre Baker was an awful selection by the New York Giants as he was terrible during his rookie season. The Giants decided to release Baker during his 2nd season with the team when he was charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm. The charges were dropped as there was evidence suggesting the alleged victims accepted $55,000 in exchange for changing their story of the situation.
As a result, he got an opportunity to play with the Kansas City Chiefs, but it did not work out for him and he has been out of the league for a few years now. He is now a part of the UFL with the D.C. Defenders.
If you want to know, the picks the Giants traded up to get Deandre Baker in the 2019 NFL Draft, turned into OT Greg Little (37th Overall), S Ugo Amadi (132nd Overall), and LB Ben Burr-Kirven (142nd Overall).
31. Atlanta Falcons (from Los Angeles Rams) – OT Kaleb McGary
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Grade A+
If I did a 2-year grade for McGary I would have labeled this grade as a D or D-. Not only did he struggle on the field when he played, but he had trouble staying healthy. He even had a heart condition during his first season and had to get it operated on. However, McGary was a late bloomer as he has truly developed into one of the best tackles in the league.
McGary even signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract extension with his stronger performances. McGary went from being a D grade up to an A+ grade and has become one of the best right tackles in the league. Hard work pays off and McGary shows that.
32. New England Patriots – WR N’Keal Harry
Grade: HACKENBERG
One significant reason for the recent struggles of the current Patriots team today is Bill Belichick’s string of missed opportunities with high draft picks. N’Keal Harry stands as one glaring example, proving to be a massive disappointment for the Patriots. Unfortunately, Harry failed to make a successful transition to the NFL. During his tenure in New England, Harry managed just 57 catches for 598 yards and 4 touchdowns, failing to meet expectations.
Subsequently, Harry was traded to the Chicago Bears for a 7th-round pick, but his stint with the team was short-lived. He recently found himself on the Minnesota Vikings’ roster, primarily as a practice squad member. His performance overall as a 1st round pick was a significant letdown, warranting an easy HACKENBERG grade.
So those are my 5-year grades in the 1st round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Do you agree? What are your grades 5 years after the draft? Let me know in the comment section and don’t forget to share this piece with others.
