20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Devin Bush, LB (Michigan)
The Steelers need linebacker help and if Bush falls this far, I would expect them to be giddy as they handed in the pick. Despite losing two of their best offensive weapons in the NFL this offseason, this is still a team with bigger problems on defense than on offense, and linebacker is one of the biggest. Bush is a weird player to watch due to the way he was used at Michigan but the athletic talent is certainly there.
21. Seattle Seahawks – Montez Sweat, EDGE (Mississippi State)
Sweat is rumored to fall a bit compared to his post-combine peak – partly due to some medical concerns and partly due to the fact that his tape suggests there is a reasonable amount of technique work needed for him to get close to his potential – but having just traded away their only notable edge rusher, the Seahawks need to retool in this regard and might be willing to take a chance on Sweat at this point.
22. Baltimore Ravens – Hollywood Brown, WR (Oklahoma)
The Ravens need to add some more weapons around Lamar Jackson, and while Brown might not be the most complete receiver in this class, he does offer a vertical component that few others can – when combined with Baltimore’s run heavy attack, he gives them a chance to punish teams who look to stuff the box due to his ability to get vertical as well as being able to contribute on jet sweeps and the like.
23. Houston Texans – Chris Lindstrom, OG (Boston College)
The Texans would love for a tackle to fall this far, but with most of the top players off the board, they need to improve their pass protection inside as well as out. Lindstrom might not have the ceiling of a Ford, but he is very well rounded from a technical point of view and is a plus athlete.
24. Oakland Raiders – Josh Jacobs, RB (Alabama)
The Raiders are now without Marshawn Lynch, and in effect without a running back, and while this isn’t the most valuable position in the NFL, when you factor in Jacobs’ ability to also contribute in the passing game while giving them a lot of what Lynch did in terms of inside power, this is a pick that would make some sense.
25. Philadelphia Eagles – Rashan Gary, iDL (Michigan)
The Eagles could do with some interior defensive line help, and while Gary could well slide due to an injury concern, if he’s still on the board at this point, I think somebody takes a chance on him and it certainly would fill a need for the Eagles. I do think Gary has a lot of upside, especially as an interior pass rusher, but there is a lot of work to be done from a technique point of view, especially when it comes to his hand usage.
26. Indianapolis Colts – DK Metcalf, WR (Ole Miss)
The Colts gave Luck at least one more weapon when they signed Devin Funchess this offseason, but given that he is only on a one-year contract and is probably going to cost a lot to resign if he actually plays like a starting wide receiver – and given that they have moved to a more quick-hitting scheme, they need somebody to get the ball to. Metcalf needs some work as a route runner and the number of drops are a concern, but the upside is undeniably there.
27. Oakland Raiders – Noah Fant, TE (Iowa)
The Raiders used tight ends like no other team last season, and then let their best tight end walk in free agency, so finding a feature tight end could go a long way to elevating Derek Carr’s play if they are committed to him going forward. Fant needs some development as a route runner and as a blocker, but the talent is undeniable and late in the first round the Raiders would likely be sorely tempted.
28. Los Angeles Chargers – Greedy Williams, CB (LSU)
The Chargers have a need at corner and Greedy Williams has the potential to be a very, very good one – even if there are concerns about his ability in deep zone and against the run. There are a number of players in this class with immense potential but also significant concerns, and while there’s always the risk that somebody takes swings on these players earlier in the draft, the late first seems like a better balance of risk and reward.
29. Seattle Seahawks – Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, FS (Florida)
The Seahawks lost Earl Thomas this offseason, and the importance of that centerfield safety to their defense really cannot be overstated. There are some concerns with Gardner-Johnson and he hasn’t played the deep middle role since 2017, but he shows the movement, athleticism, ball skills and awareness on tape to allow the Seahawks to continue to run their cover-3 heavy scheme into 2019.
30. Green Bay Packers – N’Keal Harry, WR (Arizona State)
The Packers need to give Rodgers more players to throw to, and while this isn’t a great class in terms of the offensive skill positions, there are a number of ways they might go late in the first round. Harry might not have the deep speed of some of the other athletic developmental receivers in this class, but he has great hands and flashes as a route runner.
31. Los Angeles Rams – Mack Wilson, LB (Alabama)
The Rams can kind of wait and see who falls to them, and while Wilson wouldn’t be seen as a steal at this point this is probably fair value for him and the Rams have had issues at linebacker for a while. There are issues with Wilson on tape and his run defense is something that will need to improve in order to thrive in the Rams’ 3-4 defense, but his ability in space is just so valuable in the modern NFL.
32. New England Patriots – Greg Little, OT (Ole Miss)
The Patriots know that they can win consistently if they do their jobs defensively and keep Brady upright. They might have lost their left tackle from 2018 to free agency but they will be getting last year’s first round offensive lineman back from IR and while they could go a whole range of directions, the potential to get a pair of bookend tackles to protect Brady might to too appealing to pass on, especially when they have a glut of day two picks to address the defense and wide receiver.
