Tag: 2019 NFL draft

Commanders land a tight end in 2019 redraft

Terry McLaurin, Montez Sweat go in the first round of 2019 NFL redraft, but not to Washington.

The Washington Commanders entered the 2019 NFL draft with the No. 15 overall pick. Jay Gruden was heading into a critical sixth season as head coach and badly needed to win.

Of course, Washington had no shot with Bruce Allen as general manager and Dan Snyder as owner. Still, Gruden needed a solid draft to give him any chance of lasting another entire season.

As the draft neared, rumors swirled that Snyder wanted Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Why? Because his son went to high school with him in Maryland. Still, no one believed Snyder would eventually overrule the scouts, primarily Kyle Smith, and pick Haskins.

He did. But to appease the football people, he allowed the team to move back into the first round and draft Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat.

In the third round, Washington stole Ohio State wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

That season was a disaster, though. Gruden was fired after an 0-5 start, and Allen was finally fired after the season. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out for Haskins, and he was released late in the 2020 season, while Sweat became a consistent performer on a solid (at times) defense.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently looked back at that draft and did a redraft. It looks much different for Washington. Sweat lands at No. 5 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and McLaurin goes No. 12 to the Green Bay Packers.

Washington’s pick is former Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson. The Detroit Lions initially selected Hockenson No. 8 overall and later traded him to the Minnesota Vikings, where he thrived.

In a redraft, Washington instead selects Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson, who was originally drafted eighth overall by the Lions.

The Commanders had a need for a quality tight end in 2019, as Jeremy Sprinkle went on to lead the position group with a mere 241 receiving yards and a touchdown that season. Washington did eventually find a capable tight end by signing Logan Thomas in 2020. However, Thomas was more good than great and had his fair share of injury issues in Washington.

The Commanders signed Zach Ertz this offseason, and Thomas has since made his way to San Francisco.

Hockenson has been a great tight end when healthy and has made the Pro Bowl in both Detroit and Minnesota. While he’s currently working his way back from ACL and MCL tears, the 26-year-old should still have a bright future ahead of him.

Adding Hockenson here would help stabilize a key position for the Commanders and allow them to come away from the draft with a playmaker despite missing out on Terry McLaurin.

Washington fans would be pleased with Hockenson, but they will never accept any circumstance in which McLaurin is not with the franchise. Fans haven’t had a lot to root for over the past five seasons, but McLaurin has been a consistently positive presence on and off the field.

It’s all hypothetical, but it’s a fun exercise nonetheless.

Giants select WR Deebo Samuel in 2019 NFL re-draft

The New York Giants pass on QB Daniel Jones and select WR Deebo Samuel in a 2019 NFL re-draft by Bleacher Report.

With the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, the New York Giants selected Duke quarterback Daniel Jones.

That decision, made by then-general manager Dave Gettleman, drew immediate criticism from the experts and ire from the fans. Five years later, precious few have fallen into “full-bloom love” with Jones as Gettleman had.

Outside of a stellar 2022 campaign in which he led the Giants to the playoffs and picked up a road victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Jones’ career has been spotty at best.

Compounding the inconsistent play, which is also partially a byproduct of the poor offensive talent around him, Jones has endured multiple serious injuries. Most concerning have been his neck issues, but he’s also now returning from a torn ACL.

If given the option to go back in time, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes the Giants would do things differently. And in his 2019 NFL re-draft, he has Big Blue going with South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel in Round 1.

Instead of rolling the dice on Jones a second time in a redraft, the Giants take wide receiver Deebo Samuel. While Samuel might not be the best pure receiver to come out of the 2019 class, San Francisco’s second-round pick is a versatile and dynamic playmaker.

Valuable as both a receiver and a runner, Samuel has twice eclipsed 1,100 scrimmage yards and was a first-team All-Pro in 2021. He’d give the Giants another potent playmaker to pair with the equally versatile Saquon Barkley for the next five seasons.

Barkley was allowed to depart in 2024 free agency.

Having both Barkley and Samuel in the fold would give the Giants plenty of offensive options. While the challenge of finding Eli Manning’s successor would remain, New York would help ensure that the proverbial cupboard isn’t bare for its next signal-caller.

In this re-draft, Terry McLaurin went 12th overall to the Green Bay Packers and the argument could be made that he would have been the better choice here.

Meanwhile, at pick No. 17 overall, the Giants stayed true to their original and selected Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

The real question is how Lawrence still managed to fall all the way to No. 17 given that he’s arguably the most dominant defensive player in football.

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Eye-opening video shows major shift in Lions draft war room from 2019

Eye-opening video shows a major shift in Lions draft war room from 2019 and the new regime of Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell

Two years ago, there was a video posted by Tristin McKinstry on YouTube and it shows the Detroit Lions War Room for the 2019 NFL Draft compared to the Lions’ draft war room from the 2021 NFL Draft.

The differences aren’t just eye-opening; they’re night and day.

Looking back at the video from 2019, everything felt uncomfortable. The conversations between General Manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia felt odd or forced. Additionally, when they spoke to T.J. Hockenson before the selection, it was just awkward. Neither conversation with Hockenson felt genuine or personable. Lastly, the reaction from other people in the war room makes it feel like part of the room wasn’t on board with the Lions’ selection of the Iowa tight end.

Fast forward to 2021 and the energy from head coach Dan Campbell and General Manager Brad Holmes just feels different. They’re amped up about the selection of Penei Sewell and they just give off this genuine vibe that they really want this player in Detroit. Nothing feels divided or forced and most importantly, everyone seems aligned with the direction Campbell and Holmes are taking the team.

You can watch the video below and tell us if you can spot the differences between the war rooms.

Jags DE Josh Allen explains nuance behind what makes Nick Bosa great

Jags DE Josh Allen couldn’t believe Nick Bosa went ahead of him in the 2019 draft. Then he started watching more closely.

It’s not hard to watch 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa and determine that he’s one of the best players at his position in the NFL. He has a high motor, spends a ton of time in the backfield, and disrupts offenses in both the pass and run games. Bosa was the first defensive end off the board in the 2019 draft when San Francisco selected him No. 2 overall. That pick initially had his fellow 2019 draftee, Jaguars DE Josh Allen and eventual No. 7 overall pick, feeling slighted. Now he understands why Bosa went ahead of him.

In a fascinating discussion with Arik Armstead on his show ‘Third and Long’ for Tidal League, Allen talked about the 49ers star DE and why Bosa is now one of his favorite DEs to watch.

“He was the first end taken and I told you how I felt,” Allen said. “I’m like, ‘dang. How’d he get picked before me?’ But then it’s like, once I started learning the game and I started to really watch tape is when I started to really understand and see the type of game Nick had.”

Allen was an outstanding prospect coming out of Kentucky, and from a pure physical tools standpoint might have been a more ideal prospect than Bosa. He was also extremely productive as an outside linebacker for the Wildcats where he had a more well-rounded game that saw him drop in coverage some instead of simply lining up and playing on the line of scrimmage.

There’s more nuance to rushing the passer in the NFL though, and that’s something Allen quickly learned when watching Bosa more closely.

“Bro, Nick is an unbelievable player,” Allen said. “He does a lot of things really good, really clean, and he’s very consistent. Very consistent. One thing Nick does that I try to incorporate in my game is the angles. It’s the steps. It’s the why he’s doing the steps. Not really the move, but just the setup … He does a lot of things well and is very consistent. So that’s one thing that I like to watch Nick about.”

While Bosa had a ton of success during his first five seasons with the 49ers, Allen has been an excellent player in his own right. He started his career with 10.5 sacks, finishing fourth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Bosa finished first. Allen’s sack totals dipped to 2.5 because he played in only eight games. Then he posted 7.5 in each of the next two years. Last year he broke out with 17.5 sacks to earn his second Pro Bowl trip.

Perhaps watching Bosa and incorporating some of those more nuanced pass rushing elements into his game has helped catalyze Allen’s growth. The numbers would certainly say so.

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Commanders new DE Clelin Ferrell: ‘I don’t expect anything’

Clelin Ferrell grew up a Washington fan and fondly recalls some of his memories.

The Commanders have signed an NFL player who grew up a Washington Redskins fan.

Former San Franciso 49ers defensive end Clelin Ferrell, who last week signed a one-year deal with Washington, met with the media on Monday.

Ferrell talked of growing up in Richmond, of attending some training camp days back when the Redskins trained in Richmond.

He also mentioned that he was actually in attendance at the 2012 season Playoff game at FedEx Field between Seattle and Washington. That game took place on January 6, 2013. Consequently, Ferrell was a 15-year-old high school student.

Today, 11 years after that playoff loss to the Seahawks, Ferrell sat before the media, enjoying the fact that he was now, for the first time, a part of the Washington franchise.

“I wanted to be a part of a place where we could really build, and what better place than where I grew up?”

His assistant defensive line coach in San Francisco was Darryl Tapp. Tapp played for the Redskins for one season (2013). When asked if Tapp coming to the Commanders coaching staff influenced his decision to play for Washington, Ferrell responded, “It was major. He is one of the biggest reasons why I am here. Obviously Tapps is homegrown too, he’s from Virginia…He’s someone who can bring the best out of me.”

Ferrell, who played his college ball at Clemson, was selected fourth overall by the Raiders in the 2019 NFL draft. His career has not gone as anticipated for one being drafted so high.

In his four seasons with the Raiders, he started 15 games in his first season, and 11 in his second. Though he played in 16 and 17 games his last two Raiders seasons, he started only a startling 0 and 4 games.

In his one season with the 49ers (2023), he started all 17 games, produced 3.5 sacks, 6 tackles for a loss, and 13 QB hits. These are not what was expected for a fourth-overall selection.

He turns 27 in May, yet there remains the fact that Adam Peters still only offered Ferrell this one-year deal and that Ferrell accepted the offer. In being the fourth overall selection five seasons ago, did he apparently not receive a three-year deal that would have taken him through his age-29 season?

GM Adam Peters, in signing Ferrell to this one-year contract, has provided Ferrell with an incentive to produce. If he produces enough, he will have the opportunity to sign another contract.

When asked what he expects from his role with the Commanders, Ferrell responded, “I don’t expect anything. I think for me the biggest thing is that I am going to earn everything I get. I know we start on April 2…In the end, I want to be somebody who is respected, who earns everything that anyone gives them.”

Terry McLaurin is one of the NFL draft’s top steals over the last decade

McLaurin went from a third-round pick to one of the NFL’s best wide receivers.

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It didn’t take long for former Washington head coach Jay Gruden to know what he had in Terry McLaurin. Washington selected McLaurin with the No. 76 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

When training camp began, Gruden immediately saw McLaurin wouldn’t just be a contributor in his first NFL season. After he was selected, NFL draft analysts said McLaurin would be an outstanding special-teamer immediately. However, in the preseason, Gruden kept McLaurin under wraps, unleashing him in Week 1 as Washington’s No. 1 wide receiver.

In his NFL debut, McLaurin caught five passes for 125 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown catch from Case Keenum. McLaurin would’ve gone for 200 yards, or more, had Keenum not missed him for another wide-open potential score later in the game as McLaurin raced past the Philly secondary.

McLaurin would finish his rookie season with 58 receptions for 919 yards and seven touchdowns. Had it not been for Washington’s quarterback issues, McLaurin would’ve gone over 1,000 yards as a rookie.

Since 2019, McLaurin has had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, catching passes from 10 different quarterbacks. Last summer, he signed a three-year extension, making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid wide receivers.

ESPN recently named the top 50 draft steals over the last decade. McLaurin was ranked No. 29, with ESPN offering the following:

Scary Terry has been terrorizing NFC East cornerbacks since falling to the Commanders at No. 76 overall based on concerns about a lack of production and whether the Ohio State scheme created his openings. Yet McLaurin has eclipsed over 900 yards in each of his four seasons while becoming a top-tier deep threat for Washington.

That was Matt Miller’s assessment, by the way. Miller has an interesting track record in his analysis of current Washington players. We could argue that McLaurin should’ve been higher than No. 29. As always, though, we remind you that rankings are subjective.

A.J. Brown was the No. 51 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. McLaurin and Brown have put up comparable numbers, except that Brown has scored more touchdowns. The lack of touchdowns from McLaurin is a byproduct of questionable quarterback play. Additionally, Brown has played on better teams. ESPN ranked Brown as the No. 19 draft steal.

Regardless, both are phenomenal players.

The Commanders have enjoyed success from the third round and later in recent years, with McLaurin being the crown jewel.

Josh Jacobs may hold out until Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season

Josh Jacobs and the Las Vegas Raiders are at contract stalemate right now, which could lead to a holdout

After leading the NFL in rushing last season, Las Vegas Raiders running-back, [autotag]Josh Jacobs[/autotag], is looking to be paid as one of the best running backs in the league, and deservedly so. Jacobs was the Raiders’ No. 24 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft and agreed to a five-year deal with the final year being a team option.

Entering the 2022 season, Jacobs’ fourth year in the league, Las Vegas declined to pick up his fifth-year option which would have allowed for Jacobs to be a free agent this summer. Unfortunately for Jacobs, the Raiders placed the franchise tag on him for 2023 which will pay him around $10.1 million.

However, reports indicate that Jacobs was frustrated by this move as he has been in search of a long-term deal. If the Raiders and the former Alabama running back can’t come to a long-term deal by the season then Jacobs will hit the free agency market in 2024, where he would have no shortage of suitors.

On the Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero shared his uncertainty about Jacobs’ future saying, “The one that nobody’s talking about is Josh Jacobs, the reigning NFL rushing champion. At this point, if there’s not a long-term deal, I don’t anticipate Josh Jacobs being there at the start of training camp and I don’t know that he shows up in Week 1.”

Unless a deal is reached, there is a very possible chance that Jacobs may hold out well into the season.

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Former Panthers 2nd-round pick signs with Texans

Former Panthers second-round pick Greg Little is moving on to his third team in five seasons.

Doesn’t it seem like the Carolina Panthers drafted Greg Little way longer than four years ago?

Nonetheless, the former second-round selection is on to his third team in five seasons—having agreed to a deal with the Houston Texans. Little’s agent, David Canter of GSE Worldwide, broke the news on Twitter earlier this afternoon.

The Ole Miss offensive tackle was pursued by the Panthers at Pick No. 37 in 2019, a position they swapped up to thanks to the Seattle Seahawks. In return for the 10-spot jump, Carolina shipped off that year’s 47th selection—one used on Utah safety Marquise Blair—as well as the 77th, which was then flipped by Seattle to trade up for eventual Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf.

Little went on to appear in 14 games for the Panthers between 2019 and 2020. Then, prior to the 2021 campaign, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a 2022 seventh-round pick—one that eventually turned into Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes.

After his 2021 was cut short due to injury, Little played in all 17 games for the Dolphins in 2022. He recorded seven starts and 528 offensive snaps, with 243 coming at left tackle and 285 coming from the right.

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Texans RT Tytus Howard shares encouragement ahead of 2023 NFL draft

Houston Texans right tackle Tytus Howard tweeted positivity for the 2023 NFL draft class, drawing upon his own experience in 2019.

The Houston Texans reached for Tytus Howard.

That was the prevailing narrative when the Texans drafted the Alabama State tackle No. 23 overall in Round 1 of the 2019 NFL draft.

Houston was merely compensating because they missed out on Andre Dillard. That debate was quickly over by the end of their respective rookie years as Howard earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s all-rookie team.

Howard reflected on his underdog story Thursday evening and took to Twitter to give the 2023 class encouragement.

“Didn’t get an invite to the draft,” Howard wrote. “They told me I couldn’t get a camera crew until day 2. Still proving everyone who wrote me off wrong. You control your own destiny just put the work in. #NFLDraft2023”

Howard has started all 54 games active for the Texans since 2019.

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DeAndre Baker named Giants’ worst first-round pick since 2000

Pro Football Network names CB DeAndre Baker as the New York Giants’ worst first-round pick since 2000.

What has been the New York Giants’ worst first-round draft choice of the 21st Century?

According to Ian Valentino of Pro Football Network, it was the selection of Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker in 2019.

In general, the New York Giants’ drafts have brought back either a solid player or a non-contributor over the last 22 years.

The worst two picks by the franchise were significant misses, even considering their track record. Baker played poorly as a rookie due to limited athleticism, had off-field issues, and then had a gruesome non-contact knee injury. He was the first player drafted in the top 64 released from his class.

The Giants’ 2012 first-rounder, David Wilson, ran for only 504 yards in two years with the team before injuries sunk his career. He was taken before Mitchell Schwartz, Janoris Jenkins, and Alshon Jeffrey.

Runner-up: David Wilson (2012)

The Giants traded back into the first round in 2019 to select Baker, the Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2018 as the nation’s top corner, giving Seattle three picks (37th, 132nd and 142nd) to do so.

Baker was a disaster from Day 1 and not only was he not long for the Giants, but they also lost out on several key mid-round draft picks as well. It was a complete lose-lose situation all the way around — on and off the field.

Wilson simply was a speedy home run hitter who was better suited for track and field than the NFL. He sustained a neck injury early on with the Giants and was forced to retire from football.

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