Full 2019 NFL Mock Draft: Raiders and 49ers land defensive studs
By Justin Fried
After trading away standout defensive end Frank Clark just days prior to the 2019 NFL Draft, they have the opportunity to select his replacement with one of their two first-round picks. In this case, they decide to jump on the opportunity to draft Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell here at No. 21.
Ferrell is a technically sound, high-floor prospect who projects favorably as a 4-3 defensive end, ideal for the front Seattle will be running. While he may never be an annual 10+ sack kind of player, he should have no trouble racking up seven-to-nine sacks a season while remaining an excellent run defender and all-around solid edge defender.
If the Ravens are going to fully commit to their run-heavy offense headed by quarterback Lamar Jackson, then they’ll need to be sure to shore up the interior of their offensive line. While the young duo of Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown Jr. will hopefully hold down the tackle position for years to come, the center and left guard spots are fairly week at the moment.
NC State’s Garrett Bradbury has been a quick riser up many draft board and could very well find himself going as high as No. 22 come tonight. Bradbury would step in and take the place of either Matt Skura or Alex Lewis who both project better as reserve players than true starting options.
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There was no team more hampered by their offensive line play in 2018 than the Houston Texans, and that’s saying a lot. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was often left running for his life as the Texans five-man front allowed the most sacks in the NFL, 62, by a good margin.
Washington State’s Andre Dillard excels in pass protection and would be an ideal replacement for either of the Texans two current starting tackles. There isn’t much to think about here, the Texans will almost certainly address the offensive line with this pick — if they don’t trade up. And if Dillard’s still on the board, expect him to be the pick.
The Raiders may have found a budding star in 2017 first-rounder Gareon Conley, but the team lacks a current No. 2 option opposite him. Oakland signed Nevin Lawson in free agency and returns the likes of Daryl Worley and Nick Nelson, but it’s hard to get excited about the prospects of any of three.
That’s why they opt to address the obvious need in the secondary with the selection of LSU cornerback Greedy Williams here with their second of three first-round picks. Williams is a high-upside prospect who excels in man coverage and possesses excellent ball skills. His effort and consistency have been called into question but there’s no denying that he has the traits to be a shutdown corner in the NFL.