[KChiefs1]

http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2...o_no_1_wh.html

By Zack Rosenblatt

The 2018 NFL Draft season is officially over.
Now, it's time too look ahead.

Yes, it's too early. But that doesn't make it any less fun to try and project the top prospects of the 2019 draft before they even play in the upcoming season. A lot can (and definitely will) change on this list.

At first glance, it appears this quarterback class might be a significant step down from last year's, as there's no Sam Darnold-level quarterback prospect viewed as the early favorite to go No. 1.

Spoiler!

Here's a (way too early) projection of next year's Top-20 picks.


1. DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
The brother of Chargers star Joey Bosa is on the same level as a prospect. Nick Bosa (6-4, 263) had 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2017 and was a first-team All-American.

2. DT Ed Oliver, Houston
Oliver has been NFL-ready since he stepped on campus as a true freshman in 2016 and managed 22 tackles for loss and five sacks. As teams doubled him in 2017, he still managed another 16.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. It wouldn't be surprising if he was the No. 1 pick in 2019.

3. QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
This one is more projection and personal preference, but Herbert has elite size (6-6, 225) and when he's been healthy — he missed a chunk of last season due to injury — he's been stellar with an NFL-arm. He's completed 65.3 percent of his passes in two seasons with 34 passing touchdowns and just nine interceptions.

4. DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
In a stacked defensive line draft, Lawrence has a case as the best one. He's massive (6-5, 340) and one scout told Bleacher Report he has Ndamukong Suh-level potential.

5. QB Drew Lock, Missouri
There are multiple candidates to be the No. 1 quarterback taken at this early stage, but none are the runaway favorite. For now, Lock is a good bet. He's 6-4, 225 and passed for nearly 4,000 yards last season in the SEC, along with 44 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He's noted for his ability to throw deep passes.

6. WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
Receivers fell far in the 2018 draft, but in 2019 that should change for at least one — Brown is a star. He's only 6-1, 225, but as a sophomore he broke out to the tune of 75 catches for 1,252 yards and 11 touchdowns.

7. QB Shea Patterson, Michigan
Patterson transferred from Mississippi to Michigan, where he'll likely play his final college season before declaring for the draft. The former No. 1 overall recruit has to show some improvement in 2018, but he has the talent to do so.

8. OT Trey Adams, Washington
Adam could've left after his junior season and become a high draft pick, but instead opted to return for his senior season. He's huge (6-8, 327) and projects as an elite-level left tackle prospect.

9. DL Rashan Gary, Michigan
The 6-5, 281 pound defensive lineman was the No. 1 recruit in 2016. He's a freak athletically and NFL Draft Bible wrote this about him: This prospect could very well be the top player chosen in the 2019 NFL Draft. A rare athlete with tremendous physique who combines speed with power and runs faster than most running backs.

10. DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson
Wikins is another prospect that opted to return for his senior season. He's 6-4 and 310 pounds and is labeled "A rare athletic specimen at 320 pounds, able to do backflips, splits and dunk a basketball with ease."

11. RB Bryce Love, Stanford
Love was the Heisman runner-up last season after an utterly dominant junior campaign where he rushed for 2,118 yards and 24 touchdowns. He's extremely fast and shifty, and should make it into the first round despite the stigma of, you know, being a running back.

12. CB Greedy Williams, LSU
He'd be the No. 1 overall pick if we were drafting based on names alone. He happens to be a good player too. As a redshirt freshman, he had six interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

13. OL Jonah Williams, Alabama
He's 6-5, 301 pounds and has started every game through the first two years of college career.

14. CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
The 5-11, 180-pound cornerback is a soild playmaker who's accumulated 76 tackles, five interceptions, 14 pass deflections, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble in two years.

15. QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
The 6-3, 214-pound quarterback still hasn't played like a star at the college level, but the talent is there and this will be the season for Stidham to prove himself.

16. RB Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma
He's big (6-2, 218 pounds) and broke out late last season as the Sooners made a College Football Playoff run. In the Rose Bowl, he rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns and he had 960 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns despite barely playing the first five weeks of the season. He's also a talented pass-catcher.

17. LB Cameron Smith, USC
Smith has been all over the field for USC since he was a true freshman. In three years, he's combined for 150 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries, one touchdown and 10 pass deflections.

18. DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama
Davis is 6-7, 306 pounds and still had 69 tackles in 2017, which is a lot for an interior defensive lineman. He also added 10 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

19. DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
He's the third Clemson defensive lineman on this list. That's scary. He's also scary for quarterbacks — he's managed 111 total tackles along with 30.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in two seasons.

20. QB Will Grier, West Virginia
Grier isn't huge, but he's considered a safe bet to be drafted highly next season for his big arm and mobility. He passed for 3,490 passing yards and 34 touchdowns last year.

Others considered:
OL Connor McGovern, Penn State
OL Michael Jordan, Ohio State
WR Ahmmon Richards, Miami
OT David Edward, Wisconsin
OT Greg Little, Ole Miss