2019 NFL Draft Big Board: Matt Miller's Latest Rankings

[BonifayRam]

By Matt Miller
The top players in the 2019 NFL draft class are making their intentions known as they declare early, sit out bowl games and start training for the grueling predraft process that will begin in early January. Pro scouts are doing their own work now as they evaluate and rank the top players in the country for the NFL draft.

The mid-December update of my big board adds many underclassmen who have declared for the draft, adjusts for injuries and sees many players emerge at the top of their positions. In a year with no clear-cut leader at many positions emerging before midseason, we also get clarity as the final month of the NFL calendar begins.

Who is the top quarterback? Who are the best defenders in an absolutely loaded class?

It's all in here.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...big-board-matt-millers-latest-rankings#slide1

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I think Fant is a tad overrated. Haskins is a bit raw for such a lofty ranking also.

There looks to be plenty of edge rushers, and DT’s if the Rams don’t resign Suh or Fowler.

I really think a back end guy like Thompson would help this team out. Miller has him rated much higher than others. I’d love to see him replace Joyner.

 

[jrry32]

I think Fant is a tad overrated. Haskins is a bit raw for such a lofty ranking also.

There looks to be plenty of edge rushers, and DT’s if the Rams don’t resign Suh or Fowler.

I really think a back end guy like Thompson would help this team out. Miller has him rated much higher than others. I’d love to see him replace Joyner.

I think the board will likely end up dictating us taking a DT. This is just the perfect draft for it. I haven't gotten into evaluating yet, but from just watching the games, there are very arguably 10 DTs who would be top 25 picks in a lot of drafts. Here are the guys off the top of my head:
Ed Oliver
Quinnen Williams
Jeff Simmons
Dexter Lawrence
Christian Wilkins
Dre'Mont Jones
Zach Allen
Rashan Gary
Jerry Tillery
Isaiah Buggs

We'll have a big need there with Suh likely leaving, and I think there's a chance Brockers could go too (based on his play this year). I think John Franklin-Myers could step into the Brockers role, but we're going to need a game-changer in the middle next to Donald. I think we can improve our LBs in FA. We should have some cap room after cutting Barron. If we cut Brockers and Barron, we'll have roughly $50 million in cap space. We need to keep some for extending guys like Goff and re-signing players like Saffold, but we'll have money to fortify the LB position some.

I also don't get the feeling that we go safety early. Wade likes to have interchangeable do-it-all types at safety. The jack of all trades master of none types tend to last into the middle rounds. And that's where Wade has traditionally gone after safeties (well that and FA). I think we could get a good fit for his system at a good price in FA and grab another guy in the middle rounds. I don't think he values safeties as highly as other schemes do. JMO.

 

[dieterbrock]

I think the board will likely end up dictating us taking a DT. This is just the perfect draft for it. I haven't gotten into evaluating yet, but from just watching the games, there are very arguably 10 DTs who would be top 25 picks in a lot of drafts. Here are the guys off the top of my head:
Ed Oliver
Quinnen Williams
Jeff Simmons
Dexter Lawrence
Christian Wilkins
Dre'Mont Jones
Zach Allen
Rashan Gary
Jerry Tillery
Isaiah Buggs

We'll have a big need there with Suh likely leaving, and I think there's a chance Brockers could go too (based on his play this year). I think John Franklin-Myers could step into the Brockers role, but we're going to need a game-changer in the middle next to Donald. I think we can improve our LBs in FA. We should have some cap room after cutting Barron. If we cut Brockers and Barron, we'll have roughly $50 million in cap space. We need to keep some for extending guys like Goff and re-signing players like Saffold, but we'll have money to fortify the LB position some.

I also don't get the feeling that we go safety early. Wade likes to have interchangeable do-it-all types at safety. The jack of all trades master of none types tend to last into the middle rounds. And that's where Wade has traditionally gone after safeties (well that and FA). I think we could get a good fit for his system at a good price in FA and grab another guy in the middle rounds. I don't think he values safeties as highly as other schemes do. JMO.

Love to see how you end up rating Tillery

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

There are a lot of good edge rushers in this draft. Supposedly the Jets are going to sign Fowler. I could see Snead moving back into round two and grabbing an edge rusher. If there is a decent QB on the board or a position that is in short supply that some GM converts then the potential will be there to get an extra pick.

 

[jrry32]

There are a lot of good edge rushers in this draft. Supposedly the Jets are going to sign Fowler. I could see Snead moving back into round two and grabbing an edge rusher. If there is a decent QB on the board or a position that is in short supply that some GM converts then the potential will be there to get an extra pick.

I think I'd let the Jets have him. If Fowler Jr. and Preston Smith are remotely similar in terms of price tag, I'd go hard after Preston Smith. I'm a fan of his game, and I think he'd thrive in this scheme.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I think I'd let the Jets have him. If Fowler Jr. and Preston Smith are remotely similar in terms of price tag, I'd go hard after Preston Smith. I'm a fan of his game, and I think he'd thrive in this scheme.

So far, from what I have seen of Fowler, I don't think he's worth a big contract. But as we saw with the Chiefs and Sammy, someone will pay too much for him because they think they can utilize him better, and they have more cap room to do it with.

 

[Corbin]

That 2nd one stings now that Peters is being a tool and playing like shit. Going to need to get our D together. Good thing this draft is deep!

 

[BonifayRam]

View attachment 27487

I would add that IF the Rams are not awarded any late 3rd round compensation picks & instead they are two late 4th round selections as I am projecting.....thus the Rams will be without that 3rd round selection. Having ONLY one selection during the first two days of the draft. Friday evening of the Draft could be a wash for us Ram fans.

However Saturday the last day of the Draft Snead will be very busy & might have three 4th round selctions, 5th, 6th & 7th.

 

[OldSchool]

They’re projecting a comp 7th or two for Cody Davis and Derek Carrier as well.

 

[Merlin]

Miller had 13 defensive linemen with round one grades recently. Whether all of them grade out that way on the Rams' board who knows, but I still have to think it's likely the "guy who slides" or maybe "guys who slide" in round one will be defensive linemen.

Which happens to be a big need for the Rams. We need some fresh beef on that DL.

But if they happen to have a LB who grades out high there, or a CB, or Safety, make it so and get some beef there in round 3. All I care about is take the best player you can get on the board. Should be a defensive player in the early part of this draft too. And we need everything, so it lines up for us.

 

[BonifayRam]

Miller had 13 defensive linemen with round one grades recently. Whether all of them grade out that way on the Rams' board who knows, but I still have to think it's likely the "guy who slides" or maybe "guys who slide" in round one will be defensive linemen.

Which happens to be a big need for the Rams. We need some fresh beef on that DL.

But if they happen to have a LB who grades out high there, or a CB, or Safety, make it so and get some beef there in round 3. All I care about is take the best player you can get on the board. Should be a defensive player in the early part of this draft too. And we need everything, so it lines up for us.

Still have your hopes that we will have a 3rd rd selection....me too. I would hate to end up with only one selection on the first two days of the draft. Sure hope that Trumaine Johnson or Sammy Watkins will get us a 3rd rd comp. award so we can let that pick go to Jax instead, thus leaving us our original 3 rd rd pick.If not we will have to give our 3rd pick up & most likely end up with three 4th rd selections instead on Saturday.

Johnson only started 10 gms this season & will not see post season play. Watkins has only saw 9 starts but may not play anymore this season. So neither have had good first seasons after departing the Rams.

The high probability that our 2018 front three will have four UFA's NT Ndamukong Suh, DT Ethan Westbrooks, DE Dom Easley & DE Matt Longacre will depart for UFA'cy. That would leave Wade with a Donald, Brockers, Franklin as the starters with two rarely used unknown young 6th rd DL'ers DT Smart & NT Joseph-Day as our only reserves.

You would have to think Rams can select & hunt for the best defensive player available very late in the first round. Like you said if one of those talented DL'ers drop then lets go DL.

 

[jrry32]

Still have your hopes that we will have a 3rd rd selection....me too. I would hate to end up with only one selection on the first two days of the draft. Sure hope that Trumaine Johnson or Sammy Watkins will get us a 3rd rd comp. award so we can let that pick go to Jax instead, thus leaving us our original 3 rd rd pick.If not we will have to give our 3rd pick up & most likely end up with three 4th rd selections instead on Saturday.

Johnson only started 10 gms this season & will not see post season play. Watkins has only saw 9 starts but may not play anymore this season. So neither have had good first seasons after departing the Rams.

The high probability that our 2018 front three will have four UFA's NT Ndamukong Suh, DT Ethan Westbrooks, DE Dom Easley & DE Matt Longacre will depart for UFA'cy. That would leave Wade with a Donald, Brockers, Franklin as the starters with two rarely used unknown young 6th rd DL'ers DT Smart & NT Joseph-Day as our only reserves.

You would have to think Rams can select & hunt for the best defensive player available very late in the first round. Like you said if one of those talented DL'ers drop then lets go DL.

We're going to have two 3rds. Both Tru and Watkins will net us 3rd round comp picks.

 

[BonifayRam]

We're going to have two 3rds. Both Tru and Watkins will net us 3rd round comp picks.

Even after the down seasons both of these players had? Sure hope your right here jrry32 & that the NFL Management Council favors the Rams for a change. I see a great need for low-cost good talent infusion @ this time, heavy on defenseive side & a new back up QB..

The dark red print below is what concerns me:

"Based upon a formula, which is not release by the league, that takes into account a player's average salary per year (APY), snap count and postseason awards. While there is a general expected level of compensation for a player based upon the amount he has signed for, playing time (or lack thereof), will often alter the expectation by the end of the season".

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...jecting-compensatory-picks-for-2019-nfl-draft

Projected compensatory picks: Two in Round 3; one in Round 7.
Key free-agent losses: WR Sammy Watkins (Chiefs), CB Trumaine Johnson (Jets), DB Cody Davis (Jaguars).
Key free-agent additions: None.
The skinny: While the Rams made some marquee additions this offseason, they did it via trade (Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib) and by signing a player (Ndamukong Suh) who was released by his previous team, so those moves won't factor in the compensatory formula. The Rams lost Watkins and Johnson to big-money contracts, which should net them a couple of third-round compensatory picks. The departure of Davis puts them on track to also gain a seventh-round pick.

 

[rdlkgliders]

Clemsons D is loaded somewhere between 4-6 potential starters in the NFL. Isaiah Simmons looks like an athletic freak

 

[Memphis Ram]

I have my doubts that the Rams will even make a 1st round selection in 2019. They'll probably trade it again for a player or move down to pick up extra selections.

But, if I'm wrong, I hope that they do not select a DT in the 1st round. I'm a BPA within reason draftnik that pick really needs to be the best available CB, S, LB, or Pass rusher.

BTW, a deep DT draft doesn't mean that this draft is only top heavy at the position. There should be DLine talent to be had in later rounds, too.

 

[Memento]

I have my doubts that the Rams will even make a 1st round selection in 2019. They'll probably trade it again for a player or move down to pick up extra selections.

But, if I'm wrong, I hope that they do not select a DT in the 1st round. I'm a BPA within reason draftnik that pick really needs to be the best available CB, S, LB, or Pass rusher.

BTW, a deep DT draft doesn't mean that this draft is only top heavy at the position. There should be DLine talent to be had in later rounds, too.

But if you had a chance to take a Jeff Simmons or a Dexter Lawrence, you pounce on it. Suh is all but guaranteed to be gone, and Brockers could be cut for salary purposes as well. Westbrooks is an UFA, Fox is coming off of an ACL tear, and Smart and Joseph-Day haven't shown anything.

I'd say a DE/DT is definitely a primary need because you need someone other than Donald to get sacks from the D-line. Cornerback is actually pretty deep in this class, inside linebackers could be found in the fourth round or later, outside linebackers should be pretty solid if we re-sign Fowler, and safety is pretty much interchangeable in Wade's system.

I get not wanting to draft yet another defensive lineman, but while they're strong and deep in this class, I want to get someone elite, and you have more of a chance of finding someone elite with the defensive linemen who fall in the first round for various reasons.

 

[Memphis Ram]

But if you had a chance to take a Jeff Simmons or a Dexter Lawrence, you pounce on it. Suh is all but guaranteed to be gone, and Brockers could be cut for salary purposes as well. Westbrooks is an UFA, Fox is coming off of an ACL tear, and Smart and Joseph-Day haven't shown anything.

I'd say a DE/DT is definitely a primary need because you need someone other than Donald to get sacks from the D-line. Cornerback is actually pretty deep in this class, inside linebackers could be found in the fourth round or later, outside linebackers should be pretty solid if we re-sign Fowler, and safety is pretty much interchangeable in Wade's system.

I get not wanting to draft yet another defensive lineman, but while they're strong and deep in this class, I want to get someone elite, and you have more of a chance of finding someone elite with the defensive linemen who fall in the first round for various reasons.

Despite the rehabilitation of his image, I have doubts that Simmons will even be on the Rams draft board as that video of him punching a woman while she's on the ground is going to get played like GIECO commercials leading up to and immediately after the draft. A team trying to fill seats doesn't need that kind of PR headache. And for all the hype that Dexter Lawrence gets, he looks like the next big two down run-stuffer to me. And in today's game, those types make poor 1st round selections, IMO.

IMO, Brockers and Suh should be replaced by some lunch pail, high motor, try hard types in a better rotation to complement Donald. And the bulk of the $$$ being paid to Brockers and Suh should go towards shoring up that edge rush.

 

[BonifayRam]

Despite the rehabilitation of his image, I have doubts that Simmons will even be on the Rams draft board as that video of him punching a woman while she's on the ground is going to get played like GIECO commercials leading up to and immediately after the draft. A team trying to fill seats doesn't need that kind of PR headache. And for all the hype that Dexter Lawrence gets, he looks like the next big two down run-stuffer to me. And in today's game, those types make poor 1st round selections, IMO.

IMO, Brockers and Suh should be replaced by some lunch pail, high motor, try hard types in a better rotation to complement Donald. And the bulk of the $$$ being paid to Brockers and Suh should go towards shoring up that edge rush.

UFA DT's lunch pail types? .....Darius Philon, Johnathan Hankins, Tyeler Davison, Damion Square, Josh Mauro or Rodney Gunter.

The big name of the UFA ER's would be Jadeveon Clowney... others like Anthony Barr who is from LA area, Dee Ford, Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Pernell McPhee or Anthony Chickillo.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Miller had 13 defensive linemen with round one grades recently. Whether all of them grade out that way on the Rams' board who knows, but I still have to think it's likely the "guy who slides" or maybe "guys who slide" in round one will be defensive linemen.

Which happens to be a big need for the Rams. We need some fresh beef on that DL.

But if they happen to have a LB who grades out high there, or a CB, or Safety, make it so and get some beef there in round 3. All I care about is take the best player you can get on the board. Should be a defensive player in the early part of this draft too. And we need everything, so it lines up for us.

If a very good OT or Center was available I would consider him too.