It's finally draft week. Which 2019 NFL draft prospects do teams with top picks like? Who is flying up draft boards? When should we expect the quarterbacks to be selected?
We won't know for sure which players will end up where until their names are called at the draft later this week. But with the exception of some family time over the weekend, I spent most of the past four days talking to NFL teams and gathering intel on what might go down in Nashville -- starting with a quick stop to answer a call from a general manager on my drive home from Bristol on Thursday.
Here's what I'm hearing around the league.
THE TOP 10 PICKS
Arizona Cardinals (Pick No. 1)
There is a handful of people starting to question whether Kyler Murray is still the No. 1 pick, including a general manager I spoke to in the past 72 hours. But I'm sticking with this pick until there's more concrete information otherwise. Kliff Kingsbury and his staff seem to like the Oklahoma quarterback as the new driver of their offense. So what happens with Josh Rosen? The two teams I hear most in trade discussions are the Giants and Dolphins.
San Francisco 49ers (Pick No. 2)
There are basically three options here: The Niners either draft Ohio State DE Nick Bosa, draft Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen or move back and take advantage of the depth of this draft class. Edge is a glaring need for San Francisco, and there's a good chance the best pass-rusher -- and player overall -- in Bosa will be on the board at No. 2.
New York Jets (Pick No. 3)
Ideally, the Jets finally get a legit pass-rusher at No. 3. They've needed an edge guy forever, and either Bosa or Allen is likely to still be on the board. Alabama's Quinnen Williams and Houston's Ed Oliver, both interior game wreckers, also could be options.
Even though new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams says he is sticking with a 3-4, it's really more of a hybrid base front. That's why Williams and Oliver make sense here, despite conventional thinking. The Alabama DT is still apparently ahead on the team's big board, but there is growing Oliver-to-New York buzz. And I've also heard New York is open to trading out if it gets a respectable package.
Oakland Raiders (Pick Nos. 4, 24 and 27)
Sources I have talked to think Oakland stays home at No. 4 and takes an impact defensive lineman such as Williams or Oliver, or perhaps Allen if he's still on the board. But I've also heard LSU linebacker Devin White's name mentioned. If Oakland stays put, it will get a top player for its defense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Pick No. 5)
Which team wants to get ahead of the QB-needy franchises? Tampa Bay would move back if it gets a worthwhile deal. The Bucs are in a good spot with this pick; they don't need a quarterback, and other teams that do could be willing to trade up. Also, if the Bucs decide to keep the pick, they will likely end up with Allen or White. I see White as the best off-the-ball linebacker in the entire class and a player who can be the leader of a defense for many years.
New York Giants (Pick Nos. 6 and 17)
As mentioned, I've heard that New York is in the mix for Rosen, which would help explain the talk of the Giants not wanting a quarterback with their top-10 pick. All the chatter is defensive line here, assuming this isn't all a smokescreen. That's possible, but all I'm hearing with this pick is that GM Dave Gettleman is "pass-rusher crazed."
Oliver and Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins are the two names I've heard as real possibilities. If Big Blue opts to address the defensive line at 6, it becomes a game of chicken with Washington -- the owner of the 15th pick -- to potentially trade up from 17 for a QB.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Pick No. 7)
Word is the Jags want to address the offensive line later in the draft. So whom do they like at No. 7 then? Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson is one name to watch, but there are also plenty of rumblings regarding the defensive line. Basically, the thought is that whichever of Oliver and Wilkins the Giants don't take could ultimately land here.
Detroit Lions (Pick No. 8)
The Lions want to trade back. There are plenty of tight ends and defensive linemen available later in the draft, and after the top six or seven guys are off the board, it makes sense for a team like Detroit to move out of this pick. But the Lions will need a trade partner, and Washington is a team worth keeping an eye on.
Buffalo Bills (Pick No. 9)
Buffalo added six offensive linemen in free agency, so I'm told it wants to focus on the defensive line with this pick. Oliver and Wilkins are again the two names I've heard most here, but the question becomes: Will either still be out there?
Denver Broncos (Pick No. 10)
I'm hearing that the Broncos will not be taking a quarterback in the first round. Instead, they are more likely to roll the dice with Joe Flacco and attend to other needs. If Denver doesn't go defense here, which is a possibility, it could go with Hockenson. But I'm also told Michigan ILB Devin Bush is in play.
Todd McShay reviews Kyler Murray's tape and shows why his arm talent will carry him in the NFL.
OTHER INTRIGUING TEAMS WITH FIRST-ROUND PICKS
Cincinnati Bengals (Pick No. 11)
After talking to people across the league, there is a real possibility the Bengals make a splash with a quarterback in the first round. With Baker Mayfield in the division and a new coach for the Bengals, Cincinnati might opt for a pick that would sell some tickets. The Browns have all the AFC North buzz right now, and going QB here would help Cincinnati keep pace. If not, Bush is the name to remember. He would immediately fill a need.
Washington Redskins (Pick No. 15)
I have heard rumblings that Washington is most interested in Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, but I've also heard Missouri's Drew Lock thrown out there. The Redskins are a trade-up candidate, but how far? They could jump into the top five to make sure they get their quarterback, or they could sit tight and wait until No. 8 or No. 9 to hop past Denver, Cincinnati and Miami.
New England Patriots (Pick No. 32)
The talk has been tight end and quarterback all along for the defending champs with Rob Gronkowski in retirement and Tom Brady running out of time. But defensive line and secondary are bigger areas of focus than people might think. The Pats need impact players on the line, and Bill Belichick has had tons of success identifying draft talent at defensive tackle and defensive end in the past. But that No. 32 pick also falls right in the middle of what is expected to be a flurry of defensive back selections.
DRAFT CLASS NOTES
In talking to general managers and personnel staff around the league, four guys have stood out as the most asked about in terms of where they might land: Haskins, Lock, Daniel Jones (Duke) and Rashan Gary (Michigan). And I've heard Lock could fall a little bit in the first round. Most of the teams asking don't even need a QB but instead are interested to find out how many might be going ahead of their first-round picks.
The positions that seem to come up the most are offensive line and defensive back. When will the run on those two groups start? It's looking like offensive linemen will start coming off the board in the Nos. 13-23 range, while DBs could start flying with Pittsburgh at No. 20 right on through the second round. What will be there for teams looking for secondary help at the back end of Round 1? Though scouts love the safeties in the class, most aren't excited about the top of the cornerback class (although the depth is good). In short, everyone wants cover guys, and this class doesn't have elite options there.
PLAYER BUZZ
Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma: The projections for when this burner might come off the board are all over the place. Although the bulk of the wide receiver group is likely to go on Day 2, Brown is still a probable first-round pick -- but expect him to go in the back half, with teams concerned about the foot injury that caused him to miss pre-draft workouts.
Todd McShay explains how Marquise Brown is one of the fastest receivers he has ever seen.
Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State: He would be one of the five or six best prospects in this class if he were healthy. The torn ACL he suffered in February won't force him to drop far. As I tweeted, I don't think he goes unpicked on Day 1, and my best guess is he's taken in the 20s despite likely having to sit out to begin his NFL career.
Brian Burns, OLB, Florida State: He's a top-20 pick, and Tennessee and Pittsburgh (at No. 19 and 20, respectively) are likely parachute spots. His tape is up and down, but Burns is an athletic freak (4.53 40 time and 7.01 three-cone). Think Anthony Barr, who has thrived in a versatile edge role while playing mostly off the ball in the Vikings' defense.
Cody Ford, OT/G, Oklahoma: I love Ford, and I really think he's going to be either a good right tackle or an awesome guard at the next level. But I've heard he had some interesting team interviews. Teams also are concerned that he weighed in at 329 pounds at the combine but then tipped 340-plus pounds at team visits.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State: There's some interest in this speedy receiver from Ohio State. A source said he'd be surprised if McLaurin made it past the second round. The receiver class has some good early-Day 2 assets.
Darius Slayton, WR, Auburn: He's not one of the big names, but a couple of teams have mentioned Slayton because of the versatility he brings and his ability in the return game. He could go as early as Round 3.
Alexander Mattison, RB, Boise State: Mattison is getting a lot of buzz right now. He had a good combine workout and has moved into the discussion for late Day 2.
Bryce Love, RB, Stanford: There's more concern from teams than originally thought. Once a Heisman favorite, and at one point considered one of the better running back talents in the draft class, Love has fallen quite a bit with injuries and a decline in production. Expect him to come off the board on Saturday.
Rodney Anderson, RB, Oklahoma: Same deal with the Sooners running back. Anderson put up big numbers at Oklahoma in 2017, but injuries shortened his 2018 season and he couldn't work out for teams. The talk around the league is he is likely off the board in Round 5.
Elijah Holyfield, RB, Georgia: Holyfield's speed -- he ran a 4.78 40-yard dash at the combine -- has teams worried about his ceiling. It's not the most important thing at the end of the day, but it appears to be enough to push the Georgia tailback to Day 3, likely in Round 5 or 6.
Connor McGovern, G, Penn State: Yes, he's lower on boards and isn't a name most casual draft followers know just yet, but the arrow is pointing up for McGovern. His workouts have been awesome, and he has put himself in a spot to be drafted in the Round 2-3 range.