NFL Draft: Top 5 Offensive Players

Story posted April 21, 2019 in

Host Jeremy Ganes, alongside Trent Fye and DJ Bauer, ranked the best overall players on the offensive and defensive side of the ball in the 2019 NFL Draft:

The 2019 NFL Draft is almost here. The combine and pro days are behind us now and teams are doing their final evaluations of all the prospects. This is not the most noteworthy group of offensive talent in the last couple drafts, but there will still be some guys who will stick around in the NFL for years to come. Here are the top five offensive players in this year’s NFL Draft.

1. D.K Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

2018 Stats: 7-games/26 Rec/569 yards/21.9 YPC/5 TD

Metcalf is your classic NFL receiver prospect at 6’4”, 230 pounds who can beat you deep and use his strength to beat you in the red zone. He was also one of the stars at the combine, which really boosted his draft stock. Metcalf has an injury history only playing in seven games in 2018. His tape and measurables alone however make him a first round pick. Expect him to be the first wide receiver off the board

2. T.J Hockenson, TE, Iowa

2018 Stats: 13-games/49 Rec/760 yards/15.5 YPC/6 TD/1 rushing TD

6’5”, 243 pounds with great hands, movement, physical presence, and football IQ. Has a chance to be one of the next great NFL tight ends. Expect him to be a top 10 pick, and maybe even the first skill position player off the board.

3. Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

2018 Stats: 13 games/12 starts at RT

The best offensive lineman in this year’s draft, Taylor was part of an offensive line that only allowed 18 sacks all season. He has the smarts and technique to handle NFL rushers with his 6’5”, 334-pound frame. Taylor has been moving up draft boards all season and his stock is trending upward as we move toward draft day.

4. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

2018 Stats: 14 games/69 Comp %/4,361 yards/42 TD/7 INT/1,001 rushing yards/12 TD

The 2018 Heisman Trophy winner is the best quarterback in this year’s class. Murray has the playmaking abilities and the “it” factor to make plays passing and running the ball. But, can a 5’10”, 195 pound quarterback succeed in the NFL? Teams will have to ponder with that question if they think Murray is their next franchise quarterback.

5. Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

2018 Stats: 12-games/75 catches/1,318 yards/17.6 YPC/10 TD

This year’s top deep threat among the receivers, “Hollywood” Brown has elite speed but wasn’t able to show it at the combine coming off an injury. If Brown can handle the physicality of NFL defensive backs, he will be a good find for an offense that needs a vertical passing threat.

 

 

Kevin McConlogue is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in political science. To contact him email kpm5520@psu.edu.