This section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2019 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2019 NFL Draft Stock Up
Erik McCoy, C, Texas A&M In surveying team sources, McCoy was mentioned as a player who is rising during the draft meetings. Veteran coaches have been really impressed with McCoy and how assignment sound he is. With a high football I.Q., McCoy doesn’t give coaches the typical concerns that come with rookies. McCoy also has been a star of the pre-draft workouts, and team sources believe that he could be a pick in the back half of the first round and should not last long if he slips to Round 2. Some evaluators have McCoy graded higher than where they had Billy Price and Frank Ragnow last year.
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford Arcega-Whiteside was another player who team sources mentioned as rising during team’s draft meetings. The big receiver was described as a poor-man’s Mike Evans by team sources last fall, and in this weak draft for offensive play-makers, it is somewhat surprising that Arcega-Whiteside has not gotten more attention for being a mismatch weapon who could help NFL offenses put points on the scoreboard. A late rise for Arcega-Whiteside could put him in the middle of the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State Sources have said that McLaurin is another player who is rising while teams hold their final round of pre-draft meetings this month. McLaurin really helped himself by running well at the combine after also performing well at the Senior Bowl. He was underutilized at Ohio State and could end up having a much better NFL career than he did in college. McLaurin is in mid-round contention after his excellent postseason.
Reggie White Jr., WR, Monmouth White is a prospect who will rack up some frequent flyer miles in the month of April, as he is going on a number of pre-draft visits around the NFL. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder produced the past three seasons, yet went under the radar at a smaller school. The 2018 season was his best year, during whiche he caught 71 passes for 1,133 yards and 11 touchdowns. As junior (74-874-8) and sophomore (69-934-7), he produced well also. Thus far, White has visits scheduled with the Jets, Ravens and Giants. He could end up being a late-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Alexander Mattison, RB, Boise State Back at the combine, WalterFootball.com reported that Mattison impressed some teams running backs coaches and really helped himself in Indianapolis. Mattison is a sleeper running back prospect who teams like as a mid-round or third-day pick who could come in and contribute as a rotational backup. Boise State has produced some quality running back prospects for the NFL, and Mattison should keep that streak of draft picks going this April.
Darnell Savage, S, Maryland Savage is the prospect who may end up taking the most pre-draft visits of any player for the 2019 NFL Draft. Thus far, Savage is lined up to visit 10 different teams prior to draft day, and that illustrates a serious level of interest across the league. There is a lot to like about Savage, who is put together well with a strong build and speed. He has some natural coverage skills, being able to play free safety in the deep part of the field as well as slot cornerback. Savage has put together an impressive postseason, putting his skill set on display at both the Senior Bowl and the combine. He could end up going quickly on the second night of the 2019 NFL Draft.
2019 NFL Draft Stock Down
Chase Winovich, DE, Michigan As we reported in the Hot Press, some sources have concerns about Winovich’s personality fitting into their locker room. Winovich is known to have a strong personality, and teams feel that he seems to relish media attention. His social media presence and relationships with other celebrities have teams wondering how his personality will fit in their locker rooms and how he will mesh with NFL coaches. There are a lot of teams that need to acquire young pass-rushing talent, and following a few productive years at Michigan, Winovich should be in demand in a draft class that does not have good pass-rushing depth for the second day of the draft. However, Winovich’s personality issues are hurting him, and sources from multiple teams that need to get more pass-rushing help are pushing him lower because of the concerns about how he will mesh in their locker room.
From surveying five teams, there was a big range for grades on Winovich. The highest that one team source said was they thought Winovich would go in the No. 50-75 range, which would make him a late second-round or early third-round pick. A few other teams said they graded Winovich in Round 3, and the lowest was one team that had him as a fourth- or fifth-rounder.
Personality issues play a part his time of year as coaches get involved in process, and they can elevate or kill a player’s chances of landing with their team by saying they do or don’t want to work with a player. An overbearing personality with Winovich is turning off some evaluators from teams that need pass rushing help. Hence, Winovich could slide lower than expected.
Taylor Rapp, S, Washington Rapp had some buzz as a potential late first-round pick, but that was dealt a serious blow at his pro day when he ran very slowly in the 40-yard dash. Team sources said the time was in the high 4.7s to 4.8. They were expecting a slower time, but that range very slow for an early-round safety prospect. Rapp’s pro day time could really hurt him, as teams will have concerns about him keeping up with NFL receivers downfield. The slow 40 could play a big role in Rapp sliding well into the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State For a lot of the draft season, Haskins has been a mainstay as a top-10 pick, yet his stock appears to be sliding. A general manager told me that Haskins is sliding some, and they think that was because he was overrated. There also have been reports that the New York Giants are not planning to draft Haskins. Even if those reports are inaccurate, Haskins could slide out of the top 10 with the Giants having him in consideration for their pick at No. 17. In speaking with sources, the Raiders also appear to be going a different direction rather taking Haskins with the fourth-overall pick. By the sounds of it, Haskins could end up sliding and not being a top-10 pick.
Ed Oliver, DT, Houston As we reported in the Hot Press, some sources feel that Oliver has a diva personality and that it is hurting him with some teams. The media gave a lot of praise to Oliver after his pro day workout, and reports were that he ran very fast, but according to some team sources who were at the pro day they disagree some of those reports. On top of workout numbers that were not as lofty as reported, sources who were at the pro day said they saw more diva behavior with Oliver in Houston.
“There’s definitely some diva stuff with [Oliver]. The media got ahead of their skies on that pro day praise because it wasn’t that good,” said a top evaluator who was at the Houston pro day. “I was right on the line and had him running 4.80 in the 40; that’s what the guys around me had also. He refused to have his arms remeasured, which just reinforces the diva concerns. They pushed him hard in the workout and he kept going and finished it, so I give him credit for that.”
Oliver is still expected to go in the top half of the first round by teams. However, some teams that are more strict on their locker room and what they are willing to deal with, say that Oliver may not be in play for that type of franchise. Hence, some teams that are in the market for defensive tackle help could go another direction, like Clemson’s Christian Wilkins.
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