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
D’Andre Walker, LB, Georgia Walker was all over the field for the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship. In the first quarter, he came unblocked and joined a teammate for a sack. Shortly later, Walker worked off of Alabama left tackle Jonah Williams to get a sack, but an inadvertent facemark penalty by Walker bailed out Williams. Early in the third quarter, Walker had leaping pass breakup and then, shortly later, forced a fumble from Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy when tackling Jeudy from behind. Early in the fourth quarter, Walker came around the right tackle to force an incompletion with a hit on the quarterback.
Walker was a huge disruptive presence for the Bulldogs. He had success against Williams and the other Alabama offensive linemen, putting pressure on the quarterback. Walker showed speed and active hands off the edge. He also made a number of run tackles. The SEC Championship was a very good tape from Walker that displays his versatility and instincts.
Marquise Blair, S, Utah Off a strong season for Utah, Blair earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He was one of the Utes’ top defenders on a defense that led them to the Pac-12 Championship game. He totaled 50 tackles with an interception and two passes broken up during the regular season. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder has versatile size to get consideration as a free or strong safety for the NFL.
Darnell Savage, S, Maryland Savage played really well for the Terrapins against Ohio State, almost helping them pull off an upset. Maryland’s defense did a nice job in the early going of holding the Buckeyes’ play-makers in check, and Savage was a key part of that. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder does not have great size, but he makes up for it with quickness and instincts. The senior totaled 52 tackles with 5.5 tackles for a loss, two passes broken up and four interceptions in 2018. He recorded three interceptions with 59 tackles, and eight breakups as a junior. Savage broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore and totaled 59 tackles with an interception. His years of steady play earned him an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State Last year, WalterFootball.com was first to report that North Carolina A&T offensive tackle Brandon Parker had impressed NFL scouts and was a legit pro prospect. Parker went to the Senior Bowl and did well enough there to end up being a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. This year, team sources have told me that Howard could follow a similar track. The 6-foot-6, 308-pound Howard has drawn positive reviews from area scouts, and that earned Howard an invitation to the Senior Bowl. He has a shot at being a second-day pick in the 2019 NFL Draft with a strong week in Mobile.
Nate Davis, OT, Charlotte The 6-foot-3, 311-pound Davis earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl after a strong senior season. Davis played tackle at Charlotte, but given his size, he probably will have to move inside to guard or center in the NFL. Davis could benefit from the 2019 NFL Draft’s weak offensive line class and see his stock continue to rise if he has a strong performance in Mobile.
Dennis Daley, OT, South Carolina Daley is a Georgia Military College transfer who ended up becoming a solid player for the Gamecocks. After a strong senior season, Daley earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl, and he could rise given the weak offensive line class. The 6-foot-6, 324-pounder has good size to him and started two straight seasons for South Carolina. Team sources tell me that Daley could be a mid-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Jalen Moore, RB, Appalachian State Moore (5-11, 205) missed eight games in 2018, but he has impressed enough in his collegiate career to earn an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Moore averaged 6.3 yards per carry for 400 yards and six touchdowns. His best season came as a sophomore with 5.9 yards per carry for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. Moore ran for 1,037 yards with 12 touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per carry in 2017.
2019 NFL Draft Stock Down
N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State Perhaps one of the most overrated and overhyped prospects for the 2019 NFL Draft could be Arizona State wide receiver K’Neal Harry. Last week in the Hot Press, one team scout said they were dropping Harry’s grade from the second to the third round. They feel that the big wideout does not have the speed or movement skills of a first-round pick, much less that of a high first-rounder. Some draft analysts have been pushing Harry as a top-10 pick, but in speaking with team evaluators, they aren’t nearly as high on him.
Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson Another player whp could end up going lower than expected is Ferrell. From his performance this year, one general manager said they thought Ferrell would go in the mid- to late first round. A director of college scouting also said they also projected Ferrell to the mid- to late portion of the opening night of the 2019 NFL Draft. A national scout and an area scout both told me they thought Ferrell would be a mid- to late first-rounder.
Ferrell improved his run defense this year and looks stronger at the point of attack, but teams do not view him as an explosive edge rusher in the mold of a Myles Garrett or Von Miller. “I don’t think [Ferrell] was ever that fast and explosive,” said an AFC national scout. In a strong class of defensive linemen, it could be hard for Ferrell to crack the top 10.
Greedy Williams, CB, LSU Another prospect who multiple team sources feel is very overrated is LSU cornerback Greedy Williams. “[Williams] is extremely overrated, just watch the Georgia tape,” said one general manager. In speaking to a director of college scouting, they said this about Williams, “I have him late [in Round 1]. I like him, but he doesn’t have the speed to get an elite grade.” There are some draft sites that project Williams going as a top-five pick, but team sources aren’t nearly as high on Williams as the media believes.
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