After ranking the top-200 prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft with our final big board, we’re also unveiling our position group rankings.
You’ll also find the grades for each position to assess which is the strongest group in 2019, plus a link for our full breakdown of each of the Denver Broncos biggest need areas in the descriptions below.
Let’s dig in.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS
Grade: B-
The depth of this quarterback class is intriguing with eight players in our top 100, which means there’s lots of starter potential here, though the majority project to be average at best in that capacity. However, the top three are really talented and could be franchise-caliber quarterbacks, upping the value of this class significantly.
We previewed the class here.
1. Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
2. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma
3. Drew Lock, QB, Missouri
4. Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State
5. Daniel Jones, QB, Duke
6. Jordan Ta’amu, QB, Ole Miss
7. Will Grier, QB, West Virginia
8. Ryan Finley, QB, NC State
9. Tyree Jackson, QB, Buffalo
10. Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn
Others with a draftable grade:
Gardner Minshew, QB, Washington State
Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern
RUNNING BACKS
Grade: C-
Receiving an A a year ago, this year’s class is lacking in top-end talent, as even the top two are big gambles and Jacobs is the only player in our top 50. However, there’s depth, with 18 draftable players, 13 of which profile as backups and depth pieces.
1. Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
2. Rodney Anderson, RB, Oklahoma
3. Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis
4. Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State
5. Justice Hill, RB, Oklahoma State
6. Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M
7. Damien Harris, RB, Alabama
8. David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State
9. Elijah Holyfield, RB, Georgia
10. James Williams, RB, Washington State
Others with a draftable grade:
Alexander Mattison, RB, Boise State
Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State
Devin Singletary, RB, Florida Atlantic
Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
Bennie Snell Jr., RB, Kentucky
Dexter Williams, RB, Notre Dame
Darwin Thompson, RB, Utah State
Myles Gaskin, RB, Washington
WIDE RECEIVERS
Grade: B+
Wide receiver is another deep class only there’s more depth at the top, even if there isn’t a true top-10 talent. At the end of the day, we have seven players in the top-50, 13 projected starters in the top-100 and a whopping 23 roster-worthy players. That’s pretty solid in a league where you can never have enough good wideouts.
We previewed the class here.
1. D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
2. Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
3. Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
4. Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina
5. N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State
6. A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss
7. JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford
8. Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State
9. Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State
10. Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia
Others with a draftable grade:
Kelvin Harmon, WR, NC State
Preston Williams, WR, Colorado State
Andy Isabella, WR, UMass
David Sills, WR, West Virginia
Gary Jennings, WR, West Virginia
Antoine Wesley, WR, Texas Tech
Emanuel Hall, WR, Missouri
Dillon Mitchell, WR, Oregon
Penny Hart, WR, Georgia State
Miles Boykin, WR, Notre Dame
Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR, Texas
KeeSean Johnson, WR, Fresno State
Stanley Morgan Jr., WR, Nebraska
TIGHT ENDS
Grade: B
What a difference a year makes, as 2018 tight end class received a D+, while this group is loaded with six top-100 prospects and 14 draftable players. The top six are especially intriguing and could be top-10 NFL-caliber players for years to come.
We previewed the class here.
1. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
2. Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama
3. Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
4. Kahale Warring, TE, San Diego State
5. Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M
6. Foster Moreau, TE, LSU
7. Caleb Wilson, TE, UCLA
8. Dawson Knox, TE, Ole Miss
9. Josh Oliver, TE, San Jose State
10. Kaden Smith, TE, Stanford
Others with a draftable grade:
Drew Sample, TE, Washington
Dax Reymond, TE, Utah State
Isaac Nauta, TE, Georgia
Alize Mack, TE, Notre Dame
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Grade: B+
This is another deep class with 10 projected starters and 16 who are NFL-worthy. As seems to be the trend with these offensive positions, the high-end talent isn’t overwhelming but there are lots of strong future NFL contributors in this group.
1. Jonah Williams, LT, Alabama
2. Andre Dillard, LT, Washington State
3. Jawaan Taylor, RT, Florida
4. Cody Ford, RT, Oklahoma
5. Dalton Risner, RT, Kansas State
6. Yodny Cajuste, LT, West Virginia
7. Greg Little, LT, Ole Miss
8. Kaleb McGary, RT, Washington
9. Max Scharping, OT, Northern Illinois
10. Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State
Others with a draftable grade:
David Edwards, RT, Wisconsin
Chuma Edoga, RT, USC
Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson
Isaiah Prince, RT, Ohio State
Martez Ivey, OT, Florida
Bobby Evans, OT, Oklahoma
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Grade: C+
The top eight players on the interior offensive line are really strong and it’s an especially talented center class. Don’t forget, plenty of the tackles could end up converting inside, so there are more options beyond just the 12 we have here, but these are really the headliners of the class, many of whom should be early contributors.
We previewed the class here.
1. Garrett Bradbury, OC, NC State
2. Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College
3. Elgton Jenkins, OC, Mississippi State
4. Michael Jordan, OC, Ohio State
5. Erik McCoy, OC, Texas A&M
6. Michael Deiter, OL, Wisconsin
7. Beau Benzschawel, OG, Wisconsin
8. Connor McGovern, G, Penn State
9. Dru Samia, OG, Oklahoma
10. Nate Davis, OG, Charlotte
Others with a draftable grade:
Ben Powers, OC, Oklahoma
Ross Pierschbacher, OC, Alabama
DEFENSE
INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE
Grade: A
Welcome to the cream of the crop of this draft, with an absurd 10 players in the top-50. It does drop off a bit in the middle rounds but the depth by day three is good as well with 18 draft-worthy prospects in all.
We previewed the class here.
1. Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama
2. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
3. Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
4. Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
5. Jeffrey Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
6. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
7. Zach Allen, DL/DE, Boston College
8. Dre’Mont Jones, DL, Ohio State
9. Gerald Willis III, DT, Miami
10. Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Others with a draftable grade:
John Cominsky, DL, Charleston
Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
Trysten Hill, DT, UCF
Isaiah Buggs, DT, Alabama
Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M
Greg Gaines, NT, Washington
Renell Wren, DL, Arizona State
Dontavius Russell, DT, Auburn
EDGE RUSHERS
Grade: A+
Just when you thought it couldn’t get better than the interior defensive line, the edge rushers blow them out of the water with a dominant six prospects in our top 15, 13 in the top 100 and 27 in all.
That means there’s a lot of depth, with lots of projected rotational players beyond all the star power.
Small aside, a player marked as an “EDGE” is interchangeable and can easily play as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 or a defensive end in a 4-3. A player marked as an “OLB” is ideally suited at outside backer in a 3-4 and a player marked as a “DE” is best as a 4-3 end.
1. Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State
2. Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky
3. Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State
4. Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
5. Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State
6. Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan
7. Chase Winovich, EDGE, Michigan
8. Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida
9. DeAndre Walker, OLB, Georgia
10. Charles Omenihu, DE, Texas
Others with a draftable grade:
Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Eastern Michigan
L.J. Collier, EDGE, TCU
Christian Miller, OLB, Alabama
Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
Anthony Nelson, DE, Iowa
Austin Bryant, EDGE, Clemson
Joe Jackson, EDGE, Miami
Justin Hollins, OLB, Oregon
Jalen Jelks, DE, Oregon
Malik Reed, EDGE, Nevada
Jordan Brailford, DE, Oklahoma State
Carl Granderson, EDGE, Wyoming
Ben Banogu, EDGE, TCU
Sutton Smith, EDGE, Northern Illinois
Porter Gustin, EDGE, USC
Oshane Ximines, EDGE, Old Dominion
Andrew Van Ginkel, EDGE, Wisconsin
OFF-BALL LINEBACKERS
Grade: C+
Last year’s linebacker class received an A- as there was plenty of depth at the top, that’s not the case here as the group is clearly divided after the top five, and then again after the top nine. The depth is there with 20 draftable prospects but less than half project to start or be three-down players.
We previewed the class here.
1. Devin White, LB, LSU
2. Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
3. Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
4. Terrill Hanks, LB, New Mexico State
5. Drue Tranquill, LB, Notre Dame
6. Germaine Pratt, LB, NC State
7. Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida
8. Bobby Okereke, LB, Stanford
9. Blake Cashman, LB, Minnesota
10. Te’von Coney, LB, Notre Dame
Others with a draftable grade:
Drew Lewis, LB, Colorado
Chase Hansen, LB, Utah
Jahlani Tavai, LB, Hawaii
Tre Lamar, LB, Clemson
Gary Johnson, LB, Texas
Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington
David Long, LB, West Virginia
Joe Giles-Harris, LB, Duke
Kendall Joseph, LB, Clemson
T.J. Edwards, LB, Wisconsin
CORNERBACKS
Grade: B-
The depth for this cornerback class lies in the day two range, as there are only four top-50 prospects but 14 in the top 100. So while you might not find stars, there are a lot of potential starters. Considering every team needs cornerbacks, this should be a welcome sign.
1. Andraez ‘Greedy’ Williams, CB, LSU
2. Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
3. DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia
4. Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt
5. Justin Layne, CB, Michigan State
6. Trayvon Mullen, CB, Clemson
7. Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame
8. Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple
9. Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB, Kentucky
10. Sean Bunting, CB, Central Michigan
Others with a draftable grade:
David Long, CB, Michigan
Jamel Dean, CB, Auburn
Amani Oruwariye, CB, Penn State
Kris Boyd, CB, Texas
Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston
Ken Webster, CB, Ole Miss
Jordan Miller, CB, Washington
Saivion Smith, CB, Alabama
Kendall Sheffield, CB, Ohio State
Mark Fields, CB, Clemson
Jimmy Moreland, CB, James Madison
SAFETIES
Grade: B
There might not be a ton of first-round locks in this group, but with five prospects in the top 50 and eight in the top 100, there are a lot of projected starters in the class. It’s also a fun and diverse group with lots of versatility and different scheme fits.
1. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB/S, Florida
2. Darnell Savage Jr., S, Maryland
3. Deionte Thompson, FS, Alabama
4. Johnathan Abram, SS, Mississippi State
5. Taylor Rapp, S, Washington
6. Nasir Adderley, CB/S, Delaware
7. Marvell Tell III, FS, USC
8. Amani Hooker, S, Iowa
9. Juan Thornhill, S, Virginia
10. Ugo Amadi, S, Oregon
Others with a draftable grade:
Marquise Blair, S, Utah
Mike Edwards, S, Kentucky
Zedrick Woods, S, Ole Miss
Andrew Wingard, S, Wyoming
