2019 NFL Draft: First Round Recap, Jawaan Taylor Falls (podcast)

After all the waiting and guessing on what teams would do, the first round is finally here and done with. Here’s the First Round Recap from last night’s festivities.

If you’d like to listen instead of read (can’t blame ya) you can check out our First Round Recap over on The NFL Mocks Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. We will have recap episodes following each day of the draft.

Without further ado, let’s hit some of the storylines from last night:

Giants vs. Raiders:

Two teams that have glaring holes across their entire roster, the Giants and the Raiders, both looked to make a big splash in this year’s draft. The Giants entered last night with two first-round picks, then made a late push back into the first round to get up to #30 to finish with three first-round picks, just like Oakland. So, how’d they stack up against each other, and if it were a competition who won?

Well, let’s take a look:

• Giants: #6 Daniels Jones / #17 Dexter Lawrence / #30 DeAndre Baker
• Raiders: #4 Clelin Ferrell / #24 Josh Jacobs / #27 John Abram

As much as we all were surprised about the Clelin Ferrell pick at #4, everyone in the drafting world still had a solid first-round grade on this prospect. So, even if he may not have been drafted in the value most assumed, Oakland still got three first-round guys.

The same cannot be said about the Giants. DeAndre Baker, their last selection was the only one of the three that was a consensus first round talent. Dexter Lawrence was borderline on most big boards, including mine, so at pick 17, that’s an overdraft. Especially when you consider they traded Dexter Lawrence Supreme in Snacks Harrison just this past season.

And don’t get me, or anyone on Giants Twitter started on Daniel Jones at pick 6. They could have gotten the same player at #17 or #30. Hell, Drew Lock is still on the board.

Jawaan Taylor Falls Hard

Typically we have all of the medical concerns brought to light by the time the first team is on the clock come draft night. However, Jawaan Taylor is an outlier among all outliers. This is a young man that was the top available right tackle in a class filled with starting caliber players at that position.

Maybe it’s because he’s an offensive lineman and the media world just stopped doing their homework. But dang man, I haven’t seen a medical fall be held so closely to the vest. We knew about Montez Sweat’s heart, we knew about Rashan Gary’s shoulder issues, but no one knew Jawaan Taylor had a knee that is so jacked he dropped out of round one, especially when most people had him going as high as Jacksonville at pick 7.

DK Metcalf, AJ Brown, Drew Lock among players available

There are a finite number of first-round picks, we know that, but if you would have told me all three of these players would still be available here on day 2, I would have been shocked. Not so much with AJ Brown because he will most likely make his money as a dominant #2 receiver and you just don’t spend that type of first-round value on a slot.

Nonetheless, for no team to have taken a shot on DK Metcalf in the first is a bit of a surprise, though I think the scouting world is just terrified of the bust potential. Not only are you dealing with an athlete that is limited in terms of his skill set, but he’s an injury concern as well.

The most shocking of the three to me is Drew Lock, though. This league values quarterbacks far and away more than any other position on the field. If you don’t believe me, check the highest paid players list.

This quarterback class isn’t the best, we understand that, and the fact that next year’s quarterback class is stacked could have a reason to do with what we are seeing here with Lock, but in this class, he was a top-32 value.

Round 2 & 3 > Round 1?

We’ve said it from the beginning that what his draft class lacks in top-tier talent, they make up for in overall depth. If your team needs wide receiver help, buckle up early tonight because there could easily be ten to twelve wideouts taken, and for the most part all will be impactful players.

The offensive and defensive line well dried up rather quickly, but the likes of Dalton Risner, Cody Ford, Elgton Jenkins and of course Jawaan Taylor are still available (all starting caliber lineman).

Need a defensive back? Well, Greedy Williams is still hanging around, as is Nassir Adderly, Taylor Rapp, and Byron Murphy.

It should be a great day 2. Enjoy!