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http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2019/i...mcshay-answer-30-questions-rankings-prospects
1. Describe the 2019 quarterback class in one word.
Kiper: Can I have two words? Because I'll say extremely intriguing. The reason? Oregon's Justin Herbert isn't the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback anymore. Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State) is breathing down his neck after a phenomenal stretch to end the season. There's also Daniel Jones (Duke), who could be a mid-first-round pick. Then you have guys like Will Grier (West Virginia), Drew Lock (Missouri) and Ryan Finley (NC State) jockeying for position as potential Day 2 picks. There's a loooooong time to go until April, though, and all three of my top-ranked QBs are underclassmen who could return to school.
2. Where would Justin Herbert have ranked in the 2018 QB class?
McShay: Fifth. He'd be behind all four who went in the top 10 in 2018 (Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen). Herbert is my top-ranked guy in this class, and he has all the tools to be a good NFL starter. But the inconsistencies on tape showed this season, and another year at Oregon would really do him well. The rumblings that he'll return for his senior season aren't going away.
3. Wait, where's Kyler Murray?
Kiper: The Oklahoma quarterback still says he's sticking with baseball over football, even as he could win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday. (Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback he's competing with for the award and against in the College Football Playoff, is eligible for the 2020 class.) And Murray has 4.6 million reasons to do so -- that's the signing bonus he got from the Oakland A's, who took him No. 9 overall in the MLB draft. I have no doubt he'd get drafted if he entered the 2019 draft, though. Yes, he's small at 5-foot-10, but he's one of the best dual-threat college quarterbacks I've ever seen. The last Heisman Trophy winner to go undrafted, by the way? Oklahoma's Jason White.
4. Five teams took QBs in Round 1 last April. Which teams at the top of the board should look at QBs in 2019?
McShay: Well, I think we all know the Giants will be looking for one as they move into the post-Eli Manning era. Denver and Jacksonville pop out to me, especially after the Jags benched Blake Bortles. I'd also keep an eye on the Dolphins, who have a tough decision to make regarding Ryan Tannehill moving forward, and the Raiders. Does Jon Gruden want to move on from Derek Carr? Oakland does have three first-round picks.
5. Over/under 3.5 QBs in the first round?
Kiper: That's a tough one, but give me the under. If Herbert, Haskins and Jones all stay in the draft, they're the three. And if one of them decides to return to school, I feel great about going under. By the way, it's not unprecedented for top-ranked quarterbacks to come back for another year. Andrew Luck did it. Peyton Manning did it. Matt Leinart did it. And Herbert, Haskins and Jones aren't perfect prospects -- they could really improve with another year. That's what makes this QB class interesting -- we'll know definitively by Jan. 14, the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft.
6. OK, so who's the underclassman QB who could use another year of development?
McShay: Iowa's Nate Stanley. This really isn't a negative -- I think he has the tools to push for a starting job in the NFL one day, but he's just not there yet mentally. Plus, he has the coaching and system to really benefit from another year of college game experience.
7. We know QB isn't the strength of this class. What is?
Kiper: It's the defensive line. Ten of my top 25 prospects are defensive ends or tackles. I have 17 down defensive linemen with first- or second-round grades. This class is loaded with instant-impact pass-rushers and disruptors on the edge and in the interior. You should know about Ohio State's Nick Bosa by now, but keep an eye on Quinnen Williams (Alabama), Ed Oliver (Houston), Rashan Gary (Michigan) and Clelin Ferrell (Clemson) as potential top-10 picks.
8. Can teams find impact defensive linemen after Day 1?
McShay: Yes, that's what makes this class special. Teams are going to find starters on Day 2. I love the tape on Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich, for one. He's athletic, quick and tough as hell. A guy like Raekwon Davis(Alabama) will still be on the board on Day 2. He has some versatility and has flashed some pass-rushing upside in the past, picking up 8.5 sacks in 2017. I actually have nine defensive linemen currently outside my top-32 rankings who have at least a 70 grade. That's a lot.
9. Could Bosa go wire to wire as the No. 1 overall prospect?
Kiper: I expect him to -- he's clearly the best player in this class. Bosa's skill set is advanced for his age, and he has all the tools to be an elite NFL pass-rusher. Now, that doesn't mean he'll go No. 1 overall. We've seen teams trade up for quarterbacks before.
10. And there's no worry about Bosa's season-ending injury?
McShay: No, from everything I've heard, he'll be healthy and ready to go. The abdominal injury that ended his season and pushed him to leave Ohio State early isn't a long-term concern and shouldn't worry teams. Like Mel said, Bosa is the most talented player in this class.
1. Describe the 2019 quarterback class in one word.
Kiper: Can I have two words? Because I'll say extremely intriguing. The reason? Oregon's Justin Herbert isn't the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback anymore. Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State) is breathing down his neck after a phenomenal stretch to end the season. There's also Daniel Jones (Duke), who could be a mid-first-round pick. Then you have guys like Will Grier (West Virginia), Drew Lock (Missouri) and Ryan Finley (NC State) jockeying for position as potential Day 2 picks. There's a loooooong time to go until April, though, and all three of my top-ranked QBs are underclassmen who could return to school.
2. Where would Justin Herbert have ranked in the 2018 QB class?
McShay: Fifth. He'd be behind all four who went in the top 10 in 2018 (Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen). Herbert is my top-ranked guy in this class, and he has all the tools to be a good NFL starter. But the inconsistencies on tape showed this season, and another year at Oregon would really do him well. The rumblings that he'll return for his senior season aren't going away.
3. Wait, where's Kyler Murray?
Kiper: The Oklahoma quarterback still says he's sticking with baseball over football, even as he could win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday. (Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback he's competing with for the award and against in the College Football Playoff, is eligible for the 2020 class.) And Murray has 4.6 million reasons to do so -- that's the signing bonus he got from the Oakland A's, who took him No. 9 overall in the MLB draft. I have no doubt he'd get drafted if he entered the 2019 draft, though. Yes, he's small at 5-foot-10, but he's one of the best dual-threat college quarterbacks I've ever seen. The last Heisman Trophy winner to go undrafted, by the way? Oklahoma's Jason White.
4. Five teams took QBs in Round 1 last April. Which teams at the top of the board should look at QBs in 2019?
McShay: Well, I think we all know the Giants will be looking for one as they move into the post-Eli Manning era. Denver and Jacksonville pop out to me, especially after the Jags benched Blake Bortles. I'd also keep an eye on the Dolphins, who have a tough decision to make regarding Ryan Tannehill moving forward, and the Raiders. Does Jon Gruden want to move on from Derek Carr? Oakland does have three first-round picks.
5. Over/under 3.5 QBs in the first round?
Kiper: That's a tough one, but give me the under. If Herbert, Haskins and Jones all stay in the draft, they're the three. And if one of them decides to return to school, I feel great about going under. By the way, it's not unprecedented for top-ranked quarterbacks to come back for another year. Andrew Luck did it. Peyton Manning did it. Matt Leinart did it. And Herbert, Haskins and Jones aren't perfect prospects -- they could really improve with another year. That's what makes this QB class interesting -- we'll know definitively by Jan. 14, the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft.
6. OK, so who's the underclassman QB who could use another year of development?
McShay: Iowa's Nate Stanley. This really isn't a negative -- I think he has the tools to push for a starting job in the NFL one day, but he's just not there yet mentally. Plus, he has the coaching and system to really benefit from another year of college game experience.
7. We know QB isn't the strength of this class. What is?
Kiper: It's the defensive line. Ten of my top 25 prospects are defensive ends or tackles. I have 17 down defensive linemen with first- or second-round grades. This class is loaded with instant-impact pass-rushers and disruptors on the edge and in the interior. You should know about Ohio State's Nick Bosa by now, but keep an eye on Quinnen Williams (Alabama), Ed Oliver (Houston), Rashan Gary (Michigan) and Clelin Ferrell (Clemson) as potential top-10 picks.
8. Can teams find impact defensive linemen after Day 1?
McShay: Yes, that's what makes this class special. Teams are going to find starters on Day 2. I love the tape on Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich, for one. He's athletic, quick and tough as hell. A guy like Raekwon Davis(Alabama) will still be on the board on Day 2. He has some versatility and has flashed some pass-rushing upside in the past, picking up 8.5 sacks in 2017. I actually have nine defensive linemen currently outside my top-32 rankings who have at least a 70 grade. That's a lot.
9. Could Bosa go wire to wire as the No. 1 overall prospect?
Kiper: I expect him to -- he's clearly the best player in this class. Bosa's skill set is advanced for his age, and he has all the tools to be an elite NFL pass-rusher. Now, that doesn't mean he'll go No. 1 overall. We've seen teams trade up for quarterbacks before.
10. And there's no worry about Bosa's season-ending injury?
McShay: No, from everything I've heard, he'll be healthy and ready to go. The abdominal injury that ended his season and pushed him to leave Ohio State early isn't a long-term concern and shouldn't worry teams. Like Mel said, Bosa is the most talented player in this class.