Winners & Losers Of The 2019 First-Round NFL Draft

On Thursday night, the NFL draft was hosted in Nashville for the first time. Heisman trophy-winner Kyler Murray was the no. 1 overall pick, going to the Arizona Cardinals, who drafted a quarterback in the first round last season. Despite Murray’s height (5’10”), the dynamic scrambler was on everyone’s radar this year, as the game continues to change.

“My job is to come in every day, work hard and get better each and every day, do what I can to make this team better,” Murray told Microsoft News. “I’ve known Josh since high school, so me and him are cool. We got along really well, so I’ve always been fond of him. But us being teammates now, I can’t control anything but going in there and working hard.”

The needs for general managers are changing every year, trying to gain a foothold above the other competition. Here are the top takeaways from the draft, there were some winners in the first round, but also some losers.

Winners

Jon Gruden: Despite taking DE Clenin Ferrell from Clemson as his no. 4 pick, who was projected late first round, early second, Gruden also picked up RB Josh Jacobs from Alabama, and S Johnathon Abrams from Mississippi State. Trading all-pro Khalil Mack for these 2019 draft picks is still thought as by some as the wrong choice, especially Chicago fans loving every single thing Mack continues to do.

John Bosa: If you think you couldn’t be more proud of your kids, John Bosa now has two of his kids in the NFL, Nick and Joey. With Nick Bosa getting drafted to the San Francisco 49ers second overall, that now makes the Bosa family NFL royalty, along with the Mannings. John, Nick and Joey’s father, was also drafted in the first round.

Losers

Josh Rosen: Getting left in the dark is never fun, but Rosen is getting left in a desert. With Murray being draft, it’s hard to find Rosen will ever start again for the Cardinals. Arizona’s first round pick last year will be hard done by due to the new coaching staff, who likes Murray’s skill set more to their playbook.

Dwayne Haskins: Despite being able to play for the Washington Redskins, a team he has followed his entire life, living and growing up in Maryland, Haskins feels hard done by with going no. 15 in the draft. Especially during the New York Giants pick, where they selected Duke quarterback, Daniel Jones.

“To be honest, I’m more motivated than ever before. I’ve got a chip on my shoulder,” Haskins told ESPN’s Jen Lada. “The league done messed up.”