Rookie watch

CLELIN FERRELL

DE

Raiders

A lot of draft experts felt Oakland reached over better players to take Ferrell, but only time will tell. From a positive view, they’re getting a player who wasn’t just strictly an edge rusher, but an all-around football player who can play the run, make sure tackles and use his head in addition to his size and athletic ability to get to the quarterback. He also played in an elite program at Clemson, and it doesn’t hurt that his new defensive line coach with the Raiders, Brentson Buckner, is also a Clemson product with some insight on how to utilize Ferrell’s versatility to best advantage.

Kyler Murray is slight in stature, but has gamechanging upside. The new QB for the Cardinals has a strong arm and great speed.

BY CARL STEWARD

Dwayne Haskins

QB Washington going seventh, to the Jaguars’ good fortune. Maybe the fact that he went to Kentucky, not generally a factory for top-flight edge rushers, hurt. But his hybrid skills as a coverage man, run defender and pass rusher should have made up for it. He’s also joining an already potent defense — look out.

Oh, how boring. A 6-foot-3 quarterback who sits in the pocket because of his mobility limitations, but can throw a 60-yard on-themoney laser and spot second and third options all over the field. Not too many guys have been successful doing that in the NFL, eh? Haskins could be a sleeper pick because he has the oldschool qualities of successful incoming QBs that somehow seem to have become passe … until you look at the career achievements of one Tom Brady. As long as he isn’t rushed as quickly and carelessly as Robert Griffin III was, he might have a long, fruitful career in D.C. Then again, with Alex Smith projected to miss the entire year recovering from serious leg fractures, Haskins could get a baptism by fire.

Deebo Samuel

WR San Francisco 49ers

How come there aren’t more wide receivers built like running backs? They’re fast, right? They have moves, right? Moreover, it stands to reason they shouldn’t go down as easily or get jammed at the line as frequently, either. Enter Samuel, an interesting test case for what may become a more popular prototype: a smaller, more powerfully built receiver (5-11, 215 pounds) who can take on corners and safeties after the catch and keep going. Samuel has some limitations as far as catch radius and downfield speed, but he could become a terror in short and mid-range zones.

WR New England Patriots

QB Arizona Cardinals

JOSH

Jacobs

RB Raiders

Jacobs passes virtually every test scouts look for in a solid, workhorse NFL back – low center of gravity, stout base, adept at both powering or cutting, follows blockers, effective passcatching ability and durability. But you can bet Jon Gruden saw something else – toughness. The guy plays with a chip, much like many of Gruden’s most productive backs like Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley. Vet Doug Martin should be around to help Jacobs learn the league, and Jacobs sets up to become the team’s most successful young back in years.

Harry comes into the league with a couple of intriguing distinctions. First, he was the only offensive skill player taken from the Pac-12 Conference in the first round, a real rarity. Second, he became the first wide receiver ever to be taken by Bill Belichick in the first round of any draft. Which means Harry is probably headed for Canton at some point, right? Actually, Pac-12 observers should know what this guy is all about – big, physical, fearless, great hands, skillful in traffic or when covered, strong after the catch. With Rob Gronkowski retiring (for now, anyway), the Patriots were in the market for the tough receiver Belichick has always favored. Harry fits the bill.

The 21st century evolution of the NFL quarterback continues dramatically in the league’s 100th year. Murray is an incredible gamble due to his smallish 5-foot-10 frame but he has potentially game-changing upside — a fast and shifty runner with a strong, accurate arm who can throw on the run or tuck it down and explode down the field on his own. It’s not exactly a new prototype but Murray takes it to a new extreme. He has elements of Steve Young, Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes and Oklahoma predecessor Baker Mayfield in his game, but can he take the pounding? Can he stay in the pocket and see over the line when he throws?

NICK

Bosa

DE San Francisco 49ers

It will be fascinating to see which top defensive lineman from the 2019 NFL Draft has the most impact both in his first season and long term. Bosa? Ferrell? Quinnen Williams? Ed Oliver? A lot of people think it might be Allen, whose combination of size and speed seemed to make him a sure Top 5 pick … except he wound up

If a North Carolina country redneck like Madison Bumgarner can spend a decade in the Bay Area with the Giants and thrive, why can’t a supremely talented defensive end wearing a MAGA hat? Hopefully, like Bumgarner, Bosa keeps his off-field pursuits and political passions pretty much to himself and becomes a legendary disruptor on the field rather than off. Pairing this guy with DeForest Buckner, free agent Dee Ford and a rejuvenated Solomon Thomas could give the 49ers the most dangerous, dominant front in the NFL, and we know the result the last time that was the case. Bosa certainly has the genes with both his father and brother having been first-round draft picks who found success in the league. Now it’s Nick’s turn. Expect big things.