2019 SELECTION VALUE REPORT
Below you will find 2019 NFL Draft value scores for all 32 teams. The VALUE SCORE represents the average round value of each team’s selections versus my pre-draft top 254.
For example, a +1.00 overall value score means that team selected their players about a round later than they were expected to go on average (a good thing!). Therefore that team registers plus one round of value per pick.
Meanwhile, a -0.50 value score means the team selected their draft picks around a half round sooner than expected (a not so good thing!). This team would be losing a half round of value, on average, for their selections.
The value score measures just that, value versus the board, and not necessarily the quality or fit of the picks themselves. Also included below are each team’s PICK VALUE scores for both Rounds 1-3 and the draft as a whole. Pick value is the same exact idea as the value score, but instead of measuring by round value, the pick value is the number of actual picks above or beneath anticipated value for each player. The pick value is calculated on a pick-by-pick basis and then used to produce the value score.
The teams are listed below in order of their first selection of the weekend. A ranking of teams by overall value score can be found at the very bottom of the page, along with the highest/lowest-value individual selections of the draft.
1. ARIZONA CARDINALS
Arizona had a large slate of picks and did a great job playing the board and finding value with almost every single selection. Putting the decision to quickly abandon Josh Rosen and spend the first overall pick on another QB aside, the embattled Steve Keim made sensible choices everywhere else, including starting Day 3 with four consecutive plus value selections. Deionte Thompson in Round 5 jumps off the board as a particularly enticing bargain.
2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
For the second straight year, John Lynch's selections received brutal marks vs my board. Lynch has now demonstrated in all three of his drafts in San Francisco a wild disregard for conventional wisdom and a willingness to reach for players that fit his personal scouting preferences. Only time will tell if he's had a leg up on the scouting community at large, but the early returns have not been incredibly promising.
3. NEW YORK JETS
The score is a tad harsh for the reality of Mike Maccagnan's performance here as he scooped the top player on my board in Quinnen Williams and added two other high-ceiling potential starters in Round 3. Jachai Polite provides first round potential and was a gamble at the right value for the edge-needy Jets.
4. OAKLAND RAIDERS
Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden's first draft together didn't grade particularly well but I was personally high on basically every player they selected in the first five rounds. Value be damned, I think each of their first eight picks has intriguing promise as potential contributors moving forward for the Raiders.
5. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
While it isn't shocking that Tampa Bay put high importance on rebuilding their defense in this draft, their determination to do so had them reaching throughout the weekend. I don't hate the players they ended up taking with their first five picks but it's hard to ignore some of the others in those same positions that were bypassed.
6. NEW YORK GIANTS
Giants GM Dave Gettleman made perhaps the most controversial pick in the draft taking Daniel Jones 6th overall but he quietly found good value over the course of the rest of the weekend. Deandre Baker and Oshane Ximines were the most inspired selections, while Day 3 choices Julian Love and Chris Slayton also were positive value picks vs my board.
7. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Jacksonville crushed their first two picks, playing the board perfectly to get two players in the first two rounds that could have easily both been gone before pick #7, or so I thought. A couple of weird third round selections wrecked the overall value score but the Jags played the board well this year.
8. DETROIT LIONS
If not for my pretty blatant under-ranking of Jahlani Tavai, the Lions would have had one of the best graded weekends in the league. Every other selection was right around appropriate value and Austin Bryant and Amani Oruwariye were savvy Day 3 picks with high-ceiling potential.
9. BUFFALO BILLS
GM Brandon Beane continued his under-the-radar renovation of the Bills with a successful weekend finding value in the first six rounds. Each of the first six picks here have exciting potential to contribute for Buffalo and Ed Oliver could be a cornerstone defensive piece for years to come.
10. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The Steelers filled the big need in the middle of their defense with the truly exciting Devin Bush while also addressing wide receiver and cornerback to round out their first three picks. Diontae Johnson and Justin Layne were tiny reaches but it was the selection of Zach Gentry in Round 5 that really wrecked the overall weekend score for Pittsburgh.
11. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Even if I dramatically undervalued him, Cincinnati's selection of Drew Sample with the 52nd overall pick is still a hard one to understand. Especially since the Bengals found tremendous value all over the rest of the board. Jonah Williams and Germaine Pratt were two personal favorites of mine in the scouting process and the team continued with inspired value choices on 5 of their first 6 Saturday picks.
12. GREEN BAY PACKERS
Green Bay didn't wind up with a positive value score but I would argue GM Brian Gutekunst did slightly better finding value than the final number suggests, especially on Days 1 & 2. While Rashan Gary has yet to demonstrate his full potential, he is no doubt a scary talent. Frankly, similar things can be said about Darnell Savage, Elgton Jenkins and Jace Sternberger as well.
13. MIAMI DOLPHINS
A couple of big value hits and a very solid first round pick saw Miami GM Chris Grier come away with a fantastic overall score for his weekend of work. Christian Wilkins is a high character and high upside potential foundation piece for Brian Flores' new defense, while Isaiah Prince and Myles Gaskin have a legitimate shot to contribute despite both being selected beyond the 200th pick.
14. ATLANTA FALCONS
Only the 49ers and John Lynch registered a worse value score for the weekend and the Falcons managed to select five players outside of my top 254. Clearly the First Round priority was to address the gaping need on the offensive line and while they didn't neccesarily find value with the picks, they did take two good players. I can't confidently make the same assertion about the players they picked up on Days 2 & 3.
15. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Washington played the board surprisingly well on the weekend, averaging a half round of plus value per selection and finding their next starting QB. The middle of the first round was the right spot for Dwayne Haskins and high upside potential playmakers Montez Sweat, Terry McLaurin and Bryce Love followed up the Haskins pick at good value spots. Washington finished the weekend with even more upside, adding Kelvin Harmon, Jimmy Moreland and Jordan Brailford.
16. CAROLINA PANTHERS
Considering the fact that the only two negative-value selections vs my board made by Carolina were both spent on high-upside players from the SEC, it was a very successful weekend for Marty Hurney and Ron Rivera. Brian Burns was a no-brainer at #16 especially considering the edge need and Christian Miller at #115 overall reinforced the edge further at even more value. The only concern here for Panthers fans is a failure to address the secondary with any of these picks.
17. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The Vikings basically broke even on the value front on their massive haul of 13 picks, but the focus should really be at the top. Minnesota grabbed two immediate starters at plus value in the first 50 picks. Dru Samia should also be highlighted as a sneaky-good selection at the right price to further address their depth need on the offensive line.
18. TENNESSEE TITANS
For the second straight year, the Titans and GM Jon Robinson have come away with the highest value score in the league vs my board. Jeffery Simmons was underranked due to off-field issues but is a tremendous talent. AJ Brown was my third best receiver in class and a seemingly excellent complement to Marcus Mariota. Amani Hooker could potentially wind up starting quickly after being selected #116 overall and D'Andre Walker was one of my favorite high-upside gambles from Day 3.
19. DENVER BRONCOS
Overall value score aside, John Elway actually did quite well on Days 1 & 2, basically nailing appropriate value on the need-based selections of four exciting prospects. The only slight reach was Drew Lock but Denver was surely considering him at #10 overall and got him a full round later, dramatically decreasing the pressure on the pick and the still-developing QB.
20. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
It's pretty easy to like what the Eagles did here, maximizing the value on their five selections while still addressing need areas. Andre Dillard and Miles Sanders seem locks to be immediate significant contributors, while Shareef Miller was a high-upside value gamble at #138. JJ Arcega-Whiteside really needs the right environment to thrive with his jump-ball style but it seems Carson Wentz's play-extending antics should fit well with his new wideout's red zone prowess.
21. HOUSTON TEXANS
The Texans left me scratching my head after the extremely aggressive first round reach for Alabama State tackle Tytus Howard. The player is certainly not bad but will seemingly have a steep learning curve and a high amount of pressure to succeed immediately. The value grades were not promising the rest of the weekend either with the exception of a dark horse prospect I particularly love, Kahale Warring, who I expect to develop into a major contributor.
22. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore broke basically even on value until their selection of Trace McSorley, who did not receive a draftable grade from me. Clearly this is a scheme fit choice built on the belief that McSorley can potentially operate Lamar Jackson's unorthodox offense. Every other player selected on the weekend by the Ravens is at least somewhat exciting and their first four picks are all players I particularly enjoyed scouting.
23. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Perpetually underappreciated GM Tom Telesco typically fares much better vs my board but it seems the Chargers are firmly in win-now mode and looking for players that can fill immediate needs. Jerry Tillery was a fantastic choice in this context as he'll provide the interior run-stopping heft Los Angeles was lacking last season. Nasir Adderley, while not taken at plus value, should form an interesting secondary combo with last year's breakout rookie Derwin James.
24. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
John Schneider and Pete Carroll were all over the map on draft weekend, seemingly squandering the value on their 8 picks inside the top 142. However they also managed to pull off one of the most impressive picks in the entire draft in somehow nabbing super-high-potential wide reciever DK Metcalf with the 64th pick. Seattle has recently prioritized scheme and personality fits over a 'best player available' philosophy and this year was certainly no different.
25. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The value score wound up surprisingly low for Bill Belichick but don't be fooled, Sir Hoodsworth had another good weekend and his +7 average pick value over the first three rounds is the stat that really matters here. There is legitimate reason to be excited by each of his first four selections, with Chase Winovich seemingly the most inspired choice, and Yodney Cajuste was worth the gamble at #101 overall. Damien Harris was a somewhat forgotten prospect in the pre-draft process but offers an intriguing possibility as a more physical, hard-nosed running option in the Pats' light and fast backfield.
26. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
I think it's a reasonable assumption that the Colts got the player, or one of the players, they were targeting at #26 overall when they traded out of Round 1, ultimately taking Rock Ya-Sin at pick #34. They also desperately needed to add a weapon for Andrew Luck and found a very promising one in Parris Campbell. GM Chris Ballard's historically great haul a year ago didn't grade out particularly well vs my board either, but I was high on Nelson and Leonard from the jump. We'll see if Ballard's draft magic can carry over into this class with no blatant talents at the level of their top two choices a year ago.
27. CLEVELAND BROWNS
It was a bizarre draft for GM John Dorsey on the value front. Greedy Williams at #46 overall is a slam dunk for Cleveland and one of the more surprising developments of the draft. However Sione Takitaki, massively underrated on my board as he may have been, went just about where star Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson belonged, only for the Browns to turn around and take Wilson 75 picks later in Round 5. Every other pick graded as a reach and the value score ended up pretty ugly.
28. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
With extremely limited picks this year and only two in the top 105, New Orleans really had to make those first two choices count. They succeeded massively, addressing a need with a borderline Round 1 player in Erik McCoy at #48 overall and then snapping up the seriously underappreciated and versatile Chauncey Gardner-Johnson at #105.
29. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Tyreek Hill's incredibly disappointing situation led to a disappointing need reach for the somewhat similar Mecole Hardman. Hardman has wheels, there is no doubt, but was viewed by most as more of a return man coming out than a replacement for one of the single most valuable and explosive weapons in the game. However, I love Juan Thornhill and believe he will see a ton of the field and quickly.
30. LOS ANGELES RAMS
The score is too harsh for what Los Angeles actually accomplished here, filling a safety need with a tough, cerebral player at positive value in Taylor Rapp and adding some running back depth with the home run hitting Darrell Henderson. There is good reason to keep an eye on David Long, Bobby Evans, Greg Gaines and David Edwards as well even if the value on these selections wasn't ideal.
31. DALLAS COWBOYS
Jerry Jones earned himself a positive value score for the second straight year but only because of his smart Round 7 selections. Not that the rest of the Dallas draft was a failure. Particularly exciting was the pick of Connor McGovern at #90 overall, who should provide needed depth for the Cowboys' offensive line and could even wind up starting.
32. CHICAGO BEARS
Chicago had almost no picks to work with this year and still managed to bolster their offense with two should-be contributors at plus value. David Montgomery seems like a dream fit and potential breakout star while Riley Ridley flew under the radar during the draft process but offers a well-rounded and intriguing skill set to add to Mitch Trubisky’s receiving corps.
