One Day Three Pick for Every NFL Team



Brandon Olsen

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Although the most hyped up part of the NFL Draft is round 1, championship teams really get their value on days 2 and 3. Of course, most of the superstars in today’s NFL were drafted in the first round but guys like Tom Brady and Antonio Brown were day three gems. Today, I’ll be looking at one pick every NFL team could make on day three that might not develop into a superstar, but could be a valuable member of the roster.

Arizona Cardinals





OL Martez Ivey, Florida

The biggest position of need for the Cardinals over the past couple of seasons has been the offensive line. A highly touted recruit coming out of college, Martez Ivey was seemingly unable to put it all together at Florida. Ivey is more of a project with good athleticism, positional versatility, and still a high ceiling. Technically, Ivey is a trainwreck but Cardinals offensive line coach Sean Kugler just may be the guy that can help mold Ivey into a quality NFL player.

Atlanta Falcons

Losing Tevin Coleman over the offseason wasn’t an ideal move for Atlanta’s offense, which has struggled plenty since losing Kyle Shanahan as offensive coordinator. Myles Gaskin will probably never be as good as Tevin Coleman but he has excellent vision and has to be watched coming out of the backfield in the passing game. He should be able to carve out a nice role for himself in Atlanta.

Baltimore Ravens

EDGE Sutton Smith, Northern Illinois

The Ravens lost a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball, including both Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith. Sutton Smith is undersized but smart and versatile with bend and a high-motor. The two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year could be a valuable depth piece in this front seven come day three.

Buffalo Bills

RB James Williams, Washington State

James Williams is probably never going to end up being an every down back due to his lack of vision and his small frame, but his receiving ability could prove valuable at the next level. Williams’ experience in pass-heavy offenses and could be one of the to[ receiving backs in the NFL, always a great piece to have for a young QB like Josh Allen.

Carolina Panthers

WR Jalen Hurd, Baylor

A former running back, Jalen Hurd adds a versatility to the position that a lot of other receivers can’t. Although he lacks in route-running technique, he has reliable hands, a large catch radius, and fantastic YAC ability. Adding him to an offense that already has Cam Newton, Christian McCaffrey, and Curtis Samuel could give defensive coordinators nightmares.

Chicago Bears

About halfway through this past season, Karan Higdon became one of my favorite running backs in the 2019 NFL Draft class. Although he isn’t the biggest back by any means (5’9”, 190 lbs), Higdon runs hard and has great vision and patience, especially between the tackles. He’d be a solid replacement for Jordan Howard on day three.

Cincinnati Bengals

LB Joe Giles-Harris, Duke

The Bengals are probably going to be a bottom-3 team in the NFL this season. With a lot of needs, I could see them going linebacker more than once in this draft and on day three, Joe Giles-Harris could be a pick they make. JGH is a solid coverage linebacker with a high motor.

Cleveland Browns

WR Hunter Renfrow, Clemson

Almost every NFL team has someone on their roster that although he isn’t the most athletic receiver, he can be trusted to make the catch. That’s the role that Hunter Renfrow will play in the NFL and he’d be able to contribute immediately in that role with Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Callaway, and Rashard Higgins being able to take more shots downfield.

Dallas Cowboys

TE Tommy Sweeney, Boston College

Jason Witten isn’t the most athletic tight end in NFL history, but he does have some of the best hands among tight ends. Drafting Tommy Sweeney late would give Dallas someone to sit and learn behind Witten, grooming him for the future, and make TE no longer be a need. Sweeney also is a more than willing blocker in the run game, which I’m sure Ezekiel Elliott would appreciate.

Denver Broncos

LB Sione Takitaki, BYU

The Broncos are another team that should be looking for linebacker help in the 2019 NFL Draft. After letting Brandon Marshall walk, the Broncos might go elsewhere early on and then look for linebacker help later in the draft. Sione Takitaki is a solid run defender is physical, smart, and chases the ballcarrier like a bat out of hell.

Detroit Lions

LB Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington

Burr-Kirven has a high motor, is decently athletic, and has the ability to hold his own in coverage. If that doesn’t sound like someone that Matt Patricia can somehow mold into someone that makes highlight plays on a near weekly basis, then I don’t know what does.

Green Bay Packers

S Marquise Blair, Utah

The Green Bay Packers improved their secondary by signing Adrian Amos about a month ago, but the secondary can always get better. Marquise Blair is a rangey safety that would most likely be best utilized as a deep safety but in college he lined up in the box often and he’s shown the willingness to hit, sometimes even being over aggressive. Mike Pettine should be able to have some fun moving Blair around the defense.

Houston Texans

WR Emanuel Hall, Missouri

Emanuel Hall was someone that really popped out at me when I was evaluating Drew Lock. He’s got fantastic speed and he’s a threat with the ball in his hands, his biggest issue is exactly that however. Hall doesn’t have reliable hands, he’s also not a refined route-runner, but he does have potential if he can focus on polishing his actual receiving ability.

Indianapolis Colts

QB Clayton Thorson, Northwestern

I know that the Colts have Andrew Luck. The Colts also have Jacoby Brissett, who’s most likely hitting free agency after this season and could end up having a pretty interested market. Thorson is a smart QB with some sneaky athleticism that teams apparently love, and I can see the Colts not minding to use a day three pick on Thorson as an insurance policy for Luck.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Anthony Johnson doesn’t have elite athleticism, but he’s still a solid vertical threat due to his ability to win the fight for jump balls and find a way to get open. He’s not the best route runner, but he’s capable of running a wide variety of routes and he would be a day three pick that could contribute almost immediately in this Jags offense.

Kansas City Chiefs

CB Hamp Cheevers, Boston College

Hamp Cheevers won’t wow anyone with his speed but he’s got enough to keep up with most receivers. Cheevers is pretty small for a cornerback in today’s NFL (5’9”, 169 pounds) , but he’s capable of playing in both man or zone and he’s got a real nose for the ball, forcing 8 turnovers in 2018. The Chiefs desperately need help defensively and although they signed Tyrann Mathieu, they could absolutely use more help and playmaking ability in the secondary. Enter: Hamp Cheevers.

Los Angeles Chargers

WR Jazz Ferguson, Northwestern State

Jazz Ferguson has a day one name but some character concerns and a lack of refined technique will make him wait until day three to hear his name called. Jazz is a physically gifted athlete that can go up top and make plays deep, but he’ll need to work on his route-running in order to find success consistently at the next level. He’ll be almost exclusively a deep threat early in his career while working on his technique to be a more all-around receiver.

Los Angeles Rams

DL Michael Dogbe, Temple

Ndamukong Suh is no longer a Los Angeles Ram and although Michael Dogbe can’t replace his talent level, he can bring something else that Suh also brought. Michael Dogbe could bring a level of toughness that you won’t find often in this years draft. Although not an immediate starting-caliber pick, the playoffs last season proved that if you’re looking to beat the Patriots, you need to be ready to get punched in the mouth and punch right back.

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins lost Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn this offseason while also hiring Brian Flores from the Patriots. If Flores is going to run a similar defense to the Patriots then D’Andre Walker could be a great fit as someone who can move around the front seven and wreak some havoc.

Minnesota Vikings

RB Jordan Scarlett, Florida

The Minnesota Vikings had a relatively non-existent run game last season and it looks like it might be worse this coming season. Dalvin Cook is a talented running back but he just can’t seem to stay on the field. Drafting Jordan Scarlett here could give Minnesota a downhill runner to either spell Cook or fill in for him when he inevitably gets injured.

New England Patriots

TE Isaac Nauta, Georgia

The Patriots lost arguably the best tight end of all-time just a few weeks ago. Due to playing at Georgia and not having great production, Nauta has been somewhat disrespected as a receiver during the draft process. A very good blocker for a tight end, Nauta also is a talented receiver with the ability to completely take over at times. Don’t believe me? Watch the end of the first half vs Florida and you can see that Jake Fromm repeatedly goes to Nauta to move the ball downfield quickly. A poor combine brought him from a potential day two pick to almost definitely having to wait until day three.

New Orleans Saints

OL Martez Ivey, Florida

The New Orleans Saints are one of those teams that are always looking for help along the offensive line because they’re smart enough to know that games are won and lost in the trenches. This is the second time we’ve seen Martez Ivey on this list and a big part of that is because I still believe that with proper coaching, Ivey can be a solid NFL lineman. The main appeal for New Orleans to select Ivey late would be that his versatility allows him move along the offensive line. Sean Payton said last season that he wants to be able to play more players on game day but the NFL doesn’t let teams bring out a full 53-man roster, so versatile linemen help bring less linemen and more depth elsewhere.

New York Giants

LB Joe Giles-Harris, Duke

As I’ve been saying since he was hired, Dave Gettleman hated defensive backs. Don’t believe me? Look at the Josh Norman debacle in 2016. Still don’t believe me? Landon Collins became the highest-paid safety in NFL history, averaging $14,000,000 per year over 6 years in Washington D.C., Gettleman wouldn’t franchise tag him for $11,000,000. You know who Dave Gettleman loves that Jerry Reese hated? Linebackers. If there’s one thing that’s for sure, it’s that Dave Gettleman loves linebackers. Joe Giles-Harris not only seems like a Gettleman pick based on his coverage ability (See: Drafted Luke Kuechly and Shaq Thompson while also keeping Thomas Davis Sr.), but he would be a great fit in defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s defense.

New York Jets

Anthony Nelson may never be a full-time starter in the NFL but he has some traits that people fall in love with. First, he’s 6’7”, 271 pounds. Second, he’s high character with an unquestionable motor. Third, he’s an edge defender that loves run defense and doing the dirty work. Fourth, he can sometimes surprise people with the bend that he can bring off the edge. Defensive coordinator could have some fun utilizing Nelson along the defensive line, maybe occasionally even standing him up.

Oakland Raiders

I fell in love with Caleb Wilson’s film early on in the season but as I watched more of him, the love died down. I still think that Wilson could be a solid NFL tight end if he’s relied on as more of just a safety valve. The Raiders recently lost Jared Cook to free agency, but gained Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, and J.J Nelson at receiver. That seems like the perfect situation for Wilson to walk into and be able to contribute as the better receiver of a duo with him and Lee Smith. Not a bad role to carve out for a day three pick.

Philadelphia Eagles

Ideally, the Eagles draft Trayveon Williams out of Texas A&M on day three, but the Eagles have rarely selected running backs before the 4th round recently. Gaskin has excellent vision, change of direction, and better receiving ability than Jordan Howard so he should be able to complement Howard nicely.

Pittsburgh Steelers

We all know that the Steelers are going to draft some receiver in the later rounds and he’s going to greatly outperform his draft position. Enter Gary Jennings Jr. Jennings has great long speed and pretty solid hands to where he could be a productive third option in Pittsburgh with WR2 upside there.

San Francisco 49ers

DL Gerald Willis III, Miami

Gerald Willis III is one of the more interesting stories in the 2019 NFL Draft. Willis initially started his college career at Florida but was kicked off the team after fighting with teammates and even throwing a punch at Jameis Winston during the Florida/Florida State game. That doesn’t sound like a big deal until you realize that Gerald Willis was on the sideline when he threw that punch. However, Willis’ talent shouldn’t really be in question as a gap penetrator. Given that San Francisco is expected to shift more a wide nine defensive front, Willis’ penetrating ability should make him a great fit on the interior.

Seattle Seahawks

S Amani Hooker, Iowa

Long gone are the days of the Legion of Boom in Seattle with Earl Thomas signing in Baltimore and Kam Chancellor likely never playing football again. Amani Hooker isn’t going to be able to replace either of those players, but he’s a smart safety that’s skilled in zone coverage and he’s not afraid of coming downhill and trying to make some plays in the run game and get into it around the line of scrimmage.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DB Sheldrick Redwine, Miami

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just need some help. With new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, the Bucs should have a much more aggressive defense than we’ve seen in recent history. Sheldrick Redwine is a bit of a safety/corner tweener that has no problem throwing down in the run game. Redwine also has great long speed, fluid hips, and ball skills, inconsistent ball skills, but nonetheless ball skills.

Tennessee Titans

Last season, the Tennessee Titans finally saw some legitimate success with Derrick Henry and some power running. Phil Haynes is a powerful run blocker that should be able to come in and move some bodies around in the run game to open up some holes for Derrick Henry. Although he’s not a great pass blocker, Haynes isn’t a slouch in pass protection by any stretch of the word.

Washington Redskins

Washington last year was one of the most injury-marred teams in the NFL last season. Washington was hurt to the point that they started playing defensive linemen along the offensive line. Terrone Prescod may never be a full-time NFL starter but he’s got enough power that he can help out this run game at least with a healthy Guice and Peterson, while not being a complete liability in pass protection.