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Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst
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2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT - WALT'S | CHARLIE'S ROUND: 1

2019 NFL Draft Week - Monday Rumors

Updated April 22, 2019
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

The 2019 NFL Draft is just three days away! Here are some rumors I have heard from sources with the draft just hours away.

A year ago in this space, we wrote about how Titans sources said Boston College defensive end Harold Landry and Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans were top candidates for Tennessee. The Titans ended up drafting both players a few days later. A year before that, the same sources told WalterFootball.com to mock USC cornerback Adoree' Jackson to Tennessee. Obviously, this track record speaks for itself.

This year, those same sources said that it is more difficult to project who Tennessee is going to take. If there is a run on quarterbacks in the top-16 picks, that could push some unexpected talent down to the Titans. If there is not a run on quarterbacks then some of the players Tennessee covets the most could easily be off the board. Still, these sources shared who they believe are top candidates for the Titans this year. That group includes Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and Florida State edge rusher Brian Burns as the top targets. If those two are gone, and they easily could be, Tennessee's next group of candidates include Notre Dame defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson, Iowa tight end Noah Fant, N.C. State center Garrett Bradbury and Texas A&M center Erik McCoy. Thus, the team has a lot of options in the first round, but don't be surprised if one of these names is a new Titan before Thursday night is out.

During the leadup to the 2019 NFL Draft, there have been a few safety prospects who have been mocked as the top safety in this draft class. Virginia's Juan Thornhill, Washington's Taylor Rapp and Mississippi State's Johnathan Abram have all received that designation in some projections. However in speaking with NFL teams, there was not much of a debate; Abram was the consensus top safety prospect. In surveying seven different teams, all seven came back saying that Abram was the top safety. When I do surveys with teams, that kind of unanimity is not typical, so that suggests a strong belief around the league that Abram is the top safety prospect for this draft. He has a good skill set and productive play with quality tape, plus sources say he interviewed well, showing good character. Abram stands a good shot of being selected in the opening night of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Last week, Texans general manager Brian Gaine said his team was not forced to take a certain position and could draft the best player available in the first round. Even though Gaine states that publicly, the Texans do have numerous holes on the roster they want to address. In speaking to sources currently with the Texans, one position they have some interest in addressing is running back. It may not be in the first round, but Houston would like a receiving back and speedy back who could help move the ball. Sources say the Texans want an Alvin Kamara-type back. Even though they know they are unlikely to land one as good as Kamara has been for the Saints, they would like that style of back to be added into their offense. That could be a tough commodity to find, but that is something Houston sources say the team is interested in finding.

Sources say that the Buffalo Bills have done a lot of work on Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver. During the season, some of their top evaluators, like director of player personnel Dan Morgan, went to Houston to scout Oliver. Bills general manager Brandon Beane went to the Houston pro day, and Buffalo hosted Oliver on one of its 30 pre-draft visits. Thus, the Bills have spent serious time from their top decision-makers on Oliver. However, head coach Sean McDermott may not be a fit for Oliver. In speaking to some sources at other teams that have worked with McDermott, they say that Oliver being a flashy guy with some diva to his personality may not mesh well with McDermott's no-nonsense approach. Coaches can't be too rigid in today's NFL, so don't be surprised if the Bills take Oliver if he gets to their first-round pick.