NFL Hot Press




*Walt taking 2014 and 2018
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.
Led all NFL media in draft rumor accuracy in '15, '16, '17, '18, and '20
Led all NFL media in correct picks for the 2017 and 2019 NFL Drafts
2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT - WALT'S | CHARLIE'S ROUND: 1


2019 Defensive Line Class has Legendary Potential

Updated May 14, 2018
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

Every NFL draft has positions of strength and positions of weakness. The 2018 NFL Draft was known to be a weak year for edge-rushing talent, with only two defensive ends being selected in the first round. That is a shockingly low total for one of the most important positions for any NFL team. While the 2018 class was weak on the defensive line, it is well known the 2019 NFL Draft will be a different story.

That difference became evident when Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins decided to return to Clemson rather than enter the 2018 NFL Draft. Aside from them, there were some other players who returned to school, and the 2019 class features some players who have dominated college football since their freshman years.

In keeping with a series looking ahead to 2019, I caught up with an advanced scout for an NFC team who has been working the year ahead this spring. NFL teams share those projection grades for preseason watch-lists. That scout was raving about the defensive line potential for next April.

"The defensive line and pass-rusher class has the potential to be talked about in legendary terms. Players like Nick Bosa, Dexter Lawrence, Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, Rashaan Gary, Raekwon Davis, Ed Oliver, Zach Allen, Jeff Simmons, Jaylon Ferguson, Jalen Jelks, Derrick Brown, Brian Burns, Montez Sweat and Terrell Lewis are all guys who could end up with good grades. Crafting a first-round mock next year will be extremely fun for you.... Good luck trying to fit in most of those names if they all have big seasons!"

Of course during the college football season, there will be some breakout players who nobody is discussing right now. There also could be a some of the players in the group above who disappoint or get injured to have their first-round hopes dashed. However entering the 2018 college football season, it looks like the 2019 NFL Draft could feature an epic and historical class of defensive line talent.






Previous Three Articles:

Thursday Draft Rumors
4/26/18:
The 2018 NFL Draft is finally here! Here are some rumors that I have heard ...
Bills Aiming to Trade into the 4-7 Range
4/26/18:

Thursday evening sources with the Buffalo Bills said that the org ...

LSU Linebacker Devin White Has Created Early Buzz
5/7/18:
While the majority of NFL scouting departments are meeting in the month of ...

Next Three Articles:

Offensive Tackle Talent Could be Better in 2019
5/21/18:
Stidham Impressed Advanced Scouts
5/28/18:
In keeping with a series looking ahead to 2019, I caught up with scouts who ...
Three Wisconsin LBs Project to Top Half of Draft
6/14/18:
In keeping with a series looking ahead to 2019, I caught up with scouts who ...


NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2023
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2022
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2021
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2020
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2019
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2018
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2017
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2016
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of May 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of April 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of March 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Feb. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Jan. 2015
NFL Hot Press Month of Dec. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of Nov. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of Oct. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of Sept. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of Aug. 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of July 2014
NFL Hot Press Month of June 2014