Winners and losers from 1st round of 2019 NFL Draft
theScore's football editors evaluate who were the big winners and losers from the first 32 picks of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Winners
Kliff Kingsbury
Four months into his first NFL gig, Kliff Kingsbury was handed a license to overhaul the Cardinals' quarterback room and get his guy.
The 39-year-old convinced Arizona it was worth ignoring the abundance of defensive talent in the draft to select Kyler Murray, even though the team had yet to find a trade partner for Josh Rosen, last year's first-round pick. It was the ultimate sign that Kingsbury has been given the keys to the organization, something that rarely happens with a young coach making the jump from college to the NFL.
Washington Redskins
Washington couldn't exit the opening round without a quarterback, and the Redskins managed to get their man in Dwayne Haskins without needing to move up, despite reportedly considering trading into the top five.
Haskins provides insurance for the Redskins under center with Alex Smith expected to miss the 2019 season, Colt McCoy recovering from a December leg injury that needed additional surgeries, and Case Keenum only signed through 2019 (as is McCoy). Washington smartly used the picks it didn't need for a Haskins trade to move back into the end of the opening round and select pass-rusher Montez Sweat.
Lamar Jackson
Jackson was the only rookie quarterback to start in the playoffs this past season, but there's still concern about his long-term viability as a passer. Baltimore recognized it needed to support the young pivot and couldn't roll with the team's current receiving group - which already lost two of its three top targets from a year ago in John Brown and Michael Crabtree - and made Marquise "Hollywood" Brown the first wideout selected.
While the 166-pounder isn't a lock to seamlessly transition to the NFL, he has the kind of game-breaking speed that could be deadly when combined with Jackson's otherworldly athleticism. The Ravens ran over defenses at will in 2018, but their one-dimensional attack limited them in the postseason. In Brown, they added a pass-catching weapon the opposition can't ignore.
Buffalo Bills
All signs before the draft pointed to Buffalo locking in on former Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, and the Bills were even considering a trade up to get him. Ultimately, general manager Brandon Beane sat tight, and the athletic All-American slid to him at No. 9.
Oliver should make Buffalo's already strong defense even better in 2019, and he'll inject youth into a line that lost Kyle Williams to retirement and needed to get younger.
Losers
Josh Rosen
A year ago, Rosen slipped to No. 10 and said nine mistakes were made ahead of him. On Thursday, the Cardinals admitted they made a mistake when the team moved up to take the former UCLA star.
Arizona selected Rosen's replacement first overall. The club hasn't traded its incumbent starter yet, and as the first round went on Rosen watched the New York Giants and Washington Redskins - two of his potential landing spots - pick their own quarterbacks.
It now seems likely Rosen will begin the 2019 season as a backup, whether it's with the Cardinals or another team.
New York Giants
The Giants grabbed their quarterback of the future, but they did so while making arguably the most questionable pick of the night.
New York passed on Dwayne Haskins to make Jones, who many considered to be the fourth-best QB in this class, the second signal-caller off the board at No. 6. And it doesn't seem like there are any plans for him to play soon. General manager Dave Gettleman referenced the Brett Favre-Aaron Rodgers model while suggesting Jones could sit for multiple years.
New York's second pick seemed like an obvious spot to either bolster the team's offensive line or add an edge rusher, both pressing needs that could be addressed with top talents still available. But the Giants instead opted for a run-stuffing defensive tackle in Dexter Lawrence.
Trading back into the end of the first round to grab Deandre Baker, one of the draft's top cornerbacks, was the club's best Day 1 pick. But it's hard not to be disappointed with the Giants' first two selections.
Oakland Raiders
All eyes were on the Raiders and their three first-round picks heading into this draft, as Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock held the keys to the entire event. While the players they selected may turn out to be solid pros - and the focus on high-character leaders is certainly a positive - it feels like Oakland could have done more with its premium assets.
Taking Clelin Ferrell at No. 4 was the first shock of the draft, as the majority of analysts were mocking the pass-rusher in the teens at the earliest. Josh Jacobs at No. 24 could grow into an offensive centerpiece, but the value of a first-round running back is debatable. And the same can be said for a box safety, like No. 27 pick Johnathan Abram.
The Raiders needed to hit a home run in this draft, and so far they've notched a double at best.
Atlanta Falcons fans
Imagine standing all night at a four-hour draft party only to watch your favorite team select two offensive linemen you've never heard of before.
Actually, you don't need to imagine that. Here's how Falcons fans reacted to the selection of guard Chris Lindstrom at No. 14.
Atlanta teased its fans by trading back into the end of the first round, only to double down and pick tackle Kaleb McGary with the penultimate pick of the night.