- The draft's top two picks remain: Kyler Murray remains a Cardinal, and Nick Bosa stays a 49er in this redraft.
- A.J. Brown joins the Jets: New York scoops up one of the game’s best receivers with the third pick.
- The best deal of the year: Use discount code earlybird to save up to 33% on your PFF+ subscription.
Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes
The NFL draft is a crapshoot.
While NFL teams do their best to forecast which prospects will translate best to the next level, the reality is that franchises rarely get a pick exactly right.
But what would a draft look like if teams had the benefit of hindsight? PFF has world-class data for every player on every play in every NFL game, dating back to the 2006 season. Knowing what we know now, here is how the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft could have looked.
Any trades made during the original draft were reversed, while trades made before the draft were kept in place.
1. Arizona Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma (Round 1, Pick 1)
Original Pick: QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
One year after drafting quarterback Josh Rosen 10th overall in 2018, the Arizona Cardinals opted to move on and pick up Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the first pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. And it was a smart decision.
Murray has battled injuries throughout his career but has looked like a top-15 quarterback when healthy, earning at least an 82.0 PFF overall grade in his past three seasons where he’s played 1,000 snaps. A Defensive Player of the Year winner in Nick Bosa was certainly tempting here, but the Cardinals keep their franchise quarterback.
2. San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Nick Bosa, Ohio State (Round 1, Pick 2)
Original Pick: EDGE Nick Bosa, Ohio State
The 49ers made the right selection when they drafted Bosa second overall. He started his career by setting a PFF rookie record with 102 pressures in 2019, postseason included. He’s earned at least an 89.4 PFF overall grade in each of the five seasons in which he’s played a qualified number of snaps. Bosa is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the NFL, and that should continue for many years.
3. New York Jets: WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss (Round 2, Pick 51)
Original Pick: DI Quinnen Williams, Alabama
After back-to-back perfect original picks, we finally get a different selection in this redraft. And that’s no slight to Williams, who is a top-five defensive tackle in the NFL. But the Jets can’t pass on Brown here, as he’s in the running for the best wide receiver in football.
The three-time Pro Bowler is both the fourth-highest-graded receiver (93.1) and the fourth-most-valuable receiver in the league since being drafted, according to PFF's Wins Above Replacement metric.
Most Valuable 2019 NFL Draft WRs, by PFF WAR
| Rank | Name | 2025 Team | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A.J. Brown | Eagles | 2.51 |
| 2 | Terry McLaurin | Commanders | 2.33 |
| 3 | D.K. Metcalf | Steelers | 1.79 |
| 4 | Deebo Samuel | Commanders | 1.47 |
| 5 | Jakobi Meyers | Raiders | 1.36 |
4. Oakland Raiders: EDGE Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan (Round 4, Pick 106)
Original Pick: EDGE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
The Raiders hit a home run when they selected Crosby in the fourth round of this draft. With the benefit of hindsight, they would select him much sooner if given a second chance. After getting acclimated to the NFL in his first couple of seasons, Crosby produced three straight seasons with at least a 90.0 PFF overall grade from 2021 to 2023. His prowess as a run defender stands equal to his pass-rush ability, and he is the foundation of the Raiders’ defense heading into the 2025 season.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: G Chris Lindstrom, Boston College (Round 1, Pick 14)
Original Pick: LB Devin White, LSU
The Buccaneers needed help on their interior offensive line entering the 2019 NFL Draft and grab the best guard in the NFL here in Lindstrom. He owns an absurd 95.5 PFF overall grade across the past three seasons, over six points higher than any other player at the position.
6. New York Giants: DI Dexter Lawrence, Clemson (Round 1, Pick 17)
Original Pick: QB Daniel Jones, Duke
The Giants eventually drafted Lawrence with the 17th selection in this draft, and he became the best nose tackle in the NFL during his time in New York. Over the past three seasons, Lawrence’s 93.4 PFF overall grade leads all interior defenders. He also paces that group with a 90.4 PFF run-defense grade and sits only behind Chris Jones with a 93.1 PFF pass-rush grade.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: EDGE Josh Hines-Allen, Kentucky (Round 1, Pick 7)
Original Pick: EDGE Josh Hines-Allen, Kentucky
The Jaguars stick with their original pick as Hines-Allen has become a top-15 edge rusher in the NFL. The two-time Pro Bowler’s 152 pressures since 2023 are the fifth most among edge defenders, behind only Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa and Trey Hendrickson.
8. Detroit Lions: RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 24)
Original Pick: TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
Jacobs has proven to be a workhorse through his first six NFL seasons. During that time, his 1,637 carries, 94.3 PFF rushing grade and 377 forced missed tackles all rank second in the league, behind Derrick Henry.
Jacobs led the NFL with a 91.9 PFF rushing grade in 2022, and this past season, his first in Green Bay, he ranked fifth with a 91.3 mark while trailing only Henry and Saquon Barkley with 79 missed tackles forced.
9. Buffalo Bills: DI Quinnen Williams, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 3)
Original Pick: DI Ed Oliver, Houston
Oliver has become a solid defensive tackle with the Bills and will be selected later in this redraft, but Buffalo grabs a better player at the same position here in Williams. The three-time Pro Bowler boasts an 89.8 PFF overall grade over the past five seasons and has been the fifth-most-valuable interior defender over the last three years, according to PFF's WAR metric.
10. Denver Broncos: WR Terry McLaurin, Ohio State (Round 3, Pick 76)
Original Pick: LB Devin Bush, Michigan
McLaurin has been consistently productive throughout his career despite generally less-than-ideal quarterback situations. Across his first six seasons, he has produced an elite 90.5 PFF receiving grade. He was particularly outstanding in 2024, his first season with Jayden Daniels as his quarterback, as he ranked 14th in the NFL with an 84.8 PFF receiving grade and hauled in the second-most touchdown receptions in the league.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: DI Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State (Round 1, Pick 19)
Original Pick: T Jonah Williams, Alabama
The Bengals entered the 2019 NFL Draft with needs in the trenches. Simmons has made three Pro Bowls so far with an 84.8 career PFF overall grade. He’s also been the eighth-most-valuable defensive tackle in the league since he was drafted, according to PFF's WAR metric.
Most Valuable 2019 NFL Draft DIs, by PFF WAR
| Rank | Name | 2025 Team | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dexter Lawrence | Giants | 1.43 |
| 2 | Quinnen Williams | Jets | 1.23 |
| 3 | Jeffery Simmons | Titans | 1.19 |
| 4 | Christian Wilkins | FA | 1.05 |
| 5 | Ed Oliver | Bills | 0.81 |
12. Green Bay Packers: WR D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss (Round 2, Pick 64)
Original Pick: EDGE Rashan Gary, Michigan
Metcalf’s size and speed have made him one of the NFL’s premier deep threats over the past six seasons. His 95.7 deep PFF receiving grade since 2019 ranks 13th among wide receivers with at least 50 such targets. Including the postseason, Metcalf has racked up the fourth-most receptions and the third-most touchdowns on 20-plus yard targets since 2019.
13. Miami Dolphins: WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina (Round 2, Pick 36)
Original Pick: DI Christian Wilkins, Clemson
Miami’s receiving corps was in dire straits until the team drafted Jaylen Waddle in 2021 and traded for Tyreek Hill in 2022. Samuel’s 3,102 yards after the catch since then lead the NFL, and he was a first-team All-Pro in 2021.
14. Atlanta Falcons: CB Jamel Dean, Auburn (Round 3, Pick 94)
Original Pick: G Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
Dean has quietly been one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks since entering the league. Over the past six seasons, he has earned an elite 90.5 PFF coverage grade while forcing 62 incompletions. Dean is easily the most valuable cornerback from this draft class, per PFF's WAR metric — and the fourth-most-valuable cornerback in the NFL since 2019.
15. Washington: EDGE Rashan Gary, Michigan (Round 1, Pick 12)
Original Pick: QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Gary would help a Washington defensive line that certainly needed it, having posted an 85.4 career PFF overall grade so far. He made his first Pro Bowl this past season, and he was the fifth-highest-graded edge defender in the league in 2021.
16. Carolina Panthers: EDGE Brian Burns, Florida State (Round 1, Pick 16)
Original Pick: EDGE Brian Burns, Florida State
Burns was billed as a solid pass rusher when he was selected in this slot out of Florida State, and he’s been just that. His 87.0 career PFF pass-rush grade trails only three other edge defenders in the 2019 class — Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby and Josh Hines-Allen. After being dealt from Carolina to New York last season, Burns earned the second-highest PFF pass-rush grade of his career (82.9).
17. New York Giants: C Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State (Round 2, Pick 44)
Original Pick: DI Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
Jenkins has played essentially everywhere on the offensive line throughout his career, spending at least 375 career snaps at four of the five positions. Only Chris Lindstrom has been a more valuable offensive lineman from the 2019 class, according to PFF's WAR metric.
18. Minnesota Vikings: TE T.J. Hockenson, Iowa (Round 1, Pick 8)
Original Pick: C Garrett Bradbury, North Carolina State
Hockenson now resides in Minnesota after being traded by the Lions in 2022, but the Vikings likely would’ve been satisfied with him as a more immediate successor to Kyle Rudolph. Over the past five seasons, Hockenson ranks sixth among tight ends in PFF WAR and seventh in PFF receiving grade among players with at least 100 targets.
19. Tennessee Titans: EDGE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State (Round 1, Pick 26)
Original Pick: DI Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
Sweat has been a very consistent player, leading to an 85.1 PFF run-defense grade and a 77.3 PFF pass-rush grade for his career. Since the Titans miss out on Simmons in this redraft, they’ll have to settle for another stud Mississippi State defensive lineman.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Dre Greenlaw, Arkansas (Round 5, Pick 148)
Original Pick: TE Noah Fant, Iowa
Greenlaw was one of the biggest steals of this draft and served as an excellent partner to Fred Warner throughout his time in San Francisco. He has particularly excelled in coverage, with his career 90.0 PFF coverage grade ranking fourth among qualified linebackers since 2019. He’ll take his talents to Denver in 2025, hoping that those coverage abilities will fix Denver’s biggest defensive flaw.
21. Seattle Seahawks: DI Christian Wilkins, Clemson (Round 1, Pick 13)
Original Pick: S Darnell Savage, Maryland
Even though Wilkins was just released by the Raiders, he has still been a strong defensive tackle in the NFL. Across 2021 and 2022, he was the fifth-most-valuable interior defender, according to PFF's WAR metric. Wilkins sports an 82.9 PFF run-defense grade for his career, as well.
22. Baltimore Ravens: WR Jakobi Meyers, NC State (Undrafted)
Original Pick: T Andre Dillard, Washington State
Meyers has gone from an undrafted signee to a productive receiver for two different franchises. He has racked up at least 700 yards in each of the past five seasons while generating an excellent 83.8 PFF receiving grade. Since the start of 2021, Meyers has reeled in 60 receptions on contested targets, the sixth most among wide receivers.
Most Valuable 2019 NFL Draft WRs, by PFF WAR
| Rank | Name | 2025 Team | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A.J. Brown | Eagles | 2.51 |
| 2 | Terry McLaurin | Commanders | 2.33 |
| 3 | D.K. Metcalf | Steelers | 1.79 |
| 4 | Deebo Samuel | Commanders | 1.47 |
| 5 | Jakobi Meyers | Raiders | 1.36 |
23. Houston Texans: C Erik McCoy, Texas A&M (Round 2, Pick 48)
Original Pick: T Tytus Howard, Alabama State
The Texans badly needed help on their offensive line (and still do), so they target a solid center in McCoy in this redraft. He’s been one of the five most valuable centers in the NFL during three of his six seasons, according to PFF's WAR metric. McCoy logged an incredible 94.4 PFF overall grade in 2024 on 293 snaps before missing significant time with groin and elbow injuries.
24. Oakland Raiders: RB David Montgomery, Iowa State (Round 3, Pick 73)
Original Pick: RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama
Montgomery has been one of the NFL's most consistent rushers across his six-year career, tallying at least 800 yards in each season. His play hit a new level when he arrived in Detroit in 2023. Over the past two seasons, Montgomery has earned an outstanding 87.9 PFF rushing grade while scoring the third-most rushing touchdowns in the NFL, postseason included.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Byron Murphy Jr., Washington (Round 2, Pick 33)
Original Pick: WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
The Eagles could’ve used reinforcements in their secondary, and Murphy profiles as just that. He enjoyed a breakout 2024 season, tallying six interceptions and finishing as one of the 15 most valuable cornerbacks in the league, according to PFF's WAR metric.
26. Indianapolis Colts: WR Diontae Johnson, Toledo (Round 3, Pick 66)
Original Pick: EDGE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
Despite his recent shortcomings, Johnson has been a productive receiver in the NFL. Across his first five seasons, he earned a 78.1 PFF receiving grade, which led all Steelers receivers in that span. He’s always been particularly dangerous in the shorter areas of the field, recording an 84.9 PFF receiving grade when targeted 0-19 yards downfield during those five years.
27. Oakland Raiders: LB T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin (Undrafted)
Original Pick: S Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
The Raiders missed on Abram originally, so their redo lands them one of the best undrafted players from the class. From 2021 to 2023, Edwards earned an 86.1 PFF overall grade and was one of the five most valuable linebackers in the NFL, according to PFF's WAR metric.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: DI Ed Oliver, Houston (Round 1, Pick 9)
Original Pick: DI Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
Oliver has become one of the league's better interior pass rushers during his time in Buffalo. That pass-rush ability rightfully earned him a lucrative second contract. His 81.6 PFF pass-rush grade over the past five seasons ranks 16th among qualified defensive tackles. The versatile Oliver also ranks among the top 25 edge defenders in pressure rate and pass-rush win rate in that span.
29. Seattle Seahawks: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Florida (Round 4, Pick 105)
Original Pick: EDGE L.J. Collier, TCU
While Gardner-Johnson has bounced around the league, he’s one of the better slot cornerback/safety hybrids in the NFL. He’s coming off a career-best 85.7 PFF coverage grade this past season with the Eagles, which ranked sixth among safeties.
30. Green Bay Packers: LB Bobby Okereke, Stanford (Round 3, Pick 89)
Original Pick: CB Deandre Baker, Georgia
Okereke has been a solid starter for the Colts and Giants across his first six seasons, earning at least a 73.0 PFF overall grade in four of those six campaigns. It seems he’s found his optimal level of play with the Giants over the past two seasons. Since the start of 2023, Okereke’s 91.3 PFF overall grade places him ninth among linebackers who have played at least 600 snaps.
31. Los Angeles Rams: LB Kaden Elliss, Idaho (Round 7, Pick 244)
Original Pick: T Kaleb McGary, Washington
The underrated Elliss has played his way into becoming one of the 15 most valuable players at the position in each of the past three seasons, according to PFF's WAR metric, and placed third this past season. The only linebackers who have been more valuable across those three years are Bobby Wagner, Fred Warner, Demario Davis and Lavonte David.
32. New England Patriots: EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, Wisconsin (Round 5, Pick 151)
Original Pick: WR N'Keal Harry, Arizona State
New England was desperate for edge help after losing Trey Flowers and Adrian Clayborn in free agency following their Super Bowl-winning campaign. One solution could have been Van Ginkel, who has turned into a fine player during his time in Miami and Minnesota. He has earned at least a 70.0 PFF overall grade in four of his six seasons while topping out at a 91.1 mark in 2023, which ranked seventh in the NFL that year.
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