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Grading all 32 first-round picks after Week 16 of the 2019 NFL season

We’re 16 weeks in and feel like we have a good handle on how the rookie first-rounders have settled into their respective franchises. Some have shined while others have disappointed, and some have barely seen the field either because of injury, poor performance or both. Through 16 weeks of action, here is how each of the 32 first-round picks has graded so far.

Pick No. 1: QB Kyler MurrayArizona Cardinals

2019 overall grade: 63.4

While there have been ups and downs for Murray in his rookie season, the Cardinals look prescient for ditching Josh Rosen for the Oklahoma signal-caller. Murray has been far more effective at managing a poor offensive line than Rosen as a rookie. Most impressively, Murray has only 16 turnover-worthy plays on the season — 17 quarterbacks have more on the year.

Pick No. 2: EDGE Nick BosaSan Francisco 49ers

2019 overall grade: 87.9

Bosa has been as advertised for the 49ers this season. He’s already broken the PFF record for pressures in a season from a rookie, posting 69 thus far. That figure ranks eighth among all edge defenders in the NFL, as Bosa has proven to be a slam-dunk pick for San Francisco.

Pick No. 3: DI Quinnen WilliamsNew York Jets

2019 overall grade: 69.1

Williams started off slow as a pass rusher but has since picked it up with seven of his 18 pressures on the season coming in his last three games. The superb run defender we saw at Alabama, though, has translated right out the gate, with Williams posting a 75.7 run-defense grade.

Pick No. 4: EDGE Clelin FerrellOakland Raiders

2019 overall grade: 62.3

There hasn’t been much in the way of redeeming qualities from Ferrell’s rookie season. Arguably, the best thing you can say is that he’s been used out of position at times, with 135 of his 614 snaps coming over or inside the tackles. He has the fifth-lowest pass-rush win rate among all edge defenders with at least 250 pass-rushing snaps (9.3%).

Pick No. 5: LB Devin WhiteTampa Bay Buccaneers

2019 overall grade: 53.4

You could tell that the game was moving a little too fast for White early in the season. The instinctive playmaker we saw last year at LSU was too often reacting rather than reading. The good news is that the proverbial switch looks like it has flipped. White’s four highest coverage grades of the season have come in the past four weeks.

Pick No. 6: QB Daniel JonesNew York Giants

2019 overall grade: 66.1

Purely as a passer, there’s a lot to like from Jones’ rookie season. He’s shown quick decision making well beyond his years and solid accuracy at the underneath/intermediate levels. It’s when Jones doesn’t have something immediately obvious, though, that things break down. He’s taken 35 sacks and fumbled 16 times in only 12 games.

Pick No. 7: EDGE Josh AllenJacksonville Jaguars

2019 overall grade: 67.4

Allen hasn’t quite been on Bosa’s level, but he’s had himself a successful rookie campaign nonetheless. He’s already racked up 11 sacks, 13 quarterback hits and 20 hurries on the year for a 68.5 pass-rushing grade. That production is encouraging for a first-year player.

Pick No. 8: TE T.J. HockensonDetroit Lions

2019 overall grade: 60.7

Hockenson looked like he was in store for an all-time rookie season after his 131-yard, one-score outing in Week 1. He never came close to replicating that production in the following weeks, though, and he finished his season with only 367 yards in 12 games after an ankle injury put him on IR. If you’re looking for a silver lining, Hockenson dropped only one pass on 33 catchable targets all year.

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