Three full weeks of the NFL schedule have been completed, giving us a larger sample size to delve into just how each of the 2019 NFL Draft first-round picks has fared in their respective action so far.
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Pick No. 1: QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
2019 overall grade: 61.3
Murray struggled to get into a rhythm in Week 3, completing 30-of-43 pass attempts for just 173 passing yards, two touchdowns, one big-time throw and two interceptions from two turnover-worthy passes. His work from a clean pocket — which generated a clean-pocket passer rating of 75.1 — left a lot to be desired in this one, as did his 0-for-3 stat line on passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield. Add in the eight sacks he took, and you're just not going to win football games, let alone grade well.
Pick No. 2: EDGE Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
2019 overall grade: 68.0
Add another seven total pressures onto Bosa Jr.'s season tally. In Week 3 against the Steelers, Nick produced two hits and five hurries across only 24 pass-rushing snaps, taking his pressure total up to 17 and his pass-rush win rate up to 23.5%, tied for ninth (with Myles Garrett) and fifth, respectively among qualifying edge defenders this year. One thing to keep an eye on this far is his tackling — he missed another two tackles this week after missing one in each of his first two games, and that's a big factor in his sub-70.0 grade.
Pick No. 3: DI Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
2019 overall grade: 64.7
Williams managed just 23 snaps in Week 1 before he was forced to leave the game with a foot injury, and that same foot injury has kept him out of his side's last two games. Through three weeks, Williams’ only regular-season contribution has been a pass-rush win against Bills guard Quinton Spain, so he’ll no doubt be looking to make an impact upon his return.
Pick No. 4: EDGE Clelin Ferrell, Oakland Raiders
2019 overall grade: 49.1
Ferrell earned a career-high single-game grade (60.0) in his team's Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but it still wasn't a great outing. He showed best against the run, with two solo tackles, one tackle assist and one defensive stop on 31 run-defense snaps, but he once again let himself down as a tackler by missing a tackle for the third consecutive week. Ferrell has now earned three sub-40.0 tackling grades and recorded only seven total pressures on 89 pass-rushing snaps — not the kind of stat line you'd expect from a top-four edge defender.
Pick No. 5: LB Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2019 overall grade: 42.9
The same knee injury that forced White out of his Week 2 game cost him an appearance in Week 3. So far this season, White has played all of 73 snaps and earned sub-60.0 grades in run defense (56.2), in coverage (43.2) and as a pass-rusher (48.7).
Pick No. 6: QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants
2019 overall grade: 60.8
Last week, Jones' ascension to the starting role was announced just minutes after we said it was coming — and the upgrade in quarterback play was clear for all to see this week. In Week 3, Danny Dimes completed 23-of-36 pass attempts for 336 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in a stat line that also saw two big-time throws and one turnover-worthy play. On the surface, the rushing ability and athleticism was the breath of fresh air for the New York Giants, as Jones logged two rushing touchdowns — one from a red-zone read-option play and another on a game-clinching scramble where the Tampa Bay defense rolled out a seven-yard red carpet on fourth-and-five from the seven-yard line with only 81 seconds left to play. Of course, this aspect of the game is only available with Jones at the helm, but stock should be taken in Jones' play under pressure this week, as he left the game having completed 73.7% of his pressured attempts at 12.8 yards a clip for a 133.1 passer rating. The last time Eli Manning completed at least 70.0% of his passes for over 10 yards per attempt and a 100.0-plus rating? Week 6 of the 2016 season. Jones' grade is still just 60.8 largely because he's had two bad fumbles across his 67 offensive snaps, one on a fourth-quarter scramble against Dallas and another in Week 3 against Tampa Bay.
Pick No. 7: EDGE Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
2019 overall grade: 68.2
Josh Allen was an absolute force in Week 3, recording one sack, one strip-sack, one hit and three hurries on his 39 pass-rushing snaps, taking his pressure total up to 15 through three games. The Kentucky product earned career-high marks across the board, but judging by his trajectory (52.4 grade in Week 1, 64.8 grade in Week 2, 80.2 in Week 3) the chances are that I'll be saying the same next week after he takes on the Broncos' faltering offensive line.
Pick No. 8: TE T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions
2019 overall grade: 59.2
It was another tough day for Hockenson, who failed to make much of an impact catching the ball and struggled to maintain his blocks on the edge. As a pass-catcher, he dropped as many passes as he caught (1) from three targets, and he finished the game with just one receiving yard to his name.
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