2019 Picks #106-110
From the 2019 NFL Draft Bible (click here to purchase)
#106 Raiders - Maxx Crosby, DE, Eastern Michigan
OUTLOOK: Maxx Crosby has been major impact player for the Eastern Michigan defense primarily as an edge rusher. Crosby usually lines up in a 3-point stance but often widens out his split as a pass rushing defensive end/edge rusher. Crosby has long arms, a relentless motor, and intriguing speed for his position. Crosby’s long arms allow him to engage his blockers quicker than they expect, and he is able to combine this with his quickness to get by them. Crosby seems to always be going at 100 miles per hour and has the tenacity to compete at the next level. Crosby doesn’t necessarily demonstrate the ankle bend you want to see in an edge rusher, as he looks a bit stiff at times and relies on his quickness far too often to beat lineman. This leads to him overrunning the quarterback, making tackles job easy. Crosby is an explosive all-around athlete but needs to expand and fine tune his game in order to be more than just a rotational edge rusher at the next level.
#107 Bucs - Anthony Nelson, DE, Iowa
OUTLOOK: Nelson, a two-time honoree by Big Ten coaches who finished second in the conference with 9.5 sacks in 2018, appears poised to become Iowa's top-rated defensive line prospect since fellow underrated defensive end Adrian Clayborn was selected 20th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in 2011. Nelson followed his father's footsteps to Iowa, redshirting his first season on campus before turning heads with 33 tackles, including eight for loss and seven sacks (both ranking second on the team) despite starting just one game in 2016. While fighting through the double-teams that came with increasing frequency over the next two seasons, Nelson showed steady development, recording 41 tackles, including 9.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks in 2017 and 45 stops as a redshirt junior this past season, including 13.5 for loss as well as his 9.5 QB takedowns. That production earned interest from Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy. Nelson enjoyed a solid week of practice in Mobile. Country-strong frame with rare height for the position. He possesses very broad shoulders, long arms and anvils for hands, making Nelson not only imposing but well-suited to breaking free from would-be blockers. Technically-sound push-pull and over-arm swim moves to complement surprising lateral agility and flexibility to escape the clutches of would-be blockers. More sudden than his frame would suggest off the snap, showing deceptive initial quickness to cross the face of tackles as a speed rusher. Good lateral quickness and balance through contact to re-direct on counters back inside and shows very good leg drive on the bull rush to walk opponents deep into the pocket. Good awareness of what is happening around him, peeling off from blockers quickly to pursue passes into the flat or disrupt screens. Utilizes his length and strength to rip down ball-carriers attempting to run by him when still being engaged with blockers. Showed steady improvement at Iowa and did not look out of place at the Senior Bowl, suggesting that his best football may still lie ahead of him. While more athletic than his frame suggests, Nelson is more smooth than explosive as an upfield rusher and is not likely to wow in workouts. He shows good effort in pursuit but lacks the speed to catch ball-carriers from behind. Like a lot of taller players, he shows some stiffness in his hips when changing direction and struggles with pad level as he tires. Some will view him as a bit of a 'tweener as Nelson is not overwhelmingly powerful at the point of attack, making him an easy projection as a two-gap defensive end nor does he possess the quick-twitch of a traditional 4-3 defensive end, raising the question where does he fit best in the NFL? Nelson won't be one of the first defensive linemen drafted but don't be surprised if he winds up enjoying a longer, more productive NFL career than some of the flashier athletes selected ahead of him.
#108 Giants - Julian Love, CB, Notre Dame
OUTLOOK: There is plenty of credit to go around for Notre Dame's advancement to the college football playoffs in 2018 with Love - one of three finalists for the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back - certainly deserving of some appreciation. He signed with the Irish as a highly touted prep and immediately lived up to his billing, playing in all 12 games and starting the final eight contests of his first season on campus. He would go on to start the next two seasons, as well, leaving Notre Dame for the NFL after just three years as the school's all-time leader with 39 career passes broken up.
#109 Colts - Khari Willis, SS, Michigan State
OUTLOOK: Boasts an ideal frame for the position with plenty of natural body armor due to his broad shoulders and well-distributed musculature. Willis displays good initial quickness and balance when changing directions and is a smooth accelerator, showing at least passable straight-line speed for deep coverage. A savvy, instinctive defender rarely caught out of position. Anticipates routes well, effectively maintaining his position between the receiver and quarterback. His best attribute on the field might be his reliability as a tackler. Looks like an undersized linebacker and unfortunately, may prove to run like one, as well, struggling to maintain position against some of the speedy receivers in the Big Ten. Reliant upon diagnosing the action correctly as he simply does not possess the catch-up speed to recover when he guesses wrong. Willis comes with off-the-charts intangibles. He was voted a team captain in 2018 and was nominated for the Senior CLASS award due to academic and charitable work while at MSU. Earned a standing ovation as the keynote speaker at the Big Ten Media Day, calling upon his fellow athletes to help their communities. While perhaps lacking the elite athleticism of some of his peers, Willis checks boxes with his prototypical frame, physicality and intangibles.
#110 49ers - Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah
OUTLOOK: In A journey well-traveled, Wishnowsky dropped out of high school in Australia in order to pursue a career as a glazier for a company who specializes in glass installation. He came to The States and began his career at Santa Barbara College before transferring to Utah, making his mark at the Ray Guy Award Winner in 2016. A three-time All-Pac 12 selection, he had a highly decorated Utes career. He created a bit of a buzz for himself at the Senior Bowl, where his thunderous punts seemed to hang in the air forever. He was also credited by the Raiders coaching staff for being a high energy guy throughout the week of practice and in meeting rooms. The influx of Australian punters that has invaded the NFL in recent years only bodes well for his draft stock and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Wishnowsky hear his name called on Day 2.
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