With The First Pick
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Top 20 Picks of the 2019 NFL Draft’s First Round Set

By Aaron Gershon

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 23: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts on the bench in the second half of the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Los Angeles Rams won 31-9. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 23: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals reacts on the bench in the second half of the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Los Angeles Rams won 31-9. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 23: Teammates Christian McCaffrey #22 and Taylor Heinicke #6 of the Carolina Panthers celebrate after a touchdown in the first quarter during their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 23: Teammates Christian McCaffrey #22 and Taylor Heinicke #6 of the Carolina Panthers celebrate after a touchdown in the first quarter during their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

#16. Carolina Panthers Potential Targets: DE Montez Sweat Mississippi State, OLB Devin Bush Michigan 

#17. Cleveland Browns Potential Targets: N’Keal Henry Arizona State, OT Jawaan Taylor Florida

#18. Minnesota Vikings Potential Targets: OLB Devin Bush Michigan, OG Cody Ford Oklahoma

#19. Tennessee Titans Potential Targets: DT Christian Wilkins Clemson, WR Kelvin Harmon NC State

#20. Pittsburgh Steelers Potential Targets: Dexter Lawerence DT Clemson, DT/DE Raekwon Davis Alabama

A handful of the teams making selections in the 16-20 range of the upcoming NFL draft are considered some of the NFL’s biggest disappointments in 2018. The Vikings, Panthers, and Steelers all had super bowl aspirations but will be watching the playoffs from the couch.

The silver lining for this group is that they were the closest to the postseason and have a chance to get there next season.

Carolina started the season 6-2 and seemed poised to battle the Saints for the NFC South title. Instead, they dropped seven straight games and fell out of the postseason picture. The Panthers struggled at getting to opposing quarterbacks, so a pass rusher will be a priority for them.

The Browns arrived a year ahead of schedule. Baker Mayfield was exactly what the Browns hoped he’d be and then some in his first year. Baker Mayfield won seven games for a Browns team that had won just once the two previous years combined. Look for the Browns to improve Mayfield’s supporting cast on offense in the first round.

Minnesota was chosen by many to reach the super bowl with Kirk Cousins arrival. Instead, they missed the playoffs after an up and down season. The Vikings are desperate to bolster their offensive front, and Oklahoma’s Cody Ford makes sense. The Vikings made a splash in free agency last season, but they will turn to the NFL draft this year to push them over the top.

The Titans second half of the season was great but, an injury to Marcus Mariota derailed their chance to beat the Colts in a winner take all game in week 17. The Titans can be a threat in 2019. They made it to the second round of the postseason in 2017. Look for them to either select a run-stuffer or an offensive playmaker.

Rounding out the top 20 is the Pittsburgh Steelers who’s five-year streak of winning the AFC North is over. 2018 saw the team collapse in the second half. The team struggled in the trenches and must get back to the Steelers way of having a dominant pass rush. Look for Clemson’s Dexter Lawerence, whose NFL draft stock may dip after his recent suspension, to be a perfect fit for Pittsburgh at #20. Raekwon Davis is a cleaner prospect and offers versatility, but may not make it all the way to Pittsburgh at #20.

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