2019 NFL Draft: 5 free-agent moves that could impact 1st round

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BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 21: Wide Receiver John Brown #13 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at M&T Bank Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

2019 NFL Free Agency is beginning its second wave of signings, but there have already been several moves that have impacted the 2019 NFL Draft.

The 2019 NFL free agency period is slowly entering its second wave, as most big-name free agents have agreed to (or already signed) lucrative multi-year contracts with their new teams.

And with every transaction comes a ripple effect on the 2019 NFL Draft. Teams have filled some of their weaknesses with high-priced veterans and can shift their early-round focus on selecting the best player available, regardless of position. Several moves from this year’s early free agency period have given teams selecting in the top 10 (and just outside of it) newfound flexibility, which will make draft weekend that much better.

Here are five free-agent moves that could have a big impact on the first round.

Buffalo Bills add WRs John Brown and Cole Bealey

The Bills were considered a real player in the D.K. Metcalf sweepstakes at the start of free agency and there’s a chance they still could be in the mix for the 6-3, 228-pound stud. But their investment in John Brown (three years, $27 million) and Cole Beasley (four years, $29 million) may have placed receiver into more of a Day-2 bucket.

Metcalf can’t be completely dismissed as a potential Bills target, however. He’s a completely different type of receiver than Brown and Beasley, and to be honest, would round out the receiver corps quite nicely. But can a club really invest big free-agent dollars and a first-round pick all on the same position? It seems highly unlikely.

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