With The First Pick
Fansided

Josh Allen edges Nick Bosa as best pass rusher in 2019 NFL draft

By Bryan Perez

LEXINGTON, KY - SEPTEMBER 22: Josh Allen #41 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates during the 28-7 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Commonwealth Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - SEPTEMBER 22: Josh Allen #41 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrates during the 28-7 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Commonwealth Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

In a recent poll of NFL.com draft analysts, Kentucky’s Josh Allen was declared the 2019 NFL draft’s top pass-rushing prospect.

It’s long been stated that the 2019 NFL draft will feature several elite pass-rushing prospects, and with less than three weeks to go before the first round gets underway, the defensive narrative has held up.

And while Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray is expected to be the first pick overall to the Arizona Cardinals, as many as three top-tier edge rushers could find themselves in the top five picks.

Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, Kentucky’s Josh Allen and Florida State’s Brian Burns lead the way as the traditional edge defenders, while Alabama’s Quinnen Williams and Houston’s Ed Oliver offer nearly as much pass-rushing upside from the interior.

But which prospect is the best?

According to a recent poll of NFL.com draft analysts, that distinction belongs to Allen.

More from NFL Draft News

Charley Casserly, Bucky Brooks, Maurice Jones-Drew, David Carr and Brian Baldinger, each of whom brings a unique perspective to their analysis, were asked which prospect is the top pass rusher in the 2019 draft. Allen received three votes while Bosa garnered two.

“The best pass rusher in this draft class is Josh Allen,” Brooks wrote. “The Kentucky prospect not only has the physical attributes but he has a long resume of production, including his final season when he tied for sixth nationally with 21.5 tackles for loss and ranked second in the FBS in both sacks (17) and forced fumbles (five). He displays dominant flashes on tape and his rare combination of speed, quickness and power allows him to turn the corner consistently. Plus, he’s a good worker and his game will continue to improve at the next level.”

This year’s draft is rare in that it offers teams picking in the top five several safe options to choose from. While no player is ever a guarantee, this year’s group of sack artists is so closely bunched that general managers aren’t really gambling by selecting any of them. This poll is proof of that; no one will fault a team for selecting Bosa first, or Allen, or even Williams or Burns.

It’s a great year to need a pass rusher.

Home/NFL Draft News