No more countdowns necessary. Draft day is finally here! The Day 1 fireworks begin with the Arizona Cardinals either selecting its next franchise quarterback, again, or a generational talent on the defensive line. It’s not uncommon for the best players to be left on the back burner as teams reach for needs over their board.

Besides projecting the order in which they are selected, the board below categorizes simply the best players in the draft.

Christian Page’s Player Rankings

Marvin Gentry // USA TODAY Sports

1. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama (DT #1)

• Strengths: initial quickness, change of direction/lateral agility, interior pass rush presence, hand usage/technique, consistency
• Weaknesses: one-hit wonder?, patience
• Projection: top five pick

2. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State (EDGE #1) 

• Strengths: effort/motor, flexibility/bend, pass rush plan, violent/heavy hands, productivity (17.5 sacks, 29 TFL in 30 games)
• Weaknesses: some change of direction limitations, injury baggage (abdominal surgery, groin issue in 2018, ACL repair in high school)
• Projection: top three pick

3. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama (OT #1)

• Strengths: hand technician, anchor, recovering ability, body leverage/knee bend, consistency, hot motor/always looking to lay a hat on someone
• Weaknesses: length (depending on team’s desired measurements), can struggle versus quick upper body movements, not a mauler at point of attack 
• Projection: top 10 pick

4. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston (DT #2)

• Strengths: alignment versatility (0-5 technique), explosiveness off snap/initial quicks, space eater, swift feet
• Weaknesses: pad level/positioning, sporadic hand placement, average pass rushing creativity, injury history (knee and hamstring)
• Projection: top 10 pick

5. TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa (TE #1)

• Strengths: soft/reliable hands, efficient in-line and zone blocker, crisp cuts as a route runner, threat at every level of the field
• Weaknesses: blocking consistency (position, aggression, technique, control), not a nuanced route runner (tips routes) 
• Projection: top 15 pick

• Strengths: length, powerful upper body, change of direction, lateral quickness, little wasted movement, football intelligence, range & acceleration
• Weaknesses: lower body strength/torque, stacking and shedding, hand placement, heart condition (not major)
• Projection: top 15 pick

• Strengths: length, pass rush toolkit, pursuit speed with acceleration, recognition skills, coverage range
• Weaknesses: average play strength, hard time disengaging 
• Projection: top 10 pick

• Strengths: frame, motor, explosive off the snap, short area quickness, block shedding, strength at point of attack
• Weaknesses: anticipation, work in progress as pass rusher, shaky background (assault charges in 2016), ACL tear in February
• Projection: top 25 pick

• Strengths: sideline to sideline speed/range, thumper, motor, skilled blitzer (timing & execution: 8.5 career sacks), alpha dog mentality
• Weaknesses: guessing game gets him in trouble, consistency at tackle point, leaves feet when not needed
• Projection: top 10 pick

• Strengths: elite fluidity, instincts, ball skills (7 int, 27 PDEF), mirroring ability at all areas, recognition 
• Weaknesses: lean frame, not elite long speed, recovery ability is average, experience (20 games), can be too grabby
• Projection: top 20 pick/first corner off the board

Mark J. Rebilas // USA TODAY Sports

• Strengths: athleticism, vertical threat, burst and short area quickness, nuanced route runner with head fakes among other subtleties 
• Weaknesses: sporadic blocking efficiency, thin frame compared to average NFL tight end, not overly physical after the catch
• Projection: first round

12. Devin Bush, LB, Michigan (LB #2)

• Strengths: leadership/maturity, anchor/lower body strength and torque, recovery, upper body strength, recognition of pass rush packages (rusher’s plan of pursuit, stunts, blitzes)
• Weaknesses: hand placement, edge footwork (plays on heels), kick slide, adequate to poor acceleration
• Projection: top 20 pick

• Strengths: bully mentality, acceleration to target, adequate feet to play laterally
• Weaknesses: average footwork on edge, over pursuing on pass sets, hand placement
• Projection: top 15 pick

• Strengths: initial quickness, lower body flexibility, play recognition, adequate range and acceleration
• Weaknesses: inconsistent pad level, consistency (performance and positioning), base shows weakness at point of attack
• Projection: first round

• Strengths: twitchy athleticism, body control, flexibility to bend consistently, short area quickness
• Weaknesses: slender build, limited power, hand discipline, initial punch/contact
• Projection: top 20 pick

• Strengths: football intelligence, decision making, arm strength, zip, confident playmaker
• Weaknesses: velocity control, lower body mechanics (wide, off balanced), not a great athlete (not a factor scrambling), experience, average anticipation 
• Projection: top 10 pick 

• Strengths: length, motor, jolt at point of attack, toolkit of pass rush moves, versatility (0-tech in 2017, 3-5 in 2018, some 7-tech)
• Weaknesses: positioning/leverage, average flexibility, sustaining strength/leg drive, violation of team rules in 2015, labrum surgery in March
• Projection: top 40 pick

• Strengths: fluid feet and flexibility, consistent pass sets and angles, anchor/absorbs contact
• Weaknesses: okay to average length (causes to lose some edge battles), more hugger than grabber, run blocking experience
• Projection: top 15 pick

• Strengths: quick to hit target, grip strength and sustainability, calm in pass sets, body leverage, interior offensive line versatility
• Weaknesses: little light in the pants, leg drive, recovery is average
• Projection: late first round

• Strengths: anchor/absorbing contact, latch strength, girth, mauler
• Weaknesses: knee bend, choppy kick slide, foot quickness, punch + timing
• Projection: top 20 pick

Icon Sportswire // via Getty Images

• Strengths: dynamic athletic ability, quick trigger, downfield accuracy and touch, arm strength, symmetrical mechanics
• Weaknesses: progressions, second read and on, small frame, one year as full-time starter
• Projection: top five pick

• Strengths: violent running style, stop and start, adequate vision, plenty of tread left on tires (317 career touches)
• Weaknesses: decisiveness and patience, can he carry the full-time load?, injury history (hamstring, ankle, groin throughout career)
• Projection: top 40 pick/first running back taken

• Strengths: heavy/powerful hands, vision + pursuit, oily hips, range, pad level
• Weaknesses: pass rush creativity, injury/durability (shoulder, nagging injuries), hand discipline 
• Projection: top 20 pick

• Strengths: island capability, QB baiter, long speed to run with elite talent, read and react
• Weaknesses: overly physical (will draw plenty of flags), coverage integrity, slight frame, lackadaisical tackling/effort, stiff-hipped
• Projection: first round

• Strengths: ideal NFL frame and length, 27 career sacks, diverse pass rush skillset, secondary rush plan
• Weaknesses: average anchor, pad level, not twitchy edge prospect, inconsistent hands
• Projection: top 25 pick

• Strengths: deep/vertical speed, technique fighting against press, catch radius, chiseled build
• Weaknesses: short area quickness (stop and start), average break on routes, catching/hand technique, durability (left foot in 2017, neck in 2018: can he finish a season?)
• Projection: top 25 pick 

• Strengths: near elite straight-line speed, stop and start/acceleration, ball tracking, production (last two seasons: 132 receptions, 2,413 yards, 17 TD), skilled route runner
• Weaknesses: thin frame, out muscled at catch point, willingness to fight at catch point, limited catch radius, foot injury limited draft preparation
• Projection: first round/first receiver taken

• Strengths: thumper, range + acceleration, sideline to sideline speed, wrecking ball through blockers, change of direction
• Weaknesses: inconsistent tackler because of demeanor, average ball tracking skills/ball recognition, pigeon-holed box safety
• Projection: top 40 pick

• Strengths: thick/intimidating frame, physical at catch point (“my ball” mentality), yards after catch, cognizance of coverage, strong hands
• Weaknesses: not a burner, not a crisp route runner, versatility (primarily used as a big slot), 
• Projection: top 25 pick

Daniel Dunn // Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

• Strengths: wide frame, two-gapping ability, will not lose point of attack battle, loose lower body/flexibility
• Weaknesses: pad level, dip in pass rush production over career (6.5 sacks in 2016 to 1.5 in 2018), nerve issue in lower body in 2017, suspended during postseason for PEDs 
• Projection: top 50 pick

• Strengths: hand placement and violence, body leverage in both areas of the game, athleticism, initial quickness, nastiness
• Weaknesses: pad level varies, average reach blocker, anchor can be better
• Projection: late first round

33. Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina (WR #4)

• Strengths: physicality through entirety of the play, jams well in press coverage, controlled feet, route recognition, loose hips
• Weaknesses: over pursing in press, ball awareness/anticipation, relies on physicality over technique 
• Projection: second round

• Strengths: biggest catch radius in the draft, physicality at catch point and after the catch, deep threat, yards after catch/contact, always open no matter separation standpoint
• Weaknesses: sporadic hand technique as pass catcher, separation, lacks quickness to explode out of breaks
• Projection: late first round to early second round

• Strengths: consistency, mirroring ability on underneath routes, instincts, route recognition
• Weaknesses: disengaging and stacking in run game, becomes grabby as the route continues, thin lower half, average deep speed
• Projection: top 40 pick

• Strengths: versatility, range and closing speed, loose hips with quickness, smooth transitions from back pedal to sprint, change of direction
• Weaknesses: lean frame and struggles to stack, average tackler in open space, recognition skills are average
• Projection: late first round

• Strengths: chiseled frame, smooth back pedal, aggressive run supporter, short area quickness
• Weaknesses: ball tracking, wasted movements, long speed is average, press technique, experience
• Projection: early second round

• Strengths: acceleration, quick to diagnose, not a ball hawk but displays ball skills, reliable tackler
• Weaknesses: a missile when play is ahead of him but needs to calm down/patience, disengaging, average in man coverage
• Projection: top 40 pick

• Strengths: initial move, body positioning, experience at guard and center (three-year starter), finisher
• Weaknesses: change of direction, sporadic hand placement, open space/second level
• Projection: second round

• Strengths: confident passer, quick trigger/release, elusiveness and good decision maker as a runner, leadership qualities
• Weaknesses: lower body mechanics (inconsistent throwing base), secondary manipulation, inconsistent on hitting open target, losing record as a starter (21-25)
• Projection: early second round pick

John David Mercer // USA TODAY Sports

• Strengths: quick upper movements, flexibility, acceleration (gets from Point A to B quickly), effort player, initial quickness
• Weaknesses: immaturity, habit of taking long route to quarterback, only average versus the run
• Projection: early second round

• Strengths: versatility (22 starts at CB, 14 at SAF), recognition, ball skills/production, length 
• Weaknesses: average lower body athleticism, not aggressive playing downhill, exposed in intermediate areas of the field
• Projection: late first round to early second round

• Strengths: versatility (both safety spots, nickelback, box), read and react quickness, acceleration, consistent tackler
• Weaknesses: only average speed, transitioning from back pedal to sprint, exposed on deep throws, hip injury in 2018
• Projection: second round

• Strengths: length, football intelligence, instincts, body control, physical at catch point
• Weaknesses: lower body stiffness, iffy tackler even though aggressive, lacks ball tracking skills 
• Projection: late second round pick 

• Strengths: reliable and strong hands, big-bodied redzone threat (13 redzone touchdowns), physical in every category, plucks ball out of the air
• Weaknesses: average route runner, stop and start, lacks explosiveness in his release
• Projection: second round pick

• Strengths: rarely drops passes, stretches the field, body control, out muscles defenders after the catch, effective blocker
• Weaknesses: one-hit wonder?, overall blocking technique, won’t wow with play speed
• Projection: top 50 pick

• Strengths: range, doesn’t shy away from contact of any sort, stacks and sheds well versus the run, eye discipline
• Weaknesses: timing/slow to process, consistency at tackle point, wrist surgery (February 2019)
• Projection: second round pick

• Strengths: frame, sinks hips and absorbs, pad level, experience, powerful grip strength 
• Weaknesses: hand placement, hugger over grabber, timing of punch, leg drive is average
• Projection: Day 2 pick

• Strengths: leverage through contact, heavy/violent hands, leg drive, ideal frame (weight & length), kick slide, versatility 
• Weaknesses: inconsistent hand placement, punch timing, average upper body strength, finishing 
• Projection: second round pick