Day 2 of the first-ever virtual NFL Draft has come to an end, and it certainly brought plenty of exciting moments.
Here are our immediate grades for every third-round selection from this year’s draft:
65. Cincinnati Bengals
Logan Wilson | LB | Wyoming
The Bengals went offense with their first two selections, so they followed that up kicking off the third round with a talented defender.
Logan Wilson is a productive and intelligent linebacker who should translate well to the second level. He brings solid lateral agility to the table, and his well-rounded skill set makes him a solid value to kick off the third round. There was some speculation that he would go as high as Round 1, so getting him at this stage of the draft was a solid get for Cincinnati.
GRADE: B+
66. Washington Redskins
Antonio Gibson | RB/WR | Memphis
Washington added some firepower to their offense in the form of former Memphis star Antonio Gibson.
An athletic and versatile playmaker who can serve as a running back or a wide receiver, Gibson has good breakaway speed and can make defenders miss in the open field. He should prove to be a versatile weapon at the next level. The only issue here is determining what the Redskins drafted him as, since they already have a boatload of talented running backs on their roster, so the fit for Gibson in the backfield could be crowded.
GRADE: B-
67. Detroit Lions
Julian Okwara | EDGE | Notre Dame
Okwara reuniting with his brother Romeo on the Lions is certainly a lot of fun, but the rookie brings more than just that storyline.
The younger Okwara is an athletic edge rusher who brings explosiveness off the snap, good agility in space and solid overall length. He can turn the corner and beat offensive tackles with his quickness, and he can also drop back in coverage effectively. His traits make him a very good value in the third round for a Lions team that needed some help at edge rusher.
GRADE: A
68. New York Jets
Ashtyn Davis | S | California
The Jets continued their impressive draft with another great value pick in Davis.
Davis is still developing his instincts in the secondary, but he is a freakishly athletic safety who brings plenty of size at 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds. A converted cornerback, he has track star speed downhill, and he has the footwork and agility to be a reliable defender in single-high or two-high shells. Where he will fit in the Jets’ secondary with Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye is unknown, he is a versatile and toolsy defensive back with a high ceiling.
GRADE: A-
69. Seattle Seahawks
Damien Lewis | OL | LSU
The Seahawks may have found a solid starter along the interior of their offensive line going forward in Lewis.
A nasty blocker who packs a powerful punch at the point of attack, Lewis has a strong upper body and can overwhelm defenders with his grip strength. He does a good job of keeping his pads low, and he fights hard to maintain inside hand placement. While not necessarily a high-upside selection, Lewis should develop into a solid starter for Seattle pretty quickly in his career.
GRADE: B
70. Miami Dolphins
Brandon Jones | S | Texas
It took them a little while to get one, but the Dolphins final acquired a safety for their new-look defense.
Jones brings a high motor to the table: he fights hard on every down and attacks each play with an aggressive mindset. He has good closing speed and is able to act quickly upon his reads with his fast diagnosing skills. His athleticism deep in coverage is just okay, but he should give Miami a versatile defender who can take snaps at both cornerback and safety for their defense.
GRADE: B+
71. Baltimore Ravens
Justin Madubuike | DL | Texas A&M
Even though the Ravens won’t need defensive line help for 2020, they found a great long-term piece up front in Madubuike.
As an athletic and a disruptive interior defender, Madubuike brings intriguing burst off the snap and good agility in space as a run defender. He has a flexible frame and can sink his hips well at the point of attack, and he also has good raw strength in his frame. With Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe ahead of him in Baltimore’s base 3-4 defense, Madubuike likely won’t start right away, but with both defenders being on the older side, he should get his time sooner rather than later.
GRADE: A-
72. Arizona Cardinals
Josh Jones | OT | Houston
One of the biggest steals of the night, Jones’ unexpected tumble saw him end up in a favorable spot with the Cardinals.
A high-ceiling tackle with great physical tools, Jones is a long and nimble tackle who blends quick feet in pass protection with a high motor and a powerful punch at the point of attack. While his technique could be improved, he could potentially develop into a very good starter at either tackle spot. How Arizona managed to snag a player who was seen as a borderline first-round talent at an area of major need this late in the draft is nothing short of impressive.
GRADE: A+
73. Jacksonville Jaguars
DaVon Hamilton | DL | Ohio State
The Jaguars needed to find some help on their defensive line, and they found some beef to place along the interior in the third round.
Hamilton is an athletic, high-motored defensive tackle who should be able to fit in well in Jacksonville. He accelerates well off the snap, fights hard consistently and does a good job of staying low when engaged with blockers. If he can add a bit more strength to his frame, he can develop into a solid starter in time.
GRADE: B
74. New Orleans Saints
Zack Baun | EDGE/LB | Wisconsin
Baun was viewed as a potential first-round talent for much of the draft process, but he ended up falling into the third round, where he ended up on a championship contender.
Baun is an athletic and versatile defender who can rush the passer effectively off the edge, but he can also move around fluidly in space as an off-ball linebacker. His flexibility and flashes of hand usage when engaged with blockers could see him utilized in numerous different ways. With the Saints’ base 4-3 defense, he likely projects as a linebacker, but he could end up rushing the quarterback off the edge at times, too.
GRADE: A+
75. Detroit Lions
Jonah Jackson | OL | Ohio State
After adding D’Andre Swift in the second round, the Lions found a talented blocker who should help pave the way for him in the ground game.
Jackson is a well-rounded blocker who brings a bit of everything to the table. He’s a strong powerful who packs a mean punch, but he also has solid body control and agility and can adjust his set points in pass protection. He doesn’t have elite upside, but he should fill in just fine as a starter at guard for Detroit.
GRADE: B+
76. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ke’Shawn Vaughn | RB | Vanderbilt
The Buccaneers were rumored to take a running back in this year’s draft, and while they did just that, the value might not have been perfect.
That’s not to slight Vaughn, who is a well-built and determined running back who brings better agility outside of the tackles than a bigger back should. However, No. 76 seems a bit steep for him, and given that Zack Moss was still on the board at this stage, Tampa Bay may have reached at first glance. Time will tell if Vaughn can overtake Ronald Jones in the starting lineup, but the rookie’s lack of top-end speed could affect his ceiling a bit.
GRADE: C+
77. Denver Broncos
Michael Ojemudia | CB | Iowa
After heavily attacking the offense with their first two picks, the Broncos added a nice piece to their secondary at No. 77 overall.
Ojemudia is a lengthy and intelligent cornerback who reads route concepts well and is able to mirror his opponents’ movements well. He times his jumps on the ball with precision, and he has good footwork and fluidity in man coverage. While not a physical freak from an athletic standpoint, he should prove to be a quality contributor in the secondary for Denver, whose pass rush should allow him to take advantage of poor throws on a regular basis.
GRADE: B+
78. Atlanta Falcons
Matt Hennessy | OL | Temple
Atlanta already has a strong offensive unit, but they managed to find a potential upgrade along their offensive line in the third round.
In Hennessy, the Falcons will be getting a pro-ready interior offensive lineman who uses his hands well and plays with good pad level consistently. He is an intelligent player who is able to pick up blitzes and help out with double-team blocks well, and he can clear out a nice path for his teammates on a zone run. With Alex Mack at center, Hennessy will likely have to move to guard to crack the starting lineup right away, but his skill set should translate there.
GRADE: A-
79. New York Jets
Jabari Zuniga | EDGE | Florida
It seems like the Jets have needed help at edge rusher for forever, so adding a potential starter like Zuniga should be helpful for their roster.
Zuniga is an explosive pass-rusher who accelerates very well off the snap and has the quickness and agility to beat NFL offensive tackles with speed off the edge. He has a pro-ready frame with long arms and very good conditioning. With some technical refinements through his hands and pad level, he can become a solid starter in New York’s defense in the long run.
GRADE: B+
80. Las Vegas Raiders
Lynn Bowden, Jr. | WR | Kentucky
The Raiders will likely have a lot of fun working with Bowden in their offense.
From wide receiver to running back to wildcat quarterback, Bowden will be able to play at many different positions in the NFL. He’s a dynamic athlete with great straight-line speed and impressive vision and agility as a ball carrier, and his fluidity has flashed when running routes. He is pretty raw as a route technician, but with some good teaching, he could be tough for opposing defenses to stop.
GRADE: B
81. Las Vegas Raiders
Bryan Edwards | WR | South Carolina
Las Vegas added yet another receiver, just one pick after going with the aforementioned Bowden and taking Henry Ruggs III in the first round.
Edwards offers a bit of a different skillset from his fellow Raiders rookies, as he’s a lengthy receiver who offers great ball skills, a large catch radius and good contested-catch abilities, as well as solid deep speed. He’s not quite polished as a route runner yet, but he carries starter upside and can end up being a steal in the long run if he can crack the starting lineup.
GRADE: B+
82. Dallas Cowboys
Neville Gallimore | DL | Oklahoma
Dallas continued their impressive draft in the third round, when they secured a potential steal outside of the top 80 picks.
Gallimore may be stout for an interior defensive lineman, but he makes up for it with fantastic explosiveness, lateral agility and a high motor. His effort to reset his hands and his lower-body flexibility makes him a threat to slip into the A- or B-gap on a down-by-down basis. He joins the Cowboys with a very real chance to start from Day 1, and if he can add some more power to his game, he can be a real impact defender.
GRADE: A+
83. Denver Broncos
Lloyd Cushenberry III | OL | LSU
The Broncos kept stacking up top-notch picks with their third-round addition of Cushenberry.
A technically-sound blocker with versatility along the interior offensive line, Cushenberry should be able to start right away for Denver. He uses his hands well and does a good job of consistently keeping his pads low. He also plays with some solid power in his game, which shows up in the run game. The Broncos did a fantastic job of surrounding Drew Lock with receivers through their picks of Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler, and they knocked it out of the park by beefing up their offensive line with Cushenberry, too.
GRADE: A
84. Los Angeles Rams
Terrell Lewis | EDGE | Alabama
The Rams entered the draft with a hole at edge rusher, but they managed to find fantastic value at the position in the third round.
Were it not for his injury history, Lewis could legitimately have gone as high as late in the first round. He is an athletic edge rusher who bursts off the snap well and can move around in space efficiently. He has a flexible lower body, changes direction with ease and plays with quick and active hands as a pass-rusher. Alongside Leonard Floyd, the Rams should have plenty of speed coming off the edge in 2020.
GRADE: A
85. Indianapolis Colts
Julian Blackmon | DB | Utah
The Colts had a bit of a weakness in their secondary, and they did a good job of adding a versatile and talented defender in the back end in Blackmon.
A former cornerback who switched over to safety in Utah’s defense, Blackmon brings good length, athletic ability, route recognition and an aggressive style of play to the table, giving him value both up top and in man coverage. His instincts as a safety and his form as a tackler can still improve, but Blackmon could end up cracking the Indianapolis starting lineup in due time.
GRADE: B-
86. Buffalo Bills
Zack Moss | RB | Utah
Even with the addition of Devin Singletary in the 2019 draft, the Bills decided to add some running back depth in the form of Moss.
One of three Utah prospects to come off the board in Round 3, Moss is a hard-nosed and powerful runner. He has very good contact balance and a low center of gravity that allows him to plow through defenders on a regular basis. His direction-changing abilities are fairly average, but the power he brings to the table makes him a good complement for Singletary and nice value at this point of the third round.
GRADE: B+
87. New England Patriots
Anfernee Jennings | EDGE | Alabama
There are some picks that just scream “future Patriot”, and Jennings was one of those picks.
A powerful and technically-sound edge rusher, Jennings brings a refined arsenal of hand techniques when rushing the passer, as well as some nice power and toughness at the point of attack. While not a fantastic athlete in space with average length, he should be able to fit well in New England’s system and provide some pressure off the edge for their talented defense.
GRADE: B+
88. Cleveland Browns
Jordan Elliott | DL | Missouri
The Browns have some solid talent along their interior defensive line, but they managed to find some nice value there in Round 3.
Elliott is an intriguing prospect who didn’t put it all together in the stat sheet at Mizzou, but he brought nice speed off the snap and power at the point of attack. He can stand to improve his technique a bit, but the disruptive playing style he brings to the table can make him a quality three-down interior defender for the Browns in the immediate future.
GRADE: A-
89. Minnesota Vikings
Cameron Dantzler | CB | Mississippi State
The Vikings lost Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes and Mackenzie Alexander in free agency, so it made sense that they drafted another cornerback after taking Jeff Gladney in the first round.
Had he tested better at the Combine, Dantzler likely would have been drafted higher than this. He is a physical and competitive cornerback with nice length as an outside cornerback and willingness to make contact in tight man coverage and as a tackler. His athletic tools are merely okay, but the positive traits he has could make him a potential starter and a possible steal down the line.
GRADE: A-
90. Houston Texans
Jonathan Greenard | EDGE | Florida
The Texans lacked a force off the edge with Jadeveon Clowney gone, so they now hope that Greenard can provide that for them.
The former Florida Gator is an athletic edge rusher who accelerates well off the snap, turns the corner well at the top of his arc and can move in space well. He has quick hands and has shown some promise in his pass-rushing arsenal. His technique is still a work in progress, but he brings some explosiveness off the edge that Houston didn’t really have coming into the draft.
GRADE: B
91. New England Patriots
Devin Asiasi | TE | UCLA
With Benjamin Watson retired and Rob Gronkowski out of retirement but playing for Tampa Bay, the Patriots needed a tight end, and they got one.
Asiasi is a bulky tight end with some good body control, solid fluidity and toughness as a blocker. The problem is, there was arguably better talent available at the position at No. 91, as Asiasi’s lack of speed and route-running prowess make him a bit of a high-floor, low-ceiling pick here. Time will tell if this pick pays off, and Asiasi is a solid player overall, but this just appears a bit too high for him.
GRADE: C
92. Baltimore Ravens
Devin Duvernay | WR | Texas
Baltimore already has the speedy Marquise Brown and the sizable Miles Boykin, but now they have a shifty YAC threat in Duvernay.
The Texas product is an elusive receiver after the catch who can make defenders miss with his quickness and vision. Duvernay is also a fast wideout who can stretch the field well as a vertical threat. He doesn’t have the greatest length or catch radius in the world, but if the Ravens give him some space to work some magic, he could carve a niche out for himself in their dynamic offense.
GRADE: B+
93. Tennessee Titans
Darrynton Evans | RB | Appalachian State
Derrick Henry is one of the best running backs in the league, but the Titans didn’t have much depth behind him on their depth chart.
A late riser in the draft process, Evans is a well-rounded back who has good vision, runs with a determined style of play and fights hard for extra yards, and has some solid wiggle in his cuts. While not a fantastic athlete when he breaks away, he projects as a nice backup who can spell Henry from time to time to help extend his shelf life a bit.
GRADE: B-
94. Green Bay Packers
Josiah Deguara | TE | Cincinnati
The Packers made another fairly surprising selection in the third round, passing on a receiver yet again, this time for a tight end.
Deguara is a perfectly fine player, as he is an athletic ‘U’ tight end with good deep speed, ball skills and some solid upside as a route runner. However, he isn’t very physical or big, and he fits a similar profile to 2019 third-round pick Jace Sternberger. Green Bay opted for another player who probably won’t make an immediate impact in their current title window, even if the results down the line could pay off.
GRADE: C
95. Denver Broncos
McTelvin Agim | DL | Arkansas
The hits just kept on coming with the Broncos on Friday night.
An explosive interior defender, Agim brings a nice blend of quickness, power and effort to Denver’s defense. He accelerates well off the snap, has shown he can convert speed to power and fights hard to re-set his hands and maintain leverage. His pad level and hand placement consistency can improve, but he has the upside to potentially develop into a starter down the line.
GRADE: B+
96. Kansas City Chiefs
Lucas Niang | OT | TCU
Kudos to the Chiefs for finding solid value along the offensive line at this stage of the draft.
Niang is an athletic hoss who brings great length, bulk and nimble feet to the table. He could project well as either a tackle or a guard, which could help him get more playing time in his rookie year. If not for a season-ending hip injury, he could have gone much higher than No. 96, so it was wise of the defending Super Bowl champions to take a shot on his upside at this stage of the draft.
GRADE: A-
97. Cleveland Browns
Jacob Phillips | LB | LSU
The Browns needed a linebacker with Joe Schobert no longer on the team, but they arguably reached a bit to find one in the third round.
Phillips is a productive, lengthy and disciplined linebacker who diagnoses well and has some special teams experience, but his athleticism is underwhelming and his play strength can improve. He should be able to help out in the third phase and may see some starting action due to Cleveland being thin at the linebacker position, but he still has some developing to do from a physical standpoint.
GRADE: C+
98. Baltimore Ravens
Malik Harrison | LB | Ohio State
Speaking of AFC North teams with linebacker needs, the Ravens arguably got better value at the position one pick after their rivals.
A bulky, intelligent and reliable tackler, Harrison is a smart defender who plays with a high motor and possesses good physicality, form as a tackler and feel as a coverage linebacker in zone. While his athleticism isn’t all that great, he makes up for it with his instincts on passing downs, so he could end up being on all three downs for Baltimore some time down the line.
GRADE: B+
99. New York Giants
Matt Peart | OT | UConn
After taking Andrew Thomas in the first round, the Giants added some more offensive line help through a high-upside developmental target.
Peart is a lanky tackle whose impressive length, quickness in pass protection and fluidity when climbing to the second level make him an intriguing long-term project for the Giants to develop on their offensive line. He’s definitely raw, but his upside projects him as a nice piece to have for the long haul.
GRADE: B+
100. Las Vegas Raiders
Tanner Muse | LB | Clemson
The Raiders added Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski at linebacker in free agency, but they were able to find a nice athletic option at the position at the No. 100 spot.
A safety in college who will move to linebacker, Muse is an athletic and muscular defender with sharp instincts in coverage, some value as a blitzing linebacker and great closing speed as a downhill tackler. While his motor and ability to diagnose plays at the line of scrimmage could improve, that may come with spending more time in the box. At the very least, Muse should be a phenomenal special teams talent early in his career.
GRADE: B
101. New England Patriots
Dalton Keene | TE | Virginia Tech
After taking a tight end earlier in the round, the Patriots double-dipped and took another tight end just 10 picks later.
Keene fits the profile of an H-back at the next level. He has solid speed, good ball skills and shows effort and tenacity as a run blocker. He’s very much projection at this stage, though, as he’s raw as a route runner and in his technique as a blocker. New England’s decision to go with back-to-back tight ends could pay off, but they arguably reached with both of their selections in doing so.
GRADE: C
102. Pittsburgh Steelers
Alex Highsmith | EDGE | Charlotte
The Steelers needed some depth at edge rusher, and Highsmith should be able to provide exactly that.
An athletic and incredibly productive defender for Charlotte, Highsmith bursts off the ball well and has the flexibility to rip and dip to get to the quarterback. He plays with active hands, can change direction well, and can cut inside for twists and stunts. While not a very powerful of bulky edge rusher, Highsmith should give Pittsburgh a solid rotational defender who can step in and start in a few years.
GRADE: B
103. Philadelphia Eagles
Davion Taylor | LB | Colorado
Philadelphia was able to snag one of the fastest linebackers in the 2020 class near the end of the third round.
Taylor runs and covers like a safety when he’s in space, and he has the speed to make plays on backside runs. He has good fluidity in space and accelerates very well coming out of his breaks in coverage. His instincts and physicality can still get better, but he is still very new to the game of football, having not played high school ball. With some development, the Eagles can mold him into a quality defender for their system.
GRADE: B
104. Los Angeles Rams
Terrell Burgess | S | Utah
The Rams went defense again with their other third-round pick, this time addressing the secondary.
Burgess is a versatile and smart defensive back who can play in the box or in man coverage effectively. He takes good angles to the ball-carrier in run support, has solid closing speed and plays with good footwork and route anticipation in coverage. His play strength and range are just okay, but he should prove to be a nice piece for Los Angeles’ secondary as they try to add some young talent despite a lack of premier draft capital.
GRADE: B+
105. New Orleans Saints
Adam Trautman | TE | Dayton
The Saints have a solid tight end in Jared Cook, but they didn’t have a long-term plan in place to eventually succeed the 33-year-old. Luckily, they now have just that.
Trautman is a high-ceiling tight end prospect who brings nice athletic tools, a big frame and very good ball skills to the table. He has shown some nice fluidity as a route runner, a strong catch radius, and value as both a red-zone target and across the middle of the field. He’s still raw in his route tree and his blocking abilities, but he will be in a great situation to develop and succeed in Sean Payton’s offense.
GRADE: A
106. Baltimore Ravens
Tyre Phillips | OL | Mississippi State
Baltimore came around to adding some offensive line help to close out the third round.
A massive blocker with a nasty edge to his game, Phillips can likely play as either a tackle or a guard at the next level. He has good recovery strength against power moves, and he packs a powerful punch at the point of attack. His technique and athleticism aren’t great, though, and he was only a one-year starter on the offensive line. Phillips definitely has potential to grow, but if the Ravens were looking for more of an immediate impact up front, he might not have been the best bet for the job.
