Though we’re still two months away from the 2019 season, enthusiasts of the NFL draft are already churning out predictions for next year’s event. While we have no idea how college football’s top prospects will perform this year — let alone who will declare for the draft — that’s not enough to deter Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling from taking a crack at the 2020 draft.
In his mock of the draft’s first round, Easterling sent Georgia running back D’Andre Swift to the Baltimore Ravens at pick No. 15 (draft order was based on current Super Bowl odds). Swift was the first running back off the board and one of three players at the position selected in the first round.
Swift enters his junior season on the verge of becoming one of college football’s most prominent rushers. After spending his freshman year behind Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, and his sophomore season sharing time with Elijah Holyfield, Swift is poised to come into his own as the Bulldogs’ bell cow back.
Over 29 games, Swift has 1,667 yards and 10 touchdowns on 244 carries. Swift also has 450 yards and four touchdowns on 49 receptions.
On its face, this is a somewhat questionable pick; Easterling offers no justification either for the selection. The Ravens are set to enter the 2020 season with two seemingly serviceable running backs — Mark Ingram and 2019 fourth-round pick Justice Hill — under contract. The team can then also easily re-sign Gus Edwards as an exclusive rights free agent. So for now, the position appears to be far from a priority.
For his part, Chris Trapasso sees the draft a little differently, sending Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown to Baltimore in his 2020 mock draft.
