The Los Angeles Rams sat out the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the fourth straight year they went without a pick in the top 32. Their division rivals took part in the fun, though, with four new rookies joining the NFC West.
The Cardinals led it off at No. 8, while the 49ers made two trades and the Seahawks kept their pick at No. 25. It’s hard to dislike what San Francisco and Arizona did, but there are a lot of questions about Seattle’s decision at the end of the first.
Here’s a roundup of the NFC West’s draft moves from Thursday night.
Cardinals
The Cardinals had the most versatile player in the draft at No. 8, selecting linebacker Isaiah Simmons. When asked which position he plays, Simmons said “defense.” He can play linebacker, safety, edge rusher, cornerback and just about any other spot on defense. He’s that versatile.
At No. 8, he looks like a steal, too. The Cardinals will find ways to use him all over the field, essentially making him an upgraded version of Haason Reddick. The Rams won’t like facing Simmons on that defense twice a year.
49ers
The 49ers nailed the first round with their two picks. They traded back one spot from No. 13 to 14, picking up an additional fourth-round pick in the process. At No. 14, they took Javon Kinlaw, who’s a relentless interior pass rusher, giving the 49ers yet another threat on the defensive line. There are some injury concerns with Kinlaw, which may have pushed him down draft boards a bit, but this was a great pick by the 49ers.
Later on, the 49ers traded up from No. 31 to 25, selecting wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. While not in the class of the top three wideouts of this class, Aiyuk is a monster after the catch and a playmaker in the open field. In Kyle Shanahan’s offense, he’s going to be an instant impact player and elevate the play of Jimmy Garoppolo.
Seahawks
The Seahawks stood pat at No. 27 and took … Jordyn Brooks? It’s not that Brooks is a bad player, but this pick was borderline unacceptable with Patrick Queen still on the board. If the year were 2005, Brooks would be a fine first-round pick over Queen. But in today’s pass-happy NFL, Queen should’ve been the pick 10 times out of 10.
Brooks struggles in coverage, while that’s Queen’s strength. The Seahawks are prioritizing Brooks’ run-stopping ability, but in 2020, that’s a questionable decision. The Rams liked Brooks coming into the draft, but more as a second- or third-round option. Seattle taking him at 27 was a stunner.
