The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft is in the books, and this year’s virtual event got off to a fantastic start for some, while for others it wasn’t exactly a night to remember.
Here are our picks for the biggest winners and losers from Thursday night’s action:
Winner: Denver Broncos
There were discussions that the Broncos would have to trade up to select a wide receiver in the first round. It turns out that they were able to stay put and take a potentially dangerous weapon in Jerry Jeudy alongside Courtland Sutton.
Jeudy is a masterful route runner with quick-twitched athleticism, sharpness in his cuts and incredible intelligence to create separation. He will bring a fantastic complement to Sutton, as Jeudy will bring the speed to the wide receiver position, while Sutton already brings top-notch ball skills and physicality to the table.
It appears that the Broncos are planning on building around 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock, and selecting a player like Jeudy gives their young quarterback a talented weapon who should step in and make an impact from Day 1.
Loser: Las Vegas Raiders
Henry Ruggs III and Damon Arnette are two quality players, but given where the Raiders drafted them and which players were still on the board at Nos. 12 and 19, respectively, the selections were a bit confusing.
Ruggs is a speedy and dynamic playmaker at wide receiver, but one could argue that fellow receivers CeeDee Lamb and Ruggs’ college teammate Jerry Jeudy might have been better selections. The same goes for Arnette, who is a fluid and physical cornerback, but he doesn’t have incredible speed or a sky-high ceiling. Many analysts had him pegged as a Day 2 pick, so seeing him get selected in the top 20 was certainly unexpected.
The Raiders have done a good job of stockpiling young talent under Jon Gruden, but some of their picks have been a bit questionable. While there’s no doubt that both Ruggs and Arnette can be good starters at the next level – with Ruggs having quite a high ceiling – the initial values of each selection appears a bit confusing.
Winner: Tom Brady
Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady won earlier in the week with the addition of former Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski to an already-stacked group of weapons, and he likely won yet again with his team’s first-round pick this year.
Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs gives Tampa Bay a potential franchise cornerstone along their offensive line. He brings an impressive combination of size, strength and athleticism to the table, and he uses his hands very well through his timing and placement of his strikes.
The Buccaneers entered the draft with a below-average unit along their offensive line, but Wirfs gives them a piece to build around going forward, as well as an impact starter for Brady’s time with the team, however long it may be.
Loser: Safeties
No safeties were taken in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, which was a bit of a surprise, given the talent at the position in this year’s class.
The likes of Xavier McKinney, Grant Delpit and Antoine Winfield Jr. are all still undrafted as we head into Day 2 of the draft, as well as small-school studs like Jeremy Chinn and Kyle Dugger. McKinney in particular was expected to be selected on the first day of the draft, but safety-needy teams like the Raiders and Dolphins opted to go elsewhere with their selections.
While the position was left without representation in the first round, there should be a handful of safeties taken early in the second round on Friday.
Winner: Jordan Love
By ending up with the Green Bay Packers at the No. 26 overall pick, Jordan Love ended up in arguably the best possible spot for his development.
Love is a raw prospect in terms of his decision making and tendency to force throws, but the upside he possesses is palpable. He has a cannon of an arm, showing off the ability to hit deep balls with impressive touch and slip throws into tight windows with great velocity, regardless of his platform. He’s also an athletic quarterback who can move around well in the pocket and pick up yards with his feet.
While having Aaron Rodgers on the roster will prevent Love from making an impact for a while, that’s probably best for his development. He will have the chance to learn under one of the best quarterbacks of the modern era, with whom he shares a handful of traits. If all goes well with his development, Love can be the next long-term star in the Brett Favre-Aaron Rodgers succession train.
