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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Steven Ruiz

Every 2020 NFL Draft class, ranked (from Miami to Pittsburgh)

The 2020 NFL Draft has come and gone but that doesn’t mean we have to stop obsessing over it. I certainly haven’t. After reviewing each and every pick that was made over the weekend, I’ve ranked every team’s draft class based on the amount of talent added.

I graded each pick of the first three rounds (which you can find here) but the criteria are a little different for these rankings. Instead of factoring in draft position, available players and other factors that go into your typical draft grades, I focused only on how much talent a team added. Both quality and quantity matter for these rankings, so a team with only a few picks will naturally be lower on the list. The opposite is true for a team with a bunch of picks.

This post is on the longer side, so we’ve split it up into pages. If you want to jump to a certain team, you can follow the links below:

Page 1: Dolphins, Cowboys, Buccaneers, Bengals
Page 2: Panthers, Jets, Broncos, Ravens
Page 3: Redskins, Lions, Vikings Browns
Page 4: Raiders, Eagles, Jaguars, Patriots
Page 5: Saints, Giants, Colts, Chiefs
Page 6: 49ers, Cardinals, Rams, Chargers
Page 7: Bears, Bills, Seahawks, Titans
Page 8: Packers, Falcons, Texans, Steelers

Let’s get to the rankings…

1. Miami Dolphins

QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama (5th)
T Austin Jackson, USC (18th)
CB Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn (30th)
OG Robert Hunt, Louisiana (39th)
DT Raekwon Davis, Alabama (56th)
S Brandon Jones, Texas (70th)
DT Solomon Kindley, Georgia (111th)
DT Jason Strowbridge, UNC (154th)
EDGE Curtis Weaver, Boise State (164th)
LS Blake Ferguson, LSU (185th)
QB/WR Malcom Perry, Navy (246th)

The Dolphins had a lot of picks to work with and brought in a lot of talent at important positions. Tagovailoa is obviously the centerpiece and should, at the very least, develop into a reliable starter if healthy. The offensive line got better with the Hunt pick and could get even better if the coaching staff gets Jackson to reach his potential. I really like the additions to the secondary. Igbinoghene will be a matchup piece that Brian Flores can use against vertical threats and Jones is a safety with legit cover skills in the slot. The defensive line is a lot deeper after the weekend, as well. Miami used its draft capital well.

2. Dallas Cowboys

WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma (17th)
CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama (51st)
DT Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma (82nd)
CB Reggie Robinson, Tulsa (123rd)
C Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin (146th)
EDGE Bradlee Anae, Utah (179th)
QB Ben DiNucci, James Madison (231st)

Good prospects just kept falling into the Cowboys’ lap, and to their credit, they just kept drafting them. We can’t say the same about other teams. Lamb was the missing piece for a receiving corps that is among the best (and most well-rounded) in the NFL. Diggs was overrated as a prospect but he’ll be a useful starter in that system. Gallimore is an ascending interior rusher and fills a need. Tyler Biadasz may not be Travis Fredrick, but he’ll do an adequate impression of him. Not bad for a Day 3 pick. The Cowboys were already the most talented team in the NFC East. That gap is a little wider now.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

T Tristan Wirfs, Iowa (13th)
S Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota (45th)
RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt (76th)
WR Tyler Johnson, Minnesota (161st)
DT Khalil Davis, Nebraska (194th)
LB Chappelle Russell, Temple (241st)
RB Raymond Calais, Louisiana (245th)

Here’s something you can rarely say about a team that was seen as playoff contenders BEFORE the draft: Those first four picks are going to walk into the starting lineup. Wirfs was my top offensive tackle, and he won’t have to transition to the left side with the Bucs needing a right tackle. Winfield will fill a long-standing hole at safety and add a play-maker to a secondary that lacked one. Johnson is the slot receiver the Bucs lacked and Vaughn is a home run hitter at running back. And I’m calling this now: Calais will score at least one long touchdown in 2020. This was an ideal class for Tampa Bay.

4. Cincinnati Bengals

QB Joe Burrow, LSU (1st)
WR Tee Higgins, Clemson (33rd)
LB Logan Wilson, Wyoming (65th)
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State (107th)
EDGE Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame (147th)
OT Hakeem Adenji, Kansas (180th)
LB Markus Bailey, Purdue (215th)

Drafting at the top of each round makes things easier. The Bengals added a franchise quarterback in Burrow and turned right around and got him a future No. 1 target in Higgins. They then addressed a long-time need by drafting two rangy linebackers. There’s not a lot to be excited about in the later rounds — Kareem could be a depth piece — but that matters less when you nail the first two days of the draft. The Bengals roster looks a lot more promising after the weekend. The bar wasn’t very high going in, but still.

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5. Carolina Panthers

DT Derrick Brown, Auburn
EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State (38th)
S Jeremy Chinn, SIU (64th)
CB Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame (113th)
S Kenny Robinson, XFL (152nd)
DT Bravvion Roy, Baylor (184th)
CB Stanley Thomas-Oliver, FIU (221st)

I was not a fan of using a top-10 pick on a nose tackle, but positional value isn’t really a factor here and Brown is good football player who will improve the Panthers’ run defense on his own. Gross-Matos needs some refinement but looks like a productive edge rusher, and both Chinn and Pride will play a lot of snaps as rookies. My favorite pick was Robinson, a true centerfield safety who just needs to clean up his tackling to develop into a good starter. Even late-round flier Bravvion Roy produced at a high level. Carolina’s defensive depth chart looks a lot more promising after the weekend.

6. New York Jets

T Mekhi Becton, Louisville (11th)
WR Denzel Mims, Baylor (59th)
S Ashtyn Davis, California (68th)
EDGE Jabari Zuniga, Florida (79th)
RB La’Mical Perine, Florida 120th
QB James Morgan, FIU (125th)
OT Cameron Clark, Charlotte (129th)
CB Bryce Hall, Virginia (158th)
P Braden Mann, Texas A&M (191st)

Those first three picks are all home runs. Becton will need time to hone his technique in pass pro but his run blocking is already NFL ready. Mims is already the best receiver on the roster and Davis adds to a talented, and versatile, group of safeties. After those picks, the class takes a turn for the worse: Zuniga has all the tools but isn’t a good football player, La’Mical Perine is a running back who doesn’t catch passes and I don’t know if James Morgan is even starting material in the XFL (RIP). Getting Hall on Day 3 got the Jets back on track. This was a successful draft for a team that desperately needed one.

7. Denver Broncos

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama (15th)

WR KJ Hamler, Penn State (46th)

CB Michael Ojemudia, Iowa (77th)

C Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU (83rd)

DT McTelvin Agim, Arkansas (93rd)

TE Albert Okuwuegbunam, Missouri (118th)

LB Justin Strnad, Wake Forest (178th)

OG Netane Muti, Fresno State (181st)

WR Tyrie Cleveland, Florida (252nd)

Edge Derrek Tuzka, NDSU (254th)

This is a BIG class featuring a lot of talented players throughout. We know Jeudy is a star but don’t sleep on Hamler, who is on the smaller side but can turn any touch into six points — when he’s not dropping the ball, that is. The Broncos didn’t just focus on the skill positions either. Cushenberry was the brains of LSU’s award-winning offensive line and Muti’s tape is as impressive as any you’ll find in this class. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a Pro Bowl guard. That’s a big if, unfortunately. If Vic Fangio can turn Ojemudia into a competent starter, this could be a legendary class.

8. Baltimore Ravens

LB Patrick Queen, LSU (28th)
RB JK Dobbins, Ohio State (55th)
DT Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M (71st)
WR Devin Duvernay, Texas (92nd)
LB Malik Harrison, Ohio State (98th)
OT Tyre Phillips, Mississippi State (106th)
OG Ben Bredeson, Michigan (143rd)
DT Broderick Washington, Texas Tech (170th)
WR James Proche, SMU (201st)
S Geno Stone, Iowa (219th)

I know the nerds felt betrayed when the Ravens went off-the-ball linebacker then running back with their first two drafts. Positional value aside, Baltimore added a lot of talented players to an already loaded roster. Queen, a true modern linebacker with coverage skills and good instincts, will walk right into the starting lineup. Dobbins will get a bunch of carries. Madubuike will put pressure on the pocket and is no slouch in the run game. I like both of the receivers they drafted and I wouldn’t be surprised if Bredeson is in the starting lineup by 2021. The class offers quantity and quality.

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9. Washington Redskins

EDGE Chase Young, Ohio State (2nd)
RB Antonio Gibson, Memphis (66th)
OT Saahdiq Charles, LSU (108th)
WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty
(142nd); C Keith Ismael, San Diego State (156th)
LB Khaleke Hudson, Michigan (162nd)
S Kamren Curl, Arkansas (216th)
EDGE James Smith-Williams, NC State (229th)

Washington is the one team that I can confidently say this about: They drafted a future All-Pro. That’s Chase Young, who will be a 10-sack guy in his rookie season. The Gibson pick was a risky one as he doesn’t have a clear position, but he’s a good football player. Charles and Gandy-Golden are two more contributors. And those last picks were smart bets, as all three have intriguing skill-sets that could translate to the NFL level. Washington found value on all three days.

10. Detroit Lions

CB Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State (3rd)
RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia (35th)
EDGE Julian Okwara, Notre Dame (67th)
G Jonah Jackson, Ohio State (75th)
G Logan Stenberg, Kentucky (121st)
WR Quintez Cephus, Wisconsin (166th)
RB Jason Huntley, New Mexico State (172nd)
DT John Penisini, Utah (197th)
DT Jashon Cornell, Ohio State (235th)

I’m not crazy about the last few picks but the Lions nailed the first two days. Okudah is a blue-chip talent at a premium position. Swift may not play an important position but he is a factor in the passing game. Jackson and Stenberg are both potential starters. And the Okwara pick addresses the team’s biggest need by adding athleticism to the edge of the defense. Even Cephus can play, even if testing numbers may not be up to snuff. The Lions making good decisions is a bit unsettling. 2020 is weird.

11. Minnesota Vikings

WR Justin Jefferson, LSU (22nd)
CB Jeff Gladney, TCU (31st)
OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State (58th)
CB Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State (89th)
EDGE D.J. Wonnum, South Carolina (117th)
Edge James Lynch, Baylor (130th)
LB Troy Dye, Oregon (132nd)
CB Harrison Hand, Temple (169th)
WR KJ Osborn, Miami (176th)
T Blake Brandel, Oregon State (203rd)
S Josh Metellus, Michigan (205th)
EDGE Kenny Willekes, Michigan State (225th)
QB Nate Stanley, Iowa (244th)
S Brian Cole II, Mississippi State (249th)
OG Kyle Hinton, Washburn (253rd)

Based on sheer volume alone, I’m obligated to push the Vikings higher on this list. Nobody is going to get excited about Day 3 picks, but if one or two of them hit — and the odds are tilted in Minnesota’s favor — this will be a great class. I’m not quite sold on Jefferson being a first-round talent, but he has a bright future. Gladney is one of my favorite corners in the class and Dantzler is a hard-nosed corner who fits perfectly in a Mike Zimmer defense. If they can coach Ezra Cleveland up, he has the potential to develop into a good starter at tackle. As long as the scouting department didn’t completely botch all of these picks, the Vikings should get a ton of production out of this group.

12. Cleveland Browns

OT Jedrick Wills, Alabama (10th)
S Grant Delpit, LSU (44th)
DT Jordan Elliott, Missouri (88th)
LB Jacob Phillips, LSU (97th)
TE Harrison Bryant, FAU (115th)
C Nick Harris, Washington (160th)
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan (187th)

The Browns came away from the weekend with at least three future starters. Wills and Delpit will almost certainly be in the starting lineup when Week 1 rolls around, and Jordan Elliott could join them a year or two after. Even the bottom half of the class could earn some playing time in the near future. Bryant was one of the nation’s most productive tight ends and has NFL athleticism. Harris was the anchor of Washington’s line. People-Jones is a playmaker that may have gone higher if he got better service from his quarterback at Michigan. The Browns may have been a solid draft away from breaking through as playoff contenders, and, on paper, it looks like they had one.

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13. Las Vegas Raiders

WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama (12th)
CB Damon Arnette, Ohio State (19th)
RB Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky (80th)
WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina (81st)
S Tanner Muse, Clemson (100th)
OG John Simpson, Clemson (109th)
CB Amik Robertson, LA Tech (139th)

The Raiders had one goal before the draft (add talent at corner and receiver) and I’d say they accomplished it. Let’s get the negatives out of the way first: Arnette was a huge reach. He just doesn’t have the athletic profile of a first-round corner and his tape shows a grabby defender who struggles to stick close to receivers. Oh, and he didn’t break out as a prospect until his age-23 season. That’s a major red flag. The rest of the picks look good, though. Ruggs may have been another reach, but he has starter ability. Bowden doesn’t have a natural position but he’s dangerous with the ball in his hands. And Edwards is a red-zone target. My favorite player in this class is Robertson. He’s an undersized corner but doesn’t play like it. I would not be surprised if he outplays Arnette early on.

14. Philadelphia Eagles

WR Jalen Reagor, TCU (21st)
QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (53rd)
LB Davion Taylor, Colorado (103rd)
S K’Von Wallace, Clemson (127th)
OT Jack Driscoll, Auburn (145th)
WR John Hightower, Boise State (168th)
LB Shaun Bradley, Temple (196th)
WR Quez Watkins, Southern Miss (200th)
OT Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn (210th)
EDGE Casey Toohill, Stanford (233rd)

If we just ignore Day 2, the Eagles did solid work over the weekend. I thought they reached for Reagor but he’s undoubtedly talented and gives that receiving corps something it lacked (deep speed). The Hurts pick was puzzling but grabbing insurance for a Carson Wentz injury does make sense and he can be used in a Taysom Hill role as he develops, so it’s not just a throwaway pick. I would not be surprised if Wallace, Driscoll and Hightower are all starters within a few years. Not bad for Day 3 picks.

15. Jacksonville Jaguars

CB CJ Henderson, Florida (9th)
EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU (20th)
WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado (42nd)
DT Davon Hamilton, Ohio State (73rd)
OT Ben Bartch, St. John’s (116th)
CB Josiah Scott, Michigan State (137th)
LB Shaq Quarterman, Miami (140th)
S Daniel Thomas, Auburn (157th)
WR Collin Johnson, Texas (165th)
QB Jake Luton, Oregon State (189th)
CB Chris Claybrooks, Memphis (223rd)

The Jaguars are clearly trying to rebuild their defense and they added a lot of athleticism on Day 1. Henderson is a smooth athlete with good cover skills, but play strength is a concern. Chaisson is just as versatile as last year’s first-round pick Josh Allen, but isn’t nearly as refined as a pass rusher. Day 3 pick Josiah Scott could be a starter in the slot and Hamilton could play on run downs. Jacksonville found a handful of contributors on defense. As for this picks on offense, I’m not high on Shenault as a route-runner but he is talented. Bartch was dominant but was playing against Division III competition, so he’s a big question mark, too. I don’t know how much better the offense is now, but the defense is certainly deeper.

16. New England Patriots

S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne (37th)
EDGE Josh Uche, Michigan (60th)
EDGE Anfernee Jennings, Alabama (87th)
TE Devin Asiasi, UCLA (91st)
TE Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech (101st)
K Justin Rohrwasser, Marshall (159th)
OG Michael Onwenu, Michigan (182nd)
OT Justin Herron, Wake Forest (195th)
LB Cassh Muluia, Wyoming (204th)
C Dustin Woodward, Memphis (230th)

When the Patriots are picking a prospect, you give them the benefit of the doubt. I’d be skeptical of the Uche pick if Bill Belichick wasn’t involved. The same goes for Jennings and Dugger. Those three are all clearly talented, and I trust Belichick to get the most out of them. The back-to-back tight end picks are also intriguing. I’m partial to Keene, who put up impressive testing numbers at the combine but was under used at Virginia Tech. I don’t know if Asisi develops into anything more than “just a guy” but he has some tools. Landing the underrated Onwenu on Day 3 was a steal.

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17. New Orleans Saints

C/G Cesar Ruiz, Michigan (24th)
LB Zack Baun, Wisconsin (74th)
TE Adam Trautman, Dayton (105th)
QB Tommy Stevens, Mississippi State (240th)

They had only four picks and still managed to find more immediate contributors than a lot of these teams. Ruiz was a luxury pick but will allow them to move on from Larry Warford and save about $5 million in cap space if they need it. Baun doesn’t have a natural position but a creative defensive coordinator will get a lot out of him; I’d put New Orleans’ Dennis Allen in that category. I thought Trautman was the best TE in the class and with Sean Payton drawing up plays for him, I’m now more confident in that take. The only thing keeping this class down is volume.

18. New York Giants

T Andrew Thomas, Georgia (4th)
S Xavier McKinney, Alabama (36th)
T Matt Peart, Connecticut (99th)
CB Darnay Holmes, UCLA (110th)
OG Shane Lemieux, Oregon (150th)
LB Cam Brown, Penn State (183rd)
EDGE Carter Coughlin, Minnesota (218th)
LB TJ Brunson, South Carolina (238th)
CB Chris Williamson, Minnesota (247th)
LB Tae Crowder, Georgia (255th)

I’m not as high on the Giants’ draft as others. Thomas and McKinney were good pickups who should play right away, but after that, Dave Gettleman bet on potential. Peart played well but needs to get stronger, Holmes has NFL athleticism but he’s small and sloppy in coverage. I do like the Cam Brown pick. Brown is a modern hybrid who played in the box and out in the slot at Penn State. He could be a starting linebacker within two years. The rest of their Day 3 picks are going to struggle to make the roster.

19. Indianapolis Colts

WR Michael Pittman Jr., USC (34th)
RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin (41st)
S Julian Blackmon, Utah (85th)
QB Jacob Eason, Washington (122nd)
OT Danny Pinter, Ball State (149th)
DT Robert Windsor, Penn State (193rd)
CB Isaiah Rodgers, UMass (211th)
WR Dezmon Patmon, Washington State (212th)
LB Jordan Glasgow, Michigan (213th)

The Eason pick was a waste, but the rest of this group can play. Philip Rivers is going to love Pittman Jr. and Taylor will put up big numbers behind the Colts offensive line. Blackmon stood out as a playmaker when I watched Utah’s defense. Pinter and Windsor could take this class from ‘good’ to ‘great’ if they hit. Pinter has the athletic profile of a starting NFL lineman (though he might kick inside to guard) and Windsor was a productive pass rusher despite concerns about size and strength. This class has a low floor and a high ceiling, which is what you’re looking for without a pick on Day 1.

20. Kansas City Chiefs

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU (32nd)
LB Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State (63rd)
OT Lucas Niang, TCU (96th)
S L’Jarius Sneed, LA Tech (138th)
EDGE Mike Danna, Michigan (177th)
CB Thakarius Keyes, Tulane (238th)

Stat nerds, look away. The defending Super Bowl champs didn’t seem to be too interested in positional value when they made their first two picks, but if you’re going to draft a running back and off the ball linebacker, make sure they can make an impact in the passing game. Edwards-Helaire and Gay both fit that description. Niang is a project but will have time to learn from the bench early on. Kansas City didn’t find a lot of value over the weekend, but they did manage to fill some holes on the roster.

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21. San Francisco 49ers

DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina (14th)
WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State (25th)
OT Colton McKivitz, West Virginia (153rd)
TE Charlie Woerner, Georgia (190th)
WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee (217th)

Welp, that hole at defensive tackle was filled quickly. With the pick they acquired in the DeForest Buckner trade, the 49ers drafted the best interior pass rusher in the class in Kinlaw. I loved that pick. I can’t say the same for the rest of the class. I saw Aiyuk as a Day 2 talent because he isn’t a special route runner who creates a lot of separation, but Kyle Shanahan’s scheme should do most of the heavy lifting in that regard. As for the later picks, McKivitz and Woerner weren’t even difference makers in college. Juan Jennings is interesting but he ran a 4.7. That may not fly in the NFL. Not included here: Trent Williams, whom the 49ers acquired in a trade for a third and a fifth.

22. Arizona Cardinals

LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson (8th)
T Josh Jones, Houston (72nd)
DT Leki Fotu, Utah (114th)
DT Rashard Lawrence, LSU (131st)
LB Evan Weaver, Cal (202nd)
RB Eno Benjamin, Arizona State (222nd)

I’m not as high on Simmons as most draft pundits, but the Cardinals need more athleticism at the second level of the defense and he’ll certainly add that. They drafted another starter in Jones, who was seen as a first-round prospect by a lot of people. After that, this isn’t an impressive class. Fotu is one-dimensional and inconsistent. Lawrence and Weaver aren’t difference makers. Benjamin is a good player but he’s a depth pick. Unfortunately, I’m not counting DeAndre Hopkins, who cost Arizona a second-rounder, as a part of this class.

23. Los Angeles Rams

RB Cam Akers, Florida State (52nd)
WR Van Jefferson, Florida (57th)
EDGE Terrell Lewis, Alabama (84th)
S Terrell Burgess, Utah (104th)
TE Brycen Hopkins, Purdue (136th)
S Jordan Fuller, Ohio State (199th)
LB Clay Johnston, Baylor (234th)
K Sam Sloman, Miami (Ohio) (248th)
OT Treymayne Anchrum, Clemson (250th)

Without a top-50 pick, the Rams were never going to rank highly on this list. I thought they did a decent job with the picks they did have. Using a second-rounder on a running back wasn’t ideal but Akers can play. Jefferson is another good weapon for Sean McVay to work with, but he had trouble with SEC physicality. It’ll only get harder for him on Sundays. The pair of safeties give the Rams some versatile depth in the secondary and Hopkins could be a weapon with McVay dialing up plays for him. It’s not a great class, but the Rams added a handful of players who should contribute right away.

24. Los Angeles Chargers

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon (6th)
LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma (23rd)
RB Joshua Kelley, UCLA (112th)
WR Joe Reed, Virginia (151st)
S Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame (186th)
WR KJ Hill, Ohio State 220th)

I would not be surprised if the Chargers’ last pick ends up being its best one. Hill is a good player who may not have the athleticism or size to play outside, but has the route-running chops to play in the slot. The rest of the class leaves a lot to be desired. Herbert is your prototypical arm/size QB prospect who doesn’t really play the quarterback position well. Murray has size and speed but his instincts are lacking. Reed can’t run routes and Gilman will be a mark in coverage. Kelley is a good player but he’s a running back. This front office has a good track record in the draft, but they all can’t be winners.

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25. Chicago Bears

TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame (43rd)
CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah (50th)
EDGE Trevis Gipson, Tulsa (155th)
WR Darnell Mooney, Tulane (173rd)
OT Arlington Hambright, Colorado (226th)
OG Lachavious Simmons, Tennessee State (227th)

If there was one position the Bears did not have to draft, it was tight end. Going into Round 2, Chicago had approximately a million tight ends already on the roster. After they took Kmet, they have approximately a million and one. Kmet is a good player but he’s not saving that offense. Johnson doesn’t need to save the defense but the play-making corner will improve it. The rest of the class won’t be seeing a lot of playing time in 2020.

26. Buffalo Bills

EDGE AJ Epenesa, Iowa (54th)
RB Zack Moss, Utah (86th)
WR Gabriel Davis, UCF (128th)
QB Jake Fromm, Georgia (167th)
K Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern (188th)
WR Isaiah Hodgins, Oregon State (207th)
CB Dane Jackson, Pittsburgh (239th)

I like the work the Bills did on Day 2 after sitting out the first night. Epenesa will contribute right away and fills a need, and the same can be said for Moss, though he’s on the older side and his injury history raises concerns. The rest of the class is just meh, but I am intrigued by Isaiah Hodgins’ potential as a red-zone target, which Buffalo lacked.

27. Seattle Seahawks

LB Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech (27th)
EDGE Darrell Taylor, Tennessee (48th)
OG Damien Lewis, LSU (69th)
TE Colby Parkinson, Stanford (133rd)
RB DeeJay Dallas, Miami (144th)
EDGE Alton Robinson, Syracuse (148th)
WR Freddie Swain, Florida (214th)
TE Stephen Sullivan, LSU (251st)

The reach for Brooks in the first round was certainly a head-scratcher, but I like what the Seahawks did in Round 2. Taylor never put it all together at Tennessee but it’s not hard to envision him developing into a productive pass rusher at the NFL level. Damien Lewis is a tank and will be a factor in the run game from Day 1. There isn’t much to get excited about after that, but Seattle landed two (maybe three) players who will be starting within a few years. That isn’t a bad haul.

28. Tennessee Titans

T Isaiah Wilson, Georgia (29th)
CB Kristian Fulton, LSU (61st)
RB Darrynton Evans, App State (93rd)
EDGE Larrell Murchison, NC State (174th)
QB Cole McDonald, Hawaii (224th)
CB Chris Jackson, Marshall (243rd)

The Fulton pick is the saving grace of a thin draft class. He could compete for a starting cornerback spot immediately, but I don’t see any other perspective starters in this group. Wilson, the first-round pick, is a project and was seen as a reach by many. Evans is a nice change-of-pace back they can play behind Derrick Henry but little more. McDonald was a fun player in college but he’s not an NFL QB. With only six picks, it was always going to be hard for the Titans to vastly improve through the draft, but even with that in mind, this is an underwhelming class.

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29. Green Bay Packers

QB Jordan Love, Utah State (26th)
RB AJ Dillon, Boston College (62nd)
TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati (94th)
LB Kamal Martin, Minnesota (175th)
OT Jon Runyan, Michigan (192nd)
OG Jake Hanson, Oregon (106th)
OG Simon Stepaniak, Indiana (209th)
DB Vernon Scott, TCU (236th)
EDGE Jonathan Garvin, Miami (242nd)

It started it out poorly and then somehow got worse as the draft went on. The Love pick made no sense. I get wanting a QB for the future with Aaron Rodgers nearing the end of his career, but it’s not 2006 anymore. It’s harder to develop quarterbacks when they’re on the bench and Love needs a lot of development. Then Green Bay ignored a historically good (and deep) receiver class and used their Day 2 picks on a plodding running back and a tight end who will probably play fullback. Runyan was an inconsistent blocker in college and Hanson never seemed to get better during his time in Eugene. The Packers had nine picks and didn’t draft one player who will make a real difference in 2020.

30. Atlanta Falcons

CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson (16th)
DT Marlon Davidson, Auburn (47th)
C Matt Hennessey, Temple (78th)
LB Mykal Walker, Fresno State (119th)
S Jaylinn Hawkins, Cal (134th)
P Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse (228th)

The Falcons drafted a punter and I’m sure it was the worst pick they made. That would be Terrell, who has the tools of a good NFL corner but his tape is full of sloppy play. Davidson doesn’t look like a needle-mover in the pass game and the same can be said about Walker, who might be a tweener at linebacker. The best pick, Hennessey, was one for the future. He’s good, but he’ll be stuck behind Alex Mack for a year or two. At least these rookies will look good in those new uniforms … wait.

31. Houston Texans

DT Ross Blacklock, TCU (40th)
EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Florida (90th)
OT Charlie Heck, UNC (126th)
CB John Reid, Penn State (141st)
WR Isaiah Coulter, Rhode Island (171st)

I’m not sure there’s a 2020 starter in this group. Obviously, the Texans didn’t have a lot of draft capital to work with, but, even when taking that into consideration, it’s hard to be optimistic about this class. Blacklock has the athletic profile you’re looking for in a pass rusher, but he dropped to Day 2 because of an underwhelming set of pass rush moves. Greenard, on the other hand, lacks the burst you want in on the edge. Reid is a versatile corner who tested well but he’s undersized. Where did the Texans get better over the weekend?

32. Pittsburgh Steelers

WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame (49th)
EDGE Alex Highsmith, Charlotte (102nd)
RB Anthony McFarland Jr., Maryland (124th)
OG Kevin Dotson, Louisiana (135th)
S Antoine Brooks Jr., Maryland (198th)
DT Carlos Davis, Nebraska (232nd)

The Steelers didn’t have a first-round pick so it’s not a surprise they came away with a class lacking exciting names, but there isn’t really isn’t much here. I suppose Claypool is intriguing after he put on a show at the combine, but his tape isn’t overly impressive. Highsmith has potential but won’t be ready to play right away. McFarland will be a backup at a position of lesser value, and Dotson wasn’t even the best guard on his own G5 team. The roster Ben Roethlisberger is coming back to isn’t much better than it was before the injury.

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