Just because teams missed you on the first day of the draft doesn’t mean that you’re not ready to make an immediate impact in the NFL. Second-day guys — the second- and third-rounders — are just as capable of showing their best right away. Ask Russell Wilson, who waited to the 75th overall pick in the 2012 draft, and shot his way to the top of the depth chart by the end of his first preseason.
Bobby Wagner, the Wilson of Seattle’s defense, was taken a round above his quarterback in 2012 and totaled three interceptions and 140 total tackles in his rookie campaign. The Panthers took Steve Smith in the third round of the 2001 draft, and while it took him a second to become the future Hall of Fame receiver he became, he had three return touchdowns in his rookie season — including one on the first regular-season play in which he got his hands on a regulation NFL football.
You get the point. Teams undervalue great players for all kinds of reasons, and all it takes is for the right team, and the right situation, to present themselves for good things to happen.
Here are the best players left on the boards after the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
Last season, Hurts threw 32 touchdowns to eight interceptions and completed 69.5% of his passes. So, why is he thought to be a project by so many analysts? Yes, his decision-making can be spotty, and his progression reads are a work in progress, but you could say the same things of Justin Herbert. Those who assume Hurts thrived in a dink-and-dunk offense should recognize that last season, he completed 33 of 66 passes of 20 or more air yards for 1,234 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just three picks.
Antonio Gibson, RB/WR, Memphis
Limited sample size may have Gordon resting somewhere in the second or third round, but there’s no denying his explosive ability as both a receiver and returner. Last season, he broke 16 tackles on his 33 rushing attempts, and 17 tackles on his 38 catches. Imagine DK Metcalf also playing running back, and you’ll understand his athletic potential in the right system.
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Speaking of broken tackles, nobody did more of that in the 2019 season than Moss, who eluded defenders 89 times and gained 1,042 yards after contact. Moss brings Marshawn Lynch to mind because he’s not just a brickhouse running back — he also has speed and agility, and can be a winner in the passing game.
Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Mims may not have an ideal command of the full route tree yet, but when you get the ball in his hands, good things happen. At 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, he has the vertical ability and physicality to make the contested catch, and he can burn defenders downfield. Imagine Josh Gordon without the unfortunate off-field issues, and that’s what Mims looks like.
Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
While it’s easy to say that Shenault’s lack of route complexity pushed him out of the first round, there are enough teams that fall in love with pure athletes with great developmental potential that I was pretty sure Shenault would be taken higher. Nonetheless, he’s a ridiculous athlete with remarkable after-catch potential who will be a real force in a multi-tiered passing game where he can take quick passes to the house as he works on the nuances of his position.
Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Some analysts dinged Higgins for not being “physical enough.” which is a weird evaluation for perhaps the best contested-catch receiver in this draft class. Last season, he caught a preposterous 15 of 23 passes of 20 or more air yards for 565 yards and six touchdowns. Someone’s going to get a massive problem for enemy defenses, and a player who deserved a first-round grade.
Josh Jones, OT, Houston
Given the need many teams had for blindside quarterback protectors, it was a bit of a surprise that Jones wasn’t taken in the first round. Jones allowed just 18 total pressures on 1,282 pass blocking snaps over three seasons, per Pro Football Focus, and he’s the easiest mover in pass protection in this draft class. He also improved exponentially as a run-blocker in 2019, which means that someone’s going to get a high first-round talent at a bargain price on Friday.
Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama
Injuries limited Lewis’ snaps with the Crimson Tide through his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide, but when he was healthy in 2019, he was finally able to show the speed, flexibility, and strength that make him a premium edge-rusher. He has incredible bend around the edge, and the agility to cover receivers up the boundary. With a clean bill of health, Lewis could be one of the steals in this draft.
A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
When you watch pass-rushers, you tend to want them to explode off the tape. And perhaps that’s why Epenesa fell out of the first round. His production has been highly impressive — he had 58 total pressures in 2019 — but he’s smoother and more powerful than he is quick. Epenesa also has the strength to kick inside, which will make him a primary second-day focus for any team who likes to do different things with its defensive linemen.
Zack Baun, LB/EDGE, Wisconsin
Baun mostly played on the edge for the Badgers, and did quite a job with it in 2019, racking up 53 total pressures. But he also has great potential as an off-ball linebacker both in run-stopping and in coverage, making him one of the more interesting hybrid defensive players in this draft class.
Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn
At 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds, Davidson may be considered too much of a “tweener” for some teams, especially as an edge-rusher, which is what he did a lot in college. But he should do well at the next level as an undersized interior guy, best-served working between the center’s outside shoulder and the tackle’s inside shoulder. He’ll put up a ton of pressures in that role.
Justin Madubuike, DL, Texas A&M
It’s understandable that Madubuike didn’t get taken in the first round. There are games in which he looks every bit the equal of Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw, and other games in which he puts on a bit of a disappearing act. But if he gets with the right line coach, he’ll bring his full arsenal of attributes to bear, and he could be a scary-good steal in the second round.
Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
Johnson not going in the first round was a real stunner to me. Over three seasons with the Utes, he never allowed an opponent passer rating higher than 57.6, and he was targeted a lot in his three collegiate seasons. Moreover, he’s proven to be an excellent diagnostician based on comprehensive film study. Cornerback is the ultimate boom-or-bust position, and Johnson is a player who just doesn’t get it wrong very often.
Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
Fulton can lose coverage when his leverage isn’t right, but he’s been almost uniformly excellent against some of the best receivers in the country. Perhaps teams were scared off by the number of times Fulton had to recover in coverage, but he has the recovery speed to handle that.
Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Stefon Diggs’ little brother showed himself to be one of the most impressive — and aggressive — press cornerbacks in the NCAA last season. Last season, he allowed just 22 catches on 52 targets for 309 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 44.5. You don’t want to compare a cornerback to Richard Sherman right out of the box, but Diggs has a lot of the same characteristics.
Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
Injuries limited Winfield to just eight total games in 2017 and 2018, and perhaps concerns about that sank McKinney’s first-round potential in the eyes of the NFL. Or, perhaps he was seen as undersized at 5-foot-9 and 203 pounds, but that’s not too different from Earl Thomas’ measurements, and Winfield echoed Thomas’ playing style with seven interceptions and a rare ability to patrol the field in 2019.
Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
This was a real surprise, as Minkah Fitzpatrick, McKinney’s predecessor as the multi-position defensive back in Nick Saban’s defense, was taken 11th overall by the Dolphins in the 2018 draft, and traded to the Steelers in 2019 for another first-round pick. And given the value of positionless players in today’s NFL, it’s shocking that no team thought McKinney had first-round value.
Grant Delpit, S, LSU
I’m sure NFL teams are quite impressed with Delpit’s coverage abilities at several positions — everything from free safety to the box to the slot. But Delpit’s tackling issues may have been too much for the league to handle. He’s a real work in progress when it comes to that, but the coverage ability is worth the investment.
Ashtyn Davis, S, Cal
Davis was a track walk-on who had to nag his way onto Cal’s defense, but he became one of the best deep safeties in the NCAA over time. Not only can he patrol the deep third down after down, but he can also hang in the slot and make big plays there. He’s not a thumper for the most part, but if your defense needs an uptick in coverage, Davis will be a valuable addition somewhere.
