Two nights down, one night to go. After an opening night of the 2020 NFL Draft that was true to form in some spots, and “wronger” in others (to steal a word from an anonymous league source) the teams settled into the second night of the draft, with tons of talent remaining on the board and all 32 teams finally able to get into the game. How did they each fare on night two?
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals, thanks perhaps to Kliff Kingsbury’s James Bond-esque living space, were winners on night one of the draft when versatile defender Isaiah Simmons fell to the at the eighth overall selection.
Then with their pick in the third round, they stopped one of the more stunning slides of the draft, selecting offensive tackle Josh Jones from Houston. Many considered Jones to be in the mix with the rest of the “Big Four” offensive tackles, but perhaps his offensive system at Houston and a lack of true “pass sets” caused him to slide. But he will be in a familiar offense under Kingsbury, which makes this a tremendous pick at this point in the draft.
Grade: A
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons badly needed to add to their secondary at the cornerback spot, and were linked to a number of potential trades towards the top of the first round to draft either C.J. Henderson from Florida or even Jeff Okudah from Ohio State. When those fell through, they perhaps reached a bit for A.J. Terrell, the cornerback from Clemson.
In the second round, the Falcons added Marlon Davidson, a defensive lineman from Auburn. Davidson has the flexibility to play both inside in a four-man front or on the edge as well, but his best role is probably coming off the edge working against offensive tackles. He can add some juice to a pass rush that struggled to sack the passer last season, finished second-to-last in total sacks a year ago. Then at 78 they added Matt Hennessy, a very experienced and savvy center from Temple. Watching Hennessy on film gives you an appreciation for how important vision and processing speed is for an offensive lineman. He has great feel for working combination blocks and double teams, and he always gets the full price of admission on a play. Watch him and you’ll see form almost snap to snap him taking care of two blockers.
Grade: A-
Baltimore Ravens
Great things keep happening for the Baltimore Ravens. They entered the first night of the draft with needs at both linebacker and edge defender, and even by staying pat perhaps the best linebacker in the class not named Isaiah Simmons fell to them with the 28th selection.
They continued their good run, adding J.K. Dobbins, the running back from Ohio State, at the 55th pick in the draft. Dobbins is a bit of a bruiser between the tackles, who is a solid fit in Baltimore’s run schemes. But he is also a three-down back, with the ability to contribute in the screen game and in pass protection. Then at the top of the third round they added Justin Madubuike, a defensive tackle from Texas A&M. Madubuike had some games where he was dominant, such as his seven pressure performance against Mississippi this past season. He has a quick first step and some solid moves as a pass rusher. At 92 overall they added Devin Duvernay, a slot receiver out of the University of Texas. In a vacuum Duvernay is a very nice receiver with the ability to stretch the field vertically and create after the catch, but the fit of him in Baltimore’s offense is a bit of a question mark given some of the options already in place.
Later, as part of a trade they swung with the New England Patriots, the Ravens drafted Malik Harrison, a downhill thumper of a linebacker. The potential pairing of him at the MLB spot and Queen at more of a WLB spot makes a great deal of sense. The Ravens ended the night with the selection of Tyre Phillips, an offensive tackle from Mississippi State. Phillips struggled with leverage and his pad level, and might be a position switch to guard, as his film against players like Marlon Davidson and K’Lavon Chaisson was spotty at best.
Grade: B+
Buffalo Bills
Lacking a first-round pick, the Buffalo Bills were quiet on the first night of the 2020 NFL Draft. Of course, the acquisition of Stefon Diggs made that silence a bit easier to deal with I’m sure. Their first pick? A.J. Epenesa, the 3-4 defensive end from Iowa. Epenesa was viewed as more of an EDGE player given his usage in college, but his testing at the Combine illustrated that his best role was as a 3-4 end. That makes for an interesting scheme fit in Buffalo, but Sean McDermott must have a usage in mind.
Their selection in the third round is a much easier projection into their offense. Running back Zack Moss was the top RB on Touchdown Wire’s list at that position, and is a true three-down back in the NFL. His running style is reminiscent of Roger Craig, with the high knees shrugging off would-be tacklers. He is a perfect compliment for Devin Singletary in their offensive backfield.
Grade: B
Carolina Panthers
In his first draft as an NFL head coach Matt Rhule addressed the interior of the defense, as the Carolina Panthers selected defensive tackle Derrick Brown at the seventh spot in the draft. One might have expected them to address offense in the second round, but they continued adding to the defensive front, selecting Penn State EDGE defender Yetur Gross-Matos. He has the length and burst to be a contributor immediately as a pass rusher, as he develops a more complete set of moves off the edge.
Then at the end of the second round the Panthers traded back into the 64th spot, executing a deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The pick? Athletic safety Jeremy Chinn from Southern Illinois. Chinn was a standout at the FCS level, and showed the ability to play in a variety of roles both on film and down in Mobile during the Senior Bowl. He can play in the box, in the slot, in a single-high role and as Mel Kiper Jr. theorized the Panthers could even use him outside as a cornerback. Many thought that Isaiah Simmons would be the selection at seven for the Panthers, and in many ways Chinn could be a Day Two version of the Clemson star.
Grade: A
Chicago Bears
Ryan Pace and company were forced to hold tight on Thursday night, as their first round selection was in the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders. But with two picks early on Friday night, the Chicago Bears had a chance to make some early noise. Their first pick? Tight end Cole Kmet out of Notre Dame, making him the first TE off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft. Kmet has the potential to be a dual-purpose tight end, but like many in this class will need some development. With Jimmy Graham in place he can learn a bit and the Bears could use him as a flex option out of the slot or the wing early as he develops.
At 50, the Bears addressed the defensive side of the football, drafting corner Jaylon Johnson from Utah. This is a very nice pick for Chicago, as they do have a need at the cornerback spot. Johnson is a smart, savvy defender with the ability to play both press as well as off coverage, and he brings a background of schematic diversity as well.
Grade: B-
Cincinnati Bengals
The beauty of the new draft format is that the team holding the 33rd overall selection has an entire night to think about what they want to do at the top of the second round. The Cincinnati Bengals as virtually everyone expected made Joe Burrow their pick at the top of the board, and then at the top of the second round, they gave their new quarterback a weapon in the form of Tee Higgins. The Clemson wideout is a vertical threat who can play above the rim and has a great catch radius.
Then at the top of the third round, the Bengals added Logan Wilson, a linebacker from Wyoming who was a later riser in the draft community. Wilson was a starter from the moment he set foot on campus, and is a very experienced, patient linebacker who does not bite on play-action fakes and is not fooled by misdirection looks. He is athletic enough to handle coverage responsibilities, and is a three-down player in the NFL as a result.
Grade: A-
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns entered the 2020 NFL Draft needing an offensive tackle to pair with the recently-acquired Jack Conklin and to help protect Baker Mayfield. That pick fell to them at the tenth spot as Jedrick Wills Jr. from Alabama was available when they were on the clock.
Then Cleveland was on the clock at 41, but they executed a trade with the Indianapolis Colts to slide back a few spots and draft Grant Delpit, the safety form LSU. Delpit was viewed by many as a first-rounder, but tackling woes saw him slide down the board and out of the first round. What he can do down in the box can still help the Browns defense. Another player that will help their defense was Cleveland’s pick at 88, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott. The Missouri product was one of the better pass rushers from the interior last season, as Pro Football Focus charted him with a pass rush win rate of 18.7%, tops for the position. In fact, PFF graded him as the third-best interior defensive lineman in this class, behind Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw. Getting a player like that in the third is a great selection. Then later in the third they added Jacob Phillips, a solid linebacker who is disciplined against the run and handles underneath zone coverage responsibilities well. He could be a potential replacement for Joe Schobert on the second level. A solid night overall for the Browns.
Grade: A
Dallas Cowboys
Perhaps the steal of the first round took place at 17 when Jerry Jones and company were on the clock. The heavily-anticipated wide receiver run at 11 did not materialize, as the New York Jets addressed offensive tackle and the San Francisco 49ers addressed their defensive line. That let CeeDee Lamb, one of the “top three” receivers, fall to the Cowboys at 17.
They started night two of the draft by addressing a hole left by the departure of Byron Jones to the Miami Dolphins. Dallas drafted Trevon Diggs, a coverage cornerback from Alabama. Diggs was viewed by many as a first-round pick prior to the Combine, but started sliding down boards as people in the media started digging into his film. He is very adept at press coverage, so if the Cowboys are looking for that kind of player, they got exactly what they wanted. In the third round they added Neville Gallimore, a penetrating defensive tackle from Oklahoma. Gallimore has solid hands and good size for the position, but needs to get better at his pad level.
Grade: C+
Denver Broncos
Another team that was able to address wide receiver without trading up and/or paying a heavy toll was the Denver Broncos. Prior to the draft many, myself included, believed Denver would need to get ahead of teams like the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers to select one of the top wide receivers, but when both teams went in different directions, they were able to grab Jerry Jeudy without moving from 15. But they were not done at wide receiver, as they added K.J. Hamler early in the second round, giving them a trio of Jeudy, Hamler and Courtland Sutton. When you add Noah Fant into the mix, that is a talented quartet of receiving options for Drew Lock.
Unfortunately all this attention to the wide receiver position caused them to miss out on some of the cornerback options earlier in the draft. But with the acquisition of A.J. Bouye via trade, that helps to make up for the loss of Chris Harris Jr. in free agency. In the third round they selected Michael Ojemudia from Iowa. He tested well at the Combine, with a 4.45 40-yard dash, and has good zone coverage ability. But he is a bit of a projection, given how much Iowa relied on zone coverage. His ability to press or play sticky man is a question mark.
Then the Broncos selected Lloyd Cushenberry III out of LSU. The center was the heart of the Tigers’ offensive line this past season, and enjoyed a bit of a pre-draft rise thanks to a solid Senior Bowl week. He is stout in the run game, particularly working to the second level, and can handle pass protection well against most moves. He could stand to improve his anchor against power moves, however. McTelvin Agim, their pick at 95, is a great selection, He has the potential to be a true penetrating 3-technique defender, and he brings to the table a very high motor and competitive toughness.
Grade: B+
Detroit Lions
Despite the recent drumbeat for Derrick Brown to be the pick for the Detroit Lions at the third spot, Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn went in a different direction. Perhaps when a trade down failed to materialize, they selected Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah, largely viewed as the top coverage player on the board.
Quinn and company addressed the offense at the start of the third round, adding Georgia running back D’Andre Swift. Swift is a dual threat RB, with the ability to impact the game between the tackles but also the skills to flex outside and run a complete route tree. Then at the top of the third round they added Julian Okwara, an EDGE defender from Notre Dame. The Lions had just 28 sacks a season ago, so helping their pass rush is a major need. Okwara is a bit of a projection, but has the length, athleticism and speed to at least contribution as he puts together the rest of his bag of pass rushing moves.
Then in the third round the Lions added Jonah Jackson, a solid offensive guard and in fact Touchdown Wire’s second-ranked interior offensive lineman. Jackson can be a bear in the run game but is an experienced pass blocker who can handle the pass rushing responsibilities as well. His selection bumped up what was a lower grade after the second round.
Grade: B-
Green Bay Packers
It is hard to walk away from Thursday night and not view the selection of Aaron Rodgers’ potential replacement as the main storyline. With players like Laviska Shenault Jr., Denzel Mims and Tee Higgins available the Packers traded up to draft…Jordan Love, the quarterback from Utah State. While Love may pay off in the long run, this pick down nothing to help the 2020 Packers absent and injury to their starting QB.
Then with their second-round selection, the Packers added a player who might just be a complementary piece in the 2020 season. Boston College running back A.J. Dillon is a thundering downhill hammer, who tested a bit better at the Combine than many expected. With Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams entering contract years, he can be a part of the committee in 2020 blasting away between the tackles, and perhaps the focal part of the backfield in 2021. In the third round they added Josiah Deguara, a tight end from Cincinnati who might project best as an H-Back or even a fullback in the NFL. Given that LaFleur likes to use 21 offensive personnel – the Packers actually used that package 25% of the time last year – this could fit a schematic need.
Grade: C+
Houston Texans
Another team lacking a first-round selection was the Houston Texans, who shipped that pick prior to last season in exchange for Laremy Tunsil. Bill O’Brien made some…interesting moves this offseason so the football world was waiting with breathless anticipation to see what he was going to do next.
You know, like this:
Making Tunsil the highest-paid offensive lineman on Friday afternoon was a start. But O’Brien perhaps redeemed himself by picking Ross Blacklock at 40, the defensive lineman from TCU. Blacklock has the quick first step to penetrate, but also is willing to find himself double-teamed and keep his linebackers clean. With the loss of D.J. Reader he is a great fit to fill a need. Then they added to the defensive front with Jonathan Greenard, an EDGE player from Florida. He is not the most athletic player, but is good in a phone booth and will rack up some effort sacks and tackles.
Grade: B
Indianapolis Colts
Even though they did not have a first-round selection on night one, the Indianapolis Colts and their mere presence might have changed the course of football history. According to Ian Rapoport, the Green Bay Packers moved up in the first round to draft Jordan Love because they wanted to make sure they, and not Indianapolis, drafted the Utah State passer.
But at the top of the second round, the Colts went in a different direction than quarterback. They addressed the wide receiver room, adding Michael Pittman Jr. to their roster. Pittman gained a ton of buzz into and out of the Combine, and is a solid receiver in the mold of Allen Robinson and Alshon Jeffery. He should be a great addition on the outside that allowed T.Y. Hilton room to operate on the interior. Then they executed a trade with the Cleveland Browns to move up from 44 to 41, and they drafted running back Jonathan Taylor out of Wisconsin. Taylor joins a crowded running back room with Nyheim Hines, Marlon Mack and Jordan Wilkins, but his dual-threat ability makes him an attractive option.
In the third round, Indianapolis turned to the defensive side of the ball, adding Julian Blackmon, a safety from Utah. Blackmon is more of a traditional single-high safety, as he played 485 snaps in that role a year ago. But he also started out as a cornerback, so he has the chops to drop down into the slot or even play on the boundary given his experience. This is a very nice pick for the Colts.
Grade: A
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars quietly had a good night during the first round. Of course, when you have lots of holes to address and two picks in the top twenty, you can get things right. But C.J. Henderson and K’Lavon Chaisson are solid additions to a roster that needed an injection of talent on the defensive side of the football.
At the start of the second round they added some talent to their offensive huddle, selecting wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. out of Colorado. Shenault is more offensive weapon than WR, as he aligned all over the field for the Buffaloes. Provided the offensive staff uses him the right way, he can be a true matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Then in the third round they added Davon Hamilton, more of an interior defensive tackle. Pairing him with Kinlaw on the inside is going to make things difficult for opposing offensive lines. Hamilton is a stout run defender, and what makes this a great pick is that it allows Jacksonville to slide Kinlaw around a bit while using Hamilton as more of a shaded nose tackle.
Grade: A-
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs relied heavily on the right arm of Patrick Mahomes and the passing game en route to a Super Bowl title. Their willingness to throw early and often made them darlings of the analytics world, who believe the running game is a less efficient means of winning football games and have the data to support such a position.
So naturally the Chiefs drafted a running back at the end of the first round.
When they were next on the clock, the Chiefs could have gone in a couple of different directions. Cornerback was still a need, but with Kristian Fulton coming off the board a few picks prior they perhaps shifted gears, and looked at the linebacker spot. Willie Gay Jr. was the selection, an athletic linebacker who tested very well at the Combine. He has some red flags in his past, with some suspensions during his time at Mississippi State, but turn on his bowl game from this past season and you’ll see a true sideline-to-sideline defender.
Near the end of the third round they added Lucas Niang, an offensive tackle from TCU. He might be a bit of a project. In their draft guide Pro Football Focus called his pass sets “un-aesthetically pleasing” for example, but he gets the job done. He did not give up a sack over the past three seasons, and with some NFL coaching and technical refinement, he could be a diamond in the rough.
Grade: B+
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders had an interesting first round. They made a pick that would make Al Davis proud, tabbing the ultra-fast Henry Ruggs III as the first receiver off the board. Then they reached a bit, making Damon Arnette, the Ohio State cornerback, their pick at 19 overall.
Without a pick in the second round, they waited until the early 80s to be on the clock again. When they were, they made the picks count. First was Lynn Bowden Jr., the versatile offensive weapon from Kentucky. Bowden was a talented receiver for the Wildcats who was forced to switch to quarterback due to injuries. Jon Gruden could use him in a variety of roles. Then the Raiders added Bryan Edwards, another wide receiver from South Carolina. Edwards slipped a bit due to a foot injury, but can be a true threat on the outside. With Bowden, Ruggs and Edwards the Raiders remade their receiver room overnight.
Late in the third round, Gruden and Mike Mayock took a swing on athleticism, drafting safety Tanner Muse from Clemson. While Isaiah Simmons and others got more attention during the season, Muse posted the second-fastest 40-yard dash time among safeties at the Combine. He perhaps plays best down in the box, and could be a potential Mark Barron-type of linebacker convert.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers made the move many expected, drafting Justin Herbert as their quarterback of the future at the sixth-overall spot. They then made a bit of a surprising trade, coming back into the first round in a trade with the New England Patriots to grad linebacker Kenneth Murray. They sent picks at 37 and 71 to the Patriots in the process, so…we’ll see them tomorrow night.
Los Angeles Rams
Welcome to the party LA.
It has been an interesting offseason for the Rams, who moved on from Todd Gurley and are reaping the aftermath of loading up for a title while Jared Goff was on his rookie deal. Now with a big extension in hand (albeit one that he restructured to free up some cap space) Goff is going to need to deliver.
They started things off at 52 overall by taking Cam Akers, the running back from Florida State. This was actually a pick that we at Touchdown Wire predicted, albeit at their second second-round pick at 57. Akers is a very good scheme fit for the Rams’ outside zone run schemes. Then at 57 they added Van Jefferson, a wide receiver from Florida. Jefferson is a solid route-runner who gets separation at a pretty consistent level. He is not a true vertical threat, but his ability to work underneath and find soft spots in zone coverage will be an asset to Goff.
In the third round they turned to the defensive side of the football, and added Terrell Lewis, an EDGE from Alabama. When healthy, Lewis looks the part of a first-round pick, but his health is a question mark. He missed most of 2017 and all of 2018 with injuries, but was healthy enough to make the Senior Bowl. He has burst off the snap and a bit of bend to him when attacking the passer. Terrell Burgess, their pick at the end of the third round, is another nice selection. He aligned everywhere for the Utes, including 133 snaps at free safety, 285 down in the box, 272 in the slot, 66 at defensive line and 27 in the slot. In fact, that usage pattern mirrors that of Isaiah Simmons’. This is a quietly impressive pick at the end of the third.
Grade: A-
Miami Dolphins
Smart teams give themselves lots of opportunities to get things wrong, knowing the numbers will often still bend in their favor the more bites at the apple they get. The Miami Dolphins entered the offseason with a lot of salary cap space, and three first-round draft picks. Their moves to date have largely been smart plays, including what they did on night one. One may quibble about Austin Jackson at 18 of course…
Perhaps their first pick of night two was a nod to that selection, as Miami drafted Robert Hunt, an offensive lineman from Louisiana-Lafayette. Hunt was a right tackle the past few seasons for the Ragin’ Cajuns, protecting the blindside of a left-handed passer. But he began as a guard on their offensive line, and adds some positional flexibility.
At 56, the Dolphins looked to address their run defense, adding Raekwon Davis from Alabama. The Crimson Tide defensive tackle was a force against the run during his time at Tuscaloosa, and showed flashes of pass rushing ability.
Given the acquisitions made in free agency and the draft at the cornerback spot, many thought (myself included) that Ashtyn Davis would be in play for the Dolphins on the second night of the draft. However, when the New York Jets picked him before the Dolphins could, Miami went in a different direction, adding Texas safety Brandon Jones in the third round. Jones is a different player than Davis, who does his best work down in the box. He might not be a pure free safety, but he does bring some physicality to both coverage and run support.
Grade: B-
Minnesota Vikings
Give Rick Spielman a ton of credit. He worked the draft board in the right way and picked two players at 22 and 31 that many, myself included, believed would be in play for them at 22 and 25. Justin Jefferson and Jeff Gladney are terrific additions to the Vikings’ roster.
Their good fortune continued into Day Two, as they added Ezra Cleveland to their offensive line at pick 58. Cleveland showed great athleticism at the Combine and caught some first-round buzz, but slid perhaps due to the level of competition he faced playing for Boise State. Another thing he does very well is move in the zone blocking game, thanks to his athleticism, which is a huge plus given what Minnesota does offensively.
Then in the third round they added another cornerback, Cameron Dantzler from Mississippi State. Dantzler had a rough Combine which saw his draft stock plunge, as he posted just a 4.64 40-yard dash. But that does not match what he showed on tape, which is the ability to be a lockdown man coverage corner who also makes plays in off coverage or even in zone. If you trust the tape, you will like what you see.
Grade: A
New England Patriots
Death, taxes and Bill Belichick trading out of the first round.
After shipping the 23rd overall pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for picks 37 and 71, Belichick called it an night and went to relax outside his home on Nantucket. At least, that’s what I’m picturing in my mind. But with now five picks coming into the second day of the draft, it was time for the Hoodie to go to work.
He opened things up with Kyle Dugger, a Division II safety from Lenoir-Rhyne. He was dominant at this level, and tested extremely well at the Combine. Dugger has the size of a linebacker and the athleticism of a safety, and is probably a replacement plan for Patrick Chung. It might seem like a reach, but Belichick does things his own way.
Then the Patriots moved up a bit, packaging their picks at 71 and 98 in a deal with the Baltimore Ravens to slide up to 60 and select Josh Uche, an outside linebacker from Michigan. Uche has the athleticism to be disruptive off the edge while also being able to contribute in pass coverage, and is likely viewed as a Kyle Van Noy replacement. In the third round they added another potential replacement on the second level of their defense, with Anfernee Jennings from Alabama. Jennings is a good defender against the run, and is assignment-sound in how he sets the edge. He might not flash as a pass rusher, but he could fill the roll vacated by the departure of Jamie Collins. Plus, that Nick Saban to Bill Belichick pipeline lives on.
Then they added Devin Asiasi, a tight end from UCLA. This was a position of dire need for the Patriots, and Asiasi might be one of the more complete options at the position. He can handle the blocking parts of the job, but is a more than functional receiver off the line or when detached. Asiasi has just one year of solid production, but is a good selection given their needs. Capping the night off they added Dalton Keene, another tight end, from Virginia Tech. He is a versatile tight end who aligned everywhere for the Hokies, and now the Patriots have a pair of young options at what was a position of weakness.
Grade: B+
New Orleans Saints
On the first night of the draft the New Orleans Saints addressed the interior of their offensive line. Perhaps a bit of a surprise, given the early pick of Erik McCoy last year, but Cesar Ruiz can play both guard and center as he did at Michigan.
Then they dipped back into the Big Ten, trading up in the third round to draft Zach Baun, the linebacker from Wisconsin. Baun was pegged as perhaps a first-rounder coming out of the Combine, due to his versatility and athleticism, but perhaps his hybrid nature made the scheme fit difficult. In New Orleans he can contribute early as a pass rusher, and develop into more of a pure linebacker role over time. Adam Trautman, the small school tight end from Dayton, is a potential complete package at the position who was dominant on film against FCS competition.
Grade: B+
New York Giants
Dave Gettleman told us at the Combine that you need to protect the passer, and that is exactly what he did. The Giants passed on super defender Isaiah Simmons and drafted Andrew Thomas, one of the “Big Four” offensive tackles at the fourth spot in the draft.
Many expected that Gettleman would switch gears and target the defense at the top of the second round, and they were correct. Albeit, not at the position many thought he would focus upon. Rather than adding a pass rusher, Gettleman added a safety, making Xavier McKinney the first safety drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. McKinney is NFL-ready coming from a Nick Saban system and played all over the field for the Crimson Tide, including at free safety, down in the box and in the slot. He can be for Joe Judge what the former Patriots’ coach saw in New England with Devin McCourty.
In the back of the third round, the Giants added Matt Peart, an offensive tackle from Connecticut. He is a very experienced player, a four-year starter for the Huskies, and has spent time at both right and left tackle. He could be a potential swing tackle option behind Nate Solder and Thomas.
Grade: B+
New York Jets
The New York Jets could have gone in one of two directions in the first round. They could have added one of the top receivers in the draft, and they had their choice as all three were on the board, or they could have addressed offensive tackle. They went with the big guy up front, and we mean big, drafting Mekhi Becton out of Louisville. Mount Becton is already copyrighted we believe. If not…hit us up Team Becton.
Then at 59 they ended one of the more surprising slides of the draft, picking Baylor wide receiver Denzel Mims. The wideout was moving up draft boards thanks to a strong Senior Bowl week as well as a great performance at the Combine, but a limited route tree coupled with some issues at the catch point saw him slide. With the loss of Robby Anderson, even with his limited route tree he can be a vertical threat that the offense needs.
Then at 68 they added Ashtyn Davis, a rangy safety from California. Davis is perhaps the best pure center fielder in the class, with the sideline-to-sideline ability you want from a free safety in a heavy single-high system. He might not have the versatility of other safeties in this class, but in that kind of role he can thrive. There is also discussion of moving him to cornerback, given his athleticism, and that merits watching given the Jamal Adams situation.
In the third round the Jets drafted Jabari Zungia, a high-motor edge rusher from Florida. He has good quickness off the line, some power behind his hands, and the ability to collapse pockets running the arc. A good value selection for the Jets.
Grade: A-
Philadelphia Eagles
As the first round wore on, Philadelphia Eagles fans had dreams of CeeDee Lamb falling to them dancing in their heads. At the last moment, in a Hitchcockian twist, the hated Dallas Cowboys stepped in and drafted the Oklahoma receiver. Down but not out, Howie Roseman selected TCU receiver Jalen Reagor, who is a solid fit for their offense.
Someone who is more of a questionable fit for their offense is their pick at 53 overall, quarterback Jalen Hurts. It should be no surprise that Hurts came off the board in the second round, given the draft process he has put together. But his fit in Philadelphia is questionable. Hurts right now is more of a “see it, throw it” passer and his snap-to-throw time of 3.08 seconds would have been dead last in the NFL in 2019. The Eagles’ offense is rooted heavily in West Coast elements, where quick decisions are the name of the game. Investing a premium pick on a quarterback, after giving Carson Wentz an extension and bringing back Nate Sudfeld, is a head-scratcher.
Then they drafted Davion Taylor, a raw but athletic outside linebacker from Colorado. Taylor made Touchdown Wire’s list of the Top 11 linebackers, and played in Colorado’s overhang role the past two seasons. However, he is very much a project.
Grade: C
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers were another team lacking a first round pick, having sent that to Miami in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. But the second night gave them some options, and with positions like running back and defensive line in play, there were certainly some potential fits. Instead, the Steelers went in a different direction, calling on Chase Claypool, a wide receiver from Notre Dame. Claypool tested extremely well at the Combine, and could be a position switch candidate for a move to tight end. That would fill a need for the Steelers provided he can get up to speed, and if that is even the plan.
At the end of the third round, Pittsburgh added Alex Highsmith, an EDGE defender from Charlotte. Highsmith was dominant on film against lower level competition, notching 16 sacks last season, but half of those came against Old Dominion and Gardner-Webb. He has some intriguing skills and good agility off the edge, but like Claypool he might be a bit of a project ultimately.
Grade: C+
San Francisco 49ers
Come on back tomorrow, ya hear?
Seattle Seahawks
I’m still wondering how a scene from “1917” leads one to drafting a linebacker out of Texas Tech. Especially a clip titled “Schofield Run.” I’m waiting for your call, Coach Carroll…
The head-scratching moves continued on the second night of the draft. At 48 overall the Seahawks drafted Darrell Taylor, a defensive end out of Tennessee. Arif Hasan, who tabulates a consensus draft board as part of this work at The Athletic – Minnesota, pointed out that Taylor was the 92nd player on the consensus board, just a few spots behind Jordyn Brooks at 84.
Now perhaps they righted the ship in the third round, when they drafted LSU offensive guard at the 69th spot. Lewis is a feisty finisher on the inside, who blocks through the whistle in the run game and is always scanning for targets in pass protection. He has some minor technique issues to clean up, most notably with hand placement, but he is a solid pick for the Seattle offensive line.
Grade: C+
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It is hard to point to a team that has done more to reinvent itself this offseason, and no the Chargers’ uniforms do not count. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time and then coaxed perhaps one of the best tight ends of all-time out of retirement to play with him. Then they added Tristan Wirfs at 13 on night one of the draft. Provided they can keep Tom Brady from walking into the wrong house again, they’re in good shape for 2020.
But they obviously were not done. At the 45th pick of the draft they selected Antonie Winfield Jr., the 10th overall player on the Touchdown Wire top 50. Winfield is a smart, rangy safety who can play both as a high defender in zone but also down in the box. He has some injury woes from his past, but when healthy he is a ball-hawking difference maker. A great pick for Tampa Bay. They also needed to add a running back, and while they missed out on some potential top flight options Ke’Shawn Vaughn from Vanderbilt was a solid pick in the third round. He has good balance and can contribute out of the backfield.
Grade: B+
Tennessee Titans
Despite the interesting background behind head coach Mike Vrabel, the Tennessee Titans addressed a need on Thursday night, selecting offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson out of Georgia. The big right tackle can slot into a spot recently vacated by Jack Conklin during free agency.
Then at the back of the second round, the Titans added LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton into the fold. Fulton was graded by many – Touchdown Wire included – as one of the top cornerbacks in the class. But perhaps his average size and lack of production saw him fall down boards. The Titans do have a need at cornerback, and his ability to disrupt at the catch point – Fulton had 25 pass breakups over the past few seasons – represents great value at the end of the second.
Near the end of the third round, the Titans added Darrynton Evans, an explosive running back who is dangerous in the open field and out of the backfield. While at Appalachian State he was used at times as a receiver, and can run a pretty complete route tree and is tough to take down after the catch. This seems like more of a Dion Lewis replacement than a potential replacement for Derrick Henry.
Grade: B
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins made the second-overall selection of the 2020 NFL Draft, picking EDGE Chase Young from Ohio State, but when night two began there was a long wait ahead of them, as they lacked a second round selection. But they made their pick in the third round count, selecting versatile RB/WR Antonio Gibson from Memphis. Gibson is a true offensive weapon, with the ability to function as a downfield threat but also the patience of a pure running back with the football in his hands. Provided Washington uses him more like the Cordarrelle Patterson we saw in New England (offensive weapon) and not the Patterson we saw in Minnesota (pure receiver) this could be a steal for the Redskins.
Grade: B+
