2020 NFL Draft: First Round Mock Draft and Analysis

1.   Cincinnati Bengals​ - Joe Burrow, 6'3", 221lbs, QB, LSU

04/14/20 - Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

03/30/20 - Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

03/23/20 - Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

03/12/20 - Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

02/07/20 - Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

01/29/20 - Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

2019 was definitely a season of transition for the Bengals.  For 16 seasons, Marvin Lewis was at the helm in Cincy, leading the Bengals to the playoffs seven times, including five straight from 2011-2015, but had a sub-.500 record in each of his final three seasons.  In stepped Zac Taylor, who had his work cut out for himself after a 6-10 record and a last-place finish in the AFC North in 2018.  Andy Dalton had a dismal year at QB, putting up his lowest completion percentage (59.5%) and QB rating (78.3) since his rookie season in 2011.  Dalton started 133 games in his 10-year career in Cincinnati, but his struggles in the playoffs were apparent, completing just 55.7% of his passes and throwing just 1 TD to 6 Int. over 4 Wild Card Losses from 2011-2014.  Bringing in Taylor from Sean McVay’s staff with the Rams meant the team would inevitably be making a change at the QB position.  After a 2-14 record, the Bengals have the No. 1 overall pick, meaning Taylor can get his guy at QB.  Plus, Dalton is in the final year of his contract and releasing him would save the team $17.7 million.  College football fans witnessed one of the most dynamic seasons from a QB in quite some time.  Burrow led the country in passing yards (5671), completion percentage (76.3%), pass efficiency (202.00) and passing TD (60) and swept all of the major postseason awards, including a record-breaking landslide Heisman Trophy victory.  Burrow went on to dominate the College Football Playoff, completing 68.1% of his passes for 956 yards and 12 TD with no Int. while also rushing for 79 yards and 2 TD in victories over Oklahoma and Clemson.  Burrow was especially dominant against the Sooners, accounting for eight total TD, including seven TD passes in the 1st half.  Burrow’s story is remarkable.  He was a backup at Ohio State before transferring to LSU prior to the 2018 season.  As a junior, Burrow was seen as a game manager and a mid-to-late round projection heading into his senior season.  Then HC Ed Orgeron brought in Joe Brady from the Saints to be his passing game coordinator.  Brady teamed with Steve Ensminger to design an offense with firepower unrivaled in recent memory and Burrow seemed to be the perfect fit.  This pick is a no-brainer.  And don’t believe the narrative that Burrow may not want to play in Cincy and pull an Eli Manning to demand a draft-day trade.  Expect the Ohio native’s encore performance to be in Cincinnati running Taylor’s offense in 2020.  Burrow always seemed to be in complete command of the offense, showing a knack for quickly reading defenses and determining where to go with the football.  He would repeatedly read the LB coming on a blitz and throw a slant behind the backer in the space that was vacated.  Burrow can be very patient in the pocket, surveying the defense and keeping his eyes down the field as he goes through his progressions.  While Burrow doesn’t have an elite arm, he can make all the throws in an NFL route tree.  On quick throws, the ball comes out of his hands in a hurry and the ball is placed where the receiver can make a play after the catch.  Burrow’s anticipation and ball placement are elite as he is often throwing his receivers open and is placing the ball where only his man can make a play on the football.  He proved he can hit his receiver coming open over the middle by putting the ball out in front where the WR doesn’t have to break stride, but also offers the touch to drop the ball in the bucket over the outside shoulder of a streaking wideout on a nine route.  What may set Burrow apart is his ability to extend plays with his legs.  The play that may sum this up best was in the National Title Game against Clemson where Burro avoided three defenders in the backfield, calmly rolled away from the pressure squared his shoulders and fired a dart to TE Thaddeus Moss as he was coming open 38 yards down the field.  It’s the poise under pressure that is so impressive, as Burrow will climb the pocket to avoid the rush and buy time to allow his WR to uncover, but it’s also the subtle movements sliding to either side to give him an extra second to find the open man.  But don’t expect Burrow to hold onto the ball too long.  He has that internal clock that tells him it’s time to pull the ball down and is effective carrying the football.  In fact, 47% of his carries led to an LSU 1st down.  Burrow’s ability to keep his eyes locked in down the field despite the pressure allows him to see running lanes open up, so even if there’s nobody to throw to, he’s always looking for a way to move the ball down the field and is decisive with his movement.  Then there’s the charisma and the confidence, of which Burrow is definitely not lacking.  He’s seemingly never rattled, always keeps an even keel and has a belief that he and his teammates are just better than the team lining up on the other side of the ball.  Who can ever forget Joe Burrow on the bench smoking a cigar after winning the National Title?  That was a picture of confidence.  Now Burrow did enjoy a season for the ages, but he did only play at that level for just one season, so many will ask if it’s too much to ask the same of Burrow right away at the next level.  I would argue that his development in a one-year span at the helm of a major FBS program should get Taylor excited at the possibilities for 2020 and beyond.  The Bengals are using the franchise tag on AJ Green to bring him back to team with Tyler Boyd, who racked up 90 receptions in his second straight 1,000-yard season, and the speedy John Ross, to give the Bengals, when healthy, a trio of legitimate targets in the passing game at the WR position.  Then there’s Joe Mixon, fresh of his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign, who caught at least 30 passes in each of his three seasons in Cincy.  Plus, Jonah Williams will be returning from injury to solidify the O-line.  Adding Burrow to the mix would not only give Taylor his guy to make it all happen, but by adding the face of the franchise, the move would rejuvenate the fan base in Cincinnati.

2.   Washington Redskins - Chase Young, 6'5", 264lbs, DE, Ohio State, Jr.

04/14/20 - Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

03/30/20 - Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

03/23/20 - Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

03/12/20 - Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

02/07/20 - Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

01/29/20 - Chase Young, DE, Ohio StateThe Redskins have been looking for an identity in quite some time, having only made 2 playoff appearances in 12 years.  The last HC to take the Skins to the postseason was Jay Gruden in 2015.  However, after three straight losing seasons, including a dismal 3-13 record in 2019, Gruden is out and in steps Ron Rivera, who took Carolina to four playoff appearances including Super Bowl 50.  You have to imagine Rivera is looking to bring toughness back to Washington, so he brought along Jack Del Rio, whose defenses are known for being quite stingy.  One thing that doesn’t appear to be an issue defensively is getting after the QB.  Washington finished 2019 with 46 sacks, good for 10th in the league.  DE Matt Ioannidis led the way with 8.5 sacks and rookie Montez Sweat showed promise adding 7.0 sacks.  One name absent from the top of the sack total was Ryan Kerrigan, who has been a staple on the Redskin defense having started 120 straight games before a concussion kept him out of the lineup.  Ultimately a calf injury sent him to IR in January.  Kerrigan did manage 5.5 sacks last season, but the 31-year old will be an unrestricted free agent.  While it’s expected that Kerrigan returns to form in 2020 and Sweat builds upon his rookie season, there’s no denying adding a player of Chase Young’s talent completely changes the landscape of the defense.  Young is a game wrecker and his presence commands attention; you have to know where he in the field at all times.  Imagine teaming him up with Kerrigan and Sweat on a Del Rio-led defense…. not something QB’s in the NFC East want to picture!  Young had a breakout 2018 during his true sophomore season, picking up his play following Nick Bosa’s season-ending core muscle injury after three games.  He finished the season with 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, including four multi-sack performances in conference play.  Young was downright dominant in 2019, leading the FBS and setting an Ohio State single season record with 16.5 sacks.  His 4.0-sack performance against Wisconsin tied Young with four other players for the Buckeye single-game record as well.  Young was named the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus 1st Team All-American, won the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards and finished 4th in the Heisman voting.  He was virtually unblockable one-on-one coming off the edge.  Young is known for his explosive first-step quickness that allows him to beat blockers out of their stance, but it’s his hands that allow him to truly be elite.  Joey and Nick Bosa were known for their exceptional handwork while at OSU and Young was no different.  He used a combination of club, swipe and rip moves to quickly disengage from the OT.  Young also has tremendous power in his hands to attack the chest of the OT to get the blocker of balance and drive him into the backfield.  Once he wins with his hands, Young’s flexibility allows him to quickly bend around the corner, dipping his inside shoulder under the OT’s pad level to hug the corner before flipping his hips to flatten out to the QB.  He’ll also attack the QB with an inside rush, whether it’s setting up the OT to the outside before quickly planting and crossing the face of the blocker to quickly looping around through the A gap on a stunt.  When Young arrives at the QB, he’s not just looking for the sack, but rather is looking to change the complexion of the game by attacking the QB’s arm to swipe the ball free, as evidenced by his FBS-leading 7 forced fumbles.  We don’t talk much about his ability to get into passing lanes, but he does have 8 career pass breakups, one of which came against Penn State in 2018 where he read a throw to a TE in the flat after coming in motion, showing an ability to get his hand up on the quick throw to make a play on the ball.  Young is also disruptive against the run.  If teams run at him, he’ll drive his man into the backfield to get early penetration to disrupt the RB.  Young will get aggressive on zone reads, often pinching down, but shows the speed to get outside to still make a play on the QB.  If teams run away from him, Young also has the speed to chase down ballcarriers from the backside.  Teams will design their game plan around trying to neutralize Young, often trying to use his aggressiveness up the field against him.  He also served a two-game suspension in the middle of the 2019 season for an NCAA rules violation after admitting to taking a loan from a family friend so his girlfriend could attend the 2018 Rose Bowl, a loan that he repaid in full.  However, maybe the biggest question mark surrounding Young is the fact that he failed to register a sack in the final three games against Michigan, the Big 10 Championship versus Wisconsin and the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson.  Many call into question his effort when finishing out the season.  It can be easy to call this into question, especially considering he registered at least 0.5 sacks in every game in which he played to that point.  However, I would argue Young’s presence was felt on the field in each of those games.  Against Michigan, Young drove RT Jalen Mayfield back off the ball before quickly disengaging and chasing QB Shea Patterson from the pocket and later won with quick hands against LT Jon Runyan to then get a quick hit on Patterson as he threw down the field.  In the Big 10 Championship, Young beat LT Cole Van Lanen off the edge and actually hit the arm of QB Jack Coan to pop the football up in the air.  And in the CFP Semifinal, Young had his way with RT Tremayne Anchrum, keeping his balance on a cut block to then flatten and out and pressure Trevor Lawrence from behind on one play then beating Anchrum inside on an option play, held his ground, contained Lawrence before throwing him down.  So, while he didn’t fill up the stat sheet, Young made his presence felt.  It feels like people are trying to create a narrative just to find something negative to say about Young’s play in 2019.  I’ll use one word to describe it – dominant.  Young should make an immediate impact at the next level and has the talent to be an All-Pro early in his career.  

3.   Detroit Lions - Jeffrey Okudah, 6'1", 205lbs, CB, Ohio State, Jr.

04/14/20 - Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

03/30/20 - Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

03/23/20 - Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

03/12/20 - Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

02/07/20 - Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

01/29/20 - Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

This was certainly not where the Lions expected to be when the 2019 season began.  Detroit was coming off a 6-10 season in Matt Patricia’s first year as head coach and after three games, it appeared as though this as their year to finally get over the hump, starting the year with a 2-0-1 record.  Matthew Stafford threw for 831 yards and 6 TD with just 2 Int., and four different receivers had 100-yard games during that stretch.  Defensively. The Lions racked up 10 sacks and 2 Int. during that stretch.  However, in the final 13 games, the Lions won just one game as Stafford battled small fractures in his back that ultimately ended his season and the defense managed to tack on only another 18 sacks and 5 Int.  Stafford’s health is a concern, but if he’s healed up, the offense is in good hands, which means the focus will turn to the defensive side of the ball with this pick.  Detroit finished with the 31st-ranked defense, tied for last in the league with just 7 Int. and their 28 sacks tied them for 29th in the league.  Do you turn your attention to the CB position, where Desmont Trufant was  added in free agency, but Pro Bowler Darius Slay was traded to the Eagles, leaving a hole in the starting lineup?  Or do you look to the interior of the line, where Damon Harrison was released and A’Shawn Robinson is now in LA with the Rams?  I think the signing of Danny Shelton may have tempered that talk.  Jeffrey Okudah is clearly the top corner in this draft.  His fluidity, length and ball skills would be a perfect complement to Trufant, who was picked up after the Falcons released him.  However, there are promising corners on the roster.  Last year’s 5th Round pick Amani Oruwariye came on late in the season while expectations are still high for slot corner Justin Coleman.  The same can’t be said for the DT position.  Derrick Brown is a unique talent with the ability to not only penetrate the line of scrimmage against the run, but he can also collapse the pocket from within as an interior pass rusher.  Brown’s versatility would complement Shelton’s strength along the interior of the line and would take some pressure off Trey Flowers coming off the edge.  You can’t go wrong with either Okudah or Brown here and I’m sure there will be much debate.  There is one school of thought that in this ever-changing game, it’s becoming more and more paramount to have top-flight cover corners on the outside, but the other says that with the game changing, providing an interior pass rush is becoming more and more of a necessity.  At the end of the day, you have to ask what fits best with Detroit’s scheme?  The Lions play a ton of man-to-man and if the rumors are true that Detroit may actually be trading Slay, adding a corner with the elite cover skills Okudah possesses will win out.  Okudah has tremendous size for the CB position, which will come in handy against bigger NFL WR’s, but also has the sub-4.5 speed required to handle vertical speed.  He’s very patient at the line, staying square to the WR despite the receiver’s initial movements off the line, which forces the wideout to commit before turning to run.  He can also get physical with the WR, getting his hands early on the WR to jam and reroute off the line.  Okudah also does a tremendous job using the boundary as another defender, pinning his man to the sideline to eliminate any separation.  He sticks like glue to the wideout with physical blanket coverage, making it difficult for the WR to make a play on the ball.  Okudah also excels in bail technique, getting on top of the WR on vertical routes before looking back for the ball while leaning in toward the WR to close the distance.  He hugs the ball-side hip of the WR, allowing him to extend and make a play on the ball at the catch point.  He uses his length and impeccable timing to attack the WR’s hands as the ball arrives to disrupt the catch.  Even when he’s beaten, Okudah has the required makeup speed to gain ground late to make a play on the ball.  If there’s anything to knock on Okudah, you can point to the lack of discipline with his eyes as he can lose touch with his man and his route recognition could be better.  However, I think Okudah is a better overall prospect than fellow Buckeye Denzel Ward, who was the No. 4 overall pick of Cleveland in the 2018 draft.  

4.   New York Giants - Jedrick Wills, 6’4”, 312lbs, OT, Alabama, Jr.

04/14/20 - Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

03/30/20 - Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

03/23/20 - Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

03/12/20 - Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

02/07/20 - Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

01/29/20 - Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson

GM Dave Gettleman addressed the future of the Giants’ offense in the last two drafts, selecting RB Saquon Barkley and QB Daniel Jones with top-10 picks in back-to-back drafts.  Could this year’s top-10 pick be used on another offensive weapon?  CeeDee Lamb seems like a long shot here; while New York doesn’t have a true No. 1 WR, Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Darius Slayton are productive weapons for Jones.  I think the top need is actually at RT, where Mike Remmers left for the Chiefs.  While this is not a sexy pick, protecting their investment has to be a priority for Gettleman and Co., so drafting a top OT prospect like Mekhi Becton, Jedrick Wills or Tristan Wirfs might be in play.  Or…. maybe this pick will be used to improve the 25th-ranked defense.  A top tier pass rusher is a need, but there’s virtually no way Chase Young is still on the board when the Giants pick at No. 4.  New York also lacked production at the CB position in 2019.  The G-men finished 2019 ranked at the bottom of the league with just 7 Int. and only one of those was hauled in by a corner (Julian Love).  The team is desperate for a No. 1 corner.  Now the Giants may have drafted Deandre Baker in Round One a season ago, but he struggled mightily, especially after Janoris Jenkins was waived during the season.  You have to expect Gettleman to at least think about Jeffrey Okudah if he were available here.  The only other defensive player I could see coming off the board at No. 4 is Isaiah Simmons, the jack-of-all-trades LB who could be plugged in all over the field.  Simmons would give the Giants a LB who can cover TE’s, RB’s and slot WR’s, unlike Alec Ogletree, who was let go. Think about the matchups in 2020 that the Giants will have to face:  Kenyan Drake, Ezekiel Elliott, Nick Chubb, Miles Sanders, James Conner, Mark Ingram, Joe Mixon, David Montgomery and Adrian Peterson at RB, not to mention Austin Hooper, David Njoku, George Kittle, Mark Andrews, Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Eric Ebron, Greg Olsen an Jimmy Graham at TE; and we’re not even getting into some dangerous slot WR’s.  Simmons’ versatility to line up all over the field would give the Giants some much needed flexibility in their defense.  Now, New York has paid quite a bit of attention to the LB spot in free agency, signing Kyler Fackrell and Blake Martinez away from the Packers, but I’m not going to let that fool me.  A year ago, the Bucs were active at the LB position in free agency, which caused me to move off my initial pick in LSU’s Devin White.  Am I making the same error two years in a row?  Simmons played at a high level all over the field at Clemson, making him the type of player around whom new DC Patrick Graham can build his defense.  I just believe that there was enough attention paid to the LB spot in free agency that the Giants can focus on addressing their top need.  Let’s not overthink this one, the Giants invested in Jones and Barkley in the top 10 the last two seasons, so it’s time the focus is on their protection and Jedrick Wills is the best OL prospect in this year’s draft.  Throughout the 2019 season, the more I watched Wills play, the more I thought his pass sets were the best among draft-eligible OT prospects.  He’s so quick to fire out of his stance to meet the rusher at the edge and is very light on his feet to make the lateral movement look effortless, while also playing with excellent flexibility to maintain leverage throughout the play.  Willis is also very powerful, showing he can unlock his hips to provide an initial punch that stuns his man.  Once Wills has his man square, he showcases the lateral agility reminiscent of a basketball player when mirroring the defender and is quite calm on secondary moves, using subtle movements rather than overreacting to keep himself in position.  If Wills is going to get beat in pass protection, it’s because he overextends himself.  So, when he’s under control while maintaining a wide base, he can be dominant.  And even if he is beaten, he has the skills to quickly recover.  Wills plays with a mean streak in the run game, looking to punish anyone in his path.  He generates a ton of movement on his down blocks and is agile and balanced in space to locate and lock onto a moving target.  He looks to finish on the edge, as evidenced by his Judo throw on Marlon Davidson after getting under his pad level, which opened a gaping hole for Najee Harris on a 6-yard TD.  Wills is just 6’4”, so he lacks the height of a prototypical NFL OT, but his arm length is over 34 inches, which makes up for it.  Wills is just scratching the surface of his potential as he’s still gaining a feel for blitz packages.  Wills is a plug-and-play RT who is ready to start Week 1 allowing Gettleman to rest easy that his No. 6 overall pick from last year’s draft is being adequately protected.

5.   Miami Dolphins - Tua Tagovailoa, 6'0", 217lbs, QB, Alabama, Jr.

04/14/20 - Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

03/30/20 - Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

03/23/20 - Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

03/12/20 - Tua Tagovailoa, QB. Alabama

02/07/20 - Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

01/29/20 - Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Miami has three 1st Round picks this year, which makes this offseason pivotal for Brian Flores and Co. in their process of building for the future.  The first area of focus has to be getting the QB of the future right.  The “Tank for Tua” phenomenon really took shape for Miami coming into the 2019 season.  Tagovailoa was coming off a Heisman-runner up campaign and was just two years removed from putting his stamp on the college football landscape when he came off the bench to bring Bama back to a victory over Georgia in the national title game.  Then, on November 16th against Mississippi State, in a game that was already in hand at the end of the 1st half, Tua came out for one final possession and as he was rolling to his left to avoid two Bulldog defenders, was taken to the ground with the force of both defenders landing on him.  He was left with a broken hip and posterior wall, an injury that not only ended his season, but left questions about his future.  Dolphins fans waiting for Tua had to be devastated.  Then, news of his prognosis was promising as he is expected to make a full recovery and two surgeons even went on the record stating he would be available for training camp.  There are rumors Justin Herbert may be gaining momentum in Miami and could overtake Tua as the pick here.  There’s also a school of thought that Miami could land their OT here and then look to package their other two 1st Round picks to trade up to get their QB.  Would the Fins risk not landing their QB?  Remember, they passed on Drew Brees in free agency when there were questions about his shoulder.  I just don’t see Tua falling out of the top five, and that’s just fine with the Fins as 37-year old Ryan Fitzpatrick has announced he’ll be back in 2020, so there won’t be pressure on Tua to take over the reins immediately.  I think the Dolphins will look to land both Tua and OT Andrew Thomas in the top 10, which could trigger a surge on the to OT’s in the draft.  Even if an OT is the pick here, I expect Tua to be in Miami.  (See No. 18 for Andrew Thomas to Miami).  The lefty averaged a TD pass every 7.86 pass attempts and threw over 20 TD passes in each of the past two seasons before throwing his first Int.  Tua’s also known for his accuracy, having completed 69.3% of his passes in his career.  He does a tremendous job taking what the defense gives him and puts the ball right where the WR can make a play after the catch.  He does a tremendous job leading the WR away from defenders to throw them open and his anticipation is such that the ball is on its way before the WR is even out of his break.  He has the touch to drop the ball over the outside shoulder of the receiver up the sideline and can fit the pass on a corner route over the CB and before the safety can get over.  Tua is also patient, quickly going through his progressions, and will wait for an area to clear before hitting his WR in stride rather than force it into traffic.  He was especially adept at waiting for the receiver to clear up the seam, then putting the ball on his man to allow him to take advantage of the open space.  His eye discipline is exceptional, showing he can manipulate the defense with his eyes, holding a safety toward the middle of the field to allow him to take advantage of a matchup to the outside.  Tua’s pocket presence is evident, feeling pressure and making subtle movements in the pocket to buy time to find the open WR.  He can spin away from pressure and roll out, keeping his eyes down the field with his shoulders square before delivering a strike to the open man coming free down the field.  Tua’s game isn’t without faults.  He does tend to rush his throws when under pressure, causing him to sail passes especially when his feet aren’t set.  He’s also looking to make a pay with the football, so he will take chances and throw the ball up when there is pressure in his face, which can get himself in trouble.  Tua will also miss defenders coming off their primary assignment to make a play on the ball as they’re watching his eyes, meaning his field vision must improve.  Maybe the biggest hole in his game is the fact that he tends to hold onto the ball too long at times, looking to continue to extend plays until he can find an open man; most of the injuries have been sustained by Tua not getting rid of the ball when he needed to.  Which takes us to the durability concerns.  Tua suffered high ankle sprains in each of the past two seasons, both of which required an invasive tightrope surgery to give stability to the area and promote quicker healing.  He also suffered a sprained knee while sliding after a nine-yard run against Missouri in 2018.  Then there’s the hip injury.  Can Tua’s body hold up against the rigors of an NFL season?  That is a legitimate question the Dolphins will have to ask and will have to be comfortable with the answer.  Tua may need to speed up the internal clock and keep his game more inside the pocket than out on the perimeter if he wants to have a long, healthy career.  Tua would be just the third 1st Round QB the Dolphins have drafted in the 1st Round since 1983 when Dan Marino was taken with the 27th overall selection and the first since Ryan Tannehill in 2012.  Miami fans are hoping adding Tua will start the path back to the postseason, something they haven’t seen since 2008 when Chad Pennington led them to their last AFC East crown.

6.   Los Angeles Chargers - Justin Herbert, 6'6", 236lbs, QB, Oregon

04/14/20 - Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

03/30/20 - Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

03/23/20 - Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

03/12/20 - Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

02/07/20 - Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

01/29/20 - Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

It’s likely the end of an era for the Chargers as it’s expected the franchise will be moving on from Philip Rivers, who has been a fixture under center for the Bolts having started 224 games (235 if you count the playoffs) in a row since September 11, 2006.  What direction will they go?  This organization has only known two starting QB’s, Rivers and Drew Brees, since 2001.  Is there any chance this pick is used on any other position other than a QB?  While Bryan Bulaga was signed as an upgrade over the struggling Sam Tevi at RT, Russell Okung’s trade to Carolina for OG Trai Turner creates a hole at LT so an OT like Mekhi Becton, Jedrick Wills or Tristan Wirfs wouldn’t be out of the question, but not likely.  The next question is who this pick will be.  Justin Herbert has largely been seen as the top QB not named Burrow or Tua and his skillset reminds me a lot of Josh Allen and his play at the Senior Bowl did nothing but strengthen his status as a top QB target.  But there are concerns his stats are inflated because of Oregon’s offense, his accuracy on intermediate throws is concerning and his ability to lead has been called into question.  Plus, his performances in the biggest games of the year against Utah and Wisconsin make you question if he can rise to the occasion.  Could we see another Daniel Jones situation in 2020, with Jordan Love springboarding ahead of Herbert to make a surprise appearance in the top 10?  Love struggled with decision making in 2019, but he also lost his top five targets along with his head coach.  If you put on his 2018 tape, it’s easy to see his impressive physical ability and it stood out at both the Senior Bowl and the Combine.  I don’t think it’s out of the question to have Love selected before Herbert, but I’m not ready to jump on that bandwagon, especially considering Herbert also enjoyed a solid postseason and silenced some doubters about his leadership qualities.  Then there’s the idea that Herbert may have leapfrogged Tua Tagovailoa in Miami’s eyes, so if Herbert comes off the board at No. 5, this could be Tua’s landing spot.  Justin Herbert was the 1st true freshman to start at Oregon since 1983 and in his second game as starter, he tied a school record with 6 TD passes and the following week he accounted for a school record 512 total yards while also tying Bill Musgraves’ record for passing yards set in 1989 with 489.  His 12 TD in three games equaled marks set by Joey Harrington in 2000 and Marcus Mariota in 2012, both of whom were taken in the top three of their respective drafts.  Herbert battled injuries in his first two seasons, so 2018 was his first full season as the starter.  Though he eclipsed the 3,000-yard passing mark and threw for 29 TD to just 8 Int., he also completed just 59.4% of his passes and the Ducks finished with a 9-4 record in its first season under Mario Cristobal.  Herbert returned to form as a senior, completing just under 67% of his passes while throwing for 3,471 yards and 32 TD to just 6 Int.  Some may criticize the fact that he threw for 300+ yards just four times in 2019, it should also be known that Cristobal, a former O-lineman, changed the culture by infusing a different level of toughness led by a power running game behind a physical O-line.  Herbert was leaned on to lead the team in a balanced offense and wound up leading the Ducks to a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin as a senior.  There’s no question Herbert has the prototypical size of an NFL QB and he has the arm strength to make every throw in an NFL route tree.  Herbert can make downfield throws on 9 routes to beat the deep safety and shows he can throw to the wide side of the field from the near hash on a line.  He also has the velocity to fit the pass into a tight window, getting the ball to his target in a hurry.  Herbert does a good job at the line of scrimmage and identifies the matchup he wants to attack.  You can see Herbert going through his progressions, seeing the entire field and makes confident decisions regarding where to go with the football.  His athleticism is always on display.  Herbert can manipulate the pocket by stepping up to avoid the rush or rolling away from pressure to make a throw down the field.  He’ll drop his arm angle to fit the pass in and does a good job squaring his shoulders to the target while on the move.  Herbert also does a tremendous job with his eye discipline, holding the safety in the middle of the field before letting the pass go on the outside.  Plus, his ball fakes on play action are some of the best in college football.  Herbert also has a high football IQ.  He also won the Campbell Trophy, which is the equivalent of the academic Heisman.  There’s no question he has the smarts necessary to play the position at a high level.  Oh yeah, and he’s a tremendous runner.  Herbert isn’t afraid to pull the ball and run it and his long strides allow him to eat up a ton of yards in a hurry.  It’s no surprise that Herbert ran a 4.68 40 at the Combine, especially considering his performance on the ground against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl resulted in three rushing TD’s.  Herbert does get beat up about his ball placement, but it doesn’t mean he can’t put an intermediate pass on the mark.  In the Rose Bowl, Herbert showed he could put a 16-yard back shoulder throw on Juwan Johnson away from the corner to the outside on one play, and the very next hit the TE on a wheel route by placing the ball over his outside shoulder.  The problem is Herbert seems to wait an extra count before releasing the ball, not trusting what he sees and overanalyzing things, rather than just letting it fly.  Herbert has a tendency to put in-breaking routes on the hip of the WR as opposed to throwing the WR open by putting the ball out in front, which allows defenders to get a hand in and make a play.  His deeper throws don’t always have enough air under the ball, which causes his passes to sail. He also needs to put more air under deep balls and especially on fades to allow his WR’s t go up and make a play on the ball. Adding arc to throws down the middle of the field would keep LB’s from getting a hand on his pass.  Herbert’s touch is shaky when trying to fit the pass over the corner and in front of the safety.  There is no question Anthony Lynn needs a QB to take over for Rivers and Tyrod Taylor is not the long-term answer.  Herbert’s success in the Pac-12 will give the fans in Los Angeles a level of familiarity they can rally around.

7.   Carolina Panthers - Isaiah Simmons, 6’4”, 238lbs, LB, Clemson, Jr.

04/14/20 - Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

03/30/20 - Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

03/23/20 - Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson

03/12/20 - Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson

02/07/20 - Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson

01/29/20 - Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

2020 is a transition year for Carolina as Ron Rivera is out and Matt Rhule is in as HC after the Panthers finished last in the NFC South for the second time in four years.  Not only that, but Cam Newton is out and Teddy Bridgewater is in at QB, Greg Olsen has moved on to Seattle and defensive leader Luke Kuechly announced his retirement after eight seasons.  I would expect this pick to be used on the defensive side of the football.  The Panthers did finish second in the league in sacks, but 29 of the 53 sacks were registered by four players, DE’s Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin and Mario Addison along with DT Vernon Butler, all of whom are free agents this offseason with both Addison and Butler already moving on to Buffalo in free agency.  Adding an interior presence like Derrick Brown makes a lot of sense here.  Then there’s Kuechly, a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time 1st Team All Pro who was named AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, who averaged 137 tackles per game while also racking up 18 Int., 12.5 sacks and 7 forced fumbles in his eight seasons with the Panthers.  His production, versatility and range will be difficult to replace.  Isaiah Simmons played at a high level all over the field at Clemson, making him the type of player around whom Rhule can rebuild his defense if he’s still on the board.  Pro Football Focus reported Simmons saw the field on 738 defensive plays, lining up along the DL for 106, 239 in the box, 256 at slot corner, 7 as a boundary corner and 130 at deep safety.  His ability to play a multitude of positions will allow him to fit the desired matchup.  Simmons filled up the stat sheet in 2019, finishing the season with 104 tackles, 16.5 for loss, 8.0 sacks, 3 Int., 8 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles.  Then the athletic freak put on a show at the Combine, running a blazing 4.39 40 and posting a 39-inch vertical while measuring in at 6’4” and 238 pounds.  His ability to play all over the field was on display the entire season.  Against South Carolina, Simmons lined up in the slot against the speedy Shi Smith.  He was initially beaten to the outside but had the recovery speed with inside leverage to make up ground, get his head around to track the ball then leaping up to make a play on the ball.  Lining up at deep safety against Ohio State, he showed off tremendous closing speed to come over the top to undercut the route of Binjimen Victor to the sideline for a dynamic Int.  And against LSU in the National Title game, he stayed on the ball-side hip of Thaddeus Moss and dove in front of the TE to make a play on the ball.  Simmons has the flexibility to run the arc off the edge to rush the passer and can shoot into the backfield to chase down RB’s.  His explosiveness allows him to come from depth, often blitzing from seven yards deep to get a head of steam and has the lateral agility to make plays sideline to sideline.  Simmons plays with constant effort, continually working to the football.  He’s like a heat-seeking missile, relentless in his pursuit of the ball carrier.  Now, it makes sense that Simmons makes plays in space as he’s a converted safety.  However, he’s still learning to play the LB position, including diagnosing plays in the box and figuring out the proper angles to take in pursuit.  He can also get engulfed at time by linemen on the LOS, which will cause him to get blown back and lose contain.  That said, Simmons is a playmaker that would place Panthers opponents on their heels trying to figure out where Simmons is lining up.
 

8.   Arizona Cardinals - Tristan Wirfs, 6’5”, 320lbs, OT, Iowa, Jr.

04/14/20 - Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

03/30/20 - Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

03/23/20 - Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

03/12/20 - Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

02/07/20 - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

01/29/20 - Jedrick Wills, Jr., OT, Alabama

Last year’s No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray earned AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after throwing for 3,722 yards in first-year HC Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.  The Cards also boasted a top-five defense that gave up just over 320 yards per game.  However, the production didn’t quite translate into victories as Arizona finished the season 5-10-1.  Expect Kingsbury and GM Steve Keim to turn their attention to the offense early in the draft.  Murray received great news as future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald announced he would be back for the 2020 season.  That said, the Red Birds need to prepare for life without Larry Fitz.  Could this pick be used to reunite Murray with his fellow Sooner wideout CeeDee Lamb?  I didn’t see it happening even before free agency hit; not only is Fitzgerald back, but the Cards also focused on WR often in last year as they drafted Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler and Keesean Johnson to provide depth to the position.  The talk was put to bed following the trade that sent RB David Johnson to Houston for All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins.  The new Murray-to-Hopkins connection means the focus has to shift to the offensive line, which is overdue for an upgrade.  This past season was the third straight year the Cardinals gave up 50 or more sacks, which is simply unacceptable.  Humphries, the team’s last OT taken in the 1st Round, finally started an entire season at LT, so he was re-signed to protect Murray’s blind side.  Marcus Gilbert was re-signed to a one-year deal, but he won’t be the long-term answer at RT.  Wirfs made a name for himself this past offseason after breaking Brandon Scherff’s team record with a 450-pound hang clean, which he easily did for three reps.  After a stellar 2019 season followed by a tremendous Combine performance, it’s possible Wirfs can best Scherff again with his draft position as Scherff was the No. 5 overall selection of the Redskins in the 2015 draft.  Like Scherff, there is talk that Wirfs may slide inside, but the incredible athleticism on display at the Combine may dispel those talks.  Wirfs ran a blazing 4.85 40 while also setting Combine records for OL in the vertical leap (36.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet 1 inch).  In fact, only 16 of the 46 WR’s at the Combine jumped higher than Wirfs in the vertical.  During this past season, Wirfs filled in for an injured Alaric Jackson for a time at LT, so his versatility seems endless.  He’s quick out of his stance and plays with excellent leverage, showing easy flexibility to sit down and bend at the knees.  He gets good depth and takes good angles with his kick slide, allowing him to beat his man to the edge.  Wirfs also has the lateral quickness to mirror the edge rusher, can easily change directions to pick up secondary moves and has the agility to block down on the DE before easily sliding back outside to pick up the blitzing LB looping around off the edge.  Wirfs’ athleticism was also on display in the running game, often leading the way.  Against USC in the Holiday Bowl, Wirfs repeatedly got out in front of the ball carrier, delivering lead blocks that buried DB’s on the edge to spring a big gain.  For as light as he is on his feet, Wirfs also plays with tremendous power that allows him to generate movement at the point of attack.  You’ll often see Wirfs extend his arms to deliver a good punch to the chest plate of the DL and keeps his legs moving to clear out his man.  This was especially evident in the Minnesota game, as Wirfs got under DE Winston DeLattiboudere’s pad level and drove him all the way to the numbers.  He’ll also absorb contact at the point by anchoring and using active hands to keep his man in front.  Wirfs does struggle at times with speed rushers and can get too far over his feet, which affects his balance and allows the edge rusher to slip his block.  He also has an issue with oversetting as a pass blocker and in the run game.  You’d like to see a bit more consistency from Wirfs as he’s not always as dominant as his measurables would lead you to believe.  I think that’s ultimately what keeps Wirfs from being the top OT taken in this year’s draft.  However, he’s a significant upgrade at RT for the Cardinals, who may finally have the talent up front to protect Murray.

9.   Jacksonville Jaguars - Derrick Brown, 6’5”, 325lbs, DT, Auburn

04/14/20 - Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

03/30/20 - Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

03/23/20 - Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

03/12/20 - Derrick Brown, OT, Auburn

02/07/20 - Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

01/29/20 - Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

2019 saw the birth of Minshew Mania in Jacksonville as rookie Gardner Minshew took over for the injured Nick Foles to have a breakout campaign at QB.  However, the Jaguars still finished at the bottom of the AFC South and find themselves drafting in the top 10 yet again.  The Jags finished in the bottom third of the league on defense and their 28th-ranked run defense was especially disappointing.  Marcell Dareus was a cap casualty, which leaves Taven Bryan and Abry Jones as the only DT’s currently on the roster with any significant playing time last season.  Luckily for the Jags, there’s a chance that Brown just might be available when they’re on the clock with the 9th pick.  Derrick Brown is a hulking interior presence along the defensive line, wreaking havoc against both the run and the pass.  He was also known as the unquestioned leader of one of the most feared D-lines in all of college football.  He won the Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2019, which is given to the defensive player making the biggest IMPACT (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, Tenacity).  He was also a 1st Team-All American and a finalist for the Nagurski and Outland Trophies as Auburn’s dominant force.  Brown has exceptional first step quickness off the ball that allows him to shoot gaps with quick penetration into the backfield.  You’ll see quick hand usage to make quick work of the lineman across from him with a slap and rip or an arm over off the ball.  His brute strength allows him to convert speed to power to force his way through gaps.  Brown also has a wide base that allows him to drop his anchor and hold the point of attack even against double teams, which he saw frequently throughout his career.  The power in his hands is evident as it allows him to strike the OL and will muscle his way to get him off balance and can then generate a ton of movement with his leg drive.  Brown can often be seen manhandling his opponent, using his power to gain leverage before throwing his man aside before continuing his pursuit of the ball.  His power also allows him to collapse the pocket from within and his lateral quickness and short area burst allow him to put pressure on the QB.  What is really impressive is his nonstop motor.  Brown is relentless in his pursuit of the ball carrier and is known to track the ball from one hash to the opposite sideline and will pursue the ball 10 yards down the field.  He’s tremendously active with 170 tackles in his career and finished with 33 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.  He also has a nose for the football, knocking down 8 passes and forcing 5 fumbles.  Brown does play with an inconsistent pad level, which will allow blockers to slow up his rush, and he can overextend himself, which will affect his balance.  However, I would expect Brown to be a high impact starter and should make his presence felt early in his career.

10. Cleveland Browns - Mekhi Becton, 6'7", 364lbs, OT, Louisville, Jr.

04/14/20 - Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

03/30/20 - Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

03/23/20 - Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

03/12/20 - Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

02/07/20 - Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

01/29/20 - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

Everyone was expecting big things from Cleveland a season ago.  Baker Mayfield was expected to build upon an impressive rookie campaign, Odell Beckham, Jr. was brought in as another weapon to team with Jarvis Landry on the outside, Nick Chubb was primed for a breakout season and the defense led by Myles Garrett, Joe Schobert and Denzel Ward looked on paper like a top 10 defense.  Unfortunately, the Browns were one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL in 2019.  Expectations were high for HC Freddie Kitchens after what he was able to do as Mayfield’s OC the season before, but he clearly looked overmatched as Cleveland managed just six wins and are drafting in the top 10 yet again.  The Dawg Pound is thirsty for success and in order for Baker Mayfield to take a step forward as the team’s QB, he has to be protected.  Too often Mayfield was vacating the pocket early.  Many criticized him for not manipulating the pocket, stepping up to avoid the rush and make plays down the field.  Unfortunately, when he was under siege for 60 minutes, he was conditioned to roll out away from pressure, even when it wasn’t there.  Greg Robinson struggled mightily at LT, but his legal troubles mean the end of his career, while RT Chris Hubbard struggled with speed off the edge.  Landing RT Jack Conklin in free agency was a huge signing, but the left side still needs to be addressed, which is why I expect Cleveland to use this pick on one of the top OT’s in the draft and there’s a chance the mammoth Becton were available with this pick.  Dane Brugler compared Becton to Bryant McKinnie because of his size and surprising agility, which is high praise for a guy his size.  Mayfield is also used to having a giant of a man as his LT playing with Orlando Brown, Jr. during his time with the Sooners.  Seems like Becton is a perfect fit.  If you put on the game film, it’s easy to see why Becton is so highly regarded.  Simply put, Becton is a massive human being.  Not only is he 6’7” and 364 pounds, but he also has a seven-foot wingspan.  His enormous size allows him to engulf defenders at the point of attack.  His kick-out blocks are legendary as he fires out of his stance and exhibits such power that he’s driving his man off his feet.  Becton can punish his man on the edge and will look to finish off his blocks.  However, what’s surprising is his agility for a man his size.  He’s able to make his zone blocks in the run game and shows decent footwork in his pass sets to the outside.  Even if an edge rusher beats him off the ball, his sheer size forces the rusher to take a much wider arc, which allows him to use his length to recover and drive him out of the play.  Becton can simply cave in and wash away the entire left side of the line.  If you weren’t sold with the game film, then came the performance at the Combine.  While Becton did have to cut his Combine short due to an injury, the giant still managed a 5.10 40 time.  For reference, Mount McKinnie, the 7th overall selection of the 2002 Draft, ran a 5.13 40, so Becton is in great company.  Now, with the size comes concerns about his weight and whether he can stay disciplined enough to keep it from being an issue.  Pad level can be a concern as can having higher hands at the point, which will take away from some of the effectiveness of the power.  He has a naturally high center of gravity, so it’s easy for Becton to be off balance, so he has to make sure he remains patient.  That said, Becton will be an instant upgrade in Cleveland and teaming with Conklin should finally help give Mayfield time to create.

11. New York Jets​ - CeeDee Lamb, 6’2”, 198lbs, WR, Oklahoma, Jr.

04/14/20 - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklaoma

03/30/20 - CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

03/23/20 - CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

03/12/20 - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

02/07/20 - Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

01/29/20 - Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

The Jets have endured a decade of futility.  After advancing to the AFC Championship Game under the leadership of Rex Ryan in 2010, New York managed just one ten-win season.  2019 seemed to bring much of the same.  Sam Darnold missed the first four games with mononucleosis and the Jets lost each of those games.  Darnold took time to adjust to being back on the field and the Jets finished Week 9 with a 1-7 record.  But there’s reason to be optimistic as the Jets closed out the season winning six of their final eight games.  Protecting Darnold, who was under center for all seven wins, is the top priority for GM Joe Douglas, especially considering New York finished 4th in the league with 52 sacks given up.  That’s why the focus turned to the O-line as free agency began.  Douglas started free agency off by signing George Fant away from Seattle.  Fant has the versatility to play but OT positions.  He then re-signed versatile OG Alex Lewis, then signed Connor McGovern to man the OC position.  If the season were to start today, the Jets would have Fant at LT, Lewis at LG, McGovern at OC, Brian Winters at RG and Chuma Edoga, who made 8 starts before finishing the season on IR, at RT.  Andrew Thomas and Mekhi Becton could be options with this pick, but the attention the OL received in free agency allows the Jets to focus elsewhere.  Trumaine Johnson was a huge disappointment and didn’t live up to his large contract, making it easy for the Jets to decide to let him go.  The Jets struck out on big-time free agents Byron Jones and James Bradberry, so New York turned to Pierre Desir who was picked up in free agency but expect them to be on the market for cover corner and CJ Henderson’s performance at the Combine solidified his status as the draft’s No. 2 CB.  I also believe Adam Gase is on the market for a No. 1 option for Darnold in the passing game.  There’s quite a bit of uncertainty at the WR, especially now that Robby Anderson and Demaryius Thomas are gone.  The Jets lost 35.2% of its receiving yards and 31.6% of its TD production with the loss of its top two WR’s.  Quincy Enunwa is coming off a serious neck injury, leaving Jamison Crowder, the team’s leading receiver from a season ago, as the team’s only productive WR from 2019.  The Jets signed Josh Doctson in hopes he can resurrect his career after struggling in Washington and Minnesota.  Adding Breshad Perriman, who was able to resurrect his own career in Tampa, might allow the Jets to take advantage of the WR depth and land a wideout in Round 2, but the chance to land the draft’s a top WR may be too much to pass up.  The addition of bigger targets in Doctson and Perriman could mean a vertical speedster like Henry Ruggs III could be in the mix here.  However, I think the Jets will ultimately land the top WR in the draft.  Lamb came to Norman as special talent in 2017 and leaves as arguably the best WR ever to wear the Crimson and Cream.  It also doesn’t hurt that he played with three straight QB’s who made trips to New York at the end of the season, with Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray winning the Heisman in 2017 and 2018 and Jalen Hurts finishing as the runner-up t Joe Burrow this past year.  Marquise Brown may have been the flashier target for Mayfield, but Lamb was the more consistent and reliable option, finishing with 46 receptions for 807 yards and 7 TD.  Lamb quickly became Murray’s favorite target, racking up 1,158 yards on 65 catches and 11 TD.  However, it was his junior season with Hurts where Lamb took his game to another level, finishing the year as an All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist after hauling in 62 passes for 1,327 yards, averaging 21.4 yards per catch, while scoring 14 TD.  Many will argue it’s the system that allowed him to prey on defenses in wide open spaces and while there is some truth to that, there also are few players who have the ball skills and playmaking ability that Lamb possesses.  Lamb is not a burner, but his 4.5 speed is still enough to create separation down the field and is smooth with his movements across the field, showing he can throttle down and flatten his route.  He does need to work on the nuances of his route running, as there isn’t a crispness to his routes and there’s too much wasted movement that needs to be cleaned up.  That said, He does an excellent job coming back to the football and knows how to use his frame to shield the ball from defenders.  He’ll also throw in a hesitation or a stop and start to throw off defenders in the middle of his route.  Lamb tracks the ball well over his shoulder and has excellent body control to make late adjustments to the ball in the air.  He is a confident hands catcher with a large catch radius, often extending his arms to pluck the ball out of the air.  Lamb has the leaping ability to high point 50-50 balls and is physical at the catch point to pluck it and secure despite contact from the defender  Some worry about his slender frame and that he may not be able to hold up versus the physicality at the next level, but Lamb was deceptively strong, often running through DB jams and checks by LB’s trying to reroute him.  Plus, he’s another animal with the ball in his hands.  Just put on the game film against Texas this past season and you’ll see what I’m talking about.  Lamb was so slippery, showing an ability to turn a quick thrown and turn it into a big play, often planting and cutting inside the overpursuing DB.  Then there was the flea flicker in the 3rd quarter.  Lamb broke open down the sideline, before cutting back to the inside; there were five Longhorn defenders in the area and Lamb won in the open field, planting and running back to the outside for a 51-yard TD.  Later, he came across the field for Hurts, plucking the ball out of the air at the sideline, shrugged off two tackle attempts and tightroped his way to the end zone for a 27-yard TD.  He even showed an ability to recognize when the play has broken down and will come back for his QB, finding an open space to make himself available.  You can also put on the Kansas State tape and watch him avoid four tacklers in space on a 70-yard TD.  His agility, balance and physicality make him a nightmare for defenders to bring him down as he rarely goes down by first contact.  If you’re not sold on Lamb’s playmaking ability just yet, he had a span that began at the end of 2018 where he had a TD in 11 of 12 games, including a stretch of eight straight games.  I expect Lamb to make an instant impact in his rookie campaign and should become a favorite target early in the season.

12. Las Vegas Raiders - Jerry Jeudy, 6’1”, 193lbs, WR, Alabama, Jr.

04/14/20 - Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

03/30/20 - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

03/23/20 - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

03/12/20 - Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

02/07/20 - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

01/29/20 - CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

Raider Nation may be changing its address, but the plan is still the same for Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock – turn the Silver and Black into a contender again.  That seems to be a monumental task as the Raiders have only been to the postseason once since they lost in Super Bowl XXXVII to the Gruden-led Buccaneers in 2002.  After winning just four games in 2018, the Raiders won seven this past season, though they won only one of their last six games, which knocked them out of playoff contention.  There are questions about who will be the starting QB.  Derek Carr is in the third year of a five year, $125-million contract, but there is serious doubt he can lead this team back to the playoffs.  Marcus Mariota was brought in as a free agent to challenge Carr for the starting spot, but whoever is under center in 2020 needs a No. 1 WR, a spot that has yet to be filled since Amari Cooper was traded after six games in 2018.  Of the top five leading receivers last year, only Hunter Renfrow and Tyrell Williams were WR’s as the leading receiver was TE Darren Waller (90 rec., 1,145 yds, 3 TD), and a pair of RB’s, Jalen Richard and Deandre Washington, rounded out the top five.  With CeeDee Lamb off the board, the question for the Raiders will be which Bama prospect to go with, either Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs III.  Jeudy is the polished, sudden route runner who has the speed to separate, but looks like he’s most comfortable lining up inside, while Ruggs III is the vertical threat with dynamic speed.  I think Mayock and Gruden will favor Jeudy based on his versatility.  Jerry Jeudy really burst onto the national scene as a sophomore as Tua Tagovailoa’s big-play threat, finishing with 68 catches for 1,315 yards and 14 TD.  As a junior, Jeudy was more of the volume catcher for the Tide, allowing Ruggs III and Devonta Smith to step up as the big playmakers.  Jeudy is sudden off the line, allowing him to separate quickly from defenders though he can get rerouted easily by bigger, physical corners.  Jeudy has the straight-line speed to run by press corners and will eat up the cushion of a CB playing in off coverage in a hurry.  His acceleration is so explosive, which quickly lets him run away from defenders after the catch.  However, it’s his route running that makes Jeudy an elite prospect.  He understands leverage and does a good job stemming defenders away before making his break, creating separation in the process.  His fluid hips allow him to transition effortlessly and without any wasted movement.  Jeudy offers up very sharp, precise cuts and his speed through those cuts puts a lot of pressure on the DB.  You can’t allow a free release for Jeudy, so defenders must get physical with him off the ball as he will get rerouted.  Jeudy will struggle at times with tracking the football, doesn’t always make the necessary adjustments when the ball is in the air and can have issues with contested catches.  Then there’s the easy drops in the open field that Jeudy must eliminate.  That said, Jeudy is a WR1 who can play both inside and out but will likely make his home in the slot stretch the field in every direction possible.  

13. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis) - CJ Henderson, 6'1", 204lbs, CB, Florida, Jr.

04/14/20 - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

03/30/20 - Jery Jeudy, WR, Alabama

03/23/20 - Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

03/12/20 - Indianapolis Colts - Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

02/07/20 - Indianapolis Colts - Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

01/29/20 - Indianapolis Colts - Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Chris Ballard was quoted at the Combine as saying, “The three-technique drives this thing” when speaking of the defense.  It’s clear Ballard was looking for his three-technique to drive his defense, so he made a deal to land an elite NFL DT.  Indy traded the No. 13 pick to San Francisco for DeForest Buckner, who promptly signed a five-year deal worth $21 million per year, making him the second highest-paid DT to Aaron Donald.  The NFC Champs now have two 1st Round picks and have some flexibility.  I think this pick may be used to find a WR1 for Jimmy Garoppolo.  TE George Kittle enjoyed his second straight 1,000-yard season, while rookie Deebo Samuel was the only WR with at least 40 receptions and 800 yards.  The third leading receiver was Emmanuel Sanders, who is now a free agent and is not expected back.  Does San Fran really want to roll with Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis and Richie James opposite Samuel?  Or could they be trading up to put them in position to land a dynamic WR?  With Jerry Jeudy off the board, this could be where Henry Ruggs III lands as he and his sub-4.3 speed would be a perfect fit in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.  Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and Dee Ford are a formidable trio at DE, but without Buckner, there’s a huge hole along the interior of the DL.  Solomon Thomas was the third overall pick in 2017, but he has yet to live up to the hype.  A DT who can get to the QB will be critical to the success of the trio of edge rushers.  An athletic specimen like Javon Kinlaw, who can push the pocket from within as an interior pass rusher, can be that guy.  However, I think if there’s an area that needs focus defensively, it’s in the secondary.  Jimmie Ward was re-signed to pair with Jaquiski Tartt at Safety, but at corner, Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon, Emmanuel Moseley and K’Waun Williams are under contract for only one more season.  Plus, Sherman is 32 years of age and is just three years removed from an Achilles rupture.  There is uncertainty surrounding the future of the position, so the Niners shouldn’t pass on a chance to land a player the caliber of CJ Henderson.  It doesn’t hurt that the WR class has tremendous depth, allowing the Niners to still land an offensive playmaker at No. 31.  CJ Henderson solidified himself as one of the nation’s top corners in 2018 as Pro Football Focus confirmed he allowed just 1 reception on every 19 snaps and did not allow a single TD in coverage.  As a junior, Henderson garnered 1st Team All-SEC honors after leading the Gators with 11 pass breakups, despite only playing in nine games as he battled an ankle injury during the season.  At the Combine, Henderson’s 4.39 40 time helped solidify his status as the No. 2 corner in the draft.  Henderson absolutely has the cover skills to be on an island as a lockdown corner.  Henderson has good size for the position but is also such a smooth athlete with fluid hips to seamlessly change direction.  He has the agility and fluidity required to mirror the receiver, sticking like glue to the WR stride for stride, not allowing separation.  You’ll see Henderson get his hands on the WR early and does a good job re-routing his man off the ball.  He plays with anticipation, reading the QB’s eyes and driving quickly on the football.  In off coverage, Henderson is very smooth to transition and has a closing burst to disrupt the receiver at the catch point.  He does a great job playing the ball-side hip of the wideout on in-breaking routes, which allows him to make a break on the ball and knock the football away.  Simply put, Henderson puts himself in a tremendous position to make a play on the football.  Henderson does struggle at times with his ability to track the football with his back to the football and his zone recognition can be better as he will lose sight of the WR.  Maybe the biggest knock on Henderson is his tackling.  He’s shown an ability to come up in run support, but he plays with inconsistent effort.  He’ll wrap up and drive the ball carrier back on one play, then offer a poor effort by diving at the feet of a runner in space.  Teams will often test his physicality, which can be called into question.  While his tackling ability is a concern, his elite cover skills will outweigh those limitations.  If the Niners can land Henderson here and then get a vertical threat at WR like Jalen Reagor, who recently posted a sub-4.3 40 online, they’d have an “A” grade through their two 1st Round picks.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers​ -  Josh Jones, 6’5”, 319lbs, OT, Houston

04/14/20 - Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

03/30/20 - Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

03/23/20 - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

03/12/20 - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia 

02/07/20 - Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

01/29/20 - Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Since 2009, the Buccaneers only finished in the top two spots in the AFC South, a 2nd-place finish in 2016.  During that span, Tampa actually finished at the bottom of the division eight times and went through four difference head coaches before Bruce Arians took the helm in 2019.  The Bucs finished with a 7-9 record the highest win total in four years.  The defense finished 3rd in the league in rush defense, giving up just 73.8 yards per game, while their 47 sacks put them in a three-way tie for seventh.  Offensively, Jameis Winston was the lone QB to eclipse the 5,000-yard mark and finished second in passing TD with 33, but he was also the only QB to finish with 30 Int.  James Licht and Bruce Arians have decided to move on from Winston and are all in with Tom Brady at the QB position.  The addition of Brady will allow the focus to turn to the trenches.  The GOAT will need protection as his 2019 QBR of 54 was the lowest full-season rating of his career.  You can expect TB12 to have a say in roster decisions and Tampa’s OL gave up 47 sacks a season ago, so keeping Brady upright has to be the immediate focus.  LT Donovan Smith is back, but he was a disappointment and there’s nobody on the roster to push him and there is also a need to upgrade the RT position now that Demar Dotson is gone.  Joe Haeg was signed in free agency and could line up at RT, but he also has experience at OG.  I have had Tristan Wirfs and Andrew Thomas linked to the Bucs at No. 14.  However, there is an expectation that the top four OT’s may be gone by the time Tampa selects.  And it makes some sense.  Remember in 2017 when there was a run on WR’s in the top 10?  Corey Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross were clearly the top WR’s and there was a significant drop off after them.  After the top four OT’s, there’s a bit of a drop before we get to Josh Jones, so Tampa could very well look to trade down, gain draft capital and still land Jones, who was one of the most consistent OT’s in college football, allowing just 18 pressures on 1,282 pass-blocking snaps according to PFF.  Jones was a mainstay at OT for the Cougars up front, finishing with 45 career starts under his belt.  Jones often got by with sheer athleticism more than technique, which will need to be cleaned up by an NFL position coach.  He has the lower body flexibility required to bend at the knees and maintain leverage and is very light on his feet for a guy his size.  Jones is able to fire quickly out of his stance and has the lateral agility to easily mirror defenders both on an outside rush and with counter moves back to the inside.  Not only did you see this throughout the season, but the lateral quickness was also on display at the Senior Bowl, where he continually showed quick feet to pick up Kenny Willekes and Alton Robinson back inside on counter moves.  He has the strength required to absorb the edge rusher’s punch on the edge and maintains active hands, but he tends to lose his anchor when he starts bending at the waist and starts lunging and leaning.  I think his kick slide is effective when he gets a deep set and takes the proper angle to beat the DE to the edge.  Jones can deliver quite a punch, but his hands are inconsistent with their timing and placement and at times his feet need to play catch up rather than paying with his feet fully under him.  Jones will also get a bit overzealous at times and will overset, leaving him susceptible to getting beat inside.  For as much as Houston is known for its passing, it was the running game where Jones was able to really show off some of his athleticism.  He was often the lead blocker for the RB, getting out in front on the edge to kick out the LB and drive him to the sideline.  He would also climb easily to the second level, locate the defender while under control and seal the man off.  When he maintains leverage, he can generate a lot of movement in the ground game.  Jones needs a bit of development with his game, but he clearly has the potential to be a Week One starter.  Even if Miami sins an OT in free agency, they need to land a tackle in Round One and while this may be a little high for Jones, he would address one of the major glaring needs for the Fins.

15. Denver Broncos - Henry Ruggs III, 6’0”, 190lbs, WR, Alabama, Jr.

04/14/20 - CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

03/30/20 - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

03/23/20 - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

03/12/20 - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

02/07/20 - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

01/29/20 - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

Denver fans have reason to be optimistic after Drew Lock took over as the starter, leading the Broncos to win three of their final four games to end the season at 7-9.  However, adding weapons for Lock to throw to has to be a target this offseason.  Courtland Sutton clearly established himself as the team’s top wideout, but as the No. 2 WR, DaeSean Hamilton finished 5th on the team in receptions behind TE Noah Fant and RB’s Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay.  Lock flourished at Missouri when he had a healthy Emanuel Hall on the outside, tossing dimes to his streaking receiver down the sideline.  The Broncos roster is currently lacking a true vertical threat and Henry Ruggs III and his 4.27 speed displayed at the Combine seems like a perfect fit, if he’s still on the board here, but as the draft approaches, it’s becoming more and more apparent he won’t be, which means Denver could be looking to move up.  If they can’t make it happen and Ruggs III does come off the board before No. 15, the focus shifts to the secondary because even though AJ Bouye was brought in to replace Chris Harris, Jr., there’s still a need for a corner on the outside, especially considering Bryce Callahan is best suited at the nickel and Isaac Yiadom isn’t ready for a starting role.  There’s a good chance CJ Henderson will be available here and if he’s the pick here, I think they have to look to land their vertical threat in Jalen Reagor especially after his sub-4.3 40 posted on social media.  If Jerry Jeudy was the sudden route runner and Devonta Smith was the steady performer, Ruggs III was the big play waiting to happen.  Ruggs may have only 98 receptions in three years, but he averaged 17.5 yards per catch and his 24 career TD meant he was scoring in the end zone every 4.08 receptions.  If he got a free release on a vertical route, it was expected that he would get over the top of a defense in a hurry, so his presence on the field requires safety attention at all times.  What made him such a dangerous option in the Bama passing attack was his ability to take a quick slant or a crossing route to the house at any given time.  Ruggs III does a good job setting up the defender by changing speeds before turning on the jets with his explosive acceleration that allows him to be at full speed in just a couple of steps.  He also does a tremendous job selling his fakes on double moves.  Ruggs will struggle with more physical corners, so he has to work on his release and being more sudden to work through contact.  He may only be 5’11”, but his 42-inch vertical leap allows him to climb the ladder and highpoint 50-50 balls down the field.  He also has a larger-than-expected catch radius as he will extend away from his frame to haul in a pass.  I think where he could struggle is with contested catches; he’s not like the bigger WR’s who box their man out and keep them away from the ball, rather Ruggs III will give up position.  I think Ruggs III can make an instant impact at the next level.  Just look at what it did for Marquise Brown, himself the 15th overall selection in last year’s draft, as he burst on the scene in Baltimore’s first two weeks of the season.  Lock loves to get the ball to his vertical threats on the outside and now that he has one in Denver, I would imagine Ruggs III will see the ball early and often.

16. Atlanta Falcons - Javon Kinlaw, 6’5”, 324lbs, DT, South Carolina

04/14/20 - K'Lavon Chaisson, DE/OLB, LSU

03/30/20 - K'Lavon Chaisson, DE/OLB, LSU

03/23/20 - Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

03/12/20 - K'Lavon Chaisson, LB, LSU

02/07/20 - K'Lavon Chaisson, LB, LSU

01/29/20 - AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa

The Falcons had an up-and-down 2019, but finished on a high note, winning six of their final eight games, including the final four games to close out the season.  Atlanta boasted a top-five offense, but there were some glaring deficiencies on defense, specifically putting pressure on the QB.  The Falcons finished the season with just 28 total sacks, which tied them with the Lions and Seahawks for 29th in the league, besting only the Dolphins in that category.  Atlanta has problems on the edge as Vic Beasley and Adrian Clayborn, who combined for 12 of the team’s sack total, are gone.  Beasley, a former top-10 selection, could never repeat his breakout sophomore campaign in 2016 with 15.5 sacks, and he’s opted for a change of scenery in Tennessee.  Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff also have to find a way to get more production out of Takkarist McKinley, himself a former 1st Round pick, who finished 2019 with just 3.5 sacks and has amassed just 16.5 in his first three seasons in Atlanta.  McKinley’s future in Atlanta beyond 2020 is in serious doubt.  Quinn is reunited with Dante Fowler, who he coached while at Florida.  Fowler is coming off an 11.5-sack season with the Rams, clearly his best as a pro as he managed just 16.0 sacks in his first four seasons combined.  Adding an edge rusher who can consistently get home opposite Fowler will garner serious consideration and K’Lavon Chaisson is one of the few truly explosive edge rusher in this year’s draft.  However, the Falcons are rumored to be wanting to trade up to land either CB CJ Henderson or DT Javon Kinlaw.  Atlanta finished 22nd in the league a season ago versus the pass and of the 12 Int. in 2020, only Desmond Trufant’s four came from a corner.  Atlanta released Trufant this offseason, which saved the franchise $5 million in 2020 but also leaves Atlanta with a bunch of youngsters at the position.  Third-year pro Isaiah Oliver is improving every year and will be the starter at one CB spot, but the other spot is up in the air.  Kendall Sheffield was a 4th Round pick a season ago and still needs time to develop, while fellow 2019 rookie Jordan Miller is suspended for the first four games of 2020.  Henderson would instantly give the Falcons a lockdown corner opposite Oliver.  At DT, Grady Jarrett, one of the more underrated interior linemen in the league, returns after a 7.0-sack effort a season ago, but there is little after him in terms of an interior pass rush.  Tyeler Davison was re-signed, but he’s mostly a run stuffer, while Deadrin Senat’s future with the club is in question as he hopes to return to his rookie form following a 2019 season that was nonexistent for him.  If Atlanta wants an interior pass rusher at No. 16, they’ll have to hope Javon Kinlaw falls to them, but I don’t expect the Falcons to wait as Kinlaw has the type of explosiveness that Quinn and Dimitroff covet.  Javon Kinlaw came to Columbia as a JUCO All-American and became an instant contributor as a sophomore in 2017 after shedding 40 pounds.  He was named the team’s defensive MVP in 2018 after racking up 9.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks and was dominant as a senior, finishing the year with 6.0 sacks and was named 1st Team All-American.  Kinlaw is powerfully built and is the intimidating presence you want off the bus first.  He has a very quick first step that he uses to get early penetration off the snap.  He muscles through gaps, often powering through double teams to collapse the pocket from within.  Kinlaw has a powerful punch at the line to jolt his blocker and then uses a club or a rip move to beat his man who’s now off balance.  He was virtually unblockable at the Senior Bowl, showing a combination of power and speed to win at the point of attack.  Kinlaw repeatedly beat Clemson OG John Simpson, one of the better and more physical interior linemen in this draft, either by driving him back with a ferocious bull rush or using his quickness to beat him off the ball.  His strength allows him to bench press the interior lineman then get off the block to disrupt the run play.  What makes Kinlaw so difficult to handle is his motor never stops; he’s always working to the ball and doesn’t take a play off.  For as dominant Kinlaw can be, any of his momentum can be neutralized when his pad level gets too high.  He will lose leverage and can then get driven off the ball.  Kinlaw will need to work on his technique and pad level at the next level to be consistent, but he has the athletic skillset to wreak havoc as an interior lineman.

17. Dallas Cowboys - K’Lavon Chaisson, 6’5”, 250lbs, DE/OLB, LSU, Jr.

04/14/20 - Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

03/30/20 - Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

03/23/20 - K’Lavon Chaisson, DE/OLB, LSU

03/12/20 - CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

02/07/20 - AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa

01/29/20 - Grant Delpit, S, LSU

The Jason Garrett era in Dallas has come to an end following an 8-8 record and failing to make the playoffs for the sixth time in nine years under his tenure.  In steps Mike McCarthy, an offensive mind who won Super Bowl XLV with Aaron Rodgers, so many are expecting this pick to be used on the offensive side of the ball.  However, the franchise tag was used on Dak Prescott as the team works to iron out a long-term deal while WR Amari Cooper re-signed to a $100 million deal over 4 years.  Now the sudden retirement of Travis Frederick opened an immediate hole at the Center position.  Upon initial inspection, it felt like a huge need.  However, Dallas is well stocked with potential replacements as they did re-sign Frederick’s backup Joe Looney to a one-year deal and the trio of Adam Redmond, Connor Williams and Connor McGovern all have experience at Center.  Looney filled in well for Frederick when he left to battle Guillain-Barre Syndrome, anchoring the pivot as Dallas finished with a 10-6 record and an NFC East title.  Let’s expect this pick to be used on the defensive side of the ball.  Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix was brought in to start at free safety, but he’s likely only a one-year stopgap.  Xavier McKinney has been linked to Dallas here and I also wouldn’t rule out Antoine Winfield, Jr.  However, the corner position may be the bigger need in the secondary as Byron Jones is off to Miami and his loss is magnified because Chidobe Awuzi, Anthony Brown and nickel back Jourdan Lewis remain as the only experienced corners returning from a season ago.  Even with CJ Henderson off the board here, Kristian Fulton, Trevon Diggs and AJ Terrell could be in play here.  Two of the team’s top three in sacks, Robert Quinn and Michael Bennett, won’t be back in Big D in 2020.  Dallas needs to use an early pick on an edge rusher as Tyrone Crawford is only under contract through 2020 and DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong and Joe Jackson are the only DE’s on the roster on the roster past this season.  The Cowboys did sign DT Gerald McCoy and NT Dontari Poe to address the interior of the line, but an edge rusher like K’Lavon Chaisson would be the obvious pick here.  Chaisson played in 12 games as a true freshman, starting 3, and finished with 4.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.  He was expected to be the next great edge rusher at LSU, but those expectations had to be put on hold in 2018 when he tore his ACL in the season opener.  Chaisson was able to bounce back as a junior to earn 1st Team All-SEC honors leading the Tigers with 13.5 tackles for loss and registering 6.5 sacks while also recording 60 total tackles in 13 starts.  Chaisson is a long edge rusher who is very fluid turning the corner, showing excellent flexibility to dip his inside shoulder under the OT’s pad level.  He wins with his hands, slapping the OT’s hands away then ripping through before flattening out to chase after the QB.  His spin moves are very compact and quick, and he can change directions in a hurry without any wasted movement.  Chaisson does tend to let OT’s attack his body, which makes it difficult for him to disengage.  However, when he gets his hands on the OT first, he’s able to convert speed to power to drive the OT back with an impressive long arm.  When LSU faced off against Georgia in the SEC Championship, Chaisson was often matched up with Andrew Thomas and he more than held his own.  Chaisson won with his explosiveness – on one play he started upfield, got Thomas leaning and spin back inside with a low center of gravity to sack Jake Fromm, and on another he used speed coming off the edge to beat Thomas as the OT wasn’t even able to get his hands on Chaisson.  When he let Thomas engage him and get his hands on, he would easily get driven away from the pocket.  Chaisson has a nonstop motor and relentless in his pursuit of the ball.  In the CFP Title Game against Clemson, Chaisson fell down, got up and beat LT Jackson Carman inside to hit Trevor Lawrence and forcing a throw well before Lawrence wanted to deliver it.  Chaisson has the speed to the perimeter to chase down RB’s in the run game, but his slender frame does keep him from getting off blocks, meaning he will lose contain against the run.  He’s a high character player and is a good student, making the SEC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.10 GPA as a business major.  When I look at Chaisson, it’s hard not to see Barkevious Mingo, the 6th overall pick of the Browns in 2012, as both have virtually the same measurables.  Mingo finished his three-year career at LSU with 29 tackles for loss and 15.0 sacks, including 15 TFL and 8.0 sacks in his sophomore season.  Mingo was productive in his rookie season with 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks, but he’s managed just 5.0 sacks in his next six seasons and has been on a total of five teams during that span.  Mingo is a seven-year pro, but he hasn’t had quite the career you would expect of the 6th overall pick.  Now I’m not saying Chaisson will have a similar career, but the comparisons are there, and you have to hope history doesn’t repeat itself.  Chaisson has been a disruptive force while at LSU.  Even when he wasn’t getting home to the QB, he was in the backfield pressuring the passer and forcing him off his mark.  

18. ​Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh) - Andrew Thomas, 6’5”, 315lbs, OT, Georgia, Jr.  

04/14/20 - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

03/30/20 - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

03/23/20 - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

03/12/20 - Josh Jones, OT, Houston

02/07/20 - Josh Jones, OT, Houston

01/29/20 - Josh Jones, OT, Houston

It will be interesting to see where the Dolphins go with this pick, which is their second of three in the 1st Round and was obtained from the Steelers in the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade.  Miami has been busy in free agency, bringing in Byron Jones at corner, Shaq Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah at DE, Kyle Van Noy at LB and Jordan Howard at RB, which will allow the Fins to focus on other positions.  Reshad Jones has spent the last ten years at SS in Miami, but he was let go which mean the Dolphins need to find his replacement, so don’t rule out Xavier McKinney here.  However, Miami will likely turn to the OT position, which is in dire need of a significant upgrade.  Miami traded Laremy Tunsil and Kenny Stills to Houston for two 1st Round picks, but the move left them without a proven LT.  Included in the deal was Julie’n Davenport, a developmental OT with starting experience.  With Davenport lining up on one side and Jesse Davis, who is best suited inside at OG, on the other, the Dolphins gave up a league-leading 58 sacks and, according to Pro Football Focus, registered the worst time to pressure and a quick pressure rate of 33%.  An upgrade is a necessity and Miami can’t leave Day One of the draft without securing a top OT.  This may be a little early for Josh Jones, but if any of the top four OT’s in this draft – Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills, Mekhi Becton and Andrew Thomas – happens to fall, it’s hard not to imagine this pick being used there.  Thomas is a three-year starter for the Bulldogs and has experience at both OT positions.  He’s a mauler in the run game, using his powerful hands to strike and beat up anyone lining in front of him.  The problem is his run blocking will get top heavy, with his arms locked out and is upper body over his toes.  This gets Thomas off balance and keeps him from sustaining his blocks.  Thomas showed he had the agility to climb to the second level as a lead blocker for D’Andre Swift and would look to finish his man.  His kick-out blocks would often clear out the left side to open holes and he had enough lateral agility to seal off the edge with a quick down block to set the edge.  Thomas shows off decent feet in pass protection.  When he’s balanced, he can get depth to his kick slide and will easily pick up the edge rusher.  He also shows off a quick power step back inside to neutralize secondary moves.  Thomas has an ability to reset his feet to anchor and improve leverage.  He uses his 36 1/8-inch arms to keep rushers at a distance and when he’s more upright, he can easily mirror the defender’s movement.  Thomas will often extend his arms and bend at the waist to present a more acute angle.  This causes him to lean, overextend and lunge, which keeps him off balance and limits his effectiveness in pass protection.  I think Thomas will be a starter on Week One, but he has to clean up some of his technique to hold up in pass protection.   

19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago) - AJ Terrell, 6’1”, 195lbs, CB, Clemson, Jr.

04/14/20 - AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson

03/30/20 - Antoine Winfield, S, Minnesota

03/23/20 - Grant Delpit, S, LSU

03/12/20 - Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

02/07/20 - Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

01/29/20 - Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

The Raiders have been busy in free agency, which makes this pick a bit tougher to project.  Derek Carr is under contract through 2022 but has taken to the Raiders to the playoffs just once in his six seasons and there are serious questions whether he can lead them back under Jon Gruden.  I think Carr will remain in the Silver and Black in 2020, but I don’t expect this pick to be used on Jordan Love after Marcus Mariota was brought in to compete with Carr.  At LB, starter Tahir Whitehead was released while Vontaze Burfict, Kyle Wilber and Nicholas Morrow are likely free agent casualties.  However, free agents Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski were signed to absorb the blow.  Talented rookie edge rushers Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell combined for 14.5 sacks a season ago and they get some help up front with DE Carl Nassib, who racked up 12.5 sacks the last two seasons in Tampa, and DT Maliek Collins, generated an interior push with 14.5 sacks in four seasons with the Cowboys, added to the mix.  The Raider secondary also needs attention.  The Raiders not only finished 29th in the league with just 9 Int., but also finished with the most 40+ yard plays (16) and its 68 plays of 20+ yards, 33 pass TD given up and 8.3 yards per reception were all the 4th highest in the league.  To make matters worse, the only DB’s in the top 50 in passes defended were FS Erik Harris and rookie corner Trayvon Mullen with 11 apiece, good for a tie for 44th overall.  The Raiders brought in former 1st Rounder Eli Apple, whose length is coveted by Gruden and Mayock, to start opposite Mullen, but he couldn’t agree to a contract, meaning the CB position is still a major target.  Adding another CB wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility as Trevon Diggs, a former WR, also has tremendous length and has the route recognition and ball skills needed to excel on the outside at the next level.  While Jonathan Abram was selected with the 23rd overall pick in last year’s draft to take over at one safety position, a hole was created next to him now that that Karl Joseph was signed by Cleveland and while veteran Jeff Heath was signed as a free agent, he’s better suited as a backup and special teams ace.  This pick felt a lot like Antoine Winfield, Jr. until the Raiders signed Damarious Randall.  I think Trevon Diggs has the length and ball skills coveted by Mayock and Gruden on the outside, but with him off the board, I think Las Vegas targets AJ Terrell.  Think about it, Clelin Ferrell was not on anyone’s radar as the No. 4 overall pick, yet he was highly rated on Mayock’s board.  And in the 2019 draft, the Silver and Black drafted three Clemson Tigers in Ferrell, Mullen and Hunter Renfrow, all of whom made an impact as rookies.  I think Mayock and Gruden go back to that Clemson pipeline, reuniting Terrell with Mullen on the outside.  Yes, Terrell’s last performance in a Clemson Tiger uniform left a lot to be desired against Ja’Marr Chase and LSU, but one game can’t define a three-year career with more ups than downs.  In fact, his performances in the two previous games played a pivotal role in the Tigers’ success.  Against Virginia in the ACC Championship, Terrell may have only had two tackles in the game, but he excelled playing with inside leverage, repeatedly turning to run with the WR, pinning his man to the sideline, not allowing any separation, taking away an option for QB Bryce Perkins.  Then in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, he showed an ability to jump routes on the perimeter to be disruptive at the catch point.  Terrell is a physical press corner who likes to get his hands on the receiver early to jam and reroute his man off the ball.  He also does a good job in trail technique, following just off the WR hip before driving on the ball with a quick closing burst before using his length to get his hand in and make a play on the ball.  Terrell can also break quickly on the ball in off coverage, but that aggressiveness can get him in trouble and susceptible to double moves.  He will come downhill in run support, though he doesn’t always take the proper angle on the ball.  Terrell needs to refine his footwork, has too many false steps in is play on the outside that make it difficult at times to stay in phase.  He also has trouble with his balance at the top of the route and will lost contact with the WR as he’s tracking the ball to the inside.  That said, he has the skillset to get him on the field and has early starter potential as a rookie.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars - Justin Jefferson, 6’1”, 202lbs, WR, LSU, Jr.

04/14/20 - AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa

03/30/20 - AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa

03/23/20 - AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa

03/12/20 - Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

02/07/20 - Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

01/29/20 - Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

The Jags’ second pick in the 1st Round was obtained from the Rams in the Jalen Ramsey trade and will likely use it to continue to address the pieces lost this offseason.  After using the No. 9 pick to replace Marcel Dareus, I think the focus remains on the defensive side of the ball.  The emergence of Josh Allen allowed the Jags to let go of Calais Campbell.  However, the long-term future of Yannick Ngakoue is still in question.  While the Jaguars did use the franchise tag on Ngakoue, I don’t see him signing a long-term deal to remain in Jacksonville beyond 2020 and there’s still the possibility he’s traded at some point this offseason.  Either way, it would behoove Jacksonville to prepare for life after Ngakoue and AJ Epenesa would be on the board here.  Jacksonville has yet to truly replace Jalen Ramsey after dealing him to the Rams.  His absence on the roster was definitely felt last season as the Jags finished in a tie for 25th in the league in Int. with just 10.  Tre Herndon led the team with 3 picks and the only other corner to pick off a pass was AJ Bouye, but he was traded to Denver.  To make matters worse, all five of the corners on the roster, Herndon, DJ Hayden, Parry Nickerson, Jayson Stanley and the recently signed Raashan Melvin are free agents at season’s end.  Jacksonville has to get a playmaker at corner and Trevon Diggs and Kristian Fulton will be available.  However, with the No. 9 pick being used on defense, I think this pick will actually be used on the offensive side of the ball.  Gardner Minshew was a revelation in Jacksonville after being drafted in the 6th Round of last year’s draft, Leonard Fournette rushed for over 1,100 yards and DJ Chark had a breakout 2019 campaign with a 1,000-yard receiving season.  However, there’s talk of a possible Fournette trade and Chark and Marqise Lee are the only WR’s under contract through the 2020 season, so it’s easy to see how the focus can be on the skill positions early.  If there’s any truth to the rumors that Fournette is on the block, adding a WR like D’Andre Swift or Jonathan Taylor will be in play.  At WR, I don’t expect both Chris Conley and Dede Westbrook to be on the roster after the season, while Lee is a candidate to get released after season-ending injuries in back-to-back seasons.  I think the Jags will turn their attention to Jefferson who, on a team with all kinds of firepower, showed a savviness in his route running, find the voids in the defense, and a knack for getting separation late before attacking the ball in the air.  Jefferson was a factor in the Tigers’ passing game as a sophomore, racking up 54 catches for 875 yards and 6 TD, but like his Heisman-winning QB Joe Burrow, he elevated his game in Joe Brady’s passing attack in 2019.  Jefferson led the FBS with 111 receptions and his 1,540 receiving yards and 18 TD both finished second in the country.  He had eight 100-yard games, scored a TD in 11 of 15 games, including 4 multi-TD game and recorded at least 5 receptions in 13 of 15 games, including 2 with double-digit receptions.  Jefferson uses a variety of moves to get a quick release off the line.  He does a good job stacking the corner on vertical routes, tracks the ball well over his shoulder and will extend for the football thrown out in front of him.  Jefferson is also a savvy route runner, setting up his man by selling fakes and quickly snapping off his route, sinking his hips to be very fluid in and out of his breaks to create separation.  He also does a tremendous job running his routes to create space, finding voids in the defense to uncover himself.  Jefferson has a tremendous catch radius, using his long 33-inch arms to extend for the ball and possesses soft hands to easily pluck the ball out of the air away from his body.  He is also dynamic in the open field, showing a bit of a wiggle to set up defenders in the open field to cut away from the DB and has the straight-line speed required to run away from defenders.  Jefferson is also unselfish on the perimeter, showing effort as a blocker on the edge to seal off the corner to allow RB to cut off the block and get up the field.  I think he solidified his status as a 1st Round WR with his performance at the Combine as his 4.43 40 time was much faster than expected, as I was thinking he would run in the 4.5 range.  Jefferson would be an upgrade over Conley and would be the ideal complement to Chark on the outside.

21. Philadelphia Eagles - Kenneth Murray, 6’2”, 241lbs, LB, Oklahoma, Jr.

04/14/20 - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

03/30/20 - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

03/23/20 - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

03/12/20 - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

02/07/20 - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

01/29/20 - Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado

The Eagles may have won the NFC East and made a Wild Card appearance, but they did so with just nine wins.  That wouldn’t cut it in most years.  One thing Doug Pedersen needs to put a premium on is weapons for Carson Wentz who, when healthy, has proven he can play at a high level.  In 2019, the top three receiving threats for Philly were two TE’s, Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, and a RB, Miles Sanders.  Additionally, Wentz was without Alshon Jeffery, Desean Jackson and Nelson Agholor for the final four games of the season due to injury.  Jeffery is coming off Lisfranc surgery in December and while he’s still under contact through 2021, there is a sense that JJ Arcega-Whiteside may be his eventual replacement, though Arcega-Whiteside had a rather quiet rookie season with just 10 grabs.  Jackson hasn’t played a full season since 2013 and Agholor, who did not showcase reliable enough hands to be counted on, is now with the Raiders.  The Eagles need a wideout who can stretch the defense and there’s a great chance Justin Jefferson will be the pick here if he’s on the board.  I think the LB position is actually the bigger need as all three starters from a year ago, Nigel Bradham, Zach Brown and Kamu Grugier-Hill, are all no longer on the roster.  The team did trade for Genard Avery and Duke Riley, but Nate Gerry was an overachiever from the practice squad while TJ Edwards is an undrafted free agent who struggles in space.  Philly is desperate for speed in the middle, but the organization also hasn’t drafted a LB in the 1st Round since 1979.  Will this finally be the year?  The LB position may actually   Kenneth Murray’s athleticism is tremendous and his ability to fly around to the football as a three-down LB is a perfect match for what the Eagles want to do defensively.  Murray, who racked up over 300 tackles in three seasons at OU, has sideline-to-sideline speed, an ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage and as the athleticism to run with any TE in the league.  He also showed he could make plays behind the line of scrimmage with 36.5 tackles for loss, he could rush the passer, finishing with 9.5 sacks, and broke up 6 passes in coverage.  Murray’s Combine performance was outstanding, running a 4.52 40, posting a 38-inch vertical leap and a broad jump of 10’9” before a hamstring injury ended his day.  However, Murray’s post-Combine workouts have indicated he’s running in the 4.4’s, which is tremendously explosive for a LB.  Murray is checking off all the boxes for a playmaker at the LB position.  Murray struggled throughout his career with gap integrity against the run, often finding himself out of position and overpursuing the play, giving up big yards in the process.  When Caleb Kelly returned to play inside, it allowed Murray to play on the outside where he could freely roam around and make plays in space.  Let Murray quickly read and react and break on the football.  He can shoot gaps downhill to disrupt run plays, can scrape over the top to meet RB’s off tackle and will take on blockers, stacking and shedding before wrapping up and driving through the ball carrier.  His lateral quickness is tremendous, allowing him to work inside out to beat the ball carrier to the perimeter.  Murray was excellent spying the QB, showing off his speed once the QB breaks the pocket to get downhill and chase down the passer.  In 2019, you saw Murray play much more under control than the previous year, where he would put himself in position to make a play, but wouldn’t square up the ball carrier and wouldn’t properly break down, keeping him from making a play on the ball.  Murray’s ability in coverage is apparent.  He reads the QB eyes and makes quick reads to take him to the football.  He will read screens and pop passes, gets downhill to split blocks on the perimeter and flies to the receiver to keep from allowing any yards after the catch.  Murray is ultra-aggressive and his penchant for making plays not only gets him out of position, but he’ll get fooled and will take poor angles as a result.  His lack of recognition at times makes you worry about his ability to play inside.  I think Murray what is promising is his improvement in his one season under new Sooner DC Alex Grinch, so one is hopeful his development can continue.  In any event, you can’t teach speed and freakish athleticism, which Murray will bring to the table in droves, something Philly has been lacking at the position for some time.

22. Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo) - Tee Higgins, 6'4", 216lbs, WR, Clemson, Jr.

04/14/20 - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

03/30/20 - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

03/23/20 - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

03/12/20 - Buffalo Bills - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

02/07/20 - Buffalo Bills - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

01/29/20 - Buffalo Bills - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

In the second big shuffle of the 1st Round, the Bills sent the 22nd overall pick to Minnesota for WR Stefon Diggs, who was clearly unhappy with the Vikings’ continued commitment to Kirk Cousins.  The Bills gain a true WR1 for Josh Allen, while the Vikings can use this pick to find Diggs’ replacement opposite Adam Thielen and this pick feels like a perfect spot for Tee Higgins.  Pro Football Focus reported that in 2019, Higgins was targeted 23 times on deep balls and hauled in 15 of those passes for 565 yards.  He’s a proven threat down the field, but also has a huge catch radius and is a weapon in the red zone.  Higgins posted consecutive seasons with 59 receptions and finished with 25 total TD, but it was in 2019 that he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark while averaging 19.8 yards per catch.  He also had a five-game stretch in November and early December where he totaled 10 TD and his performance against Virginia in the ACC Championship was dominant, has he caught 9 passes for 182 yards and 3 TD in the victory over the Cavaliers.  Higgins can win off the line with an inside release and has the suddenness to get up the field in a hurry.  He will use his inside releases to set up the corner on post corner routes, using a head fake and a jab step to the inside before getting back outside.  In the game against South Carolina, his move was so effective he had Israel Mukuamu turned around on a 27-yard reception.  Higgins tracks the ball well and does a good job adjusting to the ball while it’s in the air.  He also knows how to use his large frame to his advantage, shielding the defender from the ball.  His catch radius is enormous as he extends his long arms in any direction to pluck the ball out of the air, often contorting his body to make an acrobatic catch.  Against Virginia, Trevor Lawrence rolled right along the sideline and put the ball up down the line to Higgins, who fully extended out of bounds with his left toe down for a 25-yard gain.  Higgins is a tremendous weapon on 50-50 balls and developed a trust with Lawrence, who would put the ball up allowing him to go up and make a play on the ball.  His concentration through contact on those contested catches would be tremendous and he had the length and leaping ability to highpoint the ball.  Higgins also had a knack for creating late separation from the DB with a subtle nudge before leaping away from the defender to attack the ball in the air.  For as dynamic a receiver as Higgins is, he can also be a devastating blocker on the perimeter.  What’s concerning about Higgins’ game is his inability to win consistently against press coverage.  He struggled against talented corners to close out the season, managing just 7 receptions for 85 yards against the likes of Jeffrey Okudah, Damon Arnette, Kristian Fulton and Derek Stingley, Jr.  His inability to separate from defenders vertically or with his route running has to be cause for concern and could mean Higgins has boom-or-bust potential.  However, his size allows him to be an immediate weapon in the red zone and his catch radius and ability to win on jump balls are skills that are lacking in Buffalo’s receiving corps right now.  If he can develop similar chemistry with Cousins that he had with Trevor Lawrence, the Vikes just might have something.

23. New England Patriots - Zack Baun, 6’2”, 238lbs, OLB, Wisconsin, Jr.  

04/14/20 - Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin

03/30/20 - Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin

03/23/20 - Yetur Gross-Matos, DE/OLB, Penn State

03/12/20 - Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU

02/07/20 - Curtis Weaver, DE, Boise State

01/29/20 - Jordan Love, QB, Utah StateThe Patriots find themselves in unfamiliar territory, drafting in the early-20’s of the 1st Round and for the first time since 2000 that Tom Brady won’t be under center.  Could this pick be used on a QB?  Remember Jarrett Sitdham is still on the roster.  I still think bringing in a veteran would make more sense at this juncture than drafting Jordan Love in Round One.  That means the focus shifts elsewhere and we know the Pats must target WR’s with speed to stretch defenses down the field, but I think they can find value in the 2nd Round.  TE is also a definite need, but there isn’t a TE worthy of a 1st Round selection, so expect New England to have their eye on Adam Trautman on Day 2.  The offensive line could use a facelift, making OT Austin Jackson and OC Cesar Ruiz potential picks here.  But this is a league where defense often wins championships and Bill Belichick likes to build his defense through early draft picks.  The Pats did rack up 47 sacks, good for 7th in the league, but much of that production came from Jamie Collins (7.0), Kyle Van Noy (6.5) and Danny Shelton (3.0), all of whom will be playing elsewhere in 2020.  Shelton’s replacement might be targeted later in the draft, but New England has to be on the market to replace Collins and Van Noy now and Baun, who had a breakout 2019 as a senior with 12.5 sacks for the Badgers, seems like the right fit for Coach Belichick.  He shows a tremendous burst off the ball, bends very well at the hips to run the arc and gain leverage quickly on the OT and turns the corner to the QB in a hurry.  He plays with active hands, attacking the OT with a quick punch and rip to get off blocks.  He also has the explosiveness to transition to his secondary pass rush moves, especially with a quick spin move inside.  Once Baun flattens to the QB, he is relentless in his pursuit to get to the passer.  His nonstop motor would be a welcome addition to this underachieving defense.  Baun also shows off some fluidity dropping into coverage, trusting his eyes and driving quickly on the ball.  He also has enough athleticism to cover TE’s and RB’s out of the backfield.  Baun can even set a hard edge against the run, playing with leverage and anchoring, often forcing the play back inside to the insider backers.  Baun’s on-field Combine performance solidified his status as a 1st Rounder, running a 4.65 40 while also putting up 24 reps of 225 in the bench press, good for 3rd highest among LB’s, and was very smooth and fluid in the drills.  However, off the field, his drug test was flagged as being diluted, though Baun said it was due to excess water intake while trying to add weight to tip the scales.  Plus, Baun only has one year of top tier production, so there are red flags.  However, he’s an ascending prospect who is only continuing to get better and will address a key need for the Patriots.

24. New Orleans Saints - Patrick Queen, 6’0”, 229lbs, ILB, LSU, Jr.

04/14/20 - Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU

03/30/20 - Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU

03/23/20 - Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU

03/12/20 - Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado

02/07/20 - Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

01/29/20 - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

The Saints came into 2019 with high expectations after a missed defensive pass interference call likely kept them from a berth in Super Bowl LIII.  Then Drew Brees tore ligaments in his right thumb Week 2 against the Rams, which required surgery that knocked him out of action for five weeks.  The Saints could have folded during the span of games that Brees was out, but they went undefeated with backup Teddy Bridgewater taking over.  The Saints went on to win the NFC South with a 13-3 record but were knocked out in the Divisional Playoff game against Minnesota.  New Orleans fans took a huge sigh of relief when Brees announced he’d be back for the 2020 season and while Bridgewater will be gone in free agency, the Saints announced they planned to place a 1st Round tender on Taysom Hill.  With the QB position out of the way, I expect this pick will be used on the WR position.  Michael Thomas was absolutely dominant, finishing with 1,725 yards on 149 receptions and 9 TD.  However, RB’s Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray and TE Jared Cook finished with more receptions than the No. 2 wideout Ted Ginn, Jr., who is now 34 years of age and is a UFA.  The only other WR with at least 10 receptions was Tre’Quan Smith with just 18.  Adding another explosive option on the outside is a must.  Brandon Aiyuk, Laviska Shenault and Denzel Mims can all come off the board here.  However, the addition of reliable veteran Emmanuel Sanders would allow New Orleans to take advantage of the WR depth and wait until the second day to nab another wideout.  If Patrick Queen is available at No. 24, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the pick and here’s why.  All-Pro Demario Davis, who led the Saints with 111 tackles and racked up 4.0 sacks and had 9 QB hits last season, is back on the outside, while Kiko Alonso restructured his deal, but both are entering the final year of their contracts.  Plus, AJ Klein left for Buffalo, Stephone Anthony and Manti Te’o are both UFA’s and likely aren’t back.  LB is a need for the Saints and Queen’s ability to make plays anywhere on the field allows him to fill any LB spot.  If you put on game film of the LSU Tigers in 2019, you couldn’t help but see # 8 flashing all over the field making plays.  Now Queen is only a one-year starter, but his athleticism, physicality and playmaking ability are reminiscent of previous LSU LB’s like Devin White, Kwon Alexander and Deion Jones, all of whom have had success at the next level.  Queen started the season looking out of place at times and was taking poor angles to the football.  However, by the end of the season, he as a super confident ILB who always seemed to be in position to make a play.  In fact, his postseason performances in the SEC Championship and the CFP playoff were tremendous, racking up 22 of his 84 tackles, 5 TFL’s and 1.5 sacks against Georgia, Oklahoma and Clemson.  His last collegiate performance ended with Queen being named the Defensive Player of the Game in LSU’s win over Clemson in the title game.  Queen’s speed was evident at the Combine, as his 4.5 40 time was third fastest among LB’s, which means he also has the athleticism to be an off-ball OLB.  On the field, Queen diagnoses plays quickly and is very decisive in his movements, reacting in an instant without any wasted movement to the football.  He has tremendous lateral agility to quickly move from gap to gap and can scrape over the top.  Queen arrives at the ball carrier under control and is a physical tackler, delivering a good pop before wrapping up and driving through with his hips.  He’s athletic enough to cover TE’s and RB’s and takes good angles to get into passing lanes when in zone coverage.  I think Queen will be an immediate starter and can be plugged wherever he’s needed.

25. Minnesota Vikings​ - Antoine Winfield, 5’9”, 203lbs, S, Minnesota, Jr.

04/14/20 - Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

03/30/20 - Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

03/23/20 - Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

03/12/20 - Grant Delpit, S, LSU

02/07/20 - Grant Delpit, S, LSU

01/29/20 - CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

Minnesota’s defense will look considerably different in 2020 now that DE Everson Griffen, NT Linval Joseph, S Jayron Kearse and corners Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander are all gone.  While the Vikings did register 48 sacks in 2019, Danielle Hunter (14.5) and Griffen (8.5) finished with nearly half the total.  Griffen spent 10 years in Minnesota and racked up 74.5 sacks while in a Viking uniform, but his release opens a big hole opposite Hunter.  AJ Epenesa and Yetur Gross-Matos are obvious targets here.  However, losing three of the team’s top four corners means there’s an urgent need to find a corner to start opposite Mike Hughes, the 30th overall pick of the 2018 draft and the only experience CB left on the roster.  Stefon Diggs was traded away to Buffalo, would that deter the Vikings from selecting his brother Trevon?  Not likely, though it might make for some awkward conversations at Viking headquarters.  I think this pick may actually be used on a safety as Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported a trade is on the table for FS Anthony Harris.  If that’s the case, then the versatile Antoine Winfield, Jr., the top safety on my draft board, would be a logical replacement.  The Vikings are familiar with the bloodlines as his father Antoine Winfield, Sr. spent the final nine seasons in the Purple and Gold, racking up three Pro Bowl selections in the process.  Antoine Winfield, Jr. is a ballhawk with the ability to play up on the line on one play, then in the slot the next before playing over the top as a deep safety.  He’s the Swiss Army Knife of the secondary and the biggest concern was his long speed, but his 4.45 40 at the Combine eliminated the final hurdle that would keep him from Round One.  Winfield, Jr. started his career with the Gophers in 2016, finishing with 52 tackles, 1 Int., 3 pass breakups and 2 fumble recoveries, one of which was returned for TD.  However, hamstring and foot injuries sidelined him for the next two seasons.  However, he returned to action in a big way in 2019, racking up 83 tackles and 3.5 sacks to go along with 7 Int., 2 forced fumbles and a TD.  His performance garnered him unanimous 1st Team All-America honors, was a 1st Team All-Big 10 selection and was named the Big 10 Defensive Back of the Year.  He’s a playmaker in the box, quickly diagnosing run plays and reacting without hesitation.  His takes excellent angles to the ball carrier and is a reliable tackler in the open field.  Not only will he play around the line of scrimmage against the run, but he will also come from depth shooting downhill through the A gap to put pressure on the QB.  Winfield, Jr. is a savvy blitzer, delaying his move off the edge which will allow him to get a jump on blockers.  Winfield, Jr. does a tremendous job with route recognition as the deep safety and will read the QB eyes that will allow him to get a good jump on the ball.  His angles over the top allow him to undercut routes to make a play on the football.  Some have worried about whether he could cover receivers in the slot, but he proved to have the long speed required to be effective.  Winfield, Jr. has tremendous ball skills, timing his jumps to attack the catch point to make a play on the ball.  Now, he lacks ideal size for the position and there is some stiffness in his movements, but his high football IQ more than make up for any physical limitations.  He’s the most versatile Safety in this draft, which I expect would be very intriguing for Mike Zimmer.

26. Miami Dolphins (from Houston) - D’Andre Swift, 5’8”, 212lbs, RB, Georgia, Jr.

03/30/20 - D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

03/23/20 - Josh Jones, OT, Houston

03/12/20 - Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin

02/07/20 - Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin

01/29/20 - K'Lavon Chaisson, OLB, LSU

If the Dolphins can land one of the top four OT’s in the draft at no. 18, it will give Miami some flexibility with this pick.  However, if the Fins trade up to land a top OT, this pick will likely be traded away.  This pick is ore of a projection of what Miami may target on Day 2.   Adding Xavier McKinney to replace Reshad Jones wouldn’t be out of the question, but the RB position needs an upgrade as Kalen Ballage and Myles Gaskin were the top returning RB’s.  Jordan Howard was signed in free agency from Philadelphia, but he’s more of a complementary back at this stage.  Enter D’Andre Swift, who is the most complete RB in this year’s draft.  Swift has shared the Georgia backfield with the likes of Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and Elijah Holyfield and still found a way to shine when he got his touches.  As a freshman, Swift may have played behind Chubb and Michel, but he still managed 618 yards on just 81 carries with 3 TD and his 17 receptions left him with the fourth-highest total.  In 2018, he shared the backfield with Holyfield and both backs finished with over 1,000 yards on the ground Swift found the end zone 10 times.  He also caught 32 passes out of the backfield, which was second on the team.  Finally, as a junior, the backfield was his as the starter and he racked up 1,218 yards with 7 TD on just 196 carries and hauled in another 24 passes.  What sets Swift apart from the other backs in this draft is the lack of wear on his legs.  His 513 offensive touches are significantly lower over the last three seasons than the other top two backs in the draft, Jonathan Taylor (968) and JK Dobbins (796).  Swift is known for his tremendous vision and his feel between the tackles, often seeing the cutback lane as he presses the line of scrimmage and once he finds the hole, he puts his foot in the ground and explodes to the hole.  His lateral cuts in the hole are lethal, making defenders miss without losing any speed.  Swift also has the burst to get to the edge in a hurry, will either make defenders miss in the open field or will use his power to lower his shoulder, deliver a strong stiff arm or step out of tackles to get extra yards.  If Swift gets into the open field, he uses his sub-4.5 speed to make a big play.  Ball security was seen as a weakness of his as seven total fumbles on less touches means a higher fumble rate.  However, after losing a fumble against Mississippi State in the fourth game of his freshman year, Swift lost just one other fumble in over 450 touches before losing two fumbles against Georgia Tech in the final regular season game this past season, though one came from a well-timed hit on the football by LB Quez Jackson and the other on a play that saw Swift injure his shoulder.  What will make him a breakout candidate in 2020 though will be his hands.  Swift is a natural pass catcher with soft hands to pluck the ball out of the air.  His crisp route running allows him to separate from LB’s and he does a good job securing the catch before getting up the field.  Swift’s game isn’t without flaws.  He does try to do too much trying to avoid defenders in the open field, whether it’s with multiple spin moves or too much lateral movement, at some point he just needs to get north and south for positive yards.  Swift also needs to improve his pass protection as he was often taken out in favor of Brian Herrien on 3rd downs as a result.  I expect Swift to be an immediate starter and just might have the same type of impact with the Dolphins during his rookie season in 2020 that Josh Jacobs had for the Raiders this past year.

27. Seattle Seahawks - AJ Epenesa, 6’5”, 275lbs, DE, Iowa, Jr.

04/14/20 - Yetur Gross-Matos, DE/OLB, Penn State

03/30/20 - Josh Jones, OT, Houston

03/23/20 - Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

03/12/20 - AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa

02/07/20 - Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU

01/29/20 - Curtis Weaver, DE, Boise State

Seattle wasn’t able to catch San Francisco atop the NFC West, but still managed a 11-5 record and a playoff berth for the eighth time in the last ten years.  Russell Wilson did his thing on the offensive side of the ball, but it was the 26th-ranked defense that ultimately let the Hawks down.  What if I told you the health of Russell Wilson just might outweigh the defensive needs?  Seattle gave up 48 sacks and allowed 111 QB hits, 4th highest in the league, in 2019.  To make matters worse, RT George Fant left in free agency, leaving the newly acquired duo of Cedric Ogbuehi and Brandon Shell to replace him.  And LT Duane Brown will be 35 years of age at the start of the season and is only under contract through 2021.  Seattle has to address the position early in this draft and Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland and Houston’s Josh Jones seem to be logical options.  I still think this pick will be used on the defensive side of the ball.  Seattle once had the league’s most feared secondary when the Legion of Boom was patrolling the back end of the defense, but those days are gone and 2019 was a painful reminder of that as the Seahawks finished 27th against the pass.  Shaquill Griffin is locked in as one starting corner, but Tre Flowers, a converted safety, might have the size and length Carroll and Schneider look for, but he’s more of a complementary piece and don’t think the trade for Quinton Dunbar would keep them from taking a CB like Trevon Diggs to line up on the outside.   The pass rush was inconsistent at best, managing just 28 total sacks in 2019.  Not even a preseason trade for Jadeveon Clowney could make a difference.  Clowney is a UFA and after the marked cooled on him to start free agency, he just might be brought back, though it’s looking less likely that will be the case, meaning the Hawks have to address the pass rush.  They started this offseason by bringing in Bruce Irvin, the No. 12 overall pick of the Seahawks in 2012 and was in Seattle for four seasons.  You can bet Pete Carroll and John Schneider are hoping Irvin can duplicate the career year he had in Carolina last season.  Would Seattle really invest in another 1st Round edge rusher after selecting LJ Collier in last year’s draft, even though Collier didn’t factor in at all this past season as a rookie?  If they don’t re-sign Clowney, then I think it would be hard to pass on Epenesa at No. 27.  Epenesa arrived in Iowa City as a Five Star recruit after a highly decorated high school career and made an instant impact as a rotational player with 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks 8.0 sacks in his final 5 games.  It doesn’t take long studying Epenesa to see that he’s not an explosive edge rusher.  His burst is just average and his stiffness in his as a true freshman.  In 2018, Epenesa was backing up Anthony Nelson and Parker Hesse, but still managed to lead the Big 10 in sacks with 10.5.  As a junior, Epenesa got off to a slow start, managing just 3.5 sacks through the first 8 games, but poured on the production to close out the season with hips is evident when he tries to turn the corner.  Plus, the 5.04 40 at the Combine didn’t do him any favors.  Simply put, if you’re looking for a lightning quick edge rusher to bring speed to your defense, Epenesa is not your guy.  However, Epenesa will bring you technique, power and excellent hands along with a motor that never quits, all of which will allow him to create a soft edge and make plays on the QB.  Epenesa fires of the line looking to strike with his heavy hands off the ball to stun the lineman and he keeps working with his hands as he looks to beat the OT to the corner.  His advanced hand work offers a variety of moves, whether it’s a club-rip, a slap-rip, a chop or an arm over, to attack the OT’s hands, which then allows him to gain an advantage turning the corner.  He’s also an intelligent pass rusher, often showing an outside rush, getting the OT to overset, then crossing the face of the lineman to shoot the gap with an inside rush to the QB.  On his bull rushes, Epenesa shows excellent hand placement, often extending his arms to get under the OT’s armpit to then jack the man back to then collapse the pocket from the edge.  He also has a really effective long arm to drive the OT into the backfield and uses his hands to quickly disengage and pursue the ball carrier.  Maybe his most effective pass rush move is the push-pull to get the lineman off balance before shooting the gap to get penetration.  You’ll often see Epenesa line up inside at DT on passing downs and his push-pull move is extremely effective when engaging the OG off the snap.  If you watched the Holiday Bowl against USC, Epenesa squared off against top-40 draft pick in Austin Jackson.  When Epenesa was able to use his power and hands, he was effective in creating the soft edge to beat Jackson and delivered several hits on QB Kedon Slovis, including chopping down on his arm as he tried to throw, forcing a key turnover in the game.  However, if Jackson was able to use his quickness, he’d easily mirror Epenesa and would push him up the field away from the pocket.  Expect Epenesa to struggle with the more athletic OT’s at the next level.  Epenesa may not be the top 10 pick he was originally hype up to be, but he certainly is a technically sound DE who can be an early starter.

28. Baltimore Ravens - Cesar Ruiz, 6’3”, 307lbs, OC/OG, Michigan, Jr.

04/14/20 - Kenneth Murray, ILB, Oklahoma

03/30/20 - Kenneth Murray, ILB, Oklahoma

03/23/20 - Kenneth Murray, ILB, Oklahoma

03/12/20 - Yetur Gross-Matos, DE/OLB, Penn State

02/07/20 - Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama

01/29/20 - Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

The 14-2 Ravens dominated the regular season, not only on the offensive side of the ball with league MVP Lamar Jackson under center and a resurgent Mark Ingram toting the rock on the ground, but also defensively as Baltimore gave up just 282 points, the third fewest total in the league.  Jackson has the weapons around him to stay on top, but the defense has some holes that need to be filled, specifically at LB.  Matt Judon had a breakout 2019 campaign with 9.5 sacks and he’s back after the Ravens used the franchise tag on him.  Judon’s speed will complement the all-out bull rush of Jaylon Ferguson off the edge but adding another athletic pass rusher like Yetur Gross-Matos wouldn’t be out of the question.  However, a bigger need is at ILB as Baltimore traded away CJ Mosley to the Jets before the season began and dealt Kenny Young to the Rams in the deal for Marcus Peters.  That left Patrick Onwuasor and Josh Bynes as starters.  I think the Ravens were expecting big things from Onwuasor as Mosley’s replacement, but he was never able to live up to them.  Now neither Onwuasor nor Bynes are on the roster, meaning this pick could be used on Kenneth Murray or Patrick Queen if either were to fall.  If both off the board, I think the Ravens turn to Plan B and address the interior of the OL.  Marshall Yanda, an 8-time Pro Bowler at OG, has retired, which leaves Bradley Bozeman as the lone OG on the roster with experience.  Plus, center Matt Skura is in the last year of his deal after an ugly leg injury cut his season short during Week 12.  I could absolutely see The Ravens drafting a lineman with versatility who can be plugged in as a started at OG and could eventually slide over to OC and Ruiz has experience at both positions, making him an obvious choice.  Ruiz played in 10 games starting five at RG, as a true freshman in 2017 before sliding over to the pivot where he started the next 26 games for the Wolverines.  Ruiz is a very technically sound athlete at the pivot who is always working to the whistle.  He bends well to fire off the ball with a low pad level and when he maintains leverage, he’s very effective on seal blocks, quickly getting his hips around to open a hole for the back.  If you watch Ruiz play, you’ll see him keep his head on a swivel, always looking to deliver a block.  His agility makes him a perfect candidate to pull as a lead blocker and he gets to the second level in a hurry, but also very much under control to make contact with and lock onto the moving target.  Whenever Ruiz has his hands on the defender, he’s looking to finish his block in the most devastating way possible.  In pass protection, Ruiz fires out of his stance in a hurry after the snap in pass protection and shoots his hands under the interior lineman’s pad level, providing a good initial punch at the point.  He maintains active feet and has the lateral agility to make mirroring the defender effortless.  If Ruiz can get his hands on the defender early, he can sustain his block to the whistle.  However, Ruiz doesn’t always win with his hands at the point and is susceptible to quick pass rush moves off the ball.  Ruiz will overextend at times, getting too far over his feet and losing leverage, which will cause him to get driven back.  Still, Ruiz is the best interior lineman in this year’s draft and he should be an immediate starter for the Ravens, whether it’s at guard or center.

29. Tennessee Titans - Yetur Gross-Matos, 6’5”, 266lbs, DE/OLB, Penn State, Jr.

04/14/20 - Josh Jones, OT, Houston

03/30/20 - Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State

03/23/20 - Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

03/12/20 - Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

02/07/20 - CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

01/29/20 - Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama

The Titans made an impressive run from the Wild Card to the AFC Championship game led by Ryan Tannehill, who was re-signed and will be under center in 2020.  Will this allow Tennessee to focus on defense, where their secondary was exposed against Kansas City?  Not only that, but the CB position experienced a slew of injuries, with Malcolm Butler ending up on IR due to a broken wrist while Adoree Jackson battled foot and knee injuries.  Logan Ryan, Tramaine Brock and Leshaun Sims are no longer on the roster, which left Butler, Jackson, Kareem Orr and Chris Milton as the only corners on the roster.   This forced the Titans to bring back Tye Smith.  That said,  adding a cover corner with size and length on the outside opposite Jackson would give Tennessee some flexibility on the back end of the defense, allowing Butler to slide inside to the slot to replace Ryan.  Trevon Diggs seems like an obvious choice but there’s enough depth at the CB position to wait until Day 2.  The Jurrell Casey trade may be cause to push the pause button on a corner here as Tennessee dealt the five-time Pro Bowler to Denver for a 7th Round pick in a cost-cutting move.  Casey lined up as the three-technique along the Titans’ defensive front, but his departure will allow Jeffery Simmons to move from his five-technique to the three-technique, leaving a hole up front on the outside.  Ross Blacklock’s explosiveness and bend showcases intriguing rush potential.  Then there’s the OT position, as the line gave up 56 sacks a season ago, which was the third highest total in the league, and the loss of Jack Conklin in free agency only furthers the need to address the O-line.  While Conklin’s backup Dennis Kelly was re-signed and will get the first crack as a starter, adding an OT to push him is also an option, but Austin Jackson, Ezra Cleveland and Isaiah Wilson may be too big of a reach.  I actually think this pick will be used on an edge rusher.  Harold Landry led the way with 9.0 sacks in 2019 and Vic Beasley signed a one-year $9.5 million contract with the Titans, but it’s entirely possible he’s a one-year rental, meaning Mike Vrabel should be looking for a top pass rusher an Gross-Matos has the ability to get to the QB in a variety of ways, whether it’s with his hand in the dirt, standing up on the outside or from within.  The physically imposing Gross-Matos was a two-year starter at Penn State and racked up 37.5 tackles for loss, including 20.0 in 2018, and 17.5 sacks during that span.  He’s very disruptive living in opponent backfields with a combination of size, length, speed and power that we don’t see often.  He’s explosive off the ball and shows good flexibility to bend off the edge.  Gross-Matos has an 82 ¼” wingspan and he uses his length to his advantage, though his punch is sometimes lacking which allows OT’s to get their hands on his frame.  He uses a variety of rips and swims to win to the inside and shows a counter spin move to get back outside as the QB flees the pocket.  Gross-Matos will allow his pad level to get too high at times, which will limit his effectiveness as an edge rusher, but when he stays low, he does a great job rushing up the field before planting at the top of his rush and working inside to the QB in the pocket.  While his hands are inconsistent, when he connects, he delivers a violent punch to jolt blockers, then locks out those long arms to drive his man into the backfield.  What may have been the most impressive sack of his career came in his final game in a Nittany Lion uniform against Memphis in the Cotton Bowl.  He gets a tremendous push up the field vs. the LG with his hands under the blocker’s pad level, then ripped through with his left arm and reached with his right arm to grab QB Brady White to pull him down with just one arm.  Gross-Matos shows excellent balance against cut blocks and can be physical setting the edge against the run, forcing RB’s back inside.  While Gross-Matos did not run the 40 at the Combine, he showed good athleticism in the jumps for a man his size and the fluidity he displayed in the drills furthers the idea that he can succeed as a stand-up rusher in a 3-4 defense.  Gross-Matos seemed to live in opposing backfields throughout his career and I think he’s just scratching the surface to his potential.  

30. Green Bay Packers - Denzel Mims, 6’3”, 207lbs, WR, Baylor

04/14/20 - Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

03/30/20 - Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

03/23/20 - Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

03/12/20 - Denzel Mims, 6'3", 207lbs, WR, Baylor

02/07/20 - Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado

01/29/20 - Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU

​New HC Matt LaFleur and future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers had a bit of a feeling-out process, but Green Bay still finished with a 13-3 record and a 1st Round bye in the playoffs.  What became perfectly clear throughout the season was that Rodgers was sorely lacking weapons on the outside.  Davante Adams missed four games and still hauled in 83 passes, including 8 games with at least 7 receptions, showcasing not only why he’s one of the top WR’s in the league, but also just how much Rodgers relied on him.  RB’s Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams were the 2nd and 3rd-leading receivers on the Packers, while the WR trio of Allen Lazard, Geronimo Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling combined to haul in 95 passes for 1,216 yards and 7TD.  Playmakers are absolutely wanted in Green Bay and I think Mims’ intriguing skillset has him rising up draft boards and leaping ahead of the likes of Brandon Aiyuk, Jalen Reagor and Laviska Shenault in the process.  Mims was seen as an early Day 2 pick until his postseason performance started turning heads.  At the Senior Bowl, Mims was difficult to cover, showing suddenness with his route running and a flair for acrobatic catches along the sideline and in the end zone.  You also saw the power as a blocker on the outside, as he continually dominated Lavert Hill by locking on and driving him down the field, sustaining the block for well over five yards.  Then at the Combine, Mims measured in at 6’3” and 207 pounds, then proceeded to run a blazing 4.38 40 and posted a 38 ½” vertical leap.  Mims posted 1,000-yard seasons in 2017 and 2019 and finished his career with 28 TD and if you study his tape, you’ll see him win in a variety of ways.  Mims can be a weapon vertically, but he was just as effective snapping his routes off to come back to the QB, showing his numbers and extending for the ball away from his body.  He has nearly 34-inch arms, so he uses his length to his advantage, which gives him a tremendous catch radius.  You’ll see him create late separation down the field with his arm before elevating over the corner to haul in the pass.  Mims is tremendous with his adjustments to the football in the air.  You’ll see him twist, turn and contort his body to ensure he’s in position to make a play and also has the body control and awareness along the sideline to get his feet inbounds after securing the catch.  Mims is also a nightmare in the red zone, showing off an ability to elevate over the DB on a fade on one play, then on the next he’ll win off the line with inside leverage to haul in a slant while using his frame to shield the ball from defenders.  He uses those successes to set up his man by faking one direction with a quick jab step, then running by the corner.  One may argue that Mims looks too much like the other WR’s on the roster.  However, I’d argue his skillset is more unique than any of those WR’s and would be a nice complement to Adams on the outside.

31. San Francisco 49ers - Michael Pittman, Jr., 6'4", 220lbs, WR, USC

04/14/20 - Jeff Gladney, 5’10”, 191lbs, CB, TCU

03/30/20 - Cesar Ruiz, OC/OG, Michigan

03/23/20 - AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson

03/12/20 - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

02/07/20 - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

01/29/20 - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

The 49ers have two picks in Round 1, but with no other draft picks until the 5th Round, there’s an expectation that the Niners will trade down to acquire additional picks.  My mock drafts don’t consist of any potential trades, but I do expect San Francisco’s next pick will likely be in Round 2, where they’ll be on the market for a WR.  Jalen Reagor is likely to be available early on Day 2, but his skillset feels too much like the trio of Kendrick Bourne, Dante Pettis and Richie James.  Instead, I think San Fran will target a bigger wideout who can present mismatches on the outside and Pittman, Jr. had a dominant senior season for the Trojans.  Not only did he lead the Pac-12 in receiving with 1,272 yards on 101 receptions, but he also had four double-digit reception games and 5 games over 100 yards with the Trojans winning all five of those contests.  One of those games, a 30-23 win over Utah on September 20 really put him on the map on a national stage.  I was at that game on a Friday night in the Coliseum and Pittman, Jr. could not be stopped.  He was going against one of the more veteran secondaries in the country with CB’s Jaylon Johnson and Javelin Guidry and Safeties Julian Blackmon and Terrell Burgess on the back end of the Ute defense, but none of them could slow down No. 6 in the Cardinal and Gold.  Pittman, Jr. was constantly putting pressure vertically on defenders and he would create late separation before elevating for 50-50 balls and once he secured the catch, he was a nightmare to tackle.  Pittman, Jr. ended up with 10 catches for 232 yards and 2 TD.  From then on, opposing defenses designed their game plan around stopping Pittman, Jr., even with a talented Trojan WR corps that included Tyler Vaughns, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Drake London.  There aren’t many WR’s where defenses try to take away one receiver and force the others to beat them.  That’s how dominant Pittman, Jr. was, which makes him worthy of a 1st Round pick.  Many worried about his long speed, but he silenced those critics by running a 4.52 40 at the Combine.  Granted, Pittman, Jr. doesn’t always create separation with his route running as he doesn’t always sink his hips in and out of his breaks.  However, as I mentioned earlier, Pittman, Jr. has a knack for creating late separation, extending his arm out before elevating over the DB.  He has really strong hands and attacks the football, snatching it out of the air with both hands.  He also has excellent body control to adjust to the ball in the air and has good awareness to know where he is on the field.  Pittman, Jr. is tremendously strong after the catch, often using a stiff arm and a powerful leg drive to get off would-be tackles.  I believe Pittman, Jr. is worthy of a 1st Round pick, but he’ll likely fall to Round 2 and I think that is where the Niners can snatch him up and pair him with Samuel and Kittle, giving Garoppolo another scary option in the passing game.

32. Kansas City Chiefs​ - Jeff Gladney, 5’10”, 191lbs, CB, TCU

03/30/20 - Yetur Gross-Watos, DE/OLB, Penn State

03/23/20 - Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin

03/12/20 - Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

02/07/20 - Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

01/29/20 - Cam Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State

The Super Bowl Champs boasted one of the most explosive offenses we’ve seen in years, but it may have been the addition of Steve Spagnuolo as the DC that really elevated KC to championship level.  KC has a one-two punch rushing the passer with Chris Jones on the inside and Frank Clark on the outside, but Clark needs a running mate on the perimeter.  If Yetur Gross-Matos is still on the board, his explosiveness and power would make him perfect fit in KC.  The cornerback position has been an area of concern in past years, but Spagnuolo’s influence really allowed the likes of Kyle Fuller, Bashaud Breeland, Charvarius Ward, Morris Claiborne and rookie Rashad Fenton to thrive.  Fuller and Breeland came up huge in the Super Bowl, each picking off Garoppolo.  Breeland was re-signed to a one-year deal, but Fuller left in free agency, leaving a hole at the starting CB spot opposite Breeland.  Jeff Gladney is known as a ballhawk who can play both outside and inside, which would actually give San Fran flexibility on the back end of the defense.  Gladney can jam the receiver an reroute at the line and has the agility and route anticipation to stay on the hip of the receiver.  However, he doesn’t just excel in press coverage, but he can make plays in off coverage and in zone.  Gladney shows good footwork in bail technique to plant as the WR comes back to the ball and drives downhill without any wasted movement to put himself in position to make a play on the ball.  He also trusts his eyes in zone, reading the play unfold in front of him and breaks quickly on the ball.  Gladney puts himself in position to make a play on the football and has the ball skills necessary to excel at the next level, as evidenced by the 5 Int. and 37 pass breakups in his career.  He has the leaping ability to challenge receivers on 50-50 balls, timing his jump well to get a hand in at the catch point to make a play.  Now Gladney doesn’t have the ideal size required of an outside CB and his aggressiveness will be taken advantage of by QB’s, often resulting in getting beaten by double moves over the top.  Gladney also shoots downhill in a hurry as a blitzer and against the run, but there are times that he’ll take himself out of the play.  Gladney’s ability to play inside will get him on the field right away, but I expect him to start outside early in 2020. KC has a one-two punch rushing the passer with Chris Jones on the inside and Frank Clark on the outside, but Clark needs a running mate on the perimeter.  If Yetur Gross-Matos is still on the board, his explosiveness and power would make him perfect fit in KC.