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2020 NFL Draft Grades For Mountain West Selections
What NFL team got the best value?
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Who made the grade?
The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books and we will go through the picks and take a look at what national writers had to say about each pick from the Mountain West with grades and a snippet of their analysis for each pick.
Round 1, No. 26 Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
This one is clearly the most controversial pick because while Love was projected as a first-rounder. Clearly, he has talent but going to the Packers will not allow people to see Love hit the NFL stage for a few years.
Terrible move by the Packers. Aaron Rodgers told me last summer he wants to play until he’s 40. They needed a receiver. You’re on the cusp of getting to a Super Bowl, get Rodgers some help. (Pete Prisco)
ESPN: This is a controversial pick. On one hand, Love will turn into an absolute steal if he reaches his considerable upside. Aaron Rodgers is 36, and last year he had his lowest passer rating since 2015. On the other hand, Rodgers was playing for a new coach, he needs more weapons to compliment Davante Adams and his window to win a Super Bowl is closing. So there’s an argument for building for this year.
In an NFC where the 49ers, Buccaneers and Saints are in win-now mode, the Packers trading up for a potential successor to Aaron Rodgers makes little sense over a top wide receiver or offensive tackle to help him extend his Super Bowl window coming off a 13-3 season.
The inconvenient truth is that people have fallen in love with what Love can do rather than what he has shown on the football field. Whether it was missing open receivers or throwing the ball straight to defenders, Love simply brings too many negatives with him to consider him a first-round talent. There’s a reason he came in as QB6 on our Big Board. Having to trade up to grab him is the cherry on top of one of the worst moves of the night.
Round 2, No. 58 Minnesota Vikings: Ezra Cleveland, OL, Boise State
CBS Sports: A-
Perfect fit in Vikings zone-blocking scheme because of his high-level short-area athleticism. Stellar pass-blocking technician. Needs to get stronger. Fills major need too.
The Vikings go for a high-upside developmental tackle with an eye on replacing aging, fading Riley Reiff on the left side by 2021. Cleveland (6-6, 311 pounds) has raw skills that can quickly developed, with his quickness and agility giving him great upside. He is fluid with his hands and legs in pass-protection.
ESPN: Veteran Riley Reiff is the anticipated starter at left tackle, but Cleveland gives the Vikings more depth on the offensive line and is a good fit for the zone run game in Minnesota.
He may not be a finished product technically, but this is where you want to take those players. Cleveland could potentially play guard early in his career before kicking out to tackle as a potential replacement for Riley Reiff.
Round 3, No. 65 Cincinnati Bengals: Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
ESPN: Look for Wilson to beat out Jordan Evans for that job and quickly develop into a three-down linebacker. Wilson is an excellent value pick at this point in the draft.
CBS Sports: B-
Nice fit and need for Bengals. Coverage specialist. All over the field. Super comfy in zone or man and consistently makes plays on the ball.
The Bengals got the new leader for their offense in Burrow. Wilson can potentially give them the same thing for a defense where the linebacker corps has been an issue for a few years.
He actually posted the fifth-highest grade at the position in 2019 at 90.6. Wilson was 110th on the PFF Braft Board because of his so-so agility and good but not elite overall athleticism. This clearly didn’t affect him in his coverage performance at Wyoming, but it’s one that bears watching at the next level.
Round 4, No. 119 Atlanta Falcons: Mykale Walker, LB, Fresno State
ESPN:
Walker has good speed and length with adequate size. He’s a rangy run defender and above-average tackler. He’s tough and flashes the ability to stack blockers. He shows good awareness in coverage and as a pass-rusher. He has the potential to make an immediate impact on special teams.
Walker is a solid athlete and a physical player, but he is an edge/off-ball tweener and should have either gone at the end of Day 3 or as a UDFA. He has no pass-rushing moves to speak of and generated only 55 pressures on his 560 pass-rushes at Fresno State.
CBS Sports: C+
Explosive off-ball linebacker with some experience on the edge. Athleticism helps him get to the football in a hurry. Average-at-best in coverage. Slightly stiff/uncomfortable sinking.
Round 5, No. 156 Washington Redskins: Keith Ismael, OL, San Diego State
CBS Sports: C+
Explosion-based, move center. He has problems laterally sliding but can get across gaps in run game. Ismael needs a lot more sand in his pants.
With his current play strength, Ismael isn’t ready to be thrown into game action. The fact that we saw it pop up against Group-of-5 competition is a big concern.
ESPN:
Ismael is a technically sound pass-blocker who works his hands inside and fights to stay in front of his assignments. He’s quick and tends to take sound angles climbing to the second level in the run game. He’s tough and blocks to the whistle