[lawrence-newsletter]
Mock drafts and projections rule the pre-draft process. Now that the 2020 NFL Draft has come and gone, the post-draft grading process is in full swing.
ProFootballFocus put out an article last night grading the drafts of all 32 NFL teams with specific analysis on some of the individual selections each team made.
Here’s what they had to say about the picks of three former Badgers: running back Jonathan Taylor, linebacker Zack Baun and center Tyler Biadasz.
Taylor to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 41
The analysts began by discussing the perils that come with trading up to draft a running back in the first round.
“We all know by now that taking a running back in the middle of Round 2 isn’t ideal in our eyes, but trading up for one isn’t a great move,” the article reads. “Indy traded the 44th and 160th overall picks to the Cleveland Browns to move up to No. 41 and grab Jonathan Taylor. But Cleveland wins that trade 55% of the time, according to PFF’s Research and Development team.”
These comments have more to do with the Colts’ trade and the overall devaluation of the running back position during recent years.
What the analysts did like about the selection, then, is Taylor as a player and how he projects to perform in Indianapolis.
“His size, speed and explosiveness are what you want in a ball-carrier,” the article reads. “He got plenty of opportunities to carry the ball at Wisconsin and posted an 85.0-plus rushing grade in each of his three seasons with the Badgers.”
PFF Lead Draft Analyst Mike Renner’s tweet during the draft continues this sentiment and looks at whether Indy represents a good fit for the former Badger, a fit I analyzed in an article yesterday.
“There wasn’t a better landing spot for Jonathan Taylor in my mind than Indy. He’ll actually move the needle over Marlon Mack in that offense.”
Jonathan Taylor rushing projections
199 attempts
858 yards
8 TDshttps://t.co/UHGaRr6OjD pic.twitter.com/3KAoEhLvIJ— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) April 25, 2020
Overall ProFootballFocus gave the Colts’ a “B” grade when looking at their draft holistically, therefore liking what general manager Chris Ballard was able to do in trading up for Taylor in the second round.