Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Only 2 players from their 2020 draft class remain on the roster.
The Arizona Cardinals’ 2020 draft class is nearly all gone. Only two players they drafted that year remain on the roster and that could end up being only one after final cuts.
Only defensive linemen Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence, both drafted in the fourth round, are currently on the team.
What happened to the rest?
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
The Cardinals have given up on Isaiah Simmons but the Giants might have gotten a steal.
Things have not gone according to plan for Isaiah Simmons. After being drafted No. 8 overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, he was supposed to be this Swiss Army knife of a defender is elite athleticism. Unfortunately, Simmons wasn’t able to find his way in the Cardinals defense and has now been traded to the New York Giants for a measly seventh-round pick.
Simmons is something of a hybrid linebacker/safety but isn’t particularly skilled at either. What he has shown is he is typically the best athlete on the field and can convert that into stats. Simmons had 99 tackles in 2022 despite only playing in 13 games. He might not be a polished play but he finds his way to the football on a regular basis. Simmons had 105 total tackles in 2021.
This is ridiculous value for the Giants. Simmons showed a lot of growth last season as a player. He ended up with an interception and four sacks to go with his 99 tackles.
If the Giants can keep Simmons role simple, he could flourish. Let him stay around the line of scrimmage, chase and tackle and avoid pass coverage.
Trade: Isaiah Simmons is being traded from the Cardinals to the NY Giants for a seventh-round pick in 2024, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2023
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With Chris Jackson gone, an updated look at the draft picks made by former GM Jon Robinson who are still on the Titans’ roster.
When the Tennessee Titans parted ways with defensive back and 2020 seventh-round pick, Chris Jackson, he was just the latest player from one of former general manager Jon Robinson’s draft classes to get the boot.
This was not the first time Jackson had been cut, though, as he did not make the team’s initial 53-man roster in 2022 before being brought back on the practice squad and later promoted to the active roster.
While it’s possible Jackson will eventually be brought back, the fact that he was let go weeks before final cuts makes this one feel a bit more final.
With Jackson gone, cornerback Kristian Fulton is once again the last man standing from the 2020 draft class, which is one of three Robinson draft classes that has one player remaining on the Titans’ current roster.
The others are the classes of 2017 and 2018.
With Jackson’s recent departure, we thought it would be fun to see how many of Robinson’s picks from 2016-2022 are remaining on the 2023 squad as of right now.
We’ve also included a list of the departed players (and the teams they currently play for, if applicable) if you want to pour one out for them.
Big changes in this redraft as these prospects enter their fifth NFL season.
Heading into year four, we have a very clear picture of just how the 2020 NFL draft class turned out. This group is known as a very very talented class and just going off of this redraft, it remains true. How much would the draft change if it happened today? Read on and get our projection.
Would the New Orleans Saints still pick Cesar Ruiz in a 2020 NFL draft do-over? Bleacher Report explored that exact scenario, via @DillySanders
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The ability to be able to go back in the past and change a draft pick is an idea that would excite most fans, especially with some of the recent New Orleans Saints first round selections. However, in the eyes of Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, one recent selection would stay the same. While re-drafting the 2020 NFL draft, Knox stated that the Saints would stick with offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz if given another chance. Here is his reasoning:
Taking an interior lineman in Round 1 doesn’t generate headlines or much draft-day excitement. However, Ruiz has provided the Saints with good, reliable play on their offensive line.
Ruiz appeared in 15 games with nine starts as a rookie and performed well right out of the gate.
Ruiz certainly didn’t have a great start to his career in New Orleans, and while his play has improved greatly, taking him in the first while given another chance would be extremely puzzling. I could see New Orleans still wanting him on day two, but not at all in the first round.
If New Orleans would have wanted an offensive lineman still, Ezra Cleveland or Damien Lewis would have made much more sense. Though, in this scenario, it would make sense to jump on another skill position player you knew would work out at a better value. Brandon Aiyuk still being there on the board would be a much more intriguing option.
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The Houston Texans 2020 draft class received a new grade from CBS Sports, and it went as expected.
The Houston Texans’ 2020 draft class was the first of the general manager Bill O’Brien era, and it showed.
O’Brien signaled ahead of the draft that he anticipated 2020 would be a “veteran type of year” due to the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Houston also had their draft capital impacted thanks to the trade for Laremy Tunsil at the end of the 2019 preseason. As a result, Houston had a five-man draft class.
According to Pete Prisco from CBS Sports, the Texans originally earned a C grade for their class of DE Ross Blacklock, OLB Jonathan Greenard, OT Charlie Heck, CB John Reid, and WR Isaiah Coulter.
The Skinny: The Texans traded their first-round pick this year as part of the deal to get left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Dolphins. Tunsil has been their best offensive lineman. They had five picks the rest of the draft, but just one is a starter. That is third-round pass rusher Jonathan Greenard, who was limited to eight games last season because of injury. He had eight sacks in 2021. They missed badly on second-round defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, who was traded to the Vikings last August. The only other player still on the roster from this draft is backup tackle Charlie Heck, who has started 17 games over his three seasons.
How I did: I liked the pick of Blacklock, who I thought could develop into a quality insider rusher. He didn’t. I questioned making the trade for Tunsil — they gave up a ton — and then paying him. I said to keep an eye on Greenard, which was right.
Prisco gave the 2020 class a new grade of C-minus, which is a lot better than what it could have been.
The Texans fired O’Brien after an 0-4 start and named executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby interim general manager. At the end of the season, the Texans hired Nick Caserio as general manager and thus began an entirely new era.
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In a 2020 NFL re-draft, the New York Giants pass on LT Andrew Thomas in favor of WR Justin Jefferson.
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When the New York Giants selected Andrew Thomas fourth overall in the 2020 NFL draft, they hoped the Georgia product would be a prized piece to build around for years to come.
If Thomas’ 2022 campaign was any indication of what is to come, Big Blue got just that.
But some would do it differently if they could go back. Bleacher Report released a 2020 re-draft and the Giants ended up landing star wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
4. New York Giants: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Original Pick: Andrew Thomas, OT, GeorgiaNew York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had his own breakthrough campaign in 2022, emerging as a capable dual-threat and helping the Giants return to the postseason after a five-year absence.
Offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, who was originally taken in this spot, played a big role in Jones’ progress this season. The former Georgia standout was responsible for only two penalties and three sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.
However, New York now has a chance to snag arguably the best receiver in the NFL, and it doesn’t pass on it.
Former LSU wideout Justin Jefferson has simply been fantastic since the Minnesota Vikings took him 22nd overall in 2020. He has three Pro Bowls, one first-team All-Pro and the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year on his resume. In three seasons, the 23-year-old has amassed 4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns on 324 receptions.
This past season, Jefferson provided a passer rating of 104.2 when targeted. He’s the sort of dominant No. 1 receiver Jones has lacked throughout his career and would aid his growth tremendously.
Simply put, the Giants would have an easier time finding a serviceable offensive tackle via trade or free agency than a receiver of Jefferson’s caliber.
The Giants, like any team across the league, would certainly benefit from having a player like Jefferson in their offense. They are still lacking a No. 1 caliber receiver and Jefferson is known as one of the league’s best.
Interestingly enough, there may have been a domino effect if Big Blue selected Jefferson that year fourth overall. They likely would not have signed Kenny Golladay to a lucrative deal, which resulted in one of the worst free agent signings in franchise history.
Also in the redraft, the Washington Commanders selected quarterback Jalen Hurts, while Chase Young (5th, Detroit Lions) still went ahead of Andrew Thomas (9th, Jacksonville Jaguars).
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How many fifth-year options got picked up for the first-round class of the 2020 NFL draft?
Tuesday marked the deadline for teams to pick up the fifth-year contract options on the first-round picks from the draft class of 2020. All first-round picks get initial contracts for four seasons with a club option for a fifth year.
That fifth year is not a cheap one. Values are based on the average salary at a particular position, with additions to the base average according to playing time and Pro Bowl honors. Exercising the option guarantees the full salary for the player. They become unrestricted free agents after the conclusion of the fifth season, barring any extensions.
Picking up the option doesn’t mean the two sides can’t agree to a contract extension. Players can also be traded or cut, but the salary is guaranteed.
Kristian Fulton is the only member of the 2020 draft class left on the Titans’ initial 53-man roster.
The Tennessee Titans appear to have themselves something special in 2020 second-round pick and cornerback, Kristian Fulton, but the rest of the 2020 draft class isn’t doing so hot.
In fact, Fulton is the only member of that group who is on the team’s initial 53-man roster ahead of 2022. Following final cuts that saw both defensive back Chris Jackson and defensive linemen Larrell Murchison get cut on Tuesday, Fulton is now the last man standing from the 2020 draft class.
Of course, not all hope is lost for Jackson and Murchison sticking in Nashville, as both could end up on the practice squad after they clear waivers.
In that case, either or both could receive a promotion to the 53-man roster at some point during the season.
Jackson and Murchison were two of the final three picks from a class that also included offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson, running back Darrynton Evans and quarterback Cole McDonald.
McDonald failed to make the initial 53-man roster in 2020, and Wilson lasted just one season on the team before being traded to Miami following a disastrous tenure in Nashville.
Evans lasted longer than those two but was cut earlier this offseason after a pair of injury-plagued seasons in Tennessee.
Chalk it up to whatever you like, but outside of one player the Titans’ 2020 draft class was a major swing and a miss.
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The Jags recent draft classes haven’t been great, but there are some players from them who could blossom. Excluding 2021’s class, what selections are you all the most excited about from recent drafts?
The Jacksonville Jaguars have selected 42 players over the last five drafts. Most of the high draft choices excluding the 2021 draft class haven’t panned out for the franchise. However, there are still a select few who have been successful and remain with the team.
For the sake of getting another fun post up, we wanted to poll the fanbase on the draft pick from the past five drafts who they are most excited to watch besides those from the 2021 class. The choices we’ll offer are cornerback Tyson Campbell, defensive end Josh Allen, defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, and defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot.
Finding four players for this poll was difficult because the Jaguars made so many stumbles in the 2020 and 2018 drafts that include busts like C.J. Henderson, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Taven Bryan. However, the four players we’ve centered this poll around have a chance to be key pieces for the defense.
Allen should be the runaway favorite because in three seasons he has compiled 20.5 sacks, 128 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 48 quarterback hits. And while the team has yet to pick up his fifth-year option, it would be unwise for the Jags to not continue forward with Allen in 2023 as he’s been a standout on the defense.
But fans shouldn’t sleep on Campbell because of how much potential he flashes down the stretch last season. Last season, he was second among rookies in interceptions and incompletions caused (11).
Hamilton is an interesting player because he hasn’t had any standout seasons two years into his career. In his first two seasons, he only acquired grades of 53.9 (2021) and 52.8 (2020) according to Pro Football Focus, but an X-factor for his career could be new defensive line coach Brentson Buckner. Buckner, a former player in the NFL, is a highly respected coach in the NFL and has coached players like Chandler Jones, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Maxx Crosby.
As for Smoot, he’s mostly been a rotational player in his five seasons with the Jags and only has 17 starts. However, an argument could be made he’s one of the better rotational players in the NFL. He ended the 2021 season second on the team in sacks with six and led them the year before with 5.5. He also garnered a 73.9 pass-rush grade last season, which was the highest of any defensive lineman on the team with significant snaps.
Now, with all the cases we’ve made for each of these four players, we’d like to hear from our readers at home in terms of who excites the fanbase the most heading forward. Vote in the poll below.
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