New York Jets: A+
The Jets have had more than their share of inept personnel men, but if the 2020 draft is any indication, the franchise is in very good hands with Joe Douglas. Help was needed all over the offensive line, so it’s no surprise the Jets went with Louisville’s Mekhi Becton with the 11th overall pick. At 6-foot-7 and 367 pounds, Becton absolutely tore up the scouting combine with numbers you’d expect from 300-pound defensive tackles. And on the field, that agility shows up. Louisville ran a shotgun zone scheme, and Becton proved quick enough to handle it. And when it’s time to get nasty, he can throw defenders around in cartoonish fashion. Second-round receiver Denzel Mims from Baylor brings Josh Gordon to mind with his freakish athleticism, third-round safety Ashtyn Davis from Cal is an ideal deep-third safety, and third-round edge-rusher Jabari Zuniga might just be the most underrated player at his position in this class.
Philadelphia Eagles: D
Philly took TCU receiver Jalen Reagor with their first-round pick, and Reagor fits perfectly in Doug Pederson’s West Coast passing offense. All good there. Then, the Eagles went YOLO with the second-round selection of Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts. The reasoning for this was that Carson Wentz’s injury history is always a factor, and general manager Howie Roseman has said that he’d like his team to be a quarterback factory, but that’s like saying you’re going to open a square peg factory in a round hole world. Yes, Hurts is a quarterback with potential, but as was true of the Packers taking Jordan Love, there were more pertinent positional decisions to be made to help the quarterback in charge. Perhaps Hurts can be another Nick Foles over time, but it’s hard to expect another “Philly Philly” in a Super Bowl with a relatively unspectacular draft outside of the Reagor pick.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B-
Pittsburgh didn’t address its cornerback needs in a very deep class, instead vowing to become more explosive on offense with second-round receiver/tight end Chase Claypool, the pure athlete and combine star. At 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, Claypool has the potential to become what Darren Waller has become in the Raiders’ offense. And fourth-round running back Anthony McFarland may be undersized, but he runs with authority and has potential as a pass-catcher. Watch out for third-round edge-rusher Alex Highsmith from Charlotte, a sleeper at his position who could be a force with his agility in Pittsburgh’s nickel fronts.
San Francisco 49ers: B
Sean McVay, after asked by @OmarDRuiz about the Trent Williams trade:
"Thanks for reminding me. I need to go drink a couple of more beers."— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) April 26, 2020
Yeah, Coach… the rest of the NFC West knows how you feel. The 49ers made a big splash on the third day of the draft by trading for Trent Williams, but they also put together an estimable 1-2 punch at the top of their draft. At 6-feet-6 and 302 pounds, 14th overall pick Javon Kinlaw fits the physical profile of the ideal multi-gap defensive lineman who can get nasty everywhere from over the center to outside the offensive tackles. In 2019, he raised his sack total from four in 2018 to six, adding seven quarterback hits and 28 quarterback hurries. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Kinlaw’s potential is that he’s turned himself into a wrecking machine without the benefit of advanced hand technique. And second-round receiver Brandon Aiyuk from Arizona State gives Kyle Shanahan the vertical threat his offense didn’t have last season. The retirement of longtime left tackle Joe Staley is an emotional hit, but a healthy Williams should ease the pain.
Seattle Seahawks: C-
Death, taxes, and the Seahawks taking somebody nobody expected in the first round—if they don’t trade out. If you had Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks as a first-round guy and your name isn’t Pete Carroll or John Schneider, raise your hand? It’s an interesting gambit for a team with Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright on their roster, but remember that the Seahawks played a three-linebacker base more than any other team. Brooks is a natural run-stopper, but his coverage limitations make him an iffy first-round guy… for any other team. Carroll and Schneider were very high on second-round edge-rusher Darrell Taylor from Tennessee, and it’s easy to see why when you see the kind of strength, leverage, and gap versatility Taylor brings to the table. Miami running back DeeJay Dallas could be the sleeper of this group with his power and receiving ability.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A
Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs may have been the best possible option for the Bucs with his strength, agility, and potential to move inside to guard, given Tom Brady’s vulnerability to interior pressure. And I’m still not sure how it happened, but Tampa Bay filled a huge need at deep safety in the second round with Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield Jr. A first-round talent who may have been dinged due to his injury history, Winfield brings Earl Thomas to mind with his range, intelligence, and intensity. Speaking of need, third-round running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn out of Vanderbilt could complete Tampa Bay’s relatively anemic running game with his one-cut agility and power through gaps.
Tennessee Titans: A-
If you thought it was a headache to tackle Derrick Henry last season, imagine how many aspirins opposing defenses will need when Henry has the 6-foot-6, 350-pound Isaiah Wilson from Georgia grading roads for Henry to roam on the right side. Wilson is the second-best power tackle in this class behind Mekhi Becton, and he’s good enough as a pass-protector. Picking up LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton in the second round could be one of the top value picks in this draft if Fulton can get his leverage and technique straight, and third-round running back Darrynton Evans from Appalachian State looks like an outstanding “lightning” component to Henry’s thunderback role.
Washington Redskins: A-
The Redskins’ new regime, led by head coach Ron Rivera in a personnel sense, came away with a few aces here. Taking Ohio State edge star Chase Young with the second overall pick was a no-brainer, but things got interesting in the third round, when Washington selected Memphis RB/WR Antonio Gibson, who I believe to be the single most explosive offensive player in this draft class. Gibson had a relatively small sample size in college, but he’s a speed-burning, tackle-breaking monster, and Rivera might like to use him as he did with Christian McCaffrey with the Panthers as a do-it-all guy from the backfield to a wide receiver alignment. And LSU left tackle Saahdiq Charles, taken in the fourth round, has a ton of first-round tape that was negatively mitigated by disciplinary issues in college. If he cleans that up, and becomes more consistent on the field, Charles could be one of the best offensive linemen in this class.