Round 2
2.1 – Alabama WR Henry Ruggs – Many will have Ruggs far higher than this, and that’s fine. I think he could certainly develop into a DeSean Jackson-type talent, but he simply hasn’t proven it yet from a production standpoint. He is ridiculously fast, and I think he has the potential to develop in his route-running and physicality, but that is an open question.
2.2 – Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins – Another prospect I am far lower on than consensus, and my reasoning here is not at all about production, as Dobbins was very productive at Ohio State. Rather I am basing this on what I saw on tape. He is fast but seems to lack the size, physicality, and vision to be a top back in the league. He could still develop into a useful fantasy option, but I’d temper expectations. Jonathan Taylor, he is not.
2.3 – USC WR Michael Pittman, Jr. – Pittman is one of the players I think could become one of the top two or three rookies in this draft when all is said and done. I see flashes of Michael Thomas in his game, though he is far from a finished product. He has excellent length and is a good route runner, with good speed for his size. If he lands in a good offense, he could be a steal in rookie drafts.
2.4 – Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet – Our first tight end, Kmet has the prototypical size you want in a tight end at 6-feet-6 and 260 pounds. He isn’t the athlete some of the top tight ends in the NFL are, but he has shown good hands and enough speed to be a useful weapon. He is also physical after the catch and fights for extra yards.
2.5 – LSU WR Justin Jefferson – Jefferson was on my top-20 bubble entering the Combine. His 4.43 answered questions about whether he has enough speed to make noise in the slot in the NFL since that is where he played almost exclusively at LSU. More and more NFL offenses are running 11 personnel the vast majority of the time, meaning there are three receivers on the field for almost every play. This opens the door for receivers like Jefferson to make a big impact, even if he doesn’t play outside.
2.6 – Clemson WR Tee Higgins – Another prospect many have higher, and I also had him higher before his pro day was a bit of a disappointment. He reminds me of A.J. Green, with great length and poise coming down with the ball in traffic. I just worry he does not have the athletic explosiveness to consistently beat corners on the outside. I think he’ll become a consistent starter, but it might take a year or two.
2.7 – Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa – I have Tua as the top QB in this class, despite the epic season put up by Joe Burrow, because of Tua’s intelligence and accuracy. Burrow has those traits too, but I give him the edge for dynasty because I think he will become a stud at the position in a longer-lasting way than Burrow.
2.8 – Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans – Evans was right around here on my board pre-Combine, and he did just about what I expected there. He is a ridiculous athlete and that shows up on tape. Although he went to little Appalachian State and is a relative unknown, he has incredible speed, impressive strength for his size, and great vision as a runner. He may start as a passing-down specialist, but I think he has the skills to be a three-down back.
2.9 – UCF WR Gabriel Davis – Davis plays much bigger than his listed height of 6-feet-2, and what I saw on tape is the reason I have him above receivers with more recognizable names. Davis looks like Mike Evans on the field; he looks like a man among boys. He fights for the ball, and he is also a good route-runner and a rugged ball-carrier after the catch. I think he will pop in year 1.
2.10 – LSU QB Joe Burrow – I typically do not take QBs in rookie dynasty drafts, but Tua and Burrow are likely to be worth a second-round choice. They both seem to be NFL-ready from a mental and physical standpoint, assuming Tua’s hip gets to full health. Burrow is likely to end up in Cincinnati, which isn’t the best landing spot, but he is talented enough to do something great on any team.
2.11 – Notre Dame WR Chase Claypool – Claypool was not in my top 15 receivers before the Combine, but he vaulted up into my second round with that Combine performance. Running a 4.42 at 6-feet-4, 238 pounds is ridiculous, and he also impressed with a vertical over 40 inches. He will take some seasoning to become a good NFL route-runner, but he certainly has the tools to produce.
2.12 – UCLA RB Joshua Kelley – Kelley is a name many will not have in their top three rounds, no less their top two. But I really like what I saw out of him on tape, and then he popped at the Combine. He has good vision and toughness, and he is very quick in and out of breaks. His 3-cone and short shuttle times show that quickness. He’ll need to earn a crack at significant playing time, so you’ll have to be patient with him. But I think the investment could pay off.
The second round included three backs, six receivers, two quarterbacks, and a tight end. We still have many big-name players left, showing the depth of this draft. Let’s move to the third round of our mock draft.