But with not a lot going on in the sports world, you can start thinking about it now, with the first round of the 2020 NFL draft completed.
There were a bunch of picks that changed things from a fantasy perspective on Thursday night, and we’re here to break those down, from new quarterbacks to receivers who could make an impact from Day 1 for the teams that took them to the running back that already has folks buzzing about his potential.
Here’s a look at the first rounders who owners should start thinking about when it’s fantasy draft season in the fall:
The Bengals take QB Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick
Quarterback, as I tell you every year, is the deepest position. So I’m not going to target a rookie on a bad team early on or THAT late. That said, there’s a good group of skill players on offense in Cincy led by A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd, so maybe there’s some upside later on in the year when Burrow gets comfortable.
That said, I’m not drafting him unless it’s in a deep keeper league, and I’m keeping expectations for Green, Boyd, and John Ross about the same that I had when Andy Dalton was under center.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Dolphins take QB Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 pick
It’s the same as with Burrow, except the Alabama product might not get a chance to start for a while with Ryan Fitzpatrick is there. So I’m not taking him in a draft unless it’s a mega-deep dynasty league.
The Chargers take QB Justin Herbert with the No. 6 pick
Same as the other two. Seems like Tyrod Taylor will start and Herbert might be under center later in the year. Avoid Herbert in drafts.
The Raiders take Henry Ruggs with the No. 12 pick
Yes, the Raiders need a receiver. But will Ruggs end up being more of a big play threat than a high-volume guy?
That’s my guess. I think Darren Waller, Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow eat up more targets and Ruggs gets some deep balls and runs. Maybe that takes away volume from Williams and Renfrow, but in PPR leagues, I’m higher on Renfrow getting the short balls from Derek Carr. I personally don’t love drafting for big plays and low volume, but if you like the DeSean Jacksons of this world, he could be an intriguing bench candidate later in drafts.
The Broncos take WR Jerry Jeudy with the No. 15 pick.
Denver has Courtland Sutton as its top receiver, and that won’t change after he broke out with Drew Lock last year. I see Jeudy as an immediate No. 2, with tight end Noah Fant getting a bump in volume too.
That’s a pretty interesting situation to walk in to, and after last year’s rookie wide receiver class had a bunch of breakouts, I’m willing to take a late flier on Jeudy to see if he can replicate some of that.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Cowboys take WR CeeDee Lamb with the No. 17 pick
Oh, Jerry Jones. You see a weapon like Lamb and you can’t resist.
It’s a good move on paper, but he’ll be fighting for receptions in his rookie year with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, plus Ezekiel Elliott catches passes, too. Barring an injury to one of the names above, I’ll probably pass on Lamb in re-draft leagues and leave him on the waiver wire.
The Eagles take WR Jalen Reagor with the No. 21 pick
Yes, the Eagles need wide receiver help. But Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson are still there … for now, plus Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert compete for catches. As it stands, I’ll wait until 2021 to give Reagor a look.
The Vikings take WR Justin Jefferson with the No. 22 pick
Stefon Diggs? He’s in Buffalo now. That means he could be behind Adam Thielen and perhaps Tajae Sharpe when it comes to targets. But with Diggs gone, there’s a void that needs to be filled. So I’ll deem Jefferson a late sleeper you might use one of your last picks on.
The 49ers take WR Brandon Aiyuk with the No. 25 pick
In San Francisco, it’s George Kittle first and Deebo Samuel next. And then there’s a glut of receivers including Kendrick Bourne, who we keep hearing about. Does that mean Aiyuk is destined to be buried his first year? Possibly. I’m not high on his prospects in 2020.
The Packers take QB Jordan Love with the No. 26 pick
Aaron Rodgers isn’t going anywhere for a while. So it may be a while until Love is both fantasy and real football relevant.
The Chiefs take RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the No. 32 pick
OOOOOOO. The fantasy buzz is there with good reason. Damien Williams will be the starter, but the younger and more dynamic Edwards-Helaire — who caught 55 passes last year for LSU — could usurp him. He’s going to be a sleeper who could end up paying off huge dividends, because we know what Andy Reid can do with young running back talent in a high-powered offense.
Maybe he’s into it now that he’s with the Bengals…
Joe Burrow is coming around to the idea of Cincinnati’s famous Skyline Chili.
Or, at least it seems like the Bengals new quarterback is starting to embrace the idea of coming around to the chili, which is often served on top of a pile of spaghetti with a ton of shredded cheese or on a hot dog with a ton of shredded cheese.
Previously, the No. 1 overall 2020 NFL Draft pick expressed his distaste for all things related to Cincinnati-style chili — which, for what it’s worth, For The Win’s own review described it as “actually not bad” — and called it “trash” and “terrible” in a couple tweets over the years.
(PHOTO: Skyline Chili)
Just a reminder that Skyline is terrible. That is all.
Back in January after repeating his dislike for Skyline Chili, Burrow said he “might learn to like it, but we’ll see.” And after the Bengals drafted him Thursday night, he took that sentiment a step further according to multiple reports from a Zoom call with the media after he was drafted.
Per ESPN’s Bengals reporter Ben Baby:
Joe Burrow on Skyline Chili: "You know, I haven't tried it in a long time. Maybe my tastes have changed. We'll have to find out. Maybe I'll try it here in the next few weeks."
Trying to figure out the most unique night in NFL Draft history.
The Counter, our new podcast covering the NFL, is back with a second episode. We jumped into our virtual recording studio after the first round of the NFL Draft concluded in the early minutes of Friday to try to make sense of the most unique night in draft history.
Let’s look at the winners and losers from a first-round that had a few surprises but that wasn’t as wild and chaotic as some people hoped.
Winners
Tom Brady
He was already a winner heading into the draft. But now, the new Buccaneers quarterback gets one of the best tackles in the draft — Tristan Wirfs — to protect him. We know Brady thrives when he isn’t under pressure all the time.
Teams that waited on wide receivers
We knew the draft class was filled with WR talent … and although Henry Ruggs’ speed is undeniably enticing, the Raiders taking him set up some teams to pounce on the value that came with that choice. The Broncos might have gotten the best receiver in the class in Jerry Jeudy at No. 15 and CeeDee Lamb fell right in to Jerry Jones’ lap at No. 17 for the Cowboys. I think the Vikings getting Justin Jefferson at No. 22 was solid, and there are a bunch of intriguing names — Tee Higgins, Denzel Mims, Tyler Johnson and Van Jefferson — who could be good selections moving forward.
Jerry Jones
Drafting from a yacht AND getting Lamb without having to make a trade, even though wide receiver is a strength for the Cowboys? That, as people say, is quite a flex.
They already came in as possible winners with three first-rounders. Then, the Fins came out of the opening round with a possible franchise quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa), a tackle with upside (Austin Jackson) and a cornerback with promise (Noah Igbinoghene) while also trading down to grab yet another pick. Solid.
NFL fans
They’ve been waiting for this for what felt like forever and got to watch an actual NFL event.
The Chiefs offense (and fantasy owners)
Taking Clyde Edwards-Helaire wasn’t great from a value point of view. But whatever! The Chiefs just won the Super Bowl! They’re playing with house money! So take the running back who could thrive under Andy Reid as a dual threat. Fantasy football owners are definitely going to target him in drafts.
It wasn’t the craziest of first rounds, and thus far we don’t know of any technical difficulties that turned the draft into complete chaos. Oh well!
Safeties
Did NFL teams forget how important it is to have a good do-it-all safety? Not one was taken in the first round (unless you count Isaiah Simmons? Which I do not).
Aaron Rodgers in March on the possibility of the Packers drafting a quarterback: "No matter who you bring in, they're not going to be able to beat me out anytime soon."
It felt like Henry Ruggs was a reach at No. 12 with Jeudy and Lamb on the board (classic Raiders to go for speed first, amirite?). And although the Raiders hit some home runs with last year’s draft class despite what some people thought were reaches at the time, it seemed like Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette could have been acquired later in the draft.
Los Angeles Chargers
Look: maybe Justin Herbert turns out to be good. But it seems like there are a lot of flaws. And then they traded up with the Patriots — don’t teams know NOT to do this, like, ever? — to get Kenneth Murray. They needed a linebacker, but did they need to give up a second- and third-rounder to do so?
Javon Kinlaw’s incredible story just got another amazing chapter.
The South Carolina defensive tackle was once homeless and didn’t play football until he was 15. And now, he’s the 14th overall selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2020 NFL draft, with the team grabbing him as a replacement for DeForest Buckner, the DT they traded for this very selection.
Apparently, Kinlaw’s father has been a Niners fan for life. And when he saw his son get taken by his favorite team, his reaction was priceless.
He fell out of his chair and rolled on the floor, and then celebrated for the camera:
Seems like the consensus regarding the Green Bay Packers trading up to pick Utah State quarterback Jordan Love is … AWKWAAAAARD!
Aaron Rodgers, of course, is still there and still one of the NFL’s best under center. And although he’s 36 years old, he’s coming off a great season and could contend for a Super Bowl title next season. A position player (the Packers haven’t chosen one in the first round since Rodgers was taken in 2005) to help him — say, another receiver alongside Davante Adams — would have been a Grade A pick (for the record, the move earned a D-minus from our Steven Ruiz).
Instead, we have … well, the same thing that happened in ’05 when the Pack took Rodgers 24th overall while Brett Favre was on the roster.
What’s interesting is Rodgers has addressed this possibility already. Here’s something he said in March while appearing on ESPN Milwaukee:
Aaron Rodgers in March on the possibility of the Packers drafting a quarterback: "No matter who you bring in, they're not going to be able to beat me out anytime soon."
Lamb gave fans on Twitter a thumbs-down over all the wild speculation.
The Dallas Cowboys made one of the most well-received picks of the night in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, landing former Oklahoma superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb with the 17th overall pick.
Lamb was the top receiver on many analysts’ draft boards, but slipped slightly after Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy were selected 13th and 15th, respectively. Our Steven Ruiz gave the Cowboys an “A” grade on the pick, writing that while receiver wasn’t a position of need for Dallas, Lamb is poised to be a major threat in an already dangerous offense.
Lamb’s pick made plenty of noise on social media – and so did a live shot of his home draft party. Cameras cut to Lamb on the phone with someone, and his girlfriend Crymson Rose grabbed a second phone that received a call. Before she could answer, Lamb grabbed the phone back, and Twitter predictably went wild. In his first non-sponsored tweet as a Cowboy, Lamb asked fans to chill.
Rose later tweeted that Lamb’s agent was calling him, and she simply wanted to answer for Lamb. Case closed.
His agent was FACETIMING him while he was on the phone with the Cowboys, I was doing the GF thing gonna answer it for him🤣 sheesh https://t.co/lXR0XUTLJ0
Who are the best available players heading into Day 2? We’ve got you covered.
One round of remote drafting down, six to go.
There’s plenty of talent left after Round 1. In fact, 27 of our top 50 are still available — including, at the top of the list, three stars from the last two national champions.
Not that we should look too deeply into a draft season that, thanks to the coronavirus shutdown, was conducted without the usually battery of visits and pro days and medical examinations, but a few interesting patterns did emerge on Day 1.
It appears the NFL didn’t think much of this safety or edge rushing class; or, maybe, teams are starting to realize that corners who can lockdown a receiver are essential — and more valuable.
Teams also stayed away from two taller wide receivers we liked in Denzel Mims and Michael Pittman Jr., while smaller players known for their speed and elusiveness after the catch — like Henry Ruggs, Jalen Reagor and Brandon Aikuk — were selected higher than we thought they would be.
But some things never change: Four quarterbacks went in the first round, including two — Justin Herbert and Jordan Love — that weren’t even in our Top 50.
It’s not going to be hard for NFL teams to project how Fulton will fare in a pro defense. LSU took a pro-style approach to coverage during Fulton’s career, routinely asking him to play press-man coverage with no safety help over the top. And he did it against the nation’s best receivers. As good as Fulton is in man coverage, he might be better in zone. That versatility should get him drafted early on Day 1.
NFL comparison: Tre’davious White
11. Tee Higgins, WR Clemson
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
He’s a big receiver, but doesn’t move like it. Especially off the line, where he can put ankle-breaking moves on corners. He beat LSU’s two future NFL corners on several occasions in the national title game. Higgins can win early and late in the route, which is what you want from a top receiving prospect. And while Higgins isn’t a downfield burner, he doesn’t need to be with that catch radius. On top of all that, Higgins has a long track record of production at the college level. Barring injury, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which the Clemson star isn’t a productive NFL receiver. He has a low floor and a high ceiling … exactly what you’re looking for in a first-rounder.
NFL comparison: A.J. Green
13. Grant Delpit, S LSU
It may have looked like it on last year’s tape, but Delpit didn’t just forget how to tackle. I’ll choose to ignore his tackling woes in 2019 (he was injured) and focus on everything else he did well. Delpit is a play-maker at the free safety position and can drop into the slot and man-up on receivers and tight ends. His freelancing may be a bit of a concern, but he makes enough good plays to offset the bad ones. If Delpit did a better job of tackling in 2019, we’d be talking about him as a top-10 pick.
NFL comparison: Kevin Byard
15. Michael Pittman Jr., WR USC
I got to Pittman late in the draft process, but it didn’t take long for him to make me a believer. The first thing that stands out is his size. Pittman is massive, and he takes advantage of that size when the ball is in the air. And unlike your typical contested-catch prospects, this one knows how to run a route. There will be more to his game than this, but Pittman will be a cheat code in the red zone, and not just because of his size and contested-catch ability. He has the ability to create separation on shorter timing routes. Pittman checked all of the boxes at the combine, too. He’s got good speed at that size and will be a threat downfield at the next level. He’ll be the kind of player who forces defenses to play a safety over the top in certain situations.
NFL comparison: Brandon Marshall
16. Denzel Mims, WR Baylor
(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
The Mims hype started to grow after a dominant showing in Indy, but he’s more than a workout warrior. He ran a limited route tree at Baylor, but he can start and stop well for a man his size. And when he was given an opportunity to run more complex routes, he proved he was up to the task. Even if Mims isn’t the best separator, he has long arms and superb body control that gives him a large catch radius and helps him dominate in contested situations. He also knows how to use his body to box out corners, which will come in handy in the red zone. He’ll be a perimeter receiver but could also be used to run seam routes as a big slot. Beating press isn’t an issue for him but he has plenty of room to grow as a route runner. He doesn’t really drop his hips when coming out of his breaks and can round off routes at times.
NFL comparison: Late-career Dez Bryant
19. Xavier McKinney, DB Alabama
Size is my only concern with McKinney, who was small even for an SEC safety. But that didn’t stop Nick Saban from trusting him to play linebacker on some snaps. McKinney may not have ideal size or special movement skills, but he’s a smart football player who can play every position in the defensive secondary. There’s a role for him in every scheme. Just don’t ask him to cover bigger receivers and tight ends. That’s when his lack of size can be exploited.
NFL comparison: Poor man’s Tyrann Mathieu
22. Josh Jones, OT Houston
Jones dominated at the Senior Bowl and graded out well during his final season in Houston, but there are a number of red flags. His technique in pass protection is unrefined. His arms are a little short. He put up average numbers at the Combine. And he’s an older prospect. He’s also a better run blocker than pass blocker. Jones is a safe prospect but not one you’d want to use an early first-round pick on.
NFL comparison: Brian Bulaga
23. Jordan Elliott, DT Missouri
Elliott is an analytics darling. He doesn’t have an overly impressive athletic profile, but he consistently beat the blocker in front of him during his time in college. He led the nation in pass-rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus. While athleticism is a bit of a concern, Elliott did put on a solid showing at the combine and put up an eye-opening 40 time and 10-second split. Don’t be surprised if we look back at this draft and wonder how he dropped out of the first round.
NFL comparison: Kenny Clark
24. Zack Baun, EDGE Wisconsin
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Baun may never be a guy you just line up on the edge and expect him to beat NFL tackles, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a valuable NFL player. He’ll need some schematic help, but if he lands with a smart defensive coaching staff, he’ll be a Pro Bowler. Baun will likely settle into role not too different from the one we’ve seen Kyle Van Noy play in New England. He’ll mostly be used as an off-the-ball blitzer who can drop into coverage without being fully exploited. He’s that good of an athlete.
NFL comparison: Kyle Van Noy
26. A.J. Epenesa, EDGE Iowa
Epenesa will tell us if teams are really leaning more on the tape during this unique draft season. He wasn’t expected to blow up the combine, but a 5.04 40-yard dash will certainly give teams questions. Athleticism was never a selling point for the Iowa edge. He’s more of a power pass rusher who can kick inside on passing downs. Even if Epenesa never develops into a dominant edge rusher, his run defense should allow him to find a role in the NFL. Outside of Chase Young, he’s the safest edge prospect in the class.
NFL comparison: Arik Armstead
28. Julian Okwara, EDGE Notre Dame
Okwara is far from a finished product, but that can be said of a lot of the prospects in the year’s class of pass rushers. He is, however, built like an NFL pass rusher and his athleticism should allow him to be a productive player from the time he steps on an NFL field. Teams may be scared off after a leg injury prevented Okwara from participating in Combine drills but it’s evident on tape this dude has special tools. He’s not a versatile pass rusher, lining up almost exclusively on the edge for the Irish, but he does have the ability to drop into coverage if need be. If a team can get him interested in stopping the run, Okwara could be a star.
NFL comparison: Yannick Ngakoue
29. Antoine Winfield Jr., S Minnesota
Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Heading into the Combine, Winfield was seen as a good football player who may not have the athleticism to play at a high level on Sundays. Welp, a 4.45 40-yard dash (and a 10-yard split that put him in the 95th percentile at his position) alleviate those concerns. After checking the athletic boxes, NFL teams can lean on his tape, and, man, is it impressive. Winfield is an instinctive playmaker who just lives around the ball. He’s a bit undersized but it was never a problem in the Big Ten. Whichever team drafts him knows it will be getting a good football player.
NFL comparison: Juan Thornhill
30. Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE Penn State
NFL teams will be drawn to Gross-Matos’ potential. His tape is somewhat underwhelming but the Penn State product has the tools to develop into a productive player if he lands with a good coaching staff. He’s explosive off the line and has the flexibility to turn the corner after beating his blocker. He just needs to do that last part more often. Adding more pass rush moves (and counters) to his toolbox will help. Gross-Matos has the frame to get stronger, which should help against the run. Until that happens, the 22-year-old will have to settle for a rotational role.
NFL comparison: Carlos Dunlap
31. Justin Madubuike, DT Texas A&M
Turn on the Alabama tape, and your eyes will instantly be drawn to Madubuike. I’ve seen some concerns about him, but he was throwing around Crimson Tide linemen in that game. He was a good run defender throughout his career and improved as a pass rusher every season. After checking all the boxes (and then some) at the Combine, there should be no more concerns about his strength and athleticism. Madubuike can play.
NFL comparison: Jerrell Casey
32. Jonah Jackson, G Ohio State
Jackson is a little on the older side after spending five years at Ohio State. Versatility is one of his biggest selling points. He can play either guard spot and center. Jackson may not be a people-mover in the run game, but he can be a blocker on the move and rarely gets outsmarted in pass protection. For an athlete of Jackson’s caliber, the Combine numbers were a bit disappointing but his athleticism shows up on tape. He should start from Day 1.
NFL comparison: Ali Marpet
34. Willie Gay Jr., LB Mississippi State
Gay was one of the combine’s biggest stars, running a 4.4 40-yard dash and putting up elite numbers in the vertical and broad jumps. That wasn’t a surprise necessarily, as Gay’s athleticism jumps off the film. He’s not a great tackler but the instincts, especially in coverage, are there. He could be hurt by the circumstances surrounding this year’s draft process. He got in trouble with the NCAA, but that was an academic issue that most teams will probably overlook.
NFL comparison: Telvin Smith
35. Neville Gallimore, DT Oklahoma
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Gallimore is one of the more fascinating players in the class. After shedding weight last offseason, he became more of a pass rusher from the nose tackle position. And he was still a force against the run. Gallimore still has a lot of room to grow as a pass rusher and he’s already 23, so he’s far from a sure thing. That doesn’t mean he’s not worth taking a bet on. At the very least, the team that drafts him will be getting a good run defender.
NFL comparison: Javon Hargrave
36. Tyler Johnson, WR Minnesota
Johnson is a smooth route runner who is going to get open at the NFL level. The big quesiton is athelticism as he has no special traits. That limits his ceiling and it’s the biggest reason he’ll drop to the second round. But whatever team drafts Johnson is getting realiable No. 2.
NFL comparison: Poor man’s Davante Adams
39. Josh Uche, EDGE Michigan
Uche did not play a traditional edge role at Michigan so he’s difficult project. What we do know is that he’s a tremendous athlete who took advantage of the schematic benefits he enjoyed playing for Don Brown. Landing with a creative defensive coordinator will be pivotal for Uche.
NFL comparison: Josh Allen
40. Van Jefferson, WR Florida
There isn’t a route Jefferson can’t run, but I don’t know if he’s going to be able to deal with the physicality he’ll see in the NFL. He’ll have to improve his play strength, as any kind of contact just ruined his routes. It’s hard to see him ever developing into a true No. 1 receiver, but he could be an excellent Robin to someone’s Batman.
NFL comparison: Calvin Ridley
41. Jaylon Johnson, CB Utah
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Johnson is an ideal No. 2 corner for an NFL defense. He’s a physical dude who understands how offenses want to attack. He may not have the agility to stick with the top receivers in one-on-one coverage, but if you have a lockdown guy on the other side of him, Johnson is going to make a lot of plays. The only question is whether Johnson’s physicality will translate to the next level because he is a bit undersized.
NFL comparison: Shaquil Griffin
44. Damien Lewis, G LSU
Lewis is a powerful (but stationary) guard who has trouble in pass protection. It’s a technique issue, so coaching at the next level will be pivotal. He has experience against SEC pass rushers, which is obviously a plus. He more than held his own as a run blocker against some of the best interior defenders in the country. He has people-moving strength and is particularly good at coming off double teams and washing out second-level defenders.
NFL comparison: Shaq Mason
45. Ashtyn Davis, S California
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
If your defense needs a safety to patrol the deep middle, Davis is the prospect for you. He missed the Combine with an injury, but it’s apparent on tape that the Cal product has the range to be an impact player in centerfield. Now, I don’t know if he’ll be comfortable dropping closer to the line of scrimmage and manning up on slot receivers, which limits his value as a pass defender, but smart teams won’t put him in that position.
NFL comparison: Jairus Byrd
46. Kyle Dugger, S Lenoir-Rhyne
Playing at Lenoir-Rhyne, the competition Dugger faced is obviously going to raise some red flags. But the small-school product held his own against FBS talent during the Senior Bowl and then ran a 4.49 40-yard dash to go along with a 42-inch vertical. Athleticism is not an issue. The tape shows a ferocious tackler who won’t be afraid to make plays around the line of scrimmage. It remains to be seen how he’ll hold up in coverage against NFL receivers. Until we see that, we don’t know what Dugger’s ceiling is.
NFL comparison: Keanu Neal
47. Adam Trautman, TE Dayton
In a weak class of tight ends, Trautman stands out. He’s big, he’s athletic, he can run routes, he blocks and his hands are not an issue. He can also do damage after the catch. The big concern with Trautman is, of course, competition level, as his production came against FCS athletes. But Trautman’s testing numbers and a good week at the Senior Bowl should alleviate those concerns.
NFL comparison: O.J. Howard
48. Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB Appalachian St.
A decade ago, Davis-Gaither would probably be playing another position. He’s undersized for a linebacker, but he was a reliable run defender which may convince some teams to overlook that and focus on his ability to defend the pass. Davis-Gaither is not only a reliable player in coverage but he proved to be a productive blitzer. Modern NFL defenses should be focused on stopping the pass, and this is a prospect that will help you do that in a variety of ways.
NFL comparison: Matt Milano
49. Cole Kmet, TE Notre Dame
Kmet may never develop into a big threat as a pass-catcher but he’ll be a useful player at the next level based on run blocking alone. He just turned 21 in March and has the size and athleticism to develop into more of receiving threat even if he never becomes a great route runner. My biggest concern: Kmet was not a big contested catch guy in college so it’s difficult to envision him developing that trait against NFL athletes.
What is going on at Titans coach Mike Vrabel’s house?
The 2020 NFL Draft was unlike any other, but there was a feel-good atmosphere surrounding each and every pick in the first round on Thursday night. Instead of seeing the NFL’s newest players depart from their families to go shake hands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, we got to see each pick celebrate in their homes, surrounded by the people who helped them get to where they are.
We also got to see the wildly different set-ups each NFL coach exec had for the draft. Arizona’s Kliff Kingsbury made even Patrick Mahomes jealous with his incredible home, and many execs made sure to show off their families.
Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, though, had a lot going on behind him when the broadcast showed a shot of his draft room before the Titans’ 29th overall pick, including what may have been an accidental view of an occupied bathroom.
Mullet kid + weird costume kid + Mike with the dip in.
Will Henry Ruggs follow in the path of speedy Raiders wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey?
The late Al Davis, who owned the Oakland Raiders, loved speed. The Las Vegas Raiders made a pick that was basically an ode to Davis’ need for speed. The team picked Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ruggs came .05 seconds short of setting an NFL combine record for the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.27 seconds.
Ruggs’ production (40 catches 746 yards, 7 TDs) didn’t wow at Alabama, where he was the third receiver on the team’s depth chart. In fact, Jerry Jeudy, the team’s second receiver was also in the 2020 draft. But the Raiders made Ruggs the first receiver selected, surely in large part because of his explosive playmaking abilities. You can’t coach speed.
Here’s what Twitter had to say about the Raiders’ pick.
Will Ruggs follow in the path of speedy wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey? Or will Ruggs help usher the Raiders into an era of success, much like they had when they favored speed in the 70s and 80s?
