Tag: 2020 NFL Draft

CBS regrades the 2020 NFL draft after three years and the Commanders remain the same

What grade would you give Washington’s 2020 NFL draft now?

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They say you can’t truly grade a draft until at least three years removed from that draft. So, now feels like the perfect time to go back and grade the Washington Commanders’ 2020 NFL draft.

That draft, of course, was the year Washington selected defensive end Chase Young at No. 2 overall. Over the last two years, we’ve seen some do redrafts, which is a silly notion, and give the Commanders quarterback Justin Herbert.

That sounds great, but we live in reality. You do not get do-overs.

As for Young, things began as expected. At times, he was a game-wrecker on the edge, recording 7.5 sacks and helping lead the Commanders to a surprising NFC East division title, albeit with a losing record, and won the NFL defensive rookie of the year.

Since that time, Young has only appeared in 12 games due to a significant knee injury. In the nine games before his 2021 knee injury, Young had just 1.5 sacks. He returned in Week 16 of the 2022 season and looked like his athletic self, but he did not record a sack.

The Commanders declined to pick up Young’s fifth-year option, guaranteed at over $17 million for 2024, making him a free agent after the 2023 season.

Let’s head back to that 2020 draft for a moment. Washington also selected running back Antonio Gibson [third round], offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles [fourth round], safety Kamren Curl and defensive James Smith-Williams [seventh round].

Gibson has been excellent at times, rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2021 after scoring 11 touchdowns as a rookie. Charles has yet to establish himself but has logged several starts.

Curl is the gem of the class and is in line for a significant extension once new ownership takes over. Smith-Williams was also an excellent Day 3 pick, starting several games and becoming an important part of Washington’s defensive end rotation.

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports gave Washington a “B” after the 2020 NFL draft. Three years later, Prisco sticks with that grade and explains why.

The Skinny: They took edge player Chase Young with the second overall pick. He flashed star potential as a rookie, but then suffered a major knee injury in 2021. He wasn’t the same player last season. This year is big for him. After that, they took running back Antonio Gibson in the third after trading their second-round pick the year before to draft Montez Sweat. Gibson has been a big part of their offense the past three years. Fourth-round offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles has been a sometimes starter, although he will open as a backup in 2023. They hit big on seventh-round safety Kamren Curl, who is one of the better players on their defense. Seventh-round edge James Smith-Williams had 14 starts and three sacks last season. But he has mostly been a backup.

How I did: I loved the pick of Young, but who didn’t? The injury has changed the trajectory of his career. I questioned trading the second to draft Sweat the year before, but Washington nailed that decision. I liked the picks of Gibson and Charles since both were on my Better-Than team that year. I also said fourth-round receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden had a chance, but he retired after two seasons with just one catch.

That’s fair. While Young’s career has been disappointing thus far, not all of it is his fault; his production before the injury is a concern, though. But that potential still exists, and 2023 is a massive season for him.

Curl, Gibson and Smith-Williams were all excellent choices, especially when you consider where Washington landed them.

Texans’ 2020 draft class gets new grade

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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Only 12 players from the 2020 NFL draft had their 5th-year options picked up

3 of the 12 players from the 2020 NFL draft to have their 5th-year option picked up are former Tide players

There is no exact science when it comes to the NFL draft, every pick is a hope and a prayer for the franchise. Sure, players picked in the first round are expected to have more success than players selected in later rounds, but making it to a second contract is nearly as hard as making it to the league in the first place.

Of the 32 players selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, only 12 of them had their 5th-year options picked up which fully guarantees their money in 2024. Guys like Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson are no-brainers, but what I found to be interesting is that three of those 12 players with their options picked up are former Alabama players. Those three players are Tua Tagovailoa, Jedrick Wills and Jerry Jeudy.

The quantity of talent that Nick Saban produces is well known, but it is the quality of his players that makes him so unique. All three of these guys have been scrutinized at points in their careers for inconsistent play or injuries, but the teams are making a vote of confidence by bringing them on for another year.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor Tagovailoa, Wills and Jeudy’s NFL careers.

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Chase Young named as a player who is poised to turn declined 5th-year option into massive payday

Could Chase Young follow Daniel Jones’ path in 2023 and land a big contract after the Commanders declined his fifth-year option?

No one was surprised in 2022 when the New York Giants declined quarterback Daniel Jones’ fifth-year option for 2023. After four NFL seasons, Jones had already played for two head coaches and would be playing for his third head coach in 2022.

The Giants finally got it right when they hired Brian Daboll as head coach. It gave Jones stability, and Daboll schemed an offense around what his quarterback did best. Jones rewarded the Giants with his best NFL season, leading New York back to the playoffs and a trip to the NFC divisional round.

In the offseason, there was no bitterness from Jones’ camp. It was all business as the Giants handed Jones a new contract worth up to $160 million over four years.

It was undoubtedly a shocking number, but that’s the cost of doing business with NFL quarterbacks.

Shortly after the 2023 NFL draft, the deadline passed for NFL teams to pick up the fifth-year options on 2020 first-round picks. Surprisingly, several NFL teams declined fifth-year options on their 2020 first-rounders, with the most prominent name being the No. 2 overall pick that year — Chase Young of the Washington Commanders.

Young was the NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2020 but has just 1.5 sacks since. Much of that is due to a significant knee injury suffered in Nov. 2021. However, in the nine games before his injury that season, Young had only 1.5 sacks.

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports recently named four players from Young’s draft class who could follow a similar path as Jones. Young was tops on his list:

This one isn’t rocket science, considering Young was the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and considered a nearly can’t-miss player coming out of Ohio State. He didn’t exactly “miss” with Washington, as much as simply having a promising start completely derailed by injuries. The questions for the Commanders are fairly simple. Can Young recapture the explosive ability that made him the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in the 2020 season? And if he can, how much more of the salary cap can the Commanders pour into their defensive line, which is already carrying substantial extensions for Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen (not to mention facing defensive end Montez Sweat’s contract expiring after 2023)? In a way, it might be a race of sorts for Young and Sweat. The Commanders can’t apply a franchise tag to both, so it’s very likely if they both have banner seasons in 2023, one will be heading to free agency and the other will be tagged in an effort to carve out an extension. Simply due to salary cap realities, it seems unlikely Washington would want to devote four mega contracts to four defensive linemen. Barring another hollow season, Young will have suitors. When his option was declined, one AFC general manager was already talking about how attractive it would be to add him in a reboot of their defensive line. He isn’t alone, and plenty of eyeballs will be on Young this season.

Young’s situation is unique. We wonder, if a new owner was already in place, would they have picked up that fifth-year option?  Young still has superstar potential — on and off the field.

Robinson makes some excellent points. Washington was never going to pay all four first-round picks. The Commanders were likely planning to pay three, but most figured those three would be Allen, Sweat and Young. Payne’s career year last season changed everything for the better.

Sweat and Young — while close friends — will be competing to remain in Washington past next season. Regardless of which player remains with the Commanders beyond 2023, both will have multiple suitors.

Is the Commanders James Smith-Williams appreciated enough?

James Smith-Williams is one of Washington’s more underappreciated players.

Being a final-round draft choice can certainly lead to a player being ignored.

Washington defensive end James Smith-Williams has been one such player. No doubt many Commanders fans are really certain of his name, they don’t recall his jersey number and they certainly don’t know where he played his college ball.

It was funny when even head coach Ron Rivera once spoke of the defensive end as “James Williams-Smith.“ Smith-Williams is still only 25, turning 26 on July 30. He enters this season knowing it is a contract year for him.

What type of year did the former North Carolina State Wolfpack have for the Commanders in 2022? Check out this tweet for some perspective:

Number 96 gets lost by the fan base when he is playing with teammates such as Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Montez Sweat and Chase Young. But he is accustomed to this, as it occurred during his college days at NC State as well.

Illinois defensive coordinator and former North Carolina State defensive coach, Aaron Henry a guest on the “Al Galdi Podcast,” Tuesday reminded listeners:

“What a lot of people forget is James Smith-Williams was behind Bradley Chubb, Kentavius Street, Justin Jones and B.J. Hill. All them dudes were drafted in the NFL. ”

“So, the fact that he was even a 7th rounder…we knew that young man was going to be special. His off-the-field philanthropy combined with his football ability, the sky was the limit.”

“He was absolutely everything you wanted in terms of building a program. Hard worker, great student, always on time, never any issues, a leader.”

“That young man will play however long he wants to in the NFL. That’s a quality, incredible pillar for the Washington Commanders.”

How has the Commanders 2020 draft class developed?

How would you judge Washington’s 2020 NFL draft class right now?

How many times over the years have you heard, “You can’t grade a draft until you have at least three seasons of play?”

While the 2020 Washington NFL draft has brought some disappointment, this draft by no means can be called a dud or unproductive.

Yes, Antonio Gandy-Golden (4th round) is already out of the NFL, and yes, Keith Ismael (5th round) did not last long in the Burgundy and Gold.

Yes, Chase Young (1st round) has produced only 9 sacks in three seasons and yes, he was the overall second selection in the entire draft.

Yes, Saahdiq Charles (4th round) has only played in 24 games in three seasons. Yet, he has shown enough that head coach Ron Rivera still believes he and Chris Paul will battle for the starting left guard spot this fall.

Also encouraging is third-round selection, Antonio Gibson. Gibson from Memphis has rushed for 2,378 yards and caught 124 receptions for 894 yards. With the Commanders releasing J.D. McKissic, look for new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to readily use Gibson as the third-down back, getting the ball to him in space.

Khaleke Hudson (5th round, 162 overall) has been steady on special teams and showed in the season finale last season he can play more at linebacker if needed.

Seventh-round choices Kamren Curl and James Smith-Williams have been pleasant surprises who continue to contribute on defense. How often does a team have not one but two successful draft choices in the final round?

Both Curl and Smith-Williams are entering their final contract year with the Commanders. With these two being productive and reliable, the Commanders will need to get both re-signed for the 2024 season and beyond.

Who would have thought immediately after the 2020 draft, that after three seasons of play, not one but both seventh-round draft choices would be a top priority for the Commanders to resign for 2024?

Not a single one of us.

Joe Burrow’s fifth-year option one of only 12 exercised

The Bengals exercising Joe Burrow’s fifth-year option is one success story in a draft class that saw fewer exercised than ever before.

The Cincinnati Bengals 2020 draft was a success, but it wasn’t like that for many teams around the league.

Only 12 players from the first round of that draft had their fifth-year options picked up, which according to Pro Football Talk, is a low since the fifth-year option arrived in the 2011 CBA.

Here’s what they said about the 2020 draft:

None of those 12 players have received their second contracts, yet. Each should, especially since they’ve necessarily outperformed a wage-scale rookie deal kept low to protect the system against busts.

In 2020, the first-round ultimately had 19 busts. In most cases, injury was the culprit.

Of course, the Bengals’ first-round pick from that draft was none other than Joe Burrow, who had his option picked up for $29.5 million guaranteed.

This doesn’t mean Burrow and the Bengals aren’t still attempting to work out an extension. They just had to meet the deadline of May 2 to exercise the option.

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Commanders Chase Young certainly not alone in option being declined

Chase Young was far from the only 2020 first-round pick to have his fifth-year option declined.

Many Commanders fans made much of the Commanders announcing last week they would not pick up the 5th year option on 2020 first-round pick DE Chase Young.

Some raised their voices stating it was unfair to Young; some pointed the finger at Ron Rivera in particular, even saying it was stupid for the head coach to not exercise the fifth-year option.

Rivera was even blamed if Young were to now leave the Commanders via free agency after the 2023 season.

Typically it was a case of fans speaking out in a spontaneous reaction. But now that the deadline has arrived and passed, we see that even the slightest bit of contemplation of what NFL teams determined this past week brings more understanding.

Who else besides Young did not have the 5th-year option exercised?

Well, there was Isaiah Simmons (8th selection by the Cardinals), C.J. Henderson (9th selection by Jaguars traded to Panthers), Mekhi Becton (11th selection by the Jets), Javon Kinlaw (14th selection by the 49ers), Austin Jackson (18th selection by the Dolphins), K’Lavon Chaisson (20th selection by the Jaguars), Jalen Reagor (21st selection by the Eagles later traded to the Vikings), Kenneth Murray, Jr (23rd selection by the Chargers), Cesar Ruiz (24th selection by the Saints), Jordyn Brooks (27th selection by the Seahawks), Patrick Queen (28th selection by the Ravens), Noah Igbinoghene (30th selection by the Dolphins), and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (32nd selection by the Chiefs).

The third overall selection, Jeff Okudah, had his contract restructured last week when traded to the Falcons. Further, there are already three players from the 2020 first round already out of the league: No. 12 Henry Ruggs III, No. 19 Damon Arnette and No. 29 Isaiah Wilson.

In three NFL seasons, the second player selected in the 2020 draft, Young, has provided Washington only 9 sacks, only 13 tackles for a loss and only 17 QB hits.

Young could still have a productive career by having a great 2023 season. The Commanders could then pay him accordingly. But why are the Commanders obligated to pay him as a star in 2024 when he has not produced for them since 2020?

Consequently, Young and 16 other first-round selections have had their teams determine the player simply is not productive enough to warrant the fifth-year option, and three teams previously divorced themselves from their first-round selection.

What’s wrong with Young earning his big NFL paycheck the old-fashioned way, earning it?

Tracking the 5th-year options on the 2020 NFL draft class

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.

Jaguars decline fifth-year option for OLB K’Lavon Chaisson

Former first-round pick K’Lavon Chaisson is now set to become a free agent in 2024.

The Jacksonville Jaguars made the unsurprising decision to decline the fifth-year option on K’Lavon Chaisson’s rookie contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Chaisson, 23, was the No. 20 overall selection in the 2020 NFL draft, but has recorded just one sack in each of his three seasons in Jacksonville. With Josh Allen and Travon Walker holding down the two starting spots at outside linebacker, Chaisson has settled into a rotational role and was on the field for 109 defensive snaps and 108 special teams snaps during the 2022 season — although, he missed eight games due to injury.

The fifth-year option on his deal would’ve meant Chaisson received a fully guaranteed $12.141 million salary for the 2024 season. Instead, he’s now due to become a free agent after 2023.

While the Jaguars declined the option, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters over the weekend that the team is optimistic Chaisson will be more productive in 2023.

“We are expecting Josh Allen to take the lead and of course Travon [Walker]’s there and K’Lavon Chaisson to take a step,” Pederson said Saturday. “They’re all guys that have been here, the second year in the defense.”

Chaissson was the second of two first-round picks made by the Jaguars in 2020. The first was cornerback C.J. Henderson, drafted with the No. 9 overall pick. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers during his second season along with a fifth-round draft pick for a third-rounder and tight end Dan Arnold.

The Panthers decided Monday not to pick up the fifth-year option on Henderson’s deal.

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