Handing out grades for Day 2 of the Steelers 2020 NFL draft

The Steelers did well with their two picks on Friday night.

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After not having a pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers staff knew they had to make the most of the second day. The Steelers selected wide receiver Chase Claypool in the No. 49 overall pick and edge rusher Alex Highsmith with the No. 102 overall pick. How did they do?

Let’s talk about that.

First up we have Claypool. The Steelers haven’t looked for a big target at wide receiver since they drafted Martavis Bryant. But you have to appreciate the staff looking to give quarterback Ben Roethlisberger all the help he can as he returns from the elbow injury that robbed him of almost all of 2019.

Claypool almost looks more like a modern NFL tight end than he does wide receiver and offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner could use that to his advantage. Claypool is a tireless worker and is as happy blocking as he is running routes and making catches. If he can develop into a hybrid player in the mold of a guy like George Kittle, the Steelers will have themselves a star.

Claypool isn’t likely to start as a rookie and might have his biggest initial impact on special teams but considering JuJu Smith-Schuster is a free agent at the end of the season, he like the pick.

Grade: B

Moving on to Highsmith, this pick is something of a mixed bag. You are going to read a lot about Highsmith’s underdog story from walk on to one of the better pass rushers in all of college football in 2019. And there’s no denying Highsmith has grown quickly into a very complete edge defender.

But in terms of immediate impact, Highsmith is not quite there yet. He, like Claypool could see their first chance on special teams and as a rotational player on defense. The biggest flaw in Highsmith’s game is functional play strength and this isn’t something you fix in a single camp. Nevertheless, Highsmith’s ceiling is very high and has a chance to be a very competent starter.

Grade: B

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4 things the Steelers picking Alex Highsmith means for Pittsburgh

The addition of Alex Highsmith will be big for the Steelers on both sides of the ball.

The Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to keep outside linebacker Bud Dupree for 2020 on the franchise tag. But the reality is he’s likely a one-year rental before he heads off to sign a massive free-agent contract somewhere else in 2021. After releasing Anthony Chickillo, it was no stretch to think the Steelers would use a top pick on a player to bolster depth at edge rusher.

That pick turned out to be Charlotte edge Alex Highsmith at the end of the third round.

There’s a competition to replace Bud Dupree

If we assume Dupree is gone after this season, his successor comes down to a battle between Highsmith and Ola Adeniyi as of right now. Adeniyi is a former UDFA who has looked solid in preseason but couldn’t see consistent reps behind Dupree and Watt last season. Highsmith is a better player right now that Adeniyi so he should push him from day one.

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Steelers select EDGE Alex Highsmith in the 3rd round of the 2020 NFL draft

The Steelers added a potential defensive playmaker in the third round of the NFL draft.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers had a long wait from their second-round pick to their third-round pick but they really made the most of it. After adding an offensive playmaker in the second round in wide receiver Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh added a bigtime defensive playmaker with former Charlotte edge rusher Alex Highsmith.

At 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds, Highsmith has a perfect build to be a 3-4 outside linebacker in the Steelers system. After not being heavily recruited coming out of high school, Highsmith found a home at Charlotte and became one of the more productive pass rushers in college football. He had 14 sacks in 2019 and has the look of a very promising developmental edge rusher.

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Vikings take DT Jordan Elliott, OT Ezra Cleveland and DE Alex Highsmith in CBS Sports mock draft

CBS Sports predicts the Vikings taking DT Jordan Elliott, OT Ezra Cleveland and DE Alex Highsmith on day two. Like the picks?

Minnesota fixed some issues at wide receiver and cornerback, and CBS Sports has the team sticking to the trenches in a recent mock draft.

The outlet predicted the team taking Missouri defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland and Charlotte defensive end Alex Highsmith in a mock draft of the day two picks.

My personally favorite of those choices is Cleveland, who could probably come in and start right away. Those other players have chances to start, but they have to compete with better competition on the Vikings roster.

Here’s what the outlet said about Cleveland:

“Dream come true scenario for the Vikings, as Cleveland’s skill set matches perfect with Gary Kubiak’s stretch-run scheme.”

Cleveland could come in and instantly help the team move outside the tackles by getting out in space. If Dalvin Cook stays healthy, and the Vikings draft Cleveland, I could see the run game improving in 2020.

10 potential targets for the Cardinals in the 4th round of the draft

Arizona has two selections in Round 4 – here are 10 players they could look to take with those two selections.

The Arizona Cardinals currently don’t have too many selections in this year’s draft, but they have two picks in the fourth round — picks Nos. 114 and 131 overall.

Here are a few players they could look to select with one of those two selections:

Syracuse EDGE Kendell Coleman

The Cardinals just met with Coleman, who would make a lot of sense in the middle rounds as a rotational edge rusher. He finished with 10 sacks as a junior in 2018.

Edge players are hard to find, and always needed so Coleman may not be around in Round 4, but if he is, Arizona may be a good spot for him.

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Jets Wire’s 2020 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: New York’s 7-round projection

Jets Wire’s Mock Draft 4.0 has New York landing Louisville OT Mekhi Becton at 11 and Penn State WR K.J. Hamler at 48.

With the draft this coming Thursday, we at the Jets Wire have another mock ready to go. This projection focuses strictly on the Jets and what they could do through all seven rounds.

The Jets find themselves in an interesting position with the 11th pick. At this point, they seem destined to take a tackle or a receiver. What they do in the first round may telegraph their plans for the rest of the draft.

In this mock draft, New York is able to add four potential starters on offense through its first four selections. By bulking up on offense, the Jets are putting Sam Darnold in a better position to succeed. This mock draft focuses less on the defensive side of the ball, as Gregg Williams has proven he can do a lot with a little and Joe Douglas indicated that free agency will pick back up after the draft commences.

Let’s take a look at who we think the Jets could take in Douglas’ first draft as the team’s general manager in Jets Wire’s fourth mock draft.

1st Round:

11. Mekhi Becton | OT | Lousiville

Despite having a drug test flagged at the NFL combine, Mekhi Becton should be one of the Jets’ primary targets. He has the positional versatility and mobility at 6-foot-7, 367 pounds to play both offensive tackle positions and can step int the starting lineup right away.

A wide receiver is tempting here, but an offensive tackle is the smart and safe move. Becton was the only one of the top offensive tackles to visit the Jets multiple times in the pre-draft process before visits were shut down due to the pandemic, so New York has gotten plenty of time to vet him.

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NFL Draft: An edge-rusher for the Eagles in each round

An edge-rusher for the Philadelphia Eagles to consider in each round

The Philadelphia Eagles have several pressing needs on the offensive side of the ball, but the Eagles could choose to add another pass rusher to the roster via the draft.

There are several big-named edge-rushers set to enter the NFL and with the Eagles looking to become a quicker, more versatile team, Howie Roseman could choose to add more depth to a pass-rushing unit that already looks formidable in Philadelphia.

We’ve provided an edge-rusher for the Eagles to consider in each round.

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Oct 12, 2019; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (18) tackles Florida Gators running back Lamical Perine (2) during the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

1. K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU

The Eagles can get younger along the defensive line and the LSU star wouldn’t be a bad player to start with. Chaisson is a Danielle Hunter clone and is versatile enough to play on the edge or in space.

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Best pass rush prospect for the Ravens in each round of the 2020 NFL Draft

The Baltimore Ravens need to continue to beef up their pass rush and will likely turn to the 2020 NFL Draft as their remedy.

Despite the additions of Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe this offseason, one of the Baltimore Ravens’ biggest priorities heading into the draft will be to beef up their outside pass rush. The Ravens were the most blitz heavy team in the NFL in 2019, but despite sending extra rushers on 54.9% of their defensive snaps they still finished the season with the 12th fewest sacks.

Though Baltimore has outside linebacker Matthew Judon returning in 2020 via the franchise tag, they could use some help opposite him and potentially need his replacement. In order to remedy their pass rush and build towards the future, the Ravens will likely turn to the 2020 NFL Draft. But as we’ve seen in previous years, Baltimore won’t reach for a player and could look to any of the seven rounds for their player.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the best options for the Ravens in each round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

1st Round – Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State

The two best edge-rushing prospects in the draft, Chase Young and K’Lavon Chaisson, will be long gone by the time the Ravens make their first pick at 28. But there’s a good chance Gross-Matos will still be available.

Gross-Matos ended his time with the Penn State Nittany Lions with 18.5 sacks as well as a whopping 36.5 tackles for loss. He played as an edge defender for most of his career but was often deployed inside on passing downs. His versatility would be an asset to Baltimore and make him a handy tool for defensive coordinator Don Martindale.

Gross-Matos is far from a finished product but he has enough skills to contribute as a pass rush specialist early in his career while he finetunes the rest of his game.

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Best EDGE prospect for Colts in each round of NFL draft

Some EDGE prospects for the Colts.

Entering the 2020 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts are much better on the defensive line than they were at the beginning of the offseason. But they could still add to the edge during the offseason’s biggest event.

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With seven picks between Rounds 2–6, the Colts will have ample opportunity to add to the edge rusher room that already includes Justin Houston, Kemoko Turay, Ben Banogu and Al-Quadin Muhammad as the players heavily in the rotation.

Even without a first and seventh-round pick, here is the best EDGE prospect for the Colts in each round of the draft:

Round 1: K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU

Even if the Colts were to trade up into the 20s on Day 1, Chaisson likely wouldn’t be available. However, there have been some questions rising about his scheme limits primarily projecting as a 3-4 outside linebacker and not necessarily one that would put his hand in the dirt consistently.

However, Chaisson has the speed and bend around the edge to get after the quarterback consistently while also having the recognition and burst off the line to be extremely intriguing for the Colts. It’s highly unlikely they would be able to trade up for him but if he somehow falls to the back end of the first round, it would have to be something they consider.

Other prospects: A.J. Epenesa, Iowa | Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State

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Philadelphia Eagles land Jerry Jeudy in a 7-round simulated mock draft

Philadelphia Eagles seven-round mock draft

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The Philadelphia Eagles are preparing to address their wide receiver needs in the NFL draft and according to recent mocks, one player they covet could be sliding down the board.

Draft pundits and experts have been raving about Henry Ruggs, CeeDee Lamb, and others.

Could some of the predraft luster surrounding Jerry Jeudy now be shifting to his former Crimson Tide teammate?

In a recent seven-round simulated mock from The Draft Network, the Birds landed Alabama All-American, Jerry Jeudy at pick No. 21 and then scooped up Arizona State star Brandon Aiyuk in the second round.

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In all, the Eagles landed two wide receivers that many teams covet, an edge-rusher, a versatile linebacker, depth along the offensive line and a running back out of South Carolina who has a ton of familiarity with Duce Staley.

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