Another mock draft has the Raiders selecting Florida CB CJ Henderson at No. 12
Through the first several months of the 2020 draft season, experts have routinely mocked a wide receiver at pick No. 12 to the Raiders. And that made sense, given the team’s need at the position and the talent that will likely be available at that spot.
However, over the last week, a new name has emerged as a possible pick, and he doesn’t play receiver.
Florida cornerback CJ Henderson is gaining a lot of steam in the 2020 draft class as he is the clear No. 2 cornerback behind only Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah. With the wide receiver talent in this class being so deep, the Raiders could opt to wait until pick No. 19 to address their wide receiver need.
In a recent mock draft by Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, he gave the Raiders Henderson at pick No. 12 and then selected LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson later in the first round. Take a look at Prisco’s explanation for the pick below:
They added Eli Apple in free agency, but is he really the long-term answer? Henderson can flat out cover.
Apple isn’t a long-term solution for the Raiders, but he can help get them by in 2020. But Henderson would be a perfect solution opposite of Trayvon Mullen as the two have outstanding man-to-man coverage ability.
While it will undoubtedly be tough to pass on the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy at No. 12, getting one of the best defenders in the class at a position of need would make a lot of sense for the Raiders. Don’t rule out the possibility of the Raiders drafting a cornerback, specifically Henderson, at pick No. 12.
Henderson has been long thought of as a first-round talent in this year’s draft, and his strong showing at the 2020 NFL Combine only solidified that fact.
However, if the Titans want to nab the 6-foot-1, 202-pound corner they’re going to have to move up, as Henderson is likely to be long gone by the No. 29 pick in the first round.
Cornerback is one of the positions the Titans will be targeting this offseason, and the draft will be one avenue to fill that need.
Veteran corner Logan Ryan is a free agent this offseason and could be moving on, and fellow corner Malcolm Butler could become a cap casualty this offseason or next.
Luckily for Tennessee, this year’s class is pretty deep at the position and general manager Jon Robinson could come away with a solid young cornerback.
Henderson is just one of about a handful of corners the Titans have met with. From reports we’ve seen, there were six other players at the position that the Titans had meetings with at the combine.
Aside from cornerback, Tennessee could also address their need at offensive tackle or EDGE with the No. 29 overall selection. The Titans also need a running back, but that will likely come later in the draft.
With the Combine in the rear view mirror, whose stock is rising, whose is falling and how has the board potentially changed?
Ah, mock draft season. With Indianapolis behind us, we can now start to imagine how the draft could play out given what we saw from the prospects at the 2020 Scouting Combine. Whose stock is rising, whose is falling, and how could — I repeat, how could — that impact the draft?
Here’s just one man’s shot at putting it together.
We can work our way into this mock with a selection that makes the most sense. The Bengals are moving on from Andy Dalton, and Joe Burrow’s magical season has rocketed him to the top of many draft boards. His decision-making, pocket presence and leadership abilities are perfect for what Cincinnati needs right now. Plus, the storyline of “local boy comes home” is sure to get fans excited.
Schematically, Burrow is a fit for what Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is looking to do offensively. With some weapons around him and some additions to the offensive line, Burrow could be in position to contribute early in his career.
2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sport)
There does seem to be some smoke building around the idea of Washington doing this year what the Arizona Cardinals did a season ago: Let a new regime pick their quarterback. Last year the Cardinals hired Kliff Kingsbury and let him pick the quarterback he wanted to build around. The result? Arizona moved on from Josh Rosen after a single season and drafted Kyler Murray.
Could the same thing happen to Dwayne Haskins? Rumors around Indianapolis last week seemed to indicate that it was at least a possibility. Washington reportedly met with Tua Tagovailoa and the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that new head coach Ron Rivera told the Alabama passer that, according to a source, “[t]hey want to bring in Tua, just get it going and compete.”
My thinking here is this: This is lying season. Most people believe the draft begins at the second pick, and Washington holds a lot of cards. They could stay pat and select the best overall player in the draft, the Ohio State edge rusher. But if a team is dying to move up to draft a quarterback, they’ll entertain offers. One way to drive up the price? Float the idea that you are in the quarterback market as well.
For now, I think these are all smoke screens. Washington stays pat and takes the pass rusher.
3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
(Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports)
Here is where things could really get sporty.
There are concerns in Detroit regarding the status of quarterback Matthew Stafford. Back injuries the past few seasons have some wondering if it is time to prepare for a world without Stafford in Detroit. The issue is, Stafford’s contract is such that it makes much more sense from a salary cap perspective to move on from Stafford in 2021, rather than 2020.
Under Stafford’s contract, if he were to be traded or cut before June 1st, the Lions would be hit with $32 million in dead cap space for 2020, and would have a cap “savings” of minus $10.7 million for the 2020 league year.
However, if they decide to move on from Stafford prior to 2021, they would actually free up around $14M of cap space.
So the thinking here could be: Draft Tagovailoa, redshirt him for a season while Stafford plays through 2020, and then move on when Tagovailoa is fully healthy and it makes more sense from a cap perspective.
So it is a possibility that the Lions could go with a quarterback here.
At the same time, Matt Patricia must be feeling the urge to win now, and the idea of drafting a quarterback to simply redshirt him while the flames are fanned under your seat cannot feel too pleasant. In the end Detroit entertains the idea of Tagovailoa, but goes with the potential shutdown corner in Okudah.
4. Los Angeles Chargers (via trade with New York Giants): Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Now we have our first trade.
A running theme of this mock draft so far has been the Alabama quarterback. In the mix to Washington with the second pick. A potential option for Detroit with the third pick. Now this draft enters a stretch where quarterback is a possibility for a number of teams, including the Chargers at six and the Carolina Panthers at seven.
Tagovailoa has been linked to the Dolphins for a long time now, and the Chargers can read the tea leaves as well as anyone else. If they decide that Tagovailoa is their quarterback of the future, they’ll need to get in front of Miami to ensure that he is wearing the powder blues next season.
Conceptually, while there might be better fits for Tagovailoa’s skill-set, such as the Panthers as we argued yesterday, the Chargers will have the time to build around Tagovailoa and construct an offense around his strengths: His accuracy in the short area, his processing speed, and his familiarity with run/pass option designs.
5. Miami Dolphins: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
Interestingly enough, Miami might be just fine with the Chargers leap-frogging them, as they end up with the passer that some in the building have been targeting for over a year. It was just a year ago when reports out of Miami were that Dolphins’ owner Stephen Ross was interested in two quarterbacks: Tagovailoa and Herbert.
Now, with both an option for the Dolphins in this year’s draft, many have linked Miami to Tagovailoa. But the decision to hire Chan Gailey as their offensive coordinator does give them a potential schematic fit with both quarterbacks. As we argued yesterday, the Dolphins are a great fit for Herbert’s skill-set, given his background in Oregon’s spread system. That would ease his transition to the pro game, and with both Rosen and Ryan Fitzpatrick in place, they could potentially move one of those players late in training camp, depending on Herbert’s progress as a rookie this summer.
6. New York Giants (via trade with Los Angeles Chargers): Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said a number of things during his media session in Indianapolis that stuck with me. Two in particular. One I will take to heart, and the other I will ignore with this move to trade down and select the Georgia offensive tackle.
When addressing the media, Gettleman indicated that trading down does carry a bit of risk. What if you trade down, he theorized, from four to eight with four players that you like on your board? You might miss out on all of them is the fear he expressed.
But given how Gettleman could play the board, and still select one of the four impressive offensive tackles in this draft, gives him an option to pick up some additional selections in this draft and continue to build around Daniel Jones.
So while I dismissed the idea of Gettleman’s trade down fear, I will take to heart something else he said. He was asked about the most important position to help a young quarterback and he instantly delivered an incredible response: “Offensive line. I’ve found that it is hard to complete a pass when lying on your back.” And in, perhaps, a shot at all the discussion over Gettleman’s thoughts on analytics he added: “I’ve done that study.”
Here, the Giants trade back and get an NFL ready offensive tackle with experience on both the right and the left sides of the line. Given his SEC pedigree, Thomas has faced some imposing pass rushers during his time in Athens, and he’ll be ready to go up against some of what the NFL has to offer. The combine might have vaulted Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton up many boards, but something tells me that Gettleman will value what Thomas put on tape.
The Panthers could go in a number of directions with this pick. Quarterback is in play, depending on what new head coach Matt Rhule decides to do with Cam Newton and how he handles Kyle Allen and last year’s draft pick Will Grier. Rhule has said all the right things about Newton, he likes Grier dating back to their games against each other in the Big 12, and Allen showed promise at times last year. So it is likely that Rhule keeps all three in Carolina and looks to address other needs.
Offensive line is also an area they could address, and given what we saw from Tristan Wirfs, Mekhi Becton at the combine as well as what we saw on film all season from Jedrick Wills Jr., any one of those players could be in play if the board falls this way.
They also have needs on the defensive side of the football. They could use help up front, they could use some help at linebacker in the wake of Luke Kuechly’s retirement, and they could also use some help in the secondary.
In Simmons, they could get help at all three levels of their defense. They would get a player who has lined up on the defensive line, in the slot, as a box safety and even as a boundary cornerback. They would also get an explosive athlete who posted a 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine, to go with a vertical leap of 39” and a broad jump of 11’. All while measuring in at 6’3 and ½” and weighing 238 pounds. He is an absolute freak of nature, and would revamp their defense in an instant.
In a draft that is talent-laden at the wide receiver position, we have yet to hear one WR called. That streak continues, as the Cardinals pass on every wide receiver on the board to address another glaring need: Offensive line. The Cardinals desperately need to protect Murray next season, and Becton can help in that effort.
Murray was sacked 48 times last season, tied with Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan for the most times sacked in the league. Now yes, sacks are not an offensive line statistic and the quarterback contributes to those sack totals, but the Cardinals do need to give him more time in the pocket. Murray was hurried 63 times last season, fifth-most in the league. With D.J. Humphries and Justin Murray as their starting tackles last season, this position could use a boost.
They get that in Becton. The massive left tackle showed some power and explosiveness both on film and during his combine workout. He has very fluid footwork for a man of his size, and his length will be an asset in Kingsbury’s offense. He could be the guy to protect Murray’s blindside for the next decade.
12 defensive standouts at the 2020 NFL combine for the Buffalo Bills to consider at the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine wrapped up in Indianapolis over the weekend. Potential rookie prospects took center stage while every team in the league watched. The Bills among them.
At the event, there were several defensive prospects who stood out. Could the Bills bring some of them in to fortify their stout defense?
Here are 12 defensive prospects who impressed at the combine that the Bills could consider adding at the upcoming draft:
Boise State linebacker Curtis Weaver. Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
DE Curtis Weaver | Boise State
Curtis Weaver is a bit of a hybrid player like Lorenzo Alexander was for the Bills. His scouting reports say the defender can lineup as a defensive end with his hand in the dirt or as a standup linebacker. That’s some of what Alexander did for the Bills. Over the past three seasons, Weaver recorded 34.5 sacks and 47.5 tackles for loss. At the combine, he posted a 7.0 time in the 3-cone drill and a 4.27 second short shuttle time.
DE Alton Robinson | Syracuse
Syracuse isn’t exactly the powerhouse type of football program a team will find an immediate impact-maker, but Alton Robinson could become a solid edge addition. With the pending loss of Shaq Lawson via free agency and the rotation the Bills play at the defensive end position in mind, Robinson put up positive combine numbers that the Bills could like. His 4.69 seconds in the 40-yard dash was the third best among all defensive linemen in the draft. Robinson also posted 25 bench press reps and a 35.5-inch vertical jump, making him Cuse’s best defensive prospect since Chandler Jones.
The cornerbacks and safeties take the field at the 2020 NFL Combine. Here’s how you can watch the 2020 NFL Combine live stream drills
It’s the final day of the 2020 NFL Combine and after a flashy day for the defensive linemen and linebackers, the defensive backs are going to want to show off. You can catch the 2020 NFL Combine drills on FuboTV.
The next star cornerback or safety could very well be in this group. As could be a record-breaking 40-yard dash. Guys like Javaris Davis, Javelin Guidry and Troy Pride Jr. will all be looking to post the new fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history, beating John Ross’ 4.22-second time from 2017.
While Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah is widely expected to be the first defensive back off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft, guys like CJ Henderson, Trevon Diggs and Bryce Hall are all fighting to be the second cornerback taken. Grant Delpit and Xavier McKinney will hope an impressive performance at the 2020 NFL Combine could make them the first safeties taken in the draft as well.
With the NFL pushing more into pass-happy offenses, good defensive backs are beginning to be worth a lot more. So, expect scouts and general managers to be paying close attention to who shines and who falters in the final day of the 2020 NFL Combine.
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Henderson is a sticky, twitched-up man cornerback who can play on the outside or in the slot because of his athleticism. He’s the type of corner Minnesota will need in 2020.
The outlet had Henderson as the fourth best corner in the draft. He is the No. 25 prospect on CBS Sports, so it makes sense why he would go to the Vikings.
Henderson has been ranked higher in certain mock drafts before this and Florida is a great school for defensive backs. I think this pairing could be a good match.
As free agency is set to begin on March 18th and with the draft just over two months away there is still plenty of work that needs to be
free agency is set to begin on March 18th and with the draft just over two months away there is still plenty of work that needs to be done to build this Cowboys roster. In the meantime the Cowboys have an important decisions to make about the cornerback position and it starts with former All-Pro Byron Jones.
With potential big money deals for Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper there may not be enough available money left for Byron Jones which will create an immediate need at corner. In addition to Jones third year corner Anthony Brown is set to hit the open market. Luckily for this Cowboys team there are some intriguing cornerback prospects in a deep draft class that would be a great fit for this team. We take a look at seven cornerback prospects the cowboys could target in this years draft.
Jeffery Okudah, CB, Ohio St.
Listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, the junior finished the year with 34 tackles, three interceptions, nine passes defended, and one forced fumble and has established himself as the top corner and and one of best defensive prospects in this draft. Okudah shows a very patient process at the line of scrimmage, with smooth hips to open, turn and run with receivers. He is an excellent man corner who stays in the pocket of receivers and crowds the catch point.
With his combination of length and speed to match receivers he projects as a Day 1 starter. The Cowboys would have to hope Okudah slides some and also be willing to package picks to come up to get him.
Jeff Okudah is going to be a star at the NFL level — there’s no coverage he can’t play, no role he can’t fill in the secondary. Okudah pairs prototypical size with trust in his technique and dynamic movement skills and should be a lockdown cornerback at the NFL level in just about any system. This is a top of the 1st-round caliber player that will excel in man or zone and can be used to mirror and erase the opposition’s best receiver in the NFL. A future Pro Bowl/All-Pro player.
Okudah is a competitor, and at times he does get chatty, but I have yet to see it affect his play. Another admiral trait is his work ethic while he was more of a rotational corner. Okudah has only been a true starter for a year, having rotated with Kendall Sheffield quite a bit in 2018. Still, he played his role with confidence, and when his number was called, he was chomping at the bit. Not every player responds well to sharing a role or coming off the bench, but Okudah not only stay prepared, but he pushed himself to get better. His play on the field has him locked into being a first-round pick, but it’s little details like those that make a difference when teams are discussing the top players in this draft. I see him as a top-10 selection heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, and it wouldn’t shock me one bit if he were gone before we got to pick five.
Head coach and general manager’s dream prospect with blue-chip physical traits, mental makeup and personal character. He has size, length and foot quickness to road-block press release and elite closing burst to close catch windows or eliminate yards after catch. He has room for improvement with his recognition and balance at the top of the route, but quarterbacks rarely target and beat him over the top. He has a rigid adherence to technique, but squeezing coverage even tighter and trusting his traits, talent and recovery speed could make him one of the top shutdown corners in the game.
The NFL scouting combine is officially underway at Lucas Oil Stadium as the Indianapolis Colts and the rest of the league converge for the biggest scouting event of the offseason.
The drills don’t start until Thursday but Monday does have some importance with official measurements taking place. This week is also crucial for the Colts to get in the room with a lot of the prospects that might be on their draft board.
Before the drills get underway, here are five cornerbacks the Colts should watch at the combine:
The Colts are likely to continue looking at the cornerback position this offseason. It could come in the form of free agency such as a Byron Jones type or they could look toward the draft. Henderson is one of the best options in this year’s class and one that is likely going to come with a high price tag.
Silky smooth boundary cornerback with mirror-and-match footwork and the agility and athleticism to stay connected to routes. He has NFL recovery burst and the long speed to track vertical routes downfield. He has the twitchy acceleration to jump a throw and take it away if the quarterback lingers on the target, and he’s quick to wrap and finish after the catch. He makes mental mistakes from time to time and occasionally loses awareness from zone. He’s willing and capable in run support but needs better control as an open-field tackler. Henderson is a fluid cornerback with ball skills and burst and has CB1 ability as a first-rounder.
Would the Colts draft another cornerback with high draft capital? Who knows but adding a talent like Henderson would give the Colts three high-quality cornerbacks to work with.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Florida cornerback CJ Henderson
Every NFL team wants to find blue-chip, shutdown corners who can take away an opposing team’s top receiver, and make quarterbacks pay for testing their side of the field.
If your favorite team is looking for that kind of player in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, Florida’s CJ Henderson just might be their man.
One of the top prospects at his position in this year’s draft class, Henderson recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his decision to leave school early, how playing for the Gators and in the SEC prepared him for the pro level, and what kind of impact he’s going to have in the NFL.
JM: You decided to forego your senior season and declare for the 2020 NFL draft. What led to that decision?
CJH: I just felt like the three years I spent at Florida prepared me well for the challenge ahead. I feel like I’m ready to take that next step. I enjoyed my three years there but that’s why I made the decision. They did such a good job preparing me for what’s next. I’m ready to take the next step.
JM: What specifically about the program down at Florida helped prepare you for what’s next?
CJH: They treat it like an NFL program. Our off-season training programs are very intense. The way our coaches prepare us, we practice like pros. They’re always doing everything they can to get us ready for the next level. Playing in the SEC presents a big challenge as well. I think the SEC is a great conference to play in if you’re trying to prepare for the next level.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
JM: This pre-draft process you’re currently going through can be a tough one. What are you most excited about?
CJH: I’m really excited for draft day to arrive. I’m very excited to get drafted to whichever team decides to take a chance on me. I’m excited to meet new people throughout this process. Wherever I land will be the right place for me. It’s an exciting time.
JM: Is there a coverage scheme you feel most comfortable in?
CJH: Not really. I think I played well in every scheme we played at Florida. I would say that I have the ability to thrive in any scheme. My future team can feel comfortable knowing that I can thrive in any scheme. I enjoy playing man coverage but it’s really not a big deal to me.
JM: How do you cover a bigger receiver differently than you would a smaller, shiftier guy?
CJH: I think you have to get your hands on those smaller guys. You need to find a way to slow them down. They’re usually the more shiftier type as you said. Those bigger guys want you to play their game. They wanna bait you into being physical with them. You just have to be smart and play your game. It all comes down to technique and understanding the situation that you’re in.
JM: Playing in the SEC is a difficult task, as you said. Who are some of the best wide receivers you’ve ever covered?
CJH: I would just point to my teammates at Florida. Those guys were always a tough cover in practice. We have a great group of guys in that receiver room. Guys like Van Jefferson, Tyrie Cleveland and Trevon Grimes come to mind. Every single one of them is a tough cover, really.
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
JM: The NFL Scouting Combine is fast approaching. Are you looking forward to any of the drills in particular?
CJH: I’m looking forward to each and every one of them really. I’m especially excited to run the 40-yard dash and go through the position drills. Hopefully I surprise some people out there.
JM: Is there an NFL quarterback that you’d love to intercept?
CJH: If I had to choose just one, it would probably be Patrick Mahomes. It’s self-explanatory. He’s a great quarterback and he’s fresh off a Super Bowl victory where he was named the MVP of the game as well. Intercepting him would be a pretty big deal.
JM: What are three traits that a successful cornerback must possess?
CJH: You definitely have to be a competitor. You can’t play this position if you’re not a competitor. Like flat out, sorry, this isn’t for you. You have to have some technique about you as well. Being an athlete is great and all, but you need to have some technical ability to your game. Lastly I would just say the knowledge of the game. You have to go out there and understand your responsibilities. You need to have a high football I.Q.
JM: You’ve had a lot of great teammates throughout your time at Florida, but I’m gonna put you on the spot. If you were headed into battle tomorrow and could only bring one with you, who would it be and why?
CJH: Just one, huh? Boy, that’s tough. I’d probably go with Shawn Davis. He’s a defensive back, as well. I’d pick him because I know that we’d die for each other. I feel that way about all my teammates. I’d choose him for sure.
JM: What kind of impact is CJ Henderson gonna make at the next level?
CJH: CJ Henderson is gonna make a huge impact in the NFL. Whatever team picks me up is getting a competitor first and foremost. I’m the ultimate competitor who can bring some leadership into the locker room. I’m a quiet guy that loves to lead by example. I’m excited to bring the best out of my teammates. I just wanna get out here and compete.
The New Orleans Saints traded back with the Miami Dolphins and picked Florida prospect CJ Henderson in a 2020 NFL mock draft from SB Nation.
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What will the New Orleans Saints do in the 2020 NFL Draft? History suggests they’ll make an aggressive trade up. They’ve done that in each of the last three drafts, leaping up the board to target players like Erik McCoy and C.J. Gardner-Johnson in 2019, Marcus Davenport in 2018, and Alvin Kamara in 2017. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone if that strategy repeats itself in 2020.
However, SB Nation’s Dan Kadar projects a trade down, rather than a move up. With teams like the Miami Dolphins owning multiple high draft picks, it makes sense for the Saints to seek them out and acquire new assets. He suggested a trade in which the Saints drop down from No. 24 to No. 26, adding a high third-round pick (No. 70) in the process. That would give the Saints three picks in the top 100 (at Nos. 26, 70, and 88), and still allow them to bag a starting-quality defensive back:
A trade for the Saints is the ideal because they have no second-round picks this year. If they miss out on Love and Eason, they could wait another year on a quarterback prospect. Instead, they could turn to the back part of the defense, where the team sorely lacks outside cornerbacks besides Marshon Lattimore. Sure, Janoris Jenkins is there, but he could be a money-saving cut.
While it would be confusing to have multiple CJ’s running around the secondary (Chauncey Gardner-Johnson started going by C.J. after being drafted), it’s nothing new for them: Henderson and Gardner-Johnson starred together at Florida, feeding off each other’s energy to rack up a combined 14 turnovers between the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
While Henderson isn’t a very willing hitter in run defense (he made just 26 solo tackles in 2019), that’s hardly unusual for cornerbacks, and doesn’t matter much in a pass-first league. What matters is that he’s a long, accomplished cover corner who consistently fights at the catch point — he logged 11 pass deflections in 9 games last season. If the Saints don’t retain Jenkins on his $11.2 million salary cap hit, Henderson could start right away across from Lattimore as a rookie.
