2020 NFL mock draft: Panthers pick LSU offensive lineman Damien Lewis at No. 69 overall.
The 2020 NFL draft is deep at cornerback and there are a few blue-chip defensive prospects the Panthers should have their eye on. However, at some point they’re going to need to address the big hole in the interior of their offensive line. With Greg Van Roten going to the Jets, the team needs to find a starting-level replacement at left guard.
When they do, it should come as no surprise if they pick a prospect who has previous experience with offensive coordinator Joe Brady. In the third round of Luke Easterling’s latest 2020 mock draft, the Panthers pick LSU’s Damien Lewis at No. 69 overall.
Lewis (6-foot-2, 329 pounds) is part of an absolutely loaded Tigers draft class. He has a thick build and a whole lot of power. He’ll need to work on his awareness in pass sets, but there’s plenty of potential there and he could thrive in the right scheme.
One potential problem is that in college Lewis played right guard and John Miller will be taking over for Trai Turner at that spot. Transitioning to the other side of center might add a bit to his pro learning curve. His familiarity with Brady should mitigate at least some of that awkwardness, though.
Let’s take a look at his LSU tape.
Lewis vs. Alabama
Lewis vs. Texas
Lewis vs. Auburn
If the Panthers aren’t sold on Lewis, they might try to target LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry instead. The problem there is that he probably won’t be on the board by the time they pick at No. 38 overall in round two. Unless they trade down from No. 7 (they should) he’ll likely be out of their range.
Everything NFL draft fans need to know about LSU offensive line prospect Damien Lewis
Damien Lewis | OL | Louisiana State
Elevator Pitch
Lewis is a road grader at the offensive guard position. He clears paths in the run game. However, he is very limited in pass protection. With the right blocking scheme, Lewis could be a good piece for a team that believes in establishing the run.
Road grader, bulldozer. Whatever term you want to use here, Damien Lewis is a path clearer in the run game. His size and brute strength allows him to blow defensive lineman off the ball at the point of attack. He will get the second level looking to plow the first linebacker or defensive back that he can set his sights on. Defenders would do well to avoid him if at all possible.
Given his strength, bull rushers will have a hard time gaining any traction against Lewis. When he can’t hold off the rush, does a good job of dropping his anchor to stonewall any attempts to get through him to get to the quarterback. He will maul defenders and wide gaps for ball carriers to get through.
Weaknesses
Limited athlete in space. While his calling card is run blocking, pass blocking is on the other end of the spectrum. He lacks the lateral quickness and footwork to deal with stunts, twists and speed rushers. Teams will need to allocate help to his side at times.
Technique with his pass sets and hand placement are lacking. His hand placement can be a bit wide at times. Needs to narrow that aspect of his game. Fixing his technique will help alleviate some of the issues for Lewis. Needs to be quicker with his footwork.
With plenty of late-round pick available, LSU’s Damien Lewis could fit that mold and he’s reportedly on Buffalo’s radar.
The Bills have plenty of potential starting pieces on their offensive line, and even some that will end up in depth slots. But Buffalo could still stand to add a youthful project piece at the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.
With plenty of late-round picks in their pocket, LSU’s Damien Lewis could fit that mold and he’s reportedly on Buffalo’s radar. Per Draft Wire, the Bills were among teams to have a pre-draft meeting with Lewis:
Lewis could end up being as a high as a third-round pick, but some expect him to be a Day 3 selection. Draft analysts see a better run blocker in the 6-foot-2, 327-pound prospect than pass blocker, but in a situation with the Bills, he could be given time to develop that craft. Buffalo is returning their entire starting offensive line next season.
While perhaps a potential long-term option, there is some positive praise for Lewis’s outlook. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein predicts that Lewis “should outperform his draft slotting.”
The Kansas City Chiefs are still connecting with prospects ahead of the draft despite changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With the coronavirus pandemic throwing a wrench into planned top-30 visits the Kansas City Chiefs have had to improvise. The Chiefs and many other teams have turned to video meetings with prospects using FaceTime or other applications at the instruction of the NFL.
Because of the new system in 2020, teams are no longer limited to 30 players. They’re allowed to interact with a prospect by phone or computer, up to three times per week for an hour at a time. While they don’t have limits on the number of prospects they can contact, don’t expect teams to go through and contact every prospect.
Kansas City has been active in this new system, speaking with several players. Justin Melo of Draft Wire reports that recently the Chiefs had FaceTime meetings with LSU guard Damien Lewis and Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Lewis is a player that I figure to be a bit of a riser in weak interior offensive line class. He had a really good performance against an impressive crop of talent at the Senior Bowl. He was pancaking guys in pass protection on the regular and bowling players over as a run blocker. For a big man, he can move in space quite well too. Andy Reid would definitely like to feature him as a blocker in the screen game.
Don’t rule out Lewis as a target for the Chiefs in the second or third round.
Winfield Jr. is an interesting player. Obviously, there is a certain pedigree there, as his father played cornerback for the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings. He’s a fit in Kansas City given his incredible versatility, but he only has one season of consistent production. Also, he has some medical history that teams won’t be able to check up on beyond the combine medical checks. That could impact his draft stock, but it’s hard to say for certain.
Many believe that Winfield Jr. could be the first safety selected in the 2020 NFL draft. If the Chiefs want him, it’ll probably have to happen at pick No. 32. I’m not even certain he lasts that long, but you won’t find me complaining about selecting him at that spot if he’s available.
Colts had a FaceTime interview with OL Damien Lewis.
The Indianapolis Colts have to find different ways to contact some of the prospects in the 2020 NFL draft because of the restrictions amid the coronavirus outbreak, which includes them reverting to using FaceTime for interviews and contact points.
As the Colts prepare for the draft, which is still scheduled to begin on April 23, there is a chance they will use one of their seven picks on an interior offensive lineman. Because of the depth needed there, Indy could be looking to beef up the interior.
Among the targets on their board might be LSU guard Damien Lewis, who had a FaceTime interview with the team, per Justin Melo of Draft Wire.
The Colts aren’t allowed to have visits because of the outbreak going around the country. Most of these interviews are likely just to get a face to face talk with these prospects and while it makes it difficult not having them in the room, this is a way to get in contact.
Lewis is certainly an intriguing prospect for the Colts. They would likely target him in Rounds 3–4 depending on where he is on their board, but he brings a lot of intriguing qualities to the game.
The run-blocking tape shows a forklift dressed as a right guard with the power and leverage to move some of the best interior defenders in the conference. The pass-blocking tape shows a heavy-footed guard who lacks length and lateral quickness to hold up if asked to block on an island. Lewis needs to play for a team heavy into gap and inside-zone concepts. He can hold his own against bull rushers but will struggle to move and recover against moving pieces in pass protection. He’s a one-position prospect who lacks height/length but he’s a plus run blocker who should outperform his draft slotting.
The Colts have a need to add depth to the interior offensive line, which means Lewis is certainly on their radar in some form.
He started every game the last two seasons for LSU at right guard.
The NFL is less than a month away, unless there is an unexpected delay, and the Arizona Cardinals continue to evaluate prospects. They have six draft picks and four on Day 3.
A player they have been in contact with is LSU offensive lineman Damien Lewis.
According to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo, he had a FaceTime meeting with the Cardinals, among other teams.
What would a draft look like with a late-round QB?
The Indianapolis Colts made some big moves during the first week of free agency. From trading for a stud defensive tackle to signing a veteran quarterback to a one-year deal, those moves are likely to shake up the draft approach.
Though it is impossible to know for sure what the Colts will be thinking if and when the draft starts on April 23, we can run through some scenarios as to what those options might look like if they decide to use a certain process. For this, we will be taking the approach of a late-round quarterback after signing Philip Rivers in free agency.
No. 34 | Cameron Dantzler | CB | Mississippi State
Following the release of veteran cornerback Pierre Desir, the position has become a massive need. The Colts have to find a viable starter on the boundary to replace Desir, especially considering the rest of the room isn’t ready to be starters yet.
Dantzler is a sticky coverage corner who has length and height to go along with physicality that should intrigue general manager Chris Ballard. There is still plenty of work to be done in Dantzler’s game, but he’s a solid fit for a zone defense. He had five interceptions and 20 passes defended over the last three seasons at Mississippi State.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with LSU offensive line prospect Damien Lewis
Few college football programs have churned out the amount of top NFL prospects that the LSU Tigers can boast in recent years, and this year’s draft class is sure to be no different.
If your favorite NFL team is looking for a dominant interior blocker to add to their offensive line, Damien Lewis should be high on their priority list.
Fresh off a national title, Lewis recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about the experience of playing for the Bayou Bengals, blocking for a Heisman-winning quarterback in Joe Burrow, and what kind of impact he’ll have at the next level.
JM: National Champion Damien Lewis has a nice ring to it, no? How does it feel?
DL: It feels great. You grow up dreaming of winning a National Championship. We went 15-0. We were a great team and it’s a wonderful feeling. It definitely feels like a blessing. We had a special group of guys.
JM: You have so much experience as a starting guard, and you were one of the leaders of an explosive offense. How does that experience serve you well going forward?
DL: I’ve always been a team-first guy. I keep my head in the playbook and I’m ready to handle anything that comes my way. I always tried to be a guy that makes the pieces to the puzzle fit. I’m always ready to help somebody if they don’t understand what’s going on. I always tried to get the young guys fired up. I wanted them to understand that they could contribute to the team. They’re capable of stepping up as well. I wanted to take them on the ride with us.
I just try to lead by example. I tried to help the young guys understand that there was a lot at stake for us all. Everybody has a role to play and everybody could step up. You have to trust in each other and make sure everybody is accountable and reliable. I came to practice every day ready to work and get better.
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
JM: You’ve made 27 straight starts next to Lloyd Cushenberry III. Perhaps a team should draft the both of you and keep you together at the next level.
DL: I hope they do. It would be great for everybody involved. Lloyd and I have great chemistry. We’re so used to playing next to one another. We have a great friendship. We’ve formed a great bond over the years. Like you said, we made 27 straight starts together. We always knew what was going on. The communication between us comes so naturally. We’ve reached that point. We see everything out there. We’re the generals of the field.
JM: What’s it like playing for coach Ed Orgeron?
DL: Coach O is a great coach, and an even better man. It was amazing to play for him. He’s the one who recruited me out of Mississippi in the first place. He came to me at Northwest Mississippi Community College and told me that he wanted me to be a Tiger. That moment changed my life. That’s my guy forever.
JM: Do you have a preferred scheme fit at the next level?
DL: I really don’t. It doesn’t matter to me. I’ll be happy to go wherever and play for whoever drafts me. I’m gonna make the best of it. We ran a little bit of everything at LSU. We ran some zone blocking, we did some wide zone, some inside zone. We ran some gap blocking as well. It doesn’t matter. LSU prepared me for everything. I’ve played for different coaches and different offensive coordinators. We did a little bit of everything. I’ll be able to adapt to whatever at the next level. I’m thankful for that. Whatever my pro team asks me to do, I’ve seen it at some point in time.
JM: Playing at LSU afforded you the opportunity to play against the best competition college football had to offer. Who are some of the best pass rushers you’ve gone up against?
DL: Derrick Brown from Auburn immediately comes to mind. He was definitely the best one. I’ve played against some great players, but Derrick Brown is definitely the one.
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
JM: What’s your favorite way to demoralize your opponent?
DL: I wanna put you on the ground on every single play. I wanna get off the ball and take you out of the play. I’m gonna move you off your spot and out of your gap. I’m gonna take your will from you. The first goal is to get you out of the way, the second goal is to keep on mauling you through the whistle. That goes for both the pass and run game.
JM: Do you have a preferred pass set?
DL: I just enjoy coming off the ball. I love a good quick-step and make sure I move you down the line. Timing and placement are everything. A good punch goes a long way. I wanna get my hands on you and move you.
JM: Is Joe Burrow the best quarterback in the draft?
DL: Come on, now. You already know he is.
JM: You had an opportunity to block for him every day in practice. You prepared on a weekly basis with him. What was all that like?
DL: It was a blessing to block for him. It was a blessing to be his teammate. I was blocking for a Heisman quarterback. I never thought I’d have such an opportunity. I never thought I’d be able to say such a thing. We went undefeated and we won the National Championship. It was a blessing to play beside him and to block for him. That’s my quarterback. I had to block for him and I gave it my all. It was a blessing to be on a team with him.
JM: What kind of impact is Damien Lewis going to make at the next level?
DL: I’m a guy that’s come in ready to embrace a leadership role. I’m a vocal leader. I always put my best foot forward and commit myself. I’m gonna give it my all. I love to compete and I love playing for my teammates. I’m gonna play at a high level because I love the game of football.
Chad Reuter has the Bears addressing two holes on the offensive and defensive side of the ball in the second round in his new mock draft.
The Bears have some roster holes they’ll need to address this offseason, and they might find the answer to those vacancies in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Chicago holds the 43rd and 50th picks in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, as they got the Raiders’ second-round pick (No. 43) in the Khalil Mack trade.
In NFL.com’s new three-round mock draft, Chad Reuter has the Bears addressing two vacancies on the offensive and defensive side of the ball in the second round.
With the 43rd pick, Reuter has the Bears selecting LSU guard Damien Lewis. The Bears currently have an opening at right guard, and Lewis would be a great fit. Lewis started 28 straight games at right guard for the Tigers. He’s a physical force up front and does well under pressure.
With the 50th pick, Reuter has Chicago drafting Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger. Considering the Bears are likely to lose Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to free agency, bringing in a young prospect to line-up opposite ballhawk Eddie Jackson makes sense.
While Dugger hails from a small school, he had arguably the best week at the Senior Bowl, which elevated his draft stock to Top-50. Many analysts believe Dugger is an elite athlete that projects as a developmental project at strong safety and solid special teamer.
The Bears currently have seven draft picks in 2020, with a projected fourth-round compensatory selection for Adrian Amos expected to bring their total to eight.
Chicago has two picks in the Top-50 in the second round, as well as their own selections in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. They also have an additional fifth round selection from the Raiders, which came as part of the Mack trade. The Bears will also have a fifth or sixth-rounder from the Eagles in exchange for running back Jordan Howard.
One of the glaring needs the Bears will need to address this offseason is the offensive line, where there’s work to be done for the future.
There were no shortage of concerns on the offensive side of the ball for the Bears in 2019. One of the glaring needs the Bears will need to address this offseason is the offensive line.
While they’re pretty much stuck with what they’ve got — with the exception of a vacant right guard position — in 2020, there’s plenty of work to be done in the NFL Draft in regards to building for the future.
With that said, here are five offensive line prospects the Bears should watch at the NFL Scouting Combine next week:
1. Damien Lewis, LSU
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears are looking to fill the vacant role at right guard, and LSU guard Damien Lewis could very well be the guy for the job. Lewis started 28 straight games at right guard for the Tigers. He’s a physical force up front and does well under pressure. Lewis had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, and his draft stock will only continue to rise with a strong outing at the NFL Combine.
