PFF changed much of Round 1 in their latest mock draft except when it came to the New York Giants, who selected Jedrick Wills again.
Pro Football Focus released their second 2020 mock draft on Monday and Round 1 saw a slew of changes, including a top 3 trade between the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins.
However, when it came to pick No. 4 and the New York Giants, PFF stuck to their guns and had Big Blue selecting Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills yet again.
Wills is the most athletic tackle in a very athletic tackle class. He is a work in progress still in pass protection, but the strides he made toward the end of 2019 — when he allowed only four pressures over Alabama’s final six games — have us encouraged.
The selection of Wills comes with Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons still on the board.
Given that the Giants have frequently picked Wills in PFF mocks and several others, there’s little sense in us rehashing our same opinions over and over again. So in an effort to spare you that, here’s a little refresher from our friends at Draft Wire:
Widely regarded as one of this year’s top prospects at his position, Wills has been battle-tested against some of the top competition in the country playing in the SEC. With multiple teams currently picking in the top 10 in desperate need of an upgrade at either offensive tackle spot, Wills could easily end up hearing his name called that early on draft weekend.
The New York Giants select Alabama OT Jedrick Wills in the first mock draft compiled by NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks.
The New York Giants have been connected to many different prospects in early mock drafts with no two people or media outlets reaching any sort of consensus pick.
That was until earlier this week when NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks sided with Pro Football Talk and had the Giants select Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills in his very first mock draft of the new year.
No. 4 – New York Giants Jedrick Wills, OT
Dave Gettleman’s affinity for the “hog mollies” could lead the Giants to add an edge blocker to protect their young quarterback.
Wills has been a rocketship up draft boards this season — and for good reason. Wills improved by leaps and bounds, even as the season went along. He allowed 11 pressures all season but only one in his last five games.
Widely regarded as one of this year’s top prospects at his position, Wills has been battle-tested against some of the top competition in the country playing in the SEC. With multiple teams currently picking in the top 10 in desperate need of an upgrade at either offensive tackle spot, Wills could easily end up hearing his name called that early on draft weekend.
The Giants are in obvious need of an offensive tackle, but the debate will rage up until draft night who is better — Wills, Andrew Thomas, Tristan Wirfs or Mekhi Becton.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. thinks the Jets will upgrade their offensive line in 2020 NFL draft.
There are a lot of holes the Jets need to fill in this year’s draft, and one expert believes Gang Green will look to shore up its offensive line with the eleventh overall pick.
In his first 2020 mock draft, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. predicts the Jets will select Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. with their first-round pick at No. 11. Wills would be the second consecutive Crimson Tide player taken by the Jets in the first round after New York drafted defensive tackle Quinnen Williams with the third overall pick in 2018.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Wills would be a great pick for the Jets if he lasts until the 11th pick. The Jets desperately need help along the offensive line and Wills is one of the best all-around players at his position in the draft. Wills is known as a great pass protector – he only allowed one sack and 14 pressures in 450 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He also improved his run-blocking tremendously in 2019, rising from a 63.1 PFF grade to 91.4 this past season.
One of the biggest problems that plagued the Jets offensive line – apart from horrific play – was lack of durability and consistency. The Jets swapped linemen throughout the 2019 season due to various ailments and finished the season with only two starters from Week 1. Wills doesn’t have that issue. He started in all 28 games for the Crimson Tide over the past two seasons.
Luckily for the Jets, this draft is rife with offensive line talent. There could be up to four linemen taken in the first half of the first round, and we’re still three months away from the actual draft. Other players like Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton could call all go quickly in the 2020 draft.
Taking Wills would mark the first time the Jets drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since 2006 when they took tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson at No. 4 and traded back into the first round to grab center Nick Mangold at No. 29.
The Los Angeles Chargers upgrade the trenches in Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft.
With the offseason in full gear this means that mock draft season is as well. We’ve seen a handful of mock drafts throughout the past few months, but for the first time we got to see NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah first mock draft, which was released on Tuesday.
Jeremiah addresses the offensive side of the ball, but it’s not the quarterback position. He goes with the other position of need by mocking Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills to the Chargers with the No. 6 overall selection.
The Chargers are in the QB market, but they also have a desperate need to upgrade the OL. Wills is a rock-solid player, and he’ll start from Day 1 at right tackle for the Bolts.
Jeremiah is very self explanatory with the pairing of Wills and the Bolts. He acknowledges that the team will be seeking a future franchise quarterback early on, but protection is an absolute need for unit that struggled to be consistent in that area this past season.
Wills, the 6-foot-5 and 320 pounder, is touted as one of the top tackles in this class to some. He took a big leap in his junior season where he started all 15 games, and dominated defenders on a weekly basis. Wills was a monster in the run blocking department, but he turned it on in pass protection in 2019.
The former five-star recruit would be an instant plug-and-play right tackle entering the 2020 regular season with the ability to kick to the left side when Russell Okung is no longer with the team.
Jedrick Wills (RT 74) from Alabama was on my list to watch this week. Look at this rep from him! Fantastic kick slide and then watch how easy he makes it look to transition his weight from his set foot to his post foot. Handles this spin move w/ease. Footwork is key! #RollTidepic.twitter.com/Zuw08LxwTy
Alabama star receiver Jerry Jeudy announced via twitter that he will forgo his Senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft 4ever a Crimson Tide ✌ pic.twitter.com/YSGihoPnfe – JJ⁴ (@jerryjeudy) January 4, 2020 Jeudy is expected to be the first wide …
Alabama star receiver Jerry Jeudy announced via twitter that he will forgo his Senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft
Jeudy is expected to be the first wide receiver taken off the board in the draft and is the No. 1 wide receiver in the draft class according to Matt Miller’s positional big board.
In his three years with the Crimson Tide, he has reeled in 159 receptions for 2,742 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Jeudy is the second Alabama Junior to declare for the draft after offensive tackle Jedrick Wills announced his decision just hours before.
There are still plenty of players left to make a decision on the future of their careers.
Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on all things Alabama football including the 2020 Draft decisions of others.
One of the best offensive tackle prospects in college football is making the early jump to the pro ranks.
Alabama’s Jedrick Wills is leaving school early to enter the 2020 NFL draft. He made his announcement via social media Saturday.
Widely regarded as one of this year’s top prospects at his position, Wills has been battle-tested against some of the top competition in the country playing in the SEC. With multiple teams currently picking in the top 10 in desperate need of an upgrade at either offensive tackle spot, Wills could easily end up hearing his name called that early on draft weekend.
Alabama right tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. has decided to forgo his senior season in Tuscaloosa and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft, according to an announcement he made via his Twitter account on Saturday. In the tweet, the junior offensive lineman made …
Alabama right tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. has decided to forgo his senior season in Tuscaloosa and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft, according to an announcement he made via his Twitter account on Saturday.
In the tweet, the junior offensive lineman made strong references to his amazing journey and wanted to “say thank you to the University of Alabama for an unbelievable experience the last 3 years of my life”.
Alabama has received some spectacular news over the last few days with the return of star linebacker Dylan Moses and offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood. But it does hurt to lose a player as talented as Wills.
Kyle Crabbs, NFL draft analyst for The Draft Network, released his latest big board on Saturday. Wills was listed as the No. 8 overall prospect, the No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 3 player from Alabama — Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5 and Jerry Jeudy at No. 6.
It’s possible that former five-star offensive tackle Evan Neal, who started at left guard during his first season in Tuscaloosa, kicks out to right tackle to replace Wills in the starting lineup.
Would these be two “perfect fits” for the New York Giants in the 2020 NFL Draft?
The New York Giants will select fourth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, which is good news for a team that has needs along the offensive line, edge rusher, insider linebacker and to some degree, cornerback and wide receiver.
While they may miss out on top prospect Chase Young of Ohio State, there are several other options that should intrigue them,
Pro Football Focus recently decided to take a look at few of those options, and determined there would be two “perfect fits” for the Giants.
The first, as one might expect, is an offensive lineman — although maybe not the first lineman that comes to mind.
Earlier — OT Jedrick Wills, Alabama
Nate Solder’s contract looks primed to come off the books this offseason, leaving Daniel Jones’ blindside unaccounted for. In a class full of freak athletes at the tackle position, Wills looks like the freakiest after posting a 91.6 run-blocking grade this year.
Wills previously went to the Giants in a PFF mock, so if you’d like to read about that, click here.
The second “perfect fit” PFF lists may be even more controversial.
Later — WR Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
Johnson may not have prodigious size or athleticism, but he just gets open again and again. He has finished in the top 10 in yards per route run in each of the past two seasons.
Johnson is currently projected to be taken in Round 2, but he’s an ascending prospect who could rise with a strong performance at the NFL Combine.
In the latest 2020 mock draft by Pro Football Focus, the New York Giants select Alabama OT Jedrick Wills in Round 1.
The New York Giants are likely out of the Chase Young hunt after defeating the Washington Redskins in Week 16 and seeing their projected spot in the 2020 NFL Draft slip from No. 2 overall to No. 4 overall.
Many assume that means the Giants will shift their attention to offensive line prospects and, perhaps more specifically, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, who is considered to be the best offensive tackle available.
But Pro Football Focus sees that going a slightly different way. And while they do have the Giants addressing their need at tackle, they project general manager Dave Gettleman passing on Thomas and selecting Alabama’s Jedrick Wills instead.
4. NEW YORK GIANTS — OT JEDRICK WILLS, ALABAMA
Wills has been a rocketship up draft boards this season — and for good reason. Wills improved by leaps and bounds, even as the season went along. He allowed 11 pressures all season but only one in his last five games.
While Wills has improved throughout the season, he’s still viewed as the fourth-best offensive line prospect in the draft by outlets such as CBS Sports.
That, of course, means very little now as rankings and projections will change dramatically in the coming months, especially during the 2020 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
But for the time being, how would you feel about this pick in Round 1, Giants fans?
The Draft Network, a site dedicated to analyzing, predicting and breaking down the NFL Draft, has started putting out mock drafts ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. Their most recent mock draft, this time from Joe Marino, has a total of eight Alabama …
The Draft Network, a site dedicated to analyzing, predicting and breaking down the NFL Draft, has started putting out mock drafts ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Here’s where Marino believes members of the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide will start their NFL careers:
3. Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Marino believes that the unfortunate injuries Tagovailoa has sustained late in his Junior season aided the struggling Miami Dolphins win the ‘Tank for Tua’ sweepstakes.
7. New York Jets – Jedrick Wills, OT
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The reasoning behind this pick: Sam Darnold can’t throw if Sam Darnold keeps getting sacked. He needs protection, and Wills is one of the best at offering it in this draft class.
10. Denver Broncos – Jerry Jeudy, WR
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jerry Jeudy’s route-running paired with a healthy Drew Locke? Sounds like an SEC Football reunion in Denver. Can the Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton combo replace the elite Denver duo that was Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas?
13. Oakland Raiders – Henry Ruggs III, WR
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Marino’s reasoning for this pick has nothing to do with how well Ruggs would fit into the Raiders’ offensive scheme, but rather how big of a weapon he would be on an offense with his speed and versatility.
14. Cleveland Browns – Alex Leatherwood, OT
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Much like the Jets’ pick of Jedrick Wills earlier in the draft, this is a team with offensive talent and promise, but they are no use if Baker Mayfield can’t get the ball off without getting hit. If the Browns want to protect Mayfield, Leatherwood is their guy.
27. New Orleans Saints – Dylan Moses, LB
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Marino recognizes the fact that Moses didn’t play a single snap in the 2019 season due to injury, but cites that it shouldn’t hinder his draft stock because of how well he’s played in previous years. He believes Moses will fill a hole the Saints have in the secondary.
28. San Francisco 49ers – Xavier McKinney, S
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Marino believes that McKinney could offer some versatility to the secondary that the 49ers need. He cites the different skillsets McKinney has learned while at Alabama which could make him a valuable asset to the San Fransisco defense.
32. Baltimore Ravens – Terrell Lewis, EDGE
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Would the Ravens really be the Ravens if they didn’t at least consider and Alabama player for their first round pick? Marino doesn’t believe so. He also feels that Lewis could be a big help for the ravens defense as a monster with the blitz.
