Kyle Silagyi is joined by Justin DiLoro and McKenna Middlebrook to construct the Buffalo Bills’ 2020 NFL Draft big board.
Fans of the Buffalo Bills will have to wait until day two of the 2020 NFL Draft to see their beloved blue and red make its first selection.
The team parted ways with its first-round pick earlier in the offseason, sending the 22nd overall pick in the draft (along with other assets) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for Stefon Diggs.
Though Buffalo will not go on the clock until Friday evening, it will still have the opportunity to select a talented player. On this episode of The Kyle Silagyi Variety Hour, host Kyle Silagyi is joined by BillsWire staff writers Justin DiLoro and McKenna Middlebrook to construct their version of the Bills’ 2020 NFL Draft big board.
A comprehensive look at which players will be available most often for the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft and creating a mock draft
It’s almost here. The 2020 NFL Draft is just over a week away and everyone is chomping at the bit to know what the Baltimore Ravens will do. In a world of a million mock drafts, I decided to take a deeper look into the possibilities that players will actually be available for Baltimore.
For this mock draft, I ran three different mock draft simulators — The Draft Network, Mock Draft Database and eight different big boards on FanSpeak — to find the probability a player would be available for the Ravens when they’re on the board. I didn’t account for any trades in this mock and every player named in it was either the best player available, a positional need, or a combination of the two.
The hope is we’ll see which options will realistically still be on the board so we can better guess which way Baltimore will go in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images
1st Round, Pick 28
LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma – Available 40% of the time
Murray was the most frequently available player at No. 28. The only player close to his frequency was fellow linebacker Patrick Queen (20% of the time). Between the two linebackers, the Ravens took a linebacker 60% of the time.
Murray is blazing fast for a linebacker, running a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. However, his decision-making skills are the biggest knock against him, seeing him susceptible to getting roped in by play action.
Murray had the benefit of playing behind a talented defensive line at Oklahoma and if the Ravens drafted him, he certainly would benefit from playing behind the likes of Calais Campbell, Matthew Judon, Brandon Williams and Derek Wolfe.
Murray is clearly fast enough but will need to develop better instincts and decision-making skills to really flourish in the NFL.
Everything Indianapolis Colts fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft
Everything Indianapolis Colts fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.
VITALS
Head Coach: Frank Reich
General Manager: Chris Ballard
2019 Record: 7-9
2020 DRAFT PICKS
2 (34)
2 (44)
3 (75)
4 (122)
5 (160)
6 (185)
6 (193)
6 (211)
TEAM NEEDS
Wide Receiver
The Colts need to find another weapon to go along with TY Hilton. The currently deploy a duo of Parris Campbell and Zach Pascal but could definitely upgrade the position in the upcoming draft with a deep class. Justin Jefferson would be a solid addition and would likely man an immediate impact for Phillip Rivers and the new look Colts offense.
Quarterback
Despite adding Phillip Rivers in free agency, the Colts are still looking for their quarterback of the future following the surprise retirement of Andrew Luck last year. Rivers provides an upgrade at the position now but they need their future. Jordan Love was a name that could intrigue the Colts. If he were to fall into round two, Indy would be a good spot for him to sit and learn.
Defensive Line
This team needs to improve on the defensive side of the ball, more importantly on the front four. They added DeForest Buckner via trade but they still need depth inside and an edge rusher. The draft isn’t full a top talent but they can find a young talent to develop. Boise State’s Curtis Weaver could be one to keep an eye on.
10 players the Philadelphia Eagles could target in round-2 of the 2020 NFL Draft
[jwplayer 25TEMUeW]
The NFL draft is now just under two weeks away and although the intrigue has been about what the Eagles will do with their first-round pick, there’s plenty of drama surrounding the second-round as well.
The Eagles will again have pick No. 53 and if Howie Roseman chooses to stand pat, there are a number of intriguing options, including a bevy of talented wide receivers.
The Eagles could choose to go cornerback, safety or linebacker with the pick as well.
We’ve provided a list of ten players the Birds could target in round two of the 2020 NFL Draft.
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Chase Claypool — Notre DameMandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
1. Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
Considered a second- or third-round pick before the 2020 NFL Combine, Claypool brought back visions of Calvin Johnson with his movements.
.@NDFootball WR Chase Claypool runs a 4.42 official 40-yard dash!
He joins @CalvinJohnsonjr as the only wideout 6’4” & 235 pounds or bigger to run a sub-4.45.
At 6-4, 240-pounds with the ability to line up as a tight end, Claypool may have given coaches pause about a position change after he ran a 4.42, making him the first receiver over 230 pounds to run sub-4.45 since Calvin Johnson in 2007.
Claypool is strong, can jump out the gym and could be an option for the Eagles if they move on from Alshon Jeffery.
Here are seven WRs the Bills can consider in the second round of the 2020 Draft.
The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks No. 54 overall.
Luckily, the Bills do not have a glaring need on their roster, making this year’s draft quite intriguing. Buffalo’s front office, led by general manager Brandon Beane, can go in a multitude of directions with the pick, leaving quite a bit of interest and uncertainty with whom the Bills could select.
This installment of our position-by-position series looks at the wide receiver position and which players could still be on the board when the Bills make their first selection at the upcoming draft:
Buffalo is in an interesting spot at the wide receiver position, as the team traded for Stefon Diggs at the start of free agency. Diggs gives the Bills their best option as a No. 1 receiver. The Bills also has solid options returning from last year, as the team’s top two receivers, Cole Beasley and John Brown, are back for their second season in Western New York. Buffalo also re-signed Isaiah McKenzie, a versatile receiver who can also run the ball. Andre Roberts mans the return game, while Duke Williams, Robert Foster, and Ray-Ray McCloud III all sit deep on the depth chart.
Beasley and Brown were both productive in their first seasons in Buffalo. Brown is under contract for two more years, while Beasley will be around for three more years. Depending on one’s outlook, the Bills could take a high-ceiling player who could grow into a more productive role over the next few seasons, the heir apparent to Brown. There is talent available throughout the draft at the receiver position, as many analysts agree that this position group has some strong depth in it.
Here are seven wideout who could be enticing for the Bills at the No. 54 selection:
Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Laviska Shenault | Colorado
Shenault has massive playmaking skills. He broke out in 2018, catching 86 passes for 1,110 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions. He added five touchdowns on the ground. Shenault took a step back production-wise last year, as teams placed a greater emphasis on him. He caught 56 passes for 764 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions. He is a versatile player, as he played multiple receive positions throughout the year for the Buffaloes. He had surgery in early March to correct a core muscle injury, which might be the reason for some of his struggles last year, along with why he may fall in the draft.
Saw Colorado WR Laviska Shenault mocked to #Packers
WR built like RB after catch (6-2, 220). Similar to Deebo Samuel/A.J. Brown. YAC monsters
Lined up everywhere. 77 touches for 925 yds in 2019; 393 yds came after contact
A star-studded crop of wide receivers look to crash the NFL. Where do CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and the rest stack up for the 2020 NFL Draft?
Every year, narratives emerge around the NFL Draft. Often, they can be position-related. For example, I’m old enough to remember when the 2017 quarterback class was considered fool’s gold, and that the 2018 quarterback group was the one to get excited for. Well, someone forgot to tell Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes that…
But sometimes the narratives are reasonable. Ask anyone about this year’s draft and the first thing that usually comes up is how talented and deep this wide receiver group is. That narrative is spot on. This is an incredibly talented group. Look at any “Top 50” list and count the number of wideouts. Of these next 11 prospects, you could make a case any of the first ten players to be a first-round selection. This group is just that good.
Now as a result, it can be hard to rank them. In some cases it might just come down to a matter of personal preference. There is almost no way to incorrectly rank these players, given just how talented they are. Furthermore, drop any of these prospects into a different draft class and whether they are at the top of this list or near the bottom, they are likely pushing for the top spot in another class.
Again, this group is that good.
In fact, it was tough limiting this list to just 11 players. Some who did not make this cut are also fantastic prospects, who could be drafted late on Day Two or even early on Day Three and be immediate contributors. If I wanted to, I could probably put together a list of 25 good-to-great prospects at the WR position from this draft class.
Now that I think about it, I could not.
(I don’t believe that, I just don’t want my editors to get any ideas…)
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow leads the way in this year’s draft class, followed by an abundance of impact wide receivers and linemen.
With the 2020 NFL Draft fast approaching, it is time to start finalizing draft boards. Not just for NFL teams, but for the team here at Touchdown Wire. Here is Touchdown Wire’s list of the top 25 offensive prospects in the 2020 draft class.
1. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The list begins with the player expected to be the first pick off the board when the 2020 NFL Draft begins. Joe Burrow led LSU to a national championship last season and rewrote record books along the way. But the reasons he is the top offensive player — in addition to positional value — are the traits he brings to the table as a prospect.
Competitive toughness. Accuracy. Pocket management. Plus the ability to do all the little things that matter at the position, such as manipulating defenders with his eyes and throwing with anticipation. The Cincinnati Bengals are this close to finally having their quarterback … unless a team breaks the bank to trade up to the first spot.
2. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
(Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
In a talented and deep wide receiver class, the players clustered near the top might just be a matter of personal preference. Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III are all potential game-changers at WR. Lamb edges out the rest due to his combination of explosiveness, catch radius, route-running and ability after the catch. Some might knock him for a lack of elite speed, but with his route-running, ability after the catch and how he sets up defenders on his cuts and breaks, the little things he has mastered make up for the lack of 4.4 speed.
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
(Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Spo)rts)
Football is a game of angles. Listen to Bill Belichick talk about angles in the blocking part of the game, and you will understand. That also matters for a wide receiver, how you set up and then break away from cornerbacks, how you exploit their leverage advantages, and how you attack their alignment off the line. Jeudy is a master at that part of playing wide receiver. He also brings great deep speed, elite hands and an ability to turn any play into a touchdown regardless of route. He was used predominantly as a slot receiver last season, but he has the short-area quickness and explosiveness to beat press when he transitions to the NFL.
4. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
(John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
Obviously the medical picture might cloud Tagovailoa’s outlook in the draft, but based on what he can do on the field, the Alabama passer has to be considered one of the top offensive players in the draft. He possesses a lightning-quick release with a compact throwing motion, drawing comparisons to Jimmy Garoppolo in that regard. He also has the athleticism to extend plays outside of the pocket and keep a defense honest with what he can do as a runner. Tagovailoa is an accurate passer in the short and intermediate areas of the field, ideal for most NFL offenses. There are things he needs to clean up, such as his vision in the post-snap phase of the play, but if the medicals check out, he is a solid prospect at the game’s most important position.
5. Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Similar to the wide receiver position, the offensive tackle group has great talent at the top, so ranking the “Big Four” tackles might come down to a matter of scheme fit or team needs. We can start with Wills, the Alabama right tackle who has been a mainstay on their offensive line the past two seasons. He gave up a single sack and just five quarterback hits during his career with the Crimson Tide. Wills is also a dominant player in the run game, and he has the power to handle gap/man assignments but also the footwork and agility to function well in a zone blocking scheme. What might hurt him in the eyes of some is that he has spent his career at right tackle, and teams looking for a LT might look at someone with more experience at that spot.
6. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
(AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
If an NFL team is looking for that “plug and play” starter at left tackle, Thomas is likely their man. He was a focal part of the Bulldogs’ offensive line for the past three seasons and made the switch to left tackle prior to the 2018 campaign. Last year, his second at LT, he gave up just one sack and eight quarterback hurries, and did not allow a single QB hit. Thomas is also a force in the ground game. The Georgia offense did give him help, running a lot of play-action, and he often worked with a tight end aligned around him, but his traits and execution translate well to the pro game.
7. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“Speed kills.” “You can’t teach speed.” Whatever your favorite sports cliche about speed is, dust it off and bring it to your evaluation of Ruggs. The Alabama wideout has speed to burn and showed that both on film and at the Scouting Combine, where he posted a blazing 4.24 40-yard dash. Ruggs has more than just the jets in his toolkit; he is a solid route-runner, tracks the ball well in the vertical game and is unafraid to work over the middle. But when you have the potential to take a simple slant route to the house on any given snap, you’re going to be coveted in the NFL.
8. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
(Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports)
The Iowa product is another dominant force at right tackle. Wirfs turned heads at the combine when he posted a 4.85 40-yard dash after weighing in at 6-5 and 320 pounds. For reference, that is a faster 40-yard dash than quarterback Jake Fromm, who ran a 5.01 40. Wirfs is another plug-and-play type of offensive lineman, coming from an offense at Iowa that ran a variety of rushing concepts and tasked him with a lot from a pass protection standpoint. He also has the chance to play both right and left tackle, having seen 161 snaps at LT last season. With his athleticism and strength, Wirfs could be a mainstay at tackle for the next 10 years for the team that drafts him.
As we enter our eighth official day of free agency the Dallas Cowboys have already locked up Amari Cooper signing him to a five year $100
The Dallas Cowboys locked up Amari Cooper, signing him to a five-year, $100 millioncontract with $60 million in guarantees. While the top of the receiver depth chart is secure there are some serious questions with the depth of the position. He returns to combine with Michael Gallup as one of the league’s most exciting young duos. After losing starting slot receiver Randall Cobb to the Houston Texans (three year $27 million), though, there is a hole in the slot that will need to be addressed in free agency or at some point in the draft. Behind the top two receivers is Jon’Vea Johnson, Ventell Bryant, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Lance Lenoir, Devin Smith, and Noah Brown; a collection of late round selections with some upside to develop, veterans, and core special team players.
There is a need to find young wideouts capable of impact in the slot and with versatility to play on the outside if they were to suffer injury.
Lucky for the Cowboys this is a great year to be in the market for a receiver as this could be the deepest draft class we potentially have ever seen. This class has a variety of different skills, size, and ability. There is surely a receiver that will fit what the Cowboys may be looking for in this draft class.
Here are five of the top prospects, where the Cowboys may have to draft them, and how they fit.
Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Originally from DeSoto, TX the 6-foot-1, 227 pound receiver has made the University of Colorado home for the past three seasons. Shenault is a receiver with a running backs frame and play style. He is difficult to bring down in the open field and is a physical runner. He has good ball skills and attacks the ball once its in the air. He can be a chest piece for an offensive coordinator as he can be used in the slot, on the perimeter, with jet sweep action and as a move guy. Shenault has plenty of skill at the position but at the moment he is more playmaker that pure receiver as he will need to continue to develop as a route runner. Shenault finished his Junior season with 56 receptions, 764 yards, four touchdowns, 23 carries, 161 yards, and two touchdowns.
Shenault would be an excellent fit with this Cowboys offense as he has played in the slot as well as on the outside and could add another element of physicality to the offense. He also offers up value as a return man with play making traits. Shenault is recovering from a core muscle injury that could push him down the board some with the depth of this class. Pick 51 would be great value for Shenault if he is available.
“2 Live” is both talented and stoic as a three-level threat with outstanding physical traits and ball skills. He offers explosive playmaking potential with strength/wiggle to house a short catch-and-run throw or race and leap to pull in a bomb downfield. Shenault shines as a phone-booth bully who’s able to body up and create late windows while securing throws with vice-grip hands. Evaluators get excited by his talent as a direct-snap runner, but sometimes he’s too physical for his own good, which could bring his history of durability into play. Despite his traits and talent, there is work to be done as route-runner and coordinators need to determine how best to use him. He’s a high-end talent, but not a sure thing. An exciting ceiling but a lower floor.
Laviska Shenault checks nearly every box you’d want from a high-end wide receiver prospect entering the NFL — minus production. Shenault’s physical ability is jaw dropping and should transcend a dysfunctional offense at Colorado. Shenault possesses the explosiveness, physicality, short area quickness, hands and linear speed to become a high volume alpha receiver at the NFL level. He’s capable of defeating press on the boundary and should produce immediately.
Perhaps the trait that stands out the most about Shenault is his toughness. He is a thickly built receiver who plays the game the right way. Many wideouts with Shenault’s strength and physicality are prone to pushing off of defensive backs, but Shenault has enough quickness to get open, and when he gets the ball in hands, he is special with the way he dodges and weaves by defenders while running through arm tackles. Shenault is very physical with defensive backs to power through tackles and get yards after contact. Cornerbacks really struggle to get him on the ground, and he is dangerous with his ability to produce quality gains on bubble screens and other easy completions because of his run-after-the-catch skills.
The Houston Texans addressed receiver in free agency, but it could still use a boost in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here are three options to consider.
After the widely panned departure of three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins, thanks to coach-GM Bill O’Brien, the starting Houston Texans receiving corps now consists of Kenny Stills, Will Fuller, and Randall Cobb. Each excels in complementary roles, but the reality is there no WR1 on the roster.
Houston’s first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft starts with the 40th overall pick in the second round. With a deep receiver class, the Texans stand a good chance of picking up a playmaker or two for this quasi new-look offense.
Here are three potential receivers the Texans could add at each stage of the draft:
Top pick: Laviska Shenault, Colorado
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The elusive receiver’s stock dropped somewhat this past season due in part to injuries. However, there can be no denying his talent. Standing tall at 6-1, 227 pounds, he has great size which he uses to his advantage. One aspect of his game that jumps off the tape is how hard he is to bring down thanks to great strength and balance. Throw in the fact that he tends to fall forward and gain that extra yardage when brought down, and there is plenty to like off the bat. His hand-eye coordination is excellent, his athleticism is clear to see, and he has shown his versatility when used effectively in the wildcat setup.
A native of DeSoto, Texas, his durability is a concern as is his drop in productivity from 2018 to 2019. Nevertheless, his talent is clear as day and he is worth a shot especially when considering that he wouldn’t necessarily need to be a starter from day one.
