After leading the league in trade rumors entering the draft, the Atlanta Falcons didn’t make a single move during all three days.
After leading the league in trade rumors entering the draft, the Falcons didn’t make a single move. The team was still able to fill needs at cornerback, guard and linebacker, while adding depth to its secondary.
Let’s recap all six of Atlanta’s picks and examine the roles they are likely to play in 2020.
Round 1 (No. 16): CB A.J. Terrell – Florida
Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Analysis: Terrell was the third corner drafted, but is a great fit for Atlanta’s scheme and fills the team’s desperate need for a starting cornerback. Some analysts felt the pick was a reach, however, the Falcons had no choice due to the position they put themselves in by cutting Desmond Trufant. Terrell is effective in press-man coverage as well as zone. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris should be able to maximize the abilities of the former Clemson standout.
Let’s take a look at his RAS (relative athletic score), courtesy of Kent Lee Platte, to highlight Terrell’s impressive athleticism:
With pick 16 in the 2020 NFL Draft, the #Falcons selected A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson.
The Atlanta Falcons got a bolster to their defensive line with Marlon Davidson in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Atlanta Falcons got a bolster to their defensive line, adding Marlon Davidson in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Davidson’s attitude, talent and athleticism make him one of the more dangerous interior rushers.
Combine/Pro Day Measurables
With pick 47 in the 2020 NFL Draft, the #Falcons selected Marlon Davidson, DT, Auburn.
There aren’t any agility numbers for Davidson, but his size and straight-away speed show a man who is nasty right up front. He had a slower 10-yard split than most defensive tackles, but at 303 pounds, he should be able to utilize his power off the line to keep offensive guards off balance.
The new Atlanta Falcons lineman had a total of 17 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss as one of the most productive players in college football’s interior lines. Long-term, the Falcons have drafted someone who should develop and continue to improve as he sees more time on the field. He also looks like a very durable player, not missing a single game during his college career.
Highlights
How does he fit on the field
Davidson is one of the best pass-rushing interior defensive linemen in the draft. The Falcons needed a guy to come in and partner with Grady Jarrett in nickel sets and they might have gotten the best possible player to do so. And he’s not some 270-pounder, either. Davidson is a 305-pound mauler on the interior. Just listen to him talk about why he loves football:
#Auburn DL Marlon Davidson on what he loves most about the game:
“What I love most about the game is that I can literally go out there and hit a man consistently, and pound him, and the police won’t come.” pic.twitter.com/EgV9rtIcsL
When a guy talks about abusing people being the reason why he loves the game of football and his film backs that all up, that’s a guy any NFL coach will love on the inside of their defensive line. The Falcons will likely use him as a base under tackle to spell Grady Jarrett there at times, but in the nickel, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Davidson be the primary rusher next to Jarrett.
Atlanta gets another player who has that “dawg” in him. The team needed a fighter up front and having a guy who can come in and dominate some of the solid guards in the NFC South will only help the pass rush. The additions of Fowler and Davidson could help the team take that next step in improving what was an underwhelming pass rush in 2019.
How does he fit the Comrade Filter?
Marlon Davidson, not Derrick Brown, was the team captain for the Auburn defense. The Falcons’ defensive front has been lacking that vocal leader and Davidson could be that guy as the team moves forward. Having someone come in as a rookie with the kind of talent and leadership that Davidson has as a second-round pick is rare.
How does he fit into the long-term plans for the Falcons?
Long-term, the Falcons should see Davidson as the primary defensive tackle next to Grady Jarrett. As he develops, the team’s interior rush ability could become one of the most dangerous in the NFL. If Jarrett can continue being a poor-man’s Aaron Donald and Davidson can turn into a rich man’s Corey Peters, the Falcons could have the interior set to dominate the NFC South.
The Falcons needed some more interior pressure to take on Tom Brady and Drew Brees in the NFC South. Atlanta got the penetrator they needed.
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The Atlanta Falcons got A.J. Terrell in the first round on Thursday to address the cornerback position and then turned around and drafted Auburn defensive tackle Marlon Davidson in the second to bolster their rotation behind Grady Jarrett.
The team needed a defensive tackle who could play a decent amount of snaps in nickel and base packages that would complement the pass rush Jarrett provides.
Davidson could also fit as either a 1-technique nose in some sets or a 3-technique under tackle in others. The Auburn standout has heavy hands and is very similar to former Falcons defensive lineman Corey Peters. Atlanta could have surely used Peters the past few years to provide rotational depth.
The Falcons can rotate Davidson in a group with Jarrett, Tyeler Davison, and Deadrin Senat. He could be a perfect long-term solution next to Jarrett in nickel sets, too. Davidson may also surprise some people by playing defensive end in different situations.
If he can play with speed like he did in college, he could also compete for a role at strong-side defensive end. The Falcons’ talent on the defensive line needs to keep improving and it looks like the team may finally have the group they’ve always wanted. It’s almost time to look at the offense, but a strong-side linebacker is still a need.
Why DT Marlon Davidson instead of DL A.J. Epenesa or EDGE Zach Baun?
The Falcons preferred having a guy who can play anywhere from the 1-technique to the 7-technique. A guy that can play in the 3-4 at end or 4-3 at tackle is extremely useful considering how the Falcons play their linemen. A.J. Epenesa just isn’t as good as some consider him to be, and Zach Baun would be more of that true strong-side linebacker for the Falcons.
Breaking down the draft profile of Auburn defensive lineman Marlon Davidson, a potential pick for the Packers in the 2020 draft.
The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.
Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.
Up next is Auburn defensive lineman Marlon Davidson:
What he can do
– Played defensive end for Auburn but definitely looks and moves like an interior defender. Doubt he’ll be explosive enough to play on the edge at the next level
– Nice combination of long arms and natural power
– Tweener body type. Teams like the Packers will likely be interested in him playing on the end in the base before sliding inside to rush the quarterback on passing downs. Might not be his best fit
– Played some inside but is mostly a projection as an interior defender. Had some really encouraging bull-rushes as an interior rusher (see: vs. Texas A&M)
– Motor runs hot all game long. Chases play to the whistle
– Aggressive hand-swatter working downhill as a rusher, providing more linear routes to the quarterback
– Converts speed to power well
– Good foot speed for a big man. Can work around a stunt and has some closing speed. He could be an agile interior player in the 290-300 range
– Flashed first-round ability against both Georgia and Alabama. Beat likely first-round pick Andrew Thomas for a sack. Beat likely first-round pick Jedrick Wills for what should have been another sack
– Four-year starter. Had his best season as a senior
– Didn’t pile up sacks (17.5 in 51 games) but found ways to be disruptive. 29.5 tackles for losses, nine pass breakups and four forced fumbles
– Played with Packers defensive lineman Montravius Adams and likely first-round pick Derrick Brown
How he fits
Davidson would be a projection in the Packers defensive scheme. Could he drop a bunch of weight and play as an elephant edge in the 3-4? Or can he move inside and play a versatile role as a base end and rotational inside rusher? The latter looks far more likely. Any team drafting him better have a good plan. Davidson has power and agility and could be an intriguing interior rusher regardless of scheme. Teams want some pass-rushing juice if they’re taking an inside player early, and Davidson has it, but it’ll need some refining and harnassing at the next level. The Packers, who need help along the defensive front, could certainly use a powerful and agile lineman with a tireless playstyle and some disruptive ability against the passing game. Davidson’s best projection might be as a defensive tackle in a four-man front.
NFL comp
Tyson Alualu. Like Alualu, Davidson is a little bit of a tweener in terms of body type and projected NFL position. Alualu carved out a nice, productive NFL career as a run-stopping end who can provide some pass rush.
Where Packers could get him
Likely in the first two rounds. He is projected by many as a top-50 pick, making it unlikely – but not impossible – that he’ll be around at No. 62. Getting Davidson will likely require the 30th pick.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Auburn defensive line prospect Marlon Davidson
Auburn defensive line prospect Marlon Davidson learned in the seventh grade that he would never be a quitter.
A dominant, disruptive defender who plays for things much bigger than himself, Davidson recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about the tragedy of losing his mother, how she made him the player he is today, and why he’s ready to wreck the NFL.
JM: You made 51 career starts at Auburn, and put up some big numbers along the way. You posted 29.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks, which places 8th all-time in Auburn history. How do you reflect on the last four years?
MD: I have to give all the glory to God. He put me in a position to make plays. He’s the reason I came to Auburn in the first place. I was blessed to play at a high level. I feel like I did everything I could for Auburn. I gave them my all. I appreciate the opportunity that the coaching staff gave me.
JM: After your impressive career, you accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl. Did you feel like you had something to prove out there?
MD: Yeah, I most definitely did. I didn’t have a lot of people that really believed that I could play football at a high level. I’ve always flown under the radar. I went out there to solidify myself as one of the best. I truly believe in my mind that I’m one of the best defensive players in this draft class. It’s all about how I approach the game. My every day life revolves around football. It’s always on my mind. Football is my passion, football is my life. It’s everything to me. There wouldn’t be a Marlon Davidson without football. Who knows what the heck I would be doing right now.
I went down to the Senior Bowl and competed against some great talent. I’m very thankful to the Senior Bowl for giving me the opportunity. I was thrilled to receive an invite. I wanted to show people that I could be versatile and play all over the defensive line. I can play defensive end, I can play defensive tackle. I can line up over the center, guard and tackle. It doesn’t matter to me. I was productive no matter where I lined up. You can play me anywhere and the production will remain consistent.
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JM: You lined up everywhere throughout your time at Auburn. You rushed off the edge a bunch. Some people think you’re a better fit inside at the next level. Where do you think you’ll play in the NFL?
MD: I see myself playing as a big defensive end on the strong side. I’m a Calais Campbell type of guy. I love the way he plays the game. I see a lot of similarities between us. I’m a big guy, but I move well for my size. I can play the five or six technique as well. I can do that with ease. I can play at 290-295 and go out there and work an offensive linemen. I can play at any weight you want me to play at. It doesn’t matter.
JM: What can you tell me about the chemistry that you had with Derrick Brown?
MD: We loved playing together. Being at Auburn with him and practicing alongside him, we were actually roommates as well. We have a different type of bond. A lot of people don’t realize how close Derrick and I are. We’re family men at the end of the day. We both worked extremely hard. You put two hard workers together in the same room, you’re gonna be rewarded with the results that Derrick and I produced on the field.
We always put our best foot forward and gave it everything we had. That’s why we both played at such a high level. We had the energy and will to dominate on every snap. We really enjoyed playing together this past season. You saw a whole lot of #5 and #3 on the highlights. There was no #3 without #5 and vice versa.
JM: I bet the two of you really pushed each other in practice, right?
MD: Oh, yeah. The competition level between us at practice was ridiculous. We were always competing with one another. We always tried to outwork and outperform one another during the one-on-one drills. We did everything we could to get an edge on each other (laughs). We were always talking. Hey, I was better than you were out there today. I did this or that. We always wanted something to hold over the other guy’s head (laughs). We were willing to do anything for that.
JM: What was your experience like at the NFL Scouting Combine?
MD: It was a great experience. Having the opportunity to be at the combine and to show the world who I really am as a person was a blessing in it’s own right. It was a chance for me to really showcase my character and my passion for this game. I love the game of football. I appreciated every moment I experienced out there. I enjoyed speaking with all of the coaches and general managers. It was important to me and it was important to my family. It gave me an opportunity to tell people my story. I have a backstory with my mom and everything. I was just blessed to be there.
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Your story is both inspiring and heartbreaking. Are you comfortable sharing that with us?
MD: I would be happy to tell you my story. I quit playing football in the seventh grade. I said that was it. I’m done with this. I’m not gonna do this anymore. I walked right off the field. I walked all the way home. We moved out of the country part of town and we were staying in town now. I walked all the way home from practice. My mom used to meet me at practice. I walked home and she was still home at that particular time. She was getting dressed and ready to come meet me at practice like she always did.
Something told me that once I got home, my mother was still gonna be there. As soon as I saw her, I knew I was in big trouble. We had this motto in our household growing up: “No quitting.” There was no quitting allowed in our house. I quit that day. I quit everything to do with football.
Boy, let me tell you how my mom whooped my tail up and down that house (laughs). She tore me up, man. She told me that we never quit what we start. When you start something, you finish it. She told me that the family name means more than that. We’re not gonna associate our family name with quitting. We aren’t quitters. We’re winners, no matter what.
That’s what I pride myself off today. I learned my lesson that day. I’m not a quitter. She made me walk back to practice and I had to apologize to my coaches and to my teammates. That was pretty embarrassing for a seventh grader (laughs). It taught me a good lesson though. I owed them an apology. I did it with grace.
I promised her from that day forward that I would be the person that she wanted me to be. I promised her that one day, she would never have to work for anything ever again. I promised her that she’d never have to beg for anything ever again. She had to work for everything her whole life. She didn’t have an easy life but she did everything in her power to make our life easy. I promised her that she would be right there with me. She would always be right beside me and she would be there when I get drafted. I told her that I would buy her a house right next to mine. I wanted her to be right next to me.
She’s no longer with us. She passed away in 2015. To not have her with me today, it’s heartbreaking, man. I wish she could be here for all of this.
JM: I can’t imagine. I’m sure she’s incredibly proud of the man you’ve become. You’ve held up your end of the bargain.
MD: I’m sure she is. All of this is a dedication to her. All of this, everything I’m going through is a result of her hard work and the way she raised me. This is a result of all of her whoopings, swinging that belt on me when I wasn’t acting right (laughs). She molded me into the person I am today.
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
JM: I bet you didn’t dare to quit anything ever again.
MD: No sir, not at all (laughs). I learned my lesson that day. That’s what motivated me to come back to Auburn in 2019. I wanted to play one more year at Auburn. I had to finish what I started. I always said I would be at Auburn for three or four years. Four was better than three. I know she’s happy about that.
JM: I really appreciate you sharing that story with us. It’s both motivating and moving. On the football side of things, what’s the overall impression you think you left at the combine?
MD: I feel like I left an impression that I’m a special kid. I’m one of those rare breeds. I’m a special football player as well. I’m somebody that no team should want to pass on drafting. I feel like a lot of teams got a feel for me and my character. They can see that I’m a tenacious, passionate kid. I love everything about the game of football. I promote football and good habits in everything that I do. I can talk ball all day long. I’m telling you that I love it. You wanna talk about wide receivers and safeties? Let’s do it. I’m just that type of guy.
JM: What was the strangest question you were asked at the combine?
MD: Somebody asked me how I tie my shoes (laughs). I thought that was pretty funny. We were right in the middle of talking football, and he asked me how I tie my shoes. I didn’t even know what to say. I said that I just go down and tie them (laughs). I don’t know how else to put it. He was just messing with me. He just wanted to see what type of answer I was gonna give him.
JM: Were you able to get any private visits or workouts in before COVID-19 shut everything down?
MD: I made it out to Chicago. I went on a private top-30 visit with the Chicago Bears. That visit went down right before everybody started getting pulled off the road.
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
JM: I’m assuming you’ve moved all of your meetings to the phones since then?
MD: Yup, we’re doing a whole lot over the phone right now. Everything we’re doing is all about the telephones (laughs). I’ve had quite a few calls. Everything is going smoothly right now. A lot of teams are telling me that they like me. They see me as somebody that can play both inside and outside.
JM: Who are some of the teams that you’ve met with via FaceTime and what not?
MD: I’ve met with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.
JM: Do you have a preference between playing in the passing game and running game?
MD: Shoot, it doesn’t matter to me. What down is it? If it’s a run play, I’m coming hard after the run. If it’s a passing play, I’m doing everything I can to sack the quarterback and impact the pocket. I can get after the quarterback in multiple ways. That’s just who I am.
JM: Speaking of the way that you get after the quarterback, what can you tell me about your pass rush arsenal?
MD: My favorite move is the stab-trap. I love being able to punch a man and then trap his arm. I want people to feel the strength. That’s what I love about that move. I also love showing people that I can bend, move and turn. I’m a big guy don’t you dare tell me that I can’t move.
JM: What did your coaches ask of you in Auburn’s defensive scheme?
MD: They asked me to be an athlete, at the end of the day. They just wanted me to play strong and make plays in the backfield. I always played within the system. I’m always gonna be a system guy. I played well within that system. We ran a 4-2-5 at Auburn. That was our base package.
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
JM: Who are some of the best offensive linemen that you’ve ever gone up against?
MD: Andrew Thomas and Alex Leatherwood come to mind. I went up against Jedrick Wills, Jr. a couple of times. I actually think the most impressive tackle I squared off with was Penei Sewell from Oregon. He’s very impressive. I predict that he’ll be a top five pick in his draft.
JM: You had so many great teammates throughout your time at Auburn. If you were going into battle tomorrow and could bring just one with you, who would you bring and why?
MD: I would bring Daniel Thomas with me. He’s such a great guy. He’s a family man. That’s a ball-hawk right there. He’s a great, traditional safety. You can put him in the box or play him in single-high. He’s a football player, period. The thing that stands out the most to me is that he’s a great person. He has great character. Nobody has a bad thing to say about Daniel Thomas. He’s just one of those guys. He’s a very rare person.
JM: What’s your favorite way to demoralize and beat up on an offensive linemen?
MD: I love going both inside and outside. I’m gonna show you power first, and then I’m gonna show you speed next. A lot of people think I’m too big to have speed. I can move. I promise you that. I throw the power at them first. I’m gonna hit you with a little speed too. I just alternate between the two. You don’t know what’s coming next. That’s how I get you off balance. I’m versatile and you have no idea what I’m gonna throw at you.
JM: I’ve really appreciated your time today, Marlon. This conversation has been both informative and touching. I’ve really enjoyed picking your mind as a football player, and I appreciate you for sharing that difficult story with me. When a team uses a draft pick on Marlon Davidson, what kind of guy are they getting?
MD: Thank you for allowing me to tell my story. They’re getting a great football player. I’m a smart player at the end of the day. They’re getting a man of God. I’m always trying to be the best man that I can be. You never have to worry about me. Marlon Davidson is always gonna do the right thing. I’m one of those guys that you’re gonna want on your team.
More than ever, it’s important for defenses to bring pressure. Here are the best edge-rushers in the 2020 draft class.
The argument over which defensive asset — coverage or pass rush — is more important in the modern NFL is a fascinating one. One could say that in an era where a lot of teams are playing more than 75% of their snaps with at least five defensive backs on the field at all times, and others double down with at least six on more than 40% of their snaps, coverage is obviously the superior factor.
One could also say that with so many defensive backs on the field against three- and four-receiver base sets, getting a pass rush going with four defensive linemen and a handful of smart blitzers is the order of the day. After all, it doesn’t matter how many defensive backs you have on the field and how good they are — if they have to cover their receivers for five seconds because your pass-rushers can’t get home, your defense is in big trouble.
In the 2020 draft class, there are all kinds of edge-rushers with all kinds of responsibilities. Here are the 11 best as we see them.
Bio: Young started high school as an undersized quarterback, switching to defensive end and tight end once he saw a growth spurt. By his senior season, he’d earned Washington Post Defensive Player of the Year honors with 118 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and five forced fumbles. Offers came from just about every major program in the country, but after a flirtation with Maryland, he chose Ohio State, following in the footsteps of Joey and Nick Bosa as top-shelf Buckeye edge-rushers. He put up 98 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, and 30.5 sacks in three seasons at Ohio State, though there were some concerns about the three-game sackless streak at the end of his collegiate career against Michigan, Wisconsin, and Clemson, Young had a ready answer for that at the scouting combine.
“I had a lot of quarterback hits, a lot of pressures. If you understand football, you would see that. You’ll see how they changed their whole offensive game plan for one guy. A lot of people might not know how to really study a tape or may not know how to watch football, but if you know football, I made an impact in those games.
“Being the best defensive end isn’t about sacks, it’s about being the most disruptive player on the field. You can do that without having a sack.”
Chase Young this week on the three-sack drought: "Being the best defensive end isn't about sacks, it's about being the most disruptive player on the field. You can do that without having a sack… I had a lot of quarterback hits, a lot of pressures."
I mean, here's Young absolutely stopping a Trevor Lawrence passing attempt were it not for the entire right side of the defense getting lost in the weeds. So, let's please stop focusing on sack numbers as the be-all, end-all. pic.twitter.com/bJH4g8LkWs
As I wrote during the combine, Young was absolutely correct about this. He was a top disruptor throughout the entire season, and he projects to be the same type of weapon at the NFL level very quickly.
Stat to Know: Young recorded a preposterous 75 total pressures in 2018, and while his opportunities were relatively limited in 2019, he still had 56 pressures in just 320 pass-rushing snaps (as opposed to 470 the year before).
Strengths: True field-flipping defender who forces opposing offenses to design their game plans around avoiding him. Has ideal first-step quickness to set tackles on edge and prime wins through the arc to the pocket. Turns the corner to the pocket with excellent bend and power. Strong enough to disable blockers when he gets his hands into their chests. Maintains his speed through the pocket to work mobile quarterbacks. Has a nice array of moves from bull-rush to swim and club/rip that can be developed more specifically at the NFL level. Sorts and sifts through multiple blockers to get where he wants to go. Spies the quarterback through the snap and has an innate sense of how to create pressure from broken plays. Adept enough with his feet to do a decent job in short coverage. Works gaps more than he uses a true inside counter, but has the tools to make it work.
Weaknesses: Young needs a more complete plan when he heads wide and gets beaten. Inside counter isn’t developed as it needs to be. Needs better awareness for run plays, zone reads, and misdirection when he’s pinning his ears back. Redirection reaction can be a problem at times, though the recovery speed is obviously there. Wins more on pure athleticism and power than advanced traits, though he’s well on his way.
Conclusion: The question of whether Yonng is the best and/or most valuable defensive player in this draft class is a fascinating one, and probably highly reliant on whether you think pressure or coverage is more important at the NFL level. There are those who might prefer cornerback Jeff Okudah, Young’s Ohio State teammate, because Okudah brings a lockdown man-coverage mentality that’s as worthy of franchise consideration as any non-quarterback skill set. But if you’re looking for an edge defender with an obvious and easily transferable ability to terrorize quarterbacks at the NFL level, look no further. Young is a different player than either of the Bosa brothers, but he certainly looks to have the same type of potential.
NFL Comparison: Aldon Smith. Smith was an absolute force as a pass-rusher before off-field issues unfortunately wrecked his athletic potential. But when Smith was on his game, he had the same combination of size, explosive speed, and unusual power that allowed him to total 33.5 sacks in 2011 and 2012 — the most for any NFL player in his first two seasons since the sack became an official statistic in 1982. Young absolutely has the ability to make the same kind of impact, and has All-Pro potential especially if he cleans up a few non-pass rush issues that will make him a more complete player.
The prospects from the upcoming draft may be limited in terms of traveling and meetings, however, the NFL has still found creative ways to conduct interviews. Whether it’s through FaceTime or any other video contact apps, they’ve all done their best …
The prospects from the upcoming draft may be limited in terms of traveling and meetings, however, the NFL has still found creative ways to conduct interviews. Whether it’s through FaceTime or any other video contact apps, they’ve all done their best to do their homework on the prospects they could be adding to their teams in a few weeks.
The Jags are amongst the teams who’ve been working hard with interviews despite all of the limitations COVID-19 has caused. Thanks to our comrade of Draft Wire,Justin Melo, we’ve been able to stay in the loop with some of the prospects the Jags have shown interest in after the NFL Scouting Combine. Here are some of the names he’s confirmed who the Jags have contacted:
A.J. Green, CB, Oklahoma State
Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
Kenny Willekes, DL, Michigan State
Nick Harris, Center, Washington
Darrion Daniels, DL, Nebraska
Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn
James Smith-Williams, EDGE, North Carolina State
Alohi Gilman, Safety, Notre Dame
One of our guests on the “Bleav in the Jags Podcast,” Jordan Reid, also reported that the Jags had a FaceTime interview with Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.
Georgia OT Andrew Thomas, who’s widely seen as one of the best offensive tackle prospects in this class, has had FaceTime meetings with the #Browns, #Dolphins, #Jaguars, and #Jets. He also has a meeting with the #Giants upcoming this week, per source.
In terms of Combine interviews, we reported back in February that the Jags interviewed Miami’s DeeJay Dallas, Florida State’s Cam Akers, Georgia’s Solomon Kindley, and Louisiana States Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Kindley, a Jacksonville native recently sat down with Action News Jax as he’s training locally to prepare for the NFL season. In our latest mock, we slotted Kindley to the Jags in the second round.
Here are six defensive end/edge rushers for Bills to consider in the second round of the NFL 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 is the third piece in a series exploring realistic options who could be on the draft board when the Bills pick in the second round.
Here are seven defensive ends who could be an option for the Bills in the second round of the draft:
Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Current roster
The Bills addressed this position by bringing in Mario Addison and the versatile Quinton Jefferson in free agency, who could play up and down their defensive line, perhaps more at the 3-tech defensive lineman spot.. However, the unit could benefit from an infusion of youth, particularly a player who can get after the quarterback.
Buffalo’s defensive ends are getting a bit long in the tooth, with as Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison who are currently 31 and 32 years old, respectively. In addition, Trent Murphy enters the final year of his contract this year, and he’s 29 himself.
Thus, it’s realistic that the team could use their first pick this year on an edge rusher in order to both prepare for the future along with adding another piece of talent in Buffalo’s rotation at the position.
