Tag: NFL Draft Picks

2020 NFL Draft: 5 Draft Day Predictions That Just Might Be Right

As the 2020 NFL Draft is about to get underway, here are five nutty, off-the-wall draft day predictions that just might be right. 

As the 2020 NFL Draft is about to get underway, here are five nutty, off-the-wall draft day predictions that just might be right. 

CFN in 60 Podcast: 5 Bold NFL Draft Predictions
Pete Fiutak makes his five big calls for the 2020 NFL Draft.

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews | @PeteFiutak

CFN 2020 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
from the college perspective …
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG & C
DE | DT | LB | CB | Safeties
Greatest NFL Draft Picks From Each School
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
32 Greatest Draft Picks of All-Time
Full 2020 NFL Draft Order
CFN Top 106 Player Rankings (1st 3 rounds)
How Will Leagues Do in 1st Round?
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | SEC
2021 NFL Draft Top 32 Prospects

This might not be your normal NFL Draft – at least, it won’t be the new normal, with all the bluster and goofy sideshows – but it’s still going to have its share of craziness, misfires, second-guess selections, and bold moves.

What do we know for certain? Most of the picks on Day Three will be a total waste of time, someone will pass on an obvious-in-hindsight Hall of Fame talent in the first round for a bust, and … we’ll all have a whole lot of fun.

So let’s project a little bit of the silliness. Here are five wacky predictions for the 2020 NFL Draft that will absolutely happen. Maybe. petef@Wib872

5. Washington at the 2, Detroit at the 3, New York Giants at the 4. Two of those three will trade out of their picks.

The three worst things in the entire world are 1) the Disney Family Singalong, 2) people who do what I do in sports media who complain in ANY way about being too in demand during this time of year because they’re SO busy getting to do their super-awesome sports jobs during a global pandemic, and 3) mock drafters who project trades.

You can’t make an NFL draft trade happen, and anyone who says they have inside knowledge from a trusted source are almost always being used in some way to put out misinformation.

You have to play it straight if you’re going to project an NFL draft, knowing full well that there will be trades at some point. With that said …

I’m projecting trades in my 2020 NFL Draft.

CFN in 60 Video: 5 Bold 2020 NFL Draft Predictions …
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Two of the three teams that pick immediately after Cincinnati takes Joe Burrow will trade out of their spots.

There’s a chance Washington really does see Ohio State DE Chase Young as the best player in the draft – which he is – and wants to stay put, but then it should go haywire.

Either 1) Miami and/or the Chargers will paranoid up and try moving from their respective spots at the 5 and 6 to make sure they get either Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert, or 2) teams like Jacksonville, who need a quarterback, will give away the farm to cut in line to get one of the two star QB prospects.

Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah is one of the four best prospects in the draft, but Detroit could move down out of the 3 and still be in line for a premium pick. And then there are the Giants.

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There’s absolutely no need whatsoever to take an offensive tackle in this draft at the fourth overall spot.

Tristan Wirfs, Mekhi Becton, Jedrick Wills, Andrew Thomas, Joshua Jones, Isaiah Wilson, Ezra Cleveland, Austin Jackson … they’re all good.

If the Giants like Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons, great. Stay put, take one of the five best prospects in this thing, and that’s the right selection at the right time. But if they’re going with an offensive tackle and they’re not moving down to do it, they’re not doing their job.

NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Prediction No. 4

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

2020 NFL Draft: Which cornerback will be drafted first?

Is Jeff Okudah a lock to be the first cornerback drafted? We break down the 2020 NFL Draft odds to be the first CB off the board.

The 2020 NFL Draft features plenty of good options at the cornerback position, but one stands above the rest as the best corner in the class. BetMGM has odds on who will be the first CB taken in April’s draft and we’ll make our picks to be the first cornerback taken in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Cornerback is a premium position in the NFL, especially with the league shifting to more pass-happy attacks. Gone are the days of running backs carrying the ball 30 times a game, with quarterbacks now airing it out more often than ever before. It’s why stopping modern-day offenses requires quality cornerbacks in the secondary.

Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah is widely regarded as the premier corner this year and could go as early as the top five.

2020 NFL Draft odds: Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah -5000

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday, March 20 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Okudah was a stud at Ohio State last season, despite not winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the country. He tested extremely well at the NFL combine, running a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash, jumping 41 inches in the vertical and 135 inches in the broad.

All of that, combined with the tape he put together at Ohio State, have him as the odds-on favorite to be the first cornerback taken in April. Several mock drafts have him going as early as third overall to the Detroit Lions – which seems especially likely after they just traded Darius Slay.

Okudah’s line of -5000 is steep and doesn’t offer much upside, but it’s a fair number based on his body of work.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Okudah to be the first CB off the board returns a profit of $0.20.

2020 NFL Draft odds: Florida’s C.J. Henderson +1200

Looking to place a bet on the 2020 NFL Draft? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!

Henderson is an elite cornerback, but he’s not on the level of Okudah. He’s viewed as someone who could go in the top 10, but the more likely scenario is he goes somewhere between No. 12 and 20 where the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars are slated to pick, respectively. The Dallas Cowboys are also a good fit at No. 17.

While he could rise a bit, there’s almost no chance he’ll leapfrog Okudah next month. There’s too big of a gap between them.

2020 NFL Draft odds: LSU’s Kristian Fulton +2500

Fulton is No. 3 on BetMGM’s board of corners, well behind Okudah and Henderson. He has very little chance to go ahead of Okudah, but don’t be surprised if someone takes him before Henderson. He showed great speed at the combine by running a 4.46 in the 40, which was a question mark in his game. Fulton also excels in man coverage, so if a man-heavy team is in need of a cornerback, it could favor the LSU product.

The Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons appear to be good fits for Fulton in the middle of the first round and could be landing spots at No. 15 or 16, respectively.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Draft? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 NFL Draft: Which O-lineman will be drafted first?

A look at the O-linemen who could be drafted and who is most likely to go first and to which team.

The 2020 NFL Draft is set to begin Thursday, April 23, and 255 players will be selected by teams to move on and play professional football. Several offensive linemen are expected to be drafted and many will go in the first round. It is a draft with some top-end talent at tackle. Here, we analyze the odds and best bets for the first offensive lineman selected in the 2020 draft.

2020 NFL Draft odds for O-Linemen to be drafted first

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 19 at 11:15 a.m. ET.

Twenty-two players are given odds to be the first offensive lineman selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. Some are absolute longshots. Here are the odds for each player, listed from shortest to longest.

  • Tristan Wirfs, Iowa +140
  • Mekhi Becton, Louisville +175
  • Jedrick Wills, Alabama +220
  • Andrew Thomas, Georgia +800
  • Josh Jones, Houston, +2000
  • Austin Jackson, USC +2500
  • Ezra Cleveland, Boise State +4000
  • Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin +10000
  • Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU +15000
  • Matt Hennessy, Temple +15000
  • Cesar Ruiz, Michigan +15000
  • Ben Bartch, St. John’s +20000
  • Saahdiq Charles, LSU +20000
  • Robert Hunt, Louisiana-Lafayette +20000
  • Jonah Jackson, Ohio State +20000
  • Lucas Niang, TCU +20000
  • Matt Peart, Connecticut +20000
  • Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn +20000
  • Isaiah Wilson, Georgia +20000
  • Trey Adams, Washington +25000
  • John Simpson, Clemson +25000
  • Tyre Phillips, Mississippi State +25000

Who will be the first OL drafted? Best bets

Looking to place a bet on the 2020 NFL Draft? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!

Based on pre-draft chatter, it is basically a four-man race to be the first offensive lineman picked and it depends on the team making the selection.

The New York Giants are the first team who might tackle a tackle with the fourth overall pick. The Carolina Panthers could do it with the seventh pick. The Arizona Cardinals could with the eighth pick. So could the Cleveland Browns at No. 10 and the New York Jets at No. 11.

If the Giants go with a tackle, they are most likely to go with a left tackle. That would suggest either Becton or Thomas could be the first OL off the board.

Wirfs has great game tape and had the best combine performance, while Wills was solid and allowed only one sack all last season.

Becton, who has incredible size and speed for that side, has the biggest boom-or-bust potential and seems to fit the best in the Browns’ scheme.

Ultimately, it will come down to who makes the first pick.

If you think it will be the Giants, your best bets are Becton at +175 and Thomas at +800.  I expect the top lineman to come off the board at No. 8 with the Cardinals. That will almost certainly be Wirfs at +140.

If you are looking for a potential big payout, Thomas at +800 could be the winner, but the smart money is on Wirfs.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Draft? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 NFL Draft: Which tight end will be drafted first?

A look at the tight ends who could be drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft and who is most likely to be picked first.

One of the weakest positions in the 2020 NFL Draft is tight end. Barring a surprise, there won’t be a tight end drafted in the first round. In fact, there is a realistic chance that there isn’t a tight end drafted inside of the top-50 selections.

However, that won’t prevent us from wagering on who will be the first tight end draft come April 23-25. Take a look at the odds for the first tight end to be drafted:

2020 NFL Draft odds, first TE selected:

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, March 21 at 5:20 p.m. ET.

Player
School
Odds
Cole Kmet Notre Dame -110
Adam Trautman Dayton +400
Thaddeus Moss LSU +600
Albert Okwuegbunam Missouri +600
Brycen Hopkins Purdue +800
Hunter Bryant Washington +800
Harrison Bryant Florida Atlantic +1200
Jared Pinkney Vanderbilt +1200

Who will be the first TE drafted? Best bets

Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet is the odds-on favorite to be the first tight end off the board as he possesses ideal size and speed for the position. While he needs to improve as a blocker, he is just 20 years old and is still improving. Given the big-school pedigree and elite size, Kmet should come off the board sometime in the second round. Even despite the lower odds, Kmet is still a GOOD BET to be the first tight end selected.

Looking to place a bet on the 2020 NFL Draft? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!

After Kmet comes Dayton’s Adam Trautman. Despite playing at a small school, Trautman made a name for himself at the 2020 Senior Bowl. But after he ran a 4.80 40-yard dash at the combine, it’s tough to see Trautman being drafted inside the top 60 picks. Despite the attractive odds, PASS on betting on Trautman to be the first tight end selected.

The sucker bet here is LSU’s Thaddeus Moss, whose odds have been pushed up due to name recognition. After measuring in at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Moss doesn’t have ideal size for the position — to go with his below-average speed. That doesn’t even take into account that he broke his foot before the combine, meaning that he won’t be able to work out for teams at all before late April. PASS on Moss to be the first tight end drafted at +600 and look for him to be a late Day 3 selection.

An intriguing longshot name to monitor is Missouri’s Albert Okwuegbunam. At the combine, Okwuegbunam stole the show with a 4.49 40 dash while weighing 258 pounds. He is one of the most athletic tight ends in the class, and with three years of college production on his resume, it wouldn’t be a shock to see someone gamble on his upside late in the second round. CONSIDER BETTING on Okwuegbunam at +600 to be the first tight end drafted.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Draft? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 NFL Draft: Which linebacker will be drafted first?

A look at the linebackers who could be drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft and who is most likely to go first and to which team.

The 2020 NFL Draft is set to begin Thursday, April 23, and 255 players will be selected by teams as they begin their quest to play professional football`. The complexity of football makes the NFL draft, in my opinion, the most exciting of any of the professional leagues as a generational player can be selected in any round, at any position.

For all we know, the next Bobby Wagner, Derrick Brooks or Von Miller could be drafted this year. Here, we analyze the odds and best bets for the first linebacker to be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

2020 NFL Draft odds:

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, March 21 at 2:50 p.m. ET.

Player
School
Odds
Isaiah Simmons Clemson -3334
K’Lavon Chaisson LSU +900
Patrick Queen LSU +1200
Kenneth Murray Oklahoma +1500
Zack Baun Wisconsin +3300
Akeem Davis-Gaither Appalachian State +3300
Willie Gay Jr. Mississippi State +3300
Troy Dye Oregon +3300
Curtis Weaver Boise State +5000

Who will be the first linebacker drafted? Best bets

Unfortunately, this is a STAY AWAY as far as gambling is concerned because Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons (-3334) has this so locked up it’s not worth even taking a flyer on another linebacker. For example, Simmons had more sacks, tackles for a loss, pass deflections, interceptions and forced fumbles than BetMGM’s second and third favorites for linebackers to be drafted first — LSU Tigers teammates K’Lavon Chaisson (+900) and Patrick Queen (+1200).

Looking to place a bet on the 2020 NFL Draft? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!

The only argument you could make about Simmons not being the first linebacker drafted is that he’s so dynamic as an athlete that he transcends any single position. Simmons entered the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine as the nation’s most decorated college linebacker, winning the Butkus Award and ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and being named a unanimous first-team All-American. His combine performance only padded his lead as the top-ranked linebacker entering the draft. Simmons wowed scouts by running a 4.39 40-yard dash and posting a 39-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot broad jump — making him the first draft prospect since 2003 that weigh more than 230 pounds to post such numbers (according to NFL research). Simmons being the first linebacker selected at the 2020 NFL Draft is the lock of the event.

Which team will select the first linebacker?

I’ll side with network colleague Luke Easterling of USA TODAY Draft Wire’s mock draft and say Isaiah Simmons (-3334) is drafted No. 7 overall by the Carolina Panthers.

Simmons could be drafted No. 3 by the Detroit Lions or No. 4 by the New York Giants. But after Detroit traded Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Lions will most likely select Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Jeff Okudah. The Giants will probably look to upgrade their offensive line after signing linebackers Blake Martinez and Kyler Fackrell. The Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers are both projected to select quarterbacks with the fifth and sixth picks, respectively, which brings us to the Panthers at seven. Carolina could really use a stud linebacker since eventual Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly’s retirement this offseason. Also, the Panthers were ranked 31st in opponent’s points per game and 23rd in yards allowed per game with Kuechly on the team.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Draft? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 NFL Draft: Which WR will be drafted first?

A look at the WRs who could be drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft and who is most likely to go first and to which team.

The 2020 NFL Draft is set to begin Thursday, April 23, and 255 players will be selected by teams to move on and play professional football. Several wide receivers are expected to be drafted and many in the first round. Here, we analyze the odds and best bets for the first wide receiver selected in the 2020 draft.

2020 NFL Draft odds: Which WR will be drafted first?

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 19 at 10:45 a.m. ET.

Sixteen receivers are expected to be drafted and have odds to be the first selected. One is the odds-on favorite. Here are the odds.

  • Jerry Jeudy, Alabama -118
  • CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma +120
  • Henry Ruggs III, Alabama +700
  • Tee Higgins,  Clemson +2000
  • Justin Jefferson, LSU +3300
  • K.J. Hamler, Penn State +4000
  • Denzel Mims, Baylor +6600
  • Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado +6600
  • Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State +10000
  • Donovan Peoples-Jones, Liberty +15000
  • Jalen Reagor, TCU +15000
  • Chase Claypool, Notre Dame, +25000
  • Gabriel Davis, UCF +25000
  • K.J. Hill, Ohio State +25000
  • Van Jefferson, Florida +25000
  • Michael Pittman Jr., USC +25000

Who will be the first WR drafted? Best bets

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Jeudy is the favorite but most mock drafts have had the top receiver split between him and Lamb.

The teams with the most glaring needs at receiver in the top half of the draft are the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos. The Cardinals pick at No. 8 overall, while the Raiders are 12th (and 19th), the 49ers are 13th (after a trade with the Indianapolis Colts) and the Broncos will pick 15th.

The Cardinals, though, recently agreed to a trade to acquire WR DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans, which would make it appear they will no longer take a receiver in the first round.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was a college teammate of Lamb and has openly lobbied for the Cardinals to draft him. The Raiders have also coveted him.

Jeudy is believed to be a slightly more complete receiver but Lamb draws comparisons to Hopkins. Both are similar in size, speed and athleticism.

Given the situation with receivers, it is basically a 50/50 bet between Lamb and Jeudy. Since the value lies with Lamb, the best bet is to go with Lamb at +120.

If you are looking for a sleeper who can pay out a lot, put some money on Ruggs at +700. If the Cardinals don’t take a receiver, remember the Raiders have always coveted receivers who can run. Ruggs is the fastest player in the draft.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Draft? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 NFL Draft: Which RB will be drafted first?

A look at the RBs who could be drafted and who is most likely to go first and to which team.

The 2020 NFL Draft remains set to begin Thursday, April 23, and 255 players will be selected by teams to move on and play professional football. Several running backs are expected to be drafted. Here, we analyze the odds and best bets for the first running back to be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

2020 NFL Draft odds: First RB to be selected

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 19 at 8:45 a.m. ET.

Twelve running backs are expected to be drafted and have odds to be the first selected. Two are the clear favorites. Here are the odds.

  • D’Andre Swift, Georgia -118
  • Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin -106
  • J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State +700
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU +2000
  • Cam Akers, Florida State +2500
  • A.J. Dillon, Boston College +6600
  • Zack Moss, Utah +8000
  • Anthony McFarland, Maryland +10000
  • Eno Benjamin, Arizona State +15000
  • Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt +20000
  • Lamical Perine, Florida +20000
  • Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State +20000

Who will be the first RB drafted? Best bets

Looking to place a bet on the 2020 NFL Draft? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!

Because of how running backs are valued today, even a talented running back class like this year’s group is getting pushed down. It is possible not a single back will go in the first round; however, with players like Swift and Taylor, at least one seemingly has to go early.

Initial projections had Swift going first and this is noted in the odds; however, Taylor produced more in college, rushing for more than 2,000 yards each of the last two seasons. Taylor’s performance at the combine probably put him over the top as the first pick.

Which team will select the first RB?

Who could possibly select the first running back?

The Miami Dolphins, who have three first-round picks, should be the favorite. They are expected to draft a quarterback, likely with the fifth overall pick, and will want to give him a running game to support him. They added veteran Jordan Howard in free agency, but multiple backs is the way to go in today’s NFL.

Another candidate is the Baltimore Ravens at No. 28, who depend on the running game to make the offense run.

My best bet would be to take Taylor, who is physical and fast at -106.

If there is a longshot to consider, ignore all but Dobbins at +700, who has all the abilities a team wants from a running back — running, catching and blocking.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Draft? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 NFL Draft: Who will go first overall?

Analyzing the odds on who will be selected first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets.

The 2020 NFL Draft remains set for Thursday, April 23, and it appears we know very little about who will go where. Free agency is still in full swing and we aren’t even sure where some of the top quarterbacks may land ahead of the draft.

However, we have a pretty good grasp of who will wind up going at pick No. 1. BetMGM has posted the odds for the player to be selected with the No. 1 pick. Take a look at the most notable odds below.

2020 NFL Draft odds: Who will go first overall?

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, March 19 at 8 a.m. ET.

POSITION NAME ODDS
QB Joe Burrow -5000
DE Chase Young +1200
QB Tua Tagovailoa +1900
OT Andrew Thomas +2700
QB Justin Herbert +3600
QB Jacob Eason +4300
WR Jerry Jeudy +6500
LB Isaiah Simmons +10000
QB Jordan Love +10000
LB Isaiah Simmons +10000
QB Jalen Hurts +50000

2020 NFL Draft odds: Best bets to go No. 1

Looking to place a bet on the 2020 NFL Draft? Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM. Bet now!

Given the -5000 odds, it seems highly unlikely the Cincinnati Bengals would select anyone other than LSU QB Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick. Burrow is coming off one of the greatest college football seasons of all-time, winning the Heisman Trophy Award and a National Championship. Given the Bengals’ need for a franchise quarterback, this feels like a slam dunk.

However, the odds here for Burrow aren’t favorable enough that you should wager on him to be selected at No. 1. Bettors would win just $100 for every $5,000 risked. There just isn’t enough value here to bet on Burrow despite him very likely going at No. 1.

Another player worth considering is Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. If he is medically cleared before the draft, he is the only other quarterback with a similar resume to that of Joe Burrow. On top of historic pass numbers at Alabama, Tagovailoa won a National Championship as a freshman and appeared in another in 2018. He has elite accuracy and athleticism that is reminiscent of Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson. At 19-1, Tagovailoa isn’t a bad long-shot bet considering just how incredibly talented he is.

Finally, Oregon QB Justin Herbert is a name worth mentioning at +3600 as he worked with the Bengals’ coaching staff at the 2020 Senior Bowl. Herbert had a fantastic week in Mobile, Alabama, as he was named the MVP of the game. It’s doubtful he is considered at No. 1 by the Bengals or any other team trading into that spot, but we have seen quarterbacks rise up draft boards later on in the process.

Want action on the 2020 NFL Draft? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 NFL Draft: Best Value Draft Teams In 2016. Who Did The Best Job?

How good are all the NFL teams at finding value? Four years after the 2016 NFL Draft, how did it really all shake out?

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How good are all the NFL teams at finding value? What are the best value positions? Which colleges are strongest? Four years after the 2016 NFL Draft, how did it really all shake out?

NFL Draft: Who Did The Best Job In 2016?

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

So why is the 2016 NFL Draft such a big deal? That was four years ago, and now all of those draft picks who survived and advances are free agents.

It’s everything to an NFL team to find the best value possible – rookie contracts can change a franchise. It’s not all that expensive anymore to sign a first round talent, but come up with real, live players in the later rounds and the success usually follows.

Four years later – and with several of the top players dealing with the free agent market – which teams did the best job of finding value, and which ones struggled?

We go by the CFN NFL Draft Value Score, explained in way too much detail here.

Basically, the later the good draft pick, the better the score.

First round picks are going to be scored low mainly because it’s not all that hard to find a good player up top – at least it’s not supposed to be – and the value isn’t there like it is to get a good player at the same position in, say, the fourth round.

So which NFL teams did the best job of finding the value picks in 2016? The draft four years ago is supposed to be the foundation. How did it all go?

Not like you’d think it would have.

Value is about finding a steady starter late in the draft, and punters are usually the safest late picks possible. That’s fine, but you need the stars, too.

Rankings from the teams that came up with the best value, to the ones that got the least.

The overall draft pick is the first number, and the CFN Draft Value Score is the last one. The players are ranked from top value to the least.

1. Denver Broncos 157.50

219 S Will Parks Arizona 263.48
228 P Riley Dixon Syracuse 228.00
176 FB Andy Janovich Nebraska 189.75
144 OG Connor McGovern Missouri 186.75
98 S Justin Simmons Boston College 162.31
136 RB Devontae Booker Utah 142.38
63 DT Adam Gotsis Georgia Tech 83.67
26 QB Paxton Lynch Memphis 3.66

2. New York Jets 149

235 P Lac Edwards Sam Houston St 470.00
158 OT Brandon Shell South Carolina 219.72
83 OLB Jordan Jenkins Georgia 142.66
241 WR Charone Peake Clemson 120.50
118 CB Juston Burris NC State 66.38
20 OLB Darron Lee Ohio State 23.75
51 QB Christian Hackenberg Penn State 0.00

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3. Cincinnati Bengals 118.99

245 S Clayton Fejedelem Illinois 267.97
122 DT Andrew Billings Baylor 160.13
199 WR Cody Core Ole Miss 130.59
87 ILB Nick Vigil Utah State 123.70
55 WR Tyler Boyd Pitt 75.63
161 OG Christian Westerman Arizona State 45.28
24 CB William Jackson Houston 29.63

4. Philadelphia Eagles 112.30

233 S Jalen Mills LSU 298.53
164 OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai TCU 192.19
196 CB Blake Countess Auburn 125.56
153 RB Wendell Smallwood West Virginia 117.14
79 OG Isaac Seumalo Oregon State 102.45
251 ILB Joe Walker Oregon 58.83
2 QB Carson Wentz NDSU 3.70
240 DE Alex McCalister Florida 0.00

5. Atlanta Falcons 112.23

195 OG Wes Schweitzer San Jose State 249.84
115 OLB De’Vondre Campbell Minnesota 203.05
81 TE Austin Hooper Stanford 114.74
52 OLB Deion Jones LSU 85.99
17 S Keanu Neal Florida 19.76
238 WR Devin Fuller UCLA 0.00

6. Dallas Cowboys 105.31

135 QB Dak Prescott Mississippi State 277.71
189 CB Anthony Brown Purdue 265.78
212 S Kavon Frazier Central Michigan 152.38
67 DT Maliek Collins Nebraska 121.44
217 TE Rico Gathers Baylor 64.42
34 OLB Jaylon Smith Notre Dame 46.66
4 RB Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State 9.53
216 RB Darius Jackson Eastern Michigan 6.75
101 DE Charles Tapper Oklahoma 3.16

7. Green Bay Packers 105.12

131 LB Blake Martinez Stanford 241.53
137 DE Dean Lowry Northwestern 209.78
88 OLB Kyler Fackrell Utah State 96.25
163 WR Trevor Davis Cal 78.95
27 DT Kenny Clark UCLA 47.42
48 OT Jason Spriggs Indiana 33.75
200 OT Kyle Murphy Stanford 28.13

8. Minnesota Vikings 101.79

244 S Jayron Kearse Clemson 255.44
227 OLB Stephen Weatherly Vanderbilt 198.63
188 TE David Morgan UTSA 146.88
160 OLB Kentrell Brothers Missouri 130.00
54 CB Mackensie Alexander Clemson 54.84
23 WR Laquon Treadwell Ole Miss 24.80
121 OT Willie Beavers Western Michigan 3.78
180 WR Moritz Boehringer Germany (No College) 0.00

9. Kansas City Chiefs 93.77

165 WR Tyreek Hill West Alabama 389.25
126 WR Demarcus Robinson Florida 171.28
106 CB Eric Murray Minnesota 92.75
37 DT Chris Jones Mississippi State 60.03
203 DE Dadi Nicolas Virginia Tech 34.89
178 CB D.J. White Georgia Tech 30.59
74 CB KeiVarae Russell Notre Dame 24.28
162 QB Kevin Hogan Stanford 22.78
105 OG Parker Ehinger Cincinnati 18.05

10. Chicago Bears 92.05

150 RB Jordan Howard Indiana 213.28
113 ILB Nick Kwiatkowski West Virginia 139.48
185 S DeAndre Houston-Carson William & Mary 138.75
124 S Deon Bush Miami 120.13
56 OG Cody Whitehair Kansas State 113.60
72 DT Jonathan Bullard Florida 57.38
127 CB Deiondre Hall Northern Iowa 19.84
9 OLB Leonard Floyd Georgia 15.19
230 WR Daniel Braverman Western Michigan 10.78

NEXT: 2016 NFL Draft Value: Teams 11-20

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

NFL Draft: How Good Are Teams At Finding Value? The CFN Draft Value Formula

How good are all the NFL teams at finding value? What are the best positions? Which colleges are strongest? The CFN Draft Value Formula.

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How good are all the NFL teams at finding value? What are the best value positions? Which colleges are strongest? We figure it out with the CFN Draft Value Formula.

NFL Draft: Who’s The Best At Finding Value?

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Two years.

Four years on a rookie contract is the dream, but can you draft a guy who’ll start for your NFL team for just two seasons?

Forget about being a superstar or anything special. Set the bar at simply finding a regular starter. If you can hit that with any regularity, you win the draft.

That sounds easy, right? Nope, which is why we’re wondering …
How good are all the NFL general managers and team scouts when it comes to draft value?

While everyone loves to focus on the big calls in the first round that can make or break a franchise – like taking Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick in 2017 instead of Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson – that’s just the frosting on the cupcake. The real importance of this thing is being able to build up a base of talent to rely on.

Where’s the value in the NFL drafts over the years, and who did the best and worst jobs at finding it?

The goal here is to see 1) which NFL teams were best at finding value, 2) which colleges put out the most valuable NFL players, 3) which positions tend to provide the best value, and 4) is there really any value in drafting in the later rounds?

That last part matters when it comes to trades – more on that another time.

Here are the ground rules and theories here …

1. This has almost nothing to do with talent – it’s all about the value and timing of the picks.

Of course Mahomes is a better player than anyone taken in the entire 2017 draft, but he went with the 10th overall pick. You’re supposed to be able to nail that.

Mahomes is actually a bad example considering he’s a unicorn, but in general, you have to work to whiff on a first round pick. Finding a real, live starter after the 100th pick who can play for four years on a rookie contract is found gold.

For the purposes of this value exercise, it’s a much bigger deal for an NFL team to find a Dak Prescott in the fourth round than it is to take Jared Goff – even if the pick works out – with the No. 1 overall selection.

No matter where you pick a player, though …

2. All you can reasonably ask for out of a GM is to draft a two-year starter.

Again, it’s not really about the talent – this isn’t a ranking of how good these NFL players turned out to be.

If you dive into the history of the NFL draft, finding an All-Pro is random dumb luck – really, it is, and we’ll show why at the end of all the analysis that will come out over the upcoming weeks. Just find a player who’ll start for you for two to four years.

One important note – you don’t get credit for drafting a player who produced for someone else. The value of each of these picks is only counted while they were on the teams that drafted them.

Also, if a player is hurt or on the sidelines for a stretch, that hurts his value overall. It’s why there are a few outliers in the formula – like Mahomes – but Pro Bowls and All-Pro recognition are added into …

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3. The CFN Draft Value Formula

Again, this isn’t about talent. This is about what players turned into steady starters for the teams that drafted them. Find those guys to build around, and then go after the established stars for positions of need in free agency.

The formula is made up of …

– The overall pick. The later the pick, the higher the value. Anyone can pick in the first 50 and find a decent player. Find the guy in the fifth round who’ll produce. 

- How many games did he play in? A pick doesn’t work if he doesn’t play. Finding a starter is the goal, but a player brings value if he’s a part of a rotation, too. Merely getting on the field matters, but more importantly …

– How many games did he start? Valuable backups and special teamers are usually replaceable. Was the pick a starter, and for how long? Reliability is almost everything, and if he’s starting in the NFL he’s doing something right. But …

– All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition counts. Finding a Pro Bowl player in the first round is harder than it seems, but it’s a first round pick – he’s supposed to be good. Finding one in the fourth round is massive. More weight is given to the score for All-Pro seasons – those are the true difference-making stars.

Way-too-long preamble short, who nailed their picks?

Number of games played, starts, Pro Bowls, and All-Pro nods are counted and then weighed into where the player was selected. The later the pick that worked out, the higher the score.

Who has been the best at finding the most value in the NFL Draft?

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