Tag: Second Round

NFL Draft: Which position will the Pittsburgh Steelers draft first?

Assessing 2020 NFL Draft odds centered around which position the Pittsburgh Steelers will draft first.

The second and third rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft take place Friday, April 24, in the basements of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and general managers around the league. The Pittsburgh Steelers did not have a first-round pick as a result of their mid-season trade with the Miami Dolphins for DB Minkah Fitzpatrick. Below, we’ll look at the BetMGM odds for which position the Steelers will target first Friday evening.

2020 NFL Draft: Which position will the Pittsburgh Steelers draft first? Odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Odds last updated Friday, April 24 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

POSITION ODDS
Offense -141
Defense +115

The odds for the Steelers’ first pick, scheduled to be with the No. 49 overall selection, or the 17th pick of the second round, are set up as a two-way line between a defensive player or an offensive player. The Steelers enter Day 2 with two selections at picks No. 49 and 102.

While the Steelers fell short of the postseason last year with a record of 8-8 to finish second in the AFC North, QB Ben Roethlisberger returns from injury and looks to lead another playoff charge. When betting on the Steelers’ first draft selection, it’s important to keep in mind they’re in “win-now” mode and will look to give Roethlisberger the best opportunity for one more Super Bowl run.

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2020 NFL Draft: Which position will the Pittsburgh Steelers draft first? Best Bets

The Steelers are heavily favored to target an OFFENSIVE PLAYER with their first pick of the 2020 draft. A $10 bet at the -141 odds will return a profit of $7.09. This is an adequate profit margin and a solid investment ahead of the start of Friday’s second round.

The Steelers lack a true No. 2 receiver behind bounceback hopeful JuJu Smith-Schuster. James Washington and Diontae Johnson have both flashed at times, but they’re likely better suited to depth roles as No. 3 and 4 targets in the passing game. TE Eric Ebron was signed as a free agent and will be an excellent red-zone asset, but Pittsburgh needs someone to draw double coverage off of JuJu.

Michael Pittman, Tee Higgins, Laviska Shenault Jr. and Denzel Mims all fit that role, but there are plenty of receiver-needy teams ahead of Pittsburgh.

Should those receivers go off the board early, Pittsburgh may pivot to a running back in order to pair James Conner with a quality complement. D’andre Swift is unlikely to fall much further, but one of Cam Akers, J.K. Dobbins or Zack Moss is sure to hang around.

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Which teams could the Saints trade with to get into Round 2?

The New Orleans Saints could move up into the early picks of the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft by trading with teams like the Dolphins.

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The second round of the 2020 NFL Draft is going to be filled with intrigue, if the latest reports are any indication. The New Orleans Saints were among several teams actively working to trade up and secure a pick early on Friday night, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport rattling them off in a list that included the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Atlanta Falcons. Each of those teams could end up arranging a deal to climb up in the second round, but the Saints would be making the biggest jump. Right now, they don’t even own a second-round pick.

Rapoport also speculated that the Saints could be targeting a cornerback or linebacker with this move. While he didn’t specify which position the Saints might want to address so badly, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer also reported that the Saints are busily working the phones to try and find a trade partner before the second round kicks off.

But which teams might be interested in trading down? The Dolphins were one possibility suggested by Rapoport, as were the Indianapolis Colts (at No. 34). Miami owns multiple picks in the second round at Nos. 39 and 56, ironically because the Saints traded with them last year, targeting Erik McCoy. The Dolphins have a history of cutting deals with New Orleans, going back to the Kenny Stills-Dannell Ellerbe trade way back in 2015. Maybe they can work something out again.

Other options to watch would be the Baltimore Ravens (picking at Nos. 55 and 60) and the Chicago Bears (with selections at Nos. 43 and 50). But if the Saints are really wanting to get ahead of their competition, they might need to put a ton of chips on the table and aim even higher. Don’t sleep on another trade with the New England Patriots, who the Saints have often traded with in the past (remember the Brandin Cooks deal?). The Patriots traded down and out of the first round, acquiring the Los Angeles Chargers pick at No. 37.

Whichever direction the Saints end up going, they won’t have lacked for options.

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USA TODAY’s NFL 2nd round mock draft: Where do Georgia players land?

The second round of the 2020 NFL Draft begins tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN. See where Georgia players may land.

Thursday night, the Georgia Bulldogs had two first round draft picks, OT Andrew Thomas at No. 4 to the New York Giants and OT Isaiah Wilson at No. 29 to the Tennessee Titans.

The second and third rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft will be held tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN and we can expect several more Bulldogs to hear their name called.

Here is where USA TODAY thinks Georgia players will land in the second round:

33. Cincinnati Bengals – D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia:

Matt Stamey-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Davis of USA TODAY wrote:

Incumbent Joe Mixon is entering his walk year, rumblings of a holdout already surfacing. Swift – arguably the best player on the board – might be a more dynamic option anyway, possibly teaming with Mixon in the near term … possibly forming a special backfield with new QB Joe Burrow over the long run.

61. Tennessee Titans – Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia:

John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Davis of USA TODAY wrote:

His intangibles are off the charts even if his quantifiable attributes are not. Fromm might be a career backup … but could also blossom into a quality starter given the right opportunity. Nashville could be it.

Rumor: Saints working to get a draft pick early in the second round

The New Orleans Saints are exploring options with possible trade partners slotted to pick high in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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The New Orleans Saints aren’t finished upending fans’ expectations. Having selected Michigan interior offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, they’re now working to make a bold move up the board.

Per a report from the MMQB’s Albert Breer, the Saints are targeting a draft slot “near the top of the second round.” That would put them in position to select one of the top prospects at linebacker, wide receiver, or cornerback, but we really can’t rule anything out (except maybe punter, kicker, and long-snapper).

The difficulty arises from New Orleans lacking a second-round pick in this year’s draft, having traded it already to move up for Erik McCoy in 2019. Their next pick isn’t until No. 88 overall, so the Saints might have to dive into their war chest of 2021 draft picks. They could also trade a veteran player.

And that would follow a precedent. The Saints have often traded next-year selections to make moves in the present, maneuvering the draft board to acquire prospects they value highly. Don’t be shocked if they go back to one of their common trade partners like the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, or Philadelphia Eagles, though it’s worth noting that the Baltimore Ravens are a team with four picks in rounds two and three.

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POLL: Vote on who the Lions should select at No. 35 overall

The Detroit Lions have plenty of options in the second round. Who you would like to see the Lions select with the 35th overall pick?

With the selection of Jeff Okudah in the first round, the Lions shored up one of the biggest holes on the roster. Going into Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft, they have to be excited to see the amount of talent that is still available.

The Lions will start the day with the 35th overall pick and there are a number of intriguing players the Lions could consider with this selection. With the number of talented players, there could also be a possibility of the Lions swinging a trade, potentially double-dipping into this pool of players.

Plenty of options here Lions fans. Who would like general manager Bob Quinn to select in the second round?

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Day 2 mock draft: Bengals land upgrades around Joe Burrow in Rounds 2-3

Here’s an updated Cincinnati Bengals mock draft for Rounds 2-3 of the 2020 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals did the obvious with Joe Burrow. Now it’s all about upgrading around him.

The 2020 NFL draft continues Friday, where the Bengals will again hold the top pick. Unfortunately, some top names at positions like linebacker didn’t fall.

Fortunately, other first-round talents did.

Taking a value and need slant, here’s a mock for Rounds 2 and 3.

 

Round 2 (33): Josh Jones, OT, Houston

Sep 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars offensive lineman Josh Jones (74) during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Most onlookers would probably agree Josh Jones doesn’t fall to the second round most years. But the 2020 class was oddly strong at tackle, hence six coming off the board in Round 1.

That leaves Jones to the Bengals — and he’s probably the lone reason they shouldn’t trade down.

Jones has left tackle potential but the value with him in Cincinnati is he can probably carve out a long-term role as a starter anywhere, including guard. He’s pro-ready at 6’5″ and 319 pounds.

Lance Zierlein put it best: “Early tape would suggest that Jones is a raw, developmental project in need of substantial technique work, but tape study later in the season suggests a level of improvement that creates additional intrigue for the long, athletic left tackle prospect.”

Lucking into a Round 1-caliber tackle like Jones while still trying to right the longstanding wrongs along the offensive line is as good as it gets.

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Best available options for the Bengals in Round 2

These are the best prospects left on the board in the 2020 NFL draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals went and got who they considered to be the best outright player available with Joe Burrow at No. 1.

Now they get to do the same thing at No. 33 to start Friday’s Round 2.

With notable prospects falling out of the first round, the Bengals have a shot to get an instant-impact starter. Here is a look at the best options.

 

Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

Nov 23, 2019; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Denzel Mims (5) celebrates during the game against the Texas Longhorns at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals sit in a lucky spot where they could get Mims, a borderline first-round player with No. 1 upside at 33.

Mims, a big 6’3″, has an incredible catch radius and could work his way onto the field quickly. He’s an ideal target for a rookie passer and adding him would shore up some of the long-term question marks for the positional group.

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Colts can steal a safety prospect on Day 2 of NFL draft

Colts can find safety value on Day 2.

After a few shocks in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts find themselves in a very interesting position as the second round opens up on Friday.

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As the owners of the Nos. 34 and 44 picks, the Colts have unique positioning to draft two players who can have immediate impacts. One of those picks could come at the safety position.

After no safeties were taken off the board in Round 1, there are plenty of value picks in the early portion of the second round. Here are a few options for Chris Ballard and Co. to take with their first two picks of this draft:

Grant Delpit, LSU

Some saw it as a surprise that Delpit did not get picked on Thursday night, but many teams will be thankful that he didn’t.  As a three-year starter for LSU, Delpit has won two Consensus All-American awards and was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection.

Delpit would bring an interesting combination of elite coverage skills mixed with run-stopping ability. He would fit in the Colts secondary and could help on stopping the run while blitzing as well. He is a very versatile prospect.

Xavier McKinney, Alabama

McKinney falling out of the first round was also a shock to many around the league. The junior safety out of Alabama was an All-SEC selection in 2019 and decided to leave the Crimson Tide a year early after having a breakout year.

McKinney is great in downfield pass coverage, but where he shines is in blitz packages when he is able to rush the quarterback. He is very fast and has great vision for reading a QB for an interception.

Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota

This pick would most likely be at No. 44, but Winfield is no consolation prize. He decided to forego his final two years of eligibility for the Golden Gophers after his breakout year in 2019 where he earned the honors of Unanimous first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten and was named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year.

As a talented safety, Winfield has great coverage skills and excels in zone coverage when he can come across the field for a pick. His ability to read the quarterback and undercut routes is very rare at his age and level of play.

He is also a talented punt returner, which highlights his ability to read the field and use his speed to his advantage. As a very versatile athlete, he is looking to follow in his father’s footsteps.

After a multitude of reports came out about the Colts possibly trading Malik Hooker this week to move up in the draft, many thought the Colts would need to draft a safety coming up in the second round. What nobody thought, however, was the quality of safeties that would still be on the board.

Hooker’s inability to stay healthy is still a concern as he heads into the fourth year of his rookie contract and has yet to receive an extension or a fifth-year option.

Could this be the spot where the Colts make a decision on their future at the safety position? Could other safeties like Jeremy Chinn and Ashtyn Davis be options too?

Either way, the Colts have many options on what to do with their two second-round picks. The way this draft has gone so far, I would not be surprised to see a couple more shocking moves on Day 2 and beyond.

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What would it cost the Texans to move back into Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft?

The Houston Texans don’t have a first round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, but it is possible they could get back up there with a few trades.

The Houston Texans don’t have a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they do have a Pro Bowl left tackle. The trade with the Miami Dolphins cost the Texans their Round 1 selection in this year’s draft as part of the draft package to get Tunsil.

What if there is a player the Texans need in the first round? How would the Texans get back into Round 1 and take that player?

According to the Texans Wire draft value chart, based on the research at DraftTek.com, it would cost the Texans their two second-rounders (No. 40 and 57), and the highest they could get is No. 20 overall in Round 1.

Of course, the value chart is sort of a graphical guideline; it isn’t the rule book for how trades are conducted in the draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars could demand an extra draft pick or a player.

Nonetheless, the chart provides a picture for what it would take for Houston to get back into the first round.

Currently, the Texans have three picks in the top-100 of the NFL draft with their third-rounder coming in at 90th overall. Even if the Texans decide to hold their ground, they still have premium enough picks to fill their remaining holes on the roster.

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Who else have the Texans taken at 57th overall in the NFL draft?

The Houston Texans start the 2020 NFL Draft with the 57th overall pick in the second round. Have they have picked at 57 before? Who have they taken?

The Houston Texans start off the 2020 NFL Draft deep in the second round at No. 57 overall.

Have the Texans, who were founded in 2002, even selected players at that specific slot?

It turns out the Texans actually have, and they have one of those players on the current roster.

2013 – s d.j. swearinger

(AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Brett Coomer)

One of the last picks of the Gary Kubiak era, the Texans selected the South Carolina Gamecock in the second round after taking Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins with their first-round pick. Swearinger was part of a replacement duo at safety since the club decided to let Glover Quin walk in free agency. Houston signed Ed Reed shortly thereafter, and Swearinger was supposed to replace him eventually. Ultimately, when coach Bill O’Brien was hired in 2014, and Swearinger played just one more season with Houston before being released in the offseason.

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