17. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
To call McKinney a safety in the traditional sense would be to misunderstand his value and versatility. If you remember Minkah Fitzpatrick’s roles for the Crimson Tide, when he played six different positions for Nick Saban, you’ll have an approximate idea of what McKinney brings to the table. Last season, per PFF, McKinney had 285 snaps in the box, 227 snaps from the slot and 271 snaps at deep safety in 2019. He does it all well, from sniffing out screens to covering deep, and woe to the receiver who tries to run a slant in his area. Getting yards after the catch in his territory tends to present a similar problem. The Cowboys, who could lose cornerback Byron Jones in free agency because of the truckloads of cash it will take to re-sign quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper, really need a complementary player for safety Xavier Woods, could use every bit of McKinney’s versatility on the other side of the ball.
18. Miami Dolphins (from 8-8 Pittsburgh Steelers): Josh Jones, OT, Houston
The Laremy Tunsil trade left the Dolphins with … well, not much at left tackle. The Julie’n Davenport experiment went about as well as expected, as Davenport, acquired from the Texans in the Tunsil deal, allowed five sacks and 28 total pressures for Miami in just 350 pass-blocking snaps. Davenport allowed 12 sacks and 69 total pressures in 684 pass-blocking snaps in 2018 with the Texans, so maybe that’s just who he is. Josh Jones is still a football project, but his athletic profile is excellent, and he showed improvement over the course of the 2019 season and into the 2020 Senior Bowl. Once he learns to get out of his stance quicker and becomes more aggressive and defined in his pass sets, he could be an ideal pass-protector for Tua Tagovailoa, or whomever Miami’s quarterback happens to be in 2020 and beyond.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from 8-8 Chicago Bears): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Twelve touchdowns and two interceptions. That’s what the Raiders’ cornerback group allowed and generated last season. While it’s true that the linebacker group also has been a serious issue, especially since Vontaze Burfict Vontaze Burficted himself out of the NFL again, there’s no consistent winning in the modern NFL without a dynamic group of cornerbacks. Diggs, the younger brother of Vikings star receiver Stefon Diggs, also has a receiving background, which adds to his understanding in zone and match concepts, and he’s able to use his size (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) to affect routes off the line and high-point for interceptions and deflections. He’s not who you want trailing speed receivers down the seam, but he works well as a boundary guy in a embryonic Richard Sherman sense and can improve coverage in the short and intermediate passing game. Diggs is the kind of defender the Raiders need.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from 9-7 Los Angeles Rams): C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Trading Jalen Ramsey to the Rams got the Jaguars this pick and allowed the franchise to escape Ramsey’s upcoming contract haul. At the same time, cornerback A.J. Bouye is a likely cap casualty. Fellow corners D.J. Hayden and Tre Herndon weren’t bad in 2019, but for this defense to ascend again, more is needed at the position. Henderson would be an upgrade simply because he does everything well — he has the size and aggression to be an excellent boundary cornerback, he has the footwork and technique to play match coverage through the routes, and he’s versatile enough to blitz and play the run. He did allow a few big plays in 2019, but as long as he keeps his aggressive mindset going, he’ll be an asset at the NFL level.
21. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7): Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
Philadelphia’s receiver group was a M*A*S*H unit last season, and by the time Doug Pederson’s group limped into the playoffs, it was by far the slowest and least imposing in the tournament. Per Pro Football Focus, running back Miles Sanders led the team in receptions of 20 or more yards downfield. Getting DeSean Jackson back on the field for more than three games would certainly help, but Jackson is also 33 years old and coming off a core injury — and he could be a cap casualty in 2021. Ruggs would alter the look of Philly’s receiver group with or without Jackson, because he has game-changing speed that shows up every time he touches the ball, whether he’s beating a cornerback downfield or taking a simple screen to the house. Of his 1,716 career receiving yards for the Crimson Tide, 878 came after the catch, and he averaged 9.0 yards after catch per reception.
22. Buffalo Bills (10-6): K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
Under head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, the Bills have developed one of the NFL’s best defenses. But one thing they don’t have, with Jerry Hughes recovering from a wrist injury and having declined Shaq Lawson’s fifth-year option, is an edge rusher they can incorporate for the present and future. At times, Chaisson brings current Vikings and former LSU edge-rusher Danielle Hunter to mind because, although Chaisson doesn’t yet have all the moves to put it together play after play, his speed to the quarterback just screams off the tape, and his closing quickness to the pocket is especially snappy.
23. New England Patriots (12-4): Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Whether the Patriots have Tom Brady or not in 2020, they have an absolutely desperate need for receivers who can separate from coverage and create big plays. It was the primary weakness that held their offense back last season, and if there isn’t serious intent to upgrade at the position, it’s difficult to imagine Brady feeling comfortable with his chances at another ring before he hangs it up. Higgins is more a glider than a burner, but at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Higgins has the size and mentality to be a great contested-catch receiver at the NFL level. As far as his ability to separate downfield? Last season, he caught 15 of his 23 targets of 20 or more air yards. Last season, the Patriots’ entire receiver group caught 16 of its 42 deep targets, per Pro Football Focus. Let’s give Brady a chance to succeed if he stays in Foxborough.
24. New Orleans Saints (13-3): Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
This isn’t complicated. Drew Brees came back for his 20th NFL season because he believes the Saints have the potential to win the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy. Michael Thomas is one of the league’s best receivers, and he had 185 targets last season. Ted Ginn Jr. had the second-most targets among New Orleans’ wide receivers with 56. Shenault would provide a perfect link between Thomas, the technician, and package receivers such as Ginn and Taysom Hill. The Colorado alum isn’t the most polished route-runner, but he has the potential to dominate in downfield and contested-catch situations. Saints head coach Sean Payton has proven that he can bring out the best in receivers who aren’t all-tool guys, and Shenault would impact New Orleans’ passing game more than those of many other teams as a result.