17. Tennessee Titans: Carlos Basham, Jr. EDGE, Wake Forest
The Tennessee Titans would benefit in adding a pass rusher opposite Harold Landry, and they do just that by selecting the EDGE from Wake Forest. Carlos Basham Jr. posted 18 tackles for a loss and ten sacks a season ago, and is a force against both the run and as a pass rusher.
Watching him on film, you see what you want to see from an EDGE defender. Basham plays the run well and is a plus player in terms of identifying his run fits. He has a solid tool kit of moves off the edge, including a bull rush and a swim move. This would give Tennessee a stout front with Jeffrey Simmons on the inside and Basham/Landry coming off the edges.
18. Los Angeles Chargers: Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
If Justin Herbert is the quarterback of your future, you need the cornerstone tackle to protect him.
The Los Angeles Chargers acquired Bryan Bulaga this off-season and have slotted him in at the left tackle spot, but the veteran OT has spent the bulk of his career on the right side.
Drafting Leatherwood gives them that cornerstone type of left tackle, and the flexibility to move Bulaga back to the right side. The Alabama OT is aggressive and has strong hands as a pass protector, and is a force in the running game on both gap/power and zone blocking schemes.
19. Buffalo Bills: Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
Shaun Wade has spent the past two seasons aligned inside, playing mostly as a slot defender. In that role he has excelled, showing the change-of-direction skills needed to cover players who have that two-way go coming off the line of scrimmage. With Jeff Okudah’s departure to the NFL, Wade will now step outside. Provided he translates as well along the boundary as expected, his draft stock will skyrocket.
If the Buffalo Bills have a question mark on the defensive side of the football, it is the cornerback spot opposite Tre’Davious White. If Wade performs well on the outside he could be a great running mate with White, but his versatility will make him a desirable option at the next level.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The Pittsburgh Steelers could go in a number of directions with this pick, including addressing the interior defensive line in the wake of Javon Hargrave’s departure for Philadelphia. But they take advantage of a bit of a fall, and grab DeVonta Smith, a potentially elite wide receiver from Alabama.
Sure, the Steelers drafted Chase Claypool early in the 2019 NFL Draft, but there is still a chance he becomes mroe of a move tight end at the next level. Smith would give the Steelers’ offense another weapon on the outside, and the Alabama WR is a solid route-runner who plays with no fear over the middle. Pairing him with the other weapons in Pittsburgh would be a huge boost to that passing game.
21. Green Bay Packers: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
After the entire football world clamored for the Green Bay Packers to draft a wide receiver in the first round of the 2019 Draft – and were stunned when the Packers traded up for quarterback Jordan Love – the organization gives everyone what they wanted to see a year later.
Matt LaFleur might be moving to more of a San Francisco 49ers style of offense, relying on 21 personnel looks and throwing off of play-action against 21 offensive personnel, but you still need two wide receivers to do that. There are questions at that position after Devante Adams, and Rondale Moore could be the ideal Z receiver to put across from Adams. He is great after the catch and has the short area quickness you look for in a receiver who does his work near the line of scrimmage.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Hamilcar Rashed Jr., EDGE, Oregon State
There might be some better-known EDGE rushers in the upcoming class, but you would be wise to learn the name Hamilcar Rashed Jr., and to study his game. When you see him on film you see the traits that matter at the position. Rashed has the quickness and hand skills that enable him to beat tackles coming off the edge, as he displays on this sack of Hawaii’s Cole McDonald:
The case of Cole McDonald’s missing dreads… Hamilcar Rashed knocked them off. pic.twitter.com/rvX2S6kAGT
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) March 11, 2020
He took a huge leap forward in 2019, tallying 14 sacks after putting just two and a half on the board during his first two college seasons. But his talent is impressive. Pairing him up front with Danielle Hunter would revamp the Minnesota Vikings’ pass rush in an instant.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Hamsah Nasirildeen, S, Florida State
Heading into the 2020 season, the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to replace Malcolm Jenkins at the safety spot with Jalen Mills, a converted cornerback and a seventh-round pick in 2016. If that move does not pan out, they might want to address safety in the upcoming draft.
This could be a great safety class, with players like the TCU pair of Ar’Darius Washington and Trevon Moehrig, Oregon’s Richard LeCounte III, and Caden Sterns from Texas. However, sitting here in early August Florida State safety Hamsah Nasirildeen might be the best of the bunch. He fits the mold of the modern safety with the range to play in single-high schemes but the aggression and willingness to play down in the box. He tore his ACL late in the season, but provided he is healthy he might be a great option at this spot for Philadelphia.
24. Indianapolis Colts: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
If there is an issue on the defensive side of the football for the Indianapolis Colts, boundary cornerback is that issue. They added Xavier Rhodes this offseason at one cornerback spot, and are looking to perhaps T.J. Carrie or Rock Ya-Sin at the other spot (Kenny Moore II has the slot position locked down quite well).
Provided cornerback is the position to address, Paulson Adebo is a wise choice. He has started for the past two years on the outside for Stanford, and has the footwork and hip flexibility to stick on receivers in man coverage situations. He plays great in zone coverage schemes, something that will matter for the Colts as a zone-heavy team, as Adebo has great eye discipline and feel for passing off routes underneath. He would be an almost-ideal fit for the Colts’ defense.