25. New England Patriots: Jaylen Twyman, DL, Pittsburgh
Sure it is tempting to go with a skill position here, perhaps a tight end or even a reach for a quarterback. But we know how Bill Belichick’s mind works. In all likelihood he’ll be trading out of the first round or if he stays, they’ll address a different position entirely.
Defensive line might just be that position. In the past few years the New England Patriots have added talent on the edges, including Chase Winovich, Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings in the past two drafts, but the interior is a different question. Players like Adam Butler and Lawrence Guy, as well as Beau Allen this offseason, can help, but Twyman is a potential difference-maker. He can rush the pocket from the inside but plays extremely well against the run. Given where he plays, comparison to Aaron Donald can be expected come fall Saturdays, but in reality he is a solid option that you know Belichick will love.
26. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
The New York Jets added a lot of talent to their offense this off-season, bringing in Breshad Perriman and Denzel Mims on the outside, and adding up front with Mekhi Becton and Cameron Clark in the draft, and Greg Van Roten, Connor McGovern and George Fant in free agency.
Creed Humphrey is likely the top center in the draft, and he has the movement skills and the experience to be the heart of an offensive line at the next level. As pointed out by Jordan Reid in his analysis of the Sooners center, Oklahoma lost four players on their offensive line prior to 2019 and did not miss a beat due to Humphrey’s leadership and veteran presence. He would be a great addition to the Jets’ offensive line.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama
A role player last season for the Crimson Tide, Christian Barmore was used primarily as a third-down specialist for most of the 2019 campaign before carving out more playing time down the stretch. Nick Saban used him mostly as a base 4-technique, aligned opposite the tackles, but he has the frame and skill-set to align along the inside as well.
Adding him to the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive front would be a great coup for the roster. Dallas added some veteran interior players this past off-season in Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, but Barmore could be used to spell either player in 2021 while he develops his own game.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
Oh we’re getting a little spicy…
It seems with each passing draft cycle there is a quarterback that rises up boards seemingly out of nowhere. Now, with the advent of #DraftTwitter it is harder and harder to find those players, as year-round draft coverage identifies targets earlier and earlier each draft cycle. Still, no one really saw the rise of Joe Burrow last year, or Mitchell Trubisky from a few years ago.
Could Kyle Trask be that kind of passer? Perhaps. He has the arm talent, pocket movement skills and quick release that coaches want at the position. Trask also shows good manipulation with his eyes and some potential schematic diversity. We know Tom Brady wants to play until he is 45, but Bruce Arians might want to grab the quarterback of the future, and Trask could be that guy.
29. New Orleans Saints: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Sure, the New Orleans Saints might go in a completely different direction. They might be in the market for a new quarterback, even if you believe what Sean Payton is saying about Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston. They could look to address the defensive side of the football.
But for a team that runs a lot of 11 personnel, adding another talent at wide receiver is never a bad option. Sure, Rashod Bateman decided to opt-out of the 2020 season, but that should in no way diminish what he offers at the position. He is a legitimate first-round talent, with release skills to beat the press coverage he’ll see at the next level and the vertical ability to be a weapon downfield. Pairing him with Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders is almost an ideal 11 personnel WR room.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Paris Ford, S, Pittsburgh
Yes, the Pittsburgh defense is going to be fun to watch this season.
The Baltimore Ravens do not have a ton of needs on paper right now, but one of those on the defensive side of the football might be the safety position. Heading into 2020 they still have Earl Thomas, who remains a premier player at the position, as well as players like Chuck Clark, Jordan Richards and Geno Stone, a 2019 seventh-round pick. But Paris Ford could be a great player at safety for years to come.
Right now Ford is more of a strong safety, who does his best work down in the box against the run with the willingness to stick his nose into traffic, or working in zone coverage areas underneath. He is still learning and developing his deep safety skills, so pairing him with Thomas would be an almost ideal way to start his career.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
Yeah if you don’t already feel old, you do now seeing this name.
The son of a former NFL cornerback, Asante Samuel Jr. is carving out his own legacy as a sticky coverage cornerback. Florida State trusted him enough to leave him on an island against some of the best receivers the ACC has to offer, and he more than held his own in those matchups. He has the movement skills and change-of-direction ability that matter at cornerback, and looks to be fast enough to handle the burners he might see in the NFL.
If there is a weakness to his game right now, it comes at the catch point. There are times on film where he loses in contested catch situation, but if he cleans that up just a bit, he’ll be a first-rounder for sure. He’ll get to learn from Richard Sherman as he eases into the NFL.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Myers, C, Ohio State
Similar to the Baltimore Ravens, what glaring needs do the Kansas City Chiefs have right now on paper? Sure, you might say cornerback, but with this wildly hypothetical board falling the way it has, the value might not be there, although options such as Eric Stoke from Georgia or T.J. Carter from Memphis are certainly viable.
Instead, the Chiefs look to the interior of their offense line and add a solid option at center in Josh Myers. He moves well in space and can drop his anchor well in pass protection.