NFL Draft 2020 Recap and Surprises

By Izayah Thorb

Many knew that the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft was going to be setup differently given the circumstances of this unprecedented COVID-19 virus. Regardless of the challenges presented, the NFL had its first ever virtual draft. 

The resounding feel toward this format was that it went smoothly, similarly to the first 10 picks in this year’s draft. For the first time since 2015 there were no trades between teams in the top 10:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | QB Joe Burrow, LSU
2. Washington Redskins | DE Chase Young, Ohio State
3. Detroit Lions | CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State
4. New York Giants | OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia
5. Miami Dolphins | QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
6. Los Angeles Chargers | QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
7. Carolina Panthers | DT Derrick Brown, Auburn
8. Arizona Cardinals | OLB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
9. Jacksonville Jaguars | CB CJ Henderson, Florida
10. Cleveland Browns | OT Jedrick Willis Jr., Alabama

With no surprise the hometown kid Joe Burrow was selected 1^st overall as this was the consensus throughout the league. While the Redskins took calls from other teams, they opted to stay with the 2^nd overall pick. They selected Chase Young who many have rated as the best football player in this year’s draft. Although staggering surprises in the first 10 picks of the draft were few and far between, the first 2 rounds of the draft brought quite a few head-scratching moments.

3 Surprises from 1^st Round:

New York’s No. 4 Selection – 

On many draft boards, Alabama’s offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. was the highest rated tackle in this year’s draft. However, that did not stop the Giants from selecting Georgia’s Andrew Thomas to 4^th overall to help protect their franchise QB, Daniel Jones. Thomas is a very good, solid player, however out of the 4 highly rated tackles, he arguably displays the lowest upside.

Dallas’ Selection at No. 17

One could argue, the most impressive display during this year’s virtual draft was Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones’ setup. Jones opted to make the Cowboys selection in his house alone. It’s been speculated he chose this format so that no one could stop him from selecting who he wanted. The proud Jerry Jones, made his selection taking Alabama’s WR CeeDee Lamb. In regards to the Cowboys needs, this translates to more of a luxury pick as the offense isn’t an issue with the team. Regardless Lamb looks to be the no. 3 wide receiver in Dallas, giving Dak Prescott another solid weapon.

Eales Take Jalen Hurts 53^rd Overall

This one is a head scratcher. Does Hurts serve as a Carson Wentz contingency plan? Are the Eagles starting to give up on Carson Wentz not even a full year after giving him an extension? Are they planning to use Hurts in certain situations? There are many questions as to why Philadelphia went with this pick, however the Eagles have proven to be one of the better run organizations in the league. Given that information, I believe they deserve the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

Rounds 1 Results

1. Cincinnati Bengals | QB Joe Burrow, LSU
2. Washington Redskins | DE Chase Young, Ohio State
3. Detroit Lions | CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State
4. New York Giants | OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia
5. Miami Dolphins | QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
6. Los Angeles Chargers | QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
7. Carolina Panthers | DT Derrick Brown, Auburn
8. Arizona Cardinals | OLB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
9. Jacksonville Jaguars | CB CJ Henderson, Florida
10. Cleveland Browns | OT Jedrick Willis Jr., Alabama
11. New York Jets | OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville
12. Las Vegas Raiders | WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Colts through 49ers) | OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
14. San Francisco 49ers (from Buccaneers) | DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
15. Denver Broncos | WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama 
16. Atlanta Falcons | CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson
17. Dallas Cowboys | WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
18. Miami Dolphins (from Steelers) | OT Austin Jackson, USC
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Bears) | CB Damon Arnette, Ohio State
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Rams) | OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU
21. Philadelphia Eagles | WR Jalen Reagor, TCU
22. Minnesota Vikings (from Bills) | WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
23. Los Angele Chargers (from Patriots) | LB Kenneth Murray
24. New Orleans Saints | C/G Cesar Ruiz, Michigan
25. San Francisco (from Vikings) WR, Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
26. Green Bay Packers (from Texans through Dolphins) | QB Jordan Love, Utah State
27. Seattle Seahawks | LB Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
28. Baltimore Ravens | LB Patrick Queen, LSU
29. Tennessee Titans| OT Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
30. Miami Dolphins (from Packers) | CB Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
31. Minnesota Vikings (from 49ers) | CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
32. Kansas City Chiefs | RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU

Round 2 Results

33. Cincinnati Bengals | WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
34. Indianapolis Colts (from Redskins) | WR Michael Pittman Jr., USC
35. Detroit Lions | RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia
36. New York Giants | S Xavier McKinney, Alabama
37. New England Patriots (from Chargers) | S Kyle Dugger, Lenior-Rhyne
38. Carolina Panthers | DE Yetor Gross-Matos, Penn State
39. Miami Dolphins | G Robert Hunt, Louisiana
40. Houston Texans (from Cardinals) | DT Ross Blacklock, TCU
41. Indianapolis Colts (from Browns) | RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
42. Jacksonville Jaguars | WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado
43. Chicago Bears (from Raiders) | TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
44. Cleveland Browns (from Colts) | S Grant Delpit, LSU
45. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | S Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
46. Denver Broncos | WR K.J. Hamler, Penn State
47. Atlanta Falcons | DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn
48. Seattle Seahawks (from Jets) | DE Darrell Taylor, Tennesse
49. Pittsburgh Steelers | WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
50. Chicago Bears | CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
51. Dallas Cowboys | CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
52. Los Angeles Rams | RB Cam Akers, Florida State
53. Philadelphia Eagles | QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
54. Buffalo Bills | DE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
55. Baltimore Ravens (from Patriots through Falcons)| RB J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
56. Miami Dolphins (from Saints) | DT Raekwon Davis, Alabama
57. Los Angeles Rams (from Texans) | WR Van Jefferson, Florida
58. Minnesota Vikings | OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
59. New York Jets (from Seahawks) | WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
60. New England Patriots (from Ravens) | LB Josh Uche, Michigan
61. Tennessee Titans | CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
62. Green Bay Packers | RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College
63. Kansas City Chiefs (from 49ers) | LB Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State
64. Carolina Panthers (from Chiefs through Seahawks) | S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois