The 2020 NFL Draft has finally arrived, and day 1 is in the books. The virtual format was a little odd, but it went on without a hitch.
Day 1 of the draft includes only the 1st round, while day 2 includes rounds 2-3, and day 3 includes rounds 4-7.
32 players have been selected, and there’s a lot of story lines to follow. Below are some of our biggest takeaways from an exciting first night.
No Surprises to Start
Joe Burrow went #1, Chase Young went #2, and Jeffrey Okudah went #3. These were all near unanimous, and all of these guys have a chance to be Hall of Famers.
Burrow #1 was a foregone conclusion, but after that anything could happen. The Redskins aren’t exactly known for making good choices, and the Lions were looking to trade back at #3. Nothing significant ended up happening. Kind of a bummer.
Andrew Thomas = #1 OT?
Thomas going #4 overall was a bit of a surprise, but he might be the most NFL ready guy. That could be important for QB Daniel Jones, as many quarterbacks struggle with a sophomore slump. Having a developmental tackle prospect could’ve been a disaster.
After Thomas, I was surprised Wirfs was the last one taken. To be fair, I thought Becton was a slightly better fit for the Jets than was Wirfs. The way the cards played out, it wasn’t too surprised, and Wirfs wasn’t waiting too long as he went #13 to Tampa.
Few Trades at the Top
There were no trades in the top 10 for the first time since 2015, despite reports of a lot of teams looking to trade down.
The first trade was insignificant, as the Buccaneers moved up just one spot to make sure they got the last of the 4 elite tackles.
Only a few more trades came in the later rounds, and most didn’t have any pizzazz. That changed when the Packers traded up to 26, taking Jordan Love. Love has insane potential, and could be the next great Packer QB.
49ers Take Another Defensive Lineman
The 49ers opted to rely on the depth of the receiver class, and save that need for later.
Even though they had the deepest defensive line in the NFL last year, they lost a great player in DeForest Buckner. Clearly they didn’t think their depth was enough, and they restocked at the position right away.
Javon Kinlaw was the first big surprise to me.
Ruggs over Lamb, Jeudy
Henry Ruggs was the first WR off the board, even with transcendent talents in Jeudy and Lamb. The Raiders just couldn’t resist the speed, and I won’t fault them for that. He has the potential to be the top receiver in the class when we look back in 5 or 10 years.
Jeudy fell to 15, while CeeDee Lamb fell ever further to 17.
While talking about the receivers, the Dak Prescott and the Cowboys may have gotten the steal of the draft at #17. CeeDee Lamb is an elite route runner and incredible after the catch.
The Vikings made a massive mistake taking Justin Jefferson at #22. It has nothing to do with the player, it’s all about the fit. Jefferson excelled in 2019 because he moved to the slot and Burrow progressed. Adam Thielen, the only decent receiver on the Vikings, has seen his success from the slot. They now have 2 slot receivers and nothing else. Either Jefferson will be a bust, or Thielen’s time as a starting caliber receiver is over.
Some Surprises Around the Corner
A few surprise picks had to do with cornerbacks.
There was no buzz around CJ Henderson going #9… unless you looked at my recent mock draft. I thought the pick made perfect sense, with a great scheme fit and a solid player.
AJ Terrell going at #16 to Atlanta was an even bigger surprise. Most people had him with a second round grade, and he really wasn’t all that consistent.
But wait, it gets more surprising. I never expected Damon Arnette to go in the top 20, but sure enough he goes #19 to Las Vegas. He’s a competitive corner who’s seen some success, and I trust that Mayock took someone who fit his system well. The #3-#9 corners are very close in talent, but this was much earlier than I expected to see him drafted.
No One is Safe
No safeties were drafted in the first round. Three guys had some first round buzz: Xavier McKinney, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Grant Delpit. They’re all still waiting entering day 2.
A Lot of Talent Left
Most of the NFL stars you know and love were not 1st round selections. Below are some of the top players remaining entering day 2:
- Grant Delpit, S, LSU
- Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
- Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
- Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
- Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
- Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
- Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
- Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
- Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
- Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
The NFL Draft will resume Friday, April 24th.
