Just like that the 2020 NFL Draft is over. Months of preparation by general managers, scouts and analysts showed the past three days There were a lot of surprises and we now have a good idea of what each NFL team will look like in the 2020 season. Here are the picks from day three that stuck out to.
109. Las Vegas Raiders (via Detroit Lions) John Simpson, G, Clemson
How did John Simpson fall this far in the draft? Simpson played extremely well for Clemson who had as much National attention as any college football program not named LSU or Alabama this past year. John Simpson could be a starter right away for most guard needy teams in the NFL right now. The Raiders aren’t one of those teams with one of the discrete elite level offensive lines, especially in the interior. But with Rodney Hudson and Richie Incognito at the age where they should consider retirement and Gabe Jackson on the trade block this is a fantastic pick. John Simpson is the future of the Raiders at guard. It wouldn’t be surprising if he goes to a couple Pro Bowls as well.
Grade: A
118. Denver Broncos: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
This is a great pick for the Broncos who giving Drew Lock every opportunity to be fantastic next season with a multitude of weapons. But this is not a great spot for Albert Okwuegbunam. Denver is where mid-round tight ends go to die. Jeff Heuerman, Jake Butt, Troy Fumagalli, and they just signed Nick Vannett. All those tight ends had potential out of college, but have faded away after getting drafted by the Broncos. On top of that, they did draft Noah Fant in the first round last year, who actually play extremely well down the stretch. Albert O needed to go to a team in need of a tight end that would make him Tight End 1 or 2 immediately so he wouldn’t get buried on the depth chart and we can see his mix of size, speed, and athleticism early next year. Okwuegbunam could be the number two tight end in Denver next year, but with all those mouths to feed it’s going to be hard to see him in his glory.
Grade: B
122: Indianapolis Colts: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
This pick has the potential to be the story of the 2021 offseason. Lets set the scene…The 2021 Free Agency is about to begin The Indianapolis Colts surprise the league and sneak into the playoffs, Philip Rivers retires, Jacoby Brissett leaves in free agency, the only quarterback on the roster is Jacob Eason. Chris Ballard has a decision to make, their draft pick isn’t anywhere near franchise quarterback range, he remembers that quarterback he scouted in Kansas City after a redshirt year and how another fourth-round pick former back up quarterback Jarrett Stidham against all odds brings the Patriots to the playoffs. Then he thinks about Jacob Eason and his cannon and after a redshirt learning from head coach Frank Reich and starter Philip Rivers. Chris Ballard decides to roll with Jacob Eason next season and spent all the money that he had invested in the quarterback position elsewhere. This is all hypothetical but this is best case scenario with this pick. Many thought that Jacob Eason could sneak into the end of the first round if a team with a quarterback need panicked. He had a second-round grade on most people’s boards.
Grade: A
128. Buffalo Bills: Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
The Bills had no business getting themselves a wide receiver after trading for Stefon Diggs, but they did have a need that they did not address in the offseason that was highlighted in their draft profile was a big body receiver. Stefon Diggs is only six-feet tall and the Cole Beasley and John Brown are smaller receivers as well. Davis might be their number four receiver but expect him to play a lot just because of his large frame compared to the receivers above him in the depth chart and Josh Allens inaccuracy issues. Life would be a lot easier for Allen if he had more receivers like Davis on the roster who can go up and get the ball no matter where he throws it.
Grade: A-
139. Las Vegas Raiders (via New England Patriots from Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Amik Robertson, CB, Lousiana Tech
Amik Robertson is actually could be one of the better cornerbacks in the entire draft. The Raiders drafted him to play in the slot and out of all of the rookie slot corners in this year’s class, Robertson has the chance to be the best. A crazy stat, Amik Robertson, CB9, and two slots ahead over the cornerback picked the Raiders selected 120 picks before him Damon Arnette on here. This might have been low for Arnette to begin with he was the third-best cornerback on his team. A lot of people had Arnette in a similar range,. Thus making Arnette the most over-drafted player in the first round. He could have been a steal for a team if he would have fell to the early 4th round which was his floor. Realistically, he was a third-round pick. But the projection on both these corners makes this pick interesting.
Grade: B
142: Washington Redskins: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
Antonio Gandy-Golden fills the Redskins need for a big body receiver. Speed is a concern, but the Redskins already have Terry McLaurin and third-round pick Antonio Gibson as their speed guys. Fantasy owners should keep Gandy-Golden in mind down the stretch especially if Dwayne Haskins improves a lot during his second season. Low key the Washington Redskins are building themselves a very nice receiving core that seems to be only lacking a true alpha receiver, unless Scary Terry develops into one next season.
Grade: A-
144. Dallas Cowboys (via Philadelphia Eagles) Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin
Arguably the biggest loss for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason was former All-Pro Center Travis Fredrick to retirement. The Cowboys resigned Joe Looney and drafted Connor McGovern in the third round last year to try to fill the void but bringing a player like Biadasz on day three should really make the Cowboys more comfortable at the position. The Cowboys have three legitimate options to replace Fredrick. None will likely play up to the elite level Fredrick played, but at least one of them can play at a starting-caliber level on the Cowboys elite offensive line. Before the season people had Biadasz as a late first-second round pick, now he did regress this past year, but he has shown a lot of promise in the past and comes from an offensive line factory in Wisconsin where the Cowboys draft Travis Fredrick as well.
Grade: A
148. Seattle Seahawks (via Carolina Panthers from Washington Redskins): Alton Robinson, EDGE, Syracuse
Alton Robinson feels like a Seahawks pick that explains why John Schneider is one of the best general managers in the league. He drafts players who have had flashes of fantastic traits and gets them with Pete Carrolls coaching staff and turns them into superstars. It might seem crazy to assume that much from a 5th round pick, but look at Seattle’s track record. There is a reason why a team who awful, one of the worst in the league, at hitting on first-round draft picks is competitive year in and year out.
Grade: A-
152. Carolina Panthers Kenny Robinson, S, “West Virginia”
Kenny Robinson deserves some love, being a former XFL player (the reason why West Virginia is in quotes). Robinson hacked the system playing in college, going straight to the XFL rather than entering the transfer portal and still got drafted. Robinson played well in the XFL and his great play and experience in professional football is an upside for him. Carolina has a need at safety and even though they drafted Jeremy Chinn at the end of the second round, they can give Robinson reps at safety while taking advantage of Chinn’s versatility and moving him all over the defense.
Grade: A
158. New York Jets: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
Bryce Hall has been on my radar as a prospect for seemingly forever now. Last year he was considered a potential first-round pick but he decided to come back to school. Due to injury concerns he fell all the way here to pick 158. Hall was considered to be a reach at the end of the second and is range was likely between the third round and fourth, so this was a good value pick for the Jets. If the Jets can wait a year for Bryce Hall to get 100% healthy he can be their number one or two cornerbacks easy, making this pick a steal. His biggest concern, like with Ashtyn Davis (Jets 3rd round pick), will Gregg Williams and the Jets coaching staff be around long enough to develop and mold these late-round project defensive backs, because there is no guarantee that a new coaching staff gives these guys a shot and tries to bring in their own guys and that would be a shame for Hall and Davis who have a lot of potential.
Grade: A-
167. Buffalo Bills: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
In 2017 ESPN projected Jake Fromm to be the first overall pick in this year’s draft. Today he comes off the board at 167th overall. That wasn’t so crazy considering he the quarterback of one of the hottest teams in the country. But Fromm just never took the next step showing the world the could be an NFL starting quarterback. His biggest flaw is his arm strength and has a tendency to hold onto the ball too long in the pocket. But Fromm should not have gone this late. He should have been selected between the 3rd and 4th round. He projects to be a high-end journeyman back up quarterback with some upside if he ends up in the right situation. Personally I do not feel he landed in the right situation. He doesn’t fit the offense in Buffalo which is built on Josh Allen’s mobility and cannon arm. They are a defensive first team who doesn’t have the offensive staff to develop Fromm and at this point, he is similar to what they have already in Matt Barkley already. Fromm could have landed in a better situation
Grade: C+
179. Dallas Cowboys: Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah
How Bradlee Anae fell to the end of the 5th round is beyond me. He wasn’t a day one player or early day two-player. But a player as well put together with the potential to be a starting edge rusher in the league should not be getting scooped up at the end of the 5th round. Dallas addressed their need for another edge rusher opposite Demarcus Lawerence in the 5th round and got a player who can contribute early in his career and potential start for them down the road. Right now Anae will have to fend off Tyrone Crawford, Randy Gregory, Aldon Smith, Dorance Smith for reps and potentially the starting job. Anae’s job in year one will be to rotate in on passing downs, and rush the passer from the linebacker position,
Grade: A
181. Denver Broncos: Netane Muti, G, Fresno State
After Day 2, Broncos seemed to be set with the interior of their offensive line. They added Lloyd Cushenberry to play center next to Graham Glasgow and Dalton Risner. Now on Day 3 in the sixth round it is extremely understandable to take Netane Muti who might have been the top player on a lot of teams boards by that point. Muti would have easily been a Day 2 pick if not for the foot injuries. He could be a quality starter in the NFL. If the Broncos let him rest up and get healthy he could potentially sneak into left guard which would move Dalton Risner out to his natural position of right tackle and the Broncos can potentially get rid of Ja’Waun James who did not play well last season.
Grade: A
187. Cleveland Browns (via Arizona Cardinals): Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
One of the storylines of Day 3 was ‘What is happening with Donovan Peoples-Jones? and Why is he sliding’. Reports came out that scouts didn’t like DPJ because of the lack of production at Michigan and issues with his character. DPJ never produced the way people thought when he got to college. Granted, the quarterback play does factor into it a lot. But DPJ did disappoint. This is actually a really good landing spot for the former highly regarded recruit, because this gives him the best odds to reach his potential. The Browns do not have a true number three or crazy competition for that role. It seems unlikely that the Browns will play in a lot of 3 receiver sets because with the elite talent they have at running back and superb tight ends on their roster the Browns will be playing in 2 tight end or 2 running back sets a majority of the time. Also Kevin Stefanski is a run first coach and those formations are better for the run. But Peoples-Jones could be one of the teams underneath options while OBJ and Jarvis Landry eats double teams on the outside. He also has value on special teams as a returner.
Grade: A
220. Los Angeles Chargers: K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State
K.J. Hill was likely going to be a Day 3 selection, but getting picked in the 7th round is a drop for him. Hill’s problem was the 4.6 forty time. Hill is supposed to be a burner and 4.6 is not a burner by any means. But Hill’s tape shows he faster than that. Now in the preseason Hill must prove to the Chargers that he is worthy of being on the 53 man roster. But, I believe that Hill has an amazing upside. The Chargers have been lacking a third receiver to go with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams since Tyrell Williams signed with the Raiders and Travis Benjamin left for the 49ers. Hill could either A. Be the team’s third option from the inside and be used as a slot receiver or B. Stretch the field from the outside similar to what Benjamin and Williams was able to do. Hill won’t be able to fill that void right away, unless he has a phenomenal camp and even then it is unlikely. If Hill makes the team he has a change to be a part of the Chargers offense in the future.
Grade: B+
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