The 2020 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now it’s time to get in to the picks. I dig in to the selections and analyze if the team made the right picks, addressed their needs, ignored their needs, reached for a player, etc. I also talk about any moves that have been made since free agency. I get in to all that and much more in this series. Let’s begin with the AFC East.
Buffalo Bills
Selections:
Round 2: DE A.J. Epenesa
Round 3: RB Zack Moss
Round 4: WR Gabriel Davis
Round 5: QB Jake Fromm
Round 6: K Tyler Bass, WR Isaiah Hodgins
Round 7: CB Dane Jackson
* First-round pick traded to Minnesota for WR Stefon Diggs
Analysis: I’ve been a big fan of what the Bills have done in both free agency and the draft. They’ve made big moves in free agent signings, and acquiring a No. 1 receiver in Diggs, who essentially is their first-round pick, so they took Day 1 off. Entering the draft, I highlighted that their primary needs were depth at edge rusher and a complimentary running back to Devin Singletary, and they did such that with their first two picks on Day 2. Their first pick could not have worked out more perfectly, with A.J. Epenesa falling to the 54th pick. They are very old at edge rusher, and Epenesa fits perfectly, and a steal as he was projected as a first-rounder. The crazy part is they didn’t even need to trade up, exactly what happened to them last year with Ed Oliver when he slid to their pick at No. 9.
With their second pick, they selected Zack Moss out of Utah. Moss is a bowling ball back who kind of reminds me of Jonathan Stewart, but he has the moves of Kareem Hunt, so ultimately, he looks like Rashaad Penny to me. He looks a bit stiff in his movement, but that’s where Singletary excels, and perfectly compliments him.
Other notable picks are quarterback Jake Fromm, who is considered a borderline starter or very good backup. This could light a small fire under Josh Allen, who needs to have a great season, or he could get the Trubisky treatment in Chicago. They also drafted a kicker in Tyler Bass, which could mean the end of veteran Steven Hauschka.
Conclusion: The Bills are ready. They have nothing more to do from a roster building standpoint, now they just have to prove it on the field. There’s nothing more that needs to be done to this roster. Josh Allen has all the weapons, veteran receivers with a couple young developmental guys and a pair of young talented backs. The defense is set, with the secondary the strongest. Get it done Josh Allen, everything’s on your shoulders now.
Miami Dolphins
Selections:
Round 1: QB Tua Tagovailoa, OT Austin Jackson, CB Noah Igbinoghene
Round 2: G Robert Hunt, DT Raekwon Davis
Round 3: S Brandon Jones
Round 4: G Solomon Kindley
Round 5: DE Jason Strowbridge, DE Curtis Weaver
Round 6: LS Blake Ferguson
Round 7: RB/WR Malcolm Perry
Additional moves: RB Matt Breida (via trade from 49ers)
Analysis: Entering this draft, the Dolphins had a flurry of draft capital after trading away several big players that led to first-round picks. Originally holding their own fifth-overall pick, they traded Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick for first round picks, giving them plenty of ammo to kickstart the rebuild.
They started off with the second-least kept draft secret this year, drafting Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. Although it was reported Tua is fully recovered from hip surgery, but that didn’t stop the speculation of Tua sliding, but in the end, he is a Dolphin. Who knows when he’ll take over as the starter, I don’t think it’ll be Week 1, but he has a perfect opportunity to learn under Ryan Fitzpatrick.
If the Dolphins didn’t select Tua at five, I thought they’d go offensive tackle, but they did go Tua, and used their next first round pick on a tackle, the top guy after the big four, Austin Jackson out of USC. The Dolphins had the worst OL in 2019, and they really put an emphasis on improving there in free agency and the draft, getting starters at three or four spots. Jackson will likely be the starting left tackle, competing against Julien Davenport, with the other spots up for grabs, and fellow rookies Robert Hunt and Solomon Kindley will also get a chance to compete against the free agent acquisitions of Ereck Flowers and Ted Karras and second-year man Michael Deiter.
The third first-rounder was an interesting selection. I personally had never heard of Noah Igbinoghene, and most were surprised by his first-round selection, especially by Miami. In free agency, they made former Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones the highest-paid cornerback to play alongside the second-highest-paid in Xavien Howard. Igbinoghene figures to be their slot/nickelback with Jones, Howard, and Nik Needham on the outside.
The one major thing the Dolphins failed to address in the draft was offensive playmakers. I thought they’d go receiver or running back with their final first-round pick, with all RBs still on the board and guys like Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, and Laviska Shenault still on the board. They ultimately did not select a guy until the seventh round with former Navy QB turned RB/WR hybrid Malcolm Perry, who could turn into Miami’s version of Taysom Hill, a gadget/do-it-all type of player. They did however pull off a draft-day trade, acquiring former 49ers RB Matt Breida, who was stuck in a crowded backfield, and now gets a chance to be a full-time starter alongside power-back Jordan Howard, a perfect compliment to Breida’s speed, illusiveness, and pass-catching ability.
Conclusion: The Dolphins front office purposely put together a terrible 2019 roster to potentially come away with the top pick in the draft, but Brian Flores and his coaching staff had other plans. While they still ended up with the fifth pick, the Flores-run staff really impressed, which attracted several free agents which built up to a long-awaited draft to select their next franchise quarterback, thus completing the “Tank for Tua”. This is Fitzpatrick’s team until it’s officially Tua time, but they’ve still got some work to do to build up the offense for the young lefty. DeVante Parker finally broke out after five seasons, but after that it’s unknown really. I like Mike Gesicki at tight end, but work needs to be done, and I’m shocked they didn’t address the receivers in the draft, especially with this highly-talented class. The defense is highly improved, and with Flores leading, it’ll be a good one.
The Dolphins still have work to do, and aren’t ready to be contenders, but they’ve got pieces to build.
New England Patriots
Selections:
Round 2: S Kyle Dugger, LB Josh Uche
Round 3: LB Anfernee Jennings, TE Devin Asiasi, TE Dalton Keene
Round 5: K Justin Rohrwasser
Round 6: G Michael Onwenu, OT Justin Herron, LB Cassh Maluia
Round 7: C Dustin Woodard
Analysis: The Patriots traded out of the first round, shocker. With plenty of good players still on the board that I really hoped they would go for, and they did what they do every draft and break my heart and watch my favorite prospects slip away. But anyways after passing on the first round, they turned their attention to round two, and drafted safety Kyle Dugger out of D2 Lenoir-Rhyne. The words “second-round defensive back” give Patriots fans anxiety, and “Division II” doesn’t help. I do like Dugger though, he blew up the combine and has the talent and athletic ability. He is an older prospect at age 24, but he does add youth to an older safety room.
The next two selections were at linebacker, with Michigan’s Josh Uche and Alabama’s Anfernee Jennings. Uche’s NFL comparison is Kyle Van Noy, so I’ll take that. I haven’t watched his tape yet, but if he’s anything like Van Noy or Rob Ninkovich, he’ll fit perfectly. Same with Jennings, who’s highlights I did watch and saw him as more of a stand-up edge rusher, much like what Ninkovich did.
Their tight ends stunk last year, failing to address the position seriously after the retirement for now-Buccaneer Rob Gronkowski. They finally addressed it this year, drafting TWO tight ends, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in the third round. While yes I’m glad they drafted two tight ends, I’m not super thrilled with the players. I really liked Adam Trautman, who was still available both times. Asiasi wasn’t super productive or high-profile in college, and Keene is more of an H-back, blocking tight end than pass catcher, not what I like to see out of the second and fourth tight ends drafted.
They also drafted a kicker, the first one off the board, in the fifth round, one of the most obvious moves of the draft following the release of Stephen Gostkowski.
Conclusion: While the Pats addressed some issues in the draft, I kind of wish it was with more high-profile players. I really wanted them to take a linebacker in the first, and when they traded out, with Patrick Queen and Kenneth Murray still on the board, that sucked, especially since the Chargers took Murray with that pick. I do like Uche and Jennings, but I also really liked Zack Baun, who went in the third to the Saints. I also would’ve liked them to go safety in the first, and with my top guy Xavier McKinney still there, that sucked to see. It sucked even worse when McKinney was drafted ONE spot in front of their pick by the Giants, and instead took Dugger. I like Dugger, but the whole “second-round defensive back” narrative is a scarily familiar one (see Duke Dawson, Cyrus Jones, Jordan Richards, Tavon Wilson, Ras-I Dowling, Darius Butler).
I’ve become numb to the Patriots passing up on the big name guys and selecting underwhelming guys. I’m a Pats fan, and I’m really criticizing Belichick’s drafting ability. He’s missed on so many picks the past several drafts and it’s frustrating, but we keep telling ourselves “In Bill We Trust”. I don’t know if he can be trusted anymore.
New York Jets
Selections:
Round 1: OT Mekhi Becton
Round 2: WR Denzel Mims
Round 3: S Ashtyn Davis, DE Jabari Zuniga
Round 4: RB La’Mical Perine, QB James Morgan, OT Cameron Clark
Round 5: CB Bryce Hall
Round 6: P Braden Mann
Additional moves: QB Joe Flacco
Analysis: The Jets have sneakily been decent drafters and team-builders in recent years. This year was another solid one, addressing major positions of need.
The Jets have had one of the worst offensive lines for years, and new general manager Joe Douglas put a major emphasis on that position this offseason, signing four in free agency and using their top pick on their new left tackle, the 6′-7″, 364 lb Mekhi Becton out of Louisville. It’s unclear who their top guy was, but Becton was the third tackle drafted, and could’ve been the first. Either way, the Jets have their new left tackle on a line which could have new starters at every position.
They also did some work to give Sam Darnold some new weapons. After trading back with the Seahawks in the second round, the Jets stayed pat and let who I believe was the last first-round WR prospect fall to them in Denzel Mims. The Jets receivers are very underwhelming, losing Quincy Enunwa and Josh Bellamy already due to injury, and even if they were healthy, this still may be the worst receiving core. Having Breshad Perriman as a No. 1 isn’t ideal. Mims has the potential to be a No. 1, and could pair nicely on the outside with Perriman with Jamison Crowder in the slot.
The other pick I want to touch on is fifth-round QB James Morgan, who joins a crowded backup quarterback room that just got even more crowded with the addition of Joe Flacco. Flacco won’t be ready for the start of the season, so Morgan will compete with David Fales and Mike White, not very tough competition.
Conclusion: Little by little. That’s what the Jets have been doing to improve their team, little by little. They spent big bucks last free agency with star playmakers RB Le’Veon Bell and LB C.J. Moseley, and this free agency with less star power, but smart moves along the offensive line. The Jets are improving, but it’s definitely taking a while. Little by little, and we shall see.
Football Nerds 