DAY 2 of the 2020 NFL DRAFT is now in the books, and while there have beena lot more great picks so far , there has also been some head scratchers . This isn't about how much talent you have , so it's not weighted toward the teams that have the most picks . It's about the value , fit, and filling of needs for each team . A lot more obvious winners than losers this year, and that's a good thing . Feel free to comment, but please keep it civil and avoid cursing or I just won't post it . Thanks .
# Is for a player with with reported character or maturity concerns.
** Is for a player with reported injury concerns.
LOSERS - Like my buddy Rux always says "Give me the bad news first so I can end up on a good note ".
GREEN BAY- When a team in a championship window, a team that made it to the NFC Championship game last season doesn't seem interested in going for it it pisses me off . I am a fan of Aaron Rodgers ability on the field, but not a fan of his personality . I have to side with Rodgers here anyway. He needs WR's and a new RT at minimum . Maybe a TE . Something that helps him now . Does the Pack get him those things ? Nope, but they sure have backup QB and backup RB covered ?😡 Josiah Deguara is some help, but he's more blocker ( H-Back/FB/inline Y ) than weapon in the passing game right now . Also it was a round early for Deguara too . Plus Harrison Bryant & Adam Trautman were still on the board. Both are better blockers, receivers, and have a higher upside .
LA CHARGERS - I am not saying they shouldn't have taken Herbert, but after Tua was gone they legitimately could have traded back a bit and still got him. The Chargers trading all the way up to #23 and taking Kenneth Murray ? He wasn't even the best LB on the board , and good luck protecting Justin Herbert with that O-line . As much as I love Patrick Queen, I am not even sure he was worth the price ( a high 2nd & 3rd) they paid to move up that high . Then they have no picks for while 83 consecutive players are drafted after they took Murray . Luckily they have the 6th pick in the 4th round, but right now I don't have any confidence that they will hit there after this .
WINNERS - Those who will sleep the sleep of Angels tonight .
DALLAS - When Cee Dee Lamb dropped into " Jerrah's " lap, and he caught him . It was lesser need than some others . He could have traded back , taken a edge rusher or a corner , but he didn't . Dallas reportedly had 3 trade offers on the table at the time .He took the number 6 overall player on my board at pick # 17 ! He filled a need, he gave Dallas the best WR trio in the NFL , and he kept him from teams that needed him more . Like Conference rivals Minnesota, , New Orleans & San Francisco . Most importantly it kept him away from the division arch rival Eagles . Then he snaggs Trevon Diggs in the 2nd . An experienced long rangy corner that is ideally suited to the cover 3 defense Dallas runs . If they had traded back in the first ,and K"Lavon Chaisson was off the board when their pick came up Diggs would have been a solid late first rounder for them . So back to back players that shouldn't have even been available fall to the Boys , and Jerry takes them with NO shenanigans . For a minute I thought maybe Jerrah is so isolated on the yacht that his WI-FI froze on my player rankings😜 Then he took Neville Gallimore over Jordan Elliott in the 3rd. It's a solid pick, and if I was Dallas fan I would be cool with it, but Elliott would have been back-toback-toback home runs .Never thought I would say these words to the now MR. JONES . You the King Jerry ! ♚
ARIZONA - I have to admit I wanted them to take a OT in the first round, and expected them to as well . I don't know if it's just because they always wanted Simmons anyway , or if the already off the board Andrew Thomas was the only one they felt worth that high a pick . Doesn't really matter . I was wrong . However, you can't get mad at team for taking your #3 overall player with the 8th pick .Simmons is like adding 2 players at once because he can play so many positions , and it is a great pick. Every year the OT's gets pushed up and over drafted. I get it, because I saw how many average to below average O-Lineman got paid in free agency . It did happen again,as to a 2 guys I had well out of the first round on my board ( Isaiah Wilson #46 -2nd round grade and Austin Jackson #68 -3rd round grade) but not as badly as expected. Maybe it's because the 2021 OT class is shaping up to be another bumper crop . Two players I had ranked ahead of Jackson , Ezra Cleveland & Josh Jones , fell a bot . Now Cleveland was #55 player and he went at #58 so good for the Vikings . Jones was my #44 overall payer, and the fact that he was so productive while barely even having any NFL blocking technique was astounding . That is probably why he fell, because it might take him longer to become a starter while he's getting coached up, but he already looked improved at The Senior Bowl . I expect he will soon be starter in Arizona .A team that lacked a 2nd round pick , only had 2 picks overall on the first 2 days , and they still nailed it . If you add in Deandre Hopkins,and you should because that's where your high second rounder went, Steve Keim is sitting pretty . I have been making fun of him for years , but this not only saves his job, but puts him in contention for executive of the year if they make the playoffs .
MINNESOTA - When the Viking started this draft I saw it as rebuilding year because they lost so may players on defense in free agency, and they traded Stefon Diggs too. Now it looks like they are reloading instead . They have nailed every pick. They all filled a need , and Cleveland & Dantzler are huge values as well . They got 2 legitimate starting corners after losing 3 to free agency and cap casualties .Considering how last year scorners played it may actually be an upgrade. They swapped out Diggs for a similar , but cheaper player who isn't bitching , and they got a potential upgrade at left tackle, which can also be a upgrade at LG if they kick Reiff inside. I expect they will be competing for the playoffs again .
CLEVELAND - The Browns nailed it too . All values, all filled needs, and all should be heavy contributors this year . It would take a lot of injuries or locker room dysfunction to keep the browns out of the Playoffs this year . Still need a RG , but the draft ain't over . Jedrick Wills alone improves this offense vastly . He's a stud as both a run & pass blocker . Delpit can make plays in the passing game. Elliott is just a few technique refinements away from good starter, and if he really takes to coaching he's a pro bowl guy . Jacob Phillip is a tough guy downhill LB, and unlike their other LB's he is a good tackler . A little high, but I see the role they want him to play so it makes some sense . Most of these aren't picks fill ins, they are upgrades over what they had .
BALTIMORE - I expect some people will say ' So what " The Ravens always draft well " . That's why they consistently have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL. They very rarely draft for need. Best player available is their choice more often than not . That is also why they regularly have more picks than your average team. Other teams sign their former players to big money deals in free agency and they keep getting so many compensatory pick that even when they miss it rarely matters . They took Patrick Queen after lesser LB's Kenneth Murray 8 Jordan Brooks went ahead of them . JK Dobbins wasn't a need, but he was a great value, and if anything happens to Ingram they will just keep on rolling .Madubuike fills a need, and went about right where he should have . Duverany fills a need, gives them even more speed on offense, and again went where he should have. Mailk Harrison was another value and he can take on blocks that allow Patrcik Queen to use his sideline to sideline speed to run to the ball- Ala Bart Scott/Ray Lewis . I thought Tyre Phillips was around early, but he is a big & nasty run blocker , and that is raven football .Plus if they play him inside a lot of his deficiencies will be alleviated . No fuss. No big overdrafts . Just a bunch of tough guys that can play football , with the occasional lottery ticket sprinkled in. Meat & potatoes with a glass of scotch, and whatever dam desert they feel like eating . It's like Ron Swanson is making their picks .
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NY GIANTS - They took Andrew Thomas , the best OT in the draft at # 4 , and he can play both sides. He also makes their last 2 top picks - RB Saquon Barkley & QB Daniel Jones better. Xavier McKinney is the best safety in the draft, and they got him in the 2nd round . They are different types of players, but the value is similar to Landon Collins in the 2nd a few years back. OT Matt Peart has arm length like that guy from the fantastic 4. He is still a little raw, and needs to get stronger, but he's got a huge frame & a high upside. He's at least a quality swing tackle right now . Since Thomas can play either tackle spot they can decide whether or not to flip Nate Solder to the right side this season . Next year if they want to dump Solders pricey contract they can decide where Peart is most comfortable and Thomas can play the other tackle spot . All these picks help now and long term.
CINCINNATI - You may say it's not hard to stand pat and take an obvious number one overall pick QB , but you would be wrong in this case , because they turned down a huge offer from the Dolphins to do so . The fact that he is from Ohio and can energize your fan base only make sit a smarter move . Tee Higgins is a potential long term number one WR , especially with a QB like Burrow that likes to make back shoulder throws and trusts his WR's to go make a play when they are singled up. Logan Wilson fills big need at LB, can cober, and has high upside. The crazy thing is none of them have big character or injury question marks. So maybe that's not a Bengal thing anymore. Maybe it was just always a Marvin Lewis thing .
DETROIT- Yep. I said it. The Lions did well . Not used to thinking this way. . Head hurts .... anyway, it's not their fault that they couldn't get a sucker to come in an give them more picks and still be bale to get Okudah . After there poor performance in this draft I'm shocked the Chargers didn't fall for it . Okudah gives them a new number one CB . He can play man to man well like Patricia wants, and he is worth the #3 overall pick . D'Andre Swift isn't a big need if Kerryon Johnson is healthy, but there running game went in the tank without him last season . Plus it's a first round value in the second round, and he is a do it all RB . Julian Okwarais value too, and he is so bendy. If he reaches his ceiling he is exactly what they need . So hit the weight room Julian . Jonah Jackson fill a big need inside, and he is the best pass blocking pure guard in the draft . Although Jonah should hit the eight room with Julian, and he especially needs to make himself acquainted with the squat rack .
JACKSONVILLE- The Jags surprised me in 2 ways. One- I thought they would be trading back a lot and building for nest season. 2- They drafted really well. Even with CJ Henderson being a little high for me he was the consensus Number 2 corner in the draft, and the chances of him being there with there 2nd first rounder (#20) were minuscule. Needs to man uo as tackler though , especially in a cover 3 defense . I love the Chaisson pick because this was weak edge class after Chase Young, and he was my number 2 pure edge rusher in the draft . Plus I really thought he would be gone by then, as both Atlanta & Dallas had a lot of interest in him . Also, unlike Yannick Ngakoue he is fighter at the point of atack in the run game . Shenault is a STEAL ! The number 16 overall player on my board, and the #4 WR in a historically deep WR class , but the 9th WR drafted. He is like a power RB with the ball in his hands & is so versatile. He was hurt a lot last season, and still wasn't healthy at the combine or he would have gone higher . A big upgrade over Marquis Lee in the slot . Davon Hamilton gives them a beefy NT to plug up the inside & push the pocket next to quick tackle Taven Bryan . Just a good job all around .
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