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NFL Draft 2020 Recap and Surprises

NFL Draft Recap of Rounds 1 and 2

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 1st overall as this was the consensus throughout the league. While the Redskins took calls from other teams, they opted to stay with the 2nd 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 1st 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 4th 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 53rd 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

  1. Cincinnati Bengals | WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
  2. Indianapolis Colts (from Redskins) | WR Michael Pittman Jr., USC
  3. Detroit Lions | RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia
  4. New York Giants | S Xavier McKinney, Alabama
  5. New England Patriots (from Chargers) | S Kyle Dugger, Lenior-Rhyne
  6. Carolina Panthers | DE Yetor Gross-Matos, Penn State
  7. Miami Dolphins | G Robert Hunt, Louisiana
  8. Houston Texans (from Cardinals) | DT Ross Blacklock, TCU
  9. Indianapolis Colts (from Browns) | RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
  10. Jacksonville Jaguars | WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado
  11. Chicago Bears (from Raiders) | TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
  12. Cleveland Browns (from Colts) | S Grant Delpit, LSU
  13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | S Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
  14. Denver Broncos | WR K.J. Hamler, Penn State
  15. Atlanta Falcons | DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn
  16. Seattle Seahawks (from Jets) | DE Darrell Taylor, Tennesse
  17. Pittsburgh Steelers | WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
  18. Chicago Bears | CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
  19. Dallas Cowboys | CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
  20. Los Angeles Rams | RB Cam Akers, Florida State
  21. Philadelphia Eagles | QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
  22. Buffalo Bills | DE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
  23. Baltimore Ravens (from Patriots through Falcons)| RB J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
  24. Miami Dolphins (from Saints) | DT Raekwon Davis, Alabama
  25. Los Angeles Rams (from Texans) | WR Van Jefferson, Florida
  26. Minnesota Vikings | OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
  27. New York Jets (from Seahawks) | WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
  28. New England Patriots (from Ravens) | LB Josh Uche, Michigan
  29. Tennessee Titans | CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
  30. Green Bay Packers | RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College
  31. Kansas City Chiefs (from 49ers) | LB Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State
  32. Carolina Panthers (from Chiefs through Seahawks) | S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois

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