Drafts That I Liked

The fun, unusual 2020 NFL Draft is in the books. Here are some the drafts, other than that of the Minnesota Vikings, that I liked.

Arizona Cardinals
1. Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
2. DeAndre Hopkins
3. Josh Jones, OT, Houston
4. Leki Fotu, DT, Utah
4. Rashard Lawrence, DT, LSU
6. Evan Weaver, LB, Cal
7. Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State

In my book, Isaiah Simmons rivaled Chase Young for best player in the draft. I still can't believe that the Arizona Cardinals were able to snag Josh Jones in the third. Evan Weaver was my favorite Cal player of the past decade. I wouldn't be surprised if he's a first-year starter. He's always around the ball. Eno Benjamin was a steal in the seventh. And the Cardinals added DeAndre Hopkins.

Baltimore Ravens
1. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
2. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
3. Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
3. Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas
3. Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State
3. Tyre Phillips, G, Mississippi State
4. Ben Bredeson, G, Michigan
5. Calais Campbell
5. Marcus Peters
5. Broderick Washington, DT, Texas Tech
6. James Proche, WR, SMU
7. Geno Stone, S, Iowa

The transition from Ozzie Newsome to Eric DeCosta has been seamless. The Baltimore Ravens always draft well. From first pick to last pick, this draft is strong. I was hoping that James Proche would find his way to Minnesota. The Ravens did select him with a pick that they got from the Vikings. And they added Calais Campbell and Marcus Peters with a couple fifth-round picks.

Cincinnati Bengals
1. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
2. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
3. Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
4. Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
5. Khalid Kareem, Edge, Notre Dame
6. Hakeem Adeniji, G, Kansas
7. Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue

The Cincinnati Bengals had an interesting draft simply because they took what the draft gave them. They never moved from the first pick of each round. They didn't reach. It was as if they were on auto-draft. I wouldn't be surprised if all seven players contribute right away. Despite having a terrible 2019 season there is talent on the roster. If Joe Burrow adjusts quickly the Bengals could surprise.

Cleveland Browns
1. Jedrick Wills, T, Alabama
2. Grant Delpit, S, LSU
3. Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri
3. Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU
4. Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic
5. Nick Harris, C, Washington
6. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan

I like every pick. The final two picks were players that I hoped would find their way to Minnesota.

Dallas Cowboys
1, CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
2. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
3. Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma
4. Reggie Robinson II, CB, Tulsa
4. Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin
5. Bradlee Anae, Edge, Utah
7. Ben DiNucci, QB, James Madison

The Dallas Cowboys had a charmed draft. Other than the late-round quarterback, I didn't expect any of the players to be available where the Cowboys selected them.

 Denver Broncos
1. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
2. K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
3. Michael Ojemudia, CB, Iowa
3. Lloyd Cushenberry, C, LSU
3. McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas
4. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
5. Justin Strnad, LB, Wake Forest
6. Netane Muti, G, Fresno State
7. Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Florida
7. Derrek Tuszka, DE, North Dakota State

The Denver Broncos were determined to get Drew Lock all the help that they could get. I'm probably alone on this but the one player that concerns me is K.J. Hamler. I just have issues with any receiver that has some problems catching the football. If he can get a handle on his hands he can be the Broncos' answer to Tyreek Hill. And, if Lock can get him the ball like Patrick Mahomes routinely gets the ball to Hill.

Indianapolis Colts
1. DeForest Buckner
2. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
3. Julian Blackmon, S, Utah
4. Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
5. Danny Pinter, G, Ball State
6. Rob Windsor, DT, Penn State
6. Isaiah Rodgers, DB, Massachusetts
6. Dezmon Patmon, WR, Washington State
7. Jordan Glasgow, LB, Michigan

I love the second round additions. Jacob Eason has the tools to succeed Philip Rivers. Dezmon Patmon is a late round player to watch. Michael Pittman Jr. and Patmon are terrific, big, pass-catching additions.

Jacksonville Jaguars
1. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
1. K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU
2. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
3. Davon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State
4. Ben Bartch, OT, St. John's
5. Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan State
5. Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
6. Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State
6. Tyler Davis, TE, Georgia Tech
7. Chris Claybrooks, CB, Memphis

The Jacksonville Jaguars have routinely added talented players in the draft. Unfortunately, the talent hasn't always translated into wins. This draft looks strong throughout.

Miami Dolphins
1. Tua Tagavailoa, QB, Alabama
1. Austin Jackson, OT, USC
1. Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
2. Robert Hunt, OT, Louisiana-Lafayette
2. Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
3. Brandon Jones, S, Texas
4. Solomon Kindley, G, Georgia
5. Jason Strowbridge, DL, North Carolina
5. Curtis Weaver, Edge, Boise State
6. Blake Ferguson, LS, LSU
7. Malcolm Perry, WR, Navy

Having three picks in the first round and two in the second round should make for an excellent draft. The Miami Dolphins added good football players beyond the early round selections. I'm curious to see how Malcolm Perry does. He sure was fun as Navy's quarterback.

New York Jets
1. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
2. Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
3. Ashtyn Davis, S, Cal
3. Jabari Zuniga, DE, Florida
4. La'Mical Perine, RB, Florida
4. James Morgan, QB, Florida International
4. Cameron Clarke, G, Charlotte
5. Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
6. Braden Mann, P, Texas A&M

When a team drafts a player from Cal it grabs my attention and appreciation. I also like the picks before and after the selection of Ashtyn Davis.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
2. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
3. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
4. Rob Gronkowski
5. Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
6. Khalil Davis, DT, Nebraska
7. Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
7. Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette

My appreciation for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft is anchored by their selections of the Minnesota pair. Despite not having a need at safety, I hoped that the Vikings would still select Antoine Winfield Jr. His father is one of my all-time favorites. He was a special football player and Junior plays a lot like him. The Buccaneers got a keeper. I also hoped that Tyler Johnson would be a part of the Vikings' draft class. I like the potential of Tristan Wirfs and Khalil Davis. And then there's the addition of that big tight end.

Here are a couple drafts that deserve special mention for different reasons.

Carolina Panthers
1. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
2. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
2. Jeremy Chinn, S, S. Illinois
4. Troy Pride, CB, Notre Dame
5. Kenny Washington, S, West Virginia
6. Bravvion Roy, DT, Baylor
7. Stanley Thomas-Oliver, CB, Florida International

The Panthers made seven selections in the 2020 NFL Draft. Every selection is a defensive football player. The team's decision-makers claim that it wasn't intentional. I believe them because I don't believe any team would intentionally do such a thing. If anything, I think that it proves that the Panthers truly took their best player available at every pick. Each player just happened to play defense.

And I can't conclude my appreciation of some of the draft classes without joining the parade of people ripping the drafting of the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay Packers
1. Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
2. A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College
3. Josh Deguara, TE, Cincinnati
5. Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota
6. Jon Runyan, G, Michigan
6. Jake Hanson, C, Oregon
6. Simon Stepaniak, G, Indiana
7. Vernon Scott, DB, TCU
7. Jonathan Garvin, DE, Florida

There's nothing wrong with preparing for a future without a Hall of Fame quarterback. It worked real well for the Packers the last time that they did it. I just think that the Packers did it a couple years too early this time. Brett Favre was questioning his football mortality when the Packers lucked into Aaron Rodgers in the 2005 NFL Draft. I don't think that Rodgers is anywhere near done. He probably won't be thinking about his retirement until Jordan Love's rookie deal is coming to an end. The Packers might have to make a decision on Love without knowing much about him. Even beyond that, the Packers were in the NFC Championship last season. They are in a Super Bowl window and this draft doesn't seem to add a single player that could get the team closer to a title. This draft was silly with receivers and there isn't a single receiver in this draft class. The Packers, and Rodgers, could've made real nice use of one or two of those receivers. A.J. Dillon is, at best, #2 behind Aaron Jones.
The picks that I like the best are the offensive linemen in the sixth round and Jonathan Garvin in the seventh round. The Packers 2020 Draft is a puzzle. Now watch it become the foundation of a dynasty.

I can't leave a league-wide look at the 2020 NFL Draft without joining the parade of people applauding the three-day event. I've followed the draft in it's various forms since the 1970s. This was a fun one. It may well have been the best one. I loved the streamlined process. I didn't think that I needed to see all of the various outposts of each of the team's decision-makers but I loved it. I wouldn't mind if it became the norm. I thought that Roger Goodell was wonderful. It's been a very long time since I've thought that. This was the goofy guy that I remember from his early days as commissioner. This was the regular guy that I thought that the league desperately needed then and has been missing for about a decade. This wasn't the infuriating suit that cares too much about quantity (money) and too little about quality (football). This was the commissioner that I always hoped that he would be. Nice job NFL and nice job Commissioner Goodell.