The NFL Draft is all about improving a team and injecting youth into a roster. The 2020 NFL Draft specifically has been highly touted as one of the best classes in years and comes at a time when people need something to take their minds off of our real-world problems. Much like years past, things haven’t gone as expected and front offices have made some head-scratching selections.
So, who are the winners and losers of this year’s NFL Draft?
Winners
New York Jets
The Jets quietly had one of the best drafts in 2020. They took a different path than most teams and instead of selecting a wide receiver they chose an offensive lineman in the first round. The Jets added Mekhi Becton to a unit in serious need of some help. Becton is a physical phenom at 6’7” 365 pounds running a 5.10 40-yard dash. This athletic freak should have an immediate impact with his presence up front. Le’Veon Bell owners should be excited.
Not only did New York take care of a huge need on their offensive line, but they also addressed the wide receiver position in the second round with 6’3” Denzel Mims, another athlete who tested strong at the NFL combine. He shocked analysts when he posted a 4.39 40-yard dash. This could be Sam Darnold‘s new number one receiver, something the team lacked last year. This should help Darnold in fantasy and real life. New York is also a great landing spot for Mims who will be afforded an opportunity to prove himself.
The Jets made some strong picks later in the draft including running back Lamical Perine and another offensive tackle, Cameron Clark, in the fourth round.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are draft winners for the second year in a row. They come out of this draft looking very strong. The Ravens chose LSU linebacker Patrick Queen at 28th overall in hopes of finding the next Ray Lewis. They followed up a top tier defensive player with a top tier offensive player in J.K. Dobbins, a running back many thought could be the first off the board. The Ravens are an optimal landing spot for Dobbins who is a proven dual threat in the running and passing game.
They also added former Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay to a shallow receiving corps. Duvernay is a smaller receiver but ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, another great fit for this offense. Both Dobbins and Duvernay have the potential for fantasy relevancy in the next year or two.
New England Patriots
The Patriots didn’t make any blockbuster picks and didn’t select a single wide receiver or quarterback in the entire 2020 NFL Draft. It looks like Stidham season is in full effect. The Patriots have made it clear that they’re ok moving forward with Stidham as the starter this season. He may come in handy for owners who held on in SuperFlex and 2QB leagues.
The Patriots also added two tight ends for the first time since they drafted Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Only one has a real shot at fantasy relevancy and that’s Devin Asiasi out of UCLA. He’s 6’5” 280 and plays like a wide receiver. He could be a really interesting flier late in rookie drafts.
Aside from offense, the Patriots brought in reinforcements in the linebacker and edge rushing group with Josh Uche from Michigan and Anfernee Jennings from Alabama. Bill Belichick selected 10 players in this draft to help rebuild both his offense and defense.
Cincinnati Bengals
It’s hard to dispute how good the Bengals look coming out of this draft. They took what should be a generational talent in the most recent Heisman winner, Joe Burrow with the first overall pick. They used their second-round pick on former Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins. We can only imagine him as the eventual replacement for A.J. Green when he finally calls it quits. Higgins profiles as an NFL number one receiver and could’ve easily gone in the first round.
The Bengals chose two linebackers and a defensive end after bolstering their offense with the first and second-round picks. The Bengals were one of the worst defensive units in the league last year, they ranked 30th in defense DVOA. Expect a whole new team in Cincinnati this season.
Losers
Green Bay Packers
The Packers are one of the biggest losers in the 2020 NFL Draft, especially from a fantasy perspective. The Packers traded up and spent their first-round pick on quarterback Jordan Love. Love entered the draft with questions about his accuracy and decision making. This comes after Aaron Rodgers publicly addressed the lack of offensive weapons and how “cool” it would be for them to select a wide receiver in the first round.
They followed up this questionable first-round pick with running back A.J. Dillon and tight end Josiah Deguara. Dillion isn’t a terrible pick at No.62 overall but it’s not necessarily a position they must fill. Aaron Jones is in the last year of his deal and they could be planning ahead. Even so, you’d think they would want to address a depleted wide receiver room.
The Packers didn’t seem to address any of the immediate teams and completely neglected their quarterback’s wishes. I guess this is good news for Davante Adams owners, his target share should remain exactly the same.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills began the day without their first-round draft pick after sending it to the Minnesota Vikings for Stefon Diggs and didn’t get the best value with the picks they had left.
The Bills selected former Utah running back Zack Moss in the third round and former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm in the fifth. Zack Moss is a head-scratcher considering they found a gem in Devin Singletary last year. Moss struggled with injuries in college but Buffalo sees something they like, enough to use a third-round pick on a position they’ve already filled. Fromm is another interesting pick. Josh Allen is plenty young and if they want a backup they can turn to free agency. I don’t like much of what they did and Zack Moss hurts any value Singletary had built up at the end of the year in 2019.
Chicago Bears
The Bears had very little draft capital, to begin with. They picked twice in the second round and not again until the fifth round. It doesn’t help them that they elected to draft Cole Kmet with their first pick at 43rd overall. Kmet is a good player and probably the best tight end in the class but the Bears already signed Jimmy Graham and have other needs they neglected to address.
It would’ve served them better to focus on their defensive needs in the earlier rounds. The Bears didn’t come away with much in the 2020 draft.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks didn’t have a first-round pick which certainly was a factor in them ending up in the lower section of this article. Their first pick was a defensive end, Darrell Tayler, out of Tennessee who was expected to go much later in the draft.
They also selected Stanford tight end Cody Parkinson and Miami running back DeeJay Dallas. None of these picks are exciting and they have very little draft capital invested meaning there are no guarantees here. It’s safe to say Chris Carson comes out of this as an individual winner.
Thank you for reading. If you have any thoughts or would like to discuss, you can find me on Twitter @WillieBeamanDFF.
