2020 April - Pro Football Rumors

Vikings Take T Ezra Cleveland At No. 58

April 24th, 2020 at 8:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

After addressing clear needs at wide receiver and cornerback in the first round, the Vikings took a tackle who slid down the board.

Minnesota used its second-round pick on Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland. The former Mountain West standout was viewed as a near-lock to go in the first round, so this may well represent good value for the Vikings.

The Vikings were a rumored Cleveland suitor, but given his rumored pre-draft rise, it was perceived that said interest would have required the team using one of its two first-round picks. The 6’6″ blocker rated as Scouts Inc.’s No. 22 overall prospect.

Riley Reiff‘s status has been a discussion point this offseason, and the Vikings may have drafted his replacement. Reiff has worked as the Vikings’ left tackle since 2017. The Vikings have now used second-round picks on tackles in two of the past three years, having drafted right tackle starter Brian O’Neill in 2018. Reiff is under contract through 2021 but would not be a particularly prohibitive cut at this stage of his deal.

Ravens Draft RB J.K. Dobbins

April 24th, 2020 at 8:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens’ running back room just got even more crowded. With the No. 55 overall pick, the Ravens snagged Ohio State standout J.K. Dobbins.

Dobbins was viewed as one of the best pure runners in this year’s class. He doesn’t have the best hands in this year’s crop, but his feet mostly make up for it.

Dobbins posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons at Ohio State and the Ravens believe that he can anchor the running game behind Lamar Jackson. Last year, he topped 2,000 yards (yes you read that right) with 23 total touchdowns. One year ago, some saw Dobbins as the best RB in this year’s class. He was leapfrogged by the likes of Georgia’s D’Andre Swift over time, but he still figures to have a bright NFL future, especially in Baltimore’s dynamite offense.

The rookie will fight for carries this year alongside Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill.

Eagles Draft QB Jalen Hurts

April 24th, 2020 at 7:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles (ahem) selected quarterback Jalen Hurts with the No. 53 overall pick. Few could have predicted that the Eagles would use significant draft capital on the QB position, but they apparently see him as a potential heir to Carson Wentz.

To say it’s a shocking pick would be a pretty big understatement. Wentz has been injury-prone during his time in the pros, and it’s possible the Eagles just wanted a reliable backup the next time Wentz has to miss games. Regardless of their reasoning, this is going to cause some waves in Philly. Hurts had a very unique and decorated college career, leading Alabama to a national championship before transferring and becoming a Heisman finalist at Oklahoma.

Originally not regarded as an elite pro prospect, Hurts became a late riser after putting up gaudy numbers under Lincoln Riley with the Sooners. After Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, he’s now the third straight Oklahoma passer to be drafted early. Wentz tore an ACL and LCL in 2017, then missed significant time with a back issue in 2018.

He started all 16 regular season games last year, but was knocked out of the Eagles’ playoff loss to Seattle early on. Hurts showed well at the combine, and did enough to thrust himself firmly into Day 2. Last week we heard the Packers and Chargers were interested, both teams that ended up drafting signal-callers in the first-round.

Hurts averaged a ridiculous 11.3 yards per attempt last year, tossing 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. A dynamic threat with his legs as well, he also added 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. It’s anyone’s guess as to what Howie Roseman had in mind with this pick, but it’ll be very interesting to see how it all plays out. Wentz is under contract through 2024 after signing a four-year, $128MM extension last offseason.

Cowboys Choose CB Trevon Diggs At No. 51

April 24th, 2020 at 7:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

A player mentioned as a possible first-rounder will head to Dallas. Trevon Diggs went off the board to the Cowboys at No. 51, potentially filling a big need area for the team.

The younger brother of Stefon Diggs, Trevon would appear to be Dallas’ top offseason effort to replace Byron Jones.

Trevon Diggs did not post big stats while at Alabama — only accumulating 68 tackles in four seasons — but the 6-foot-1 talent was viewed as one of this draft’s top prospects nonetheless.

The Cowboys return rookie-contract corners Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis, and Diggs should be expected to challenge for a starting spot as a rookie. Both Awuzie and Lewis are entering contract years, making it all the more important for Dallas to stock up at corner.

Browns Take LSU S Grant Delpit At No. 44

April 24th, 2020 at 7:17pm CST by Zachary Links

Grant Delpit is off the board. With the No. 44 pick, the Browns grabbed the standout LSU safety.

The Browns fortified safety by signing Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo, but they also wanted to address the group in the long run. Joseph and Sendejo are both on one-year deals and, at this stage of his career, Sendejo profiles more as a supporting cast member.

Delpit notched five tackles and one sack in LSU’s championship victory. All in all, he closed out three seasons with a combined 199 tackles, 17.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 24 passes defended, and two fumble recoveries.

Delpit has demonstrated the ability to lock down defenders in both man and zone coverage. He’s also an effective blitzer, as evidenced by those 17.5 sacks. He’ll have to tighten up his tackling form at the next level, but evaluators say his future is bright.

Buccaneers Draft S Antoine Winfield Jr.

April 24th, 2020 at 7:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not that long ago, Antoine Winfield was a standout slot cornerback in the NFC. His son, Antoine Winfield Jr., became a second-round pick Friday, landing with the Buccaneers at No. 45 overall.

Capable of high-end slot coverage, as his father was in Minnesota and Buffalo, Antoine Winfield Jr. finished his Minnesota career as an All-American safety.

The Bucs did not have a safety grade in the top 60, per Pro Football Focus, last season. While Tampa Bay’s defense took a big leap in 2019 — finishing fifth in DVOA — the group needed help on its back end.

Winfield finished with seven interceptions as a senior and registered 83 tackles. Scouts Inc. ranked the 5-foot-9, 203-pound defensive back as its No. 29 overall prospect.

Jaguars Take WR Laviska Shenault At No. 42

April 24th, 2020 at 7:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

A pre-draft injury helped Laviska Shenault tumble out of the first round, but he did not fall too far. The Jaguars used their No. 42 overall pick on the Colorado wideout.

The third wide receiver taken in Friday’s second round, Shenault was long expected to be a first-round talent. But as the Combine revealed a deep wideout class, Shenault’s core muscle injury resulted in a drop into Round 2.

Shenault will join a Jaguars team that houses 2018 second-rounder D.J. Chark as its top wide receiver. At Colorado, Shenault totaled 1,011 yards in just nine games as a sophomore in 2018. The 227-pound talent will be expected to play a key role in helping the Jags determine if Gardner Minshew is a long-term answer at quarterback.

At first, Shenault’s groin issue was not believed to require surgery. However, a slower-than-expected 40-yard dash time preceded the talented prospect undergoing a procedure.

Seahawks Trade Up To Jets’ No. 48, Take Darrell Taylor

April 24th, 2020 at 7:02pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets considered a move up the board in Round 2, but they ultimately traded back with the Seahawks. The Seahawks moved up to No. 48 overall to select defensive end Darrell Taylor. In exchange, the Jets got the No. 59 and No. 101 overall choices.

Taylor racked up 8.5 sacks last season to solidify his early round draft status. He might not offer the kind of upside as new Panthers pickup Yetur Matos-Gross, but he’s much more NFL ready. In Seattle, he’ll join forces with first-round linebacker Jordyn Brooks to boost the front seven. Also in the front seven: Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa. At this point, the Seahawks seem to be bracing for life without Jadeveon Clowney.

The Jets, meanwhile, still have lots of work to do after addresssing their tackle need in Round 1.

Colts Trade Up With Browns For RB Jonathan Taylor

April 24th, 2020 at 6:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts will assemble a crowded backfield next season. Trading up from No. 44 to No. 41 with Cleveland, Indianapolis selected Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor.

In the deal, the Browns will slide down three spots and pick up a fifth-round selection (No. 160). The Colts, meanwhile, will pair Taylor with incumbent Marlon Mack.

While Mack and Taylor figure to be the headliners in a strong Indianapolis backfield next season, the Colts also have 2018 draftees Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines on their team. The Taylor investment does somewhat cloud Mack’s future with the franchise. Mack is one of many talented 2017 running back draftees going into contract years. With Taylor on board, it would seem less likely the Colts are preparing to pay up to keep Mack.

As for Taylor, the longtime Badgers back possesses sprinter speed totaled a staggering 6,174 rushing yards in three seasons. Taylor’s worst season among those featured 1,977 yards. He posted back-to-back 2,000-yard campaigns in 2018 and ’19. Taylor, who scored 55 touchdowns in college, will play behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines in Indianapolis.

Patriots Draft Kyle Dugger At No. 37

April 24th, 2020 at 6:43pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Patriots went outside the box with their first pick of the 2020 draft, taking safety Kyle Dugger from tiny school Lenoir-Rhyne with the 37th overall pick.

Dugger was expected to go in the second-round so it wasn’t shocking, but he’s still a more under the radar prospect as a result of playing D2 ball. Dugger shined during Senior Bowl week, and began rocketing up draft boards as a result. He received all kinds of accolades during his college career, and was a second-team All-American in 2019 despite being limited to only seven games because of a hand injury.

At 24 he’s older than your typical draft prospect, and definitely comes with a lot of risk. Bill Belichick obviously thought it was a plunge worth taking, and it sounds like he’s got high upside. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller listed Keanu Neal and Mark Barron as pro comps in a recent write-up.