The 2020 NFL Draft opens Thursday night, and we’ve got a few questions — and not just when it comes to how this whole virtual draft is going to work.
With a deep pool of talent to choose from and plenty of smokescreens around how teams are approaching it, there’s a load of intrigue brewing.
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Here are five big questions on our minds as we look ahead to the first round.
1. After Joe Burrow, who will be the next quarterback taken?
“With the first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select Joe Burrow, quarterback, LSU.” – NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, this Thursday night, from his basement. Probably.
At this point, there’s more intrigue about how the No. 1 pick will be announced than who the No. 1 pick will be… because we basically already know it’s Joe Burrow. The Tiger king before The Tiger King, Burrow captivated fans of the game everywhere by putting together the greatest individual season college football has ever seen while claiming the Heisman Trophy and a National Championship for the LSU Tigers in the process.
The biggest question of this quarterback class is who will be taken after Burrow — and the jury’s still out on that one, with two names circled in that conversation: Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon’s Justin Herbert.
Tagovailoa is widely considered to be the most dynamic, pro-ready of the two, with the kind of potential that has some seeing Drew Brees. It wasn’t so long ago that it was Tagovailoa, not Burrow, who was projected to go No. 1 overall, but injuries (and plenty of ’em, including a season-ending hip injury suffered in November) raised several red flags about what kind of NFL career Tua could have, despite his ability to work through and overcome each health setback he’s had. If healthy, he has the tools to light up the league with his quick release and accuracy but that “if” could make the idea of selecting him with a high pick feel like a gamble for some teams.
That’s means Herbert could be considered a “safe” pick, by comparison. He’s being viewed as the prototypical quarterback type thanks to his build and athleticism, though could use a little fine-tuning.
The third tier of QBs includes Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts and Jake Fromm.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport calls Love “the true wildcard,” due to his wide-open draft window “from No. 5 to 25,” while Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero believes if Love starts slipping, he might not even be a first-rounder.
Meanwhile, Hurts is drawing interest from an intriguing pair of teams.
Of the teams picking in the top 10, the two most obvious QB-needy teams are Miami (No. 5) and the Chargers (6), with Jacksonville (9) also creating some chatter at the position.
2. What kind of splash will the Dolphins make?
Their job opening at the quarterback position isn’t the only thing that makes Miami so interesting heading into this draft.
The Dolphins approach Thursday with three first-round picks — their own at No. 5, Pittsburgh’s No. 18 and Houston’s No. 26 — which is more than any other club. Three smart picks means they could be accelerating what’s been a pretty massive roster overhaul… or, they could transform the trade market with that much draft capital.
Despite all this QB talk, there’s also no guarantee that they even will take a QB. After all, as we’ve seen many times over, the best teams build from within, first constructing a solid offensive line before bringing in the man in the pocket.
Now, let’s take a quick look at who’s comin’ down the pipeline in 2021… Oh, interesting.
3. Which wide receiver will finish top of his class?
With all due respect to those on the O- and D-lines, draft night is so much more fun when there are elite offensive weapons up for grabs. This year, there are three big-name wide receivers — and pretty much no wrong answer when it comes to who’s the best one.
Alabama’s duo of Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III wreaked havoc on opposing defences all year, with Jeudy known for his top-notch route-running and ability to change a game with every play, while the first three descriptors on Ruggs’ scouting report are “elite speed,” “extremely fast” and “rare speed.” Both are insanely fun to watch, as is Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb.
At six-foot-two and 198 pounds, Lamb is the biggest of the big three — and he plays like it. Lamb is known for his toughness, sharp route-running and his ability to run after the catch (and squeeze every last yard out of it).
Justin Jefferson, out of LSU, is a fourth name that is coming up more and more often in the same tier as the three mentioned above after catching passes from Joe Burrow all year. He’s not the fastest in his class but his strong route-running and reliable hands make him a strong option for a team picking later in the Round 1.
The Cardinals (No. 8), Jaguars (9), Jets (11), Raiders (12), 49ers (13), Broncos (15) and Eagles (21) could be intriguing teams to watch here.
4. Will the Patriots draft Brady’s successor?
In 2000, the New England Patriots took Tom Brady with pick No. 199. Twenty years later, Brady’s a Buccaneer and the Patriots are on the clock to find his replacement. Their silence on the free agency front has us all thinking they’ll draft one, and their position at No. 23 overall makes things interesting.
Rapoport says “everybody knows that they’re going to take a quarterback … Obviously, it does get complicated. They don’t have a second-round pick. So it seems to be, pick someone in the first round or pick someone in the mid-rounds. There’s really no in-between for the Patriots.”
The biggest variables here are those already within the organization. The club drafted Jarrett Stidham in last year’s fourth round, and signed Brian Hoyer as a likely safety net. Stidham still feels very much like an unknown. It’s possible the Patriots draft a QB in need of development — say, a Jalen Hurts, should he fall in Round 1, who’s not yet ready for the pro spotlight — and give Stidham a real shot.
5. Which teams could shake up the first round?
At the rate Football Twitter is moving this week… all of them.
Looking at the draft board, the Washington Redskins have an easy decision at pick No. 2: elite pass rusher Chase Young, out of Ohio State. He’s could be a game-changer for a team that’s close to contending, which could mean the Redskins — who aren’t approaching that window of contention just yet — could have some lucrative bids coming their way.
Some reports have indicated that the Lions (No. 3 overall) and Giants (4) are open to moving back in the draft, while a report about the Giants spending plenty of time on Justin Herbert could be open to interpretation.
We know New York likes to reach for QBs in the draft, but surely this is all just an effort to drive up the price… right?
The San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings all have two first-round picks, making them intriguing teams to watch, and the 49ers (No. 13 and 31) are reportedly ready to talk.
The Raiders might be eying a flashy pick to draw in new fans as they embark on their first season in Vegas, while the Jaguars are already making noise on the trade front.
The Seattle Seahawks (No. 27), meanwhile, have a habit of making draft-day deals and are always a team to watch.
Buckle up, football fans! We’re all starved for sports content, and Thursday is going to be fun.
