This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2020 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2020 NFL Draft Stock Up
Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon Herbert could end up benefiting from the injury to Tua Tagovailoa by being the first quarterback drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, although that assumes Herbert makes it through the rest of this season healthy. Herbert already has the best skill set of any quarterback prospect for the 2020 NFL Draft because he has more size, mobility, and arm strength than Tagovailoa, Joe Burrow or Jake Fromm. Jacob Eason might be able to match Herbert in arm strength, but Herbert is a much better athlete than Eason and Herbert also is a more polished passer. With his skill set and experience, Herbert could be the new favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Stay tuned as a lot can and will change in the leadup to the 2020 NFL Draft.
Zack Moss, RB, Utah Moss dominated against UCLA, showing he is a do-it-all back for the NFL and has starting potential. He ran for 127 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 73 yards. The Bruins were incapable of containing the Utes’ workhorse back.
As a runner, Moss showed quickness to hit the hole and accelerate to the second level. He powered through some tackles and picked up yards after contact with impressive lower body strength. He had vision and feel to work through the defense and demonstrated his versatility to contribute as a receiver. Like all college backs going to the NFL, Moss will need some tutelage in pass blocking, but he could be a lead back to run the ball and contribute as a receiver out of the backfield. He showed soft hands and ran good routes. The UCLA tape will help Moss to be a second-day pick.
Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn Davidson is a sleeper prospect who could be a riser during the draft process. While he is not a speed demon off the edge with overwhelming traits, he is a hard-nosed football player who plays with excellent technique and is tough as nails. Davidson battled hard against Georgia and showed his superb technique when he got the better of Bulldogs left tackle Andrew Thomas for a sack. Thomas could be a franchise left tackle in the NFL and top-10 pick next April. Davidson is a good run defender as well and notched five tackles versus Georgia. As the 2020 NFL Draft approaches, Davidson could climb up draft boards because he looks like a safe pick to develop into a solid contributor at the pro level.
Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech Brooks generates some varitation as a prospect between different NFL evaluators. Some team sources see Brooks as a second-round pick, while others have him as a third- or fourth-rounder. Some think he is a true inside linebacker, while others think he is a weakside linebacker for the NFL. The ones who have him lower think he is athletic and fast, but has average instincts and does not take on blocks well. The sources who are higher on Brooks think he is a pure middle linebacker who can do it all. Brooks will probably be a second-day pick in the 2020 NFL Draft if the injury that knocked him out against TCU isn’t significant.
Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson With a tremendous first half, Higgins led Clemson to a win over Wake Forest last Saturday. On the first drive of the game, Higgins got open in the front of the end zone to use his big frame for a 14-yard touchdown. In the second quarter, Higgins used his tall frame and leaping ability to make a touchdown reception over two defensive backs for another 14-yard scoring snatch. After a turnover, Higgins struck again this time with a 30-yard touchdown. He ran a nice route, heading for the corner of the end zone before slashing back across the middle of the field to get open for the score. Higgins finished with four receptions for 64 yards and three scores.
For the NFL, Higgins is a big wideout who has mismatch size with strong hands and quality route-running. If Higgins runs well in the 40, he could really rise, but if he has a solid 40 time, he should be in the conversation for Day 2.
Jamie Newman, QB, Wake Forest Even though he had a rough game against Clemson last week, Newman has created a buzz in the scouting community this fall as a legit pro prospect for the NFL. The junior is a dual-threat quarterback with running and passing talent that challenges defenses. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder has quality size, a live arm, and athleticism. He is very improved as a passer and is showing a lot of upside to develop for the pro ranks. Some team sources think Newman would be a second-day pick if he enters the 2020 NFL Draft.
2020 NFL Draft Stock Down
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama Tagovailoa was the favorite to be the No. 1-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but that may have changed after the dislocated hip he suffered against Mississippi State. The injury ends Tagovailoa’s season and probably his collegiate football career because he is expected to enter the 2020 NFL Draft rather than return for his senior year.
Even though the injury is very serious, Tagovailoa should still be a top-20 pick. This injury might cause teams to prefer another quarterback prospect like Oregon’s Justin Herbert, but there are enough quarterback-needy teams in the NFL that will jump at the chance of landing Tagovailoa, and Tagovailoa is a legit top-of-the-draft franchise-changing quarterback prospect. Thus, he will have plenty of teams still hoping to land him even though he could be limited in pre-draft workouts.
Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama The game against Mississippi State turned out to be a bloodbath for the Crimson Tide, as Davis, their best interior defensive lineman, went out as well. Davis is an early-round prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. In the first quarter, Davis had a coverage sack, but it turned out to be a bad play as he had a facemask and suffered an injury on the play. He returned to the game shortly later, but he injured his left leg while putting a hit on the quarterback. This time Davis had to be helped off the field without putting any weight on his leg. He came back to the sideline in the second half but was on crutches with his foot and ankle in a boot. After the game, Alabama said Davis had a sprained ankle, and it looked like a serious sprain.
Davis is a phenomenal run defender who can contribute a little bit in the pass rush, but he is more of a lineman who occupies blockers and defends the run. He does not offer a lot of pass-rush ability for the NFL, but he could be a good nose tackle in a 4-3 or 3-4. In a 3-4, he also could play five-technique defensive end. If this sprain is serious enough to cause Davis to miss significant time, it could push him lower into Day 2 and really hurt his chances of being a first-round pick. Alabama has a reputation of sending its players into the draft process very beaten up with a lot of wear-and-tear injuries, so that doesn’t work in Davis’ favor either.
Erroll Thompson, LB, Mississippi State Thompson is a good college player, but he has some limitations for the next level. Thompson is a tough run defender who is a big linebacker with strength, tackling technique, and an ability to take on blocks. However, he has limitations in pass coverage, and last Saturday’s performance against Alabama gave more proof of that. Thompson struggled to run with Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris on routes out of the backfield and also did not look natural in zone coverage in space. Prior to the NFL being a passing-driven league, Thompson could have been a starting inside linebacker, but now he looks limited to being a backup who plays two downs against run-heavy offenses.
Nick Coe, DE, Auburn Coe should be having a big season for Auburn, but his disappointing year continued against Georgia, as he was shut out. He has zero sacks and 13 tackles this seasson despite a great situation around him with Marlon Davidson on the other side and a future top-10 pick on the inside of the defensive line in Derrick Brown to draw attention away from Coe. The 6-foot-5, 291-pound Coe has a good skill set with size, speed and athleticism, but he hasn’t played up to his ability or developed as a junior. Coe definitely should return for his senior year rather than enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
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