*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Most Project Baun to Round 2
Updated March 24, 2020By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
The 2020 NFL Draft is not a strong year for edge-rushing talent, and there are plenty of playoff teams picking in the 20s that could use more pass rush. Thus, there have been some projections of quarterback hunters like Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa, Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos, Florida’s Jon Greenard and Wisconsin’s Zack Baun being taken late in the first round. In speaking with sources from a handful of different teams, the consensus opinion was they did not see a first-round talent in Baun and believe that he belongs on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Baun as some size limitations as an edge rusher for the NFL,which hurts him for different teams that want length on the edge. In speaking to six team sources, five thought Baun should go on Day 2. One team source said they thought he could go late in the first round because of the need for edge rushers and Baun’s ability to get after the quarterback, as evidenced by his 12.5 sacks in 2019.
It only takes one team to fall in love, so Baun has a shot at being a first-round pick. The consensus around the league, however, has him going on the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft and not being a first-rounder like some project.
