Monday Morning Draft is back! This is a column that delves into the past weekend’s action from an NFL Draft perspective. As the season goes on, the draft picture and slotting will become more clear, but every Sunday will provide a few hints for next April.
By Charlie Campbell.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: [email protected]
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.
Race for the No. 1 Pick:
Miami Dolphins:
Miami played the Bills close for a lot of the game but finally fell to Buffalo. In Week 6, the Dolphins almost blew their draft positioning with a touchdown in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, but they failed on the two-point conversion to lose 17-16 to the Redskins. The Dolphins are now 0-6 on the season.
Miami went into rebuilding mode after firing Adam Gase to start 2019. Miami accelerated that effort with a bunch of trades, including ripping off the Texans for three premium draft picks for Laremy Tunsil. With the roster lacking a lot of long-term pieces, the Dolphins will be able to draft a lot of the best players available over the next few years. Miami is the favorite to land the No. 1-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and could decide to rebuild around Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Cincinnati Bengals:
The 0-6 Bengals lost at home in a close game with Jacksonville. In Week 1, Cincinnati played really well on the road, but came up short against Seattle. The Bengals have a new regime in place and could look to upgrade over Andy Dalton if they land the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Bengals still have some good talents on their offense and their defensive line, so they may not land the No. 1-overall pick over Miami or another surprise team that collapses this season. The Bengals’ offensive line, however, has needed talent and the team already lost 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams to a season-ending injury. Cincinnati has other weaknesses on the roster, so it could be a long year.
Let’s Play Matchmaker:
This section will look at some of the top talent in college football and match those prospects up with teams that have a dire need at the position.
Arizona Cardinals: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
The Cardinals got a win in New York as Chase Edmonds ran for three touchdowns and 126 yards filling in for David Johnson. Surprisingly, Arizona struggled to pass the ball against the Giants’ vulnerable secondary. Not a single receiver had 30 yards or five receptions.
The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Jeudy is a polished receiver who has quickness, size, and excellent technique. He is a superb route-runner who generates separation and is very tough for defenders to cover. Jeudy has run-after-the-catch skills with the ability to produce big plays for his offense. In 2019, Jeudy has 42 receptions for 579 yards and six touchdowns. In 2018, he totaled 68 receptions for 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Los Angeles Rams: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
The Rams ended their losing streak with a win over the hapless Falcons. Todd Gurley had a pretty touchdown reception, but this season has proven that he clearly is not the same runner he was in 2018 or 2017 when he dominated the league. Against a weak Atlanta defense, Gurley totaled 41 yards on 18 carries. The Los Angeles offense isn’t the same, and Jared Goff gets rattled by good defenses that put him under pressure. Hence, in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, it would make sense for the Rams to grab a running back who can invigorate their ground attack.
Dobbins has been a dangerous runner since his freshman season at Ohio State. In his debut season, he ran for 1,403 yards, and he continued to play well in a platoon role as a sophomore. This year, Dobbins is the feature back for Ohio State and has averaged 7.1 yards per carry for 947 yards and seven touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 217-pounder has good speed to break off long runs with the power to get yards after contact. In the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Dobbins could be a good addition for the Rams to go with Darrell Henderson as the running back tandem of the future.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevon Digs, CB, Alabama
The Jaguars’ defense intercepted Andy Dalton three times, but they also allowed Alex Erickson to catch eight passes for 137 yards. After trading away Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville needs a new No. 1 corner as A.J. Bouye is at his best when he is the No.2 corner. With one of their first-round picks, the Jaguars need to find a replacement for Ramsey. Jacksonville probably won’t end up picking high enough for Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah, but there are other good corners to target in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
In 2019, Diggs has 20 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defended and a fumble returned 100 yards for a touchdown. Diggs is listed at 6-foot-2, 199 pounds and has excellent speed and athleticism. He started out his career playing some wide receiver, but he has evolved into a talented cover corner for Alabama. With his size and physicality, Diggs is adept at matching up with big wideouts and has the speed to run vertically. Diggs took his game to another level in 2018 before going down with a broken foot that ended his season midway through the year, but prior to that, Diggs was on his way to being the top cornerback for the 2019 NFL Draft. He could be a good fit in Jacksonville.
Tennessee Titans: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
The Titans were able to come up with a goal-line stand to bail out a bad coaching decision by Mike Vrabel, but they were fortunate to get that win. Hunter Henry and Austin Ekeler ate up Tennessee’s linebackers and safeties in coverage. The Titans could use a safety upgrade to go next to Kevin Byard.
McKinney is a versatile safety who can a do a lot of things for a defense. Against the pass, he can play zone in the middle of the field or rotate downfield as a free safety. This season, McKinney has shown man coverage as well. Additionally, he is a tough run defender who is fast and physical. McKinney also has an aggressive demeanor that lets him fit as the eighth man in the box. McKinney has 53 tackles with an interception and forced fumble in 2019. A defender like McKinney would be great for the Titans to improve their ability to cover in the middle of the field.
Green Bay Packers: Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
The Packers had their hands full at times in the first half with the Raiders, but Green Bay pulled away as Aaron Rodgers overwhelmed the Oakland defense. With their rebuilt defense, the Packers are one of the top teams in the NFL this year and a favorite to win the NFC. Maybe the only thing that could derail them is an injury to Aaron Rodgers, and that could be the case in the next few years to come with Rodgers still playing at an elite level. In the early rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, it would make sense for Green Bay to fortify the offensive line.
Wanogho has looked very good at times for Auburn and still has some other plays that illustrate that he is raw and needs development, but there is no doubt that Wanogho has a great skill set with a lot of upside if he plays up to his potential. The 6-foot-7, 301-pounder has excellent size with length, quickness and athleticism. He has a ton of upside and could become a really good starter if he works hard and develops. He could become a franchise left tackle with good coaching. Late in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Wanogho could make sense for Green Bay.
Buffalo Bills: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
The Bills improved to 5-1 after dropping Miami. John Brown continued to have a strong season for Buffalo, hauling in five receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. However no other Bills wideout had even four receptions or 30 yards receiving. Buffalo could use more weapons for Josh Allen come 2020.
This season, Gandy-Golden has 43 receptions for 877 yards and five scores. Gandy-Golden is a very impressive natural hands catcher with excellent size who is dangerous after the catch and has enough quickness to get downfield. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder is a size mismatch and has some physicality to him. He is calm with defenders closing in on him and does a superb job of playing the ball. As a sophomore, Gandy-Golden had 71 receptions for 1,037 yards with 10 touchdowns. He played better than the numbers illustrate. Gandy-Golden could form a dangerous tandem with Brown.
Indianapolis Colts: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Jacoby Brissett outplayed Deshaun Watson to get the Colts a huge win over Houston. The Indianapolis defense intercepted Watson twice, and came up with some clutch plays including sacks from Justin Houston and Jabaal Sheard, but Indianapolis could augment its rush by adding an interior presence. Kinlaw would be a great scheme fit for the Colts.
Kinlaw has been superb for the Gamecocks in 2019. He has 22 tackles with five sacks and has caused a lot disruption at the point of attack. The first thing that stands out about Kinlaw is his size. He is a tall, thick and good-looking athlete. After passing the eyeball test, one can see some special ability as Kinlaw really fires off the ball. He is quick to close and has strength to fight off blockers. Kinlaw gets in trouble when he stands up too high, and working on his technique will help him to get more out of his excellent skill set. In the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Kinlaw would be a good choice for Indianapolis.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand in regards to the 2020 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles Chargers:
The Chargers have had a frustrating season, and things have never clicked for them in 2019. The year started going off the rails in the preseason with Derwin James getting injured and Melvin Gordon holding out. Perhaps the Chargers can get hot to make a run at a wild-card spot, but they do not look like they are real threats to the Patriots or Chiefs in the AFC. However, Los Angeles has a good organization under general manager Tom Telesco and with Philip Rivers at quarterback, the team could bounce back quickly in 2020 to be a playoff contender again.
On both sides of the ball, Los Angeles has some needs to address. Perhaps the biggest problem on the team is the offensive line. Left tackle Russell Okung has dealt with injuries, and the Chargers could use more blocking talent at other spots up front. Georgia’s Andrew Thomas or USC’s Austin Jackson would be great picks in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The Chargers not be picking high enough for Thomas, or even Jackson for that matter, but if they are, either would be an excellent choice. If they miss out on Thomas or Jackson, there could be some other quality picks to consider at tackle including Washington’s Trey Adams, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Texas’ Sam Cosmi or Auburn’s Prince Tega Wanogho. Adams has franchise left tackle talent, but has had a ton of injuries in college, presenting a serious medical red flag. Wirfs could be limited to right tackle and more of a late first-rounder. Cosmi and Wanogho each have lot of athletic upside to be starting left tackle, but both need development. Thus, Cosmi and Wanogho could be late first- or early second-round picks.
On the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft, there could be some good interior offensive linemen for the Chargers to consider. Georgia’s Solomon Kindley or Oregon’s Shane Lemieux are dream second-round picks, but both will probably be gone. Wisconsin center Tyler Biadasz or Oregon’s Jake Hansen could be good choices because Mike Pouncey is nearing the late stages of his career. Washington center Nick Harris or Mississippi State’s Daryl Williams would be nice mid-round picks with starting potential.
Defensively, the Chargers have a few needs, led by inside linebacker. Los Angeles has struggled to stop backs this season and could use more talent in the middle of the defense. Thomas Davis is nearing the end of his great career, while Denzel Perryman has dealt with injuries over the years. In my latest mock 2020 NFL Draft, I have the Chargers taking Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray. Murray or Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons would be excellent fits for Gus Bradley. Both of them would be instant upgrades to the run defense and improve the pass coverage in the middle of the field.
Aside from inside linebacker, the Chargers could think of a cornerback to go with Casey Hayward. Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah, Alabama’s Trevon Diggs, Stanford’s Paulson Adebo and Florida’s C.J. Henderson are all worthy candidates for Los Angeles. The Chargers probably won’t be picking high enough for Okudah, but the others are worth consideration. Other corners they could consider on Day 2 include Utah’s Jaylon Johnson, LSU’s Kristian Fulton, Virginia’s Bryce Hall and Clemson’s A.J. Terrell.
The Chargers have had a lot of bad luck over the past few years, and that finally seemed to end in 2018, but this year it has returned.
Kansas City Chiefs:
The Chiefs won on Thursday night, but more importantly, they dodged a bullet with quarterback Pat Mahomes not suffering a season-ending knee injury. They should get Mahomes back in a few weeks, and they have a good enough team to continue to win with Matt Moore in the lineup. Even if Kansas City doesn’t win the Super Bowl this year, the future is very bright for the franchise. For the next decade or more, the Chiefs should have a great offense that is capable of leading them to a championship with Mahomes. Now, the primary objective is to build up the defense to put Kansas City over the top.
Last offseason, the Chiefs remade their defensive front with Frank Clark coming over from Seattle, Dee Ford being traded to San Francisco, and Justin Houston leaving for Indianapolis. Clark will settle one edge rush spot for years to come, but the Chiefs could use another edge rusher across from him. In my latest mock 2020 NFL Draft, I have the Chiefs taking Alabama’s Terrell Lewis. He is a big, fast and physical defender who has a ton of upside if he can just stay healthy, as injuries have held him back in his career. Aside from Lewis, Kansas City could have some other good options to consider in Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa, Florida’s Jon Greenard, Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara and Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes.
Another huge need on the roster is cornerback. Kansas City has had issues at the position for years and could use more cover corner talent. The Chiefs probably won’t be picking high enough for Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah, but they might have a shot at Alabama’s Trevon Diggs, Stanford’s Paulson Adebo or Florida’s C.J. Henderson. Other corners the team could consider on Day 2 during the 2020 NFL Draft include Utah’s Jaylon Johnson, LSU’s Kristian Fulton, Virginia’s Bryce Hall and Clemson’s A.J. Terrell.
Offensively, the Chiefs could target a running back of the future. Kareem Hunt was cut amid violence against a woman, and the Chiefs have been going with a committee approach since. In the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Georgia’s D’Andre Swift could be a great addition. He would be a great scheme fit for Andy Reid’s offense as he is a dangerous runner and quality receiver. Swift could be a star in Kansas City. Other second-day running backs to consider include Clemson’s Travis Etienne, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, Florida State’s Cam Akers or Florida’s Lamical Perine. They all would fit Reid well.
The Chiefs have just entered a Super Bowl window with Mahomes, and a few more good drafts could lead to Kansas City hoisting the Lombardi Trophy with the potential to create a dynasty.
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