2020 NFL Draft 1st Round Grades
Grading Every 1st Round Pick
The 1st round of the 2020 NFL Draft is in the books. While there wasn’t as much draft pick and player movement as many had hoped, there were plenty of surprises and head scratching decisions. Here I will assign a grade to every decision made in the round. Some teams hit home runs with their picks, while others struck out swinging. Which category did your team fall into? Let’s find out!!!
1.CINCINNATI BENGALS: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
GRADE: A
The Bengals did exactly what they should have. When you need a franchise QB and have a potential suitor available you pull the trigger every time. Not much debate with this pick.
2.WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Chase Young, Edge, Ohio St.
GRADE: A
The Skins simply take the best player in the draft. I would have taken Tua but I don’t blame them for wanting to see what they have in QB Dwayne Haskins for at least another year. Young profiles as a potential Hall of Fame Level pass rusher.
3.DETROIT LIONS: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio St.
GRADE: B+
Taking Okudah on it’s own deserves an A grade, as he is clearly the best CB prospect in this class. I knocked the grade down a bit because the Lions didn’t maximize the value of this pick. It’s reported that the Dolphins tried to trade up to three but the two teams couldn’t come to terms on the compensation. Even if they were only able to get one extra pick out of the deal it would be worth it as they would have gotten their guy anyway at five. Regardless they end up with an elite defensive prospect.
4.NEW YORK GIANTS: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
GRADE: B+
The Giants were in desperate need of OT help. The grade went down a bit as I have Jedrick Wills as a better prospect. But the G-Men get their guy who is the most pro ready prospect in the draft. He has a high floor and will be a very good player for years to come.
5.MIAMI DOLPHINS: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
GRADE: A+
The Fins end up getting the franchise passer they have wanted since before the season began. Additionally, they didn’t have to give up any draft capital to go get him which earns them the A+ grade here. Tank for Tua was a success!
6.LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
GRADE: C-
This was just an all around bad pick. The only thing keeping this from a lower grade is that I will never hold taking shots at the QB position against a team. But this was a half court heave. I had a 2nd round grade on Herbert which was generously given due to his physical gifts, as his film had him even lower on my board. The Chargers have built their roster to win now, yet they took a QB who probably won’t be able to beat out Tyrod Taylor for the starting job.
7.CAROLINA PANTHERS: Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
GRADE: C
Derrick Brown is going to be a very solid player and very good against the run. But taking a D-lineman in the top 7 that isn’t going to provide much in the way of pass rush is a waste of a pick. Especially with so much talent left on the board. Even if they were dead set on drafting for need instead of BPA, Brown wasn’t even the best player at his position. Javon Kinlaw, a top OT or one of the elite WR all would have been better choices.
8.ARIZONA CARDINALS: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
GRADE: A+
The Cards get arguably the most talented player in the draft at pick 8. Simmons adds a much needed playmaker on defense. They had needs at LB, CB and S. Simmons can help at all of those positions and transform this unit.
9.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
GRADE: B+
The 9th overall pick was a little high for Henderson but overall he was a good pick. The Jags traded away cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye leaving them with a huge need at the position. But there were still better players available at OT and WR both of which would have been better choices. But with some refinement they have got themselves a sure fire #1 CB.
10.CLEVELAND BROWNS: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
GRADE: A+
The Browns were able to stand pat at 10 and still land the best player in the draft at their biggest position of need. Can’t do much better than that with your first round pick.
11.NEW YORK JETS: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
GRADE: C
The Jets two biggest needs were at OT and WR. With two elite talents staring them in the face at WR this pick should have been a no brainer. But I can live with the idea of getting some protection for QB Sam Darnold. But instead of grabbing Tristan Wirfs or even Josh Jones they take a player I have a 2nd round grade on making this pick a huge reach. Yes Becton is a freak athlete but that’s about all he is at this point. He needs a LOT of coaching and technical refinement to his game before he will be worthy of this draft slot.
12.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
GRADE: C+
This was simply a reach for the Raiders. Everyone knew they were gonna grab a receiver somewhere in the first round. But Ruggs simply isn’t as good as Jeudy or Lamb. The drop off after those two is significant and this AL Davis inspired pick missed the boat.
13.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
GRADE: A
The Bucs were able to land one of the top 3 OT outside of the top 10. They had a huge hole at RT that Wirfs will step right in and fill. Giving up draft capital to move up only one spot keeps this from an A+ but I don’t blame them for making sure they secured Wirfs considering he shouldn’t have made it that far down the draft.
14.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina
GRADE: B-
Kinlaw is a top talent in this draft don’t get me wrong. They also did good to pick up extra picks by swapping with the Bucs. But Kinlaw merely allows them to maintain status quo on the D-Line as he is replacing DeForest Buckner whom they traded to get this pick. Whereas grabbing either Jeudy or Lamb would have transformed their offense completely. Are you guys sensing a theme here!!!
15.DENVER BRONCOS: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
GRADE: A+
FINALLY!!!!!! Kudos for GM John Elway for really having a grasp on the flow of the draft. He could see that teams weren’t really looking to trade up much and resisted the urge to do so himself. Sticking at 15 and getting the best WR in the draft is highway robbery!!! Drew Locke is somewhere rapping Jeezy as we speak.
16.ATLANTA FALCONS: AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson
GRADE: B-
I actually really like Terrell, but I had him at the end of the 1st round as far as value.I also had 3 other corners higher on my board that were still available. A trade down would have been ideal in this scenario. But Terrell should be a good consistent corner for Atlanta. You could do a lot worse as we’ve seen so far in this draft.
17.DALLAS COWBOYS: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
GRADE: A+
The fact that Lamb was sitting there for the Cowboys in the back half of the 1st round is inexplicable. Kudos to Jerry Jones for not getting cute with this pick. When a talent like this falls in your lap you take him. We gettin recipes!!!!!
18.MIAMI DOLPHINS: Austin Jackson, OT, USC
GRADE: C
This pick just didn’t make much sense to me. Yes they have probably the worst offensive line in the league. But Josh Jones is still on the board and is ready to step in and make an impact. Jackson is everything you want athletically at the position. But he is extremely raw and needs time to develop. I had a 2nd round grade on him as he is a project at the position albeit a very talented one.
19.LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio St.
GRADE: D
WHAT?!?!?! I stray away from giving out Fs as no one can ever know for sure how these prospects’ careers will turn out. But this pick certainly qualifies. I can’t even chalk this one up to Al Davis’ ghost hacking the Raiders draft as Arnette is SLOW!!! After addressing WR, CB was the next logical position to attack. But wtf were they thinking. I had him as a 3rd round value and there is nothing about him athletically or in his film that puts him anywhere near the 1st round. To put it in perspective I had 7 CB ahead of him on my board still available.
20.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU
GRADE: B-
Chaisson most definitely has 1st round talent, but his production didn’t match those talents. While he has a chance to become a really good player there were plenty of better options still available. Much like their 1st pick they are getting a good player but they reached to get him.
21.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
GRADE: B
It was no secret the Eagles need WR help. I thought there were better receivers still available but this group is close enough together that they are getting value with this pick regardless. Reagor adds an explosive element to this offense that was severely lacking this past season.
22.MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
GRADE: B
I’m not as high on Jefferson as many other experts are. Almost every snap he took was from the slot and I just wouldn’t spend a 1st round pick on a WR that hasn’t shown the ability to win from the outside. Which also made this an odd pick for me as their #1 WR Adam Theilen does his best work from the slot as well. To have your top two WR share an overlapping route tree is a bit redundant. But adding Jefferson makes the unit better overall.
23.LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
GRADE: C-
I considered giving this pick a D. They gave up a 2nd and 3rd round pick to go get an off ball linebacker that doesn’t profile as a pass rusher or great coverage defender. To make matters worse they didn’t even draft the best one as Patrick Queen was still on the board. The only saving grace is that I do think Murray will be a good player.
24.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan
GRADE: B
I guess this was them taking BPA as O-Line wasn’t an immediate need. With QB Drew Brees returning I would have liked for them to take a player that would have had a more immediate impact. Patrick Queen would have been great here. Unless he takes away a starting job or a player such as Larry Warford gets traded they won’t get much from this pick this season. Ruiz will be a very good player nonetheless.
25.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona St.
GRADE: B
The Niners traded up from 31 to this slot which probably wasn’t necessary. Also factored into this grade is the fact that they could have had either Jeudy or Lamb. But coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense is designed to scheme receivers open. They target specific weapons that specialize in YAC. Aiyuk is a perfect fit!
26.GREEN BAY PACKERS: Jordan Love, QB, Utah St.
GRADE: D
The Packers were one game away from the superbowl last season. But instead of getting QB Aaron Rodgers some much needed weapons to work with, they TRADE UP for a complete project at QB whom I had a 3rd round grade on. When you have a HOF QB who is still playing at a high level you give him everything that you possibly can to help him succeed. A backup project at QB does the complete opposite of that.
27.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
GRADE: C-
The Hawks take a player I had a 3rd round grade on late in the 1st. There was so much high end talent still available that I just can’t understand what the thought process was for this pick. OT, CB, and S all still had 1st round players left. Brooks could have been had somewhere in the 2nd round. The only plus is that he does fit exactly what they ask their linebackers to do. Brooks will only be doing that at an average to above average level however.
28.BALTIMORE RAVENS: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
GRADE: A+
I love this pick! This is a perfect example of “letting the draft come to you”. BPA, value and need all collided for this pick. The Ravens get a playmaker on defense.
29.TENNESSEE TITANS: Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
GRADE: C-
This ladies and gentlemen is why you don’t draft for need. Another player that I had valued in the 3rd round. Wilson simply didn’t show any first round traits or skills. Not to mention Josh Jones still being available.
30.MIAMI DOLPHINS: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
GRADE: D
Another 3rd round player going in the first. This was another reach for the Fins but even bigger than the last. So much talent at positions of need available and they take a project at a position that was probably one of their only strengths. Miami started strong with Tua but bombed the rest of the 1st round.
31.MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
GRADE: B
Good job trading back and acquiring more picks as the cash strapped Vikes need as many as they can get. Gladney is a solid, physical CB that will fit in nicely. Minnesota had a solid 1st round. But they could have come away with more talent than they did.
32.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
GRADE: D
No matter how high the Chiefs were on Helaire, taking him or any RB in the 1st round was just unnecessary. The difference between him and running backs that will go in the 3rd round is minimal. They wasted an opportunity to get an impact player and a position with much higher value. Mahomes is so good that this pick may never actually hurt them. But if things start to unravel in the coming years this pick will be scrutinized heavily.