NFL Draft 2020

This year’s draft was much different than any we had seen before. All interviews were done through video chat and all productions shot their reporters 6 feet away from each other at all times. This NFL Draft was long awaited and yearned for by fans. We wanted something new to talk about with our friends, families, and colleagues, and man did the NFL give us some things to talk about.

You cannot start talking about this draft without stating the obvious: Joe Burrow. The transfer QB out of LSU is the fifth player to win the Heisman, a National Championship, and be picked No. 1 overall. In the last three years, the No. 1 overall went to a QB Heisman trophy winner: Baker Mayfield in 2018, Kyler Murray in 2019, and now Joe Burrow in 2020. I think it is safe to say, Joe Burrow is in good company. But, Burrow is not the only one who is in good company when it comes to their draft pick.

Chase Young, the defensive end from The Ohio State University, went second overall to the Redskins. I couldn’t help but notice that last year’s second overall pick was Nick Bosa, the defensive end who also played at Ohio State. Bosa was named defensive rookie of the year in the 2019 season. With all of these similarities in mind, could this be a foreshadowing of the year that Chase Young could have? Looking at the two players side by side, Chase Young had 65 total tackles and 19 sacks in just 26 games, whereas, Nick Bosa had 77 total tackles and 17.5 sacks in 29 games. With three less games played, Young still beats out Bosa in his sacks. Could Chase Young pan out to be this upcoming season’s defensive rookie of the year? Could he possibly be better than Nick Bosa? I’m not saying that he will, but I do think that he does have a pretty good shot at being just as good, if not better than Bosa in the NFL.

One thing that we cannot lose sight of from this year’s draft was the sweep that the SEC had. The conference broke an NFL Draft record, by drafting 15 SEC players in the first round. The record before this year was 12, which was also held by the SEC. If this does not show you that the Southeastern Conference is the best, and the most consistent, then I don’t know what will. The Miami Dolphins, the team that has had 21 different starting quarterbacks since Dan Marino (who retired in 2000) chose an SEC crafted QB, even though he is arguably the largest liability in the draft. Tua was not the only Alabama player to be drafted in the first round, three other players, (Jedrick Wills to the Browns, Henry Ruggs to the Raiders, and Jerry Judy to the Broncos) were also picked up. Alabama has coined the phrase, “Where legends are made.”, and even though they had some highly recognizable names drafted, they did not come out on top last night.

The reigning National Champions seem to keep winning and doing it with ease. They sent five of their players to the league, which is the most of any school this year. LSU was just one pick shy of tying the all-time record of six set by Miami in 2006. The team had as many first-round draft picks as any other conference – The Big Ten and Big 12 who also had five first round draft picks. Burrow was joined by K’Lavon Chaisson (No. 20 overall by the Jaguars), Justin Jefferson (No. 22 overall by the Vikings), Patrick Queen (No. 28 overall by the Ravens), and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (No. 32 overall by the Chiefs). The LSU Tigers and The Crimson Tide were responsible for 60% of the picks from the SEC. UGA (two picks), Auburn (two picks), South Carolina (one pick), and Florida (one pick) were responsible for the other 40%. These picks did not seem to surprise anyone, but there was one pick that seemed to have everyone scratching their heads.

Jordan Love, the QB out of Utah St. went No. 26 overall to Green Bay. The young QB had one FBS scholarship offer out of high school and took a chance. Through his hard work, Love was drafted in the first round. Drafted by Green Bay… who already has a quarterback, and a future Hall of Famer at that. Aaron Rogers has called Green Bay home for going on 16 seasons now and has been starting for 12 of those seasons. Aaron was drafted in 2005 and sat on the bench behind the legend Brett Farve for two years. Is Rogers going to shape Love the way that Farve did him? Only time can tell you that, but one thing that we do know is that Love is going to need to work on his decision making. Love is one of the best deep throwers in the draft, but he makes very poor decisions. In his time at Utah St., Love threw 17 interceptions, that is an average of 5.6 int. a year. Hopefully, Rogers can teach Love some things during his rookie contract.

The NFL Draft was long awaited and sure did not disappoint. The first round of picks is over, but we still have 6 more rounds to watch. Hopefully, all of our favorite players will get the call that will change their lives forever, and we can watch them grow into superstars of the league.