COLUMN: NFL 2020 Draft winners and losers

Winners

Detroit Lions

A very well rounded draft for Detroit, they came into the draft with many needs and did a solid job filling it. The Detroit Lions selected cornerback Jeff Okudah with the third pick in the first round. After trading Darius Slay in the offseason, this was an obvious pick, but a good one. In the second round, Detroit got arguably the best running back in the draft Deandre Swift out of Georgia. Detroit’s biggest need was a defensive end, and they may not have fixed all their problems at defensive end, drafting Julian Okwara helped. Overall, they had a great draft, but they could have done a better job improving their pass rush by drafting another edge rusher.

Grade: A-

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings may not have had a sexy draft, but they stuck with their draft board and got a great player every round. They replaced Stephon Diggs, so to speak, with wide receiver Justin Jefferson, they also got cornerback Jeff Gladney in the first round. The Vikings got two more cornerbacks in the draft filling the much needed whole after Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes. The Vikings also improved an already good defensive line in getting James Lynch and Kenny Wilikes.

Grade: A

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens, year in and year out, have great drafts, and this year was no different. The Baltimore Ravens added a lot of talent to an already talented team. The Ravens got a steal at pick 28, getting LSU Linebacker Patrick Queen. Baltimore got running back J.K. Dobbins in the second round at pick 55. This was the steal of the draft, in my opinion. The Ravens added a great running back to a team that already had the No.1 rushing offense last year. This was the theme of the draft for the Ravens, getting great players to help their team without reaching.

Grade: A+

Losers

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles got a very talented wide receiver in the first round in Jalen Reagor, but they passed on two very talented linebackers. The Eagles biggest need last season was the lack of wide receivers, however, this receiving class  was the deepest class ever. They could have gotten a really good receiver in the second round and gotten a linebacker in the first. That was not even the biggest mistake the Eagles made in this draft; they drafted quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round. The Eagles have 27-year-old Carson Wentz, who is just entering his prime and instead of giving him weapons they draft a backup quarterback.

Grade: D+

Las Vegas Raiders

If you look at the Raiders draft, there is nothing inherently wrong with it; they drafted players that fit the team’s needs. The issue I have with their draft is they passed on better players that could have helped them. In one of two first round picks the Raiders drafted wide receiver Henry Ruggs, and they passed on receiver CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Jeudy. With the other first round pick, they drafted cornerback Damon Arnette, again they needed a cornerback, but they reached. If they wanted Arnette, they could have waited till the second round. This was the theme of the entire draft for the Raiders. They reached for almost every player, and unless they knew something we didn’t, they swung and missed on most of their picks.

Grade: D

Green Bay Packers

Similar to the Eagles, the Packers are competing for the division title, yet they are drafting for the future. The Packers desperately needed a wide receiver, and they did not draft a single one. Thirty five receivers were taken in the draft, and the Packers took none! Not only did the Packers not provide Aaron Rodgers with any new weapons, but they traded up to the first round to replace him. Personally, I like the Packers taking Jordan Love in the first round. What I dislike is every other pick. If the Packers want to take a younger quarterback to groom under Rodgers that’s fine, but they decided to only build for the future when they have a good roster right now.

Grade: D-