We saw a bunch of surprises in the 2020 NFL Draft a few weeks ago. A couple of teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings have an outstanding weekend while some teams like the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots did not.
Below are some of the best and worst selections from the draft. These choices are not based on how good or bad the players perform, but they are based on the teams they were drafted by and on team needs.
Best
1. Cincinnati Bengals – QB Joe Burrow (LSU)
-photo credited to CNN Of course the number one overall pick is the best in the entire draft. The Bengals desperately needed a quarterback and they got it in a Heisman Trophy and national championship winner.
With Andy Dalton down at Dallas after being released by Cincinnati, expect Burrow to start in week one.
2. Miami Dolphins – QB Tea Tagovailoa (Alabama)
-photo credited time al.com
The Dolphins had one of the better drafts than the other teams, especially after selecting Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick. Although he is known to be injury-prone, his style and skills inside the pocket makes him a great pick for the Dolphins.
3. Detroit Lions – CB Jeff Okudah (Ohio State)
-photo credited to mlive.com
Okudah was the best cornerback in the country in 2019 and he will be a great fit with the Detroit Lions. His speed and agility could make him a powerhouse cornerback and one of the best in the NFL next season.
Worst
1. Green Bay Packers – QB Jordan Love (Utah State)
-photo credited to bleacherreport.com
The Green Bay Packers shocked Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the world by selecting another quarterback in Jordan Love in the first round. Love is not a bad quarterback by any means, but the first-round quarterback will not get a lot of playing time unless if Rodgers gets hurt or threatens to leave the team before week one.
2. New England Patriots – S Kyle Dugger (Lenoir-Rhyne)
-photo credited to NBC Sports
It’s one thing to select a Division II safety with the team’s first pick, but it’s another thing to select a safety when the team doesn’t need one. Dugger is not a bad safety as he won the Cliff Harris Award in 2019, which is awarded to the best defensive player in NCAA Division II.
We could see Bill Belichick use Dugger in another defensive position or wide receiver, but Patriots made a mistake selecting a safety that they did not need.
3. Philadelphia Eagles – QB Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma)
-photo credited to bleacherreport.com
The Eagles blew a chance to get LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson in the first round, but they made it worse selecting a quarterback in the second round. Jalen Hurts would have been a great quarterback in 2020, but he cannot replace Carson Wentz.
I do not see Hurts having a future with the Eagles since Wentz is a young talented quarterback. Unless if Wentz gets injured, Hurts may be at Philadelphia for only one or two seasons.
preview photo credited to USA Today