2020 NFL Draft recap: AFC South
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The Indianapolis Colts selected former Utah DB Julian Blackmon in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft (85th overall). Blackmon was a second-team AP All-American in 2019.
| Houston Texans | Notable pick: The team drafted Tytus Howard in the first round a season ago and recently re-signed Laremy Tunsil to an extension. Thus the selection of former UNC OT Charlie Heck means the team is seeking quality depth on the edges. At 6-foot-8, can he provide depth at OG? | |||
| Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 2 (40) acquired from Arizona | Ross Blacklock | 6’4 290 DT-TCU | 47/2nd Round | Blacklock’s quickness and natural agility shined in his 2019 return from injury. The former Big 12 co-Freshman of the Year regained his form and provides the Texans with the ability to play two-to-three different positions down-to-down. |
| 3 (90) | Jonathan Greenard | 6’3 262 DE-Florida | 129/3rd Round | Greenard (VIDEO) played with his hand in the dirt or from a two-point standup position in school. This fits the scheme-diverse system the Texans employ. |
| 4 (126) | Charlie Heck | 6’7 311 OT-UNC | 78/2nd Round | Heck (VIDEO) benefited from a solid postseason and strong pre-draft workouts. The big key for Heck will be sitting in the chair. |
| 4 (141) Acquired from Miami | John Reid | 5’10 187 CB-NB- Penn State | 70/2nd round | Reid is the latest in the line of Penn State defensive backs to get an opportunity in the NFL. The former four-star recruit from St. Joseph’s Prep School (Pa.) got his hand on 33 passes during his career. |
| 5 (171) | Isaiah Coulter | 6’2 198 WR-Rhode Island | 98/3rd Round | Coulter -a junior-entry- improved his draft stock by running in the mid-4.4s at the 2020 NFL Combine. He is fluid in-and-out of routes. |
| Indianapolis Colts | Notable pick: In our estimation, Blackmon (VIDEO) was the Utes’ top defensive back over the course of the last two seasons. If he can recover adequately from a late season ACL tear, this pick could provide long-term dividends. | |||
| Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 2 (34) from Washington | Michael Pittman, Jr. | 6’4 223 WR-USC | 74/2nd Round | Pittman (VIDEO) has a unique combination of size and physical skills. Quite capable of competing in either the slot or the outside lanes. Over 2,500 receiving yards and 17 tackles on special teams. |
| 2 (41) from Cleveland | Jonathan Taylor | 5’11 226 RB-Wisconsin | 26/2nd Round | Taylor’s ball security issues have been well-documented but he did improve markedly as a receiver out of the backfield in 2019. One of the more impressive areas of his development was the potential he showed in the screen game. |
| 3 (85) from Detroit through Cleveland | Julian Blackmon | 6’0 187 S-Utah | 106/3rd Round | Blackmon was an All-Pac-12 caliber cornerback before making a smooth transition to the safety spot. Aside from the late season injury, he needed to do a more consistent job of monitoring his angles off the hash. Overall, a very good prospect. |
| 4 (122) | Jacob Eason | 6’5 229 QB-Washington, Georgia | 69/2nd Round | Eason’s lukewarm performance during his one year at Washington didn’t do much to extinguish the flames of those who felt he needed another year in school. He did have some success at Georgia. Learning from Philip Rivers could be the recipe for the former five-star recruit. |
| 5 (149) | Danny Pinter | 6’4 302 OG-Ball State | 97/3rd Round | Pinter played well versus NC State in 2019 and those types of performances went a long way in him getting drafted here. He fits the team’s scheme. |
| 6 (193) | Robert Windsor | 6’4 290 DT-Penn State | 234/4th Round | Windsor provides options as a third down pass rusher. If he can clean up some balance issues, he has a chance to make the roster. |
| 6 (211) | Isaiah Rodgers | 5’10 175 CB/All-purpose-UMass | 269/4th Round | Rodgers ran in the high 4.2-to-low 4.3-range in a virtual Pro Day leading up to the draft. His work on the field reading routes and returning kicks was largely just as impressive. Needs to make weight gains. |
| 6 (212) | Dezmon Patmon | 6’4 228 WR-Washington State | 184/4th Round | Patmon is a physical wide receiver with a big frame, solid speed and decent quickness off the line of scrimmage. Concentration lapses foiled him at times. 12 career starts. |
| 6 (213) | Jordan Glasgow | 6’0 220 S/LB-Michigan | 429/5th Round | Glasgow’s value continued to trend in an upward manner for the Wolverines over a two-year period. His ability to blitz is complemented by excellent special teams capability. |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Notable pick: The team is building a diverse set of cornerbacks, many of whom have quality size. Scott (5’9 185) -the team’s fourth-round selection- could provide options as a nickel back due to his willingness to mix it up as a tackler. | |||
| Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (9) | C.J. Henderson | 6’1 204 CB-Florida | 9/1st Round | Henderson’s ball skills and ability to transition effectively in-and-out of his breaks made him a Top 10 pick. He has true No. 1 cornerback capability for a team that relied on Jalen Ramsey in that role for the better part of three seasons. |
| 1 (20) | K’Lavon Chaisson | 6’3 254 DE-LSU | 86/2nd Round | Injury concerns aside, Chaisson can turn into a surfer off the edge with his bend. He did more than just rush the passer at LSU. Chaisson was at least adequate when dropping into coverage. |
| 2 (42) | Laviska Shenault, Jr. | 6’1 227 WR-Colorado | 87/2nd Round | The Jaguars will look for Shenault, Jr. (in-game report, 10-6-18) to fill a number of roles on their football team in 2020. Much like he did at Colorado, expect to see him in the backfield, the slot and on the outside. |
| 3 (73) | Davon Hamilton | 6’4 320 DT-Ohio State | 152/3rd Round | Hamilton has always shown strength at the point of attack, but he went a long way in 2019 of proving that he can perhaps develop into a competent pass rush artist. The Jaguars continue to diversify its defensive front. |
| 4 (116) | Ben Bartch | 6’6 310 OT-St. John’s (MN.) | 164/3rd Round | Due to sub-standard length, Bartch will most likely get looks at an inside guard spot. The former tight end provides potential as a sixth or seventh offensive lineman on game day because he is a capable tackle. |
| 4 (137) | Josiah Scott | 5’9 185 CB-Michigan State | 226/4th Round | Scott’s ability to mirror wide receivers in off-man coverage offset concerns about injury issues that surfaced in each of his first two years on campus. He started all 13 games as a junior. |
| 4 (140) | Shaquille Quarterman | 6’1 234 LB-Miami (Fla.) | 51/2nd Round | Quarterman’s leadership capability has been influenced by mentor and former first-round pick Jon Beason (Panthers, Giants). |
| 5 (157) | Daniel Thomas | 5’10 215 S- Auburn | 314/5th Round | Thomas plays with energy and closes ground on the field quickly; particularly when breaking forward on the action. He is strong, explosive and capable of filling a role as an eighth man in the box. Special teams production will determine if he earns a roster spot. |
| 5 (165) | Collin Johnson | 6’6 222 WR-Texas | 138/3rd Round | To get a receiver with Johnson’s potential in Round 5 is a huge win for the team. If he can avoid the minor injury hiccups that seemed to stop him at times from truly becoming a dominant player, then the former Longhorn has a chance to make the roster. He is going to a team with a relatively deep receiving corps. |
| 6 (189) | Jake Luton | 6’6 224 QB-Oregon State, Idaho | 232/4th Round | Luton has starting-caliber size, arm strength and toughness. The 2019 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year narrowly missed leading the Beavers to a bowl berth in 2019. |
| 6 (206) | Tyler Davis | 6’4 235 TE-Georgia Tech, UConn | N/A | Davis began his career as a big wide receiver at UConn and displayed excellent Red Zone capability as an outside receiver dating back to 2018 (see ECU ’18). He settled down at Georgia Tech in 2019. |
| 7 (223) | Chris Claybrooks | 6’0 176 CB/KR-Memphis | N/A | Despite playing in just nine games this past season, Claybrooks was explosive in the kickoff return game, averaged nearly 31 yards on 11 returns. |
| Tennessee Titans | Notable pick: Evans’ work ethic should not be dismissed. He shaved nearly a half-second off of his 100-meter time in high school in one year. Not only can he factor in the kickoff return game, he also is outstanding in the screen game. | |||
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Round,
Selection,
| Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (29) | Isaiah Wilson | 6’6 350 OT-Georgia | 96/3rd Round | Wilson served as perhaps the biggest Wildcat QB in the history of prep level football and once scored three touchdowns in a game. An improving pass blocker, he will provide immediate returns as a run blocker. |
| 2 (61) | Kristian Fulton | 6’0 201 CB-LSU | 91/3rd Round | Fulton, a physical outside corner, allows the team to experiment with a number of different looks in their nickel/dime packages. |
| 3 (93) | Darrynton Evans | 5’10 203 All-purpose-Appalachian State | 173/4th Round | Evans could prove to the perfect change-of-pace runner to give Derrick Henry a breather during games. He contributed over 4,600 all-purpose yards in school. |
| 5 (174) | Larell Murchison | 6’2 294 DT-NC State | 44/2nd Round | If you’re wondering why a player with a higher grade lasts this far, it is simple. Bunch production. Too much of Murchison’s productivity over a two-year period came in spots. His technique will be challenged by the Titans staff and the results could pay huge dividends. Effort is not the issue. |
| 7 (224) | Cole McDonald | 6’3 215 | 216/4th Round | McDonald’s inconsistency led to a benching at one point during the year. He has all of the tools a team desires in a backup and his size/athleticism closely mirrors that of Ryan Tannehill when he came out of school. |
| 7 (243) | Chris Jackson | 6’0 185 CB-Marshall | 316/5th Round | Jackson’s competitiveness ranks at the top of his characteristics board. He contains a short memory after getting beaten. It doesn’t hurt that he got his hands on 52 passes during school (seven interceptions). The two-time Florida state champion hurdler enjoys man coverage. |
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