2020 NFL Draft recap: AFC East
8 min readBuffalo Bills | Notable pick: Bills HC Sean McDermott has had success with bigger defensive ends and Epenesa could add to the trend. The team needs him to produce. They lost both Jordan Phillips (Cardinals) and Shaq Lawson (Dolphins) in the offseason. The pair accounted for 16 of the team’s 44 sacks in 2019. | |||
Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
2 (54) | A.J. Epenesa | 6’5 275 DE-Iowa | 29/2nd Round | Epenesa’s technical prowess overcomes just okay burst off the edge. The former U.S. Army All-American brings outstanding size to the table. |
3 (86) | Zack Moss | 5’10 226 RB-Utah | 62/2nd Round | Moss is the prototype strong runner for inclement weather in December and January. His health has always been his biggest knock. |
4 (128) | Gabriel Davis | 6’2 216 WR-UCF | 115/3rd Round | Davis’ deceptive gait and unorthodox style accompanies a 6-foot-2, 216-pound frame. He proved adept on double moves and boxing out the opposition in school. |
5 (167) | Jake Fromm | 6’2 219 QB-Georgia | 111/3rd Round | Fromm finished his career with an impressive 78:18 TD/INT ratio. If he can handle the windy conditions of Buffalo, he may be able to compete to backup incumbent starter Josh Allen. Davis Webb and Matt Barkley are also in the mix, so there are no guarantees for Fromm. |
6 (188) | Tyler Bass | 6’0 200 PK-Georgia Southern | 380/5th Round | Game-winning kicks have been a part of Bass’ portfolio in school. He was also pretty good in rainy weather. The weather he is about to face is going to be an entirely new challenge, but his strong leg may be up to the task. |
6 (207) | Isaiah Hodgins | 6’4 210 WR-Oregon State | 80/2nd Round | Like Davis, Hodgins isn’t necessarily flashy but efficient. The 6-foot-4 wideout is smooth getting in-and-out of patterns and can make the contested catch. To make the team, he needs to play stronger versus physical coverage. |
7 (239) | Dane Jackson | 6’0 187 CB-Pittsburgh | 207/4th Round | Jackson is smart, tough and generally fluid. Despite weighting in the 185-pound range, he could get looks at a nickel spot if he cannot keep up with speed on the edge. The team’s coverage style gives him a chance to make the team. |
Miami Dolphins | Notable pick: Hunt did not get to show off his impressive physical tools in the postseason. He is a mammoth tackle with positive movement and the right temperament to surprise early in an NFL training camp. | |||
Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | Nasty’ Take: |
1 (5) | Tua Tagovailoa | 6’0 217 QB-Alabama | 37/2nd Round | This pick is as much about long-term upside as it is 2020. With Ryan Fitzpatrick back, (as well as Josh Rosen), the team does not have to rush Tagovailoa into the mix. Fans yearning to see the former Heisman finalist could speed up the process. |
1 (18) | Austin Jackson | 6’5 322 OT-USC | 61/2nd Round | Jackson legitimately was one of the most athletic offensive or defensive lineman in this year’s draft class. Getting his technique under control will be key. If he makes a big step in training camp, it would not be a shock to see him as an opening day starter. |
1 (30) | Noah Igbinoghene | 5’10 198 CB/All-purpose-Auburn | 157/3rd Round | One of Igbinoghene’s best characteristics -kickoff return capability- may not be needed unless KR Jakeem Grant goes down to injury (as he did late last season). Where he will be needed is in nickel defenses, where he will battle current third corner Cordrea Tankersley (also returning from injury) for playing time. |
2 (39) | Robert Hunt | 6’5 323 OT-Louisiana-Lafayette | 103/3rd Round | Hunt has made starts at LG, LT and RT. His near 11-inch hands deliver decisive punches to the opposition. He is also capable of surprising second-level LBs with his quickness on combination blocks. He has starting capability early in his career, but his durability came into question in 2019. |
2 (56) | Raekwon Davis | 6’7 311 DT-Alabama | 76/2nd Round | The former Crimson Tide defensive stalwart was never a slippery defender, but he did find a way to notch 8.5 QB sacks back in 2017. He is more of a stack-and-shed two-gap defender with enough strength to be an effective part of the team’s rotation in 2020. |
3 (70) | Brandon Jones | 5’11 198 S-Texas | 123/3rd Round | Jones was a team leader, active tackler and decent punt returner in school. He does not carry a big frame but throws his body around. The big question concerning Jones will be his ability to stay upright with his style of play. |
4 (111) | Solomon Kindley | 6’3 337 OG-Georgia | 284/4th Round | Kindley reinforces the belief that the Dolphins will continue to commit big athletic bodies to its offensive line. The former three-star recruit is a grappler with the right mentality to send messages in the run game. He was a big factor in the ‘Dawgs physical running attack. |
5 (154) | Jason Strowbridge | 6’5 275 DE-North Carolina | 165/3rd Round | Strowbridge’s upper body movements are well-synchronized when he times snap counts. He is more fluid than one would expect at 275 pounds, and he projects favorably in the multiple fronts the Dolphins will employ week-to-week. |
5 (164) | Curtis Weaver | 6’2 265 DE-Boise State | 75/2nd Round | Weaver’s underwhelming physical traits may have caused a precipitous slide in the draft, but his skill at flipping his hips resulted in ascending sack production each year in school. He has to improve defending the run. |
6 (185) | Blake Ferguson | 6’3 229 LS-LSU | 573/7th Round | Ferguson- the nation’s No. 1 long snapper coming out of high school- more than lived up to his recruiting hype. The two-time team captain is capable of speeding up his long snaps versus pressure looks. |
7 (246) | Malcolm Perry | 5’9 186 All-Purpose-Navy | 277/4th Round | Perry rushed for over 2,000 yards as an option quarterback in 2019, but he earned plenty of repetitions for the Midshipmen as a slot back and WR during his career. Aside from averaging 21.4 yards per catch on 22 receptions, he also averaged 24.6 yards per kickoff return. |
New England Patriots | Notable pick: Jennings didn’t dominate rushing the passer in school, but he did dominate in other ways. His 18 pass breakups are an eye-opening total for an outside linebacker. | |||
Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
2 (37) | Kyle Dugger | 6’1 217 S-Lenoir-Rhyne | 36/2nd Round | Dugger has all of the tools to develop into a multi-purpose weapon for the Patriots defense. If needed, he can play linebacker, a big nickel, off the hash safety and even return kicks. As the team continues to redefine its size in the secondary, the former Division II All-American seems like the perfect fit. |
2 (60) | Josh Uche | 6’1 245 LB-Michigan | 70/2nd Round | For a player as talented as Uche, he didn’t play as much as one would have expected at Michigan. When he did finally hit the field full-time in 2019, the physical skills stood out. |
3 (87) | Anfernee Jennings | 6’2 256 OLB-Alabama | 107/3rd Round | Jennings brings more versatility to the table than some anticipate and his hand-eye coordination is elite. While not a finished product as a pass rusher, he has an innate feel for rushing from multiple spots. |
3 (91) | Devin Asiasi | 6’3 257 TE-UCLA | 197/4th Round | Asiasi averaged 104 receiving yard per game in the last three games of ihs career at UCLA. He is capable of working the seams of the field. |
3 (101) | Dalton Keene | 6’4 253 TE-Virginia Tech | 137/3rd Round | As Keene improved as a blocker, his receiving skills did not diminish. He has handled a number of his blocking assignments on the move. His straight-line speed and upside after the catch ranks as a positive for the Patriots. |
5 (159) | Justin Rohrwasser | 6’3 230 PK-Marshall | N/A | Rohrwasser’s leg strength is adequate but his accuracy (just nine missed field goals in two years) was perhaps more impressive. Most of his misses during school came in the latter portion of seasons. He is capable of placing the ball directionally on kickoffs. |
6 (182) | Michael Onwenu | 6’3 344 Michigan | 203/4th Round | A true road-grading offensive guard with power, Onwenu’s 11-inch hands are hard to get away from once he gains grasp of the opponent. The former DL has the mindset to dominate opponents, but he has to keep his weight under control. |
6 (195) | Justin Herron | 6’4 308 OG-Wake Forest | 151/3rd Round | Herron- a collegiate left tackle- impressed during the 2020 Senior Bowl with his work at offensive guard. He provides the team with positional flex capability due to outstanding feet. |
6 (204) | Caash Maluia | 6’0 248 LB-Wyoming | N/A | Maluia is thick enough to handle being uncovered, and he was a four-year contributor in a number of facets for the Cowboys. |
7 (230) | Dustin Woodard | 6’2 291 OC-Memphis | 478/6th Round | The team has had success with smaller offensive guards and centers in the past. The reason? Mobility. Woodard was effective on the move as a puller way back in 2016, when he played guard. |
New York Jets | Notable picks: Davis brings capability to the Jets in multi-dimensional nickel packages. If he can play off the hash, then the Jets will be able to move around multi-dimensional safety Jamal Adams even more down-to-down. | |||
Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
1 (11) | Mekhi Becton | 6’7 364 OT-Louisville | 1/1st Round | Becton will be tasked with the huge responsibility of keeping starting QB Sam Darnold comfortable in the pocket. If he can execute the task, then he could soon be a Pro Bowler. |
2 (59) | Denzel Mims | 6’3 207 WR-Baylor | 42/2nd Round | Mims may not have gone as high as he would have liked to go in the draft, but he now has a legitimate chance to turn into a team’s top receiving threat early in his career. He is a good alternative in the current lineup of Jets receivers. |
3 (68) | Ashtyn Davis | 6’1 202 S-Cal | 99/3rd Round | Davis’ foot speed shined as a kickoff returner and when running down plays in pursuit. One of the best things he did at Cal was disguise coverage in a scheme that has some similarities to the Jets. |
3 (79) | Jabari Zuniga | 6’3 253 DE-Florida | 182/4th Round | While Zuniga did move around effectively in school on a number of downs, he is going to get every opportunity to do some work from a stand-up or three-point position in Gregg Williams’ multitude of defensive looks. Staying healthy, which he didn’t do in 2019, is a big key. |
4 (120) | Lamical Perine | 5’11 216 RB-Florida | 146/3rd Round | Perine’s tools include the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield effortlessly. Combined with his hard-charging style, he could become a nice change-up for Le’Veon Bell. |
4 (125) | James Morgan | 6’4 228 QB-FIU | 127/3rd Round | Morgan’s mental aptitude is perhaps on par with his physical tools. His arm strength gives him a legitimate opportunity to battle David Fales for the team’s backup spot. |
4 (129) | Cameron Clark | 6’4 308 OT-Charlotte | 126/3rd Round | The two-time team captain and 35-game starter is an impressive run blocker who is still growing as a pass protector. The 6-foot-4-inch tackle has 11-inch hands and an 83-inch wingspan. We think he can backup at least four spots on the offensive line while competing for a starting spot at guard. |
5 (158) | Bryce Hall | 6’1 202 CB-Virginia | 105/3rd Round | Hall’s instincts as a corner are first-rate but he wasn’t able to answer the questions about recovery speed in the postseason due to still recovering from midseason surgery on a broken fibula. The effectiveness of his playing style will depend on his eye control. |
6 (191) | Braden Mann | 5’11 198 P-Texas A&M | 335/5th Round | His spiral punts get into the 70-yard distances when he gets hold of punts and his hang times have gotten into the 4.8-second range in the film viewed. A good athlete, Mann saved a TD on a kickoff return by Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III in 2019 and posted seven tackles this past season. Mann has to get better as a directional punter. |