2020 NFL Draft Recap: NFC North
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Kmet also served as a left-handed closer on Notre Dame's baseball squad.
Green Bay Packers | Notable picks: Deguara showed patience setting up his routes, good hand-eye coordination and improved blocking skills in 2019. While not a burner, he plays fast and brings toughness to the table. He was a solid kickoff cover guy early in his Bearcats career. | |||
Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
1 (26) | Jordan Love | 6’3 224 QB-Utah State | 35/2nd Round | Love’s playing style (VIDEO) has some similarities to starting QB Aaron Rodgers. Using his eyes with more effectiveness to maneuver defenders should be on the top of his to-do list. |
2 (62) | A.J. Dillon | 6’1 247 RB-Boston College | 64/2nd Round | Dillon’s physical prowess is defined by upper and lower body power. He is patient when following his pullers on power schemes (either inside or outside). Can he be a factor in pass protection? Will he even need to be with Aaron Jones in the mix? |
3 (94) | Josiah Deguara | 6’2 245 TE/H-back-Cincinnati | 136/3rd Round | At the prep level, Deguara caught 24 TDs as a senior. This past season, he led the Bearcats with 7 receiving TDs as a flex/H-back option. He improved every year as an on the move blocker. |
5 (175) | Kamal Martin | 6’3 240 LB-Minnesota | 423/5th Round | The former all-state QB makes up for a relatively high playing disposition with good feet. Eliminating some of the wasted motion gives him a better chance to earn a spot as a special team contributor/backup. |
6 (208) | Jake Hanson | 6’4 303 OC-Oregon | 454/6th Round | Hanson -a former DL with aggression- started 48 games in school. He was an effective communicator in the pre-snap when it came to line games and potential twists. Can snap-and-pull in confined areas. |
6 (209) | Simon Stepaniak | 6’4 321 OG-Indiana | 434/6th Round | Stepaniak-who carries 10 3/8″ hands- was a 31-game starter in school and grappler at the OG spot. |
7 (236) | Vernon Scott | 6’2 205 DB-TCU | N/A | Scott made a statement about his film study when he recognized a bunch formation against Oklahoma on his lone career interception returned for a score. His tackling has been hit-or-miss (see Texas ’19). |

7 (242) | Jonathan Garvin | 6’4 263 DE-OLB-Miami (Fla.) | 219/ 4th Round | The smooth DE gained nearly 45 pounds in school and it didn’t really rob him of much short-area burst. He slips offensive tackles and defeats blockers in the run game, but he has to generate a go-to move to win in the NFL. |
Chicago Bears | Notable Pick: The selection of Kmet means the Bears can now use a number of two tight end formations with both he and free agent signee Jimmy Graham. It is a clear sign that the team is intent on attacking the middle of the field in 2020. | |||
Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
2 (43) | Cole Kmet | 6’6 262 TE-Notre Dame | 53/2nd Round | The former left-handed closer on the baseball team handled multiple roles for the Fighting Irish. He can be effective on the move as an H-back or in-line as a tight end. |
2 (50) | Jaylon Johnson | 6’0 195 CB-Utah | 73/2nd Round | Johnson finished his career with seven interceptions (165 yards, 2 TDs) and 21 pass breakups. |
5 (155) | Trevis Gipson | 6’3 259 DE-Tulsa | 128/3rd Round | Gipson’s ability to play the run from the four-technique position often took away pass rush opportunities. In that facet (pass rushing), he has to become a better bender overall. |
5 (163) | Kindle Vildor | 5’10 191 CB-Georgia Southern | 54/2nd Round | Vildor was a team leader and excellent tackler while at Georgia Southern. He impressed in the postseason with 4.44 speed and an 11’1″ broad jump. |
5 (173) | Darnell Mooney | 5’10 176 WR-Tulane | 295/4th Round | Mooney has the skill-set to run routes outside the numbers or in the slot. He has very good run after the catch skill. |
7 (226) | Arlington Hambright | 6’4 307 OL-Colorado, Oklahoma State | 161/3rd Round | Hambright impressed protecting the blindside for quarterback Steven Montez as a senior in 2019 but largely was unavailable for Oklahoma State in 2018 due to a high ankle sprain. |
7 (227) | Lachavious Simmons | 6’5 290 OT-Tennessee State | N/A | Simmons’ aggressiveness getting off the ball as a left guard overcame the occasional balance issue. the first-team All-OVC selection has seen time at LG, RG and LT. |
Minnesota Vikings | Notable pick: The number of picks could be considered what is notable. One pick of particular interest, however, is Metullus. During the pre-draft process, he seemed to go largely undervalued and the Vikings have traditionally struck gold with late round or free agent pickups after draft. | |||
Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
1 (22) | Justin Jefferson | 6’1 202 WR-LSU | 32/2nd Round | Jefferson was already a good player in 2018, but his confidence soared in 2019. He enters the NFL believing no one can guard him in one-on-one situations. |
1 (31) | Jeff Gladney | 5’10 191 CB-TCU | 55/2nd Round | Gladney’s competitiveness made him a fiery contributor for a Gary Patterson defense that requires a lot of man coverage from its cornerbacks. The Horned Frogs led the Big 12 in pass defense in each of the last three seasons. Gladney was a big reason why. |
2 (58) | Ezra Cleveland | 6’6 300 OT-Boise State | 88/2nd Round | Cleveland is smooth, experienced and efficient with his footwork in pass protection. Can he maintain a consistent lockout? The former high school wrestler enjoys tying up defenders, but needs to improve his initial pop as a run blocker. |
3 (89) | Cameron Dantzler | 6’2 188 CB-Mississippi State | 90/3rd Round | Dantzler’s workouts didn’t reflect his instincts, timing and willingness to tackle. In Minnesota, the team will challenge him to trust his technique and he should be able to earn a role in nickel and dime packages as a rookie. |
4 (117) | D.J. Wonnum | 6’5 258 DE-South Carolina | 252/4th Round | After a breakout sophomore campaign, Wonnum’s sack production diminished in 2018 due to injury (ankle). He began to regain his form in 2019. |
4 (130) | James Lynch | 6’4 289 DL-Baylor | 57/2nd Round | The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year played up-and-down the Bears defensive front in school. Lynch finished his career with 33.5 TFLs, 7 PBUs and three blocked kicks. |
4 (132) | Troy Dye | 6’3 231 LB-Baylor | 129/3rd Round | Dye’s teammates voted him the team’s defensive MVP as a rookie and it was a sign of things to come. Although angular by nature, Dye has unique eye speed, flexibility and field speed. |
5 (169) | Harrison Hand | 5’11 197 CB-Temple, Baylor | 218/4th Round | Hand has good size, toughness and footwork. Technically, he is a work in progress (see UCF ’19). With that said, he brings capability in either man or zone coverage. |
5 (176) | K.J. Osborn | 6’0 205 WR-Miami (Fla.), Buffalo | 246/4th Round | Osborn was arguably the Bulls best receiver in 2018 despite the presence of All-MAC receiver Anthony Johnson. The narrative largely remained the same at Miami (Fla.) as a grad transfer after the disappearing act of Jeff Thomas. |
6 (203) | Blake Brandel | 6’6 302 OT-Oregon State | 529/6th Round | Brandel -a 48-game starter in school at both tackle spots- made most of his starts on the left side of the line (39). He has 10 3/8″ hands, 33 1/4″ arms and an 80 1/8″ wingspan. |
6 (205) | Josh Metullus | 5’11 210 S-Michigan | 153/3rd Round | Metullus -a 38-game starter in school- is smart, communicates well and can get off of the hash marks. Michigan challenges all of its defensive backs in man coverage. He has shown aggressiveness as a tackler. |

7 (225) | Kenny Willekes | 6’4 264 DE-Michigan State | 104/3rd Round | Willekes -the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy Award winner- was the rare dominant former walk-on. He plays low enough, handles tight ends in the run game and times his snap count reactions. Will his leverage allow him to overcome his length deficiencies? |
7 (244) | Nate Stanley | 6’4 231 QB-Iowa | 132/3rd Round | Stanley has all of the physical tools, but his work in the pre-snap phase of the game identifying fronts often allowed him to make checks at the line of scrimmage in the run game. He may have helped himself by playing in a postseason all-star game. |
7 (249) | Brian Cole II | 6’2 213 S-Mississippi State, Michigan | 181/4th Round | Cole II -a one-year starter- timed his blitzes (off the slot or from the edge), covered the slot and played a LB-type position for DC Bob Shoop and the Bulldogs. The former WR also returned kicks in school. |
7 (253) | Kyle Hinton | 6’2 296 OG-Washburn | 616/7th Round | Hinton’s Pro Day performance (4.9 40-yd, 34 1/2″ VJ) subsidized a decent showing during the 2020 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. During school, he showed the ability to get out and hit the occasional moving target. |
Detroit Lions | Notable pick: The Lions have been searching for a Top 10 running back it seems like for the entire Matthew Stafford-era in Detroit. Can Swift be more than just a change of pace for Kerryon Johnson? If so, their running game could become a team strength as opposed to question mark. | |||
Round,
Selection,
| Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
1 (3) | Jeff Okudah | 6’1 205 CB-Ohio State | 11/1st Round | Okudah will be challenged in man-to-man coverage and that should fit his skill-set. The former high school safety brings an assertive nature similar to the last Lions cornerback taken in the Top 5 in the first round, Bryant Westbrook (1997 NFL Draft). |
2 (35) | D’Andre Swift | 5’8 212 RB-Georgia | 7/1st Round | Swift has been afforded the luxury of being in a rotation during his career and this should remain the case in Detroit. An underrated receiver with outstanding peripheral vision as a runner, Swift’s only big knock was the occasional nick during school. |
3 (67) | Julian Okwara | 6’4 252 DE-OLB Notre Dame | 186/4th Round | Okwara stood up, played both DE spots in school and even dropped into coverage effectively out of a two-point stance (see Michigan ’18). He has contributed effectively on the field goal block team. |
3 (75) | Jonah Jackson | 6’3 306 OG-Ohio State, Rutgers | 225/4th Round | Jackson has started at right guard, center and left guard. Before arriving at Ohio State, he was a team captain at Rutgers. The criminal justice major plays with heavy hands and takes good angles in the run game, particularly on combination blocks. |
4 (121) | Logan Stenberg | 6’6 317 OG-Kentucky | 110/4th Round | Stenberg -despite his height- latches LBs on the second level. He runs his feet on angle blocks and uses a solid skip-pull technique in confined areas. He has starting potential. |
5 (166) | Quintez Cephus | 6’1 202 WR-Wisconsin | 130/3rd Round | Cephus overcomes small hands with confidence catching the ball, solid weight distribution and suddenness. We feel he has room to grow in either the slot or on the outside. |
5 (172) | Jason Huntley | 5’8 182 All-purpose-New Mexico State | 385/5th Round | Electricity is the name of the game for Huntley in both the return game and as an all-purpose specialist. He can become even more effective with less touches, as he was in 2017 while playing with Larry Rose III. |
6 (197) | John Penisini | 6’2 318 DT-Utah | 425/5th Round | Strong DL capable of slanting and spiking. The former Ute is satisfactory holding the point vs. double teams. |
7 (235) | Jason Cornell | 6’3 284 (E) DL-Ohio State | N/A | Cornell enjoyed a breakout season in 2019 with 4 QB sacks and 6.5 TFLs. He has played both DE and DT in school, and stood out in the 2019 CFP national semifinal. |
