2020 NFL Draft recap: NFC South
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Gross-Matos finished 2018 with 20 tackles for losses.
| Carolina Panthers | Notable pick: Gross-Matos has a chance to benefit from one-on-one opportunities as the Panthers continue to diversify its defensive front. He and 2019 first-round pick Brian Burns could become bookends on the outside edges. | |||
| Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (7) | Derrick Brown | 6’4 326 DT-Auburn | 10/1st Round | Brown won’t necessarily provide an immediate pass rush upgrade over the since-departed Gerald McCoy. He will, however, provide immediate returns as a defender who will require double teams at nearly 330 pounds. His range belies that of a player in his weight class. |
| 2 (38) | Yetur Gross-Matos | DE-Penn State | 14/2nd Round | Gross-Matos is young and probably hasn’t come close to tapping his unlimited potential. For him to do, he has to improve affecting the three-step passing game once his pass rush has been stymied. |
| 2 (64) | Jeremy Chinn | 6’3 221 DB-Southern Illinois | 39/2nd Round | Chinn moved around in school but his value can come as a multi-purpose safety. He has the skills to cover tight ends. His most impressive characteristic is the ability to close from the inside-out on out-breaking patterns. At 221 pounds, he has to get better at not settling his feet in one-on-one coverage. |
| 4 (113) | Troy Pride, Jr. | 6’2 202 CB-Notre Dame | 201/4th Round | Pride closes routes from the outside-in, runs extremely well and is frequently in good position. The next step involves finishing in those moments. |
| 5 (152) | Kenny Robinson | 6’2 202 S-West Virginia | N/A | Robinson is another safety with special teams value and above average range. His biggest knock at West Virginia was the occasional missed one-on-one tackle, something he largely improved as a St. Louis Battlehawk in the XFL. |
| 6 (184) | Brayvion Roy | 6’1 333 DT-Baylor | 241/4th Round | Roy was often lauded by the Baylor coaching staff (now in Carolina) for his pure power. The former Bear is tough to move but his lack of length caused him to fall to Day 3 of the draft process. |
| 7 (221) | Stantley Thomas-Oliver III | 6’0 192 CB-FIU | 167/3rd Round | We think Thomas-Oliver III has an outside shot of making the team because of his upside in man coverage. The former WR caught 35 passes for 486 yards in 2016 for FIU. |
| Atlanta Falcons | Notable picks: For the Falcons to spend a seventh-round pick on Hofrichter underscores the importance of the kicking game. Hofrichter’s strong leg can travel outside, but he tallied 72 punts of 50-plus yards in school. Can he handle kickoff duties? | |||
| Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (16) | A.J. Terrell | 6’1 195 CB-Clemson | 34/2nd Round | Terrell made his mark at Clemson by playing a large majority of man coverage. Although he gave up some plays, his short memory makes him a fit at the position. |
| 2 (47) | Marlon Davidson | 6’3 303 DT-Auburn | 40/2nd Round | Davidson can basically play any of the four defensive line spots but may project as a legitimate three-technique on third downs. His work off the edge has been very good in the run game and pedestrian as a pass rusher. |
| 3 (78) | Matt Hennessy | 6’4 302 OC-Temple | 52/2nd Round | Hennessy has outstanding lateral agility, average pop and good range. This is a pick for the near future with Alex Mack still in the fold at center. It may give time for Hennessy to get stronger and provide depth at the three interior line spots. |
| 4 (119) | Mykal Walker | 6’3 230 OLB-Fresno State | 3rd Round | Walker’s work in school was often as a Rush OLB, but he will get the opportunity to develop as an exchange LB with the hope that he can provide immediate special teams coverage value. His work in the postseason at the exchange LB spot improved his draft stock. |
| 4 (134) | Jaylinn Hawkins | 6’2 208 S-Cal | 4th Round | Hawkins -a former WR- continued to improve filling as a tackler (see vs. Kelley, UCLA ’19). The ball skills show up in some downfield moments, but his angles have been inconsistent. |
| 7 (228) | Sterling Hofrichter | 5’10 196 P-Syracuse | 462/6th Round | After the Falcons released longtime punter Matt Bosher during the offseason, there was an opening for a punter/kickoff specialist. Hofrichter did both well during his stay at Syracuse. |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Notable pick: Vaughn’s impact at Vanderbilt goes beyond the numbers. His contact balance, receiving skills and underrated long speed could be the jolt the Buccaneers need in the running game. | |||
| Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (13) | Tristan Wirfs | 6’5 320 OT-Iowa | 8/1st Round | Wirfs has All-Pro potential as an OG or OT, but most likely projects on the edges. He was more dominant a run blocker than pass protector. |
| 2 (45) | Antoine Winfield, Jr. | 5’9 203 S-Minnesota | 19/2nd Round | Winfield, Jr. was a solid nickel back earlier in his career, but injuries stopped his charge. He put it all together as a safety in 2019 and -if healthy- the best may be yet to come. He is entering a young, crowded defensive backfield that will benefit from his competitive nature. |
| 3 (76) | Ke’Shawn Vaughn | 5’10 214 RB-Vanderbilt | 65/2nd Round | Vaughn’s productivity (back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons), quickness, field speed and balance were undone by nagging injury problems. He played his best against the best competition in school. |
| 5 (161) | Tyler Johnson | 6’1 206 WR-Minnesota | 156/4th Round | Johnson finished his storied career with 33 receiving TDs. There are questions about his short-striding nature and ball security, but none concerning strength. |
| 6 (194) | Khalil Davis | 6’1 308 DT-Nebraska | 144/3rd Round | Davis played some at DE and DT in school, but his natural NFL position will be inside. The all-conference track & field thrower’s 4.79 speed didn’t consistently show up down-to-down, but he impressed the last two seasons. |
| 7 (241) | Chappelle Russell | 6’2 236 LB-Temple | 296/4th Round | Russell’s movement and play speed in 2019 made it seem as if his knee injuries were a thing of the past. |
| 7 (245) | Raymond Calais | All-purpose/Louisiana-Lafayette | 370/5th Round | In 49 career games, Calais averaged nearly eight yards per carry. In addition, he was one of the draft ‘s |
| New Orleans Saints | Notable Pick: Trautman has a chance to develop into a very good NFL tight end. He runs routes like a wide receiver and offers flex potential. He may have an opportunity to steal repetitions from incumbent No. 2 tight end Josh Hill. | |||
| Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (24) | Cesar Ruiz | 6’3 307 OC-Michigan | 31/2nd Round | Ruiz has all of the requisite tools to get to and complete most of his assignments. He has to finish blocks with more tenacity in order to become the player the team envisions. |
| 3 (74) | Zack Baun | 6’3 238 LB-Wisconsin | 16/2nd Round | Baun was often lauded as one of the Big Ten’s best pass rushers over the last two seasons, but the former Badger also found time to pick off two passes (TD) and showed upside in pass coverage. |
| 3 (105) | Adam Trautman | 6’5 255 TE-Dayton | 128/3rd Round | Trautman’s 6.78 3-cone time at the 2020 NFL Combine ranked as one of the more impressive testing numbers during the postseason. |
| 4 (120) | Tommy Stevens | 6’4 237 QB/All-purpose-Mississippi State | 430/5th Round | If Saints fans want to envision a possible role for Stevens, look no further than how former Penn State OC and Mississippi State HC Joe Moorhead used him as a Nittany Lion. It could be his path to making the roster. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry with 8 TDs in a slash-type role in Happy Valley. |
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