Finally! Some real sports or at least something like real sports. The NFL draft!
It’s been a grueling 6 weeks so far. No sports and wall to wall coverage of the infection and death counts. A chance to watch something sports related live was just what was needed. I spoke with people who normally might watch parts of the first round if anything part of it at all; and almost entirely due to cabin fever, they watched the entire draft. All the way to Mr Irrelevant, a Dawg by the way, Saxy Lady.
And perhaps even worse then a dearth of live entertainment, has anyone else noticed that ads during the “extraordinary times” are all the same.
Now I can’t watch a commercial without laughing and rolling my eyes. As Doofus Daughter 2 said “During these uncertain times – there’s no better time to buy a Toyota!”
Kliff Kingsbury and his Doofus Deck - Next Level What was certain was that the draft would happen even if it meant that it wasn't going to be an over the top extravaganza from the Strip but rather from the basements of NFL execs. In some ways that was even better. It was like some weird live version of an HGTV show – “Peering into the Man Caves of the Rich and Famous”
The venues ranged from the very sparse NY Giants GM Dave Gettlman’s attic, to Roger Goodell’s 80’s Cosby Show basement, all the way to Kliff Kingsbury magnificent living room. Of course, Jerry Jones top them all by broadcasting from his $250 million yacht.
Goodell interacting with the various fan bases looked forced and just highlighted Roger’s lack of personality. I was hoping to hear more deep throated booing but all we got was a TV with small pictures of fans overacting and Roger lamely trying to get them to amp it up.
But all in all it was a welcome relief and lots of fun.
As far as the picks – here’s what I got
The venues ranged from the very sparse NY Giants GM Dave Gettlman’s attic, to Roger Goodell’s 80’s Cosby Show basement, all the way to Kliff Kingsbury magnificent living room. Of course, Jerry Jones top them all by broadcasting from his $250 million yacht.
Goodell interacting with the various fan bases looked forced and just highlighted Roger’s lack of personality. I was hoping to hear more deep throated booing but all we got was a TV with small pictures of fans overacting and Roger lamely trying to get them to amp it up.
But all in all it was a welcome relief and lots of fun.
As far as the picks – here’s what I got
 1. Cincinnati |  Joe Burrow - QB - LSU | This time last year, Burrow was a fifth round pick. One amazing year later and he's the King of the Hill. He has all the tools, arm strength, accuracy and leadership. He's definitely an upgrade at the QB position for Cincy that's been stuck in neutral since Carson Palmer left. But did LSU's amazing WRs and Joe Brady make Joe Burrow or the other way around? One great year is not enough for me. Burrow will be solid but not worthy of the 1st overall pick. |
 2. Washington |  Chase Young - DE - Ohio State | It was a no-brainer pick. Burrow may have been the first pick but the best player in the draft was Young. Young is a natural pass rusher with size, athleticism, first-step quickness and technical skills. He's being compared to Julius Peppers. I can see it. Washington passed on several trade offers, the Falcons were rumored to make a strong move, but the Skins didn't blink. They have a pro bowl, double digit sack master ready to start next year. Assuming there is a next year. |
 3. Detroit |  Jeff Okudah - CB - Ohio State | C'mon Lions trade back! Miami wants Tua, The Chargers want a QB. Make them trade up and get they guy you want anyway. Nope. They claimed that no one made an offer. BS. You could have gotten your player and nabbed a 5th round and a goft card to Olive Garden. Patrcia could do some serious damage to an all-you-can-eat pasta special. I was arguing that if no one wants a trade, you grab Tua and force Miami's hand. Worst case you end up with Stafford's replacement. But in the years to come, it won't be about what they didn't get but what they got. And they got a good one. He's excellent in man-to-man coverage. He's at his best in press coverage but displays the footwork and movement skills to shadow from afar. Okudah's overall toughness and tackling skills will also stand out on the perimeter. In mock redrafts, this pick will be compared to taking Tua or Derrick Brown. As Pat says, he'll become great once he leaves the Lions. |
 4. NY Giants |  Andrew Thomas - OT - Georgia | And now the Giants should trade back. The G-Men were neutral between Thomas and Wirfs but rhater than see what they can get fro the Fins, they took Thomas. Thomas matches great size with good hands and footwork. Saquon Barkley also will love what Thomas can do to open holes for the running game. He'll start on the right side before becoming a long term staple on the left side. He's a reach at four but not as bad as QB Daniel Jones was last year for the Giants. |
 5. Miami |  Tua Tagovailoa - QB - Alabama | Miami refused to trade up. They called all the bluffs and saw through the smokescreens that Herbert and even Love were better QBs, and got the man they wanted all along. He was the consensus top pick coming into the season but a series of injuries culminating with a devastating season ending hip injury put it all into doubt. Tua will play behind veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick for a year, giving him time to get up to speed physically and mentally and giving him time to heal. When healthy, he's as accurate as they come. He's also mobile and able to hit the deep ball. He's the next Russell Wilson and Drew Brees wrapped into one package. |
 6. LA Chargers |  Justin Herbert - QB - Oregon | Supposedly, the Chargers were happy with either Tua or Herbert. Maybe. Herbert is smart and has all the tools. He's efficient and mentally tough with underrated athleticism, There's a lot to work with. He's got some mechanical issues and could be better at decision making but he can get those fixed. Herbert will need some time but he can develop into a solid top tier QB. But ultimately he will be compared to Tua for the rest of his career. TIme will tell. |
 7. Carolina |  Derrick Brown - DT - Auburn | And the second best talent in the draft falls to the Panthers. Brown is a beast against the run with some interior pass-rush pop to boot. He shined throughout the draft process as the most impactful player at his position. He's quick and a disruptor who makes a lot of plays in the backfield. With Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan in their division, Brown is exactly what the Panthers need. |
 8. Arizona |  Isaiah Simmons - LB - Clemson | Simmons is simply electric. He's a hybrid defender who can play anywhere on the second level. He's a playmaker who can make an impact as a blitzer or cover guy. The Cardinals were torched last year by tight ends. Problem solved. Simmons will play all over the Cardinal's defense and provide an immediate upgrade. |
 9. Jacksonville |  C.J. Henderson - CB - Florida | It wasn't a sexy pick but it was a solid one. There were teams that had Henderson rated higher than Okudah. With the Jags moving on from Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, Hernderson brings much needed help. Henderson's not as physical as Ramsey but is an effective cover man. THis pick will be compared to Odukah in the years to come. Odukah is more physical and better tackler but Henderson has the edge in coverage skills. |
 10. Cleveland |  Jedrick Wills - OT - Alabama | Just before the pick, Chris texted, here comes Cleveland's next all pro OT. He got the pick right and he may be right about his future. With the addition of Jack Conklin, the Browns have their bookend tackles all set. Both played right tackle last year, but Wills was on the right side because Tua was a left hander. Wills will now slide over to left tackle. A bit small for an OT, WIlls has basketball-caliber foot quickness and the quick hands of a boxer, and all of it is wrapped in a stout, powerful package of bad intentions. His game is tailor-made for the NFL, and his range of success is from good starter to All-Pro. |
 11. NY Jets |  Mekhi Becton - OT - Louisville | Now there's the size you need at OT. Becton is huge and freakish athletically. Guys weighing 370 pounds should not bend and move like he does. Becton is a people-mover. He might have a few issues with the speed rushers, but he’s going obliterate everyone with the ground game. He his a high ceiling but a low floor too. Maintaining weight could be an issue. The safer pick was Wirfs but the Jets decided to swing for the fences. |
 12. Las Vegas |  Henry Ruggs III - WR - Alabama | It's the Raiders, of course they are going for speed. He moved up the draft rankings with a blistering 4.27 at the combine. Ruggs is a speedy receiver who's able to take short throws and take them to the house, He can take the top off of a defense, pushing safeties upfield to free up space underneath for his teammates. The Raiders are hoping that Ruggs can be the elite playmaker that they were looking for when they traded for Antonio Brown last offseason. |
 13. Tampa Bay |  Tristan Wirfs - OT - Iowa | There''s not a whole lot of difference in the top four tackles. Tampa Bay was willing to let the chips fall where they may. But San Francisco must have bluffed the Bucs into moving up one spot to nab Wirfs. Tampa Bay needed to grab Wirfs to protect the ancient one, Tom Brady. Wirfs has a nasty streak, athleticism, a wrestling background (a big deal to scouts) and the work ethic worthy of an Iowa lineman. |
 14. San Francisco |  Javon Kinlaw - DT - South Carolina | So San Francisco, who apparently was going to take Kinlaw anyway, forced Tampa Bay to pull a Trubisky? It didn’t need to trade to move up one spot, and the Niners got a sweetner out of it. That's how you do the draft Lions and why the Niners play for Super Bowls But is he a better player than DeForest Buckner who they traded for to get the Colts pick? Essentially they replaced Buckner with Kinlaw and got some salary cap flexibility. For a player with so many elite physical traits he was inconsistent on tape. He also has a bit of the injury bug. |
 15. Denver |  Jerry Jeudy - WR - Alabama | Denver can't believe their luck. The WR the coveted the most fell to them at 15 Jeudy is as smooth as glass, a fantastic route runner combined with impressive top end speed. He can play inside at slot or outside across from Cortland Sutton. Drew Lock is all of sudden going to look like an NFL QB |
 16. Atlanta |  A.J. Terrell - CB - Clemson | A panic move? THe Falcons were hoping that Kinlaw would fall here but he was gone. It's a need pick as Atlanta is thin at CB but the two best were already gone. The went CB anyway to help against Brady and Brees. He has the size to play press coverage but lacks the quickness and ball hawking ability to be an elite corner |
 17. Dallas |  CeeDee Lamb - WR - Oklahoma | The Cowboys were looking to take K'Lavon Chaisson, they didn't expect CeeDee Lamb to be available. Lamb doesn't fill much of a need for Dallas with Amari Cooper but he was is the best player available. He doesn’t have to be the No. 1 guy. Amari Cooper is the main man. And it allows the Cowboys to have flexibility with contracts at the position. Lamb has the speed and separation quickness to dominate competition. Lamb's body control is ridiculous. He catches everything. But he will need to get crisper on his route running to to beat man-to-man coverage against NFL size and speed Lamb has the potential to play any of the three receiver positions as a pro and should benefit greatly from the NFL's continued movement toward college-style passing attacks. |
| 18. Miami |  Austin Jackson - OT - USC | Miami is going longer term with this pick. Jackson is an early entry draftee and a bit of a project. The thinking is that he can develop while they also develop Tua. Jackson is athletic and will get stronger as he grows into his frame. He is coming off a down year, but that was because he donated bone marrow to his sister. He likely would have been picked earlier if it wasn't for he selflessness. Good value pick for the Fins. |
| 19. Las Vegas |  Damon Arnette - CB - Ohio State | Hmmm, not sure about this one, Arnette was more of a 2nd/3rd round pick not the 19th overall. He could have been taken later. Arnette has the strength and good awareness in space to make him bested suited for zone coverage. But he lacks the fluidity and burst to stay with speedsters in man to man. He has that South Florida 'tude Gruden and Mayock like but this was a stretch. |
| 20 Jacksonville |  K'Lavon Chaisson, OLB, LSU | After the Raiders whiffed, the Jags nabbed the second best pass rusher in the draft. He has the elite bend, length, get-off and strength to be a sack-master for the Jags. But he's a bit small at 254 pounds and had some injury issues. He's not a physical run defender and might be a liability early in his career against power. |
 21. Philadelphia |  Jalen Reagor - WR - TCU | Reagor is a smooth athlete with blazing speed. He's more a playmaker than WR who can be used as a return man, a runner, and as a big-time deep threat. He’s got the speed – he’s a poor man’s Tyreek Hill. Reagor obviously fills a huge need, but he's a raw receiver and doesn't have the upside of Justin Jefferson. |
 22. Minnesota |  Justin Jefferson - WR - LSU | Jefferson is a QB's best friend. He will go get those contested balls with elite catching ability to boost completion percentages. He struggled a bit on the outside but saw his stock soar when moved to the slot. He has decent speed and separation talent, however, he’s not going to be the flash that Stefon Diggs was. He needs to improve as a route-runner. again, the question is, did Jefferson and J'Marr Chase make Burrow or the other way around. Don't be surprised Bengal fans if it's door number 1 |
| 23. LA Chargers |  Kenneth Murray - LB - Oklahoma | Murray is a tackling machine, roaming sideline to sideline with uncommon speed. He's always around the ball. He needs to work on taking on blockers but the move to the weakside should cure that. He has the leadership skills that are somewhat lacking in Herbert so he will control the locker room. They gave up a ton, 2nd and 3rd round picks to jump ahead of the Saints but it should be worth it. |
 24. New Orleans |  Cesar Ruiz - C - Michigan | With Murray yanked away from them, the flustered Saints nabbed a scUM linemen. Perhaps they were too stunned to think it through but taking a Wolvie is never a good idea. Brees needs better protection up the middle and Ruiz does provide some help here but he's on the small side so will give ground to power rushers. Ruiz was a second round talent taken too early. |
| 25. San Francisco |  Brandon Aiyuk - WR - Arizona State | Aiyuk has size, speed and is a natural pass-catcher. his ability to get YAC will get him on the field early. though he needs to work on his physicality and getting those contested balls. But the Niners made a rare goof. They traded away their 4th and 5th round picks to move up six slots. There's a decent chance Aiyuk would've been available for the 49ers at No. 31, and if not, they could've snatched one of the many other talented receivers available. |
 26. Green Bay |  Jordan Love - QB - Utah State | Whaaaaaat? The Packers trade up but rather than get a weapon for Rodgers for the first time in forever, they draft his replacement? And they moved up to do it? Not quite a Trubisky but damn close. There were plenty of smokescreens that Love was as good or better than Tua. Most teams saw through it but the Packers were late to the party. He has the tools that intrigued scouts, size, arm mobility but he severely regressed in 2019. His accuracy was off and he had trouble making reads. The thought process is valid, let him learn under Rodgers but no one was going to take him in the first round and the Packers could have made a deal later on. |
 27. Seattle |  Jordyn Brooks - LB - Texas Tech | He's fast, really realy fast. He’ll fit in with what Pete Carroll and Seattle like to do on defense. He’ll be one of those hybrid guys who’s thrown out there and ends up crushing everyone. But concerns with coverage duties could impact how teams see him as an every-down linebacker. He'll be compared to LSU star LB Queen who went with the next pick. |
 28. Baltimore |  Patrick Queen - LB - LSU | Working for the Ravens front office must be fun. Every year, they watch dumb teams ahead of them do stupid things in the draft, allowing them to scoop up great talents. 2020 is no different. Bad picks were made ahead of the Ravens once more, opening up this selection. Patrick Queen easily could've been chosen in the late teens, but Baltimore is somehow getting him at No. 28 overall as a replacement for C.J. Mosley. He’s not all that big, but he’s a guided-missile who gets all over the field and hits everyone. He’s a flash who gets to everything. Queen is next up from LSU's linebacker factory, possessing the same three-down ability to hunt, cover and tackle as those before him. He's an early starter with a sky-high ceiling. He’s a Raven. |
 29. Tennessee |  Isaiah Wilson - OT - Georgia | In a draft chock full of offensive tackles, Wilson is a nice value get here. He’s a massive people mover who’ll bang away for Derrick Henry in a power offense. There’s nothing finesse about his game. The Titans love to bully teams in the trenches, and that was going to be difficult with Jack Conklin gone. Wilson, who has good athleticism at his massive size should fill in nicely. |
| 30. Miami |  Noah Igbinoghene - CB - Auburn | Igbinoghene is an explosive receiver-turned-cornerback He's extremely physical from snap to whistle with the strength to alter route timing from press. He's good in run support and offers early special teams help as he continues to learn his craft. But if you are going to draft Tua, you should get some tools for him. Not sure another CB in a division whose best QB is Josh Allen is the best way to go |
| 31. Minnesota |  Jeff Gladney - CB - TCU | The Niners gaffe with trading up for Aiyuk is the Vikings gain. Gladney's coverage skills should allow him to thrive in man or zone, He’s not all that big, but he fights for everything. He’s got a big-time attitude – he’s always looking to make a play against the bigger targets. He has the ball-hawking talent to play on all three downs if needed. The Vikings are getting a talented player who would've gone higher if it wasn't for some off-the-field and injury issues. |
 32. Kansas City |  Clyde Edwards-Helaire - RB - LSU | He is tough, quick and strong. While not as fast as Jonathon Taylor or D'Andre Swift, he has the low center of gravity and power to be a truly effective NFL back. Andy Reid loves running backs that are potent receivers out of the backfield. Edwards-Helaire fits the offense so well for that reason. Running back was a big need for the Chiefs, and Edwards-Helaire will make Kansas City's offense even more explosive. |
Remember the 2020 Go Jumbo trip is scheduled for Oct 31 at the Westgate Superbook.
And don't forget your drink coupons
And don't forget your drink coupons
