There is not a GM or team builder in the universe who believes that the draft isn’t the ideal place for building a championship roster. Just last season, SD’s team dominated the competition by going 19-0, led by a superstar they drafted who set the NFL record for sacks, a slot receiver they added on day 2, and a rookie linebacker who led the team in tackles. You simply can not win in a big way without hitting on a large percentage of your draft picks.
The 2020 NFL Draft was not the best or the deepest in recent memory, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be Hall of Fame players, Pro Bowlers, and dozens of quality starters. The members of the 3GML all had different approaches to the offseason, but all 4 teams massively improved their teams and set themselves up for the future over the last 3 days. Let’s go through and grade the 4 teams based on the draft ONLY, not the players they were able to acquire via picks, ahem OBJ. We also interviewed the 4 GM’s to get some insight into what they were thinking during their respective times on the clock.
The following players that are listed are their draft slot, followed by their rating from TBHague.
Green Bay Packers:
3. Tua Tugavaloa, QB Alabama (6th, 95 grade)
18. Justin Jefferson, WR LSU (9th, 91 grade)
34. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB LSU (34th, 84 grade)
57. Zack Baun, LB Wisconsin (18th, 87 grade)
69. Bryce Hall, DB Virginia (44th, 83 grade)
91. Lucas Niang, OT TCU (39th, 83 grade)
103. Adam Trautman, TE Dayton (54th, 82 grade)
I’m going to be honest, this might be the best draft in 3GML history. The Packers did an excellent job of not just adding high quality players, seven of the top 54 in the draft and three of the top 18. They also did excellent work in terms of adding high quality players in terms of overall grade with four 2nd round grades and three 1st rounders. The team came into the draft with 10 draft picks and were aggressive in moving up to go get players they had high targets on at positions of need. When the team felt like they were going to lose out on Clyde Edwards-Helaire, they packaged three picks to go get their guy. The team had a serious need at RB, with only one on the roster and absolutely pushed their chips into the center of the table.
SD “We knew there was going to be a run that round (at RB). We expect Clyde to contribute right away, and in a big way. We feel like we will be able to incorporate both Damien and Clyde into our offense in a meaningful way.”
That said, it’s clear that despite this insanely productive draft, the most important player in this class is one that might not even play for a number of seasons. The Packers tried to walk the fine line of building for the future and adding players who can help right away. The big takeaway here was the Packers adding the Alabama lefty Tua Tagovailoa with the 3rd pick with elite players like Simmons, Brown, and Okudah still there. If Tua provides a seamless transition from a Hall of Fame to another superstar the Packers will have 2 decades of elite quarterback play. The big question is how Aaron Rodgers will handle this.
“This is a quarterback driven league,” SD said when asked about that dynamic. “Our philosophy is that it’s the most important position and you start your evaluations there every year. We anticipate more years with him ( Rodgers) under center. We were fortunate to get the number 3 overall pick after a winning season and felt we likely wouldn’t be picking this high again anytime soon with our roster. Tua will get to learn under the best while he heals up and learns the offense.”
It seems like the team is going to simply let that situation play out, and while it’s an interesting story line it’s pretty obvious that there isn’t a controversy there. That said, while the team is obviously Aaron’s right now, Tua looming over his shoulder while A-Rod ages, despite a 3GML MVP season last year, will always be a storyline to follow.
The other major piece to this draft of course is the other first rounder that the team took in Justin Jefferson. Jefferson was an elite prospect that TBHague had rated ahead of Henry Ruggs who was the first receiver taken. About Jefferson, TBHague wrote:
“Jefferson has elite hands, is a top tier blocker, has plus size and speed, and good athleticism. He’s not going to blow you away as an athlete and it’s tough because he projects best as a slot but his floor is really high. At worst he’s a great slot receiver and a solid number 2 at best I think he’s someone who could be like a Keenan Allen, Michael Thomas, Davonte Adams type player. No way in hell would I let this guy leave round 1 and I would look to take him in the top 15.”
Even if Jefferson is just the 3rd WR right now, he’s insanely productive and has an insanely high floor. The Packers played more three receivers sets than every team but the Rams and Chiefs last season and that position is essentially a guy who ends up playing 60 snaps per game. Adding him made a lot of sense as well with JuJu Smith-Schuster heading into the last year of his contract.
SD commenting on JuJu and how he and Jefferson will compliment each other and whether Jefferson was a replacement. “We love what JuJu brings to our team, we needed another starter. Expect those conversations (extension) to heat up this summer.”
Zack Baun and Lucas Niang were excellent value picks even if they aren’t going to play right away or don’t have a perfect position in this team. Niang is a right tackle only and after spending big money on Bulaga he probably won’t see the field except for an injury. Baun was a bit of a strange schematic fit but he was an exceptional player at a wonderful value. I don’t know if he’s going to play Will, Mike, or a 43 End but he’s a great player who will eventually figure out how to get on the field in a meaningful way. The Trautman pick cost another couple picks but the team went out and grabbed one of the best tight ends, if not the best tight end in the class, at a major position of need. The player, need, and value was exceptional there and it was a great way to bookend their draft.
PACKERS GRADE: A+
In one of the absolutely best drafts that you could ever ask for SD set himself up very well, filling holes, finding value, adding depth, and potentially adding a franchise quarterback, the Packers won the draft.
SD “We had our targets going in and went out and got them. We felt like we got better right now and in the future. Our goal is to make a Super Bowl, this roster gives us a very good chance to do that. We are in a great situation now and will be in four years.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Miami Dolphins
27. AJ Epenesa, DE Iowa ( 35th, 84 grade)
31. Jalen Hurts, QB Oklahoma (90th, 76 grade)
42. Josh Jones, OT Houston (13th, 88 grade)
75. Amik Robertson, CB LA Tech (130th, 68 grade)
82. Curtis Weaver, Edge Boise St. (62nd, 80 grade)
85. Tyler Johnson, WR Minnesota (69th, 79 grade)
95. Cameron Dantzler, CB Mississippi State (93rd, 76 grade)
103. Malik Harrison, LB Ohio State (75th, 78 grade)
In what was a draft that was eclectic, varied, and ultimately pretty damn successful, GM EP did things his way. Some people compare him to John Schneider in Seattle in that he simply goes after the players he wants that fits his scheme and doesn’t really care what anyone else does. It’s worked out insanely well in the past, landing late round superstars Desmond King and George Kittle. He may have done that exact thing again this season, going after his dudes, in his scheme. While some of the values were strange given where they were taken, overall he ended up with seven of the top 93 players in the class and six guys with grades in the top three rounds. He also may have found his quarterback of the future with the jaw dropping selection of Jalen Hurts in round one. While TBHague had a 3rd round grade on the Oklahoma star, the Dolphins went all in, with EP saying:
“We fell in love with his leadership and competitive spirit… he’s a leader. Cam’s our starter and Jalen can learn from an NFL MVP. We want both guys to be here for a long time together. Jalen is too talented to stay away form the field. He has already asked to play special teams as well; we’ll get him quite a few touches.”
Never in a million years would you think about another team putting their first round rookie quarterback in on special teams packages but this is the Dolphins we’re talking about, and it’s amazing. Would I have done this? Absolutely no way, but he has a vision and simply goes for it. Whether he develops or not is going to be the major story of the Dolphins draft class.
The other first round pick he had was a super high floor guy with a wonderful scheme fit at a position of need. This just made way too much sense and Epenesa was the perfect Dolphins player. EP even mentioned, “ he was our number one target from day 1, and he was always going to be a Dolphin.”
Obviously the Dolphins are known for running the rock and playing a physical and versatile style of defense. He continued to build from the inside out with the selection of Josh Jones. He may have seemed a bit of a redundant selection after taking Cody Ford last season. Ford had his ups and downs on the outside though and the Jones pick was the best pick of the draft for LA. Jones was an insanely good value here, and was one of the last high end players still available in round 2. TBHague was enamored with him early in the draft process, with this blurb:
“Jones as a pass protector has a lot of traits to work with. He has great length and he uses his 6’7'' frame as well as any player in this class does. His feet are very quick and he rarely allows pressure, locking up and squaring up as well as you’ll see on a consistent basis. He sees defenders coming and does an above average job at passing people off and noticing rushers, and his ability to counter moves that oncoming rushers use is at a high level.”
He’s not the prototypical power run blocker that EP goes after but he said, “We like high floor prospects and we feel like Joshua can be a 10+ year starter in the league at RT for us. We are set for a long time at o-line.”
Later in the draft the team did what it always does, adding high value players with Tyler Johnson, adding even more size to a wide receiver room with a ton of guys at 6’3 or taller. “Tyler was another guy we loved early in the process, (Tyler) can try to earn his place in the slot or try to play big for us.”
The also went bigger and physical on defense which is the typical way they go about things adding a long corner Cameron Dantzler and a thumping inside linebacker who fits what they love in Malik Harrison. The picks filled some needs as well as adding quality depth.
The biggest surprise outside of Jalen Hurts though was grabbing slot corner Amik Robertson early in the 3rd round. It seemed like a huge reach there but the team clearly loves tough corners with ball skills and again they wanted to go get their dude. EP said, “his effort every play personifies who we are. Look out for him.”
Look the team did a good job of going after the guys that they want. Jalen Hurts is going to be the story of this draft though for the Dolphins. If he turns into the type of guy who can manage the game and avoid turnovers like EP loves this will be a surprisingly wonderful pick. Adding high quality edge rushers in Curtis Weaver and especially the stud AJ Epenesa are exceptional schematic fits. He went out and just added quality players, and although the values were a little bit off, he did what he does.
DOLPHINS GRADE: B
It was a solid draft but it was strange. He ended up adding a lot of decent pieces but the values weren’t exactly where he should have probably gotten them. Anytime you add 7 of the top 93 players in a draft, you did a good job. He also was able to add two high end starters and potentially the quarterback of the future. It was an assuredly EP draft, and to be honest, it’s pretty damn likely he gets high production from it, he usually does.
San Francisco 49ERS
#14 WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma (8th, 92 grade)
#26 QB Jordan Love, Utah St. (19th, 87 grade)
#54 CB Kristian Fulton, LSU (25th, 85 grade)
#94 DT Jordan Elliot, Missouri (59th, 80 grade)
#117 OT Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn (99th, 75 grade)
#182 WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan (125th, 70 grade)
#204 RB Eno Benjamin, Arizona St. (129th, 68 grade)
The 49ers are pretty much always rock solid. They go into every single draft with a plan and they go about systematically accomplishing that plan. They went through this draft without a ton of capital except for those 2 first round picks but they ended up hitting a homerun in round 1. Adding the 8th best player in CeeDee Lamb at 14 was a coup, and then they sat still, finally pouncing up 4 spots to grab the qb of the future in the insanely talented Jordan Love. The 9ers had to have been at least considering taking Love at 13, instead they were able to trade back one spot and add Lamb, and STILL were able to grab Jordan Love at 26.
CD on potentially taking Jordan Love at 13. “He was always in play, but never at 13 like you all discussed, too much risk. But in the back end of the 1st, his upside trumps the risk. I figured hit was the opportunity, (to trade up,) very glad I did. He’ll redshirt his first season.”
When asking about whether or not Boyd is now expendable that the 49ers have three high end receivers, just like the Packers, CD scoffed at the idea. He’s an analytical GM to say the least and adding WR value is high on the analytical priority list. “Our system is less traditional with WR, it’s more about scheming RAC and moving players around. I think that both Boyd and Lamb can play inside and outside, I’d like to vary it up.”
He mentioned being more versatile and multiple on offense a number of times, and despite adding a late round running back in the decent Eno Benjamin, they are right up against the contract window with superstar Alvin Kamara. But they won’t, “fall into the trap of massive extensions for RB, I’d love to keep him but I’m also practical.”
With all of their weapons, the 49ers have to feel like potentially the team to beat. Adding Lamb was a big add and someone who will help that team immediately. They also added a super high floor cornerback who can play both inside and outside. The team has their obvious number one in cornerback Marshon Lattimore, but having a versatile DB in Kristian Fulton was a really good addition. CD loves high floor guys who fill holes on his team and Fulton does just that at an exceptional value. Fulton was a borderline first round player and he fell to the back of the 2nd round, adding him and that position of need was a wonderful fit.
The team did a good job of mixing high ceiling guys with high floor guys and Jordan Elliott in round 3 was certainly a high ceiling guy. The team needed an interior pass rusher as last year their sack total was the lowest in the 3GML. Losing Snacks and likely A’Shawn Robinson created a huge hole in that defensive line. Elliott has some issues with run stuffing but he could have gigantic upside as a pass rusher, where he got him made too much sense. I do think this team might have some problems defending the run though, despite arguably the most underrated linebacking corps in the NFL.
Tega Wonogho, Peoples-Jones, and Benjamin were athletic guys who could provide some special teams help. Wongoho could be a very high end swing tackle who could potentially kick inside at some point. I think he could turn into a quality player in time, and DPJ was a guy who was literally the number one rated player in his class coming out of high school, obviously a highly talented guy. The team added a depth running back in Benjamin which was a sneakily solid pick.
49ERS GRADE: B+
Look most drafts are pretty simple, you try to add three really quality players and hopefully you get some depth here and there as well. The team obviously accomplished that with Lamb as a potential Pro-bowl player, a high quality versatile DB in Kristian Fulton, and Jordan Love could be an insanely good quarterback, or a complete bust. Jordan Elliott could end up being a starter this season, despite the teams’ best intentions to not force guys into roles too early. The day 3 picks are all guys who have high upside but could also struggles to stay in the league. That said this draft is going to be graded on how his top 4 picks work out, if he can get one of those other 3 to become a good player or a contributor it will be a bonus. This draft could be really good, if Jordan Love reaches his potential, it could be a dynamic class.
Houston Texans
For a GM who spends more time working on, harping on the importance of, and has spent the majority of his tenure building through the draft, this offseason was a strange one. He shipped away a 1st, 2nd, next year 2nd, and two 5ths to go get some superstars in Beckham, Slay, and Linder. Adding 3 Pro Bowlers is always a good offseason, but it left the Texans woefully thin during the draft. A year after trading out of round 1, their first pick wasn’t until 56 on Friday, and started with only five picks. They ended up adding a 3rd and a 6th next season and grabbed 7 players, patience was their ultimate virtue in this class.
#56 WR Denzel Mims, Baylor (10th, 90 grade)
#88 DT James Lynch, Baylor (40th, 83 grade)
#126 LB Troy Dye, Oregon (38th, 83 grade)
#139 C/G Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin (65th, 79 grade)
#141 EDGE Trevis Gipson, Tulsa (120th, 72 grade)
#153 OT Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas (103rd, 73 grade)
#185 WR Isaiah Hodgins, Oregon St. (107th, 73 grade)
The Texans absolutely had to add some depth after going the superstar route in the trade market this offseason. The team needed some players, particularly on a thin defensive line and they went out and added some good value. With only one pick in the first 75, it was difficult to really do too much but the team added four extra selections in the next two drafts by trading back. That said the team got perhaps the steal of the draft with 10th rated Denzel Mims all the way down at pick 56. He’s a bit redundant with the burner Slayton and the Pro Bowler Beckham but this now gives the team some of the most dangerous downfield threats in football. When asked about what he liked in Mims TH was pretty effusive in his praise:
“He’s an absolute beast and a guy who can really help Lamar take an even bigger step forward than he did last year. We thought he was a top 10 player in the class and although he ran a small route tree at Baylor, when he went and posted a 6.66 3-cone we figured he could end up being that combination outside and inside guy and he’ll start the season as our slot and mix and match all over the place, we are beyond thrilled to have him.”
The pick of James Lynch surprised some people, but we liked his productivity at TBHague, and the fact he was a first team all American. He joined Biadasz as the two draftees from this team who were first team All Americans last season. Some people had Lynch as a late first or early second round pick and others had him in the 5th, the Texans grabbed him late in round 2. When asked where he would play in the scheme next season, TH stressed the versatility:
“He’s a guy we love because he can play all over the defensive front and we desperately needed depth there. We think he can play anywhere from the 1 to the 9 which is rare, especially for someone who weighs in at 290 pounds. James is just a super high motor productive guy. He’ll be an interior pass rusher for us in sub packages, but he’ll also play a lot of 5T. We almost didn’t trade down from 76 because we wanted him so badly, but we were fortunate he was still there.”
By trading back the team added a 3rd rounder next year, giving them three in that round which was a huge boon for TH and he talked about his best skill this year, accumulating more selections. It was a bit strange to see someone go “all-in” on adding talent for Lamar Jackson to trade back and add selections, it was somewhat contradictory.
“That’s a great question. It’s the finest line in the sport of how hard you try to win right now, vs how much you build for 3 or 4 years down the road. Adding four extra picks including the extra 3rd next year was critical for us. To be honest there was only one more target we were in love with at 76 other than James and he went off the board right after so there was no way we were going to get both guys. Trading back to get a 2nd day pick was just too valuable at that spot…. We have a quarterback who is only making 2 million a year right now, and he’s worth 20 times that. Since we have that cap space we have to be as aggressive as we can to try to get a title while he’s underpaid, it’s the simple math of the league.”
There’s definitely some logic there, but you can find more teams who have struggled lately with this tactic than teams who succeed by giving away first round picks in back to back years. The Rams went all in and then gave their guys huge extensions and it completely blew up in their face, if the Texans follow this path and don’t hit on their draft picks it could be a nightmare.
Dye and Biadasz were super high quality picks where they went. In round 4 the downside risks for both guys are really low. The team wasn’t in the market for a guard but Biadasz and his ability to play both guard and center, ala current interior linemen Paradis and Linder, the fit makes a lot of sense. Dye has some character concerns and is a tweener between linebacker and safety so a lot of teams were scared off there despite his production. When asked about them and why they lasted that long TH made some pretty honest comments:
“Look Troy has some character concerns and size limitations that I get the fear. That said I had a grade on him higher than Patrick Queen, and Queen is a hell of a player. What we liked with Troy was that we love that he can cover, he’s one of the best, if not the best cover linebacker in this class and he will get a lot of reps there this year. Tyler is a great football player. The dude played through a ton of pain this season and his versatility is a really big plus. If he had come out last season he would have been a first round or at worst a top 50 pick and this year he played through injuries and his so called down year was a first team All American year and winning the Rimington award. There’s a real chance he starts at guard for us this season.”
Whoa, a fourth rounder potentially starting at guard is a big comment from a GM in obvious win now mode, but he’s not mincing words.
Trevis Gipson was a bit of a reach, particularly with Bradlee Anae still on the board. That said he’s a strong guy who could potentially play the Jack linebacker spot, but will likely be a 5 technique and a sub package rusher. The scheme fit might have been better but Anae was rated a full round higher on most people’s draft boards, TBHague’s as well. TBHague mentioned this about the pick:
“Seems weird that they would pass on a guy with a lot higher grade, especially when they needed another pass rusher. Seems like they went scheme fit there instead, even though Gipson has a higher upside, Anae can help them right now.”
Adeniji and Hodgins are likely going to make this roster, with Adeniji being the interesting one and Hodgins an Oregon Stat alum which TH loves.
“We love that Adeniji can probably play all 5 positions, and Hodgins is the most insanely productive guy you could find this late in the draft.”
TEXANS DRAFT GRADE: B
The Texans did a really good job of adding extra draft picks which they desperately needed. They also hit more than a home run with Denzel Mims falling all the way to them at the 56th pick. There were some good values here with Lynch, Dye, and Biadasz. Overall though the team just didn’t have the draft capital to make a huge splash. They added a ton of quality depth at positions of need and a potential superstar in Mims but they lacked the firepower the other 3 teams had. That said, based on what they went in with, it has to be considered a win, even if they had the 4th best draft, it was still solid.
