The seven of us sat down this week and knocked out a four-round 2020 Rookie Mock Draft complete with pick comments. We decided to use the superflex format since that’s how most of our leagues are set up.
*We added a 13th pick in round 4 so that everyone would have the same number of picks.
*Click/tap the pick to see the accompanying comments.
ROUND 1
It is becoming more and more rare to find a three-down back that can create for himself, win between the tackles or bounce outside and catch the ball like a receiver. He now has the keys to the Georgia backfield in 2019 and the sky’s the limit for how productive he can be, especially behind an elite offensive line. Swift is a can’t miss type of prospect and is well-deserving of going with the first overall pick even in a superflex format.
Jason DiRienzo| @allpurposescout
Once a somewhat overlooked RB, Travis Etienne is quickly becoming a fan favorite and for good reason. Etienne has elite level explosion and when given a seam, can burst upfield for huge runs. He also has incredible balance and vision allowing him to weave through the defense. As a Heisman hopeful in 2019, and the backfield to himself, we should see Etienne put up another huge season and cement his case for being a first round pick.
Cody Garrett | @_CodyGarrett
We’ve been talking about the 2020 RB class since at least February 2017. I might as well see it through and draft the guy who I dubbed my favorite RB in the class way back then. Taylor is in the third season of what will be a College Football Hall of Fame career. At 220 pounds, he’s a bigger back who has incredible athleticism, vision, burst, and long speed. His play strength, agility, and balance are plus traits as well. His ball security issues, lack of use in the passing game, and disappearing act on third downs are all well documented so I won’t even bring them up.
Brad McDaniel | @DW_BMack
There’s certainly a scenario where the projected top QB for the 2020 class falls to the 1.04, but I would bet money it’s not the case come this time next year. Tua is a very clean prospect at the QB position who throws with terrific anticipation and accuracy to all parts of the field. He is an athlete at the position but seldom shows his ability as a runner. Good awareness at the position and strong leadership. Dating back to the year 2000, Tua is 1 of only 3 SEC QBs to throw for more than 40 touchdowns in a season. He did so while sitting out the 4th quarter in a majority of his games during the 2018 season. The 43 touchdowns will be difficult to replicate, but Tua should only get better at the position heading into year three.
LJ Chaney| @pacificscouting
Taking the consensus WR1 here was a natural choice for me to make. Jeudy has the athleticism, production, and pedigree that makes him a safe bet to be a first-round draft pick in the NFL. He runs excellent routes and is a menace after the catch with the ball in his hands.
Kyle Francis | @FranchiseKF
Having first profiled Reagor coming out of high school in the inaugural edition of the Devy Watch, it was love at first sight. Elite breakout age? Check. Elite sophomore season Dominator Rating? Check. Elite athleticism? Check. Special teams prowess? Check. Great hands? Check. Check, check, check, check, write this man a check.
Clayton Stefan | @DW_Clayton
Shenault burst onto the scene in the first game of his sophomore season. He finished the 2018 season with 86/1011/6 which garnered a whopping 43.6% Dominator Rating. Listed at 6’2″ and 220 pounds, Shenault has a very powerful build. His strong lower body allows him to defeat would-be tacklers. He missed spring practice due to foot and shoulder surgery. His physical playing style has led to some nagging injuries in his short career.
Greg Brandt | @DevyWarehouse
Johnson is coming off impressive back-to-back seasons with a Dominator Rating over 50%. His 2017 season saw him compile a 73.51% dominator rating at the age of 19. That monstrous season lead him to having the highest Age-Adjusted Score in my database. His Age-Adjusted Score is in the 98th percentile or higher in both 2017 and 2018. Johnson is a top-notch route runner and has the ability to create big plays after the catch.
Greg Brandt | @DevyWarehouse
Last season, DK Metcalf was the player that we were pegging to destroy the combine in athletic testing metrics. And, with the exception of lateral agility, we were absolutely correct. The concerns with stiffness, injury history, and collegiate production led to Metcalf slipping to the 2nd round. That’s the worst-case scenario floor we have for Akers in the 2020 draft. I can mention absolutely nothing about Cam’s on-field play in this blurb and it doesn’t matter. Akers had a 40+ inch vertical and ran a 4.41 40 coming out of high school. These are facts. Those marks may even be improved by now. Players with rare athleticism at the running back position don’t last long on draft day. If Akers is indeed a top 2 round pick, he’d be a steal at the 1.09.
Clayton Stefan | @DW_Clayton
Lamb has been one of the most dominant receivers in college football over the past two seasons. What’s even more impressive is that he’s shared the field with some pass catchers that were early NFL draft picks. His tape shows that he has the requisite athleticism to be a day one or day two draft pick, however; long speed isn’t his greatest strength, so I do have a bit of trepidation after being Harmon’d last year.
Kyle Francis | @FranchiseKF
Eno Benjamin broke out in a huge way during his sophomore season. He had 1,900 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns. He was the definition of a bell cow RB for Arizona State and that should continue in 2019. Eno is a gifted pass catcher with natural hands. He is a patient runner and excellent between the tackles. Despite his 201-pound listing he is very physical and consistently wins in short yardage situations. Very smooth athlete who may lack long speed but still manages to create chunk plays with his elusiveness to make the first defender miss. I think there is a strong chance Eno Benjamin ends up as a day 2 selection should he enter the 2020 draft.
LJ Chaney| @pacificscouting
Dobbins ran for 1,400 yards as a freshman. He dipped to 1,000 as a sophomore, but his receptions went up and his yards per reception went way up. He’s a complete back who runs with power and decisiveness. Very athletic, but lacks consistent home run speed. He’s a plus receiver with great hands. Replace Dwayne Haskins with Justin Fields and his athletic ability and defenses won’t be able to key on Dobbins. That’s the recipe for a monster season.
Brad McDaniel | @DW_BMack
ROUND 2
Bryan Edwards is one of the top wideouts in the 2020 draft but seems to be slipping under the radar. At 6’3” and 215 pounds, Edwards has solid size and strength. His leaping ability may be his biggest asset. He rarely loses on jump balls and can sky over defenders to make plays. It will be tough for QBs to overthrow him. If Edwards can expand his route running ability, there is no reason he couldn’t turn into the top WR in the upcoming draft.
Cody Garrett | @_CodyGarrett
Herbert is easily the second-best quarterback prospect and I’m happy to get him entering the second round. He has excellent size, a cannon for an arm and can place the ball in some of the toughest spots, even when on the run. Going back to Oregon for another year was a smart move as he has some mental processing issues he needs to work on. One more year of experience can be very beneficial for his next-level development. Overall, Herbert is an excellent prospect and will surely have first round draft capital come the 2020 NFL Draft.
Jason DiRienzo| @allpurposescout
With another year at Clemson with Trevor Lawrence as his quarterback, Tee Higgins could show just how dominant a receiver he can be. Justyn Ross’ ascension as a freshman sensation took away whatever spotlight Higgins had fairly quickly. Fact is, Higgins has excellent length which he uses to high point the ball very well and uses his long strides to get past second level coverage quickly. Separation issues are valid, but he has enough burst to use a speed release at the line to beat man coverage. If Higgins decides to declare, I think his size and athleticism will help him rise, even in a deep wide receiver class.
Jason DiRienzo| @allpurposescout
Kylin Hill is one of the better all-around backs in college football. At 5’11” and 215 pounds, he has the prototypical size and the strength to go with it. Hill has impressive patience waiting for his opening and great vision to find those holes in the defense. He also has elite level balance and play strength to go with it. If Mississippi St gives him the touches, there is no doubt he will put up the production to match his elite traits.
Cody Garrett | @_CodyGarrett
Wallace is a deep route artist. He uses tempo and athleticism to win his routes. It would be difficult to find a college receiver who tracks the ball better than him. Furthermore, there aren’t many that have his combo of body control, timing, and aggressiveness at the catch point. He shows ideal play strength despite his smaller frame. He runs the dreaded limited route tree and has the opportunity to improve his release versus press coverage.
Brad McDaniel | @DW_BMack
Ruggs has yet to breakout and meet the 20% dominator rating threshold but he’s paired up with several day 1 and day 2 picks at the WR position on the Alabama roster. Ruggs was a highly touted recruit not only by Devy Watch but by 247Sports and Rivals as well. He is one of the more gifted athletes at his position and should hit low 4.3’s when running the forty at the combine. He’s a savvy field stretcher while also making his presence felt in the red zone. Ruggs is a player that should rise throughout his junior season and could be an early day 2 pick in the NFL draft next year.
LJ Chaney| @pacificscouting
Hubbard represents a tier break, of sorts, where he hasn’t achieved a “breakout season,” like the overwhelming majority of guys selected before him. When I contextualize his situation, I’m not concerned. Originally from Canada, Hubbard is a nationally acclaimed sprinter that splits time running track for OSU. He also sat behind Justice Hill, who was a day two pick for the Baltimore Ravens. Hubbard is versatile, possesses elite athleticism, and made the most of the opportunities he had last season.
Kyle Francis | @FranchiseKF
If there’s any 2020 QB prospect who can make a Kyler Murray type of meteoric rise to the top, (I’m excluding Tua of course – he’s already at the top) it’s Jordan Love. Love is accurate, athletic, smooth, has pocket presence, has good arm strength, shows anticipatory passing skills, and has moxy. These are all attributes desired in a QB at the next level. He’ll need to look the part once again in 2019 to become a first round NFL draft pick. If he does, he’ll be a sure-fire first round pick in superflex rookie drafts.
Clayton Stefan | @DW_Clayton
The last half of Dillon’s true freshman season in 2017 was as impressive of a string of games as any back has had in recent years. He ran for over 150 yards in each of the last five games that season. 2018 saw him rush for over 1,100 yards but wasn’t as impressive as the year prior. Listed at 250lbs, he has one of the most remarkable blends of size and speed in the country. Before his senior year of high school, Dillion was clocked in the 40 at 4.54 at 239lbs. Has the potential to be a workout freak at the NFL Draft Combine.
Greg Brandt | @DevyWarehouse
In his two seasons at Oklahoma, Sermon has tallied nearly 1,700 rushing yards and 18 TDs, adding 28 receptions for 320 yards. Despite two impressive seasons, he hasn’t totaled over a 15% Dominator Rating – the threshold for an RB breakout season – due to the uber-productive Lincoln Riley-run offenses. Listed at 221 pounds, Sermon possesses the size and skills to be an every-down back in the NFL.
Greg Brandt | @DevyWarehouse
With Tua and Trevor Lawrence dominating the college football quarterback scene, Fromm is looked at as somewhat boring and safe. That’s okay though, there are plenty of boring and safe game manager-type QBs at the next level. They all hold solid value in superflex leagues. If Fromm is drafted to be a starter, or even a starter in waiting for an old veteran QB, he’ll carry plenty of value in 2020 and beyond.
Clayton Stefan | @DW_Clayton
Tamorrion Terry had a breakout season in 2018. He was a nightmare on vertical routes and managed to exceed 20 yards-per-reception. He did that with really poor quarterback play and should be a major beneficiary of the new FSU offense. Terry is still a bit raw, he was a late bloomer that played in a small town, but his upside is reminiscent of a guy like Randy Moss. I’ll take a shot on that type of player in this range of a draft.
Kyle Francis | @FranchiseKF
ROUND 3
Ahmed has been patiently waiting for the opportunity to be the man in Washington’s backfield. He has elite speed and athleticism. Very agile with quick feet. One of the better jump cuts in college football and great explosiveness. Ahmed is a terrific pass catcher who is comfortable running routes and making plays outside of his frame. Should Washington show some competence on the offensive side of the ball, Ahmed can challenge for the most scrimmage yards in the PAC-12.
LJ Chaney| @pacificscouting
Zack Moss is a three-down back and an ideal fit in today’s NFL. At 5’10” and 215 pounds, he has the frame. Film guys will appreciate his vision and decisiveness as well as his athleticism, burst, agility, and ability to hold up in pass pro. Numbers guys will appreciate his production. He’s accounted for more than 30% of Utah’s offense in each of the last two seasons. However, Moss does have a bit of an injury history including a season-ending knee injury in November 2018.
Brad McDaniel | @DW_BMack
Devonta Smith is the least talked about Bama receiver, but he is still an extremely talented wideout. Smith uses elite level route running to routinely create separation. He is very fluid in his movements and does an excellent job setting up DBs to get them off balance. He also has impressive top end speed reportedly running a 4.49 40 in high school. While he may not get the same hype as the other Bama WRs, Smith could be a high draft pick and an extremely productive player at the next level.
Cody Garrett | @_CodyGarrett
There is something to be said about a physical receiver with above-average size, an outstanding catch radius and accounted for 43% of his team’s receiving production in 2018. Antonio Gandy-Golden shows excellent body control at the catch point, making some difficult adjustments to the ball look easy. His ball trajectory awareness is very good, identifying the landing point, extending to the ball, and catching outside his frame consistently very well. He is a quarterback-friendly receiver that NFL teams will value come draft day.
Jason DiRienzo| @allpurposescout
This seems like a very good value for the workhorse running back from Alabama. Even while sharing the load with Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs last season, Najee Harris was able to produce 790 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Harris is a thick frame, big-bodied running back that bullies his way through contact. He possesses elite play strength and outstanding competitive toughness. He’s your old school, lunch pail type back that uses more physicality and patience than finesse as a runner. Some say Harris doesn’t fit today’s NFL, but I’d put my money on the fact that his pedigree will have a role that can prove to be very fantasy relevant.
Jason DiRienzo| @allpurposescout
Its fitting that Robinson and Harris get drafted back to back seeing as they both will see a giant uptick in touches this upcoming season. Robinson has impressive size and strength standing at 6’1” 225lbs. He plays behind his pads very well making him tough to bring down. Robinson also has the juice in his legs rip off huge runs reportedly running a 4.51 40 in high school. I expect Robinson to be a major contributor to the Alabama offense and could end up being one of the top RBs drafted in 2020.
Cody Garrett | @_CodyGarrett
Ke’Shawn Vaughn began his college career at Illinois before transferring back home to Vanderbilt. He brought with him an impressive Breakout Age of 18.5. Vaughn is known for his explosiveness and ability to hit a home run on any play. He finished the 2018 season with 11 runs over 40 yards. The next closest SEC back had just 5 runs over 40 yards. He’s not always looking for the home run though. He’s a disciplined runner who plays within the scheme. Vaughn lacks initial quickness and his durability is a question mark. He also has room for improvement as a receiver out of the backfield.
Brad McDaniel | @DW_BMack
Each year the top TEs in rookie drafts typically get selected anywhere from the backend of round 1 to the middle of round 2. I felt it necessary to select our projected top TE this late in the draft and call it a steal. The position generally takes longer than others to get acquainted to the league but Calcaterra is a great pass-catching threat. He had the highest SPARQ score in the 2017 recruiting class at the TE position and I’ve found it helpful to bank on high upside athletes who make plays.
LJ Chaney| @pacificscouting
I’ve had the good fortune in the past couple of years with zeroing in on a player that I think is primed for a massive jump in ADP. My prime candidate this year is Lynn Bowden. He’s one of the most versatile and talented high school players that I’ve ever seen. He showed flashes in 2017 as a freshman and then he turned in a “breakout season” in 2018. I believe he builds on that and his collegiate profile could end up looking comparable to DJ Moore and Curtis Samuels.
Kyle Francis | @FranchiseKF
To be honest, I don’t love the player. Never quite been on the Johnson train (maybe I need to adjust my rankings). However, it’s all about value here. Multiple main stream NFL draft pundits deem Johnson to be a top-5ish wide receiver in the class. If Sam Ehlinger takes a step forward as a passer in 2019, that spells nothing but good news for Johnson’s production and draft stock. As a big-bodied jump ball receiver, the range of 2020 draft outcomes for Collin Johnson stretches from JJAW to Hakeem Butler to Allen Lazard. In nearly the 4th round, it’s time to take that gamble.
Clayton Stefan | @DW_Clayton
Spielman is coming off a 2018 season that saw him record a 42% Dominator Rating, with an Age-Adjusted Scored in the 86th percentile. With improved QB play from sophomore Adrian Martinez, an uptick in counting stats and national recognition is expected.
Greg Brandt | @DevyWarehouse
Bit of a risky pick with a guy who’s only hauled in 15/184/1 through two injury riddled seasons. Black has a lot of talent, just needs to stay healthy. If he can stay on the field, I strongly believe he’ll be drafted higher than this once he declares.
Greg Brandt | @DevyWarehouse
ROUND 4
Once again, I’m not in love with this pick. DPJ’s production thus far in his career has left a lot to be desired. He has athleticism and special teams ability in spades. If the 2019 production takes a big leap in a new look Wolverines offense, DPJ’s stock will follow suit and take a massive leap for 2020.
Clayton Stefan | @DW_Clayton
I find myself drawn towards players that were high school quarterbacks that have transitioned to running back or wide receiver. That is the case with Whitlow, who I believe should post a 1,000-yard season in 2019. He’s big, athletic, and has pass-catching abilities.
Kyle Francis | @FranchiseKF
McFarland is a player I’ve been fond of since he came into Maryland as a recruit. He took a redshirt his first season then exploded for 1,034 yards at 7.9 yards per carry in 2018. The downside is his limited opportunity in the passing game. He only had 7 receptions – less than ideal for an RB of his stature. Former Maryland RB Ty Johnson finished his career with a measly 29 receptions and it’s something I would like to see change for their backfield. McFarland runs physical and plays fast. The efficiency from 2018 will be tough to match but his traits as a runner make him a promising committee RB at the next level.
LJ Chaney| @pacificscouting
Aquaman has NFL size, and he has good athletic ability for his size, but he’s a one-speed, straight-line athlete. This shows up from time to time in his route running. Between the numbers, he’s a legit vertical threat, especially down the seam. He is a proven red zone weapon who excels at the catch point. Durability, route running, and separation are areas where he could stand to improve in 2019.
Brad McDaniel | @DW_BMack
Hunter Bryant is one of the more athletically gifted tight ends in college football. Bryant is a solid route runner and is a tough cover for most linebackers. In many ways, Bryant looks and moves like a WR and even has impressive hands like a wideout. He does an excellent job high-pointing the football and can be a good red zone target. Now fully healthy, it will be interesting to see how involved Bryant will be in the Huskies offense.
Cody Garrett | @_CodyGarrett
How could you not love getting a converted 4-star receiver, according to 247Sports, that is now being used at running back behind Notre Dame’s offensive line? Jafar Armstrong is now the leader of the Irish’s backfield with Dexter Willaims now off to the NFL. Reports out of Notre Dame camp have been very positive all off-season and Armstrong only has the lackluster Tony Jones Jr. to compete for snaps with. Armstrong’s size, athleticism, vision and burst have me extremely excited about him going in to 2019 season.
Jason DiRienzo| @allpurposescout
As a redshirt freshman, C.J. Verdell ran for over 1,000 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. The statline that is money is his 27 receptions for 315 yards and two receiving touchdowns to go with it. Verdell runs hard with very good pad level and speed that allows gear changes throughout all levels of the field. His contact balance is solid, as is his ability to evade tacklers with quick, one-cuts. If Verdell can improve his patience and initial vision behind the line of scrimmage, we could be talking about a running back that climbs to the top of the ranks this season.
Jason DiRienzo| @allpurposescout
Scottie Phillips is at the top of my list as the most underrated draft prospect. Phillips has an excellent build and a powerful lower body standing at 5’8” 210lbs. But Phillips isn’t just a power runner, he has impressive agility and the wiggle to make defenders miss in open space. He also has excellent balance and vision making him the complete package. In his first full season as a starter for Ole Miss, Phillips had just under 1,000 yards and an impressive 12 TDs. If he can improve on those numbers, he will have a chance to fly up draft boards.
Cody Garrett | @_CodyGarrett
Chandler is a versatile back with an aggressive, slashing running style. He can contribute as a receiver and kick returner. As a runner, Chandler has good instincts and feel, makes quick decisions and has become more explosive. He’s guilty of being impatient at times. As a receiver, he can run routes out of the backfield, slot, or split out wide. He can get open in the short to intermediate, and he can track the ball well deep. He scored a receiving touchdown in a school record three straight games in 2018. If Chandler improves his pass protection technique, he’ll have the skillset to be a three-down running back.
Brad McDaniel | @DW_BMack
Patrick Taylor had 1,122 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2018. The departure of Darrell Henderson and Tony Pollard vacates 1,937 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. I’m not saying Patrick Taylor takes every ounce of vacated production and adds to his already impressive share, but he’s in line for a great season. Listed at 6’3” 227-pounds, he’s a very big back with a ton of versatility. He is comfortable making plays out of the backfield as a receiver. Runs physical in the interior and has the athleticism to beat defenders to the edge. In a very deep class it’s easy for Taylor to be overlooked but this is the perfect late round dart throw.
LJ Chaney| @pacificscouting
Clyde Edwards-Helaire had to sit behind Derrius Guice both in high school and then in college. His time has finally come at LSU, and he’s the ideal fit in the new Joe Brady-infused-offense. His skill set is comparable to Alvin Kamara’s, and that is the role he will assume in 2019. We know CEH has elite athleticism, and he’s the exact type of back that the NFL is coveting.
Kyle Francis | @FranchiseKF
There’s a chance Vaughns may not possess the athleticism to be successful at the next level. However, he does possess an outstanding technical acumen at the receiver position. He’s the type of nuanced receiver with strong hands and contested catch ability that may be savvy enough to stick around in the league for a long time.
Clayton Stefan | @DW_Clayton
Former highly touted 4-star recruit, who had a good true freshman season but had an injury-riddled sophomore campaign. Already receiving rave reviews from Jimbo Fisher from fall camp. Another prospect that can fly up the draft board with a nice season.
Greg Brandt | @DevyWarehouse
