I can’t recall a draft in recent memory where there was such a sure-fire first overall pick like we have in 2020 with Joe Burrow to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Heisman Trophy-winner dominated the college football landscape this past season, and being from Ohio, this appears to be a match made in Heaven.
The Bengals placed the franchise tag on A.J. Green to give Burrow a legit number one wide out, and if you combine Green with Tyler Boyd, and running back Joe Mixon, and there are some tools for success out of the gate for Burrow. Cincinnati played hard in 2019, but the losses mounted, and as Burrow has stated, he is no loser.
The Redskins already have a pretty stout defensive line, and with the drafting of Chase Young from Ohio State, it becomes downright scary. For three years at Ohio State, Young wrecked havoc on the Big 10, and he becomes a nightmare in the NFC East.
Expect him to have an immediate impact on the Redskins defense, similar to what Nick Bosa did with the San Francisco 49ers defense last year. Young has a freaky combo of size and athleticism. He can win with speed, power, hands, and his array of pass rush moves. Many believe he is the best player in this years draft.
They say the draft starts with the Detroit Lions and the third overall pick, as the No. 1 and No. 2 picks appear to be locked in stone. Assuming they keep the pick, we will see the second consecutive Ohio State Buckeye come off the board in the player of cornerback Jeffrey Okudah.
Matt Patricia comes from the Bill Belichick coaching tree and a big part of the defensive philosophy in New England is having a shutdown corner. Okudah is head and shoulders the best corner in this class, and there may not be a safer pick in this years class.
Conventional wisdom would tell you that after using picks in back-to-back years on Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones, the ideal move would be to protected those investments. In a draft class loaded with offensive tackle talent, the Giants could certainly go that route at pick No. 4, but they choose to address the other side of the ball.
The Giants defense was atrocious last year and new head coach Joe Judge comes from New England where fielding a strong defense is a major part of the recipe for success. The opportunity to draft a generational talent like Isaiah Simmons from Clemson is too much to pass up on for general manager Dave Gettleman. Simmons can lineup at multiple positions on defense and truly is a defensive specialist.