From NFL.com
The 2020 NFL Draft has come and gone. As usual, there's plenty to like, equally as much to bash and more than enough material for relentless debating. We saw three quarterbacks go in the top 10, but the one who created the most buzz ended up as the 26th overall pick. Wide receiver was a popular choice, as well, with the fastest being the first selected. The one position that suffered the most was running back. It seemed like nobody was going to use a first-round pick on one until the Kansas City Chiefs decided to make a scary offense even scarier.
The last few days have been filled with endless discussion about who did the best, who graded the highest and who screwed up the worst. This space will be devoted to something different: Which current players were most affected by what happened in the 2020 draft? There are many who will be pleased by the decisions that occurred, and others who will be miffed.
Here's a quick breakdown of those veterans who were most helped or hurt by the choices in this year's class:
HELPED BY THE DRAFT:
2) Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay may have been the surprise landing spot for Brady after New England, but it's looking better with each passing day. The Bucs followed a draft-week trade for Brady's buddy, retired Pro Bowl tight Rob Gronkowski, by trading up to select Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs with the 13th overall selection. The Bucs desperately needed a right tackle who could step in as a Day 1 starter. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Wirfs has the experience and athleticism to do just that. His numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine were off the charts -- he broke the record for offensive linemen with a 36.5-inch vertical jump, and his 4.85-second time in the 40-yard dash was the fastest at his position -- and he was a three-year starter in a program known for developing NFL-quality linemen. We all know Brady's vision and lightning-quick decision-making will help the ball come out faster for a team that surrendered 47 sacks in 2019. However, the presence of Wirfs will allow Brady, who turns 43 in August, to sleep much easier at night.
