Round 2

33. Cincinnati Bengals: Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan

Neither Billy Price nor Michael Jordan looked like starting guards last year, and Trey Hopkins is adequate at best at center. Ruiz could man the pivot while Hopkins moves to left guard, upgrading two spots on the offensive line with one draft pick.

34. *TRADE* San Francisco 49ers: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

Colts receive No. 31, 49ers receive No. 34 and No. 122 (4th round)

The 49ers may be able to trade down again and land Johnson, a long-armed, physical press corner who will fit Robert Saleh’s defense perfectly.

35. Detroit Lions: A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa

I’m not this high on Epenesa, but he feels like a Matt Patricia type of edge defender – stout, long-armed and physical, with little in the way of pass rush athleticism or explosiveness.

36. New York Giants: Zack Baun, EDGE/LB, Wisconsin

The Bill Belichick coaching tree is likely to be fond of Zack Baun, who can a hybrid pass rush/off-ball linebacker role that players like Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy and others have been so good at.

37. Los Angeles Chargers: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor – Photo by: Getty Images

The Chargers need a future starting tackle, but with seven going in the first round, the options are already limited even at No. 37! Los Angeles is going to build on the run game this season, so a bell-cow in Taylor to complement Austin Ekeler makes a ton of sense.

38. Carolina Panthers: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

Igbinoghene is a converted wide receiver who is still mastering the nuances of the position, but his upside is pretty alluring when you watch his peak plays. He’ll need time to develop as Carolina rebuilds.

39. Miami Dolphins: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State

Dobbins was slated to formally visit Miami before the coronavirus shut everything down, but I’m guessing he finds his way there as their feature back by the time day two of the draft is over.

40. Houston Texans: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado

Nothing will ever make up for the stupidity of trading DeAndre Hopkins, but adding Shenault’s size, speed and post-catch ability could appease Deshaun Watson for a little while.

41. Cleveland Browns: Grant Delpit, S, LSU

LSU S Grant Delpit – Photo by: Getty Images

The Browns need to start working on their defense, and free safety is a top priority. Delpit has fallen out of a lot of first-round mocks after a rough final season at LSU, but he’s a definite fit as a deep safety who will reunite with old teammate Greedy Williams.

42. Jacksonville Jaguars: Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama

Lewis is a physical competitor whose Crimson Tide career was waylaid by injuries. This may be too high for him if teams can’t feel comfortable with his medicals, but it’s a weak edge defender class and some of these teams are gonna reach for guys. He’s Yannick Ngakoue insurance and an eventual replacement.

43. Chicago Bears: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

The Bears could go a bunch of different directions with this pick, but they literally don’t have another starting caliber cornerback on the roster outside of Kyle Fuller. Arnette’s big senior season should make him a top 50 pick if the character stuff isn’t too concerning for teams.

44. Indianapolis Colts: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

I’m not sure how I feel about Higgins and Indianapolis being paired together, but I know Philip Rivers has always done some of his best work with a big, vertical threat on the outside (Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd, Mike Williams), and Higgins is certainly that. I’m concerned about the lack of athleticism, but Higgins has made a living off contested catches, even against quality competition in college.

45. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

The addition of Tom Brady makes it imperative that Tampa Bay find him a quality receiving option out of the backfield, something the Bucs offense currently lacks. Swift is an excellent fit in Tampa Bay, as he already has experience running routes from the slot and from the backfield in the Georgia offense. Arians will have a field day moving him around the field for Tampa, giving Brady one more weapon to feel comfortable with in the Bucs’ high-powered offense.

46. Denver Broncos: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia

I can’t get away from this pick because I think the fit of Hall’s physicality and ability to work top-down on the ball is a good one for Vic Fangio’s defense. He could start right away across from A.J. Bouye this season.

47. Atlanta Falcons: Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M

Madubuike fits Atlanta’s style as a smaller, more explosive defensive tackle with pass-rush upside, but his tape is more random flashes than sustained dominance.

48. New York Jets: Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame

Okwara doesn’t flash enough on tape to get me excited, but he’s reportedly an excellent athlete with all the physical tools you could want. At some point, the Jets have to try to develop an edge rusher.

49. Pittsburgh Steelers: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota

I honestly don’t have a clue what the Steelers are going to do at No. 49, as the roster doesn’t really have any crying needs, but there are still plenty of question marks. Adding Winfield gives the Steelers insurance if Terrell Edmunds continues to struggle, as well as a versatile, smart, pro-ready safety who can move around a defense and contribute on special teams.

50. Chicago Bears: Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia

The Bears have quietly started two solid offensive tackles for many years now, but Bobby Massie will be 31 in August, and his play is starting to slip. Wilson can step in on the right side in the near future, giving the Bears a grading run blocker who may need some help against speed rushers in pass protection.

51. Dallas Cowboys: Lloyd Cushenberry, IOL, LSU

The shocking news of Travis Frederick’s retirement means Dallas will likely be looking for his replacement in the 2020 NFL Draft. The class isn’t loaded with elite centers, but Cushenberry is one of the best, both in pass protection and in the run game.

52. Los Angeles Rams: Joshua Uche, EDGE, Michigan

The Rams lost Clay Matthews and Dante Fowler in free agency, and replaced them by…overpaying for a year of Leonard Floyd? Los Angeles has many needs, but Uche could potentially fill two of them – as a coverage option off the ball and as an edge pass rusher depending on the situation.

53. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

The Eagles desperately need upgrades at cornerback, safety and wide receiver. Aiyuk is an explosive run-after-catch option who needs some development in the finer points of the position, but can provide something the Eagles don’t currently have in their receiving corps.

54. Buffalo Bills: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Photo by: Getty Images

Looking at the Bills depth chart, there are no obvious holes to fill. They’ve talked about adding another running back to their roster, and Edwards-Helaire would be a wonderful fit. His elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability after the catch would maximize the Bills’ conservative passing offense.

55. Baltimore Ravens: K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State

Envisioning the Ravens running an offense with speedsters like Marquise Brown and K.J. Hamler at their disposal, along with what Willie Snead and Mark Andrews provide in the middle of the field, is pretty terrifying.

56. Miami Dolphins: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU

Dolphins probably need to draft two offensive tackles to field a competent offensive line in 2020. Thomas on the left with Niang on the right, provided his medical reports are clean, would give them two talented players to build around.

57. Houston Texans: Marlon Davidson, DT, Auburn

Houston is weak in a few spots, but they don’t have a ton of crying needs. Their defensive line could use more impact players, and while I have my doubts about Davidson, all indications from big media are that he continues to rise up boards.

58. Minnesota Vikings: Jonah Jackson, OG, Ohio State

I don’t know if Minnesota will consider Jackson or not, but they have to get better in pass protection at the guard spots, and the Rutgers transfer was as steady as they come in that area this past season.

59. Seattle Seahawks: Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU

TCU DT Ross Blacklock – Photo by: Getty Images

I think Seattle probably ends up getting Jadeveon Clowney back on a short-term deal, so focusing on adding pass rush options on the interior is probably a good idea. Blacklock is inconsistent, but he’s explosive through gaps and flashes the athleticism to become an effective pass rusher in time.

60. Baltimore Ravens: Matt Hennessy, IOL, Temple

I have yet to get deep into Hennessy’s tape, but his Senior Bowl performance didn’t impress me much. Smarter people than I are a fan of him however, and his technically savvy style of play would meld well with what Baltimore is trying to create up front.

61. Tennessee Titans: Terrell Burgess, S/CB, Utah

Tennessee looks like they are going to lose Logan Ryan in free agency, leaving a vacancy in their nickel corner spot. Burgess is one of the more underrated players in the class, with lightning quick feet and outstanding mental processing, both in the slot and as a deep defender.

62. Green Bay Packers: Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State

The Packers are hurting at linebacker, and the Christian Kirksey signing is a pipe dream that he’ll become the player he was several years ago. Harrison’s tape is really strong, and although he may not be an elite athlete, he’ll be an easy upgrade over anything the Packers have boasted at linebacker for some time.

63. Kansas City Chiefs: Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State

A few years ago the Chiefs drafted Dorian O’Daniel to be an undersized coverage linebacker, but it hasn’t really worked out. Davis-Gaither is more of a complete player, and the Chiefs badly need upgraded aggression and athleticism at the linebacker position.

64. Seattle Seahawks: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan

Peoples-Jones was underutilized and therefore unproductive at Michigan, but he has tantalizing physical and athletic traits that will make someone roll the dice on him on day two.

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