DLF Staff 2020 Rookie Mock Draft

Joseph Nammour Posted On November 27, 2019

The DLF cohort of writers got together in our Slack channel to conduct a two-round 2020 rookie mock draft. This was a 1QB and PPR draft. Writers could not make back-to-back picks and could make a maximum of three picks per round.

All analysis under the picks is mine. Keep in mind that landing spot is critically important for how these drafts will play out in April and beyond, so each player will be looked at through the same lens for now.

1.01: Jonathan Taylor, RB Wisconsin (Austin DeWitt)

1.02: D’Andre Swift, RB Georgia (Ryan McDowell)

1.03: Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama (Ryan Parish)

You truly can’t go wrong with any of the top three choices seen here in this draft. Taylor and Swift seem to be the two near-consensus choices as the best running backs in the class. Taylor is probably the better pure runner, while Swift is the more complete back that is a weapon as a receiver. Taylor has more tread on his tires after serving as Wisconsin’s bellcow for three consecutive, incredibly productive seasons. Swift, however, is more fresh, having split a backfield with multiple NFL backs each season. Both are projected first-round NFL Draft picks, and first-round rookie running backs are the easiest bets to gain value off their initial investment.

Jerry Jeudy is most people’s favorite receiver prospect in this class, and I get it. Jeudy is an incredibly smooth route runner with strong hands, and he’s a strong bet to be drafted in the top ten picks of the draft. He likely will not fall much further than this in your rookie drafts, but if he does, trade up and pounce.

1.04: Travis Etienne, RB Clemson (Tom Burroughs)

1.05: Cam Akers, RB Florida State (Tan Ho)

1.06: CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma (Austin DeWitt)

The one knock on Travis Etienne entering the year was his lack of comfort and production as a pass-catcher. Then, he went out this season and improved in that area, but his stock seems to have dropped. However, this is more due to the play of the others in this class bolstering their impressive resumes. Etienne has elite acceleration and plus balance through contact, and should be another running back selected early on in April’s draft.

Cam Akers is a tremendously talented player who hasn’t been blessed with as fortunate of a situation as others in the class. He has consistently suffered from poor offensive line play (at best), but is someone who projects as a better pro than collegiate runner. He’s still learning the nuances of the position after playing wildcat quarterback in high school, but he’s athletic and profiles as a three-down weapon. Akers’ upside is sky-high, but I was a bit surprised to see him taken before Lamb.

CeeDee Lamb is, in my opinion, the best wide receiver in college football. To be able to get this caliber of player at 1.06 is truly absurd, but this shows just how deep this class when it comes to elite talent. Lamb is a near lock to go in the first round of the draft, and combines outstanding body control and RAC ability with strong hands at the catch point. His game is reminiscent of DeAndre Hopkins.

1.07: Henry Ruggs III, WR Alabama (Matt Price)

1.08: Chuba Hubbard, RB Oklahoma State (Kyle Holden)

1.09: JK Dobbins, RB Ohio State (Ryan Parish)

1.10: Tee Higgins, WR Clemson (Ryan McDowell)

1.11: Jalen Reagor, WR TCU (Ray Garvin)

Henry Ruggs isn’t a complete receiver, but he has one trump card — and that is truly elite speed. This should see him drafted in the first round, and it’s likely that a team will select him and plan to build their offense around his game-changing speed, a la Tyreek Hill. I wouldn’t have Ruggs at 1.07 right now, but it won’t be a surprise to see him here after he destroys the NFL Combine.

Chuba Hubbard has been one of this season’s biggest risers after taking over the backfield vacated by Justice Hill. Hubbard may end up returning to school, but he’s a blazer at the running back position. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and has home run hitting ability. Hubbard has the size to be a three-down back, but even if he isn’t granted that opportunity, he has the speed and skill set to be an impact player on limited touches.

Dobbins is one of the more complete backs in this year’s group, and has answered all questions from his down sophomore campaign by rebounding nicely this season. Dobbins looks significantly faster than he did a year ago, and he should see day two draft capital. He is yet another in this group with three-down ability.

Tee Higgins can tend to be a forgotten man among his 2020 cohort, but he’s 6’4” with terrific ball skills and good athleticism. He excels at tracking the ball downfield almost always comes down with the football when it’s in his vicinity. Higgins is likely a second-round NFL draft pick.

1.12: Eno Benjamin, RB Arizona State (Austin DeWitt)

2.01: Tyler Johnson, WR Minnesota (Matt Price)

2.02: Laviska Shenault, WR Colorado (Tan Ho)

Eno Benjamin is a fluid running back with soft hands. He doesn’t have any elite traits, but he’s a very well-rounded prospect with few holes in his game. Benjamin has good agility but isn’t the best athlete overall, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see his stock take a bit of a hit after the Combine.

Tyler Johnson has been a favorite of a lot of people for a long time. His route running pops on film and he’s been an analytics darling for years due to an early breakout age and some of the best market share and dominator ratings in college football over the past couple seasons. However, the fact that he was invited to the Shrine Game instead of the Senior Bowl is a major cause for concern. There have been very few impact wide receivers for fantasy purposes at the NFL level that attended the Shrine Game.

Laviska Shenault is one of the more unique talents at receiver in this year’s class. He can do things that others in this class cannot. Shenault is a versatile weapon — a Cordarrelle Patterson-like playmaker with the ball in his hands – that is a bit more refined as a receiver. The knock on Shenault is his health. He seems to constantly be banged up and rarely plays at full health. He is an absolute steal at 2.02 if he can manage to stay on the field.

2.03: Bryan Edwards, WR South Carolina (Kyle Holden)

2.04: Najee Harris, RB Alabama (Dwight Peebles)

2.05: Tylan Wallace, WR Oklahoma State (Ryan McDowell)

Bryan Edwards broke out at 17 years old. 17! He shared the field with Deebo Samuel throughout his career, and many thought he would declare alongside Samuel after last season. Edwards will still be a young rookie after returning for his senior campaign and is one of the more underrated and overlooked players in this class.

Najee Harris is a complete back that is packaged up in a massive frame. Harris is more agile and fluid than his size would indicate. His Alabama pedigree will get him drafted on the second day of the draft.

Wallace is one of my favorite receivers in the class, but he suffered an unfortunate ACL tear a few weeks back. A 2018 Biletnikoff finalist, Wallace seems set on returning to school, but would be a rock-solid selection in the middle of the second round if he declares.

2.06: Kylin Hill, RB Mississippi State (Tan Ho)

2.07: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB LSU (Ray Garvin)

2.08: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB Vanderbilt (Dwight Peebles)

Kylin Hill is another running back that seems to be flying under-the-radar a bit. He is a violent runner with good burst and above-average receiving ability. Hill does have an injury history of note, but his production this year on the ground and through the air has been impressive.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (CEH) has been impressive all season, but he became a household name a couple weeks ago after tearing up Alabama’s defense. CEH is a stouter running back, but he has solid burst, good contact balance, and a devastating spin move. He’s more of a weapon as a pass catcher than most would expect from a running back of his stature, but he’s a well-rounded player climbing draft boards. He reminds me of a more athletic version of early-career CJ Anderson.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn is explosive. He has prototypical size and is a back that excels in pass protection, which should help him play on all three downs. I don’t think he’s the most natural pass-catcher, so this is something he should continue to work on, although he has improved both his skills and his production this season. He’s one of the older prospects in this draft as a redshirt senior who transferred from Illinois after the 2016 season.

2.09: Joe Burrow, QB LSU (Tan Ho)

2.10: Devonta Smith, WR Alabama (Ryan McDowell)

2.11: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR Liberty (Ray Garvin)

2.12: Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama (Austin DeWitt)

Joe Burrow has improved his stock more than any other player in college football this season. With the injury to Tua Tagovailoa, Burrow has a very strong chance to be the first overall pick in the draft (or at least the first quarterback taken if Chase Young goes first). Burrow is a strong candidate for the 1.01 selection in superflex or 2QB rookie drafts as well, though I think I’d prefer Swift.

Devonta Smith has been lights out this year as one of Tua’s favorite weapons, and is actually outproducing star teammates Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs, both of whom were taken at least one full round before him in this mock. Smith is a good athlete and route runner and he, like Burrow, is rapidly ascending.

Antonio Gandy-Golden (AGG) has been one of the most productive receivers in college football for multiple seasons now, and is second in the nation in receiving yards this year. AGG is 6’4” with a lanky frame and has consistently dominated his competition at Liberty, but his level of competition may simultaneously be the reason why he may not see the draft capital he deserves. I think he will test as an average athlete, so I was surprised to see him selected in this draft, but his talent merits the consideration here for sure.

Everyone knows the name Tua Tagovailoa. Most draft analysts consider him the best quarterback in this class, but his hip injury clouds his outlook a bit. He appears to be slated for a full recovery long-term, but is not expected to play in 2020. This should create a discount that you can take advantage of in your drafts.

Because of how deep this class is, I thought it would be worthwhile to write up a third round to this mock as well. Players listed below were my selections and not those of the group.

3.01: Tamorrion Terry, WR Florida State

3.02: Michael Pittman, WR USC

3.03: Trey Sermon, RB Oklahoma

3.04: JD Spielman, WR Nebraska

3.05: Hunter Bryant, TE Washington

3.06: Jalen Hurts, QB Oklahoma

3.07: AJ Dillon, RB Boston College

3.08: Devin Duvernay, WR Texas

3.09: Justin Herbert, QB Oregon

3.10: Isaiah Hodgins, WR Oregon State

3.11: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE Missouri

3.12: Anthony McFarland, RB Maryland