2020 NFL Draft: Day Two IDP Review
Day two is often the most fascinating part of the draft where you can find great value. Here’s a run-through of picks you need to know about. Note that corners are not included for now because that’s not how you should be investing your rookie picks.
Xavier McKinney, S NYG
With Jabril Peppers and McKinney, the Giants suddenly have two very versatile safeties. Don’t waste your time trying to work out who is the strong or free safety. You’re going to see them used more interchangeably than that in Patrick Graham’s defense. McKinney has the potential for big IDP weeks but does not look like a top prospect.
Kyle Dugger, S NE
Talking about interesting safety usage… Dugger slots into a Patriots safety room with very interesting pieces. Dugger is not going to play 1,000 snaps and be an instant IDP hit but he’s one to watch and worth adding to taxi squads and very deep rosters.
Yetur Gross-Matos, DE CAR
The Panthers’ defense is very hard to predict given Phil Snow’s lack of NFL information. We need more information on how Gross-Matos will be used but he has the potential to be a significant contributor straight away.
Ross Blacklock, DT HOU
Blacklock will step in as DJ Reader’s replacement at nose tackle. He’s unlikely to be IDP-relevant in most leagues.
Grant Delpit, S CLE
With Delpit and Karl Joseph, it looks like the Browns are planning on using a lot of two-deep cover shells this year. He’s an interesting player but he’s very unlikely to be the sort of IDP-friendly box safety that demands rookie pick investment. Let someone else overspend based on his name recognition.
Antoine Winfield Jr, S TB
The Bucs have a few viable safeties but no alpha. Winfield has the capability to be that guy. He’s a livewire player with aggression and control. Expect 700+ snaps and a good chance to be a top-30 safety as a rookie.
Marlon Davidson, DL ATL
A huge part of Davidson’s value will come from the Falcons’ evolving scheme. They used an odd front for much of last season. This has a direct impact on Davidson’s production. Grady Jarrett will again be the primary interior rusher, but Davidson is an interesting very late rookie pick candidate. And I do mean very late. He is no more than a seventh rounder.
Darrell Taylor, DE SEA
Taylor is a fascinating player. He is all juice and attitude at 256 pounds. He’ll compete for snaps at the Leo position with last year’s first-round pick LJ Collier. He’ll likely have some good weeks and is a very nice pick in best-ball leagues but unlikely to be a full-time player which limits his value.
AJ Epenesa, DE BUF
Epenesa is a talented player but the Bills defense is deep and talented. He’ll be competing with Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison – although Epenesa is a different type of edge player. Expect 500-600 snaps for all three players.
Raekwon Davis, DT MIA
Brian Flores does not run a classic 3-tech/nose tackle scheme, just like any other coach from the Patriots tree. Davis is likely to rotate in but play no more than 500 snaps. He’s not an IDP target outside very deep leagues (yours is very likely not deep enough).
Josh Uche, LB NE
Uche walks in as a ready-made Kyle Van Noy replacement in the Patriots scheme that really does use legitimate OLBs. He’ll play the vast majority of his snaps on the edge and likely see some success – but not consistently as an IDP unless you play in a true position league where he can be categorized with other edge players.
Willie Gay Jr., LB KC
The Chiefs defense biggest issue in the last two years has been their lack of coverage LBs. It was not that big a problem, clearly, but the biggest they had. Gay has the potential to be the top LB on this team immediately. It will be surprising if he does not outshine Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson in that respect at least.
Jeremy Chinn, S CAR
Chinn should walk into the strong safety role on the Panthers – because he has very little viable competition. He’s definitely a candidate for a top-36 pick.
Logan Wilson, LB CIN
Wilson walks into what was the worst LB corps in the NFL last year. He should see significant playing time as a rookie behind Germaine Pratt. Expect 500 snaps as a baseline.
Julian Okwara, DE DET
Okwara is a plus pass rusher but needs to show he can play in other phases. He’s not stout enough yet to be a full-time hand-in-the-dirt end. And he’s not shown enough in coverage to be a Van Noy style edge LB. Expect him to be a situational pass rusher as a rookie on limited snaps.
Ashtyn Davis, S NYJ
Davis is a really interesting player with outstanding rage. He’s a natural free safety in this scheme but will have to complete with Marcus Maye who currently owns that spot (and is a free agent after 2020). Expect a low profile rookie season but long-term potential to start – even f he’s unlikely to ever be a top IDP.
Brandon Jones, S MIA
Jones may be the best Dolphins safety on the roster. Last season they resorted to starting CB Eric Rowe there late in the season. Jones projects to a Patrick Chung-like role, which sadly is never as good in IDP terms as it could be. Expect some useful weeks but a struggle to be a top-24 safety.
Justin Madubuike, DT BAL
Madubuike joins a stacked line in Baltimore. He’ll develop behind the likes of Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe and Brandon Williams but he’s not yet worth adding in 90% of leagues.
Davon Hamilton, DT JAX
Hamilton will play nose. He’s only an IDP worth owning in leagues where specialist noses are valuable (i.e. not very many).
Zack Baun, LB NO
Baun is a really interesting prospect. He was primarily a pass rusher as a college athlete, but he will be moving to LB as a pro. Expect him to compete for the Sam job on the Saints, which is unlikely to be a reliably productive spot.
Jabari Zuniga, DE NYJ
Getting drafted by the Jets is normally not a good thing but given they have the worst edge situation in the NFL Zuniga has a solid chance to earn some playing time. 400 snaps seems realistic.
Neville Gallimore, DT DAL
Gallimore is a fun prospect. He’s a big man who sends bodies flying as he rampages after QBs. Unfortunately, he lands on a stacked defensive interior and he’s unlikely to be an impact IDP in the short term.
Terrell Lewis, OLB LAR
The top edge rusher on the Rams appears to be Leonard Floyd, which likely tells you what you need to know. Lewis is a specialist pass rusher and is unlikely to ever win a full-time job, but he can be successful as a specialist. Expect 300-400 snaps as a rookie.
Julian Blackmon, S IND
Blackmon is strictly a backup/developmental prospect at this stage. He’ll specifically backup Malik Hooker. Given Hooker’s lack of reliability so far, he does have the chance to get on the field, but you shouldn’t count on it.
Anfernee Jennings, DE NE
Jennings will have a fight to win a spot as a rotational piece on the edge. You shouldn’t expect any significant production as a rookie.
Jordan Elliott, DT CLE
Elliott has a lot of hype behind him as a prospect and lands in a potentially productive spot. He’ll be behind Larry Ogunjobi and Sheldon Richardson but expect him to be the number three tackle and likely start games at some point.
Jonathan Greenard, EDGE HOU
Expect Greenard to back up JJ Watt, Whitney Mercilus and Brennan Scarlett as a rookie.
McTelvin Agim, DT KC
Agim is raw but talented. He’ll have the opportunity to develop and back up Chris Jones.
Jacob Phillips, LB CLE
Phillips showed he’s a great tackler on that marvelous LSU 2019 team, but major questions remain over his ability to play in coverage. He’ll be a backup as a rookie.
Malik Harrison, LB BAL
Harrison has limitations as he has not proved himself as a coverage player. But he lands in a very good position to secure significant playing time as a Raven.
Tanner Muse, LB LV
Muse was a box safety in college but will play LB in the NFL. He’ll be a backup initially but shows the Raiders’ continuing commitment to more modern linebackers in 2020.
Alex Highsmith, OLB PIT
Highsmith will compete to be the primary backup for TJ Watt and Bud Dupree.
Davion Taylor, LB PHI
Taylor is an extremely athletic project at the position but given how thin the Eagles are, he could easily win playing time as a rookie. He is well worth a late pick.
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