2020 NFL Draft: Consensus First-Round Picks for all 32 Teams
By John Newman
With Stefon Diggs now in Buffalo, the Vikings replace him with their second pick in the first round. They go with Laviska Shenault, a wide receiver from Colorado who put less than stellar numbers in a less than stellar college program.
Despite injury concerns shortening his Combine workouts, Shenault has a lot of skills that general managers in the NFL are looking for. He can line up at nearly every receiver position, can break tackles like a running back and can outmaneuver defenders at the catch point.
Because he was injured at the Combine, his draft stock has waned a little. But don’t let his late-first round pick status fool you. In two years, we might all be saying Shenault was the best wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Another position being replaced from the 2019 Miami fire sale, Ashtyn Davis has the sideline-to-sideline speed to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick. He can cover all levels of the field but will be especially lethal downfield.
The Dolphins primarily focused on defensive players during this year’s free agency, but an explosive safety that can cover all levels of the field will allow the Dolphins defense to far outpace its 2019 performance.
The end of the 2019 season saw the Seattle Seahawks lose multiple running backs to injury. With Seattle’s very specific offense of focusing on the run on first and second down, the Seahawks could use an all-purpose running back with receiver potential.
D’Andre Swift was the lead running back for Georgia in 2019 and is useful as both an every down runner and a back who can line up for receptions. Watch any Georgia game from 2019 and you’ll see Swift play a large role on the offense.
Besides bringing in 20 rushing touchdowns during his college career Swift also brought in 74 receptions for 666 yards and five touchdowns. With both lead running backs heading into unknown futures this season, the Seahawks should consider bringing in a player who has experience being the focal point of an offense.
When Marshal Yanda retired this offseason, most Baltimore Ravens fans thought it would take a very long time for the team to find a replacement of his level. But Netane Muti is available in the 2020 NFL Draft and he has the potential to be the best guard in the NFL next season.
Muti spent a little too much time injured in college, but if his injuries are behind him the Ravens could consider him as their replacement for Yanda. Besides being a pancake artist, Muti is a smart and ferocious offensive lineman. At 6-foot-3, 310-pounds, Muti will be difficult to push around at the line. This is important considering the amount of running Lamar Jackson does in a given game, the Ravens offensive line will need to be as tough as they come.