2020 NFL Draft: Putting a letter grade on all 32 first-round picks
WR. Oklahoma. 17. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. CeeDee Lamb. 123
Now, this is how you do it! We all expected the Dallas Cowboys to go defense here. However, instead of forcing a pick at a position of need, they simply sat back and let the board come to them. CeeDee Lamb was clearly the best player available and the Cowboys did not hesitate to bring him into the mix.
Lamb is not the most explosive wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft class, but he is a fantastic contested-catch player who also makes plays at a high level after the catch. Lamb is naturally elusive in the open field and shows tremendous natural contact balance for a wide receiver. Make no mistake about it, CeeDee Lamb has a chance to be a true number one receiver at the next level. Snagging him at No. 17 is a major win for Dallas.
2020 NFL Draft Grade: A
Austin Jackson. 59. Scouting Report. OT. USC. 18. player. Pick Analysis
I know Austin Jackson has his fans. I just don’t see it with this guy. With long arms and a stout, but athletic frame, Jackson looks like an NFL left tackle. He has some athletic upside and does move well in space at times, but his overall game is a bit of a mess.
Jackson has sloppy footwork and tends to over-reach in pass protection. His hands are slow and inaccurate and he lacks the functional strength of an NFL offensive lineman. If you clean up his footwork and hands, there is some long-term upside in his game, but there is no way I would bet on him in the first round, let alone at No. 18.
The Miami Dolphins have an immediate need at offensive tackle and Jackson simply is not ready to play in the NFL. If he is forced into action as a rookie, it is going to be ugly. Can he recover from that?