2020 NFL Draft: Grading and analyzing all 255 picks for all 32 teams
Pick Analysis. NFC South. . player. Scouting Report. 1st place. New Orleans Saints. 15
2020 NFL Draft Picks
- 1. Cesar Ruiz, OL, Michigan
- 2. Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin
- 3. Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
- 4. Tommy Stevens, QB, Mississippi State
Top pick: Cesar Ruiz, OL, Michigan
Ruiz was considered perhaps the unanimous top interior offensive lineman in this draft, reminding many of former Iowa Hawkeyes center James Daniels.
After the Saints picked Erik McCoy high in last year’s draft, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ruiz kick over to guard.
This team has built a very strong, home-grown offensive line group.
Steal: LB Zack Baun, Wisconsin – 3rd round
There were some in the NFL Draft community who felt like Zack Baun was a first or second-round pick, but certainly not much worse than a high or mid-second rounder.
He ended up going to New Orleans in the third round, and I love the value there.
Baun can play off the edge as a traditional edge defender but he’s also got the skills to play an off-ball linebacker position and drop into coverage.
Overall Grade: B+
Besides Ruiz and Baun, the Saints got a nice value later in the draft in Adam Trautman, a big and athletic tight end prospect who could wind up being one of the top steals of this class as well.
It was a small, modest class for the Saints and guys who may not draw a lot of headlines, but it was solid.
Tommy Stevens was an interesting seventh-round pick for this team, so we’ll have to see how the Saints decide to deploy him. With the way they have utilized Taysom Hill, it’s better to trust their plan than to question it.
Overall, this is a solid class and the Saints identified a few guys who can help them right away.