NFL Draft grades: Cowboys, Buccaneers get high marks
It’s time to grade every NFL team’s work during the 2020 NFL Draft. Read on to find out whether or not your favorite team finished at the head of the class.
The 2020 NFL Draft is finally complete and it’s time to evaluate what each franchise was able to accomplish. Some front offices went into the event with more resources than others, but each team had enough ammunition to make a big impact on their respective rosters.
As usual, some teams did a better job of acquiring talent than others. This piece will provide an immediate snapshot on how your favorite team performed.
Here are 2020 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams
Dallas Cowboys: A
The Cowboys absolutely nailed the first two days of the draft. CeeDee Lamb falling to them at No. 17 was an absolute gift, but Dallas deserves credit for prioritizing his talent over the team’s needs.
Coming back on Day Two and landing Trevon Diggs and Neville Gallimore only strengthens the team’s grade. Both guys will play meaningful snaps for Mike McCarthy in his first season at the helm in Dallas.
Don’t lose sight of the team’s work on Day 3 either. Tyler Biadasz will help provide valuable depth at center after Travis Frederick’s decision to retire. Bradlee Anae could do the same at defensive end. Add it all up and the Cowboys had the best draft in the NFL.
New York Giants: C-
Another draft for Dave Gettleman and another poor exercise in resource usage for the Giants. Andrew Thomas is a talented tackle, but the team should have traded back from No. 4 to scoop him up.
Xavier McKinney has some fans in the scouting community, but he’s just not enough of a playmaker to merit a second-round pick. Higher upside safeties were definitely available when New York selected them.
Nothing about New York’s work on Day 3 did anything to raise their grade. Cam Brown is an intriguing choice at linebacker but he needs to show he can run much faster than he did at the Combine. Chalk this up as another bad draft from Gettleman and his front office.
Philadelphia Eagles: C
The Eagles threw two of the biggest curveballs of the draft. Jalen Reagor has a lot of athleticism, but there were certainly more polished options available at wide receiver when Philadelphia scooped him up in the first round.
Then came the Jalen Hurts pick in Round 2. That’s a steep price to pay for a backup even if he finds a way to contribute in special packages right away. Do the Eagles know something about Carson Wentz that fans don’t?
Both John Hightower and Quez Watkins improve the team’s speed at wide receier, but there’s a reason both guys lasted until Day Three. Prince Tega Wonogho ups the team’s grade slightly as a quality reserve at offensive tackle. The Eagles just took too many wild swings to earn a good grade.
Washington Redskins: B+
The Redskins draft class will be defined by just how great Chase Young can become. Getting the most talented player in the draft is always good for your final grade. He’ll do wonders for the Washington defense.
Antonio Gibson in Round 3 was a curious reach. He flashed big play potential at Memphis, but it’s unclear how he’ll get the ball at the NFL level. At the very least, the Redskins should have filled a more pressing need with that selection.
In sharp contrast, Keith Ismael could turn into a real steal for the Redskins. Getting a potential starter on the offensive line in Round 5 is good value for any team. Young is the difference maker here, but Washington could have done slightly more to fill around him with more quality.