The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books which means it’s time to hand out draft grades. We now move to the NFC West which may be the toughest division in football. The Seahawks, Cardinals, 49ers, and Rams all have talent. The 2020 NFL Draft could have been a turning point in a competitive division. Let’s hand out draft grades to the teams in the NFC West.
Arizona Cardinals: Grade A+
- Round 1, Pick No. 8: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
- Round 3, Pick No. 72: Josh Jones, OT, Houston
- Round 4, Pick No. 114: Leki Fotu, DT, Utah
- Round 4, Pick No. 131: Rashard Lawrence II, DT, LSU
- Round 6, Pick No. 202: Evan Weaver, LB, California
- Round 7, Pick No. 222: Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State
First of all, you have to include DeAndre Hopkins here. That was the Cardinals 2nd round pick. Nobody pulled off more of a lopsided trade this offseason. That gives them an A right there. The A+ is what Arizona did after that.
Isaiah Simmons is an alien. Talk about a chess piece to add to the defense. What makes this draft is adding Simmons and still managing a way to pick up Josh Jones. I thought Jones was going in the first round. The Cardinals needed a tackle more than anything. To pick up Josh Jones after already adding Simmons is a huge win.
Everything else is gravy. Leki Fotu can be a run stuffing nose. Good with that. Rashard Lawrence might be something. He was a quality player at LSU. Evan Weaver is another good player. He just can’t run. Eno Benjamin stinks but I’m good with that as a 7th rounder. Good job, Arizona.
Los Angeles Rams: Grade A
- Round 2, Pick No. 52: Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
- Round 2, Pick No. 57: Van Jefferson, WR, Florida
- Round 3, Pick No. 84: Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama
- Round 3, Pick No. 104: Terrell Burgess, S, Utah
- Round 4, Pick No. 136: Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue
- Round 6, Pick No. 199: Jordan Fuller, S, Ohio State
- Round 7, Pick No. 234: Clay Johnston, LB, Baylor
- Round 7, Pick No. 248: Sam Sloman, K, Miami (Ohio)
- Round 7, Pick No. 250: Tremayne Anchrum, G, Clemson
The Los Angeles Rams saved their season. No first round pick because of Jalen Ramsey. The Rams roster was becoming expensive and were suffering multiple free agent casualties. Greg Zuerlein, Todd Gurley, Clay Matthews, Dante Fowler, Nickell Robey-Coleman, and Cory Littleton all gone. This draft class saves their season.
Cam Akers is a starting running back in the NFL with a high ceiling. He will be more productive than Gurley was last year. You can bookmark that. Akers has star potential. Then you cap it off with Van Jefferson who is a route running king. I like that replacement for Cooks. Instantly inject two young and better options. Hell of a job right there.
Then the Rams added two really nice defensive pieces. Terrell Lewis is a baller. He just needs to be healthy. A great gamble there for the Rams. Terrell Burgess was my favorite player in that Utah secondary. Could end up being a gem.
Just a job well done here. Jordan Fuller is another pick I love. They also find a replacement for Greg the leg.
San Francisco 49ers: Grade C-
- Round 1, Pick No. 14: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
- Round 1, Pick No. 25: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
- Round 5, Pick No. 153: Colton McKivitz, OT, West Virginia
- Round 6, Pick No. 190: Charlie Woerner, TE, Georgia
- Round 7, Pick No. 217: Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee
If it weren’t for the DeForest Buckner trade, this draft would be an F. If Javon Kinlaw has future knee issues, this draft is an F. To trade Buckner and wind up with Kinlaw is smart business. Kinlaw is a really good player and looks exactly the way you would create a defensive end in a factory. The problem is the rest of the draft was hideous.
Why are you trading 3 picks to move up 6 spots for Brandon Aiyuk? He has a big wingspan. Is he better than N’Keal Harry? Probably not. Trading multiple picks to move up for a receiver is a dumb practice in a draft like this. It left the 49ers with no picks. You’re not getting anything out of Jauan Jennings either. I can promise you that.
Seattle Seahawks: Grade INC
- Round 1, Pick No. 27: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
- Round 2, Pick No. 48: Darrell Taylor, DE, Tennessee
- Round 3, Pick No. 69: Damien Lewis, G, LSU
- Round 4, Pick No. 133: Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford
- Round 4, Pick No. 144: DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami
- Round 5, Pick No. 148: Alton Robinson, DE, Syracuse
- Round 6, Pick No. 214: Freddie Swain, WR, Florida
- Round 7, Pick No. 251: Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU
I’m done grading the Seahawks drafts. I’m not doing it. I’m convinced John Schneiders sits in his chair and says “what is the weirdest shit we can do?” Then each year he tries to top it. I swear he gets off on this stuff.
Jordyn Brooks in round one? Texas Tech linebacker nobody knows anything about. Yup, sounds good. Darrell Taylor? Sure? Long haired tight end from Stanford. Need one of those. Who looks the most like Chris Carson where I can find a late round running back gem. DeeJay Dallas runs hard, let’s go there. LSU tight end? Yes, but I want the backup.
I’m not doing this anymore. Some of these picks will work out somehow. Some of these picks will be a total failure. They will do enough to remain competitive and have Russell Wilson carry them.
