Two more divisions to go as we hand out 2020 NFL Draft grades. Up next is the AFC South in what projects to be a really tough division to pick a winner. The division includes Houston, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and Tennessee. Was the 2020 NFL Draft a turning point? Let’s hand out 2020 NFL Draft grades to the AFC South!
Houston Texans: Grade F
- Round 2, Pick No. 40: Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
- Round 3, Pick No. 90: Jonathan Greenard, OLB, Florida
- Round 4, Pick No. 126: Charlie Heck, OT, North Carolina
- Round 4, Pick No. 141: John Reid, CB, Penn State
- Round 5, Pick No. 171: Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island
The Texans traded DeAndre Hopkins for Ross Blacklock. That gets you an F. Do I really need to break down this class further. Jonathan Greenard is the only pick I like and Bill O’Brien didn’t even want to pick him. He tried to trade with the Lions and was caught on camera cursing. Send Billy O to the circus. He’s running this team into the ground.
Indianapolis Colts: Grade C+
- Round 2, Pick No. 34: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
- Round 2, Pick No. 41: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
- Round 3, Pick No. 85: Julian Blackmon, S, Utah
- Round 4, Pick No. 122: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
- Round 5, Pick No. 149: Danny Pinter, G, Ball State
- Round 6, Pick No. 193: Robert Windsor, DT, Penn State
- Round 6, Pick No. 211: Isaiah Rodgers, CB, UMass
- Round 6, Pick No. 212: Dezmon Patmon, WR, Washington State
- Round 6, Pick No. 213: Jordan Glasgow, LB, Michigan
I think that draft was okay. It has some upside to it but there are a lot of picks that feel risky. Let’s start with this. Trading the 13th pick for DeForest Buckner and then paying him $20 million per year isn’t smart business. Buckner is a good play but that’s a ridiculous acquisition cost.
Michael Pittman is a guy I’m not sure what to make of. I think this one could go either way. He’s a big bodied receiver with strong hands. I’m not sure he’s good at separating. Same with Jonathan Taylor. He’s the one back I wouldn’t have drafted. However, I can see him working because of that great offensive line.
My favorite picks were Jacob Eason and Robert Windsor. Eason has a shot to come in and start. He was my third ranked quarterback and his arm plays. Robert Windsor is a high motor cat on the defensive line. I think the Colts got a little better but this is far from the strategy I would have taken.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Grade B-
- Round 1, Pick No. 9: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
- Round 1, Pick No. 20: K’Lavon Chaisson, OLB, LSU
- Round 2, Pick No. 42: Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
- Round 3, Pick No. 73: Davon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State
- Round 4, Pick No. 116: Ben Bartch, OT, St. Johns
- Round 4, Pick No. 137: Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan State
- Round 4, Pick No. 140: Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami
- Round 5, Pick No. 157: Daniel Thomas, S, Auburn
- Round 5, Pick No. 165: Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
- Round 6, Pick No. 189: Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State
- Round 6, Pick No. 206: Tyler Davis, TE, Georgia Tech
- Round 7, Pick No. 223: Chris Claybrooks, CB, Memphis
Here is another draft that I think could go either way. I love the feet of CJ Henderson and I think he will pan out. Is he the next Jalen Ramsey? I doubt it. I hope for their sake it’s if Vernon Hargreaves would have panned out. K’Lavon Chaisson is another. His range of outcomes seem large. It could be two cornerstones on the defense. The ceiling on each player is a question mark for me. Add in Laviska Shenault to this group. What is he? It will depend on what the coaching staff wants to do.
This who draft feels up in the air. The good news is they have a lot of picks. Nothing they did is going to make them a playoff contender. This is a bad football team. Davon Hamilton is one of the nose tackles I like. Ben Bartch is a D3 lineman who looked good at the Senior Bowl but it’s impossible to know. Shaq Quarterman is a downhill linebacker. The other picks, I’m not such a fan of.
Tennessee Titans: Grade C
- Round 1, Pick No. 29: Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
- Round 2, Pick No. 61: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
- Round 3, Pick No. 93: Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State
- Round 5, Pick No. 174: Larrell Murchison, DT, N.C. State
- Round 7, Pick No. 224: Cole McDonald, QB, Hawaii
- Round 7, Pick No. 243: Chris Jackson, S, Marshall
This Titans draft was all about need. When you have a limited number of picks and the first one starts at 29, it’s tough. Isaiah Wilson fills the Jack Conklin spot. I think you can talk yourself into him turning into an Orlando Brown type of player. Am I sold on it? No. He might have a tough time dealing with speed. Wilson is a big body with talent. I’m just not sure this is a first round talent though.
Kristian Fulton really saves this draft. I think he fell because of character stuff. Still, Fulton is a baller. He’s really good in press coverage and was one of the most productive corners in the SEC the last two years. The get him at 61 was fantastic.
Darrynton Evans was a bit high for me in the third round but I get it. They need a Dion Lewis replacement. Larrell Murchison will be a rotational player up front. Cole McDonald I like a lot. That’s a QB I would have gambled on.
