Every team's best pick from the 2020 NFL Draft
It'll be years before we truly know how each organization fared in this year's draft, but with consideration to fit, value, and need, it's easy to get excited about at least a few of the picks made.
Here's an early look at every team's best selection from the 2020 NFL Draft.
Bears
Jaylon Johnson - CB, Utah (2nd Round)
An instinctive cover corner with legitimate ball skills, Johnson could have - and should have - been selected prior to when he went No. 50 overall. The Utah product was projected by many experts to go in the first round, and the Bears were able to address a major need with the talented prospect.
Bengals
Tee Higgins - WR, Clemson (2nd Round)
Joe Burrow at No. 1 was a no-brainer, so it's tough to give too much credit there. The first real decision for the Bengals was the opening pick of the second round, and they hit a home run with Higgins. The Clemson star plays the position much like franchise star A.J. Green does and gives Cincinnati's new quarterback a top target to grow with for the foreseeable future.
Bills
Zack Moss - RB, Utah (3rd Round)
Without many other needs on the roster, it seemed obvious Buffalo would target an early-down back to complement Devin Singletary. Moss will be a perfect fit for that role, and getting him in the third round after upgrading the defensive line in the second is great value.
Broncos
Jerry Jeudy - WR, Alabama (1st Round)
The Broncos made plenty of good picks throughout the draft, but none will do more to shape the future of the team than Jeudy. John Elway and Co. were among the Day 1 winners by landing arguably the top receiver in the class without having to trade up. Jeudy and Courtland Sutton have the potential to be one of the NFL's best pass-catching tandems.
Browns
Grant Delpit - S, LSU (2nd Round)
Cleveland probably didn't expect a safety of Delpit's caliber to be available in the second round, but you can bet the Browns were thrilled when it worked out that way. He has the rare coverage ability to be an impact player wherever he lines up, providing a major upgrade to a secondary that needed it in the worst way.
Buccaneers
Tristan Wirfs - OT, Iowa (1st Round)
Tampa Bay's coaching staff must have been elated when Wirfs fell into their lap. The former Hawkeye can slide right into the starting lineup and is a perfect fit for a team looking to protect Tom Brady.
Cardinals
Isaiah Simmons - LB/S, Clemson (1st Round)
Josh Jones in the third round was an excellent value pick, but Simmons can truly take Arizona's defense to the next level. Kliff Kingsbury's offense should improve with Kyler Murray in his second year under center, so the Cardinals will need the other side of the ball to keep pace. With an ability to play at a high level all over the field, Simmons could go down as one of the most important selections of this entire draft.
Chargers
Kenneth Murray - LB, Oklahoma (1st Round)
It perhaps wasn't ideal for the Chargers' draft as a whole to trade up for this pick, but the only thing that's kept this defensive group from joining the NFL's elite tier is a leader in the middle. Murray's attacking style and sideline-to-sideline range will be put to good use in L.A.
Chiefs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire - RB, LSU (1st Round)
It's rare a team receives overwhelmingly positive reviews for taking a running back in the first round, but the Chiefs don't have many other glaring weaknesses and Edwards-Helaire is a perfect fit. He's the type of elite pass-catching back who can take the Kansas City offense to even greater heights, impossible as that may seem.
Colts
Michael Pittman Jr. - WR, USC (2nd Round)
The Colts passed on an opportunity to get one of the top receivers in this class when they traded the No. 13 overall pick for DeForest Buckner. However, Indianapolis might have done even better by getting such a major upgrade on the defensive line and still coming away with Pittman in the second round. He's an impressive route-runner for a player of his size and should make an immediate impact in the Colts' offense.
Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb - WR, Oklahoma (1st Round)
Dallas arguably had the best draft of any team, and we considered multiple picks for this list. Ultimately, it was difficult to argue against the Cowboys' first-rounder. Lamb surprisingly fell to them at No. 17, and he'll add a dynamic presence to an already-dangerous scoring unit. Dak Prescott must be excited.
Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa - QB, Alabama (1st Round)
It seemed for some time that the Dolphins were overthinking their first-round pick and could go in a different direction. In the end, they simply were creating the narrative that Tagovailoa might not be their guy. Miami deserves credit for landing one of the two elite quarterback prospects in this class while resisting the urge to trade up.
Eagles
K'Von Wallace - S, Clemson (4th Round)
Howie Roseman and Co. found plenty of value on Day 3, which was headlined by their first pick. Wallace is a versatile and athletic defender who could have been drafted a round earlier. He brings talent to a weak spot on Philadelphia's roster and could play significant snaps as a rookie.
Falcons
Marlon Davidson - DL, Auburn (2nd Round)
Davidson is a great fit for the Falcons' defense. The powerful lineman can set the edge on early downs and kick inside in obvious passing situations. Atlanta was keen on adding an interior rusher next to Grady Jarrett.
Giants
Xavier McKinney - S, Alabama (2nd Round)
The Giants were thought to be in the market for an impact defensive back early in the second round, but they had to be surprised when the top safety fell to them at No. 36. McKinney should have been a first-round selection, and his versatile game will pair well with Jabrill Peppers in New York's secondary.
Jaguars
Laviska Shenault - WR, Colorado (2nd Round)
Jacksonville played the first round extremely well, addressing premium positions on the defensive side with C.J. Henderson at No. 9 and K'Lavon Chaisson at No. 20. The Jaguars then cemented their position among the elite drafts when they nabbed Shenault in the second round. The Colorado star is a fantastic athlete both with the ball in his hands and when it comes to stretching the field, and he could have been a first-round pick if not for such a loaded receiver class.
Jets
Denzel Mims - WR, Baylor (2nd Round)
Mims was getting first-round buzz after a ridiculous combine performance confirmed his rare speed and short-area quickness. After opting to address the offensive line with their first-round pick, and then trading down in the second to stock up on picks, the Jets landed Mims in what has to be labeled as a steal.
Lions
Julian Okwara - DE, Notre Dame (3rd Round)
Okwara is still recovering from a foot injury that ended his 2019 campaign, but he offers length, power, and explosive athleticism off the edge. Detroit was desperate to add another talented rusher opposite Trey Flowers and it managed to do so in the third round.
Packers
Josiah Deguara - TE, Cincinnati (3rd Round)
The Packers were among the least successful organizations in the draft, but Deguara could develop into a versatile offensive player. A solid run-blocker and crafty route-runner, the tight end offers intrigue at a position Green Bay needed to address this offseason.
Panthers
Troy Pride Jr. - CB, Notre Dame (4th Round)
Carolina made a number of upgrades to its defense last week, but Pride could certainly be its most valuable selection. The former Fighting Irish defender offers the necessary speed, athleticism, and man-cover skills to earn a starting job early in his career. Pride may end up being one of the draft's top Day 3 steals.
Patriots
Josh Uche - LB, Michigan (2nd Round)
One of the only things that held back Uche from the first-round conversation is his size, as he's not quite a fit for an every-down role on the edge. That will be no issue for the Patriots, though, as he should step into the hybrid role Kyle Van Noy played before departing for big money as a free agent. Uche could be next in a long line of players who end up a steal for New England, much to the chagrin of the rest of the league.
Raiders
Amik Robertson - CB, Louisiana Tech (4th Round)
Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock did some excellent work in adding playmakers to the offense during the first three rounds, but their best pick came with their final selection. Robertson may be this class' best nickel corner, which is a position that's become increasingly important with offenses so often utilizing three-plus receivers.
Rams
Terrell Burgess - S, Utah (3rd Round)
Los Angeles made four selections on Day 2, and Burgess could end up being its best. Teams desire versatile safeties who can cover, and the Utah product certainly fits the bill. Burgess can play near the line of scrimmage as a slot defender or as a deep-lying safety, and it wouldn't be shocking to see him earn a significant role as a rookie.
Ravens
Justin Madubuike - DL, Texas A&M (3rd Round)
The Ravens were unable to fill their need on the edge and instead opted to further upgrade their strength on the inside. Madubuike - considered by some to be a borderline first-round prospect heading into the draft - brings plenty of interior pass-rush upside to a group that already includes Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe.
Redskins
Chase Young - DE, Ohio State (1st Round)
Young is the easy pick, but he's also the right one as arguably the premier prospect of the entire class. The Redskins changed the identity of their pass rush and can evaluate Dwayne Haskins for another year while their defense improves.
Saints
Cesar Ruiz - OL, Michigan (1st Round)
With only four total selections, New Orleans made its best decision in the opening frame. Ruiz doesn't fill an immediate need for the Saints, but he'll boost both the run and pass games as a rookie starter. The versatile blocker gives the win-now Saints the best chance to make a run at the Lombardi Trophy.
Seahawks
Damien Lewis - G, LSU (3rd Round)
Seattle - perhaps unsurprisingly - made a handful of off-the-board selections, but Lewis was a solid pick in the third round. With Justin Britt and D.J. Fluker no longer on the roster, the LSU product can compete for a starting job as a rookie and is a great fit for the team's power run game.
Steelers
Anthony McFarland - RB, Maryland (4th Round)
The Steelers had to find a dynamic running mate for the physical James Conner, and they were able to do so with McFarland in the fourth. While he won't be an every-down back, the Maryland product could be a big-play threat for the Steelers' offense when it spreads things out and creates opportunities for him in space.
Texans
Jonathan Greenard - Edge, Florida (3rd Round)
Houston needed to address its issues on the edge. The Texans didn't force it with their first pick, though, and instead upgraded the interior with Ross Blacklock in the second round. They then got a potential Day 1 starter in Greenard toward the end of the third, which was excellent value.
Titans
Kristian Fulton - CB, LSU (2nd Round)
Fulton was arguably the top player in the second tier of cornerbacks behind Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson, and he was considered by many to be a first-round lock. His slide deep into the second was one of the more puzzling developments of the draft, but the Titans have to be thrilled, as they made a significant move in addressing a major need in the defensive backfield.
Vikings
Cameron Dantzler - CB, Mississippi State (3rd Round)
The Vikings added a number of high-upside prospects, but to land Dantzler with the 89th overall pick provided a ton of value. The tall cornerback fits Mike Zimmer's defense and profiles as an intriguing long-term complement to first-round pick Jeff Gladney. With excellent ball skills, Dantzler is a few small tweaks away from being an effective starter.
49ers
Javon Kinlaw - DT, South Carolina (1st Round)
John Lynch drafted only two players in the opening 150 picks, but Kinlaw has the potential to be one of the most valuable first-rounders. The Niners dealt Buckner to the Colts in March and used the pick on the explosive defensive lineman - not a bad long-term replacement plan.