2020 NFL draft: Grading every pick of the second and third rounds
Joe Burrow got a weapon he faced in the national title game right off the bat. Jalen Hurts wound up going higher than a lot of people may have thought. And there were plenty of other surprises as the 2020 NFL draft continued Friday.
NFL draft second round grades
33) Cincinnati Bengals: WR Tee Higgins, Clemson — The Bengals explored a trade, but ultimately get Joe Burrow some help with a long receiver who should have been a first-rounder (in our minds). Higgins grew up in Tennessee as a Bengals fan — and an A.J. Green fan, especially — so this is a fascinating union here. Cincinnati has some weapons to run a lot of four-wide formations. Grade: A-.
34) Indianapolis Colts: WR Michael Pittman Jr., USC — The Colts make their 2020 draft debut with a fantastic pick. Forget our grade on Pittman (we had him 51st) — we just didn’t appreciate him enough. He’s a big downfield weapon who could end up being one of the four or five best receivers in this loaded class. Philip Rivers is used to big targets, and he’ll love the son of the former Bucs running back. Grade: A-.
35) Detroit Lions: RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia — The Lions wanted to add juice to the offense, and Swift is exactly that. Can he stay healthy? My only concern. Swift isn’t built to be a workhorse but can be a great complement to Kerryon Johnson and a 15-touch-per-game weapon right away. Grade: A-.
36) New York Giants: S Xavier McKinney, Alabama — Pass rusher figured to be high on the Giants' Day 2 priority list, and McKinney isn’t the big hitter they got in the same round (and from the same school) with Landon Collins a few years ago. Still, McKinney is our highest-rated safety in this class, well-rounded and savvy and a future leader on defense for new coach Joe Judge. Grade: B+.
37) New England Patriots: S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne — A fascinating pick by Bill Belichick after trading out of Round 1, adding a highly athletic defender with a nose for the ball — either at safety or nickel linebacker — and a special-teams performer. He’s quiet, driven and relatively untested coming from the Division II ranks. This is not your typical Belichick Round 2 safety reach. Grade: B.
38) Carolina Panthers: EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State — Gross-Matos has some really intriguing pass-rush skill, even if his game isn’t yet refined. He's a good athlete and could be a really nice player, especially lining up next to Derrick Brown and across from Brian Burns. Matt Rhule is building his new team on the defensive side of the ball first and will try to win games 17-13 until he has this thing built up. Grade: B.
39) Miami Dolphins: OG Robert Hunt, Louisiana-Lafayette — Hunt is an ornery blocker who seeks to bury people, yet he likely will need just a little technical work before he’s a finished product. Still, this is exactly the kind of hard-nosed, position-versatile player whom Brian Flores wants on his team. Hunt can lead a power run game and help block for Tua in time. Grade: C+.
40) Houston Texans: DT Ross Blacklock, TCU — The pick Houston acquired for DeAndre Hopkins turns into a defensive lineman with some intrigue. Blacklock possesses good physical traits and occasionally flashes first-round ability, but wasn’t as consistent last season as you’d hope. Still, he can play multiple spots on the line and likely had his development held back a bit by a 2018 Achilles injury. Grade: C+.
41) Indianapolis Colts (from Browns): RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin — GM Chris Ballard moves up to Cleveland’s spot and makes some noise by grabbing a 2,000-yard rusher with impeccable character, speed and work ethic. Taylor’s fumbling issues must be fixed, and he might never be much of a receiving weapon. But he should claim the lead rushing role in the Indy backfield and give this offense another dimension. Grade: B.
42) Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado — This could be an A grade in a few years. Or, if Shenault’s injury history continues, far lower. You can line him up inside or out, in the backfield and even as a “Wildcat” QB, which might suit the Jaguars' needs on offense. Shenault has electric ability if he stays healthy. We’re quietly optimistic he can help in some way. Grade: B.
43) Chicago Bears: TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame — The Bears stay local with this pick. Kmet really only played one full season for the Irish, but the occasional college pitcher has some interesting potential, even if Kmet never will be a game breaker and needs work on his blocking. Expect a lot of “12 personnel” with Jimmy Graham, giving whoever wins the QB battle two big targets. Grade: C+.
44) Cleveland Browns: S Grant Delpit, LSU — It’s the second year in a row the Browns have drafted an LSU DB in Round 2 who was mocked high in Round 1 to start the season. Delpit’s tackling issues have become a major talking point, and his health concerns can’t be overlooked. But he has range and ball skills and should be a really nice addition to the Cleveland secondary. Grade: B.
45) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota — How about this safety run, you guys?! The Bucs now have drafted seven DBs since 2016, and they have a similar style of player there already in Mike Edwards, who had a solid rookie season. But Winfield can be a deep safety and a solid nickel, and has the playmaking chops, toughness and intelligence to upgrade that secondary. Grade: B-.
46) Denver Broncos: WR KJ Hamler, Penn State — The Broncos are doubling up on wideouts after taking Jerry Jeudy in Round 1 and doubling down on Drew Lock’s ability to get the ball vertical. Hamler had drop issues last season, but he’s a deep threat who can split safeties and hit home runs. He's also a good returner. Interesting decision here. Grade: B-.
47) Atlanta Falcons: DT Marlon Davidson, Auburn — Davidson was a bit too bulky at the combine, and his testing suffered a bit. But he’s a power end or a possible 3-technique who keeps his motor running and helps one of Atlanta’s thinner spots on the roster. Just don’t expect much in terms of sacks, and Davidson should play a key role on a refurbished Falcons D-line. Grade: C+.
48) Seattle Seahawks (from Jets): EDGE Darrell Taylor, Tennessee — Seattle slides up into this spot (and pays up plenty to do so) to grab a fascinating pass rusher who has some very Seahawks-y traits and edginess. We viewed him more as a third-round pick, but we can see why they felt the need to add some juice at this position. Will he produce? Taylor wasn’t great last year after many felt he was poised for a breakout season. Grade: C.
49) Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame — The receiver we felt was a potentially perfect second-round choice was Michael Pittman Jr. But with Pittman gone, the Steelers grab a close facsimile in Claypool, who has elite athletic traits, great special-teams value and good upside. Call him a tight end or receiver; it doesn’t matter. He’s a big target with jumping ability to win 50-50 battles downfield. Grade: B-.
50) Chicago Bears: CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah — Really good value here for GM Ryan Pace, who potentially landed a starting corner mid-Round 2. He actually reminds me a bit of Prince Amukamara, whom Johnson essentially replaces. Johnson might not be a special corner, but this feels like a smart pick here for the Bears. Grade: B.
51) Dallas Cowboys: CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama — The Cowboys are blowtorching the draft. Diggs was likely one of three or four options at No. 17, so for them to get him here is theft. Diggs’ consistency isn’t there yet, but he has a well-built and long frame and could be a really good player if he cleans up his sometimes sloppy technique. The practice battles vs. CeeDee Lamb will be fun to watch. Grade: A-.
52) Los Angeles Rams: RB Cam Akers, Florida State — It’s the fifth RB the Rams have drafted since 2014, but we’re willing to overlook it because Akers is one of our favorites at the position. He was held back by FSU’s bad offensive line and unimaginative scheme, which won't be an issue in L.A. His quick feet, receiving chops and “Wildcat” QB skills make Akers a fun playmaker for Sean McVay. But did they really need him? It’s a debate. Grade: B-.
53) Philadelphia Eagles: QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma — Our first stunner of Round 2. Is this a referendum on Carson Wentz? It’s hard to know how to read this. But Hurts can contribute as a specialty-package performer until he’s ready — or until Wentz gets hurt, if that happens again. The Eagles had done a lot of work on QBs in this draft class, but we frankly didn’t expect this here. The grade reflects the value of the pick, not Hurts’ upside, which really is intriguing. Grade: C.
54) Buffalo Bills: EDGE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa — Welcome to the draft, Bills. They take a player whom we mocked to them in Round 1 prior to the Stefon Diggs trade. Epenesa can be a base end and win over Buffalo fans with his high motor and knack for getting to the QB. The Bills are building a nice little wall. Forget the poor combine numbers; Epenesa is a steal here. Grade: A.
55) Baltimore Ravens: RB J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State — Love the value here, getting a player who should have gone 15-20 picks earlier. Dobbins is a hard-nosed runner and a perfect replacement for Mark Ingram in time — in fact, that’s the player he reminds me of most. Lamar Jackson has another toy to play with. Grade: B+.
56) Miami Dolphins: DT Raekwon Davis, Alabama — The Dolphins dip back into the Tuscaloosa well for talent. Davis had a big 2017 season but never really looked the same since then. He’s likely to be a dirty-work grunt inside next to Christian Wilkins, especially if the Dolphins run more odd fronts. Davis is a solid run defender, but doesn’t have a whole lot of upside despite a massive, long frame. Grade: C.
57) Los Angeles Rams: WR Van Jefferson, Florida — Jefferson will be ready for the league, given that his dad is the Jets’ WR coach and a former 10-year pro. But again, the Rams dip into a position where they’re in somewhat solid shape. We like Jefferson as a player; he works crisp routes and has good hands. But the fit and value are a little suspect in our eyes. Grade: C.
58) Minnesota Vikings: OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State — It appears Trent Williams isn’t going to Minnesota after all. Cleveland looks and plays a little like Brian O’Neill, whom the Vikings took in Round 2 two years ago. But they needed the talent at the position, and Cleveland is likely going to play better than he did last year now that he's recovered from the ankle injury that hindered him early on. He has played both tackle spots and is a really nice athlete. Solid pick. Grade: B-.
59) New York Jets: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor — Passing on a WR in Round 1 pays off for the Jets, as Mims surprisingly becomes the 13th wideout taken. He’s clearly more talented than that, and in a normal year he might have been a late first-round candidate. Mims does round out his routes, and his hands are a bit shaky at times. But he’s a jump-ball specialist who can help Sam Darnold downfield. Give Mims time and he could be a really nice addition. Grade: B+.
60) New England Patriots (from Ravens): EDGE Josh Uche, Michigan — Trading up with Baltimore, the Patriots make their second pick in Round 2. And it’s their second fascinating defensive addition in Uche, who brings pass-rush juice even though he’s not your typically sized rusher. But he can stand up, drop into coverage, energize New England's unit, and is just starting to scratch his potential. The Patriots care not for your QB concerns. They’re going defense again. Grade: B.
61) Tennessee Titans: CB Kristian Fulton, LSU — The Titans can move on from Malcolm Butler at some point because they now have solid depth at the position with the addition of Fulton. He’s a press-man corner who was discussed in the late Round 1 range, so this in our minds is a great value pick. He might never be a special playmaker, but good corners are hard to find, and Fulton is one of them. Grade: A-.
62) Green Bay Packers: RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College — Well, now. Not what we expected here, but Matt LaFleur, who was the Titans' offensive coordinator in 2018, gets his Derrick Henry clone. Dillon is a hard-nosed runner but has stiff hands and mild shortcomings in pass pro. That means Aaron Jones is now freed up to be the big-play guy in an interesting 1-2 RB punch. Still a little surprising to us. Grade. C.
63) Kansas City Chiefs: LB Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State — He just screamed "Chiefs" to us when we watched him — so much so we mocked him to them in Round 1. So what if we were a round early? Gay is a highly athletic, attacking linebacker who had character questions that troubled some teams. He’s also only started six college games, but has playmaking ability and special-teams value if he can be more disciplined. Grade: B.
64) Carolina Panthers (from Seahawks): S-LB Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois — One of the reasons we mocked Isaiah Simmons to Carolina in the first round was because we felt his athleticism would be too exciting for Matt Rhule to pass up. Well, at the end of Round 2 the Panthers get a reasonable clone of Simmons athletically, even if Chinn isn’t yet that level of player. Still, he’s a king-sized safety or undersized nickel LB who needs to speed his read skills up a tick before he can unlock his potential. Grade: C+.
NFL draft third round grades
65) Cincinnati Bengals: LB Logan Wilson, Wyoming — A nice little pick here. Wilson was a high school corner and safety who turned into a tackle machine for the Cowboys, but his coverage skills never left him. He’s an intelligent player whose lack of athleticism could hold him back a bit, but Wilson’s coverage ability should still translate. At the very worst, he’s a solid linebacker and special teams ace. Grade: B-.
66) Washington Redskins: WR Antonio Gibson, Memphis — Is he a receiver or a running back? Gibson split time between the two positions but lined up mostly in the slot. I thought his best fit was at running back, though, so this is interesting. Either way, he’s an eye-opening athlete who struggled with the playbook early at Memphis and remains a bit raw, but his big-play upside is just fascinating. Think Cordarrelle Patterson-ish. Grade: B-.
67) Detroit Lions: EDGE Julian Okwara, Notre Dame — We have an Okwara reunion in Detroit! Older brother Romeo is already with the Lions, and younger brother Julian likely wouldn’t be on the board this late had he not suffered a broken leg last season. He has some pass-rush tools and outstanding athletic traits but must become a better run defender and be a little more accountable. Grade: B-.
68) New York Jets: S Ashtyn Davis, California — Gregg Williams has a safety he can play 40 or 50 yards off the ball (kidding). But really, Davis has the elite range to handle single-high assignments well and allow Jamal Adams to move up more into the box. Although Davis might not be a great playmaker, he’s a full-tilt defender who also is a threat on returns with that game-changing speed. Not sure what this means, though. Safety was supposedly one of the Jets’ strong suits. Grade: C+.
69) Seattle Seahawks (from Panthers): OG Damien Lewis, LSU — A pick we can get behind. Lewis is a nasty road grader in the run game and can help add competition to a Seattle unit that year in and year out seems to be looking to upgrade. We feel Lewis is best in a gap-blocking system and only likely a guard. But he adds some nastiness to that group. Grade: B-.
70) Miami Dolphins: S Brandon Jones, Texas — Intangibles are likely the attraction here, as Jones checks those boxes in dark ink. He’s not big nor all that forceful, but he plays full-tilt and can man both safety spots when healthy. Jones has been banged up quite a bit, and the playmaking ability appears to be lacking, but he’s a team-first guy with good special teams skill as well. Grade: C.
71) Baltimore Ravens: DT Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M — Another year, another “how did that guy fall to Baltimore?” pick. Actually, that’s three of those in this draft. Madubuike was just outside out top 50 prospects for his ability to explode off the ball and show pass-rush ability from inside. He’s a highly athletic interior rusher who has a high ceiling, but it’s going to require a little patience. Still, we thought he would be long gone by now. Grade: B+.
72) Arizona Cardinals: OT Josh Jones, Houston — We were never on board with the top-20 talk Jones had been receiving, but for the Cardinals to grab a four-year starter with some good traits at a high-value position here? A really nice pick. What makes it even better is Jones has left-right tackle versatility (and could be tried at guard, too) and experience blocking for a run-around QB in college in D’Eriq King. Kyler Murray has to be smiling. Grade: A-.
73) Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Davon Hamilton, Ohio State — A few years ago, the Jaguars were loaded on defense. Now three of their first four picks are on that side to help replenish a need. This is a blue-collar pick in Hamilton, who really impressed us in the games Chase Young missed due to suspension. Hamilton is a power player who can be a rotational contributor and add a little toughness inside. He might not be special, but he’s a solid piece. Grade: C+.
74) New Orleans Saints (from Browns): LB Zack Baun, Wisconsin — It’s hard to know how much a diluted urine test at the combine ultimately hurt Baun’s stock, but we had him inside our top 40 prospects and could have seen him going that high easily. Instead, the Saints get a steal here and help a LB unit that has been beset by injuries. We expect Baun to beat out Alex Anzalone for a job and add some pass-rush talent on the subpackage units. Grade: A.
75) Detroit Lions (from Colts): OG Jonah Jackson, Ohio State — Jackson was outside our top 100 and felt like a Day 3 pick to us, but this isn’t a massive reach for a strong, sturdy interior blocker who could work his way into a starting spot. The Rutgers transfer was able to showcase his run-blocking skill last season for the Buckeyes, and he’s a high-character worker who fits the Matt Patricia typecast. Grade: C-.
76) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt — This feels like a reach to us, but Vaughn had some nice moments in his college career. He profiles as a sturdy third-down option, although he’s not a quick or decisive runner and he isn’t the big-play runner he thinks he is. Vaughn's work in pass protection was pretty good, and he caught a decent number of passes (he started his career at Illinois), but in our eyes Vaughn was a Day 3 talent. Grade: C-.
77) Denver Broncos: CB Michael Ojemudia, Iowa — An ascending talent with a long frame and the versatility to play safety if needed, Ojemudia has a decent nose for the ball and was a solid player for the Hawkeyes. The hope is that he can continue to grow instincts for the position and become a good zone defender in time. Grade: C.
78) Atlanta Falcons: C Matt Hennessy, Temple — Alex Mack turns 35 this year, and Hennessy has some Mack-like traits (minus the athleticism Mack had early in his career). But Hennessy has the smarts, toughness and quick feet to make it in this league, and he could compete for a starting job at left guard until Mack is out of the picture. Surprised Hennessy lasted this long in a weaker interior OL crop. Grade: B-.
79) New York Jets: EDGE Jabari Zuniga, Florida — I wouldn’t have guessed Zuniga would go ahead of his Gators teammate Jonathan Greenard, but Zuniga is the more athletically gifted of the two. He’s not a creative rusher and has been held back by injuries, but he has a chance to develop into a sack threat in the NFL. Zuniga made plays when he was on the field and has a rocked-up physique. Grade: C+.
80) Las Vegas Raiders: WR Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky — The receiver-turned-QB was a brilliant runner last season when pressed into duty under center, displaying some rare versatility and selflessness. But it also hurt his development at receiver, and he joins a suddenly crowded WR room in Las Vegas. Don’t count out Bowden contributing in some way — he has real competitive fire to his game and some Randall Cobb qualities. But it’s tough to figure out how all these receivers will get on the field. Grade: C+.
81) Las Vegas Raiders: WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina — Two picks, two wideouts to Vegas. Huh. It’s hard not to love Edwards’ production when he was healthy and had passable QB play. He also competes with physicality and intensity. But someone needs to help GM Mike Mayock kick his WR fetish. Are they going to run five-wide formations a year after drafting Josh Jacobs in Round 1? It feels like they’re killing a mosquito with a Howitzer. We like Edwards more than we like the fit. Grade: B-.
82) Dallas Cowboys: DT Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma — This might not be quite the steal some will make it out to be, but the Cowboys continue to hoover up great value picks — and at positions of need to boot. Gallimore plays with a relentless motor and made some shockingly athletic plays in college that guys his size normally do not. His technique can be a hot mess at times, but Gallimore is a perfect rotational guy who will light a fire under this unit. Grade: B+.
83) Denver Broncos: C Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU — Maybe this means free-agent signing Graham Glasgow is tabbed for guard, not center. Cushenberry brings terrific leadership and intelligence to the field, eventually raising his level of play in 2019 and leading the Joe Moore Award-winning unit at LSU. He’s not a mauler and gets pushed back vs. power, but this is a great value here. Cushenberry did practice at guard at LSU and could be tried there as well. Grade: B+.
84) Los Angeles Rams: EDGE Terrell Lewis, Alabama — We graded Lewis, the player, very highly. Despite only playing about 700 defensive snaps for Nick Saban, Lewis flashed some borderline first-round ability as a leggy, twitchy rusher who can also drop into short zones. But major injuries hindered his development, and some teams were a little freaked out by his medical report at the combine. If Lewis stays healthy, the Rams got a really fascinating talent here at a need spot. Grade: B+.
85) Indianapolis Colts: S Julian Blackmon, Utah — Combo corner-safety who does nothing at a plus level but is exactly the kind of selfless, team-first and versatile performer the Colts love collecting. Blackmon’s length is solid, and he checks all the boxes for intelligence and leadership to earn a role on special teams and defense. Grade: C+.
86) Buffalo Bills: RB Zack Moss, Utah — Moss replacing Frank Gore? Couldn’t be more fitting. Talent-wise, Moss should have been gone by now — in fact, he would have left school a year ago had it not been for a strange knee injury that was one of many ailments Moss has suffered through. Nonetheless, he has the talent to be a star and could be supreme value for the Bills if he can get his body right. Grade: B+.
87) New England Patriots: LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama — Bill Belichick clearly felt he needed to improve his defense, eh? Jennings is a central-casting Patriot with his versatility, edge-setting ability and high motor. He’s also not that twitchy as a rusher, has a notable injury history and isn’t diverse enough to drop into coverage readily. But if there's a coach who can get the most out of Jennings’ lunch-pail mentality and ability, it’s Belichick. Grade: C.
88) Cleveland Browns: DT Jordan Elliott, Missouri — We felt he would work his way into the late Round 2 range, and we were higher on him than others. Elliott’s production doesn’t match his tape, and he really only started playing up to that ability very late in the 2018 season. But this feels like terrific value here, and Elliott can play multiple spots along the line. He has plus pass-rush upside and flashes a mean streak here and there. IF we see more of it, this could be a home-run pick. Grade: A-.
89) Minnesota Vikings: CB Cam Dantzler, Mississippi State — Dantzler is a lean, high-cut cover man who can press effectively and has a different body type than first-rounder Jeff Gladney. We like Dantzler’s aggressive nature, but he might need to be a bit more technically sound for Mike Zimmer’s liking once the pads go on. Dantzler’s 4.63 combine 40 hurt his stock, but it felt like that number didn’t reflect his athletic ability. Another fine pick from the Vikings here. Grade: B+.
90) Houston Texans: EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Florida —The Texans add another edge rusher to the mix, and we liked him better than teammate Jabari Zuniga — who went earlier this round — as a ready-made prospect. Greenard performed well in his one year in the SEC after transferring from Louisville, leading the Gators in tackles and sacks. He’s not a rare athlete and can play a bit too hell-on-wheels at times, but he’ll fit in nicely as a “Jack” linebacker who can hunt QBs in the AFC South. Grade: B.
91) New England Patriots (from Raiders): TE Devin Asiasi, UCLA — This feels like a Jedd Fisch recommendation, as the former UCLA assistant and current Patriots staffer worked with Asiasi both with the Bruins under Chip Kelly and at Michigan, where Asiasi started his college career. He flashed some playmaking ability at times and will get after it as a blocker. Asiasi just missed the cut of our top 100, initially making the list before being pushed out. Interesting player at a need position. Grade: C+.
92) Baltimore Ravens: WR Devin Duvernay, Texas — One of these days we’ll pan a Ravens pick, but not yet. Duvernay is Kyler Murray’s cousin, but he’ll now catch passes from the NFL’s best dual-threat QB in Lamar Jackson. And what a strong addition to the WR corps this is, with Duvernay’s slot skills, good hands and uncanny knack to get open. He’s almost built like a running back and plays with that kind of intensity. Classic Ravens pick — again. Grade: B.
93) Tennessee Titans: RB Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State — Fun pick, giving Derrick Henry a running mate with a totally different style. Evans is a far more compact runner with nice vision and receiving ability. Adding his burst of speed to the mix in a limited role on offense (and likely as a returner) feels like a good pairing. Evans won’t hold up with an extended role, but in Nashville he won’t have to. Grade: C.
94) Green Bay Packers: TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati — I’m a big fan of Deguara the college football player, and he might prove to be a useful piece in the NFL, but this feels a couple rounds too early. He’s an undersized tight end who really projects to an H-back or fullback role. Deguara is a good receiver and will be a core member of the Packers’ special teams units. He’ll inspire with his effort and be willing to wear any hat ... but does that read Round 3? Grade: D+.
95) Denver Broncos: DT McTelvin Agim, Arkansas — A Vic Fangio pick for sure. As the pre-draft process went on and coaches got more involved in scouting, they noticed Agim's low center of gravity, outstanding motor, good hands and nice power. That seemed to push him up boards a bit, and we can see Fangio getting the most from this former elite high-school recruit whose development stunted a bit in a floundering Arkansas program. Grade: B-.
96) Kansas City Chiefs: OT Lucas Niang, TCU — We thought Niang had a chance to be a top-50 pick before suffering a hip injury that he’s still recovering from. But he fits the Chiefs’ mold and is value here, not needing to replace Mitchell Schwartz anytime soon. Niang has good experience, put on some great tape against Nick Bosa and Chase Young in 2018 and will be a nice long-term investment with a little technical refinement and more time to develop. Grade: B.
97) Cleveland Browns: LB Jacob Phillips, LSU — A bit of an overlooked member of the Tigers’ title-winning defense, Phillips did a little of everything. He runs pretty well but looks stiff when trying to change directions. That said, Phillips is a workmanlike, reliable player who tackles well and will come in hungry to a team that is hoarding former LSU players like the rest of us are toilet paper these days. And like TP, Phillips is there when you need him most. Solid performer. Grade: C.
98) Baltimore Ravens: LB Malik Harrison, Ohio State — I just don’t get how they do it. The Ravens sit back and let the draft come to them. Every year. Without fail. Good players such as Harrison are value at this point, and he can be the yin to Patrick Queen’s yang. Harrison is the better run defender now, while Queen excels in pass coverage. Still, Harrison is improved in that department and might not be a huge liability at all. He’s a high-school QB with football smarts and tone-setting hitting ability. Another strong pick here. Baltimore is cleaning up. Grade: B.
99) New York Giants: OT Matt Peart, UConn — The depth of the OT position allowed players such as Niang and Peart to fall this far; had they been in last year’s class, both could have been top-50 selections. Peart has basketball feet and experience at both tackle spots in 48 college starts. He’s still considered a bit of a project, but could vie for a starting role a year from now if he harnesses a bit more of a mean streak. Grade: B.
100) Las Vegas Raiders: S Tanner Muse, Clemson —Mike Mayock has a type. He likes receivers, Clemson players and high-character guys. Just having a little fun there, but Muse really is the Raiders' mold of player. He was a muscled-up safety in college who ran shockingly fast at the combine, but we think Muse might be best in a nickel LB role. Still, he was asked to fill various roles in a defensive scheme with multiplicity, which is appealing, and he will carry a special-teams mentality into the pros. Will he ever be special? Maybe not, but you can win with contributors such as this. Grade: C.
101) New England Patriots (from Jets): TE Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech — When we watched Keene play, we immediately though "Patriots." He just fits their style with toughness and durability, along with the versatility to be used in-line, flexed out and on special teams. Keene even took a few handoffs as a running back and his blocking effort stands out. The Hokies really didn’t feature him as a receiver, and it’s possible there’s a sleeper pass-catching skill buried in there. We just thought he might go later. Grade: C.
102) Pittsburgh Steelers: EDGE Alex Highsmith, Charlotte — The pass-rush well is running a bit dry, but the Steelers found a pretty good source here with Highsmith, who broke out with 14 sacks last season despite playing out of position. We feel Highsmith would be best on the edge, but his lack of ideal size and elite athleticism means he might not be more than a sub-package rusher to start. Do not count this young man out, however, as he has some twitch and plays with intensity. Interesting player and a nice fit here. Grade: C+.
103) Philadelphia Eagles: LB Davion Taylor, Colorado — Taylor has electric speed to make plays sideline to sideline, but he’s still developing his football instincts after not playing for a year in high school because of religious reasons. Still, he has track athlete traits and outstanding stamina, and played almost every defensive snap last season and on special teams — in the high altitude, no less. Taylor could be a fan favorite in time, but he’s unrefined and in need of more coaching. Grade: C.
104) Los Angeles Rams: S Terrell Burgess, Utah — Before last season, most scouts had not done much work on Burgess, who'd played sparingly. But he moved from corner to safety and set a tone early in 2019, turning in good performances vs. USC and Washington State. Burgess is not overly physical and has a very compact frame, but possesses some good speed, strong tackling and nice positional versatility (deep-halves safety, nickel corner, occasional blitzer). Grade: B-.
105) New Orleans Saints (from Vikings): TE Adam Trautman, Dayton — The wait for the Division II prospect is over, going about 20 or 30 picks later than we expected. Trautman opened eyes at the Senior Bowl, looking the part among his FBS counterparts, and ran an eye-opening 3-cone drill at the combine. He’s not a mauler as a blocker, but he gives good effort and will be a contributor as a pass catcher with good high-point skills and nice length. This is a really nice pick here for the Saints, who can groom Trautman behind Jared Cook. Grade: B.
106) Baltimore Ravens: OT Tyre Phillips, Mississippi State — Phillips is a broad-shouldered, lumbering tackle with mass you can’t teach and experience at every OL spot except center. He’s come a long way to make himself into an NFL prospect, but we’re not sure how much upside he truly has. Perhaps Phillips serves as the Ravens’ sixth man on the line, much like he did in 2018 for the Bulldogs. It’s the first Ravens pick this draft that we weren’t excited about, but it’s by no means a bad one either. Grade: C-.
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