The Corona virus has taken all sports away from us. The NFL is still planning on having the 2020 Draft start on Thursday April 23rd running through the 25th. That’s less than a month away. Commissioner Goodell has written a letter to every team stating the draft will go as scheduled. Several GMs, during a conference call urged the league to postpone it because they were having difficulties meeting with players and conducting follow up medical exams.
If this does run as scheduled, the opening round, in prime time may be their largest audience ever. With no major sports available, a sports starved public may flock to this event. The plan is to hold the actual draft in a studio without a live audience, and have announcements made from the individual team draft rooms and individual players from their homes.
Recently I saw a draft put together by NBC Sports Boston Phil Perry. He used a site I wasn’t familiar with called The Draft Network. It’s a paysite that will allow you to make trades. I tried it out and ended up with a very interesting draft. Here it is:
TRADE – Pats trade down sending picks 1-23 and 4-125 to DET for picks 2-35 and 3-67.
Round 2 – 35: Selected Zack Braun EDGE Wisconsin. I have come around to the idea of not drafting a QB early. Lets give Jarret Stidham an opportunity. He performed pretty well against backup competition in the pre-season, throwing for over 60%. Braun is exactly what the doctor ordered as a replacement for Van Noy.
Round 3 – 67: Selected Adam Trautman TE 6’5” 255 4.8, 6.78 3-cone Dayton Trautman is the top TE in the draft. He can run and has a wide catch radius. He had 70 rec last year for 916 yds and 14 TDs. He will need to improve his blocking. If the Pats want him, they will have to move up to take him.
TRADE – Pats trade 3-87 and 5-172 to TB for pick 3-73
Round 3 – 73: Selected Kyle Dugger S 6’1” 217 4.49, 42” vert 11’ 4” BJ Lenoir-Rhymes (DII) Dugger was the Cliff Harris award winner for the DII Defensive Player of the Year. He was a surprise addition to the Senior Bowl and shined on the big stage. Besides dominating during the practice week, he is also a dangerous return man which will answer one of the team needs. He scored 1TD for every 10 times he touched the ball. Huge hands for a DB (10 3/8”).
Round 3 – 98: Selected Ben Bartch OL 6’6” 309 5.14 (est) St. John (MN) Bartch is a very underrated DIII player. He performed very well at the Senior Bowl. He didn’t work out at the Combine (Knee) but did well in the interviews. He originally played TE for two years. He didn’t give up a sack at the DIII level and looked very good during the Senior Bowl practices against the top college players. I think he is a day one, plug and play RT. This will free up the Pats to either deal or cut Marcus Cannon ($4.5M salary cap savings). Cannon’s play dropped significantly last season. Cannon’s savings will be more than enough to offset the entire draft class ($2.5M est)
Round 3 – 100: Selected KJ Hill WR Ohio St he is not a burner but a very reliable receiver that runs precise routes. He can also help out in the return game. Set Ohio St. career record for receptions.
TRADE – Pats trade 6-195 and 6-204 to DEN for 6-181
Round 6 – 181: Selected James Morgan QB Florida International 6’4” 229. He started 12 games for Bowling Green as RS Soph and Jr before transferring to Fla International. He has the prototypical size and arm strength of an NFL QB. His 2018 tape is better than 2019 (65% completion rate 26TD to 7 Int). He dropped to 58% in 2019 due to many drops by his receivers and playing through a knee injury all season. He can really spin it into tight spaces but has little touch on his passes. I have read that the Patriots have spent a lot of time on him going back to last year.
Round 6 – 212: Raequan Willams DT Michigan 6’ 4” 308 Two-year 3rd team All-Big Ten. A slow, wide body that will compete for a roster spot at best. At this point in the draft the cupboard was pretty bare when it came to down lineman.
Round 6 – 213: Devion Taylor LB Colorado 6’ 228 4.39 40 at his Pro Day, 6.96 3 cone at the combine. Rare speed for a LB. Very inexperienced. Played 2 yrs JC and 2 yrs at Colorado. Didn’t play HS football because of religious reasons. Track star also. Very coachable and needs more of it, but you can’t coach speed. Worth the risk. Special teams contributor at the least.
Round 7 – 230: James Proche WR 5’ 11” 196, 4.52, 7.27 3 cone, SMU “Wicked hands” was one description of Proche. He was targeted 164 times and had 111 rec for 1231 yds and 15 TDs. A captain, which is always plus points in BB’s book. Also known as a tough blocker. Numerous times during the Senior Bowl week I heard Proche name linked to the Pats. Projected as a 5th rounder, I think he goes later for avg 40 and slower than what the Pats like 3-cone. Known for his acrobatic catches.
Round 7 – 241: Ahmad Wagner TE 6’5” 234 4.64 (est) Kentucky Played 3 years as a Basketball starter at Iowa. Wagner has a 6-10 wingspan and size 3XL gloves. He was targeted 14 times and had positive results on 13 of those plays (7 pass interference calls and 6 receptions for 128 yds). Wagner played WR but projects as a pass-catching TE. He supposedly ran a sub 4.5 40 this summer. During his BB career, He grabbed 251 rebounds. A diamond in the rough and a perfect late-round selection.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
