Sword Performance presents: KSR's Ultimate NFL Draft Guide

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Everything else in the sports world is on lockdown, but the NFL is moving forward with its draft as previously scheduled. This is going to give us 15 hours of sports content to consume from Thursday-Saturday as the college stars from 2019 hear their name called by the National Football League.

This draft was originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas with the stage being built on the fountain pond in front of the Bellagio, but that is not happening thanks to COVID-19. Instead, the majority of pro days were called off and the selection process will take place virtually. I sure wish I could’ve bought stock in Zoom about a month or two ago.

John Lynch, Tom Telesco, or Dave Gettelman’s

Which home draft room best describes you? pic.twitter.com/Z5qskFZQ4b

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 20, 2020

Now we want to help you get ready for the 2020 NFL Draft and what should absolutely be a unique viewing experience beginning on Thursday night. In this guide we will break down each day and give you a few tidbits on what to lookout for. We’ll discuss where UK prospects will likely fall and what teams could potentially be landing spots.

That’s enough for the warmup. Let’s get it down to the nitty gritty because the Cincinnati Bengals are on the clock.

THURSDAY

The draft kicks off in primetime on Thursday and all signs point to Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow heading to Cincinnati with the No. 1 overall pick while the Washington Redskins take Ohio State defensive end Chase Young at No.2. We’ve all known that since LSU beat Clemson in New Orleans. What happens next will get the most attention in the draft.

The Detroit Lions sit at No. 3 and it seems like they are locked in on Ohio State corner Jeff Okudah. However, a trade down could be a legit possibility as Okudah is likely no higher than No. 8 on everyone else’s board. Does someone want to make to move for Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert?

The two obvious candidates are the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers who sit at No. 5 and No. 6. Both franchises need a quarterback desperately and at least one is probably going to make a strong trade offer to get into that No. 3 spot. The biggest splash would be if they value Herbert over Tagovailoa leading the superstar to potentially drop out of the top-six.

Once the quarterback fireworks clear, all eyes will be on just how many wide receivers go off the board. There is a debate over who is WR1 with Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs battling with Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb. The action should start with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 12 and it’s quite possible we will see all three taken in the top-15. Don’t be surprised if up to three more come off the board before the first round is over. Ruggs might have the highest ceiling of them all due to his absurd speed.

Good offensive tackles might be the most valuable commodities outside of quarterbacks and there will be plenty taken in the first round. This past weekend it was leaked that Louisville’s Mekhi Becton had a drug test flagged at the combine and that could alter his status or it could just be a smokescreen. Becton, along with Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas will all very likely be selected in the top-15. Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland, Houston’s Josh Jones and USC’s Austin Jackson also all have a great shot to be first round selections. Nearly half of the picks on Thursday could be offensive tackles and wide receivers.

FRIDAY

For my money, the best time to watch the draft is on day two. Here you will see twice as many picks over the same time period, and all the players selected in rounds two and three will be expected to come in and compete for starting positions right away. Just last year All-Rookie Team selections A.J. Brown, Elgton Jenkins, Terry McLaurin, Erik McCoy, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Dalton Risner, Miles Sanders, Jawaan Taylor and Juan Thornhill were selected during Friday’s action, making nearly half of the team. There are going to be some really good football players picked on Friday who will make an immediate impact.

It is not expected for one running back to be selected on day one, but up to 10 could go on Friday night making up 15.6 percent of the day’s selections. Georgia’s D’Andre Swift and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor are competing for RB1, but don’t be surprised if someone gets greedy and picks up LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire thanks to his slipperiness and pass catching ability.

If you’re looking for a sleeper or two, take a look at Appalachaian State’s Darrynton Evans and Memphis’ Antonio Gibson. Both are trending to be third round picks while Evans appears to be the best big play back in draft (4.41 40-yard dash) and Gibson could play both wideout (38 receptions, 735 yards, 8 touchdowns) or running back (33 carries, 369 yards, 4 touchdowns).

More notes on Antonio Gibson.

Averaged 19.3 yards per reception.
Averaged 11.2 yards per carry.
Gained 1,749 total yards in 2019.
Scored 13 total TDs in 2019.
Didn't fumble in his college career.

His play reminds me of a bigger Percy Harvin in Florida – that's his comp. pic.twitter.com/rrAN07gek7

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 17, 2020

Quarterback will be active with former teammates Jacob Eason and Jake Fromm expected to come off the board. Utah State’s Jordan Love could get a ton of attention if he falls out of the the first round while Jalen Hurts should hear his name called at some point in round two or three.

In the third round we should all be on Lynn Bowden Jr. watch. The do-it-all playmaker has gotten grades between rounds three and five, but recent history shows that guys with difference-making ability like him will often go higher than previous expectations on draft weekend. The Ravens have long been rumored to have interest in Bowden and they have picks at No. 92 and No. 106. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers who have visited with Bowden don’t have any third round picks.

It’s important to remember that a lot of trades will begin to happen in these rounds so things can change quickly. When watching on Friday night, you will see a lot of names pop up that you are very familiar with or have heard of before from the college ranks.

SATURDAY

There is no denying that day three tends to get pretty crazy. Coverage lasts for seven hours beginning at noon as 128 picks are called over the final four rounds. Usually the NFL gets pretty creative here allowing fans, businesses and other random people call out the picks as the day rolls on. That is unlikely to be the case this year with everyone under quarantine, but that doesn’t mean things will stay normal.

From the makeshift home draft setups for owners and general managers, I’m sure we’ll hear plenty of stories on ESPN and the NFL Network to fill up the large coverage hours while the picks roll in. It is a jam-packed day and now the television networks will have to get a little creative to provide their usual out of the norm content.

Within the first 32 picks on Saturday, look for Logan Stenberg to come off the board. UK’s offensive guard started the last 39 games while earning second team All-SEC honors as a redshirt senior. The Alabama native had a recent visit with the Houston Texans who sit at No. 111, while the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 124 have always seemed like a practical landing spot.

However, the most important pick in day three happens at the very end of the seventh round. Mr. Irrelevant as its come to be known, thanks to former NFL wide receiver Paul Salata. The player picked here will get a free trip to Disneyland, a golf tournament in their honor and will receive the Lowsman Trophy. Former UK linebacker Marty Moore became the first Mr. Irrelevant to play in the Super Bowl, while former Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly may be the most unpopular winner ever.

UK has a chance at becoming a repeat winner as it seems that defensive tackle Calvin Taylor Jr. is projecting to be one of the top undrafted free agents. It only takes one team and it could be the one holding the last pick. We’re looking at you, New York Giants.

BUSTS AND SLEEPERS

Every draft has a few of them, but picking them out that is the hard part. How picks develop will determine the success of every NFL franchise and the emergence of these busts and sleepers play a major part in the draft turning into crazy month or even year round circus it has become. After the many hours spent watching college football and studying draft guides, I think I have found a couple.

Florida has built up the self-proclaimed moniker of “DBU” the last few years even with complaints from both LSU and Texas. The draft has backed this claim up, however, with a draft pick in four consecutive seasons from the secondary. They’ll make it five this weekend. CJ Henderson appears to be CB2 and might be a top-10 selection. However, I’m assuming he’ll trend like other recent Florida corners and not be a difference-maker. If you’re looking for an impact corner to come off after Okudah, take a look at TCU’s Jeff Gladney.

Sometimes we just overthink things. Baylor’s James Lynch was a consensus All-American and Big XII defensive player of the year as he recorded 13.5 sacks, 13 QB hurries, 3 forced fumbles and 2 blocked kicks. The defensive tackle is a wrecking ball who can make a big impact with the pass rush from a 3-tech position. My money is on him being a productive player for a guy who could come off the board late in day two.

Let’s get virtual, NFL.