Yardbarker
x
The smartest draft pick for every NFL team
George QB Jake Fromm was selected by the Bills. Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sports Images

Smartest draft pick for every NFL team

The hopes of NFL fans are sky-high with the conclusion of the 2020 draft. Following three days of virtual drafting, here's a look at the smartest pick by all 32 teams.

 
1 of 32

Arizona Cardinals: Isaiah Simmons, LB

Arizona Cardinals: Isaiah Simmons, LB
Josh Morgan / USA Today Sports Images

The opportunity to take Simmons with the eighth overall pick was just too good to pass up for Arizona. He had an incredible combine showing, and while there are questions about his ability to mold at one position, Simmons has the athleticism to be a game changer for a defense that desperately needs help.

 
2 of 32

Atlanta Falcons: Matt Hennessy, OC

Atlanta Falcons: Matt Hennessy, OC
Chuck Cook / USA Today Sports Images

Alex Mack continues to play at a high level, but the six-time Pro Bowler is entering his age 35 season. It's unlikely he will be around much longer, and Hennessy can learn the ropes this season and step in at center soon. It's a good time to mold the third-round pick out of Temple.

 
3 of 32

Baltimore Ravens: J.K. Dobbins, RB

Baltimore Ravens: J.K. Dobbins, RB
Darryl Webb / USA Today Sports Images

Baltimore made numerous strong picks in a deep draft, but Dobbins is as good a fit as any. The former Ohio State back is a downhill runner who matches the Ravens offense and gives the team an alternative if Mark Ingram's late-season injury becomes a trend in his early 30s. The second-round pick can grow with Lamar Jackson.

 
4 of 32

Buffalo Bills: Jake Fromm, QB

Buffalo Bills: Jake Fromm, QB
Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sports Images

Fromm is an odd fit as an immobile quarterback behind the mobile Josh Allen, but the opportunity was too good to pass up in the fifth round. The former Georgia quarterback fell to the later round due to a poor final college season and mediocre arm strength, but he was a former top recruit who has accuracy and leadership qualities. Not many fifth-round quarterbacks are capable of developing into starters, but Fromm certainly could down the line.

 
5 of 32

Carolina Panthers: Bravvion Roy, DT

Carolina Panthers: Bravvion Roy, DT
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

The Panthers made history by drafting all defensive players, with new head coach Matt Rhule clearly wanting to rebuild that side of the ball. The team made several impact picks, but given the circumstances, it stands to reason that Roy could be its best value. The nose tackle was just a sixth-round investment, and no one knows him better than Rhule, his head coach at Baylor.

 
6 of 32

Chicago Bears: Trevis Gipson, EDGE

Chicago Bears: Trevis Gipson, EDGE
Rob Ferguson / USA Today Sports Images

The Bears are set with edge rushers for now between Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn, but they could use young reinforcements. Gipson could be just that as he develops. The fifth-round pick was projected to go earlier in the draft after recording eight sacks in 12 games last season at Tulsa.

 
7 of 32

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB
Jason Getz / USA Today Sports Images

Cincinnati's smartest pick was also a no-brainer. Burrow was the clear top quarterback in the draft after a historic Heisman season at LSU and should be ready to step in as the starter from Day 1. Based on how he played last season, Burrow has a chance to transform the franchise immediately.

 
8 of 32

Cleveland Browns: Grant Delpit, S

Cleveland Browns: Grant Delpit, S
Jason Getz / USA Today Sports Images

Cleveland desperately needed safety help and got it with Delpit. An early second-rounder, Delpit was projected to be a first-round pick before regressing last year,. But he's shown plenty of big play ability for one of the country's top college offenses at LSU. Delpit should be able to start immediately.

 
9 of 32

Dallas Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb, WR

Dallas Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb, WR
Tim Heitman / USA Today Sports Images

Good things come to those who wait. Lamb fell into Jerry Jones' lap at pick 17. Arguably the best wide receiver in one of the deepest wide receiver drafts ever, Lamb will enter the season as the Cowboys No. 3 wideout but could make the offense the Chiefs of the NFC with Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and Ezekiel Elliott, along with Dak Prescott under center.

 
10 of 32

Denver Broncos: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE

Denver Broncos: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE
Nelson Chenault / USA Today Sports Images

The Broncos found plenty of weapons for Drew Lock, including one who is familiar. Okwuegbunam was one of Lock's favorite weapons at Mizzou; he's a big tight end who was an excellent red-zone target. Injuries and inconsistency caused "Albert O." to drop to the fourth round, but reuniting with Lock could make the transition to the pros much easier.

 
11 of 32

Detroit Lions: D'Andre Swift, RB

Detroit Lions: D'Andre Swift, RB
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Teams deserve credit for admitting their mistakes, which is what Lions brass did by selecting Swift in the second round after taking running back Kerryon Johnson in the same round two years ago. Johnson really struggled last season, and the highly productive Swift has a chance to take over this season.

 
12 of 32

Green Bay Packers: Jon Runyan Jr. OG

Green Bay Packers: Jon Runyan Jr. OG
Tim Fuller / USA Today Sports Images

The Packers had a weird draft, taking multiple players who probably won't help at all in 2020 despite coming just one game short of the Super Bowl last season. One player who could be an immediate impact is Runyan, who looks like a nice value in the sixth round as a potential future starter at guard after a good career at Michigan.

 
13 of 32

Houston Texans: Jonathan Greenard, OLB

Houston Texans: Jonathan Greenard, OLB
Matt Stamey / USA Today Sports Images

The Texans desperately needed pass rush help, following their struggles last year when J.J. Watt was injured. Greenard is a third-round pick with the potential to provide that help, recording 17 sacks over the last two seasons between Louisville and Florida.

 
14 of 32

Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor, RB

Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor, RB
Mark Hoffman / USA Today Sports Images

Taylor dropped to the second round, but his elite college production at Wisconsin and incredible combine show a great value. The running back has the potential to replace Marlon Mack as the team's primary back on early downs this season.

 
15 of 32

Jacksonville Jaguars: Ben Bartch, OT

Jacksonville Jaguars: Ben Bartch, OT
Dave Schwarz / USA Today Sports Images

The fourth round is a good time for a development project, and that's exactly what Bartch represents. A converted tight end from St. John's (MN), Bartch isn't ready to step in yet but could be a starter in a year or two. The Jaguars probably have time with a team that's in the midst of a rebuild. 

 
16 of 32

Kansas City Chiefs: Willie Gay Jr., LB

Kansas City Chiefs: Willie Gay Jr., LB
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

No head coach in football has done a better job converting players with character concerns into stars than Andy Reid. Recent examples on the Chiefs include Travis Kelce, Marcus Peters and Tyreek Hill. Gay could be his next project after multiple run-ins at Mississippi State, but the linebacker had an outstanding combine and shows the elite speed to make a huge impact as a second-round pick.

 
17 of 32

Las Vegas Raiders: Lynn Bowden Jr., WR

Las Vegas Raiders: Lynn Bowden Jr., WR
Jim Dedmon / USA Today Sports Images

Bowden can do just about anything with the ball in his hands, from quarterback to wide receiver to returner. For the third-round investment, the former Kentucky star brings huge upside for a Raiders offense that desperately needs more playmakers.

 
18 of 32

Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Murray, LB

Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Murray, LB
Kevin Jairaj / USA Today Sports Images

The Chargers biggest defensive need coming into the draft was linebacker, and they traded up to take arguably the best one in the draft. Murray was a tackling machine at Oklahoma and has the potential to set the Chargers at the position for a long time to come.

 
19 of 32

Los Angeles Rams: Cam Akers, RB

Los Angeles Rams: Cam Akers, RB
Alicia Devine / USA Today Sports Images

Todd Gurley wasn't the same last year, but replacing him still won't be an easy task. The Rams had two backs with potential in Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown already, but identified that they could use more upside if they want to get the offense anywhere close to its 2018 level. Akers is a versatile back with home run ability who could make the team look smart for a second-round investment.

 
20 of 32

Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB

Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB
John David Mercer / USA Today Sports Images

There's no escaping the fact that Tagovailoa is an enormous risk due to his multiple college injuries, including a major hip injury that ended his college career. While no team wants to waste the fifth overall pick, the Dolphins have a chance to either red shirt Tagovailoa or throw him into the fire this season to see if he can get back to showing the elite ability he had at Alabama. If Tagovailoa gets hurt or the team doesn't like what it sees this year, it can go back to the well with a great quarterback class in 2021. With so many draft picks and a squad that's still rebuilding, no team was in a better position to take the risk.

 
21 of 32

Minnesota Vikings: James Lynch, DT

Minnesota Vikings: James Lynch, DT
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

The Vikings had 11 picks after the third round, giving them the ability to fill out their young depth and try to hit some home runs. Lynch was a breakout star at Baylor last season with 13.5 sacks and gives the team another potential pass rusher in the fourth round after losing Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph. With so much room for error due to all the draft picks, the Vikings were in good position to take a risk to see if last year was real or a fluke.

 
22 of 32

New England Patriots: Kyle Dugger, S

New England Patriots: Kyle Dugger, S
Chuck Cook / USA Today Sports Images

The Patriots have one of the oldest secondaries in the NFL, albeit still productive. The team is looking long term at safety with a potential replacement down the road for either Patrick Chung or Devin McCourty, and Dugger might need some development time coming out of Lenoir-Rhyne. Under Bill Belichick's tutelage, it's worth betting that Dugger will be able to make the transition as an athletic second-rounder.

 
23 of 32

New Orleans Saints: Adam Trautman, TE

New Orleans Saints: Adam Trautman, TE
Vasha Hunt / USA Today Sports Images

Tight ends can be crapshoots in the draft, especially one from FCS Dayton Still, Trautman shows plus pass catching potential, and the Saints have some time to develop the third-round pick, as Jared Cook is holding down the fort currently.

 
24 of 32

New York Giants: Shane Lemieux, OG

New York Giants: Shane Lemieux, OG
Troy Wayrynen / USA Today Sports Images

The Giants obviously made the offensive line a high priority, selecting two tackles in the first three rounds. They got another potential starter in fifth round with Lemieux, an experienced four-year starter out of Oregon who could jump into the mix immediately.

 
25 of 32

New York Jets: Bryce Hall, CB

New York Jets: Bryce Hall, CB
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports Images

Hall was expected to be drafted well before the fifth round, but durability concerns likely dropped the Virginia product after playing only six games last year due to a nasty ankle injury. He showed excellent ability before getting hurt though, and finding this type of upside so late in the draft is rare.

 
26 of 32

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Reagor, WR

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Reagor, WR
Kevin Jairaj / USA Today Sports Images

The Eagles had a lot of good choices for a wide receiver with the 21st pick, but Reagor was probably their best fit. He's a major deep threat who can also play in the slot, giving the team elite speed with the hope that DeSean Jackson can also return healthy in 2020. The Eagles desperately needed help at wideout and got it.

 
27 of 32

Pittsburgh Steelers: Chase Claypool, WR

Pittsburgh Steelers: Chase Claypool, WR
Matt Cashore / USA Today Sports Images

Wide receivers with Claypool's upside don't often drop to the middle of the second round, but this year's deep wideout class allowed the Steelers to get a great value. Pittsburgh has a great recent track record drafting productive wide receivers, and the 6-foot-4 Notre Dame product could be next.

 
28 of 32

San Francisco 49ers: Javon Kinlaw, DT

San Francisco 49ers: Javon Kinlaw, DT
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

The 49ers used the pick they acquired from the Colts for DeForest Buckner to draft a player at the same position. Kinlaw's draft stock skyrocketed over the last year, and he won't have much pressure early on with what's already an elite defensive line.

 
29 of 32

Seattle Seahawks: Damien Lewis, OG

Seattle Seahawks: Damien Lewis, OG
Vasha Hunt / USA Today Sports Images

Lewis is a mauling run blocker out of LSU and a perfect fit for what's been Seattle's run-heavy offense recently. He has a chance to go from third-rounder to immediate starter for a team that's been trying to rebuild its offensive line this offseason.

 
30 of 32

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ke'Shawn Vaughn, RB

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ke'Shawn Vaughn, RB
George Walker IV / USA Today Sports Images

There's no question the Bucs needed another running back in the draft to challenge Ronald Jones, who has shown multiple hiccups in two seasons. Vaughn is a well-rounded back who could be a great value in the third round, with consecutive 1,000 yard seasons at Vandy. It shouldn't surprise anyone if he unseats Jones to start the year.

 
31 of 32

Tennessee Titans: Darrynton Evans, RB

Tennessee Titans: Darrynton Evans, RB
James Guillory / USA Today Sports Images

The Titans moved on from Dion Lewis this offseason and needed a third-down back to replace him. The speedy third-rounder Evans can do just that, spelling superstar Derrick Henry on passing downs. He also brings a change of pace as a smaller back with elite speed. The Titans would probably do well to give Henry more breathers after he led the NFL with 303 carries last season.

 
32 of 32

Washington Redskins: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR

Washington Redskins: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR
Nathan J. Fish / USA Today Sports Images

Terry McLaurin showed himself to be a potential star in his rookie season, but Washington clearly needed more weapons for Dwayne Haskins. Gandy-Golden lacks top-end speed, but he has plenty of size at 6-foot-4, and he was dominant in two seasons at Liberty. For the fourth-round investment, he could bring a nice return.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.