This new section highlights which players have improved or worsened their 2020 NFL Draft stock as the draft approaches.
By Charlie Campbell.
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2020 NFL Draft Stock Up
Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State While Dantzler has not gotten as much press as other cornerbacks who decided to skip their senior years, some team sources are high on Dantzler and have him graded as a late first-round or early second-round pick. In speaking to one area scout, they thought the range that Dantzler would get selected in would be between picks No. 28-38. They like Dantzler’s skill set, cover ability, and upside. He is a sleeper who is rising with teams.
Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn Wanogho (6-5, 307) had a good senior year that displayed his great skill set and the upside to be a special player. Scouts have told me Wanogho has a franchise left tackle’s skill set and believe it is just as good as Andrew Thomas’ or Jedrick Wills’, who are viewed as two consensus top-16 picks. But Wanogho has given evaluators the impression that he may not love football, and as a result, they view him as more of a second-rounder rather than a first-round pick, which would be where his talent level says he belongs. Still, team sources say they think Wanogho won’t get out the second round, and if he dedicates himself, there is a ton of upside in his tool box to be a good NFL starter at left tackle.
Jason Strowbridge, DE, North Carolina Strowbridge quietly had a really good week at the Senior Bowl. The sturdy defensive end is tough at the point of attack, possessing the strength to hold his ground in the run game. During the pass-rushing one-on-ones in Mobile, Strowbridge showed more quickness and athleticism than his 2019 sack total of three would have suggested. If Strowbridge has a good combine performance, he could rise in the mid-rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft. It is a weak class of edge defenders, and that helps Strowbridge, as he could be a solid base end in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.
Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois China had a quality week at the Senior Bowl to help his draft stock. At the weigh-in, he showed off imposing size at 6-foot-3, 219 pounds. That is a large NFL safety with the size to play linebacker in the sub package. Chinn held his own in practice and looked good against the better competition. Sources said that Chinn also interviewed well with teams and they were impressed overall. Chinn will be a sleeper to watch over the months to come.
Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin In 2019, Baun recorded 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 76 tackles, two passes batted and one interception. He was a dangerous edge rusher and dynamic blitzer for Wisconsin, but has size limitations for the NFL. Baun (6-2, 240) had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl, showing off his ability to get after the quarterback. Wisconsin had a some more experienced linebackers on the roster in 2018, but Baun was one of the team’s most impressive and consistent defenders in the middle. On the year, he had 78 tackles with 11 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, three passes broken up and one forced fumble. Baun could be a late first-round or second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU Other players like Heisman winning quarterback Joe Burrow got more attention, but Edwards-Helaire had a phenomenal final season of college football and set up a lot of good down-and-distance situations for his offense with the way he ran the ball. The junior averaged 6.6 yards per carry in 2019 for 1,414 yards with 16 touchdowns. He also had 55 receptions for 453 yards and a score. Edwards-Helaire was a tough runner and receiver for LSU in 2019, doing a lot of dirty work for the program’s point-machine offense. The 5-foot-8, 209-pounder is a tough runner with natural receiving skills. He could be a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
2020 NFL Draft Stock Down
Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama Diggs has a very good skill set with size and speed, but sources from multiple teams were not overly impressed with what Diggs put on tape in 2019. Multiple teams graded Diggs in the second round based off of some bad tape. They feel Diggs’ mental toughness is a concern and are worried he could fold in the big games. They acknowledge that some team might fall in love with his length and ball skills to take him late in the first round, but multiple teams have graded Diggs in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Terrell Lewis, DE, Alabama Lewis was able to avoid injury as a senior, which was critical after a few seasons in which he wasn’t on the field for Alabama. Over the past few years, his skill set had created a buzz in the scouting community, and he flashed that ability in 2019, but team sources still have major medical concerns. Some evaluators feel that after watching Lewis in Mobile, he’s still dragging the leg that he injured in 2018 and doesn’t look all the way back yet. As a result, they feel that Lewis is more of a second-day prospect for the 2020 NFL Draft.
Gabriel Davis, WR, Central Florida Davis had a hot start to the 2019 season to put himself on the map as a draft prospect, but over the past few months, his stock has declined somewhat. Sources say they graded Davis in the fourth round due to having speed concerns for the next level. Davis was recruited to be a tight end at Central Florida but worked hard to drop weight and play wide receiver. Some teams feel Davis belongs in the early rounds of Day 3 and don’t see a second-day prospect.
Solomon Kindley, G, Georgia In the early portion of the 2019 season, Kindley was viewed as the potential top guard prospect for the 2020 NFL Draft with late first-round or early second-round potential. However, the junior had some rough moments during 2019 that stemmed from getting overweight. Sources from multiple teams said Kindley needed to lose weight for the next level. Even evaluators who were really high on him initially agreed that his weight caused him to have issues with speed rushers at times last fall. Kindley is still viewed as a future starter in the NFL, but now, team sources say they think he will be a late second-round or early third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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