Several extremely talented players found new football homes in the 2020 NFL draft. It was a great class, from Joe Burrow and Chase Young at the top of the first round right on down to the seventh-round value finds.
With all that upside and potential, there was obviously a lot to like from the selections on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I especially liked what the Ravens, Browns and Colts did over the course of the three days, but I'll leave the team grades to Mel Kiper Jr.
Instead, I wanted to highlight 25 picks in a few different categories that really stood out for me. Let's take a look at my five personal favorites, the best selection of each round, potential steals, quarterbacks who ended up in the right spot and players who are likely to contribute immediately in the NFL.
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My favorite picks | Best by round
Steals | Top QB fits | Instant impact
MY FAVORITE PICKS OF THE DRAFT
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
Selected: Round 2, No. 34 overall, out of USC
Pittman has the physical makeup of a pro wide receiver. At 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds with 4.52 speed, Pittman can make plays in traffic on in-breakers, generate quickness out of his breaks and track the ball on vertical throws.
Now pair that skill set with Philip Rivers and the Colts' pass game. Head coach Frank Reich can get Pittman loose on underneath crossers, and Rivers will find the USC product off play-action between the numbers. And given those ball skills down the field, look for vertical shots and isolation targets for Pittman in the red zone.
Jeff Gladney, CB, Minnesota Vikings
Selected: Round 1, No. 31 overall, out of TCU
I've been looking at Gladney for a while because he has the competitive play style that I would love as a secondary coach. Give me the guys who want to challenge wide receivers. And in Minnesota, Gladney fits with Mike Zimmer's system.
The TCU product can find the ball as a zone defender in the Vikings' split-safety schemes, and the man-traits are there for Gladney to play sticky coverage in one-on-one matchups. He can run with receivers on crossers, battle outside on back-shoulder throws and transition on dig routes to find the hip of the wide receiver. And Gladney can blitz, too. You can bet that Zimmer will dial up some cornerback/slot pressures for him in 2020.
Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Selected: Round 2, No. 52 overall, out of Florida State
Akers is a professional runner. That's the best way to say it. The Florida State tailback has the speed and burst to get through the hole, and I like the combination of vision and contact balance he brings to the Rams' outside zone scheme at 5-foot-10 and 217 pounds. With Todd Gurley II now in Atlanta, Akers is in a great spot to compete for carries, with Darrell Henderson Jr. and Malcom Brown also on the Los Angeles roster. And don't sleep on his pass-game upside. Akers can produce off screens in the Rams' system and on throws to the flat where his open-field ability will take over.
Kenneth Murray, ILB, Los Angeles Chargers
Selected: Round 1, No. 23 overall, out of Oklahoma
Murray's second-level range and sideline-to-sideline ability jump off the tape. He's a three-down linebacker in the NFL with the 4.52 speed to close on ball carriers. I'm excited to watch him in Gus Bradley's zone-heavy system. There, Murray can track the ball in the run game, match to verticals down the seam and create some havoc as a hook defender. He will drive top-down to impact the pass game between the numbers. He'll be a run-and-hit headache for opponents all day.
Isaiah Simmons, OLB/S, Arizona Cardinals
Selected: Round 1, No. 8 overall, out of Clemson
We have to project here a little bit with how Simmons will be utilized in the Cardinals' defensive scheme under coordinator Van Joseph. He has been one of my favorite prospects through the draft process. Simmons has rare traits, size and speed, and he will be a multipositional defensive weapon in Arizona.
I'm anticipating Simmons in a role that highlights his ability to develop quickly into an impact defender as a safety and sub-package linebacker. Simmons has an elite athletic profile, with the physical makeup of Chargers safety Derwin James. That gives you a lot of options in the defensive game plan.
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BEST PICK OF EVERY ROUND
Round 1: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Cleveland Browns
Selected: No. 10 overall, out of Alabama
Wills was the best offensive tackle in this draft class, and Cleveland saw him sitting there on the board at No. 10. Not only did the Browns fill a need here, but they also landed a top-tier tackle who fits as a people-mover in the run game for Kevin Stefanski's scheme. Wills also has the footwork to win in pass protection for Baker Mayfield.
Round 2: Marlon Davidson, DE, Atlanta Falcons
Selected: No. 47 overall, out of Auburn
I love the pass-rush traits of Davidson, who comes in at 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds: power, hands, counters and quicks. He rushed off the edge at Auburn, but he could be an ideal fit next to Grady Jarrett as a disruptive interior presence in Atlanta's sub-package sets. And he's going to play the run, too, as he is very strong at the point of attack. Davidson was a four-year starter at Auburn with SEC production and he wins up front. That's the game.
Round 3: Zack Baun, OLB, New Orleans Saints
Selected: No. 74 overall, out of Wisconsin
Baun has the quickness and counters to rush the passer in the league, and he's a versatile player who can drop as a second-level defender. In New Orleans, I'm betting on coordinator Dennis Allen to scheme up one-on-ones for Baun as a rusher or blitzer while also playing to his potential as a stack 'backer. Plus, this is great value for the Saints, landing a prospect with early Day 2 talent in Round 3.
Round 4: Amik Robertson, CB, Las Vegas Raiders
Selected: No. 139 overall, out of Louisiana Tech
Robertson is a tough, physical cornerback who projects as a slot man in the Raiders' secondary. I really like his game on tape. Robertson can find the ball and finish, and he is going to mix it up as a run defender. You want guys like him in the defensive back room.
Round 5: Danny Pinter, G, Indianapolis Colts
Selected: No. 150 overall, out of Ball State
The Colts have one of the best offensive lines in the league, and they added even more depth here with Pinter. Without the length to play at the tackle position, Pinter projects on the interior with light feet and the toughness to win battles in the pro game.
Round 6: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Cleveland Browns
Selected: No. 187 overall, out of Michigan
Late in the draft, you are targeting traits -- and Peoples-Jones checks the boxes. At 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, with 4.48 speed and a 44.5-inch vertical jump, the Michigan product has excellent size and athleticism. Special-teams value will play a role as he competes for snaps at wide receiver in the Cleveland offense.
Round 7: K.J. Hill, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Selected: No. 220 overall, out of Ohio State
This shows you just how deep the 2020 wide receiver class is with Hill falling to the seventh round. Sure, Hill lacks some of the explosiveness we look for at the position. But with the route-running ability I saw on tape, plus good toughness and a 6-foot frame, Hill can make it in the league.
TOP VALUE PICKS AND STEALS
AJ Epenesa, DE, Buffalo Bills
Selected: Round 2, No. 54 overall, out of Iowa
Epenesa isn't a quick edge rusher with elite bend. I get it. But I saw a late Day 1 prospect on film here, and he fell all the way to the middle of the second round. He's a true defensive end, with the power and advanced technique to rush the passer or set the edge against the run game. And in Buffalo, Epenesa joins a deep unit up front with the versatility to kick inside as a tackle in sub-package sets to get one-on-one matchups.
Denzel Mims, WR, New York Jets
Selected: Round 2, No. 59 overall, out of Baylor
I had Mims pegged as a late Day 1 or early Day 2 pick because of his ascending traits, 4.38 speed and physical play style. That's why I like the value here for the Jets late in the second round. He projects as a boundary target for quarterback Sam Darnold on verticals and deep overs off play-action, as well as a reliable option on slants or shallows when he is open in space. Plus, Mims can play above the rim in the red zone, with the body control and catch radius to snag the ball in schemed matchups.
Logan Wilson, ILB, Cincinnati Bengals
Selected: Round 3, No. 65 overall, out of Wyoming
Wilson has the traits of a second-round linebacker. He has three-down ability, second-level speed and coverage skills that will translate to the pro game. And Wilson should create an impact as a core special-teams player, as well. This was a really smart pick for a Bengals team that simply had to upgrade the linebacker position.
Josh Jones, OT, Arizona Cardinals
Selected: Round 3, No. 72 overall, out of Houston
After passing on both Jedrick Wills Jr. and Tristan Wirfs at No. 8 overall in the first round, the Cardinals still had a major need for offensive tackle help. And they get that here with Jones in the third round. The Houston offensive tackle has the movement skills to climb to the second level in Kliff Kingsbury's run game, and I like the upside here in pass protection. Jones has athletic traits, footwork and balance.
Anthony McFarland Jr., RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Selected: Round 4, No. 124 overall, out of Maryland
McFarland bring some juice to the Steelers' offense to complement the running style of James Conner. An explosive runner, he shifts gears quickly to get up to top speed. The Steelers can utilize him as a receiving threat out of the backfield, too. They can set up McFarland on screens and swings to get him loose in space.
GREAT QUARTERBACK LANDING SPOTS
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Selected: Round 1, No. 1 overall, out of LSU
Sure, Burrow was pretty much a lock to go No. 1 to Cincinnati. Just look at his high-level traits: movement skills, an ability to process the field and consistency in delivering the ball with prime location. It's pro-caliber stuff. But talent aside, Burrow is also an easy fit in Zac Taylor's offensive system.
As a Bengal, Burrow will throw on rhythm in the play-action passing game, target the leveled concepts and get outside the pocket on boot plays. Plus, we should expect Taylor to give him defined reads -- like Burrow had at LSU -- with formation alignment and pre-snap movement. The Bengals also added Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins at the top of the second round, giving Burrow another weapon to go along with a veteran group of pass-catchers.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Selected: Round 1, No. 5 overall, out of Alabama
I really like the fit here for Tagovailoa with new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who has experience coaching in multiple schemes. When Tagovailoa is fully recovered from his hip injury and ready to step onto the pro stage, Gailey can build a system that caters to the Alabama product as a ball distributor from the pocket. That means more run-pass options, play-action and in-breakers to feature the footwork, quick release and anticipatory throwing style of Tagovailoa.
With veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick slated to start the season as the No. 1 for the Dolphins, Tagovailoa gets real time to recover and develop before he takes over the Miami offense.
Jacob Eason, Indianapolis Colts
Selected: Round 4, No. 122 overall, out of Washington
I didn't anticipate the Colts drafting a quarterback this year, but with the contracts for both Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett expiring after the 2020 season, Eason could be in a position to develop into a future starter in Indianapolis. He has the traits and the frame of a classic dropback thrower in the pro game. That meshes with Frank Reich's offense, too, given Eason's arm talent and ability to throw off play-action. Eason can hit the seams and crossers, and also challenge vertically. He throws rockets.
And while I fully understand that Eason has room to grow at the position, I'm also very intrigued at the idea of Reich drawing up a game plan for the Washington product if he climbs that developmental curve in the league.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT PLAYERS
Chase Young, DE, Washington Redskins
Selected: Round 1, No. 2 overall, out of Ohio State
It might be too easy to pick Young here, but can we really look past his ability to develop into a game-wrecker on the edge? We never got a 40-yard dash time on Young, and that's OK, because his athletic traits pop on tape. At 6-foot-5 and 264 pounds, Young has the quickness, bend and short-area burst to close on the quarterback. And the power is there, too. If Young can continue to develop his hands and counter moves, then look out. He has one of the highest ceilings in this draft class, and that Washington defensive front looks pretty salty with Young now in the mix.
Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selected: Round 1, No. 13 overall, out of Iowa
The Bucs moved up a spot to grab Wirfs, an easy mover at 320 pounds with a rare athletic profile for the position. And, in Tampa, the former Hawkeye will plug in at the right tackle spot to protect Tom Brady in the pocket. In the Bucs' zone run game, Wirfs can work in tandem with tight end Rob Gronkowski to drive defenders off the ball.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Selected: Round 1, No. 25 overall, out of Arizona State
Aiyuk is a great fit for Kyle Shanahan's offense as a middle-of-the-field target on play-action and run-pass option concepts, including slants, glance routes and quick in-breakers. That's where Shanahan can create open-window throws for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and run-after-the-catch opportunities for Aiyuk. At Arizona State, Aiyuk ripped off chunk plays thanks to his ability to burst out of cuts and run in the open field. He'll get that in San Francisco, along with the fly sweeps and reverses Shanahan can use to set up the rookie.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Selected: Round 1, No. 32 overall, out of LSU
Edwards-Helaire can produce as a zone runner in the Kansas City offense, but I'm really looking at the pass-catching traits in Andy Reid's system. Edwards-Helaire is a matchup piece in the game plan for Reid, with the electric change-of-direction ability and the quicks to separate from linebackers in coverage. In addition to the screen concepts Reid can draw up for him, look for the Chiefs to scheme targets for the LSU product on angles and verticals from the backfield. He's yet another offensive weapon for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Xavier McKinney, S, New York Giants
Selected: Round 2, No. 36 overall, out of Alabama
McKinney is a multidimensional defensive back, with the physical play style and versatile traits to fit in the Giants' new defensive scheme. Similar to the role Patrick Chung plays in New England, McKinney will cover down in the slot, play in the box and spin to the post. I thought he would be a first-round pick, and he should compete for a starting job immediately in New York for Joe Judge's squad.