The 24 hours after the 2020 NFL draft included a flurry of draft grades, instant analysis and reports detailing how the picks went down.
Now that the event is two weeks old, teams have had time to properly digest what happened. Themes have emerged. Strategies are more clearly defined. And executives have a deeper understanding of what exactly their peers did over three days of selections.
ESPN reached out to nearly a dozen execs and coaches about the steals, the shocks and the head-scratchers that will help define this year's draft.
Jump to:
Questionable calls | Sneaky steals
Did the Miami Dolphins do enough?
Armed with 14 picks -- including five in the first two rounds -- the Dolphins were positioned to forge a new direction for the franchise. They filled a lot of holes, acquired some talent and generally earned respectable marks in the media (one NFL.com breakdown gave Miami an A-, while ESPN's Mel Kiper gave the Fins a B).
But Miami's draft elicited a few "meh" responses from NFL personnel evaluators.
"Felt that with a team with so many resources to control the draft, they made some good value picks but also reached on some guys unnecessarily," one veteran NFC scout said.
An AFC exec pointed to the first-round selections of USC tackle Austin Jackson (No. 18 overall), Auburn corner Noah Igbinoghene (No. 30) and Texas safety Brandon Jones (No. 70) as reaches -- good players who probably would have been available later.
The Dolphins did a masterful job with smokescreens surrounding the No. 5 pick, which they used on Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. But they had the capital to maneuver up and down like no one else. The Dolphins chose the sensible route, making most of their moves on Day 3, most notably acquiring San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida. In the first round, Miami moved back four spots with Green Bay to take Igbinoghene, whom some considered more of a Day 2 pick.
One NFC exec gave the Dolphins a "C-plus" overall, but noted Tagovailoa might be the best offensive weapon in the draft, with shades of Russell Wilson.
"If Tua pans out, then that will solve a lot of their issues," the exec said. "When he's healthy, he plays the game at a fast pace that's made for the modern NFL."
Round 2 backs will make a splash
Explaining why 31 picks went off the board without a running back involved is simple for some.
"Nature of the position," one NFC exec said.
It's only getting harder for running backs. Sure, outliers such as Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley can penetrate the top 10, but teams are hesitant to use a high pick on a ball carrier in a high-volume passing league. While two backs went in the top 10 in 2017, Barkley (No. 2 overall in 2018) is the only one to go in the top 20 since. Last year, Josh Jacobs (No. 24) was the only first-rounder at the tailback position.
In fact, multiple execs interviewed believe their team simply does not want to draft a running back in the first round unless an obvious, exceptional player is available.
That largely wasn't the case among a 2020 group -- led by LSU's Clyde Edwards-Helaire to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 32 overall -- that was strong overall but lacked a lead dog.
As a result, teams knew they could get big-time players in the second round, with the Detroit Lions starting their Day 2 with Georgia's D'Andre Swift at No. 35. Indianapolis countered with Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor at No. 41.
"I thought getting Swift and Taylor where they got them was a steal," the exec said.
Added another NFC exec on Taylor: "Thought he was easily the best pure runner in the draft."
This exec noted that the Colts will have fun with a 1-2 attack of Taylor's burst and Marlon Mack's shiftiness.
Detroit and Indy utilize multiple backs, but just drafted players who also can thrive in a workhorse setting.
An AFC exec called new Baltimore Raven J.K. Dobbins out of Ohio State the real "steal" because he belonged in the top group with Swift and others. And some believe Florida State's Cam Akers, who will help replace Todd Gurley II, might have been a fringe first-rounder with better talent around him at FSU, but the Rams got him at No. 52.
CeeDee Lamb a luxury pick
When you ask people around the league about the draft's biggest surprise, the Dallas Cowboys getting Lamb at No. 17 overall is the first item that comes up in conversation.
"Not only where they got him, but the order in which the receivers were drafted," one NFC exec said. "I thought Lamb was the best in the class, and I don't think I was alone in that."
Clearly teams had differing opinions on the trio of Lamb, Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy -- three talented weapons, but not exactly Calvin Johnson figures who widened the gap.
Those who ranked Lamb as the top wideout in the class believe he has the makings of a No. 1 receiver because of his knack for playmaking and toughness. Pairing Lamb with Amari Cooper in Dallas creates endless possibilities for the Cowboys' offense.
"They are perfect for each other," said one NFL offensive coordinator, who spent significant time scouting draft-eligible wideouts. "Amari is a great route runner with speed. Lamb is physical and really good after the catch -- a baller."
Impact of the Trent Williams trade
The 49ers had a ridiculous draft with limited resources. They entered the event with two firsts but nothing in the second, third and fourth rounds. They left with run-after-catch demon Brandon Aiyuk, possible top-10 overall talent Javon Kinlaw to bolster the defensive line, a seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle in Trent Williams and three value picks in the later rounds.
They got a fourth-round pick by swapping firsts with Tampa Bay, then used that fourth to move up six spots in Round 1 for Aiyuk. And none of that jeopardized the trade for Williams, whose market was watered down by Washington not dealing him seven months ago. They gave up a third-round pick next year and a fifth this year, but who cares? Williams, despite his age (31), should be among the game's best tackles in 2020.
One NFC exec had a few concerns about how Williams fits in the 49ers' run-heavy attack, but added the player's overall talent should smooth that out.
"If you go by his 2018 tape, yeah, he's still playing at a really high level," the exec said. "His pass protection is stellar. I wouldn't call him a gritty run-blocker, and he's not a high-effort backside run-blocker, which makes some of that offense tick. But they must be comfortable that he can handle that similar to how Joe Staley did."
The Las Vegas Raiders are unpredictable
Corner Damon Arnette could become a very productive player, but many teams simply pegged him as more of a Day 2 pick than No. 19 overall. If the Raiders really coveted him, execs say, they probably could have traded back to get him.
Still, many admire GM Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden's conviction.
"They go by [the mantra] that it doesn't matter what other people think, it matters how they have them ranked, and I think that will work for them in the long term," one NFL defensive coordinator said.
That includes getting creative and taking chances. The best example is Lynn Bowden Jr., a do-it-all weapon who can line up just about anywhere. Bowden has played quarterback, running back and wideout, leading the Kentucky Wildcats in rushing yards (1,468) and receiving yards (348) along with 17 total touchdowns (three passing). He chipped in 403 passing yards, second on the team.
But Bowden got the "character concern" label out of Kentucky due to academic issues, fights, Twitter rants and more. To his credit, evaluators say, Bowden appears to have quelled those concerns. And the talent is obvious.
"It's just that the pick stands out given [the Raiders'] public emphasis on character in Year 1," one NFC scouting director said.
The most questionable calls
Quarterback Jordan Love was unquestionably a first-round talent in the eyes of many evaluators, but the fact the Packers moved up to get him late in the first was perhaps the biggest shock of the draft. The implications about what's next are rampant: whether Aaron Rodgers will be with a new team by 2022, whether the Packers are trying to win a power struggle, and whether Love is equipped to succeed Rodgers eventually.
"The pick was a huge question mark, especially with their need for receiver help," one AFC exec said. "Never sure about the true dynamics within the building, though."
One personnel evaluator who liked the pick said he believes Rodgers, despite frustration with the Love selection, will show empathy to Love, who's in the same situation in which Rodgers found himself on draft night in 2005 when he fell to No. 24 overall.
"Knowing Aaron, he'll probably play another six years now," one NFC exec said. "He'll never retire."
A few other players among the first 45 picks elicited mixed reactions. The Falcons filled a need at No. 16 overall with Clemson corner A.J. Terrell, who's a true press-man corner with good size (6-foot-1, 195) and speed (4.42 in the 40-yard dash at the combine). He should be a good pro. But most evaluators believed there was a fairly steep drop-off at corner after Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson.
"Terrell ran fast but doesn't play fast," one NFC defensive assistant coach said. "Limited explosiveness. More of a 200-meter track runner. Long strides. I thought he would go high because of the receiver run, and he did."
Even tight end Cole Kmet, the first tight end off the board at No. 43 to Chicago, might not give the Bears everything they need despite his status as a safe pick and a clean prospect. Which is interesting because they have nine tight ends on the current roster.
"I wouldn't say he's a great matchup tight end in the passing game," an NFL offensive coordinator said. "He's a good all-around player, does everything well but maybe not exceptional at making plays downfield."
Sneaky draft steals
QB Jake Fromm, fifth round to Bills: "I was surprised he was available in the fifth round. He's got good intangibles, smarts and throws with timing. He's not a big-time talent but he'll play 10 to 12 years in this league." -- AFC exec
LB Patrick Queen, first round to Ravens: "He only started one year and sort of came out of nowhere. But he looks like the perfect Raven. Fast, loves to hit." -- AFC scout
WR Antonio Gibson, third round to Redskins: "I know he's got a small sample size as far as production, but he's just really dangerous with the ball in his hands. One of my favorite players in the draft." -- NFL offensive coordinator
CB Trevon Diggs, second round to Cowboys: "He's got first-round talent but is inconsistent. If they can get him consistent, that's a steal in the late second." -- NFC defensive assistant
DE Yetur Gross-Matos, second round to Panthers: "He's not twitchy, which is probably why he didn't go in the first, but he's a good overall athlete and does most everything well, works hard. He should be productive for a while." -- NFC exec
OT Ezra Cleveland, second round to Vikings: "Cleveland will be a starting tackle; it was just a matter of how rich as far as draft positioning. Late second round is good value for him. He's got good athleticism, a zone guy. That's what Minnesota needs." -- AFC exec
WR Van Jefferson, second round to Rams: "He was close to the cutoff as far as the really solid receivers available. I know people talked about getting starting-caliber wideouts in the fifth round, but I didn't buy that. This guy has polish." -- NFC exec
DT Bradlee Anae, fifth round to Cowboys: "I guess his 40 time hurt him, but he's disruptive and was highly productive at Utah. Cowboys got better with him." -- NFC scouting director
WR Chase Claypool, second round to Steelers: "Matchup guy, runs vertical, big, 238 [pounds]. Exactly what that team needs." -- NFL offensive coordinator