[Dynasty] 2020 NFL Draft Class (5 Viewers)

247Sports' Jake Lowe believes Georgia junior TE Charlie Woerner "could be in for a monster year."

A "monster year" for college tight ends means 400+ yards or 5+ touchdowns, both totals we aren't expecting Woerner (6'5/230) to meet. The Bulldogs offense spreads the ball around evenly, so Woerner will have to be insanely efficient to truly breakout. Through two seasons, Woerner has caught 14 passes for 150 yards while playing in a backup role.

SOURCE: 247Sports

Jul 1, 2019, 6:40 PM ET

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Faust said:

Clemson junior RB Travis Etienne said he feels "nervous" catching the ball.

The full quote: "I feel nervous I guess. Cause the ball is coming, and I always feel like the defender is right there, so I run before I catch the ball and get spooked by my surroundings." Yikes. Last year, Etienne dropped 4-of-17 targets, resulting in a 4.6 YPT average. Etienne is a fantastic runner with high-end speed, but he'll need to sure up his hands to earn a top-20 selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.

SOURCE: Greg Brandt on Twitter

Jul 1, 2019, 7:05 PM ET

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Zyphros said:

That's very noteworthy that I'll be filing away for next year. 

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Louisiana-Lafayette junior RB Elijah Mitchell averaged 4.59 yards after contact last season.

Per Pro Football Focus, that is the top mark among returning Sun Belt running backs. Mitchell led the way in this metric over Marcel Murray (4.14), Trey Ragas (4.12), Darrynton Evans (3.90) and Tra Barnett (3.64). In terms of overall output, the senior Ragin' Cajuns standout rushed for 985 yards and 13 touchdowns while posting a 20-349-3 receiving line. He and teammate Ragas make for one of the most dynamic Group of 5 duos in the country.

SOURCE: PFF College on Twitter

Jul 2, 2019, 1:26 PM ET

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Idaho Press' B.J. Rains expected Boise State senior WR John Hightower to be the team's "big-play receiver."

Hightower (6'2/183) figures to be the first or second target for the Broncos, but there is a lot of moving parts at a position that is replacing two productive receivers. Rains believes CT Thomas is the top candidate to be the leading receiver while Khalil Shakir operates as a third receiving option. Hightower could end up leading the team in receiving yards even if he is just a "big-play receiver."

SOURCE: Idaho Press

Jul 1, 2019, 10:24 PM ET

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Alabama junior WR Henry Ruggs can play in the slot or outside, according to NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah.

Alabama used Ruggs primarily on the outside last year, but he did see 121 slot snaps. While lined up in the slot, Ruggs averaged 10 yards on his 21 targets according to Pro Football Focus. His speed will allow him to play wherever because he's a yards after catch machine on underneath routes and can beat safeties over the top as well. Ruggs is a Day 2 prospect with an outside shot of climbing into Round 1.

SOURCE: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

Jul 1, 2019, 9:50 PM ET

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NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah said some of the Russell Wilson comparisons for Alabama junior QB Tua Tagovailoa come from scrambles.

Tagovailoa (6'1/213) isn't Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen as a runner, but he is more than mobile enough to scramble for first downs and to be a threat on short-yardage plays. Last year, Tagovailoa rushed for 190 yards -- that includes sack yards -- and five touchdowns. The rushing threat is nice, but it's Tagovailoa's accuracy that makes him the Heisman and first overall pick favorite.

SOURCE: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

Jul 1, 2019, 9:40 PM ET

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Director Jim Nagy lists Washington senior WR Aaron Fuller as a Senior Bowl candidate.

Fuller (5'11/186) has a diverse skill set. He played most of his snaps outside last year, but Fuller should see plenty of looks as a slot receiver heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. On short passes, Fuller was able to pick up yards after the catch and he was effective on deep passes too. For Fuller to climb up draft boards, he'll need to show plus-athleticism at the combine.

SOURCE: Jim Nagy on Twitter

Jul 1, 2019, 8:59 PM ET

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Director Jim Nagy lists Washington State senior WR Dezmon Patmon as a Senior Bowl candidate.

Patmon (6'4/220) has been an efficient receiver in the Cougars' high-flying attack. There's hope Patmon grows into a larger role in 2019 now that he's shown the coaching staff that he's the best per-target receiver on the team. If he can put up 800+ yards, he'll nearly lock himself into a Senior Bowl invite. Consider Patmon an undrafted free agent prospect with a chance to earn Day 3 love.

SOURCE: Jim Nagy on Twitter

Jul 1, 2019, 7:51 PM ET

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Florida State junior RB Cam Akers "looked markedly quicker this spring."

Akers played behind a terrible offensive line last year, but he also struggled to create on his own. However, we've seen Akers make big-plays before, so there's potential for a bounce-back season. NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah likes Akers' ability to "bounce outside and find space" and being quicker will be the difference between first-downs and touchdowns. Akers has Day 2 potential, but he'll need to improve upon last year's wasted season.

SOURCE: 247Sports

Jul 3, 2019, 11:49 AM ET

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The Athletic's Doug Haller lists senior WR Kyle Williams as the No. 4 most important player on Arizona State.

Williams (5'11/182), not Brandon Aiyuk, is the "most important" receiver on the team. Aiyuk, however, is receiving more buzz from draft analysts and is the favorite to be the team leader in all receiving categories. Williams earns the No. 4 spot for his leadership and his impact of doing the little things like blocking. Williams and Aiyuk will be breaking in a dual-threat freshman quarterback in 2019.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 3, 2019, 11:43 AM ET

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Director Jim Nagy lists Arizona State senior WR Brandon Aiyuk on the Senior Bowl watch list.

Aiyuk (6'1/195) faces a unique challenge in 2019 as he fills in for first-round WR N'Keal Harry and will likely catch passes from a dual-threat freshman quarterback. It's not the best circumstances, so Aiyuk figures to be a "trust the tape" prospect with modest production. As a secondary target, Aiyuk averaged just over 10 yards per target as an exclusive outside receiver.

SOURCE: Jim Nagy on Twitter

Jul 3, 2019, 11:02 AM ET

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NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah calls Michigan junior WR Nico Collins "very acrobatic down the field."

Collins (6'4/218) almost exclusively lines up outside, where he offers a serious deep-field threat. Last year, 63% of Collins' receiving yards came on targets 20+ yards downfield. If Collins and quarterback Shea Patterson can show more chemistry on intermediate passes, Collins is a candidate to flirt with 800-1,000 yards. Collins is an intriguing Day 3 prospect who provides a clear skillset as a lengthy lid-lifter.

SOURCE: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

Jul 3, 2019, 10:54 AM ET

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NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah loves Michigan junior WR Donovan Peoples-Jones "route running and fluidity."

Jeremiah believes Michigan has one of the best receiving groups in the country with Alabama, Clemson, and USC also in the mix. Peoples-Jones (6'2/208) glides in space, but he also offers nice size, giving him the appearance of an NFL receiver. Last year, Peoples-Jones had modest production (47-612-8), but hopefully this Josh Gattis-led offense provides a spark. Peoples-Jones has experience on the outside and in the slot. Consider him a Day 3 prospect who could climb into Day 2 or could return for his senior season.

SOURCE: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

Jul 3, 2019, 10:39 AM ET

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NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah "loved" Oklahoma junior WR CeeDee Lamb last year.

It would be hard not to. Lamb (6'2/189) is squarely on the Day 1 or Day 2 radar after showing explosion and balance during his 2018 breakout season. With a 65-1,118-11 receiving line under his belt, Lamb is one healthy season away from an early declaration. He'll be one of a large handful of receivers looking to take Jerry Jeudy's crown as the 2020 WR1.

SOURCE: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

Jul 3, 2019, 10:12 AM ET

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Per Pro Football Focus, Oregon State junior WR Isaiah Hodgins drew a passer rating of 130.0 when targeted last season.

That is the outlet's best mark among returning Pac-12 receivers. PFF has forwarded a number of scintillating advanced marks from Hodgins' 2018 campaign. A quick rundown of some of the other ones -- he posted the best contested-catch percentage of any returning Pac-12 wideout, dropped just two of his 80 targets, and ranked second only to Colorado star Laviska Shenault in overall grade among returnee receivers. 247Sports' Carter Bahns is of the opinion that Hodgins will end up leading the Pac-12 in receptions during the coming campaign. We'll see if OSU's quarterback -- be it Jake Luton or Tristan Gebbia -- can get him there. Oregon State has a few very fun offensive pieces, but the offense is going to remain something of a herky-jerky machine until a signal-caller steps up to help put it all together.

SOURCE: PFF College on Twitter

Jul 3, 2019, 8:40 PM ET

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NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah wrote to Instagram that Colorado junior WR Laviska Shenault's "competitiveness jumps off the screen."

"He run blocks, pass blocks (from the wing) and attacks defenders after the catch," Jeremiah wrote of the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Shenault. The evaluator offered a lofty combo comp for the junior, seeing in his game a mix of Mike Williams and JuJu Smith-Schuster. That's the second combination comparison that we have seen for Shenault this offseason, as Bleacher Report's Matt Miller earlier comped him to a Alshon Jeffery/JuJu hybrid. Shenault totaled 1,126 yards from scrimmage last season even while battling a toe injury for a good portion of the fall. He is very much going to be in the first-round conversation next spring should he declare.

SOURCE: Daniel Jeremiah on Instagram

Jul 5, 2019, 4:02 PM ET

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247Sports analyst predicts that the SEC will have two Heisman Trophy finalists: Georgia junior QB Jake Fromm and Alabama junior QB Tua Tagovailoa.

This isn't a particularly bold prediction, as Tagovailoa was considered to be the favorite for much of last season before finishing second to Oklahoma's Kyler Murray. And in the case of Fromm (6'2/220), he's been projected by some to be the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft should be decide to forego his final season of eligibility at the conclusion of the 2019 campaign. As a sophomore Fromm was excellent, completed 67.3% of his passes and throwing for 2,749 yards and 30 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Georgia's 2018 did not end the way the team would have wanted, with the Bulldogs losing to Alabama in the SEC title game and Texas in the Sugar Bowl. But the team still won 11 games and is poised to at minimum make a run at another SEC East title.

SOURCE: 247Sports.com

Jul 5, 2019, 10:41 PM ET

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Mississippi State junior RB Kylin Hill appeared on The Athletic's Bruce Feldman's annual "Freaks List."

Hill (5'10/212) is an athletic freak. He can nearly double his weight on the bench press (400 pounds) and can nearly triple his weight on the squat rack (600 pounds). On tape, Hill shows plenty of burst, so he should check boxes during the 40-yard dash, too. Hill is a breakout candidate with good odds of turning in a draftable grade (Day 2 perhaps) ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. Last year, Hill averaged 6.3 yards per carry (two-thirds of which came after contact) while showing nice hands out of the backfield. Hill is one of the most underrated running back prospects.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 8, 2019, 5:33 PM ET

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Wisconsin junior RB Jonathan Taylor is spending the summer working on his route running, pass-catching, and pass protection.

Taylor (5'11/219) knows he is the best, or one of the best, first- and second-down backs in the 2020 NFL Draft. But he also knows he needs to up his receiving skills on third down to be the first running back on the board. Taylor only has 16 receptions through two seasons with a rough 5.5 yards per target average. College receiving production has some correlation to NFL receiving production for running backs, so it'll be a bad sign for his three-down projection if he can't turn things around as a receiver in 2019.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 8, 2019, 9:20 PM ET

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Ball State senior WR Antwan Davis made it onto The Athletic's Bruce Feldman's "Freaks List."

Davis (5'10/200) can reportedly squat 2.5 times his body weight, benches 365 pounds, and has a 10-foot broad jump. These measurements are strong, but they'll need to translate onto the field for Davis to get even on the UDFA radar. Davis only has 18 career receptions and isn't exactly a breakout candidate in 2019.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 8, 2019, 7:18 PM ET

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The Athletic's Bruce Feldman lists Syracuse senior RB Otto Zaccardo on his annual "Freaks List."

Zaccardo (5'10/210) has eight career carries, operating as a special teamer for the Orange. His workout numbers, ironically, are special. Zaccardo can do 28 225-pound bench reps, can squat 615 pounds, and runs a 4.51-second forty. That's crazy, but he's still way off the draft radar. To earn more looks from scouts, he'll have to be a bigger part of the offense.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 8, 2019, 6:31 PM ET

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The NFL’s bid to find players around the world will come to Germany this October.

The league announced that it will hold an International Scouting Combine in Cologne on October 19. Up to 50 players will be invited to go through drills based on the ones that college prospects do in Indianapolis before each year’s draft.

Australia hosted the event last year and some prospects will be invited to continue training in the United States. The next step would be a spot in the International Player Pathway program, which places players with teams for offseason work and allows for them to remain on the practice squad without counting against the 10-player limit.

“Following last year’s inaugural International Combine in Australia, we are excited to explore the talent pool internationally,” NFL COO of International Damani Leech said in a statement. “Since 2017, the NFL’s International Player Pathway program has provided international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level and develop their skills, and we hope to discover new talent through this event in Germany.”

Panthers defensive end Efe Obada and Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata, a 2018 seventh-round pick, have come to the NFL through the program in recent years.

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Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said Tuesday that there's a good chance that Dayton redshirt senior TE Adam Trautman earns an invitation to the annual game.

"Converted QB is a twitchy and polished pass catcher. Good chance he’s in the 2020 Senior Bowl," Nagy said of Trautman via Twitter. Trautman (6'6/253) moved to tight end ahead of his redshirt freshman season in 2016, and he's continued to improve throughout his Dayton career. In 2018 the redshirt senior was a second team all-Pioneer League selection, as he caught 41 passes for 604 yards and nine touchdowns. Being selected to all-star games like the Senior Bowl would have Trautman the opportunity to show what he can do in front of NFL decision-makers, and he'd be doing so against talent that will be better than what he'll see in the Pioneer League.

SOURCE: Jim Nagy on Twitter

Jul 9, 2019, 10:44 PM ET

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Faust said:

NFL Mock Draft 2020: An Extremely Early Look at the Possible Top 10 Picks

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Appalachian State junior WR Jalen Virgil ran the 100 meters in 10.30 seconds (wind-aided) at the Sun Belt Outdoor Track & Field Championships this spring.

Virgil (6'1/206) is ranked 15th on Bruce Feldman's "Freaks" list and with good reason, as he's one of the fastest players in college football. But it isn't solely about speed for the rising junior wideout, as according to Feldman he boasts a 40.5-inch vertical, a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches and has benched 405 pounds. The next step for Virgil is to make a greater impact on the Appalachian State offense, after catching 17 passes for 238 yards last season. That could be tough however, as the Mountaineers return eight of their top nine pass-catchers from that Sun Belt-winning squad.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 11, 2019, 12:16 PM ET

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According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, Boston College junior RB A.J. Dillon has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

While Dillon (6'0/250) has been one of the most productive backs in college football the last two seasons, his weight has been brought up as a concern. The 250 pounds hasn't negatively impacted his straight-line speed however, as evidenced by his 40 time. It's also worth noting that Dillon has a vertical of 40 inches.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 11, 2019, 12:00 PM ET

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According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, a pro scout said that Alabama junior WR Henry ran the 40 in the 4.2 second range at the team's Junior Day in the spring.

While Jerry Jeudy receives a lot of attention for his exploits, which is certainly understandable, Ruggs is no slouch himself. While primarily used on the outside in 2018 the junior wideout was also targeted 21 times in the slot per Pro Football Focus. The speed that Ruggs possesses can force mismatches anywhere on the field, and could lead to his being an even bigger factor for Alabama this fall. He averaged 16.1 yards per catch in 2018, posting a stat line of 46-741-11 for the reigning SEC champions.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 11, 2019, 11:24 AM ET

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Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline rates UCF junior WR Gabriel Davis as the team's best NFL prospect.

Pauline gave Davis a second round grade, writing that his 40 time will have a significant impact on the wideout's draft prospects. "A tall, sure-handed wideout, Davis displays big-play potential besides being a terrific red-zone threat. He shows great concentration and the ability to come away with the contested grab, and he’s sneaky fast," Pauline wrote. Davis (6'3/212), a second team all-conference selection, was UCF's best option in the passing game last season. The rising junior posted a line of 53 catches, 815 yards and seven touchdowns, and that was with starting QB McKenzie Milton missing the final two games due to a serious knee injury. Davis will be a key option for Notre Dame transfer QB Brandon Wimbush, who will be the starter with both Milton and Darriel Mack (broken ankle) sidelined.

SOURCE: Draft Analyst

Jul 11, 2019, 2:11 PM ET

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