2020 NFL Draft News and Rumors: Monday, April 20
The 2020 NFL Draft is finally within reach, as we are just days away. Here are the latest news and rumors.
Alabama LB Terrell Lewis medically flagged
A number of teams, dare I say half the league, have medically failed Terrell Lewis of Alabama. Lewis missed most of the 2017 season and all of the 2018 campaign, a total of 25 games, with separate injuries.
Related | 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Alabama OLB Terrell Lewis
Lewis tore a ligament in his elbow during the first game of his sophomore season and suffered a torn ACL in his right knee the following summer, which sidelined him for all of 2018.
There’s no denying that Lewis is a terrific 3-4 outside linebacker prospect for the next level when healthy and at the top of his game. I grade Lewis as a second-round prospect off his game film, but if he takes a drastic drop on draft weekend, we’ll all know why.
Who are the Dolphins truly targeting at quarterback and left tackle?
A source close to Stephen Ross tells me that the Dolphins owner is talking as though quarterback Justin Herbert is not in the team’s plans with the fifth overall pick. The source tells me that he feels it’s either Tua Tagovailoa with pick number five or a position player at that spot with a later maneuver for Utah State’s Jordan Love, which I wrote about last Friday. PFN has also been reporting since March that it’s likely Love is the next quarterback on their board after Joe Burrow and Tagovailoa, not Herbert.
Who is the position player the Dolphins could take with the fifth pick? Sources tell me it’s Andrew Thomas of Georgia, who would fill a need at left tackle.
Related | 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Georgia OT Andrew Thomas
If they don’t end up with Thomas, I continue to hear that Ezra Cleveland is a hot name in the Dolphins war room. I’m told the Dolphins would also consider Isaiah Wilson or Josh Jones with their final pick in round one if they don’t select a tackle with their initial two selections. Wilson would fill a hole at right tackle.
Who might the Saints be targeting in round one?
Months ago, I mentioned the expectation that the New Orleans Saints will go receiver-heavy in this draft. One pass catcher they like and would consider late in round one is Jalen Reagor of TCU.
Reagor would add significant speed to the receiver spot and offer depth behind Deonte Harris as a kick and punt returner. If the Saints don’t go receiver in the first round, then linebacker will be a consideration as will a highly rated quarterback, if one falls.
Would Gettleman have preferred Justin Herbert a year ago?
NFL.com is reporting Dave Gettleman and the New York Giants have spent a lot of time researching Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. I was privy to this information two weeks ago when we focused on Herbert during our Draft Insiders podcast and can tell you Gettleman has done a lot of work on Herbert the past two years.
And while there’s no way the Giants select Herbert this Thursday, it is interesting to note that Herbert was Gettleman’s top choice at quarterback had he entered the 2019 NFL Draft.
Receivers to be popular at back end of round one
The way it looks right now, there could be a lot of receivers selected late in round one, or at least more than most expect. Surveying the last dozen teams in the first frame, almost 90% have said they are looking for a receiver or linebacker in the first round.
Related | Brad Kelly’s full 2020 NFL Draft wide receiver rankings
Previous updates from Tony Pauline
April 21 (Page 2)
Anthony McFarland, Jaylon Johnson, Jabari Zuniga, Alex Highsmith, and Braden Mann
April 20 (Page 3)
Terrell Lewis, Dolphins QB plans, Saints WR targets, Giants/Herbert
April 17 (Page 4)
Zack Baun’s failed test, Jordan Love and the Dolphins, and more
April 15 (Page 5)
Denzel Mims rising up boards, C.J. Henderson a potential top 12 pick, and teams looking to trade down
April 14 (Page 6)
Chase Claypool at TE, Tyler Biadasz’s stock is falling, and watch for Auburn’s OL Jack Driscoll
April 13 (Page 7)
Giants draft plans, James Morgan, and other quarterback news