Powerhouse SEC dominates draft class
Maybe the Southeastern Conference should simply hold onto its players and become part of the NFL.
The home of national champion LSU and perennial contenders Alabama, Georgia and Auburn, the SEC dominated the first four rounds of the NFL draft before the flow of talent slowed to a trickle. Or the conference finally began running out of top prospects.
The top four rounds are where the vast majority of pro starters are found. So beginning with LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, who went first overall to the Bengals, the SEC provided the mother lode. And by the time this virtual was over, 63 players had come from its 14 teams — well, 13, because Ole Miss was ignored. LSU sent 14, tying the most in a seven-round draft, followed by Alabama with nine. Not quite a record, because the SEC had 64 selectees a year ago.
“I think it’s really easy to see NFL players when you watch as many players get drafted from the SEC and from that conference,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said after his team grabbed Georgia tackle Isaiah Wilson and LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton. “But there’s great players in every conference. It’s just you don’t have to look too far to see them play against some really talented players.”
The Lions noticed. They took Georgia running back D’Andre Swift and Kentucky guard Logan Stenberg.
“The SEC, I would argue, is one of the top one or two conferences in college football. I think a lot of people say it is the best conference,” Detroit general manager Bob Quinn said. “The competition that’s in that conference — from LSU to Alabama to Auburn to Georgia to all those schools.”
As the third day of this unusual draft progressed, it became clear that concerns about communication problems cropping up were vastly overblown. Clunky at times, poignant at others, and exceptionally entertaining in spots, the draft has done what Commissioner Roger Goodell hoped.
Goodell has insisted the sporting world needed the draft to be held on time. Yes, it’s been remote/virtual/digital; make your own choice. But the amount of eyeballs watching has been, well, an eye-opening number. And through Friday’s third round, the accompanying telethon had raised more than $5 million for six organizations battling the coronavirus pandemic.
“That work continues today,” Goodell said, “and the NFL will again match every dollar donated by fans.”
The league even awarded the 2022 draft to Las Vegas after all events on the Strip for this year were canceled due to the nationwide 107. Cincinnati: Akeem Davis-Gaither, lb, Appalachian State 108. Washington: Saahdiq Charles, ot, LSU
109. Las Vegas: John Simpson, g, Clemson
110. N.Y. Giants: Darnay Holmes, cb, UCLA
111. Miami: Solomon Kindley, g, Georgia
112. L.A. Chargers: Joshua Kelley, rb, UCLA
113. Carolina: Troy Pride, cb, Notre Dame
114. Arizona: Leki Fotu, dt, Utah
115. Cleveland: Harrison Bryant, te, Florida Atlantic
116. Jacksonville: Ben Bartch, ot, St. John’s (Minn.)
117. Minnesota: D.J. Wonnum, de, South Carolina
118. Denver: Albert Okwuegbunam, te, Missouri
119. Atlanta: Mykal Walker, lb, Fresno State
120. N.Y. Jets: La’Mical Perine, rb, Florida
121. Detroit: Logan Stenberg, g, Kentucky
122. Indianapolis: Jacob Eason, qb, Washington
123. Dallas: Reggie Robinson II, cb, Tulsa
124. Pittsburgh: Anthony McFarland, rb, Maryland
125. N.Y. Jets: James Morgan, qb, Florida International
126. Houston: Charlie Heck, ot, North Carolina
127. Philadelphia: K’Von Wallace, s, Clemson
128. Buffalo: Gabriel Davis, wr, UCF
129. N.Y. Jets: Cameron Clarke, g, Charlotte
130. Minnesota: James Lynch, de, Baylor
131. Arizona: Rashard Lawrence, dt, LSU
132. Minnesota: Troy Dye, lb, Oregon
133. Seattle: Colby Parkinson, te, Stanford
134. Atlanta: Jaylinn Hawkins, s, California
135. Pittsburgh: Kevin Dotson, g, Louisiana-Lafayette
136. L.A. Rams: Brycen Hopkins, te, Purdue
137. Jacksonville: Josiah Scott, cb, Michigan State
138. Kansas City: L’Jarius Sneed, s, Louisiana Tech
139. Las Vegas: Amik Robertson, cb, Louisiana Tech 140. Jacksonville: Shaquille Quarterman, lb, Miami 141. Houston: John Reid, cb, Penn State
142. Washington: Antonio Gandy-Golden, wr, Liberty 143. Baltimore: Ben Bredeson, g, Michigan
144. Seattle: DeeJay Dallas, rb, Miami
145. Philadelphia: Jack Driscoll, ot, Auburn
146. Dallas: Tyler Biadasz, c, Wisconsin
147. Cincinnati: Khalid Kareem, te, Notre Dame
148. Seattle: Alton Robinson, te, Syracuse
149. Indianapolis: Danny Pinter, g, Ball State
150. N.Y. Giants: Shane Lemieux, g, Oregon
151. L.A. Chargers: Joe Reed, wr, Virginia
152. Carolina: Kenny Robinson, s, West Virginia
153. San Francisco: Colton McKivitz, ot, West Virginia
154. Miami: Jason Strowbridge, de, North Carolina
155. Chicago: Trevis Gipson, de, Tulsa
156. Washington: Keith Ismael, c, San Diego State
157. Jacksonville: Daniel Thomas, s, Auburn
158. N.Y. Jets: Bryce Hall, cb, Virginia
159. New England: Justin Rohrwasser, k, Marshall
160. Cleveland: Nick Harris, c, Washington
161. Tampa Bay: Tyler Johnson, wr, Minnesota
162. Washington: Khaleke Hudson, lb, Michigan
163. Chicago: Kindle Vildor, cb, Georgia Southern
164. Miami: Curtis Weaver, te, Boise State
165. Jacksonville: Collin Johnson, wr, Texas
166. Detroit: Quintez Cephus, wr, Wisconsin
167. Buffalo: Jake Fromm, qb, Georgia
168. Philadelphia: John Hightower, wr, Boise State
169. Minnesota: Harrison Hand, cb, Temple
170. Baltimore: Broderick Washington, dt, Texas Tech
171. Houston: Isaiah Coulter, wr, Rhode Island
172. Detroit: Jason Huntley, rb, New Mexico State
173. Chicago: Darnell Mooney, wr, Tulane
174. Tennessee: Larrell Murchison, dt, North Carolina State 175. Green Bay: Kamal Martin, lb, Minnesota
176. Minnesota: K.J. Osborn, wr, Miami
177. Kansas City: Michael Danna, te, Michigan
178. Denver: Justin Strnad, lb, Wake Forest 179. Dallas: Bradlee Anae, de, Utah shutdown of large gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.
To open Saturday, Appalachian State had its second player chosen, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, who went to Cincinnati.
The Redskins dealt their unhappy veteran tackle Trent Williams to the 49ers, and then chose LSU’s Saadiq Charles, who has been plagued by off-field issues and served a six-game suspension.
The 49ers made two other trades, first sending Matt Breida, who was the Niners’ starting running back for part of their NFC title season, to the Dolphins for a fifthrounder. Then the 49ers traded wideout Marquise Goodwin to the Eagles for a swap 180. Cincinnati: Hakeem Adeniji, g, Kansas
181. Denver: Netane Muti, g, Fresno State
182. New England: Michael Onwenu, g, Michigan
183. N.Y. Giants: Cameron Brown, lb, Penn State
184. Carolina: Bravvion Roy, dt, Baylor
185. Miami: Blake Ferguson, ls, LSU
186. L.A. Chargers: Alohi Gilman, s, Notre Dame
187. Cleveland: Donovan Peoples-Jones, wr, Michigan
188. Buffalo: Tyler Bass, k, Georgia Southern
189. Jacksonville: Jake Luton, qb, Oregon State
190. San Francisco: Charlie Woerner, te, Georgia
191. N.Y. Jets: Braden Mann, p, Texas A&M
192. Green Bay: Jon Runyan, g, Michigan
193. Indianapolis: Rob Windsor, dt, Penn State
194. Tampa Bay: Khalil Davis, dt, Nebraska
195. New England: Justin Herron, g, Wake Forest
196. Philadelphia: Shaun Bradley, lb, Temple
197. Detroit: John Penisini, dt, Utah
198. Pittsburgh: Antoine Brooks Jr., s, Maryland
199. L.A. Rams: Jordan Fuller, s, Ohio State
200. Philadelphia: Quez Watkins, wr, Southern Mississippi 201. Baltimore: James Proche, wr, Southern Methodist 202. Arizona: Evan Weaver, lb, California
203. Minnesota: Blake Brandel, g, Oregon State
204. New England: Cassh Maluia, lb, Wyoming
205. Minnesota: Josh Metellus, s, Michigan
206. Jacksonville: Tyler Davis, te, Georgia Tech
207. Buffalo: Isaiah Hodgins, wr, Oregon State
208. Green Bay: Jake Hanson, c, Oregon
209. Green Bay: Simon Stepaniak, g, Indiana
210. Philadelphia: Prince Tega Wanogho, ot, Auburn
211. Indianapolis: Isaiah Rodgers, db, Massachusetts
212. Indianapolis: Dezmon Patmon, wr, Washington State 213. Indianapolis: Jordan Glasgow, lb, Michigan
214. Seattle: Freddie Swain, wr, Florida
215. Cincinnati: Markus Bailey, lb, Purdue
216. Washington: Kamren Curl, s, Arkansas
217. San Francisco: Jauan Jennings, wr, Tennessee
218. N.Y. Giants: Carter Coughlin, de, Minnesota
219. Baltimore: Geno Stone, s, Iowa
220. L.A. Chargers: K.J. Hill, wr, Ohio State
221. Carolina: Stantley Thomas-Oliver, cb, Florida International 222. Arizona: Eno Benjamin, rb, Arizona State
223. Jacksonville: Chris Claybrooks, cb, Memphis
224. Tennessee: Cole McDonald, qb, Hawaii
225. Minnesota: Kenny Willekes, de, Michigan State
226. Chicago: Arlington Hambright, g, Colorado
227. Chicago: Lachavious Simmons, g, Tennessee State
228. Atlanta: Sterling Hofrichter, p, Syracuse
229. Washington: James Smith-Williams, de, North Carolina State 230. New England: Dustin Woodard, c, Memphis
231. Dallas: Ben DiNucci, qb, James Madison
232. Pittsburgh: Carlos Davis, dt, Nebraska
233. Philadelphia: Casey Toohill, de, Stanford
234. L.A. Rams: Clay Johnston, lb, Baylor
235. Detroit: Jashon Cornell, dt, Ohio State
236. Green Bay: Vernon Scott, db, Texas Christian
237. Kansas City: Bopete Keyes, cb, Tulane
238. N.Y. Giants: T.J. Brunson, lb, South Carolina
239. Buffalo: Dane Jackson, cb, Pittsburgh
240. New Orleans: Tommy Stevens, qb, Mississippi State
241. Tampa Bay: Chapelle Russell, lb, Temple
242. Green Bay: Jonathan Garvin, de, Miami
243. Tennessee: Chris Jackson, db, Marshall
244. Minnesota: Nate Stanley, qb, Iowa
245. Tampa Bay: Raymond Calais, rb, Louisiana-Lafayette
246. Miami: Malcolm Perry, wr, Navy
247. N.Y. Giants: Chris Williamson, cb, Minnesota 248. L.A. Rams: Sam Sloman, k, Miami (Ohio)
249. Minnesota: Brian Cole II, s, Mississippi State 250. L.A. Rams: Tremayne Anchrum, g, Clemson 251. Seattle: Stephen Sullivan, te, LSU
252. Denver: Tyrie Cleveland, wr, Florida
253. Minnesota: Kyle Hinton, g, Washburn
254. Denver: Derrek Tuszka, de, North Dakota State 255. N.Y. Giants: Tae Crowder, lb, Georgia
of sixth-round spots.
The first quarterback chosen on Day 3 was Washington’s Jacob Eason, who went to the Colts. The Colts, of course, signed Philip Rivers as a free agent and still have incumbent Jacoby Brissett. Both have contracts only through 2020, though.
Eason, whose father Tony was a wide receiver at Notre Dame, lost out to Jake Fromm at Georgia, then transferred to Washington. Fromm finally went 167th overall to the Bills, who have a young QB in Josh Allen. Fromm likely was hurt by a mediocre combine performance. He was taken well after the Jets got Florida International QB James Morgan at 125th.