By Nick Murray
The NFL Draft effectively marks the beginning of a new NFL season as teams begin to create a vision for their upcoming season. In the months preceding the draft, rumors concerning every players’ draft stock rising and falling permeate the media as NFL print and television news predicts, analyzes and promotes the draft 24/7. As a result in 2023, the first round of the NFL Draft averaged 6 million viewers, the same number of viewers as the 2022 NBA finals.
Despite college football concluding in early January, players can still experience drastic change in projected draft position due to key events such as college pro days in which players showcase their skills, the NFL combine where official player measurables are taken, and team interviews where teams seek to learn more about players individually to determine their fit for the organization.
While all of these preliminary components of the draft have massive impacts in a players draft position, teams often place too much emphasis on a players combine measurables or pro day performance and rumored “character flaws” or “off the field issues” can eliminate players from teams draft boards entirely. Take Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, who was the census number one defensive player in the 2021 NFL draft, but fell to the number 12 pick after rumors circulated of “off the field issues”. Parsons is now one of the best defensive players in the league, finishing second place in defensive player of the year voting in both his rookie and sophomore seasons.
Teams and scouts work tirelessly to find the best player for their team with each pick in the draft. However, the draft is far from a science. From 2011 to 2020 only 44% of 1st round picks signed a second contract with the team that drafted them and only 39% of first round picks between 1995 and 2005 made a pro bowl. The NFL draft is an opportunity for teams to find young talent on cheap contracts to strengthen the roster. However, the league promotes the draft as a near science in which commentators refer to first round picks as future all pro to generate hype and rake in more revenue.
The following redraft is a retrospective on each team’s 2020 first round pick and that player’s production, consistency and availability. Based on the performance of the player and the team’s needs leading up to the 2020 draft, I made a new selection with each player’s performance in mind in the 3 seasons since the draft. This is not a list of the best players from the 2020 draft. While a player may arguably be the second or third best player from the draft, they may not be drafted accordingly depending on teams needs.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow QB =
Original Pick: Joe Burrow
- Washington Commanders: Justin Jefferson WR ↑20
Original Pick: Chase Young
- Detroit Lions: Tristan Wirfs ↑10
Original Pick: Jeff Okudah
- New York Giants: Andrew Thomas =
Original Pick: Andrew Thomas
- Miami Dolphins: Justin Herbert QB ↑1
Original Pick: Tua Tagovailoa
- Los Angeles Chargers: Jalen Hurts QB ↑47
Original Pick: Justin Herbert
- Carolina Panthers: Tua Tagovailoa QB ↓2
Original Pick: Derrick Brown
- Arizona Cardinals: Josh Uche ED ↑52
Original Pick: Isaiah Simmons
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown DL ↓2
Original Pick: C.J. Henderson
- Cleveland Browns: Michael Onwenu OL ↑172
Original Pick: Jedrick Wills Jr.
- New York Jets: Ceedee Lamb WR ↑6
Original Pick: Mekhi Becton
- Las Vegas Raiders: Brandon Aiyuk WR ↑13
Original Pick: Henry Ruggs III
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Jones T ↑48
Original Pick: Tristan Wirfs
- San Francisco 49ers: Trevon Diggs CB ↑51
Original Pick: Javon Kinlaw
- Denver Broncos: Tee Higgins WR ↑18
Original Pick: Jerry Jeudy
- Atlanta Falcons: AJ Terrell CB ↓2
Original Pick: AJ Terrell
- Dallas Cowboys: Chase Young ED ↓15
Original Pick: Ceedee Lamb
- Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Taylor RB ↑23
Original Pick: Austin Jackson
- Las Vegas Raiders: Isaiah Rodgers CB ↑192
Original Pick: Damon Arnette
- Jacksonville Jaguars: L’Jarius Sneed CB ↑118
Original Pick: K’Lavon Chaisson
- Philadelphia Eagles: Jerry Jeudy WR ↓6
Original Pick: Jalen Reagor
- Minnesota Vikings: Michael Pittman WR ↑12
Original Pick: Justin Jefferson
- Los Angeles Chargers: Patrick Queen LB ↑5
Original Pick: Kenneth Murray
- New Orleans Saints: Logan Wilson LB ↑41
Original Pick: Cesar Ruiz
- San Francisco 49ers: Antoine Winfield Jr. S ↑20
Original Pick: Brandon Aiyuk
- Green Bay Packers: Darnell Mooney WR ↑147
Original Pick: Jordan Love
- Seattle Seahawks: Jon Runyan G ↑82
Original Pick: Jordyn Brooks
- Baltimore Ravens: Javon Kinlaw LB ↓14
Original Pick: Patrick Queen
- Tennessee Titans: Alex Highsmith ED ↑73
Original Pick: Isaiah Wilson
- Miami Dolphins: Kyle Dugger S
Original Pick: Noah Igbonoghene
- Minnesota Vikings: Isaiah Simmons CB ↓23
Original Pick: Jeff Gladney
- Kansas City Chiefs: D’Andre Swift RB ↑3
Original Pick: Clyde Edwards-Helaire