The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft is complete and some teams made improvements while others whiffed on the opportunity.
Night one of the 2020 NFL Draft is complete. Unlike other years, the draft was virtual this year and we did not get anything near the pageantry we have seen in recent years.
Despite this, the opening night was still entertaining and we did see some teams leave the process happy. We also saw others make some curious moves and seemingly fail to make the impact they could have.
In the immediate context of need, value, talent and the picks in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, let’s dive quickly into the winners and losers from Day 1.
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
Although it was a foregone conclusion, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted a franchise quarterback at No. 1 when they selected Joe Burrow from LSU.
Burrow had perhaps the best individual season in college football history against some of the stiffest competition. For the Bengals, this gives them the opportunity for a fresh start with the most important position in the NFL. Even if Burrow doesn’t completely pan out, the Bengals can now move forward without having to worry about the quarterback position for at least the next three seasons.
If he is everything we all expect, the Bengals should be set at the position for at least the next 8-10 years.
Loser: Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons came into the draft needing help at cornerback and addressed the need by drafting A.J. Terrell from Clemson. Unfortunately for Atlanta, this was a big reach as many believed Terrell would fall to the second round.
Drafting him at No. 16 just seemed egregious. The Falcons were probably not able to trade down, but they could have addressed another area of need such as K’Lavon Chaisson on the edge. This is the second year in a row where the Falcons stuck with need over the talent available. This may be why the team has struggled so much over the last two seasons.