Day 2 players to watch in the 2020 NFL Draft
As I did with Day 1, I’m providing you with a list of Day 2 players to watch. I try to look a little deeper than the surface guys, so you might not recognize some. Having said that, I have included a couple of the obvious ones. Here’s who I’m watching.
Jeremy Chinn S, Southern Illinois
One of the fastest risers this draft season. All the evaluations I’ve read rave about him. I love the size and physicality he brings in combination with his speed. He also seems to have very good instincts. He was my top safety, and I’m a little surprised he’s still on the board.
Logan Wilson LB, Wyoming
You might not know much about Wilson, but he has been sneaking up the board. You don’t see many 250 lb linebackers any more, let alone with his abilities. He’s one of very few of those in this draft. He’s also a former safety and appears to have kept those coverage skills while adding that weight. He may be a small school player, but he can be very valuable to someone.
Kyle Dugger S, Lenoir-Rhyne
Dugger was one of the first sleepers brought up by the media this year. He’s a Division II guy, so he didn’t have a lot of exposure during his career. Very athletic, physical with decent speed. On the bigger side for safeties, but an all-around playmaker. Another Day 2 steal.
Michael Pittman Jr WR, USC
Big, physical receiver with deceptive speed. Pretty good blocker, too. Possibly the best WR available, depending on who you ask. He’s the son of a former NFL running back, so he knows what it takes to be a player in the league. I’m excited to see where he goes.
Denzel Mims WR, Baylor
Covered Mims in an earlier post. He could’ve been drafted last night but is still on the board. Probably will be taken early Day 2 and could be a steal for the team that gets him.
Chase Claypool WR, Notre Dame
Claypool is a bit of an enigma. He’s a former basketball player, and it shows. Possibly the most athletic WR in this draft. At the Combine, he ran a 4.42 40 at 6’4″ 238 lbs. You won’t find many players with that combination of size and speed in league history. He also has a 40″ vertical leap. Some question his catching ability, but Claypool could make a spectacular receiver, especially in the red-zone.
A.J. Epenesa DL, Iowa
Very versatile defensive lineman. He played mostly defensive end at Iowa. I think he’s the best DL still available. I think he fits best as a DE who slides inside to DT on passing downs. He doesn’t have the great speed needed to be an outside pass rusher, but he can provide a distinct advantage on the interior. He will come off the board quickly in Day 2.
Bradlee Anae DE, Utah
Anae had an accomplished career at Utah as a pass-rusher. He is very gifted and creative in pursuing opposing quarterbacks. I think teams on higher on him than the media thinks, but his limited ability against the run may cause him to slide to Day 3. I think he projects best as a rotational pass rusher. Will be interesting to see if his name gets called tonight.
Ben Bartch OT, St. John’s (MN)
Bartch has been gaining ground on some other tackle prospects since the Senior Bowl. He’s another guy that has a great frame for his position. As a former tight end, he should be able to give teams the athleticism wanted in a blindside protector. Start looking for him in the third.
Adam Trautman TE, Dayton
Another small school guy makes the Day 2 players to watch list. Trautman impressed me at Senior Bowl practices. I think he’s a balanced tight end with good hands. Will make an excellent red-zone player. Does the little things and works hard. He also a former QB, so you know he can understand an offense. We’ll see if he gets picked tonight or slips into Day 3.
Josh Jones OT, Houston
Stock riser from the Senior Bowl. Many thought he could go in the first round, which seems to be a common theme the more I write. He has a great frame for an NFL tackle at 6’7″ 310 lbs. Seems to be more of a pass blocker at this stage, but a team will get a steal if they can develop him.
Jason Strowbridge DL, North Carolina
Another versatile defensive lineman. Many experts have him listed as a DT, but he also played some DE at the Senior Bowl. He’s a great athlete with a lot of potential, kind of like a less-polished Epenesa. May last until day 3, but would be a great addition for teams that miss on the Iowa defensive lineman.
Grant Delpit S, LSU
High-potential player, who slipped because his season did not take the forward leap many were expecting. Can be very physical and has ball-hawk instincts. Great Day 2 value for a player that was once considered a lock for the top 15.
Those are my Day 2 players to watch. There are many, many more I could have included, but these are the guys that interest me the most.