theScore's football editors evaluate who came away as the big winners and losers after the first 32 picks of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Winners: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins didn't have to "Tank for Tua" after all. Nor did they have to package their three first-round picks to finally land a franchise centerpiece. All they had to do was sit at No. 5 and wait for him to fall into their laps.
With the Round 1 fireworks behind us, it's apparent that much of the pre-draft chatter about medical concerns over Tua Tagovailoa's hip, wrists, and ankles was overblown, as was talk of the Dolphins preferring Justin Herbert or trying to trade up to land an offensive tackle. Perhaps the Dolphins leaked all three narratives themselves to obscure their desire to land the former Alabama star without surrendering additional compensation.
In the end, the Dolphins got their man. After a generation of searching for a player with the necessary skill and charisma to step out of Dan Marino's shadow, they might finally have done it.
Losers: Los Angeles Chargers
Aside from quarterback, the Chargers arguably had one of the league's most talented rosters entering the draft. They found their successor to Philip Rivers in Justin Herbert, but the jury is very much out on whether the former Oregon QB is worth the No. 6 pick. Moreover, Los Angeles stood pat and watched as Tagovailoa fell into the Dolphins' lap without the AFC East team even having to move up.
While Tagovailoa's long-term health remains a concern, he's far more pro-ready than Herbert and could have helped L.A. win now and sell tickets in a highly competitive sports market. The Chargers' second first-round selection of linebacker Kenneth Murray (after a trade that cost a second and a third) was just as questionable. The ex-Oklahoma standout is a physical specimen but is very raw in coverage - not a good trait for a team that shares a division with Patrick Mahomes. All in all, the Chargers might have whiffed on their best shot at challenging the Kansas City Chiefs in the foreseeable future.
Winner: Tom Brady
Prior to the first round, Brady had almost everything he could desire in Tampa Bay: an offensive-minded head coach, two Pro Bowl wide receivers, an ascending defense, and, of course, his BFF, Rob Gronkowski. But the 42-year-old's offensive line left something to be desired.
The Buccaneers went a long way toward ensuring their legendary quarterback will be kept clean by trading up one spot to select Tristan Wirfs at No. 13, the last of the consensus top four offensive tackles. The former Iowa standout will be plugged straight into the right tackle spot, where he played almost exclusively in college. With no weaknesses now on offense, Brady's chances of winning ring No. 7 are looking better by the minute.
Loser: Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers likely went to sleep Wednesday night dreaming of the many wide receiver prospects who could be available with the Green Bay Packers' first-round selection. But fast forward 24 hours, and Rodgers will now be greeting his potential successor in Jordan Love instead of a shiny new weapon.
Rodgers isn't going anywhere soon. He's contracted through the 2023 season, and the first financially sensible time the Packers can move on from the two-time MVP is after 2021. But make no mistake, at 36 years old Rodgers is entering the twilight of his storied career, and the Packers are clearly already planning for life after him.
Winners: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys came away with arguably the best wide receiver in a class loaded with standouts and didn't have to trade up from No. 17 to do so. CeeDee Lamb is polished enough to make an immediate impact, yet he has the upside to grow into a legitimate No. 1 option down the road. As a rookie, he'll round out one of the NFL's deepest groups of skill players, which features Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup out wide and Ezekiel Elliott next to Dak Prescott in the backfield.
Even sweeter for the Cowboys is that the addition of Lamb could alleviate pressure to re-sign Gallup in a couple of seasons when his rookie deal expires. With so many big-money contracts already on the books, Dallas may be in tough to keep the former third-rounder, who eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards one year ago. The Cowboys entered the draft needing to address their defensive secondary but can do that on Day 2.
Losers: Las Vegas Raiders
Mike Mayock appeared to extend his arms all night, less than 10 days after saying "the biggest mistake is trying to reach for need." At No. 12, he took Henry Ruggs III, who was widely considered the third-best receiver available after Lamb and Jerry Jeudy. The larger controversy came at No. 19 when he went off the board to select Damon Arnette, a projected Day 2 talent, after the top cornerbacks had been claimed.
Before the draft, Mayock said he'd be comfortable working virtually given his background as a TV analyst. But he appeared to panic when the Raiders went on the clock, selecting players he likely could still have gotten if he had traded down. He admitted afterward that Arnette would probably have lasted a while longer, but he didn't want to risk losing him. Mayock seemed to be equally jittery last year when he chose Clelin Ferrell fourth overall.
Winners: Offensive linemen
Big men were the belle of the ball on Day 1. Seven offensive linemen were selected, including four within the first 13 picks. Georgia, in particular, had two tackles selected in the first round: Andrew Thomas at fourth overall and Isaiah Wilson at No. 29.
In the position breakdown of players selected, offensive line led the way, followed by receivers at six picked. Those numbers represent the demand at the pro level for plug-and-play offensive linemen and the steep drop from the top prospects in this draft to the second tier.
Losers: Safeties
A position that once was thought to have two or perhaps three slam-dunk picks in the first round (Xavier McKinney, Grant Delpit, Antoine Winfield Jr.) was shut out on the first night of the draft.
The three aforementioned safeties were invited to participate in the NFL's virtual draft but were only seen sitting quietly with their loved ones as they watched the opening night unfold. McKinney, Delpit, and Winfield are good bets to be picked Friday, but they lost out on the millions that come with being a first-round selection.
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2020-04-24 06:09:36Z
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