#221: Dash To The Draft 2020 (Latest Insider Buzz with Connor Rogers)

1. Last night, Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini reported that despite a unamious recommendation from GM’s to delay the draft due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the NFL held firm in its plans to hold the draft April 23-25 as originally scheduled. One of the main concerns GM’s had was the disadvantage of some teams in areas that are currently hotbeds for Covid-19 (i.e.: NY/NJ area) having to draft from home with others still being able to use their team facilities. That said, the league is also ordering all team facilities to be closed from tonight through April 8 at the very least, which could signal that all 32 clubs might have to conduct the draft from home. Do you think that’s the case? If yes, would you say the draft occurs as scheduled and if not, how much does that increase the odds of the draft being pushed back?

2. As you and others have reported recently, arguably the biggest prospect whose stock is in limbo due to Covid-19 is Tua Tagovailoa. Since there will be no med re-checks, many QB-needy teams might have additional pause about drafting him. Should the Dolphins opt to select Justin Herbert instead and the Chargers decide to take an OT at 6 overall, how far can you see Tua falling?

3. There is expected to be a lot of wheeling and dealing early and often in this draft. As of January, the consensus belief was that Joe Burrow and Chase Young would go first and second overall, respectively, and the draft would essentially begin at #3 overall with the Lions likely trading down. However, there was buzz coming out of the Combine that the Redskins may move down from two and there’s even some chatter that the Bengals may even trade down from one overall in a blockbuster deal with the Dolphins. Do you still believe the Lions are the most likely of those three teams to trade down or is that buzz surrounding Cincinnati and Washington real?

4. Another spot in the draft where things can get really wild, as Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff hinted weeks ago in a radio interview, is around the range from picks 9-11 to picks 20-22. A big reason why? Wide receivers. Although this is arguably the deepest, most talented WR class in years, there is a pretty sizeable drop-off in terms of tiers from the top three WR prospects: Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb. The Jaguars at nine and the Jets at 11 have been mentioned as trade back candidates given the alarming holes all over their respective rosters, and the Browns at 10, since they are back to a more analytics-driven approach, have been mentioned as a possible candidate to trade back as well. And look at the amount of WR-needy teams picking behind the Jets: the Raiders (12, 19), 49ers (13), Broncos (15), Eagles (21), and the Vikings (22, 25). Out of the three trade back candidates (JAX, CLE, NYJ), which one do you see as most likely to move back and which of those teams urgently in need of immediate WR help do you see as their most likely trading partner?

5. LISTENER QUESTION: What should the Packers game plan be for the draft?

6. LISTENER QUESTION:  What do you think the Bears to do with their two second-round picks?