Sleeper edge rushers in 2020 NFL Draft
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks and Rhett Lewis offered up three sleeper edge rushers that could likely be had in the middle or late rounds of next week's draft.
First up is Alabama's Anfernee Jennings, who enjoyed a strong senior season for the Crimson Tide. Jennings finished the year with 83 tackles (45 solo), 8.0 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one interception and five passes defended, and was named First-Team All-SEC. Jennings totaled 13.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.
Next is Florida's Jonathan Greenard, whose performance this past season earned him First-Team All-SEC honors. Greenard collected 53 tackles (27 solo), 10.0 sacks, 16.0 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, an interception and four passes defended. In the last two seasons, Greenard had a total of 17.0 sacks and 31.5 tackles for loss, as well as four forced fumbles.
The third sleeper pick is Michigan State's Kenny Willekes. Willekes put together a solid career for the Spartans, earning Third-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 before being named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2018 and 2019. The edge rusher was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2018 after finishing the year with 78 total tackles, 8.0 sacks, 20.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and four passes defended. Willekes followed that up with yet another strong showing last year, ending the season with 78 tackles (31 solo), 10.0 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown. Willekes holds the school record with 51 career tackles for loss.
NFL Network lists boom or bust prospects
Nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the NFL Draft. While some prospects could be considered "safer" picks than others, a draft pick cannot be truly judged until he gets onto the field. However, in each draft class, there are certainly some players that come with more risk than others.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks and Rhett Lewis each selected a boom or bust prospect in this year's draft. As Lewis explains it, a boom or bust prospect is a guy "with a little bit of a risk factor, considering maybe where they came from or the system that they played in."
Jeremiah listed Baylor WR Denzel Mims as his choice, describing him as "a very talented wide receiver, but a little bit raw." Mims' performance in 2019 earned him First-Team All-Big 12 honors after he caught 66 passes for 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns. Mims came in at No. 45 on Jeremiah's latest top 50 prospect rankings.
Brooks selected LSU EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson as his boom or bust prospect. As Brooks states, "I love the athleticism, I love the burst, I haven't seen consistent production, so I just worry about his ability to translate that athleticism to dominant production as a pro." Chaisson was named First-Team All-SEC last year, finishing the season with 60 tackles (34 solo), 6.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and two passes defended. Chaisson is No. 25 in Jeremiah's rankings.
Lewis went with Oklahoma DT Neville Gallimore as his pick, stating "I see the activity, but I don't see the productivity." Gallimore was selected as Second-Team All-Big 12 in 2019 after he recorded 29 tackles (17 solo), 4.0 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one pass defended. Gallimore fell out of Jeremiah's Top 50 rankings after coming in at No. 45 last month.
Dane Brugler's seven-round mock draft has Giants going OT at No. 4
With the 2020 NFL Draft just over a week away, The Athletic's Dane Brugler released his first and only seven-round mock draft. Brugler predicted a familiar name to the Giants at No. 4, as he believes Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs will be the pick. As the NFL draft analyst states, "The Giants' decision could come down to their highest-ranked tackle or a defensive playmaker like Isaiah Simmons. One of the reasons I think they will lean toward tackle is the impact that will make on other recent first-round picks like Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones."
Here are Brugler's predictions for the Giants' remaining nine draft picks.
Round 2, Pick 36 - Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa
Round 3, Pick 99 - South Carolina WR Bryan Edwards - "Out of sight and out of mind – unfortunately that has been the theme of Edwards' draft process after injuries sidelined him for the Senior Bowl and combine. But teams know what type of competitor he is after his record-setting career for the Gamecocks."
Round 4, Pick 110 - XFL FS Kenny Robinson - "Robinson is expected to be drafted in the mid-rounds, which would make him the first XFL player selected in the NFL Draft."
Round 5, Pick 150 - San Diego State C Keith Ismael
Round 6, Pick 183 - California LB Evan Weaver
Round 7, Pick 218 - Georgia K Rodrigo Blankenship
Round 7, Pick 238 - Vanderbilt TE Jared Pinkney
Round 7, Pick 247 - South Carolina RB Rico Dowdle
Round 7, Pick 255 - FIU CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
View photos of every player projected to the Giants in mock drafts one week ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Clemson LB/S Isaiah Simmons
(AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Ohio State EDGE Chase Young
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri).
Alabama OT Jedrick Wills
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Louisville OT Mekhi Becton
(AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Georgia OT Andrew Thomas
(AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Wisconsin EDGE Zack Baun
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Boise State OT Ezra Cleveland
(AP Photo/Steve Conner)
Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray
(AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Alabama S Xavier McKinney
(AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Baylor WR Denzel Mims
(AP Photo/Jerry Larson)
Notre Dame EDGE Julian Okwara
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
LSU S Grant Delpit
(Logan Bowles via AP)
Alabama EDGE Terrell Lewis
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Utah CB Jaylon Johnson
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Michigan C Cesar Ruiz
(AP Photo/John Raoux)
LSU C Lloyd Cushenberry III
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
USC OT Austin Jackson
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Boise State EDGE Curtis Weaver
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
TCU OT Lucas Niang
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia OT Isaiah Wilson
(AP Photo/Brett Carlsen)
Michigan EDGE Josh Uche
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
California S Ashtyn Davis
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Wisconsin C Tyler Biadasz
(AP Photo/Mark Lomoglio)
Oregon LB Troy Dye
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Florida EDGE Jabari Zuniga
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Louisiana Tech CB Amik Robertson
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Missouri DT Jordan Elliott
(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
LSU OT Saahdiq Charles
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Utah EDGE Bradlee Anae
(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Wyoming LB Logan Wilson
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Texas S Brandon Jones
(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Auburn OT Prince Tega Wanogho
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Notre Dame EDGE Khalid Kareem
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Central Florida WR Gabriel Davis
(AP Photo/Mike Stone)
Syracuse EDGE Alton Robinson
(AP Photo/Will Newton)
Liberty WR Antonio Gandy-Golden
(AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
South Carolina WR Bryan Edwards
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Georgia S J.R. Reed
(AP Photo/John Amis)
Utah S Julian Blackmon
(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
XFL S Kenny Robinson
(AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)
UCLA TE Devin Asiasi
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Washington C Nick Harris
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Florida WR Van Jefferson
(AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
Utah S Terrell Burgess
(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Arizona State RB Eno Benjamin
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Texas WR Devin Duvernay
(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Clemson S K'Von Wallace
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri).
North Carolina DE Jason Strowbridge
(AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Penn State LB Cam Brown
(AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
SMU WR James Proche
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
San Diego State C Keith Ismael
(AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)
Notre Dame S Alohi Gilman
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Pittsburgh CB Dane Jackson
(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Temple CB Harrison Hand
(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
LSU TE Stephen Sullivan
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
California LB Evan Weaver
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Alabama EDGE Anfernee Jennings
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Oregon IOL Shane Lemieux
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Miami EDGE Jonathan Garvin
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Penn State CB John Reid
(AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Oregon State WR Isaiah Hodgins
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Oklahoma State CB A.J. Green
(AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)
Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus
(AP Photo/Bradley Leeb)
Vanderbilt RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Florida WR Tyrie Cleveland
(AP Photo/David Stephenson)
Notre Dame S Jalen Elliott
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Washington State WR Dezmon Patmon
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Clemson S Tanner Muse
(AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
North Dakota State EDGE Derrek Tuszka
(AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Miami CB Trajan Bandy
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Boise State G John Molchon
(AP Photo/Steve Conner)
Louisiana Lafayette RB Raymond Calais
(AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Miami RB DeeJay Dallas
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Vanderbilt TE Jared Pinkney
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
South Carolina RB Rico Dowdle
(AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Washington OT Trey Adams
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
FIU CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
(AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Washington RB Salvon Ahmed
(AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Nebraska LB Mohamed Barry
(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Texas Tech OT Terence Steele
(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Florida State CB Stanford Samuels III
(Tom DiPace via AP)
Georgia WR Lawrence Cager
(Tom DiPace via AP)
Oregon G Calvin Throckmorton
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Miami WR K.J. Osborn
(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Syracuse EDGE Kendall Coleman
(AP Photo/Will Newton)
Minnesota LB Kamal Martin
(AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
South Carolina IOL Donell Stanley
(AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Cincinnati RB Mike Warren
(AP Photo/John Minchillo)
TCU G Cordel Iwuagwu
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arkansas CB Kamren Curl
(AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Utah CB Javelin Guidry
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Michigan G Michael Onwenu
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Michigan QB Shea Patterson
(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Georgia K Rodrigo Blankenship
(AP Photo/John Raoux)
South Carolina EDGE D.J. Wonnum
(AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Colorado WR Tony Brown
(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Alabama S Shyheim Carter
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Stanford LB Casey Toohill
(AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Illinois State S Luther Kirk
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Miami LB Shaquille Quarterman
(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Texas DL Malcolm Roach
(AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
Portland State TE Charlie Taumoepeau
(AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Southern Mississippi WR Quez Watkins
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Illinois State RB James Robinson
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Michigan State QB Brian Lewerke
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Colorado OT Arlington Hambright
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Hawaii QB Cole McDonald
(AP Photo/Steve Conner)
