Thought it might be fun to analyze my draft a year later.
Round 1, Pick 5 - Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Actual - Round 1, Pick 8 to Arizona
Simmons had a slow start to the year, which I think we largely expected given how many different roles he is expected to be able to fluctuate between. He struggled to get playing time early before a critical pick on Russell Wilson in overtime during week seven. His playing time started to tick up from there, and he flashed some nice signs of the player he could become over the remainder of the season.
Who should I have picked? Justin Herbert, QB,
Round 1, Pick 18 - Austin Jackson, OT, Southern Cal
Actual - Round 1, Pick 18 to Miami
This one is notable, because Miami actually picked Jackson with this pick. He played on 79% of the snaps as a rookie and, as best I can tell, was called for two penalties and allowed four sacks over thirteen games. That sounds like a pretty successful season as an NFL tackle who played on almost 80% of his team's snaps, and that's doubly true considering that Jackson was looked at as a developmental prospect at tackle.
Round 1, Pick 19 - Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Actual - Round 1, Pick 22 to Minnesota
I think it's safe to say that I nailed this pick, as Jefferson went on to have the NFL's all time best rookie season at WR. Realistically, I should have swapped Jefferson and Jackson, but both picks were on point.
Round 2, Pick 39 - Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
Actual - Round 2, Pick 53 to Philadelphia
The grade on this pick is going to have to wait at least another year, as Hurts only ended up playing in about four games after Wentz self-destructed. He wasn't particularly amazing in those games, but he did have two three hundred yard games, which is one more than Wentz had in his thirteen games under center. There's a solid chance that Hurts will get his shot at the Eagles' starting gig in 2021, so we should no more by this time next year.
Round 2, Pick 56 - Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Actual - Round 2, Pick 41 to Indianapolis
It appears all of my fantasy research has paid off in one respect...I got the two best non-QB skill position guys at their respective positions in the draft (based on rookie production). Taylor struggled a bit early in the 2020 season as he adjusted to the NFL, and even had people comparing him to Trent Richardson, but he went nuclear in the back half of the season, including a game where he rushed for 253 yards on 8.4 yards per carry. Turns out it sometimes takes guys a bit of time to learn a new running scheme.
Round 3, Pick 70 - Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
Actual - Round 1, Pick 32 to Kansas City
In retrospect, this is one I'd probably do over. Not that I think CEH is bad or anything. He had a solidly productive rookie year, although bafflingly the Chiefs opted to barely use him in the passing game when his main strength is making guys miss in space. I envisioned him and Taylor as a thunder and lightning combo that could work on the field at the same time, as CEH can run routes like a receiver and Taylor entered the league as the best RB prospect since Barkley a few years back. That being said, this pick probably should have been used on a defender, or perhaps another WR.
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In hindsight, Herbert is the obvious pick at five. If I take him there and then use the Hurts and CEH picks on defensive players, that's a damn near perfect draft. Still, every player other than Hurts, who wasn't intended to start in year one, had a productive rookie season. I'll take it.
Bring on the 2021 mock! Can I be Miami again? I want to keep building this team up.