12:20 a.m. And... breathe. It started kind of slow, but got pretty interesting down the stretch. Also there were no major technical glitches or bugs, and the presentation from the NFL and ESPN was relatively smooth. All-in-all, a success for the league in a tough spot. And that’s before we get the tv ratings tomorrow.
The Packers drafting who they would want to be Aaron Rodgers’s successor instead of giving him a player in a loaded wide receiver draft is one storyline. So is 15 SEC players being selected, a record for any conference in the first round. After a very slow start, there were eight first-round picks traded, well over the 5.5 total on the board. And if you had running backs under 0.5 in the first round... that is a brutal bad beta with Clyde Edwards-Helaire going last to the Chiefs.
We’ll say thanks for tonight, and check back tonight and tomorrow as we begin to process what all this means.
12:08 a.m. Kansas City Chiefs: #32 Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The LSU running back will give another dimension to the Chiefs running game, and he’ll be able to make an impact right away. He was also +500 to be taken in the first round, and +300 to be the first RB taken.
12:04 a.m. Minnesota Vikings: #31 Jeff Gladney. Gladney was a -121 to be picked in the first round, but his being from TCU means the SEC prop of under 15.5 is a lock. Also we are now in WEIRD DRAFT TIME on the east coast.
11:53 p.m. Miami Dolphins: #30 Noah Igbinoghene. The Auburn product was not on the first round over/under board, and the DB keeps the chance for the SEC to get half the picks in the first round.
11:48 p.m. Tennessee Titans: #29 Isaiah Wilson. An offensive lineman from Georgia that is just massive, Wilson was -177 to be picked in the first round. That’s 13 SEC picks in the first round...
11:46 p.m. Baltimore Ravens: #28 Patrick Queen. Another LSU starter from the 2019 champions is off the board, and he heads to a team that’s had elite linebacking play for about two decades. He def fell back here, and was set at 19.5 as his over/under pick spot. The Ravens for sure be thrilled with what they got here.
He’s also the 12th SEC player to be taken in the first round. One more would be a record, but the over/under was an astonishing 15.5 selections from the nation’s top conference. They’d need all of the final four picks to be from one of the leagues 14 schools to hit the over now.
11:36 p.m. Seattle Seahawks: #27 Jordyn Brooks. A speedy linebacker, the ‘Hawks get a talent here. But he’s not even given a spot as an over/under for the first round. Perhaps a bit of a reach here by Pete Carroll.
11:27 p.m. Green Bay Packers: #26 Jordan Love. AARON RODGERS, YOUR THOUGHTS?? For Love he gets to learn behind a legend, just as Rodgers once did for Brett Favre. Rodgers famously had a contentious relationship with Favre during his maturation process, will he be willing to nurture the huge-ceiling of Love, the Utah State product? We got one of the most interesting picks of the night at a shade before 11:30 p.m ET.
11:23 p.m. Another trade! The over 5.5 first-round picks traded gets there! The Green Bay Packers are now picking at 26 instead of the Miami Dolphins, who move back to 30th and also add #136 from the Pack as well.
11:17 p.m. San Francisco 49ers: #25 Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk was -115 to be picked in the first round, and the Arizona State Sun Devil should have more opportunity to touch the ball from Jimmy Garopollo than he did from freshman Jayden Daniels, the least accurate QB in the Pac-12.
11:13 p.m. And we have another trade! The Vikings have swapped their pick with the 49ers, picking up the #31, #117 and #176 for No. 25. And Minnesota will still be available at 31 later in first round. It’s the fourth and fifth first-round picks that have been traded, and the over/under here was 5.5. It’s getting close!
11:09 p.m. New Orleans Saints: #24 Cesar Ruiz. Not a bad way to start your career by snapping the ball to Drew Brees. Ruiz was an elite center at Michigan. He was -200 to be taken in the first round, and he’ll head right to a contender with a chance to win immediately.
11:03 p.m. Los Angeles Chargers: #23 Kenneth Murray. A four-year starter for the Oklahoma Sooners, he’s an outstanding run-stuffer with some speed, though his coverage skills might be a bit in question. His over under was 19.5, so the over comfortably gets there.
11:01 p.m. And we have another trade! The Patriots have traded back (surprise!), and the Chargers take over in this spot. In exchange Bill Belichek gets the #37 and #71 overall choices from LAC.
10:56 p.m. Washington Professional Football Team: #22 Justin Jefferson. The fifth wide receiver off the board, we’re now getting close to see whether the over/under 5.5 WR’s taken in the first round gets there. Jefferson himself was set at 21.5 as his over under, so congrats to those who didn’t believe and went over. You just cashed your +150 ticket, and barely considering the Eagles took a WR too.
10:50 p.m. Philadelphia Eagles: #21 Jalen Reagor. Perhaps a bit of a reach, as his over/under was set at 33.5. Reagor was also -143 to be taken in the first round at all. He’s for sure a freak athlete, but can he win against the better athletes at the pro level?? His numbers at TCU cannot be denied however, but TCU was also pretty bad at football last season.
10:42 p.m. Jacksonville Jaguars: #20 K’Lavon Chaisson. Part of the national champions from LSU, Chaisson goes well over his projection over/under of 15.5. But he’s an edge rusher with excellent get-off, and should contribute right away.
10:35 p.m. Las Vegas Raiders: #19 Damon Arnette. Another OSU defensive player goes in the first round after Chase Young and Jeff Okudah. He’s certainly a reach, as his going in the first round pays +200 to backers.
As a bonus, Roger Goodell announces that Las Vegas will host the 2021 NFL Draft, as tonight’s event was cancelled in person due to Covid-19.
10:29 p.m. Miami Dolphins: #18 Austin Jackson. The big man out of USC stays warm, and will protect Tua for the Fins. The stacks of picks Miami has in this draft has started to pay off, and we’ll see if they can continue to build a team that might be able to compete pretty soon. Jackson coming in at 18 is under 25.5, which means +110 for his backers that thought he’d go early.
10:18 p.m. Dallas Cowboys: #17 Cee Dee Lamb. Jerry Jones gets an absolute gift and all he had to do was take the best player on the board. Lamb is the most complete receiver in the draft, and now he’ll have Amari Cooper taking pressure off him on the other side with Michael Gallup too. With Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield, there’s probably not a more skill-talented team in the league. The Cowboys were +3300(!!) to get Lamb. What a stroke of luck.
10:14 p.m. Atlanta Falcons: #16 AJ Terrell. Part of an elite Brent Venables defense at Clemson the last two seasons, Terrell gets to stay in his hometown with the Falcons. His coming in under 19.5 means a +125 payday for bettors.
10:04 p.m. Denver Broncos: #15 Jerry Jeudy. An elite receiver still being available at #15, but his technical receiver skills are outstanding, and no one in college football makes more of their catch radius. He goes to the team that was the favorite to take him at +300 odds, and he can be a game breaker right away.
9:59 p.m. San Francisco 49ers: #14 Javon Kinlaw. An elite run-stuffer and pass rusher at South Carolina, he’ll be an impact addition for a team that was just in the Super Bowl. And the trade means the Niners end up picking up a 4th round pick for a 7th. And look at John Lynch fleecing his previous team for some added value here!
9:51 p.m. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: #13 Tristan Wirfs. An OT that can really set an edge, he’ll help protect Tom Brady and Tompa Bay offense, which should need a ton of pass blocking with all the pass catchers they’ll have available. The Bucs were +700 to end up with Wirfs, but his over/under was 8.5. Going as late as #13 means the +130 on over was a great wager.
9:48 p.m. A TRADE! It looks like the 49ers and Bucs are swapping spots at #13 and #14 here. Is Bucs GM Jason Licht getting owned yet again? Whatever he’s giving up here, at least he’s not taking a kicker in the second round that won’t be on the team 18 months later.
9:43 p.m. Las Vegas Raiders: #12 Henry Ruggs III. He’s by far the fastest player in the draft, and he’s also got the ball skills and route-running to be a great receiver. But him being the first WR off the board is a bit of a stunner. It’s a huge class, but in the tradition of Al Davis, the Raiders took a top-off wide receiver. Whether in Oakland, LA, or Vegas, some things never change for the Silver and Black.
Ruggs III was +600 to go to LV, and +400 to be the first WR taken by anyone.
9:35 p.m. New York Jets: #11 Mekhi Becton. When you say that guy is a “unit,” Mekhi Becton is what you mean. A 5.1 40-yard dash at 367 pounds, he’s going to flatten people in the future. The ceiling here is as high as it can be for the Louisville Card, and he was +700 to be taken by the Jets.
9:30 p.m. Cleveland Browns: #10 Jedrick Wills. For a guy that had the chance to go in the Top 5 here, a bit of a fall off especially considering Andrew Thomas is the only OL taken in front of him. Wills was -150 to be the first OL off the board, but he cashes as the Browns first selection at +900 in a bit of surprise. Cleveland fans have to be pleased here in getting a big talent and more protection for Baker Mayfield.
9:25 p.m. Jacksonville Jaguars: #9 CJ Henderson. The Gators had an elite defense last season, and this was the guy that made them go. Has the chance to be a shutdown corner in the league for a long time, and though some Jags fans might have wanted a lineman to sure up that position, they’re getting what could be the best talent left on the board here. For a team with multiple needs, the pick makes sense.
9:23 p.m. Something to keep in mind here: there was a line for total Draft Day trades involving first round picks at 5.5, over -121 under even. We’re almost through the Top 10, and we’re at zero. Will people start making a run at the huge wide receiver class now?
9:16 p.m. Arizona Cardinals: #8 Isaiah Simmons. Gift! This guy is an absolute freak, and can do anything on defense. What he did in a pair of national championship games is incredible, and he can put a hand on the ground and bullrush just as easily as open his hips in a backpedal. The Cardinals have to be thrilled he fell to this spot. Him going in the Top 10 was -400, but he was -10000 to be the first linebacker taken.
9:12 p.m. Carolina Panthers: #7 Derrick Brown. A mild surprise here, but he’s a fit with the run-stuffer Matt Rhule will need in the pivot to run his signature defense. A monster athlete at Auburn, he was +300 to head to the Panthers before the draft.
9:04 p.m. Los Angeles Chargers: #6 Justin Herbert. The Oregon quarterback will be asked to replace a Hall-of-Famer in Philip Rivers, and though he might not have the ceiling of the first two QB’s taken, he’s also got a pretty high floor. Herbert was +175 to go to LA, and Tua was actually ahead of him at +125.
8:57 p.m. Miami Dolphins: #5 Tua Tagovaiola. BIENVENIDO A MIAMI! The Dolphins needed Tua as much as Tua needed a young team he can grow with. He gives them a face that can sell tickets (an issue for a team with a stadium pretty far outside the core of the city) and be the biggest face in South Florida sports since Dwyane Wade.
Tua was -125 to be picked by the Fish, and this is a big one.
8:48 p.m. New York Giants: #4 Andrew Thomas. WE’VE BEEN GETTLEMAN’ED! Two years in a row the Giants take a guy that’s a reach instead of trading down and getting another asset. Unreal. Thomas is a very good player, but if you want him move back four spots and get an asset! He was +500 on the board before the draft to be the NYG first pick, but some of that value had to include them moving back in a trade.
8:40 p.m. Detroit: #3, Jeff Okudah. The Lions don’t even use all of their clock and they go with Jeff Okudah, the shutdown corner from Ohio State. He was the favorite for this spot, but the Lions were thought to be a trade candidate in this spot.
Now the Giants are on the clock: do they take an O-lineman, or do they trade back here and let someone sneak ahead of the Dolphins who seem to like Tua?
8:35 p.m. Washington: #2, Chase Young. Congrats to anyone that put down $10,000 to win $100 on him being second pick. But now we’re watching Young highlights and they are a reminder of how terrifying this guy can be on defense.
Now it gets interesting. Detroit is on the clock. Do they trade back, or use it and take an offensive lineman? But Jeff Okudah is +150 to go third, and Tua Tagovaiola is +250, which is likely the result of a trade.
8:30 p.m. And now we’re on to Chase Young, heading to Washington. He’s a freak athlete with a huge motor, and appears to love contact. If he stays healthy, he could anchor an NFL defense for a decade.
Can’t wait to see how Daniel Snyder and the Washington Professional Football Team screw up the early part of his career.
8:23 p.m. Cincinnati: #1, Joe Burrow. Fade the Bengals every game this season. No organization that does this to America can be supported. And yes, they have finally selected Burrow.
8:18 p.m. Why hasn’t Burrow been picked yet? Why hasn’t Cincinnati called in their selection? Why are the talking heads on ESPN talking about Tua already?
8:08 p.m. We’ve gotten an intro from Roger Goodell, a moment of silence for those we’ve lost during this crisis, and the national anthem from Harry Connick Jr.
Also we’re not afraid around here at DK Nation: Burrow is going first. We printed it already. We dare you to “Dewey Defeats Truman” us, Bengals.
7:25 p.m. YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE at a television in your living room because you’re likely not allowed be anywhere else. But we are here for what could possibly be the most watched NFL Draft in history, and the injection of technology via social distancing measures means this could get weird. Can’t wait!
We’ll be here all evening long, with an emphasis on the wagering odds around the picks as well as the fantasy implications of the selections. Jump in the comments if you’re following along at home!
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The 2020 NFL Draft gets underway at 8 p.m. ET tonight on ABC, with streaming on Watch ESPN. The Cincinnati Bengals have the first pick and will take Joe Burrow, the Washington Professional Football Team should take Chase Young at #2 — and then it gets fun. The Detroit Lions are believed to be looking to move down, and if that happens, chaos shall begin.
We’ll be here all night long, so order some takeout from your favorite local restaurant, and get your wagers in now! We’ll be here to break down each pick and what it means for betting odds and fantasy football. Follow along!
Here’s the order of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft before the horse-swapping begins after 8 p.m.:
1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. Washington
3. Detroit Lions
4. New York Giants
5. Miami Dolphins
6. Los Angeles Chargers
7. Carolina Panthers
8. Arizona Cardinals
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
10. Cleveland Browns
11. New York Jets
12. Las Vegas Raiders
13. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. Denver Broncos
16. Atlanta Falcons
17. Dallas Cowboys
18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh)
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago)
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)
21. Philadelphia Eagles
22. Minnesota (from Buffalo)
23. New England Patriots
24. New Orleans Saints
25. Minnesota Vikings
26. Miami Dolphins (from Houston)
27. Seattle Seahawks
28. Baltimore Ravens
29. Tennessee Titans
30. Green Bay Packers
31. San Francisco 49ers
32. Kansas City Chiefs