The 2020 NFL Draft is complete, and it included three Texas Longhorns—all senior captains last season.
Safety Brandon Jones, and receivers Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson have new homes in the NFL.
Here’s how each should fit with their pro teams and what to expect in their rookie seasons.
(Be sure to scroll down for the Facebook Live chat with Steven Ngati of Fanatic Perspective!)
Brandon Jones, Miami Dolphins (Rnd 3, Pick 6)
Brandon Jones was the first Longhorn off the board at pick #70 to the Dolphins.
Miami traded defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers last year. He had an All-Pro season.
Defensive back is a soft spot for the Miami defense, allowing more passing touchdowns than any other team in 2019.
Brandon instantly brings experience, versatility and leadership to a defense lacking all three. He can play corner or free safety depending on the offensive matchup.
Welcome to the squad @BlessedJones33!
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 25, 2020
📺 Watch the Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/tzOwKU2T1U
Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens (Rnd 3, Pick 28)
Catching passes from the NFL MVP on the best team during the regular season last year… you can’t wish for much more.
The Ravens are not a pass-focused offense. Thy ranked dead last in pass attempts in 2019.
Their top pass catcher last season was tight end Mark Andrews, who had 852 yards.
They also added Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins, who was a ridiculous steal late in the second round. That move shows how committed they are to the run game.
So, where does Dev fit? Well, he joins two receivers drafted last season. Marquise Brown was the #1 receiver selected in the 2019 draft. He totaled 584 yards and seven touchdowns. Myles Boykin had just 13 catches.
Here are Baltimore’s top four pass catchers last year:
Pos Catch Yds YPC TDs
Mark Andrews TE 64 852 13.3 10
Marquise Brown WR 46 584 12.7 7
Hayden Hurst TE 30 349 11.6 2
Willie Snead WR 31 339 10.9 5
There’s room for a receiver to step up and produce. Devin could be lethal in the slot for an offense build to maximize QB Lamar Jackson’s natural talent to keep defenses guessing.
He could use a reliable pass catcher wish sure hand and the ability to exploit open spots in zone defenses. We might even see Dev line up in the backfield.
I don’t see any Ravens receiver consistently getting 1,000-plus yards per season over the next few years considering how they run their offense. But that doesn’t mean Dev can’t be a significant weapon on one of the NFL’s best teams.
2020 Projection: 40 Catches, 530 yards, 5 touchdowns
"He's someone who can ALWAYS come up with the big play."
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 25, 2020
With pick No. 92, we have selected @Dev_Duv5‼️
Tune into the #NFLDraft on ESPN, NFL Network and ABC. pic.twitter.com/FuMjrNDMjD
Collin Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars (Rnd 5, Pick 20)
Collin Johnson fell to the 20th pick of the fifth round, and was the second receiver drafted by the Jaguars, who picked up Colorado’s Laviska Shenault in the second round.
The Jaguars were not good last year, finishing 6-10 and last in the AFC South.
But they have talented, young offensive players, including a surprise emerging quarterback in Gardner Minshew.
DJ Chark was a Pro Bowl receiver last season with more than 1,000 yards and eight TDs. Chris Conley and Dede Westbrook each totaled more than 600 yards. Leonard Fournette is a legit receiving threat at running back with more than 500 yards.
Pos Catch Yds YPC TDs
DJ Chark* WR 73 1008 13.8 8
Chris Conley WR 47 775 16.5 5
Dede Westbrook WR 66 660 10 3
Leonard Fournette RB 76 522 6.9 0
Keelan Cole WR 24 361 15 3
So, the offense was able to spread the ball around, which is pretty rare for a rookie quarterback.
Collin will be the team’s tallest receiver, and likely will be used in red zone situations to out-body smaller defensive backs. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he lines up some at tight end.
I don’t see him getting many chances this season unless injuries begin hitting the receivers. Fellow rookie Shenault is not a small receiver, but he also didn’t rack up a lot of yards or touchdowns in college.
2020 Projection: 16 Catches, 215 yards, 2 touchdowns
Jacksonville, IM READY!! 🐆 pic.twitter.com/KGhlAi61KI
— Collin Johnson (@Call_In_Johnson) April 25, 2020
