From Oregon and Washington manning heavy loads to Cal reloading and a potential first-round draft pick at Stanford, the west coast is loaded with cornerback talent heading into the 2020 season. Top Talent: Javaris Davis, Auburn. I'm shocked Javaris Davis did not get a Senior Bowl invite. He is undersized at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, but he is one of the best pure cover corners in this 2020 class. His speed, quickness and fluidity in man coverage allows him to consistently stay attached to a wide receiver's hip pocket, vertically.

Player value is in the eye of the beholder, and certainly in the eyes of the team decision-makers selecting a draft prospect. When the Seahawks took Richard Sherman in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, Sherman was a lightly-regarded cornerback and ex-receiver with embryonic coverage skills, but he was also a perfect fit for Pete Carroll’s single-high coverage schemes, which require his cornerbacks to be aggressive off the line of scrimmage and to cover at a lockdown rate down the boundary. Because he was in the right place, Sherman was able to become the pre-eminent cover cornerback of his era.

The Bengals stole Georgia defensive tackle Geno Atkins in the fourth round of the 2010 draft because Atkins was allegedly undersized. But that organization understood that Atkins’ height (6-foot-1) also amounted to leverage, and Atkins used his leverage, not to mention his play speed and hand technique, to make eight Pro Bowls and amass 75.5 sacks, 171 quarterback hits, and 100 tackles for loss.

So, when it comes to deciding right off the bat who’s a draft steal, opportunity takes a part. Scheme fit and coaching are important. And talent will out in the right place. With all that in mind, here are the draft picks in 2020 we think have the best opportunities to outpace where they were actually selected.

Buffalo Bills: RB Zack Moss

Selected in the third round with the 86th overall pick, Moss may have fallen on some boards due to the perception that he doesn’t have open-field speed, but the tape tells a different story. Last season, Moss was the most formidable force in the NCAA when it came to broken tackles. He eluded defenders 89 times and gained 1,042 yards after contact as a runner and receiver. Moss brings Marshawn Lynch (who the Bills selected in the first round of the 2007 draft) to mind because he’s not just a brickhouse running back — he also has speed and agility, and can be a winner in the passing game. He’ll be an ideal complement to Devin Singletary as a power back who can rip off chunk plays, add to the play-action game, and give Josh Allen one more target to help him succeed.

Arizona Cardinals: RB Eno Benjamin

I gave the Cardinals an A+ for their draft because it looked great and filled needs from top to bottom. But beyond Isaiah Simmons, Josh Jones (more about him later) and mid-round defensive tackles Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence (not to mention stealing DeAndre Hopkins from the Texans for their second-round pick), is the seventh-round selection of Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin. In Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, anyone who can create explosive plays will be given the opportunity, and Benjamin can certainly do that. Last season, he forced 62 missed tackles and had 11 carries of 15 yards or more on 235 attempts. He’s not an every-down back, but if you get the ball in his hands in space, Benjamin can absolutely add the specter of the big play to an offense that’s loading up for more of those.

Washington Redskins: RB/WR Antonio Gibson

Limited sample size had Gibson, the Memphis alum, dropping to the 66th overall pick in the third round, but there’s no denying his explosive ability as both a receiver and returner. Last season, he broke 16 tackles on his 33 rushing attempts, and 17 tackles on his 38 catches. Imagine DK Metcalf also playing running back, and you’ll understand his athletic potential in the right system. Washington head coach Ron Rivera has intimated that the Redskins could use Gibson as the Panthers, Rivera’s former team, used Christian McCaffrey as a do-it-all weapon.

New York Jets: WR Denzel Mims

The Jets are in desperate need of targets for quarterback Sam Darnold, and they got a serious steal in the Baylor product with the 59th overall pick in the second round. Mims may not have an ideal command of the full route tree yet, but when you get the ball in his hands, good things happen. At 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, he has the vertical ability and physicality to make the contested catch, and he can burn defenders downfield. Imagine Josh Gordon without the unfortunate off-field issues, and that’s what Mims looks like.

Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Laviska Shenault, Jr.

The Jaguars want to be a balanced team between the run and pass, and that’s what makes Shenault such an interesting pick for them with the 42nd overall pick in the second round. He does need work on route complexity, but he’s also ridiculous athlete with remarkable after-catch potential who will be a real force in a multi-tiered passing game where he can take quick passes to the house as he works on the nuances of his position. He’s also got the size and physicality to line up in backfield packages.

Arizona Cardinals: OT Josh Jones

The Cardinals had an A+ draft from start to finish — they took Clemson defender Isaiah Simmons with the eighth overall pick, traded their second-round pick for DeAndre Hopkins (we are obligated to run this picture of Texans shot-caller Bill O’Brien whenever we mention this trade…)

…and in the third round, with the 72nd overall pick, they were somehow able to pluck Josh Jones out of thin air. Jones may need a little work on his functional strength, but one could also argue that he is the best pass protector in the 2020 draft class. Per Pro Football Focus, Jones allowed just 18 total pressures on 1,282 pass blocking snaps through three seasons with the Cougars. Kyler Murray now has a full quiver of weapons, and his pass pro has improved exponentially.

Buffalo Bills: DL A.J. Epenesa

The Bills come into 2020 with a fine defense, but they needed to get younger and stronger on the edge, and they did that by taking Epenesa, the Iowa alum, with the 54th overall pick in the second round. When you watch pass-rushers, you tend to want them to explode off the tape. And perhaps that’s why Epenesa fell out of the first round. His production has been highly impressive — he had 58 total pressures in 2019 — but he’s smoother and more powerful than he is quick. Epenesa also has the strength to kick inside, which will make him an ideal force in Sean McDermott’s defense. Epenesa brings Trey Flowers to mind with his ability to press guards with power and surprise tackles with technique.

New Orleans Saints: EDGE/LB Zack Baun

Baun was one of my favorite players to watch in this class, and he goes to a perfect schematic fit in New Orleans. He can be deployed to rush the passer from the line of scrimmage, which he did with 53 total pressures for Wisconsin last season. He can also run and cover as an off-ball linebacker, which he did 195 times over the last two seasons, allowing just 112 yards in receptions. Perhaps other teams didn’t know how to deploy Baun, which is why he dropped to the 10th pick in the third round, but expect Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to add Baun as both an edge defender and a space player — and both to the benefit of his defense in a big hurry.

Atlanta Falcons: DI Marlon Davidson

How did Davidson last until the 47th overall pick in the second round, despite all kinds of first-round tape? At 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds, Davidson may be considered too much of a “tweener” for some teams, especially as an edge-rusher, which is what he did a lot in college. But he should do well at the next level as an undersized interior guy, best-served working between the center’s outside shoulder and the tackle’s inside shoulder. He’ll put up a ton of pressures in that role, and since he’ll be doing it for the Falcons, his chances for success are higher. Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn is one of the NFL’s more creative thinkers when it comes to multi-gap defenders, and given Davidson’s ability to run gaps up and down the line, it’s a really nice fit.

Las Vegas Raiders: CB Amik Robertson

Coaches, scouts, and general managers can say all they want about their players, but if you really want to know what a franchise’s type is at any position, simply look at the moves they make. The Raiders of Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock made it abundantly clear in the 2020 draft just what kinds of cornerbacks they want with the first-round pick of Ohio State’s Damon Arnette in the first round, and Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson in the fourth round. Arnette is the bigger name and the bigger guy from the bigger school, but Robertson — who measured 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds at the scouting combine — has shown the ability and mentality to take on receivers much bigger than he is, and whether it’s from the slot or outside, he totaled 14 interceptions in his three-year college career. This team is going back to the future with its desire for cornerbacks who will get in the face of every receiver, win or lose.

Chicago Bears: CB Jaylon Johnson

When you watch tape with players, you gain insight into their processes in ways you just can’t with a standard interview. I had the opportunity to review plays this offseason with Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson, and the one thing about Johnson that made itself apparent above all else is that he just doesn’t do much of anything wrong. His consistency, coming as it does from comprehensive film study, allowed him to rack up seven interceptions to just three touchdowns allowed in a three-year collegiate career in which he was targeted 190 times, and never allowed an opponent passer rating higher than 57.6. The Bears somehow picked Johnson up with the 50th overall pick in the second round, and Johnson could be a starter from Day 1.

Dallas Cowboys: CB Trevon Diggs

Under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and with the departure of Byron Jones to Miami in free agency, the Cowboys have made their new cornerback paradigm very clear in the person of Diggs, the younger brother of former Vikings and current Bills receiver Stefon Diggs. The younger Diggs is the best press cornerback in this class, Diggs is a big, aggressive eraser in the Richard Sherman and Aqib Talib mold. He’s not quite to that level yet, but last season for Alabama, he allowed just 22 catches on 57 targets for 309 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 44.5.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Antoine Winfield Jr.

When I watched tape with Winfield, I was impressed most of all with the intelligence and tape study that allowed him to anticipate what opposing offenses were about to do by formation and tendency. The Buccaneers’ defense improved exponentially last season under Todd Bowles, but the safety positions, split between multiple candidates, allowed seven touchdowns to two interceptions, per Pro Football Focus, and far too many big plays allowed overall. Size and injury concerns may have dropped Winfield down a lot of boards, but to get a player who could be the next Earl Thomas if he stays healthy with the 45th overall pick in the second round amounts to highway robbery. Last season, he allowed 11 catches on 22 targets, intercepted seven passes, and forced two incompletions — which means that, whether he was playing in the box, the slot, or the deep third, opposing quarterbacks were almost better off throwing the ball into the stands than they were when targeting the Minnesota alum.

New York Jets: S Ashtyn Davis

The Jets wisely exercised safety Jamal Adams’ fifth-year option, but Adams wants a new payday, and the two sides don’t seem on the same page at this point. Contractual issues aside, any team could use another deep-third defender, and as good as Adams is at that, he played more than 100 more snaps in the box last season (401) than he did at the free safety position. Moving Adams around is the best thing for the Jets’ defense, which leaves the need for a legitimate deep-third safety. Somehow, they were able to get Davis with the fourth pick in the third round, and Davis has the range, field smarts, and ball skills to take that on. Suddenly, a defense on the bubble at several positions looks to have an extremely dynamic safety duo — if they can get the Adams situation worked out.

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Best Slot Cornerbacks 2020 Draft Prospects

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