The 2020 Draft

Talent at 8, the tackle at 72, and Hopkins already bought with the second-round pick.

• The need: right tackle for a quarterback sacked 48 times, then defensive tackle and tight end.
• The trades: none on the weekend; the second-round pick had gone to Houston for DeAndre Hopkins before it.
• The pick: Simmons at 8 with three tackles on the board; Jones at 72, 14th on PFF's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Every hole but the edge filled, and the first one filled early.

• The need: cornerback first, then edge rusher, defensive tackle and the interior line.
• The trades: none, the first draft in 13 years under Dimitroff without one.
• The pick: Terrell at 16, 61st on Kiper's board and 29th on PFF's; Davidson and Hennessy praised as value.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Queen at the slot, a trade down that bought a third-rounder, and value at nearly every pick.

• The need: inside linebacker, then receiver, the interior line after Yanda's retirement, and defensive tackle.
• The trades: 60 and 129 to New England for 71 and 98; 225 and a 2021 fifth to Minnesota for 201 and 219.
• The pick: Queen at 28 without moving up; all five Day 2 picks 20 or more spots higher on Kiper's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No first-round pick by choice, then the pass rusher and the back the roster named, both at value.

• The need: an edge rusher after the two leading sackers left, then running back.
• The trades: none on the weekend; the first-round pick had gone to Minnesota for Stefon Diggs.
• The pick: Epenesa at 54, 20th on PFF's board; Moss at 86, 50th on Kiper's.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Seven defenders, the best defensive tackle at 7, and one cheap move up for Chinn.

• The need: a defense rebuilt from the front, with guard and tight end the offensive holes.
• The trades: 69 and 148 to Seattle for 64.
• The pick: Brown at 7, 16th on PFF's board; Chinn at 64 after the move up; Pride at 113, 86th on Kiper's.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two second-rounders at need, then a future fourth and three late picks spent climbing Day 3.

• The need: receiver, tackle, tight end and cornerback, with no first-round pick after the Mack trade.
• The trades: a 2021 fourth to Minnesota for 155; 196, 200 and 233 to Philadelphia for 173 and 227.
• The pick: Kmet at 43, 98th on PFF's board; Johnson at 50 with a shoulder injury on record.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The quarterback at 1, a receiver and two linebackers, and the line left until the sixth round.

• The need: quarterback, then the offensive line and linebacker after a 2-14 season.
• The trades: none; the Bengals sat and picked.
• The pick: Burrow first on PFF's board; Wilson at 65, 110th on it; no lineman until 180.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The tackle at 10, the safety at 44 after a trade down, and a future third banked along the way.

• The need: left tackle, then safety and linebacker.
• The trades: 41 to Indianapolis for 44 and 160; 74 and 244 to New Orleans for 88 and a 2021 third.
• The pick: Wills at 10, 11th on PFF's board and seventh on Kiper's; Elliott at 88, 23rd on PFF's.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Value at every slot and one cheap trade for a center, with the first pick spent on the best player on the board rather than the biggest hole.

• The need: cornerback, edge rusher and center after Jones, Quinn and Frederick left; receiver was not one of them.
• The trade: 164 and a 2021 fifth to Philadelphia for 146, used on Biadasz to replace Frederick.
• The pick: Lamb at 17 was sixth on PFF's board; Diggs at 51 and Gallimore at 82 were well above their slots on it.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The receiver need met at 15 without trading up, then three Day 2 picks taken ahead of where the public boards had them.

• The need: a receiver opposite Courtland Sutton after Sanders was traded, then cornerback depth.
• The trades: none during the weekend; Bouye and Casey had already cost a fourth and a seventh.
• The pick: Jeudy at 15 was fifth on PFF's board; Ojemudia at 77 was 176th on it.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No trade-down was available, so the top cornerback at 3 met the top need; a running back at 35 left the defensive front for the sixth round.

• The need: a starting cornerback after Slay was traded, then guard and the defensive line.
• The trades: 85, 149 and 182 to Indianapolis for 75 and 197; 109 to Las Vegas for 121 and 172.
• The pick: Okudah at 3 was the top cornerback on the boards; Swift at 35 came with three defensive linemen still available.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A cheap move up for a quarterback the roster did not need this year, no receiver, and two Day 2 picks PFF's board did not rate.

• The need: receiver and inside linebacker for a 13-3 team; quarterback was filled through 2023.
• The trades: 30 and 136 to Miami for 26; attempts to move up for a receiver in the second round failed.
• The pick: Love at 26 was the top name on the club's board; Dillon at 62 was outside PFF's top 250.

From 11 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Five picks and no first, spent on the two front-seven needs, with the Day 3 trades doing the most with the least.

• The need: an interior lineman after Reader left, a pass rush that ranked 26th in sacks, and a nickel corner.
• The trades: 111 to Miami for 136 and 141; 136, 248 and 250 to the Rams for 126; 240 to New Orleans for a 2021 sixth.
• The pick: Blacklock at 40 met the interior need; Greenard at 90 was 167th on PFF's board and 82nd on Yahoo's.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The first-round pick already spent on Buckner, the receiver need met at 34, and a small trade up for a running back the room already had.

• The need: a receiver for Rivers and a quarterback for after him.
• The trades: 44 and 160 to Cleveland for 41; 75 and 197 to Detroit for 85, 149 and 182; 182 to New England for 212 and 213.
• The pick: Pittman at 34 was one of PFF's best picks of Day 2; Blackmon at 85 was 180th on its board with a torn ACL on the record.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Twelve picks built by trading Ramsey, spent on every named need without a trade, with Chaisson's production the risk on the record.

• The need: cornerback after Ramsey and Bouye were traded, edge rusher, receiver and run defense.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 20 arrived from the Rams in the Ramsey trade.
• The pick: Henderson at 9 met the corner need; Shenault at 42 was 18th on PFF's board; Chaisson at 20 carried the production question.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A first-round back for a champion that needed linebacker speed and a corner, with Gay at 63 the value pick of the class.

• The need: linebackers who could cover running backs, then cornerback depth.
• The trade: a 2021 sixth to Tennessee for 237.
• The pick: Edwards-Helaire at 32 was 81st on PFF's board; Gay at 63 was 39th on it.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Both named needs met in the first round, and one of them met at a price the boards did not support.

• The need: wide receiver and cornerback, with picks 12 and 19 to spend.
• The trades: 91 and 159 to New England for 100, 139 and 172; then 121 and 172 to Detroit for 109.
• The pick: Ruggs at 12 was tenth on PFF's board; Arnette at 19 was 88th.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The quarterback need met at six without moving; two Day 2 picks spent to climb back to 23 for a linebacker, and left tackle left open.

• The need: a quarterback after Rivers left, with Taylor the bridge.
• The trade: 37 and 71 to New England for 23, then no pick until 112.
• The pick: Herbert at six split the graders; Murray at 23 was 62nd on PFF's board, with Queen still available.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No first-round pick, four Day 2 picks at the four positions the club named, and two picks added by moving down; the line waited until 250.

• The need: running back after Gurley's release, a receiver after the Cooks trade, edge and nickel help, and an offensive line the graders flagged.
• The trade: 126 to Houston for 136, 248 and 250; pick 57 had come from Houston for Cooks in April.
• The pick: Burgess at 104 was 57th on PFF's board; Akers and Jefferson split the graders.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The quarterback taken at five without moving, the medical risk named and accepted, and the protection bought at reach prices.

• The need: a franchise quarterback and offensive line help, with three first-round picks to spend.
• The trades: 26 to Green Bay for 30 and 136; 136 and 141 to Houston for 111; 173 and 227 to Philadelphia for 164.
• The pick: Tagovailoa was second on PFF's board; Jackson at 18 was 94th.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Every named need met in the first three rounds, and capital added by each of four trades down or out.

• The need: a receiver after the Diggs trade, three departed cornerbacks and three departed defensive linemen.
• The trades: 25 to San Francisco for 31, 117 and 176; 105 to New Orleans for 130, 169, 203 and 244; 155 and 201 moved for 2021 picks.
• The pick: Jefferson at 22 was 32nd on PFF's board; Gladney and Dantzler met the cornerback need.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A good trade down from 23, then four trades up that spent what it earned, with quarterback and receiver left open.

• The need: quarterback, tight end, linebacker and receiver, after Brady and five defensive regulars left.
• The trades: 23 to the Chargers for 37 and 71; then four moves up, for 60, 91, 101 and 182.
• The pick: Uche at 60 drew praise; Asiasi and Keene were eighth and tenth among tight ends on PFF's board.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Three players from the club's own top 40, bought with a future third and every Day 3 pick; cornerback and receiver waited.

• The need: the club named line, linebacker and tight end; the graders added cornerback and receiver.
• The trades: 88 and a 2021 third to Cleveland for 74 and 244; 130, 169, 203 and 244 to Minnesota for 105; a 2021 sixth to Houston for 240.
• The pick: Ruiz at 24 and Baun at 74 sat 43rd and 42nd on PFF's board.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The line need met at four with the top tackle on PFF's board, and value found at 36 without a trade.

• The need: the offensive line, named by the general manager.
• The trades: none on the weekend.
• The pick: Thomas at four was PFF's top tackle and Yahoo's 11th player; McKinney at 36 was 19th on PFF's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two trade-downs that added picks, and the line and receiver needs met in the first two rounds.

• The need: receiver, offensive line, edge and cornerback; Becton and Mims took the first two.
• The trades: 48 to Seattle for 59 and 101, then 101 to New England for 125, 129 and a 2021 sixth.
• The pick: Mims at 59 went 20 spots below Kiper's rating; Becton at 11 sat outside PFF's top 40.

From 7 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The receiver need met at 21 and a Day 3 that traded down for volume, with a second-round quarterback the roster did not need.

• The need: receiver first, then defensive back, linebacker and interior line; Reagor filled the first, Hurts filled none.
• The trades: 146 for 164 and a 2021 fifth, 164 for 173 and 227, those for 196, 200 and 233, and 190 for Goodwin and 210.
• The pick: Hurts at 53 split the graders; Wallace at 127 sat 60th on PFF's board.

From 7 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Six picks and no first, each at a fair price, with the cornerback and quarterback needs left for another year.

• The need: running back, cornerback, quarterback and defensive line; the class took a back and a nose tackle, and no cornerback.
• The trades: none on the weekend; the first-round pick had gone to Miami for Fitzpatrick.
• The pick: Claypool at 49 over a back, which PFF backed; McFarland at 124 carried a durability flag.

From 7 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A trade down that still landed the best interior lineman left on the board, and a trade up the weekend called steep.

• The need: Buckner traded in March and Sanders gone in free agency left an interior lineman and a receiver to find.
• The value: Kinlaw came one slot later with a fourth-round pick added, and Jeremiah had him eighth on his board.
• The cost: 31, 117 and 176 bought Aiyuk at 25, fair on the value chart and steep to a club with no second, third or fourth.

From 12 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Sam Kezar, written Sep 30, 2026. The piece.

A first-round linebacker the boards had lower, a trade up for the edge need, and a trade-down that bought a guard.

• The need: edge, offensive line, receiver and defensive tackle; Taylor and Lewis met two of them, Brooks none.
• The trades: 59 and 101 to the Jets for 48; 64 to Carolina for 69 and 148; a 2021 sixth to Miami for 251.
• The pick: Brooks at 27 sat 64th on PFF's board and 91st on Yahoo's, 32nd on Kiper's.

From 7 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The tackle Brady needed, bought with a fourth to move one spot, and a Day 2 safety every grader liked.

• The need: right tackle first, then running back, edge and defensive tackle; tackle and back were met, edge was not.
• The trades: 14 and 117 to San Francisco for 13 and 245.
• The pick: Vaughn at 76 sat 146th on PFF's board; Johnson at 161 sat 48th.

From 7 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A first-round tackle the boards rated a round or more lower, a second-round cornerback they rated a round higher, and no edge rusher.

• The need: edge, cornerback, defensive tackle, tackle and running back after Conklin left; no edge rusher was taken.
• The trades: one, 237 to Kansas City for a 2021 sixth.
• The pick: Wilson at 29 sat 111th on PFF's board; Fulton at 61 sat 12th.

From 7 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The right pick at two, then thin capital, a small return for Trent Williams and a tackle with a named risk.

• The need: edge, tackle, tight end and receiver; Young, Charles and Gandy-Golden met three, and no tight end was taken.
• The trades: Trent Williams to San Francisco for 156 and a 2021 third; no second-round pick after the Sweat trade a year earlier.
• The pick: Young at two topped Kiper's and Yahoo's boards; Charles at 108 came with multiple suspensions on his record.

From 7 reports dated on or before Apr 27, 2020. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.