A look at instant reactions from The Denver Post staff on the second-round picks in the 2020 NFL draft. See the first-round analysis here.
No. 33. Cincinnati: WR Tee Higgins, Clemson.
The Bengals find a weapon to play with quarterback Joe Burrow and eventually replace A.J. Green. Higgins had 59 catches in both 2018 and ’19.
No. 34. Indianapolis: WR Michael Pittman, USC.
The son of a former NFL player, Pittman had 101 catches for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. A good target for new quarterback Philip Rivers.
35. Detroit: RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia.
The second running back of the draft is selected and the Lions envision Swift teaming with Kerryon Johnson. Swift had seasons of 1,049 and 1,218 yards rushing for Georgia and also caught 73 career passes.
No. 36. N.Y. Giants: S Xavier McKinney, Alabama.
The first true safety selected. Ran only 4.63 seconds at the 40-yard dash at combine, but had 168 tackles and five interceptions in two starting seasons for Tide.
No. 37. New England: S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.).
The Patriots open their draft by adding the 6-foot-1, 217-pound Dugger, who had 237 tackles and 10 interceptions.
No. 38. Carolina: DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State.
Listed at 6-5 and 266 pounds, Gross-Matos had 94 tackles (35 for lost yardage) and 17 1/2 sacks in his final two college seasons.
No. 39. Miami: G/T Robert Hunt, Lafayette.
The Dolphins drafted USC left tackle Austin Jackson on Thursday and Hunt will be a right tackle or guard. Hunt started 22 games at left guard, 21 at right tackle and two at left tackle.
No. 40. Houston: DT Ross Blacklock, TCU.
The Texans get involved with the draft. Blacklock played only two of his four years at TCU (redshirted in ’16 and was injured in ’18). In 26 games, he had 67 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks.
No. 41. Indianapolis: RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin.
The Colts used fourth-round picks in 2018-19 on Nyheim Hines and Marlon Mack, respectively. Taylor should be the immediate starter. His 6,174 rushing yards are fourth in FBS history.
No. 42. Jacksonville: WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado.
A good spot for Shenault, where he will pencil in as the No. 2 receiver right away behind D.J. Chark. Shenault had 86 catches in 2018 (in only nine games). Read the full story.
No. 43. Chicago: TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame.
Finally, a tight end. The Bears’ first pick of the draft comes two days after they cut tight end Trey Burton. Kmet will join recently-signed Jimmy Graham.
No. 44. Cleveland: S Grant Delpit, LSU.
The Browns signed veteran safeties Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo last month, but Delpit (6-3/213) should quickly become a starter. He had 199 tackles in 40 games for LSU.
No. 45. Tampa Bay: S Antoine Winfield, Minnesota.
The run on safeties in the second continues. Winfield played only 33 games in four years for the Gophers but was first-team All-America in 2019 (seven interceptions).
No. 46. Broncos: WR KJ Hamler, Penn State.
Two receivers in as many picks for the Broncos and new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Listed at 5-9, he caught 98 passes in 26 college games.
No. 47. Atlanta: DE Marlon Davidson, Auburn.
The 303-pound Davidson played and started 51 games for the Tigers and had 175 tackles and 17 sacks.
No. 48. Seattle: DE Darrell Taylor, Tennessee.
Years of eight and 8 1/2 sacks propelled Taylor into the second round. The Seahawks traded into this spot.
No. 49. Pittsburgh: WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame.
The Steelers’ first pick of the draft is the 6-foot-4 Claypool, who had 150 catches (19 touchdowns) in 50 games for the Irish.
No. 50. Chicago: CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah.
A second-team All-America selection in 2019 (two interceptions and 36 tackles). He had shoulder surgery after the combine, but for the Bears, is expected to replace released veteran Prince Amukamara.
No. 51. Dallas: CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama.
The Cowboys add Diggs (projected as a potential first-rounder entering the draft) to join former CU cornerback Chidobe Awuzie among others in the Cowboys secondary.
No. 52. L.A. Rams: RB Cam Akers, Florida State.
The Rams cut Todd Gurley last month and Akers will be tasked with replacing him. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry at FSU (27 touchdowns) and also caught 69 passes.
No. 53. Philadelphia: QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma.
A new back-up is found for Carson Wentz. Hurts started his college career at Alabama and played one year for the Sooners.
No. 54. Buffalo: DE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa.
The Bills acquire a pass rusher in Epenesa, who had 22 sacks in his final two years for the Hawkeyes. Was a starter only in his third-year junior season.
No. 55. Baltimore: RB J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State.
An interesting addition to a Ravens’ running game that is led by quarterback Lamar Jackson and tailback Mark Engram.
No. 56. Miami: DT Raekwon Davis, Alabama.
Had one really impressive year for the Crimson Tide … way back in 2017 when he had 8 1/2 sacks and 69 tackles. Davis had only two sacks in his final two college seasons.
No. 57. L.A. Rams: WR Van Jefferson, Florida.
The Rams flipped Brandin Cooks to Houston earlier in the offseason and Jefferson joins Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp as the top three receivers.
No. 58. Minnesota: OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State.
Should have been an option for Broncos had he fell into the third round. The Vikings’ current tackles are Riley Reiff (right) and Brian O’Neill (left).
No. 59. N.Y. Jets: WR Denzel Mims, Baylor.
Good drafting by the Jets, who addressed their main need (offensive tackle) on Thursday and followed with their second-biggest need (receiver) tonight.
No. 60. New England: OLB Josh Uche, Michigan.
He didn’t become a starter until his senior year, but had 15 1/2 sacks his final two seasons for the Wolverines. Listed at 245 pounds.
No. 61. Tennessee: CB Kristian Fulton, LSU.
Suspended for all of 2017 and out the final three games of ’18 (foot), Fulton played every game in ’19 and had 38 tackles, 15 pass break-ups and one interception. He could replace Logan Ryan.
No. 62. Green Bay: RB AJ Dillon, Boston College.
Both of the Packers’ top backs, Aaron Wilson and Jamaal Williams, are entering the final years of their rookie contracts. Dillon rushed for 1,589, 1,108 and 1,675 yards in college.
No. 63. Kansas City: ILB Willie Gay, Mississippi State.
The Chiefs are evidently fine with Gay’s character — he was suspended eight games for academic violations and missed the 2019 bowl game after a reported altercation with the Bulldogs’ quarterback at practice.
No. 64. Carolina: S Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois.
A busy round for safeties. Chinn wraps up the second round by joining the Panthers. Chinn had 243 tackles and 13 interceptions in 38 games.
