2020 NFL Draft: Post round one RAS grades

The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft is in the books and grades have been handed out left, right and center. Instead of grading the players based on scheme fit or according to tape, in this article, we will grade the picks based solely on their athletic testing. The Relative Athletic Score (RAS) has been produced by Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) and gives a rating to all players based on the comparative results of their athletic testing compared to the other players at their position. Let’s use this RAS data for the 2020 NFL Draft class to provided grades to every team coming out of round one.

To put into context the grades below, among graded players, 53% of Pro Bowl selections have entered the NFL Draft with a grade of eight or above. In contrast, just 15.5% of Pro Bowl selections have been players entering the league with a RAS below five. In this article, all grades are based on ranking the players relative to their position, with only players who performed enough athletic testing to obtain a RAS included. Any players with no RAS are discounted from consideration for team grading, with teams only selecting a non-graded player given an N/A as their grade.

Round 1 Grades

Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU (No RAS) | Grade: N/A

Burrow did not take part in athletic testing at the combine and therefore does not have a RAS.

Washington Redskins – Chase Young, DE, Ohio State (No RAS) | Grade: N/A

Young did not take part in athletic testing at the combine and therefore does not have a RAS.

Detroit Lions – Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State (RAS: 8.94) | Grade: A-

This pick was a solid one for the Lions as they snapped up a cornerback who ranked sixth at the position according to RAS entering the draft. Only one cornerback with a higher RAS was selected during Day 1, C.J. Henderson by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

New York Giants – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia (RAS: 8.08) | Grade: B-

Thomas was somewhat of a surprise pick on the night and when you look his 12th ranking at the position according to RAS, the question is similarly questionable. Four players at the position with a higher RAS were selected after Thomas in the first round.

Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama (No RAS), Austin Jackson, OT, USC (RAS: 9.47) & Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn (RAS: 8.01) | Grade: B+

With Tua Tagovailoa unable to test at the combine because of injury, he was excluded from the grading process. With the 18th overall pick, the Dolphins selected the fourth-highest offensive tackle overall according to RAS and the second-highest available on the board in Austin Jackson. However, the grade for the Dolphins is reduced by their selection at 30th overall, as Noah Igbinoghene, was the 13th ranked cornerback available when he was selected.

Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon (RAS: 9.70) & Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma (RAS: 9.88) | Grade: A+

This was a slam dunk draft for the Chargers when it comes to the RAS rankings of their two picks. Of the graded players at their position, Herbert ranked first with a 9.70 RAS, and Murray was second (9.88). However, with Isaiah Simmons already off the board, Murray was the best available player at his position available when the Chargers traded up to draft him.

Carolina Panthers – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn (RAS: 5.83) | Grade: C-

The Panthers had the board at their mercy when they came on the clock, but they passed up the chance to select the fourth- and fifth-highest ranked players in C.J. Henderson and Isaiah Simmons, respectively. However, they chose to select the 20th ranked defensive tackle in Derrick Brown.

Arizona Cardinals – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson (RAS: 9.97) | Grade: A+

Simmons was a slam-dunk pick here for the Cardinals, as he ranked first at the linebacker position, and fifth in the entire draft class. If you are splitting hairs, then the Cardinals could be dinged slightly for passing up the player with the fourth-highest RAS in this draft class in C.J. Henderson.

Jacksonville Jaguars – C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida (RAS: 9.97) & K’Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU (No RAS) | Grade: A+

With K’Lavon Chaisson not having a RAS due to not performing athletic testing at the combine, the Jaguars can only be graded on their selection of C.J. Henderson. Henderson ranked first at the cornerback position and fourth overall in the draft class, meaning this pick realistically could not have been any better.

Cleveland Browns – Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama (RAS: 8.43) | Grade: B+

Selecting the eighth-highest player according to RAS at the 10th overall pick in Jedrick Wills is not a major issue. However, it should not be overlooked that after Wills was selected as the second offensive tackle in the round, three players at the position with a higher RAS were taken, two of them within the next three picks of the draft.

New York Jets – Mehki Becton, OT, Louisville (RAS: 9.85) | Grade: A+

A slam dunk pick by the Jets as they took the highest offensive tackle according to RAS selected in the first round. Becton ranked 13th overall in the draft class and second at the position.

Las Vegas Raiders – Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama (RAS: 9.55) & Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State (No RAS) | Grade: A-

With Arnette not performing athletic testing at the combine, this grade is entirely based upon the RAS score of Ruggs. Ruggs was the first receiver drafted, the seventh-highest overall according to RAS, and the second-highest taken in the first round, behind only Justin Jefferson.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa (RAS: 9.72) | Grade: A+

The Buccaneers swapped a fourth-round pick for a seventh-round pick to move up one spot in the draft. They made the most of that move by selecting the third-highest offensive tackle and the second-highest available at the position at the time of their selection.

San Francisco 49ers – Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina (No RAS) & Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State (RAS: 8.45) | Grade: B

Kinlaw did not perform athletic testing at the combine and does not have a RAS. Therefore, this grade is based on the selection of Brandon Aiyuk, who was the 11th ranked receiver entering the draft and the ninth-highest available at the time of selection. When the first-round wrapped up he ranked the third-highest among receivers taken in the first round.

Denver Broncos – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama (RAS: 6.77) | Grade: D+

For all the good things that Jeudy does on the football field, athleticism does not appear to be his best trait. With a RAS of 6.77, he was the 28th highest-ranked receiver entering the draft and the 27th best at the time of selection.

Atlanta Falcons – A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson (RAS: 8.71) | Grade: A-

The selection of Terrell was perhaps the first real big shock of the first round. However, his RAS score suggests that this was actually a very good pick by the Falcons. Terrell was the sixth-best cornerback available at the time of his selection, and the eight-best entering the draft.

Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU (RAS: 6.01) | Grade: D-

This pick raised eyebrows at the time of selection, and Reagor’s RAS score does not calm those concerns. Reagor came into the draft ranked 36th at the position, and has just the 32nd best RAS of receivers available when the Eagles were on the clock.

Minnesota Vikings – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU (RAS: 9.70) & Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU (RAS: 6.11) | Grade: A-

With Jefferson surprisingly slipping past the Eagles, the Vikings made a superb decision taking him at pick 22. Jefferson ranked third at the position entering the draft and the highest-ranked receiver according to RAS at the end of the first round. The Gladney pick was somewhat more questionable, as he ranked just 19th at the position at the time of the pick. However, credit should be given to the Vikings for moving down before making the selection.

New Orleans Saints – Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan (RAS: 8.98 ) | Grade: A-

Of the center prospects available entering the draft, Ruiz’s RAS ranked second. If we extend that out to include all interior offensive lineman, given that there is a good chance he starts at guard, then Ruiz still ranked in the top-five.

Green Bay Packers – Jordan Love, QB, Utah State (RAS: 8.41) | Grade: B+

This selection by the Packers has to go down as the biggest jaw-dropper of the round. However, Love is a solid selection when it comes to his athleticism, ranking seventh at the position among prospects that worked out at the combine

Seattle Seahawks – Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech (No RAS) | Grade: N/A

Brooks did not take part in athletic testing at the combine and therefore does not have a RAS.

Baltimore Ravens – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU (RAS: 7.94) | Grade: B-

The Ravens ensured that Patrick Queen did not slip out of the first round, but his RAS score suggests that it was a somewhat questionable decision. Queen ranked a 15th at the position entering the draft and 13th at the time of selection. He was also a significant drop-off from the 23rd overall selection of Kenneth Murray, who ranked second at the position.

Tennessee Titans – Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia (RAS: 7.27) | Grade: B-

This selection by the Titans with the fourth-last pick in the first round offers interesting symmetry to the fourth overall pick. Both picks were offensive tackles, both played their college football at Georgia, and both were the 12th highest-ranked offensive tackle available at the time of selection.

Kansas City Chiefs – Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU (RAS: 5.49) | Grade: C-

The selection of Edwards-Helaire has received universal praise around the NFL, but his RAS suggests that this was not the home run pick that many have made it out to be. Edwards-Helaire ranked 21st at the position among the 36 running backs who had a RAS determined.