Round 3
3.01 (Jordan) Michael Pittman Jr., WR – Washington Redskins (3rd)
I currently have a mid-second round grade on Pittman Jr., and I love getting him here with the first pick of the third round. Pittman Jr. is a physically imposing wide receiver that wins with strength and good body control. Washington is desperate for a number two WR across from Terry McLaurin, and Pittman Jr. could fill that void immediately.
3.02 (Frosty) AJ Dillon, RB – Los Angeles Rams (4th)
After getting my QB and WR in the first two rounds, I feel like it’s a good time to grab an RB before it’s slim pickings. I was thrilled to see Dillon still here on the board. With Todd Gurley out of the picture, it’s an eye riser for any RB drafted to the Rams. Darrell Henderson may be the leading candidate as the starter, but that’s far from a sure thing.
3.03 (Tommy) Darrynton Evans, RB – Atlanta Falcons (4th)
Darrynton Evans is a player I try to get on every team, and he now finds himself in a very advantageous situation. The Falcons do not have a locked-in RB2 behind Todd Gurley, who is on a one-year contract. The Falcons learned from the Rams and know Gurley can’t be trusted for an entire workload, making Evans a must-own if you are a Gurley owner or someone who can be the lead back in 2021. His 4.41 speed and pass-catching ability make him one of my favorite sleepers for 2020 drafts.
3.04 (Corey) Bryan Edwards, WR – New England Patriots (3rd)
Edwards is one hell of a player. On film, I saw someone who does almost everything possible to help his QB once the ball is thrown. He has nice hands, good body control, great after the catch, and has a knack of making the difficult catch. The Patriots’ QB situation might not be ideal right now, but I believe Edwards would immediately be competing with N’Keal Harry for the WR1 on the team. That combo could be a young QB’s dream next year.
3.05 (Houtz) Laviska Shenault, WR – Carolina Panthers (2nd)
I really, really like Laviska Shenault. He is one of my favorite players on tape, and had he not suffered an injury, I believe he would’ve been taken much sooner. Shenault is a rare blend of size and speed and has the ability to open things up every time he gets his hands on the football. For me, I see Sammy Watkins. And in an offense that has Robby Anderson, D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, and Christian McCaffrey, Shenault is just an added playmaker in Joe Brady’s offense.
3.06 (Andrew) Eno Benjamin, RB – Los Angeles Chargers (5th)
I’ll be honest; I struggled a little with this one. At this stage in the draft, all of “my guys” were gone and only a handful of landing spots really looked enticing. After going QB and WR, I felt like I would try to balance my draft and grab an RB at this spot, and Benjamin to the Chargers could be a great fit. Given the fifth round capital, it’s possible he has to wait a year to find his opportunity, but they definitely need RB help there. Benjamin would be a great bruiser complement to Ekeler from what I’ve seen.
3.07 (Jordan) Anthony McFarland, RB – Buffalo Bills (4th)
Maryland running back Anthony McFarland is one of “my guys” in the 2020 NFL Draft. McFarland isn’t the best running back in the draft, but I’m convinced the former HS 4-star RB carves out a role in the NFL. He doesn’t make a lot of people miss, but he’s a one-cut running back with above-average burners. Under this scenario, McFarland would share snaps with Devin Singletary in year one.
3.08 (Frosty) Adam Trautman – New England Patriots (3rd)
Looking at the board, this felt like a good time to snag who I believe is the best tight end of the class, particularly because of the landing spot. Luckily enough, I get to pair Trautman with my earlier pick in Fromm to try and replicate a fraction of what Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski had in New England and are now trying to duplicate in Tampa Bay.
3.09 (Tommy) Chase Claypool, WR – Buffalo Bills (3rd)
Arguably, the biggest beneficiary of the NFL Combine was Chase Claypool. Most players who are 6’4″ and 238lbs don’t run a 4.42 or have a 40.5″ vert, yet Claypool does. Claypool fills the Bills need for a big-bodied WR to play alongside Stefon Diggs. However, there is enough smoke to believe the NFL still views him as a tight end, and if that is the case, he would be my TE1. Whichever way they choose to utilize him, I love the value he brings in the late third round.
3.10 (Corey) Jacob Eason, QB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3rd)
This is Superflex. QB depth is important. That being said, Eason is one of the only QBs that will go outside the first round that I would invest in. He has an NFL arm and size, and under the tutelage of Bruce Arians and Tom Brady for a year or two, I think he could develop into a solid starter.
3.11 (Houtz) Cole Kmet, TE – New Orleans Saints (3rd)
Personally, I’m not too high on this year’s tight end class, but I do believe Cole Kmet is the best in this class. I like the fit in New Orleans with Sean Payton and Drew Brees and believe he can make an immediate impact in the Big Easy.
3.12 (Andrew) K.J. Hill, WR – New England Patriots (4th)
After getting another KJ in KJ Hamler with my last pick, the thought of getting K.J. Hill here sounds too good to be true. Add to that the fact that he went to the WR-needy Patriots in the fourth round, and it’s practically a no brainer. While I haven’t seen much of Hill’s tape, this pick is more reliant on the Patriots feeling like he’s their guy more than anything else. If Belichick wants him, then I want him, it’s just that easy. And the KJ/K.J. combo is kinda fun too.