NFL Draft Grades: NFC West
With the 2020 NFL Draft officially complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared over the course of the three-day event.
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
Arizona Cardinals
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | LB Isaiah Simmons |
| 3 | 72 | OT Josh Jones |
| 4 | 114 | DT Leki Fotu |
| 4 | 131 | DT Rashard Lawrence |
| 6 | 202 | LB Evan Weaver |
| 7 | 222 | RB Eno Benjamin |
Grade: B+
The biggest steal of the draft was already when the Cardinals got DeAndre Hopkins for a second-rounder. But teams may look back on this first round and wonder why they passed on the uber-athletic Simmons, who should be Arizona's Swiss Army knife in a way similar to how the Los Angeles Chargers use Derwin James. Jones was projected as a late first-rounder prior to the draft, so it was great value to nab the offensive tackle when he slipped to the third. As a bonus, he fills the Cardinals' biggest need: protecting Kyler Murray.
Los Angeles Rams
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 52 | RB Cam Akers |
| 2 | 57 | WR Van Jefferson |
| 3 | 84 | LB Terrell Lewis |
| 3 | 104 | S Terrell Burgess |
| 4 | 136 | TE Brycen Hopkins |
| 6 | 199 | S Jordan Fuller |
| 7 | 234 | LB Clay Johnston |
| 7 | 248 | K Sam Sloman |
| 7 | 250 | G Tremayne Anchrum |
Grade: B
The Rams aggressively retooled their offense early, finding potential replacements for running back Todd Gurley and wide receiver Brandin Cooks in Akers and Jefferson, respectively. The latter was a particularly strong selection at No. 57. Los Angeles didn't have a first-round pick (again) after trading for Jalen Ramsey, which stopped them from getting a top-tier offensive lineman who could start in 2020. The NFC West team then failed to address that weakness until its last pick. But, in the end, Jared Goff will be a much happier man than he was prior to the draft.
San Francisco 49ers
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | DT Javon Kinlaw |
| 1 | 25 | WR Brandon Aiyuk |
| 5 | 153 | OT Colton McKivitz |
| 6 | 190 | TE Charlie Woerner |
| 7 | 217 | WR Jauan Jennings |
Grade: B
Kinlaw arguably has the biggest pass-rushing upside among all defensive tackles and is a natural replacement for DeForest Buckner, who was traded for the No. 14 pick. With their second Day 1 selection, the 49ers jumped on Aiyuk, who Kyle Shanahan said was his No. 1 receiver. With his elite skills after the catch, the former Arizona State standout is a perfect fit in the 49ers head coach's scheme. San Francisco also avoided having a huge hole at left tackle - as Joe Staley retired - by trading for another top-tier veteran in Trent Williams for pennies on the dollar.
Seattle Seahawks
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | LB Jordyn Brooks |
| 2 | 48 | DE Darrell Taylor |
| 3 | 69 | OL Damien Lewis |
| 4 | 133 | TE Colby Parkinson |
| 4 | 144 | RB DeeJay Dallas |
| 5 | 148 | DE Alton Robinson |
| 6 | 214 | WR Freddie Swain |
| 7 | 251 | TE Stephen Sullivan |
Grade: C-
As usual, the Seahawks zagged while the rest of the leagued zigged during the draft, though they finally stood pat in their original first-round slot. Few projected Brooks as a first-rounder, though, as he's more of a throwback thumper than a modern-day do-it-all linebacker. Both Day 2 picks did fill Seattle's need to boost its pass rush without Jadeveon Clowney and improve Russell Wilson's protection, but neither was good value at their respective spots.