Preview: 2020 NFL Draft
April 23, 2020 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Athletics Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – In a virtual setting for the first time in history, the 2020 NFL Draft takes place Thursday through Saturday live on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
The first round airs beginning at 7 p.m. CT Thursday. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Rounds 4 through 7 get underway at 11 a.m. CT Saturday.
Although teams and prospects have not had in-person pre-draft visits due to the coronavirus pandemic, prospect have met with teams virtually.
Cornerback Cameron Dantzler and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. are expected to be the first Bulldogs off the board, according to the latest mock drafts.
In the last two seasons, Dantzler allowed only 36 receptions on 80 targets over that span for 459 yards, one score, and four interceptions – per Pro Football Focus. For his career, Dantzler has yielded a passer rating against of 43.8.
Notable Mock Drafts – Dantzler:
No. 52 – Los Angeles Rams (CBS Sports)
No. 68 - New York Jets (SI.com)
No. 68 – New York Jets (The Athletic)
No. 70 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
Over Gay Jr.'s 239 career coverage snaps, he was targeted 35 times and allowed only 21 catches for 183 yards with six combined interceptions and pass breakups. He earned a 93.9 PFF coverage grade for the last three seasons, which ranks first among 2020 draft-eligible linebackers.
Notable Mock Drafts – Gay Jr.:
No. 65 – Cincinnati Bengals (CBS Sports)
No. 72 – Arizona Cardinals (SI.com)
No. 78 – Denver Broncos (The Athletic)
No. 87 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
MSU is seeking to have an offense lineman drafted for the fourth straight year, and Tyre Phillips and Darryl Williams are the Bulldogs' top two offensive line prospects.
Phillips emerged as one of the top offensive tackles in the SEC in 2019. He started all 13 games at left tackle, played a team-high 821 snaps (819 at left tackle and two at left guard) and earned the highest offensive grade among MSU offensive linemen from PFF (80.1). The Grenada, Mississippi, product allowed just 2.0 sacks and one QB hit across 398 snaps in pass protection.
Notable Mock Drafts – Phillips:
No. 83 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
No. 133 – Seattle Seahawks (CBS Sports)
No. 148 – Carolina Panthers (The Athletic)
No. 173 – Miami Dolphins (SI.com)
Williams was a standout for the Bulldogs and one of the best in the SEC during the last three seasons. He finished his career with 37 starts, including 13 at center. The 2019 team captain earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors three times during his career and allowed just a pair of sacks across 1,000-plus snaps in pass protection during the last three seasons.
Notable Mock Drafts – Williams:
No. 177 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
No. 186 – Los Angeles Chargers (CBS Sports)
No. 194 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (The Athletic)
No. 196 – Chicago Bears (SI.com)
Other Bulldogs who could have an opportunity this weekend include safety Brian Cole II, defensive end Chauncey Rivers, wide receiver Stephen Guidry and quarterback Tommy Stevens.
Cole II was a team captain and started 12 games at the STAR position for the Bulldogs in 2019. He finished third on the team in tackles with 65, second in tackles for loss with 7.5 and led the defensive backs unit in sacks with 2.0. The Saginaw, Michigan, native also made one interception and registered 12 total pressures, including four QB hits, according to PFF.
Notable Mock Drafts – Cole II:
No. 197 – Indianapolis Colts (The Athletic)
No. 217 – San Francisco 49ers (SI.com)
No. 251 – Miami Dolphins (CBS Sports)
Rivers, who played two seasons at MSU after junior college, led the team in sacks this past season with 5.0. He started all 13 games in 2019 at defensive end. A skilled pass-rusher with great size and burst, Rivers totaled 67 tackles, including 15.0 for loss and 7.5 sacks, in 26 career games played with the Bulldogs.
Notable Mock Drafts – Rivers:
No. 255 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
No. 228 – Atlanta Falcons (CBS Sports)
Guidry caught 49 passes for 827 yards and eight touchdowns in two seasons at MSU. He led the team in receiving yards in 2018 with 440 and averaged 23.2 per game.
Stevens, a graduate transfer quarterback from Penn State, played his final season at MSU in 2019. He started all nine games he played and completed 60.2 percent (97-of-161) of his passes for 1,155 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions (136.9 rating). He added 381 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 83 attempts (4.6 avg.). Stevens, a team captain, threw for 200-plus yards twice and registered five multi-passing touchdown games.
Players not selected during the three-day draft could sign undrafted free agent contracts.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
STARKVILLE – In a virtual setting for the first time in history, the 2020 NFL Draft takes place Thursday through Saturday live on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
The first round airs beginning at 7 p.m. CT Thursday. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Rounds 4 through 7 get underway at 11 a.m. CT Saturday.
Although teams and prospects have not had in-person pre-draft visits due to the coronavirus pandemic, prospect have met with teams virtually.
Cornerback Cameron Dantzler and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. are expected to be the first Bulldogs off the board, according to the latest mock drafts.
In the last two seasons, Dantzler allowed only 36 receptions on 80 targets over that span for 459 yards, one score, and four interceptions – per Pro Football Focus. For his career, Dantzler has yielded a passer rating against of 43.8.
Notable Mock Drafts – Dantzler:
No. 52 – Los Angeles Rams (CBS Sports)
No. 68 - New York Jets (SI.com)
No. 68 – New York Jets (The Athletic)
No. 70 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
Over Gay Jr.'s 239 career coverage snaps, he was targeted 35 times and allowed only 21 catches for 183 yards with six combined interceptions and pass breakups. He earned a 93.9 PFF coverage grade for the last three seasons, which ranks first among 2020 draft-eligible linebackers.
Notable Mock Drafts – Gay Jr.:
No. 65 – Cincinnati Bengals (CBS Sports)
No. 72 – Arizona Cardinals (SI.com)
No. 78 – Denver Broncos (The Athletic)
No. 87 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
MSU is seeking to have an offense lineman drafted for the fourth straight year, and Tyre Phillips and Darryl Williams are the Bulldogs' top two offensive line prospects.
Phillips emerged as one of the top offensive tackles in the SEC in 2019. He started all 13 games at left tackle, played a team-high 821 snaps (819 at left tackle and two at left guard) and earned the highest offensive grade among MSU offensive linemen from PFF (80.1). The Grenada, Mississippi, product allowed just 2.0 sacks and one QB hit across 398 snaps in pass protection.
Notable Mock Drafts – Phillips:
No. 83 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
No. 133 – Seattle Seahawks (CBS Sports)
No. 148 – Carolina Panthers (The Athletic)
No. 173 – Miami Dolphins (SI.com)
Williams was a standout for the Bulldogs and one of the best in the SEC during the last three seasons. He finished his career with 37 starts, including 13 at center. The 2019 team captain earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors three times during his career and allowed just a pair of sacks across 1,000-plus snaps in pass protection during the last three seasons.
Notable Mock Drafts – Williams:
No. 177 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
No. 186 – Los Angeles Chargers (CBS Sports)
No. 194 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (The Athletic)
No. 196 – Chicago Bears (SI.com)
Other Bulldogs who could have an opportunity this weekend include safety Brian Cole II, defensive end Chauncey Rivers, wide receiver Stephen Guidry and quarterback Tommy Stevens.
Cole II was a team captain and started 12 games at the STAR position for the Bulldogs in 2019. He finished third on the team in tackles with 65, second in tackles for loss with 7.5 and led the defensive backs unit in sacks with 2.0. The Saginaw, Michigan, native also made one interception and registered 12 total pressures, including four QB hits, according to PFF.
Notable Mock Drafts – Cole II:
No. 197 – Indianapolis Colts (The Athletic)
No. 217 – San Francisco 49ers (SI.com)
No. 251 – Miami Dolphins (CBS Sports)
Rivers, who played two seasons at MSU after junior college, led the team in sacks this past season with 5.0. He started all 13 games in 2019 at defensive end. A skilled pass-rusher with great size and burst, Rivers totaled 67 tackles, including 15.0 for loss and 7.5 sacks, in 26 career games played with the Bulldogs.
Notable Mock Drafts – Rivers:
No. 255 – ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board
No. 228 – Atlanta Falcons (CBS Sports)
Guidry caught 49 passes for 827 yards and eight touchdowns in two seasons at MSU. He led the team in receiving yards in 2018 with 440 and averaged 23.2 per game.
Stevens, a graduate transfer quarterback from Penn State, played his final season at MSU in 2019. He started all nine games he played and completed 60.2 percent (97-of-161) of his passes for 1,155 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions (136.9 rating). He added 381 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 83 attempts (4.6 avg.). Stevens, a team captain, threw for 200-plus yards twice and registered five multi-passing touchdown games.
Players not selected during the three-day draft could sign undrafted free agent contracts.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
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