The 2020 NFL Draft is nearly upon us and it is a very important one for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Last season the Chargers finished with a 5-11 record, placing them at the very bottom of the AFC West. Philip Rivers, the face of the franchise and career Charger since being drafted in 2004, left town last month to sling his final passes as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.
Home games feel more like away games, and owner Dean Spanos had to publicly deny rumors he wants to move the team to London.
The Chargers need a spark, and it might just come in the form of Tua Tagovailoa. Recent rumors and mock drafts have the former favorite to be selected first overall sliding back outside the top five, right where LA lurks with pick number six.
If Tagovailoa winds up with the Miami Dolphins as many have predicted, though, Chargers fans will likely have journeyman quarterback Tyrod Taylor as their Week 1 starter. There are many who believe that Taylor is a perfectly serviceable option at QB, and an addition to the defense like Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah would better benefit the bolts.
Rams wait to pick until Round 2
After sending their first-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for disgruntled shutdown cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the LA Rams will have to wait until the second draft day to get to work improving their roster.
The Rams own four total picks across the second and third rounds after recently completing a deal to send wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans.
Cooks will seek to fill a massive hole left in the Texans’ offense after the sudden trading of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals. Houston head coach Bill O’Brien, who also acts as general manager for the team, has been widely criticized for the move.
Most projections for how the Rams will spend their draft capital involve new additions to the offensive line and defensive front seven. It has also been rumored that with the return of Andrew Whitworth and Austin Blythe, the Rams might hold off addressing their need at offensive line to instead look at a running back replacement for Todd Gurley.
2020 NFL Draft Player Props
Betting markets for this NFL draft this year are expected to be quite popular as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Fans find themselves eager for any betting action they can find, as most have been unable to bet anything more than horse racing and futures.
Let’s take a look at some player props from the Fanduel Sportsbook:
2020 NFL Draft – First Wide Receiver Drafted
CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma +100
Jerry Jeudy, Alabama +125
Henry Ruggs III, Alabama +460
Justin Jefferson, LSU +6000
KJ Hamler, Penn State +10000
Tee Higgins, Clemson +10000
2020 NFL Draft – First Running Back Drafted
D’Andre Swift, Georgia -195
Jonathon Taylor, Wisconsin +270
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU +600
JK Dobbins, Ohio State +700
Zack Moss, Utah +5000
AJ Dillon, Boston College +7500
2020 NFL Draft – First Tight End Drafted
Cole Kmet, Notre Dame -330
Adam Trautman, Dayton +460
Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri +850
Hunter Bryant, Washington +1000
Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic +1200
Thaddeus Moss, LSU +2000
Intrigue at WR
While Joe Burrow is no doubt destined to be this year’s first overall pick for the Cincinnati Bengals, the betting markets for other skill positions seem to be more undecided.
The wide receiver rankings, in particular, are interesting to watch as many believe that either of the boys from Alabama or CeeDee Lamb from Oklahoma has a legitimate shot to be the first receiver taken in what has been touted as a very deep class for the position.
The Las Vegas Raiders are favorites to burst the bubble on wide receivers with the 12th pick of the draft on Thursday night, and it is expected that as many as six receivers could be selected before the first round ends.
