By Jack McNicholas

April 29, 2020

What makes the perfect system? As teams approach the draft they evaluate their roster and look especially for the positions of great need. The perfect system is a mix of having the talent around you and being able to fit the pre-existing system as you come in as a first round rookie. The other part of the mix is that you directly show you can make the team better. Filling the need for the team that doesn’t have talent at the position and directly helping the team get better overall. 

Jeff Okudah, Detroit Lions, Picked 3 Overall:

When a cornerback goes in the top three , your first though is that the team went with the position they needed the most. The Detroit Lions who ranked dead last in pass coverage; made Jeff Okudah the third pick overall Thursday night. Lions have just traded long time corner Darius Slay. Slay was the best defensive player for Detroit. Head Coach Matt Patricia loves his defensive players. Okudah will be a plug and play system corner. 

Jeff Okudah will be tasked with covering the NFC North Division’s many talented receiving weapons. It will be fun to watch Okudah face off against the likes of Davante Adams in Green Bay, Adam Theilen in Minnesota and Allen Robinson in Chicago. The Lions made a smart move by taking a fresh young corner to help their secondary immensely. This system will be perfect for Okudah as his sideline to sideline mentality will make up for any slack from peers in the secondary. This pick does not have the largest impact directly on team wins but Okudah making number one receiving options irrelevant will be fun to watch in the league for years to come.

Tua Tagoviola, Miami Dolphins, Picked 5 Overall:

The Dolphins had many holes to fill on this team. After trading away big name starters such as Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Dolphins at three first round selections in the 2020 NFL Draft. With the fifth pick they selected Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagoviola. Tua was the projected number one overall selection when the 2019 season started last year. With Joe Burrow going No.1 to the Bengals. I believe Tua fell right into the system perfect for him. The reason I believe this is the perfect system is that a quarterback is arguably the most important position on the team. Miami knew they had plenty of cap space to use in free agency and draft capital out the wazoo. 

With the 11 picks following Tua they made sure to address all positions of need. Tua will have the opportunity to be a leader as the Dolphins take the first big step to rebuilding. With draft capital next year as well, it is fair to say now that Tua is a Miami Dolphin that they will continue to bring talent in and try to be competitive. Tua brings a big arm, the ability to run the offense by himself and the ability to read defenses at the pro level. Two of the next three picks were drafting young pass protection in Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt. Tua will be the franchise quarterback for years to come. Miami can only go up from here, the greater impact of this pick is Tua is a winner. Coach Brian Flores wants to build Miami into a winning program and this pick helps them do that.

Javon Kinlaw, San Francisco 49ers, Picked 14 Overall: 

High on Kinlaw going into the draft, I felt he could be a plug and play defensive tackle in any team’s system. The 49ers showed us last year they are going to beat you on defense with their front seven. Many thought the 49ers would go for one of the top receiving weapons with their first of two picks in the first round. Trading back one spot to the 14^thspot, they now have added another piece to an already intimidating defensive front. Featuring Nick Bosa, Kwon Alexander and Arik Armstead. Kinlaw will take the place of Deforrest Buckner, who was traded to the Colts in free agency. 

At South Carolina, Kinlaw was lined up in every position. A mismatch off the edge and a pure talent at defensive tackle. This defensive line will utilize all their talent by creating matchups in their favor. Kinlaw allows for them to further revolutionize this defensive line without them truly suffering the loss of Deforrest Buckner. A defensive scheme run once again by defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Watch out in 2020 for the large production by Kinlaw in this system. 

Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos, Picked 15 Overall: 

The Broncos remained patient and did not have to trade up for the receiver that they had number one on their draft board. No one is happier with this pick than second year quarterback Drew Lock. After winning the job and solidifying himself as a starting quarterback. Lock is looking forward to his new receiving weapon. After the team traded away Emmanuel Sanders last season they had to target Courtland Sutton more often. John Elway nailed this pick by being patient and got the receiver with the highest ceiling. 

Now Juedy gets to play on the opposite side of Sutton. Jeudy’s versatility as a route runner and his yards after catch were on display all throughout his career at Alabama. This offense is young and unproven. However the Bronco’s now have Drew Lock as a breakout candidate with the weapons put in place for him. Juedy will directly affect the team. The youth of this offense is a question but the potential of what this offense could be is not in question. Adding Jeudy helps stretch the field as Courtland Sutton will bring his ability to win 50/50 catches, and be a red zone threat. Juedy adds a complete route tree and will impact this offense week one of the season.