Grading every first-round pick out of the AFC West

With the excitement of Thursday night’s 2020 NFL Draft still fresh, we went back to our Big Board as our guide to grade all six picks from the Denver Broncos and their AFC West rivals.

Denver Broncos: A

15) Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

The highest-rated player on my board to be selected in the AFC West, Jeudy’s NFL-ready traits have been clear for a while. He’s looked like a sure-fire high pick since winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award as a sophomore, becoming a true catalyst for Alabama’s potent passing attack.

The surgical route runner is electric with the ball in his hands and has deep speed that’s almost unfair when he can create separation right off his release. His fit should be seamless in Pat Shurmur’s offense, giving Denver a dangerous weapon in the slot or outside who will both open up space for and benefit from having Courtland Sutton.

The value of the eighth player on our board and most NFL-ready receiver in a loaded 2020 wideout class, without giving up any draft capital, can be nothing less than an A as one of the best value picks of the entire first round—only Justin Jefferson and Ceedee Lamb’s selections were as good or better values on day one by our rankings. 

Los Angeles Chargers: B

6) Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

23) Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

The Chargers stayed put in the top six and got their quarterback of the future—a risky proposition with Herbert—and then traded both their second and third-round picks to trade up to upgrade their interior linebacker position.

Both players carry first-round grades and while selecting the 17th-rated prospect on our board seems like a reach at six overall, Herbert was the highest-rated quarterback with only two players—Derrick Brown and Isaiah Simmons—carrying a significantly higher grade at that point of the draft. 

While Murray is a fine player and even better character profile who’ll certainly upgrade that middle linebacker position, the Chargers not shoring up their left tackle position with that trade was surprising, especially with the likes of Josh Jones and Ezra Cleveland still around.

At face value, the Herbert pick might be a better value and much more justifiable need than Murray, with both carrying some considerable risk.

Las Vegas Raiders: C-

12) Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

19) Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

The Raiders started things off by taking the first receiver off the board, opting for the speedy Ruggs who’s an interesting fit, to say the least. Under Jon Gruden, the Raiders haven’t really attacked the field deep. It simply hasn’t been who they are so it’s curious they’ve added a player in Ruggs who will profile as a deep threat who opens up space for others.

The first selection was expected; it’s the second first-round pick that was more troubling with Arnette ranking as the ninth corner on our board and 70th prospect overall. Arnette had some late first-round buzz prior to an underwhelming NFL Combine but even then never seemed in contention to go in the top-20 picks. The selection felt like a clear overreaction to A.J. Terrell, who we mocked to Vegas, going three picks prior to Atlanta. The Ohio State cornerback rates as one of the worst values in round one; only Terrell and the Seahawks selection of Jordyn Brooks were as bad or worse.

Kansas City Chiefs: B-

32) Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

The Chiefs took a versatile running back with tremendous film and production. Edwards-Helaire can instantly be impactful as a receiver out the backfield, where he’s coming off a 55-reception season, and be an elusive, shifty runner who packs real power. He joins Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler, and the Broncos backfield duo for a nice stable of backs in the division.

While the selection clearly is a tremendous fit in the Chiefs’ system and could pay off in a big way, the value is debatable for a team that already has to be very careful to maximize limited resources as they pay all their stars.

CEH is great but he was our fourth-ranked running back and 55th-ranked prospect. KC could’ve waited potentially another round before having to pull the trigger on a running back who could’ve given them comparable, if not arguably better, on-field return.