theScore’s football editors evaluate who came away as the big winners and losers after the first 32 picks of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Winners: Miami Dolphins
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The Dolphins didn’t have to “Tank for Tua” after all. Nor did they have to package their three first-round picks to finally land a franchise centerpiece. All they had to do was sit at No. 5 and wait for him to fall into their laps.
With the Round 1 fireworks behind us, it’s apparent that much of the pre-draft chatter about medical concerns over Tua Tagovailoa’s hip, wrists, and ankles was overblown, as was talk of the Dolphins preferring Justin Herbert or trying to trade up to land an offensive tackle. Perhaps the Dolphins leaked all three narratives themselves to obscure their desire to land the former Alabama star without surrendering additional compensation.
In the end, the Dolphins got their man. After a generation of searching for a player with the necessary skill and charisma to step out of Dan Marino’s shadow, they might finally have done it.
Losers: Los Angeles Chargers
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Aside from quarterback, the Chargers arguably had one of the league’s most talented rosters entering the draft. They found their successor to Philip Rivers in Justin Herbert, but the jury is very much out on whether the former Oregon QB is worth the No. 6 pick. Moreover, Los Angeles stood pat and watched as Tagovailoa fell into the Dolphins’ lap without the AFC East team even having to move up.
While Tagovailoa’s long-term health remains a concern, he’s far more pro-ready than Herbert and could have helped L.A. win now and sell tickets in a highly competitive sports market. The Chargers’ second first-round selection of linebacker Kenneth Murray (after a trade that cost a second and a third) was just as questionable. The ex-Oklahoma standout is a physical specimen but is very raw in coverage – not a good trait for a team that shares a division with Patrick Mahomes. All in all, the Chargers might have whiffed on their best shot at challenging the Kansas City Chiefs in the foreseeable future.
Winner: Tom Brady
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Prior to the first round, Brady had almost everything he could desire in Tampa Bay: an offensive-minded head coach, two Pro Bowl wide receivers, an ascending defense, and, of course, his BFF, Rob Gronkowski. But the 42-year-old’s offensive line left something to be desired.
The Buccaneers went a long way toward ensuring their legendary quarterback will be kept clean by trading up one spot to select Tristan Wirfs at No. 13, the last of the consensus top four offensive tackles. The former Iowa standout will be plugged straight into the right tackle spot, where he played almost exclusively in college. With no weaknesses now on offense, Brady’s chances of winning ring No. 7 are looking better by the minute.
Loser: Aaron Rodgers
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Rodgers likely went to sleep Wednesday night dreaming of the many wide receiver prospects who could be available with the Green Bay Packers‘ first-round selection. But fast forward 24 hours, and Rodgers will now be greeting his potential successor in Jordan Love instead of a shiny new weapon.
Rodgers isn’t going anywhere soon. He’s contracted through the 2023 season, and the first financially sensible time the Packers can move on from the two-time MVP is after 2021. But make no mistake, at 36 years old Rodgers is entering the twilight of his storied career, and the Packers are clearly already planning for life after him.
Winners: Dallas Cowboys
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The Cowboys came away with arguably the best wide receiver in a class loaded with standouts and didn’t have to trade up from No. 17 to do so. CeeDee Lamb is polished enough to make an immediate impact, yet he has the upside to grow into a legitimate No. 1 option down the road. As a rookie, he’ll round out one of the NFL’s deepest groups of skill players, which features Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup out wide and Ezekiel Elliott next to Dak Prescott in the backfield.
Even sweeter for the Cowboys is that the addition of Lamb could alleviate pressure to re-sign Gallup in a couple of seasons when his rookie deal expires. With so many big-money contracts already on the books, Dallas may be in tough to keep the former third-rounder, who eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards one year ago. The Cowboys entered the draft needing to address their defensive secondary but can do that on Day 2.
Losers: Las Vegas Raiders
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Mike Mayock appeared to extend his arms all night, less than 10 days after saying “the biggest mistake is trying to reach for need.” At No. 12, he took Henry Ruggs III, who was widely considered the third-best receiver available after Lamb and Jerry Jeudy. The larger controversy came at No. 19 when he went off the board to select Damon Arnette, a projected Day 2 talent, after the top cornerbacks had been claimed.
Before the draft, Mayock said he’d be comfortable working virtually given his background as a TV analyst. But he appeared to panic when the Raiders went on the clock, selecting players he likely could still have gotten if he had traded down. He admitted afterward that Arnette would probably have lasted a while longer, but he didn’t want to risk losing him. Mayock seemed to be equally jittery last year when he chose Clelin Ferrell fourth overall.
Winners: Offensive linemen
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Big men were the belle of the ball on Day 1. Seven offensive linemen were selected, including four within the first 13 picks. Georgia, in particular, had two tackles selected in the first round: Andrew Thomas at fourth overall and Isaiah Wilson at No. 29.
In the position breakdown of players selected, offensive line led the way, followed by receivers at six picked. Those numbers represent the demand at the pro level for plug-and-play offensive linemen and the steep drop from the top prospects in this draft to the second tier.
Losers: Safeties
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A position that once was thought to have two or perhaps three slam-dunk picks in the first round (Xavier McKinney, Grant Delpit, Antoine Winfield Jr.) was shut out on the first night of the draft.
The three aforementioned safeties were invited to participate in the NFL’s virtual draft but were only seen sitting quietly with their loved ones as they watched the opening night unfold. McKinney, Delpit, and Winfield are good bets to be picked Friday, but they lost out on the millions that come with being a first-round selection.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
