Drafting your rookie rosters before the actual NFL Draft is never an easy thing to do. The places where many of these rookies land will dictate just how successful they become. That is why is Dynasty Mock Draft Pre-NFL Draft could be so helpfull.
However, many leagues do choose to hold their rookie draft before the NFL Draft because it places the emphasis on talent evaluation. If you show up to the draft unprepared, lacking knowledge about some of the best players entering the NFL the next season, your team will struggle in the long run.
Despite my unwillingness to participate in a rookie draft before the NFL Draft, here I am mocking the first ten picks of a standard dynasty league rookie draft, detailing where I would take the top ten players and why.
1.01 – RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia
1.02 – WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
For me, the top two selections in any dynasty rookie draft are slam dunks. There are the best two prospects for any type of dynasty league and will produce in any system in the NFL.
D’Andre Swift is an incredibly elusive and strong running back. He is durable and has the chance to be a 3-down back with his elevated ability to make any defender miss. Not only is Swift a special running back, but he has very soft hands and can catch the ball from any package. He will be a fantasy football machine and will be able to score you points in multiple places.
Jerry Jeudy is a rare wide receiver. When watching his tape, I believe he will be a top 5 receiver for much of his NFL career. I see flashes of Julio Jones and A.J. Green within his game. Jeudy has an incredibly strong upper body and demonstrates excellent route running. There is a good chance Jeudy is the prospect we look back on and realize too many teams passed up on. Many teams need a top wide receiver in the upcoming NFL Draft and I believe he will up in a very good situation no matter where he goes.
1.03 – RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
1.04 – WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
1.05 – RB J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
The next tier of prospects contains more excellence. Typically, I like to trade up into the rookie draft and acquire one of the can’t miss prospects. Josh Jacobs was that guy for me last year and now I own him in all three of my leagues. This year, Swift and Jeudy fit that bill. However, if I did not have the resources to make such a dramatic move, I would be satisfied settling for one of these next three prospects.
Jonathan Taylor’s success will heavily rely on which team drafts him next week, but I believe he can be a very successful running back at the next level. I worry about his over usage from his days in the Wisconsin system and his ability to be an every day 3-down back, but his talent is off the charts and can produce on week 1 of the NFL season.
CeeDee Lamb is another beyond talented wide receiver prospect. His rare big-play presence will electrify secondaries in the NFL and will drive defensive coordinators crazy. I worry about Lamb’s durability as a WR1 and question if he has the build to last a whole season. However, it is hard to deny just how talented his kid is.
J.K. Dobbins may never be a 3-down workhouse that you always hope to pick in a rookie draft, but I do believe that he will be a nice compliment no matter where he lands. He has impressive flexibility and durability despite a bell-cow workload for three years at Ohio State. This is a fairly safe pick and will be one no owner will regret.
1.06 – WR Henry Ruggs, Alabama
1.07 – WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
1.08 – RB Cam Akers, Florida State
1.09 – QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
1.10 – WR Jalen Reagor, TCU
Rounding out my dynasty mock draft, five more exciting prospects fly off the board starting with another Alabama wide receiver. Blasting an official 4.27 40-yard dash, Henry Ruggs has off the charts speed and jaw-dropping footwork. He is smooth and crisp off his routes and will always attract the attention of a second defender. Ruggs struggles to get open in cover defenses, even when he is surrounded with uber-talented wide receivers. He may not light up the stat sheet in year 1, but investing in Ruggs is a safe option in the first round.
In a heavy wide receiver NFL draft, I like a lot of receivers in my mock draft as well. Justin Jefferson is the fourth of five receivers off the board in the first ten picks. His size and hands, along with his amazing first step will cause nightmares for defending defensive backs. No matter where Jefferson goes, he will be a play-maker from day one, only needing to improve on a few of his skills.
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Cam Akers is surprisingly the final running back off the board. I typically like draft running backs, but considering the amount of wide receiver needy teams and countless pro-ready prospects, running backs may fall in many leagues. Akers processes a special talent and lateral quickness that is loved by NFL scouts. I think Akers will end up being an amazing day 2 selection in the NFL Draft and will someday receive a chance to become a starter in the league.
This one may come as a shocker, but going quarterback in this mock makes sense. Usually, someone needs an extra quarterback and considering the number of quarterbacks in their final two years, it would make sense to grab your guy. Joe Burrow is going to be a great field general in the NFL (for the Bengals I would imagine), but Tua Tagovailoa has a higher ceiling in my opinion. He will have a chance to showcase this as long as he is put in the right situation and stays healthy. The team that drafts Tagovailoa will need to be patient and build the offense around him. In terms of a fantasy standpoint, I think he has the best chance to be a QB1 in this draft class and is worth a late-round 1 flyer if you can afford to do so.
Rounding out the first round, Jalen Reagor sneaks into my mock draft, probably surprising most of you. His ability to turn on the afterburners late and run downhill so effectively has me loving his film and chances of being a great wide receiver in the league. It is uncertain whether or not Reagor finds himself as a day 1 selection, but he will have a chance to be a starter on week 1 without a doubt.
Honorable Mentions
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
QB Joe Burrow, LSU
WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
RB Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
RB Patrick Taylor, Memphis
WR/RB Lynn Bowden, Kentucky
Best in Class Prospects (in terms of Fantasy appeal)
QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
RB: D’Andre Swift, Georgia
WR: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
TE: Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
Sleepers
QB: Jacob Eason, Washington
RB: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
WR: Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
TE: Kyle Markway, South Carolina
Busts
QB: Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
RB: Joshua Kelley, UCLA
WR: Devin Duvernay, Texas
TE: Devin Asiasi, UCLA
Thank you for reading this Dynasty Mock Draft Pre-NFL Draft. Be sure to stay connected to Full Press Coverage for more great 2020 NFL Draft content.
– Gavin Frick is a writer for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @thespurfrick Follow @FPC_NFL and Facebook.
– Kyle Senra is the managing editor for the Full Press Fantasy Sports. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @nyama_ks Follow @FPC_FF and Facebook.
