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By the time the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft rolls around, the majority of teams will be looking to add depth pieces as opposed to selecting starting-caliber players — or very close to it — through the first two rounds of the annual event. However, that does not mean that the talent runs out past the first two rounds as this year's NFL Draft class is absolutely stacked from top to bottom. With that in mind, the third round could be a key point in this year's installment of the NFL Draft as franchises will have the opportunity to steal some potentially impactful talent at a variety of different skill positions.
Although the wide receiver position is the deepest of the bunch with running backs not terribly far behind, it will actually become a quarterback that ultimately becomes the steal of the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Former Alabama Crimson Tide and Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jalen Hurts sits just outside the grouping of top tier signal-callers from this year's NFL Draft class. However, that doesn't make him any less of a potential superstar at the next level. Because former LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow, former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, former Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert and former Utah State Aggies quarterback Jordan Love will all likely be well off the board by the time the second round even comes calling, this quartet has received the majority of the praise this offseason. Nonetheless, expect Hurts to surprise some folks upon taking his talents to the professional ranks of the NFL while being selected in the third round should actually benefit the soon-to-be rookie.
In all likelihood, Hurts will be drafted into a situation where he can sit behind a proven starter to learn how to be an NFL quarterback. Even if Hurts isn't a team's primary backup in his rookie season, the right franchise could turn him into a useful weapon down the road. Teams like the New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans immediately come to mind as high-level teams that could use backup quarterbacks at the present while all three of these franchises are also primed to compete in a big way in 2020-21. If Hurts manages to land with a successful franchise with the right culture in addition to being able to learn from those ahead of him on the depth chart, all signs will surely point to him becoming a viable option under center at some point in his NFL career.
Despite the fact that the aforementioned foursome of Burrow, Hurts, Herbert and Love have continued to encounter the majority of the hype through the 2020 NFL Draft process; Hurts could have made some more noise himself if this year's schedule didn't quickly become all out of whack. If Hurts would have been able to take advantage of a Pro Day in addition to in-person interviews and workouts for individual franchises, there is no doubt that he could have raised his draft stock in a big way due to his athleticism, high football IQ and ability to both run and pass effectively.
It is no secret that Hurts is both athletic and intelligent, while it appears as though he will just have to prove himself on the field once a team selects him in the 2020 NFL Draft. It may take some time for Hurts to receive his chance to shine once he is ultimately draft, which is perfectly fine and will more than likely even benefit his development. It is also worth noting that even though the other quarterbacks mentioned will definitely encounter a tremendous about of buzz and expectations while being thrown directly into the fire as patience may eventually become the key to Hurts' NFL success.
Honorable Mention:
- WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- With a variety of different wide receivers slated to come off the board in both the first and second rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft, former Notre Dame Fighting Irish wideout Chase Claypool sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. Make no mistake, though, Claypool is ready to help a needy NFL franchise right now.
- TE Brycen Hopkins, Purdue Boilermakers
- There will no doubt be a few teams eyeing former Purdue Boilermakers tight end Brycen Hopkins come late April. However, one of those teams would be smart to snatch him up in the third round — if not earlier — before it is ultimately too late.
- WR Van Jefferson, Florida Gators
- Similarly to the aforementioned Chase Claypool, former Florida Gators wide receiver Van Jefferson is not talked about nearly enough due to the fact that this year's draft class is especially loaded. Jefferson will be draft in the middle rounds but has the ability and tools to quickly become a playmaker atop the highest level.
