2020 NFL Draft: Pac-12 news and rumors

The 2020 NFL Draft is taking center stage and we at Pacific Takes are here to ensure you don’t miss a thing in terms of the Pac-12 players who are expected to hear their names called.

We’re compiling all the news, rumors and analysis in one place for your convenience.

Got a tip? Comment below or send to @CamMellor on Twitter!

11:59 PM — April 23, 2020

San Francisco selects Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk at Pick 25
From my coverage on SBNation.com —

An absolute burner with the ball in his hands, Aiyuk would have been the best after-the-catch threat in any draft class without CeeDee Lamb in it. He averaged 18.3 yards per catch and was as disruptive to defenses as any other receiver in the country. His 81-inch wingspan means he is basically always open.

Considering he hauled in the majority of his passes short of the line to gain a season ago, that 18.3 yards per catch figure stands out even more. And it makes more sense why the 49ers were willing to trade three picks to move up six spots to secure Aiyuk.

Miami selects USC tackle Austin Jackson with the 18th pick
From my coverage on SBNation.com —

He’s young and ideally coachable as he’s likely a long shot to start right away. Still, he’s only 20 years old and stands at 6’5, 310 pounds with two seasons of starting experience at left tackle for the Trojans under his belt. He may not be a starter-level tackle right now but he certainly has the ability to get there quickly.

He can move extremely well for a man his size and has great athleticism across the board. This is likely a reach at this pick but immediately fills a spot of need for the Dolphins.

The Los Angeles Chargers select Oregon QB Justin Herbert as their man at Pick 6
From my coverage on SBNation.com —

More athletic than he gets credit for, the big-armed, big-framed quarterback from Eugene had impressive enough performances to warrant first overall selection discussions through his career. Ultimately, though, some of his throws were incredibly maddening and those came back to haunt his tape as he literally threw games away at times for the Ducks.

Still, in the discussion of the good vs. the bad with Herbert, the good outweighs the bad, heavily. Los Angeles gets their quarterback of the future.

Herbert is a 10+ year starter for the Chargers, who are now set at the position in the post-Philip Rivers era.

11:30 AM — April 23, 2020

Michael Pittman could jump into the first round
Pittman is believed now to be a first-round selection by Pro Football Network’s Andrew DiCecco, who wrote that Pittman could be selected between picks 27 and 32 on Thursday night.

10:30 AM — April 22, 2020

Levi Fotu considered ‘overrated’
Pro Football Network is hearing that Fotu, the former Utah Utes standout defensive tackle, could fall into the category of ‘most disappointing’ because of issues with inconsistency.

Michael Pittman has a top-15 grade
According to one team, their draft board sees Michael Pittman Jr. as a top-15 player for the 2020 NFL Draft. This is great news for Pittman and the USC Trojans faithful in a stacked receiver class that many don’t expect to see Pittman land in Round 1. Odds are he does hear his name called no later than very early in the second round at this point and with this latest news, maybe he will in fact sneak into the first.

Austin Jackson considered an ‘enigma’
Jackson, another USC Trojan expected to hear his name called early, has been mocked in the first round as well as the second round so we’re likely to hear his name called sooner rather than later as well. However, the opinions are so varied around the league that some have him as a top-18 player while others don’t have him coming off the board until well into Day 2.

9:00 AM — April 22, 2020

Jaylon Johnson trending towards the first round
The former Utah cornerback is a dominant player and four teams are apparently rumored to be very high on Johnson. The Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings are all high on Johnson, rumored to be high enough to take him in the first round.

8:00 PM — April 21, 2020

Laviska Shenault already doing on-field work
Shenault is just six weeks removed from surgery but video surfaced online of him running routes, perfectly lining up with the original prognosis of him being ready by draft time. He had multiple injuries in college while with the Colorado Buffaloes but should be off the board within the early stages of Round 2.

Jacob Eason’s best fit is with a team who can unleash his arm strength
Eason has incredible strength in his cannon attached to his right side, and ESPN’s Matt Bowen explained that a team with a heavy play-action scheme would be best suited for the former Washington Huskies QB. “He fits best in an NFL system that utilizes the play-action passing game to scheme up vertical throws over the top of the secondary,” Bowen wrote.