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5 Second-Round Picks That Will Put the NFL on Notice in 2020

By Stephen Lebitsch

Five players from the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft that will make noise in their rookie season including safeties and wide receivers.
Five players from the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft that will make noise in their rookie season including safeties and wide receivers. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The 2020 NFL Draft saw a rich selection of star talent in the first round. However, this year's surprisingly deep second round reached very similar levels of bountiful.

Among the selections made, these five will garner most of the league's attention in 2020.

5. Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams

Cam Akers of the Florida State Seminoles
Cam Akers of the Florida State Seminoles / Don Juan Moore/Getty Images


Cam Akers was one of college football’s special players at the running back position, mostly for his ability to make a mountain out of a molehill. His offensive line at Florida State was quite bad, and the offensive scheme did not create much opportunity for skilled players. Akers, though, still managed to become a top performer with a “Wildcat” skillset that tallied 2,875 yards and 27 touchdowns in three seasons. With the departure of Todd Gurley and the Rams offense thriving off playmakers, Akers is bound to get reps and show some flash his rookie season.  

4. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antoine Winfield Jr. of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Hannah Foslien/Getty Images


Antoine Winfield, the 45th overall pick, draws comparisons to current Bucs safety Mike Edwards. At Minnesota in 2016, before he went through two seasons suppressed by injuries, Winfield recorded 52 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. Scouts define him as a tough, intelligent player who has a ballhawk mentality and can make plays from the safety and nickel position. Winfield could be the guy to cover the big threats in the NFC South.  

3. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens RB JK Dobbins
Baltimore Ravens RB JK Dobbins / Christian Petersen/Getty Images


The Ravens employed Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram as their top two rushing threats in 2020, but the most likely to compete with them for reps this year is J.K. Dobbins out of OSU. A tough, downhill run specialist, Dobbins was a First Team All-American in 2019 who finished his career with almost 4,500 yards and 38 touchdowns. Dobbins will fit in the Ravens scheme right away and could be the Ingram replacement in the long term who can power the Baltimore run game.  

2. Xavier McKinney, S, New York Giants

Xavier McKinney of the New York Giants
Xavier McKinney of the New York Giants / Joe Robbins/Getty Images


Of all the Giants’ 2020 draft picks, McKinney likely had the greatest value, and was a fantastic pick by Dave Gettleman in an effort to elevate the Giants’ woeful secondary. Like Winfield Jr. in Tampa, McKinney is extremely versatile and can play all over the field. He could very well be what DeAndre Baker failed to be in 2019: a great tackler downfield, and a cover-in-space defender for the league’s best receivers. As a starter at Alabama in 2018, he recorded 73 tackles, two interceptions, and three sacks.  

1. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins / Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images


Tee Higgins, the 32nd pick of the 2020 draft, was a great selection by the Bengals to give quarterback Joe Burrow another weapon to throw to. Standing at 6-4, Higgins excels at going up and catching high point footballs, and has a huge catch radius. In his junior season at Clemson, he accumulated 1,167 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns to help the Tigers win the National Championship. With first-round value, and AJ Green-like skills, the Bengals took a good chance on Tee Higgins.