Draft Depletion: How the NFL Draft will impact Texas A&M's 2020 foes

The NFL draft allows professional teams to bolster their roster. It provides college football players a chance to realize dreams and attain wealth.

For college football programs, the NFL draft provides opportunity to boast. Programs brag how they’ve taken raw, talented teenagers and developed them into NFL caliber players. They then use that as perhaps the ultimate recruiting tool.

The message is obvious: Our programs sets you on a path to NFL fame and fortune. The more players drafted from a program, the louder that message becomes.

But that message comes at a price. True, having multiple players drafted can boost recruiting, but the short-term results can be disappointing.

Very often, college football teams that soar in the draft sour the next season. For example, Ole Miss had six players drafted, including three first-rounders, following a 10-3 finish in 2015. The next season, the Rebels were 5-7.

With that in mind, here’s a look at how Texas A&M’s nine Power 5 opponents fared in last week’s draft and how that might affect next season’s game against the Aggies.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

QB Tua Tagovailoa highlights nine Crimson Tide players taken in the 2020 NFL draft.

Alabama

2019 vs. A&M: Won, 47-28
Players drafted: 9
Impact level vs. A&M in 2020: Significant
Draftees and their performance vs. A&M:

• QB Tua Tagovailoa: Passed for 293 yards, 4 TDs
• OT Jedrick Wills: OL helped accumulate 448 yards, allowed 1 sack
• WR Henry Ruggs: 1 catch, 22 yards, 1 TD
• WR Jerry Jeudy: 4 catches, 50 yards.
• S Xavier McKinney: 6 tackles, 1 PBU
• CB Trevon Diggs: 4 tackles, 2 PBU
• DE Raekwon Davis: 2 tackles
• LB Terrell Lewis: 3 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks
• LB Anfernee Jennings: 8 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU

The outlook: Tagovailoa was exceptional. Not having to face him again is definitely a plus. The departure of Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis figures to slow down the pass rush on Kellen Mond. The key figure in Alabama’s win over the Aggies was receiver/punt returner Jaylen Waddle. He’s still there.

Arkansas

2019 vs. A&M: Lost, 31-27
Players drafted: 2
Impact level vs. A&M in 2020: Minimal
Draftees and their performance vs. A&M:

• DT McTelvin Agim: 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack
• S Kamren Curl: 12 tackles

Outlook: Agim and Curl had strong showings against A&M, but that game shouldn’t have been close. A&M’s mistakes — a fumble that resulted in a Razorbacks touchdown and an interception in the Arkansas endzone — made that a closer contest than it should’ve been. Frankly, undrafted tight end Cheyenne O’Grady’s absence might be more beneficial for A&M this season.

Auburn

2019 vs. A&M: Won, 28-20
Drafted players: 6
Impact level vs. A&M in 2020: Significant
Draftees and their performance vs. A&M:

• DT Derrick Brown: 4 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FF
• CB Noah Igbinoghene: 8 tackles
• DE Marlon Davidson: 3 tackles
• OT Jack Driscoll: OL helped accumulate 299 yards and allowed 1 sack 
• S Daniel Thomas: 3 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR
• OT Prince Tega Wanogo: OL helped accumulate 299 yards and allowed 1 sack

Outlook: The absence of Derrick Brown alone enhances A&M’s chances. He absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage. It doesn’t hurt that Daniel Thomas and Noah Igbinoghene are gone, too. Thomas forced and recovered an Isaiah Spiller fumble on the first play of the second half. That led to a touchdown that practically determined the outcome. The subtraction of both tackles from the offensive line figures to make the going a little easier for the A&M defense. However, mercurial receiver Anthony Schwartz is still there. The Aggies must contain his speed.

Colorado

2019 vs. A&M: Did not play
Drafted players: 3
Impact level vs. A&M in 2020: Significant
Draftees:

• WR Laviska Shenault
• LB Davion Taylor
• T Arlington Hambright

Outlook: Shenault was among the most explosive players in the nation. Removing him and Hambright, the Buffaloes’ left tackle, figures to weaken an offense that was tied (with Kansas) for 100th in the nation in scoring last season.

LSU

2019 vs. A&M: Won, 50-7
Drafted players: 14
Impact level vs. A&M in 2020: Enormous
Draftees and their performance vs. A&M:

• QB Joe Burrow: Passed for 352 yards, 3 TDs
• DE K’Lavon Chaisson: 6 tackles, 1.5 sacks
• WR Justin Jefferson: 6 catches, 55 yards, 1 TD
• LB Patrick Queen: 4 tackles, 1 sack
• RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Rushed for 89 yards, 1 TD
• S Grant Delpit: 3 tackles, 1 INT
• CB Kristian Fulton: 3 tackles, 2 PBU
• OG Damien Lewis: OL helped accumulate 553 yards, allowed 4 sacks
• C Lloyd Cushenberry: OL helped accumulate 553 yards, allowed 4 sacks
• LB Jacob Phillips: 1 tackle
• OT Saahdiq Charles: OL helped accumulate 553 yards, allowed 4 sacks
• DT Rashard Lawrence: 1 tackle, 1 sack
• C Blake Ferguson: long snapped
• TE Stephen Sullivan: 0 catches

Outlook: Joe Burrow was at the peak of his game during what many believe is the best individual season in college football history. His departure alone is a boost for the Aggies. Chaisson’s absence will help. So will that of Queen and Delpit and… Who are we kidding? A&M’s hopes for defeating LSU next November increased exponentially last Friday.

Ole Miss

2019 vs. A&M: Lost, 24-17
Players drafted: 0
Impact level vs. A&M in 2020: Minimal
Outlook: That was another game that A&M miscues made the game more competitive than necessary. Ole Miss running back Scottie Phillips signed a free agent deal, but he wasn’t a major factor last year. Jerrion Ealy, who’s still there, was a greater threat. The loss of Benito Jones, Josiah Coatney and Jalen Julius, all free agent signees, will dampen the pass rush. But A&M just needs to avoid turnovers and tighten up the run defense to extend its winning streak over Ole Miss to four straight.

Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports

Cameron Dantzler is one of five Bulldogs drafted in 2020.

Mississippi State

2019 vs. A&M: Lost, 49-30
Players drafted: 5
Impact level vs. A&M in 2020: None
Draftees and their performance vs. A&M:

• LB Willie Gay: DNP
• CB Cameron Dantzler: DNP
• OG Tyre Phillips: OL helped accumulate 433 yards, allowed 2 sacks
• QB Tommy Stevens: DNP
• S Brian Cole: 9 tackles

Outlook: Due to suspensions and a quarterback change, only two of Mississippi State’s five draftees actually played against A&M last season. The arrival of coach Mike Leach makes the only significant offensive personnel loss — guard Tyre Phillips — largely irrelevant.

South Carolina

2019 vs. A&M: Lost, 30-6
Players drafted: 4
Impact level vs. A&M in 2020: Respectable
Draftees and their performance vs. A&M:

• DT Javon Kinlaw: 4 tackles, 0.5 sacks
• WR Bryan Edwards: DNP
• DE D.J. Wonnum: 4 sacks
• LB T.J. Brunson: 0 tackles

Outlook: True, A&M won in a blowout a year ago. Don’t forget, though, that was a close game at halftime. Linebacker T.J. Brunson was ejected early for targeting and the Gamecocks could not recover. South Carolina lost the best four players on its roster to the draft. Frankly, the Gamecocks project as a weaker team in 2020.

Vanderbilt

2019 vs. A&M: Did not play
Players drafted: 1
Impact level vs. A&M in 2020: Significant
Draftees:

• RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn

Outlook: The Commodores managed three wins in 2019 and often looked worse than their record. Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, a third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and free agents Kalija Lipscomb (receiver) and Jared Pinkney (tight end) at least gave Vandy a fighting chance. This season’s Commodores project as an easy win for A&M and several other opponents.