Gus Malzahn was supposed to be in Las Vegas right about now.
The eighth-year Auburn coach was set to accompany his program’s headliner for this year’s draft — elite defensive tackle prospect Derrick Brown — at all the colorful festivities on and around the Vegas Strip. Malzahn and Brown would get to unbutton their sports coats to stand up and embrace when Brown — likely to become Auburn’s third top-10 pick this decade — heard his name called from the stage by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Instead, Malzahn, Brown, Noah Igbinoghene, Marlon Davidson and the remainder of Auburn’s 2020 draft hopefuls will be in their living rooms, crossing their fingers that their internet connections stay intact.
This year’s draft will, obviously, be presented and executed through an unprecedented, virtual medium as social distancing measures continue to be taken in the nation-wide fight against COVID-19. Cameras have been placed by ESPN, ABC and NFL Network inside living rooms for the likes of Goodell, general managers and coaches, prospects invited to the “virtual green room” and TV talent for the draft’s broadcast.
But that doesn’t mean the ultimate results of the three-day event won’t be the same, or that a team’s picks won’t be just as scrutinized by fans.
And it certainly doesn’t mean Auburn can’t make some program history by the time Round 7 has concluded.
Last season, Auburn had its most draft selections in the modern 7-round era with six: Jamel Dean, Jarrett Stidham, Darius Slayton, Deshaun Davis, Chandler Cox and Dontavius Russell. There’s a strong chance Malzahn’s program will best itself this weekend.
Brown, Igbinoghene and Prince Tega Wanogho were virtually invited to the draft this year. Being an invitee usually signals that the player will be taken in the first two rounds, and defensive end Marlon Davidson could easily have been in that group, as well. Only three from the Tigers’ remaining lot of prospects need to be selected by a franchise for a new record to be set.
And there’s a strong chance that will happen.
Offensive tackle Jack Driscoll has seen his stock rise to the third- to fifth-round grade since a productive NFL Combine where he ranked near the top of his position groups in most drills.
Cornerback Javaris Davis will likely come off the board due to his raw athleticism and upside.
Edge rusher Nick Coe isn’t the first-round lock most thought he would be after he was Auburn’s best pass-rusher in 2018, but even after his production severely dipped last season, there’s no arguing he’s a tremendous athlete with potential in the NFL.
Then there’s the safety duo of Jeremiah Dinson and Daniel Thomas, punter Arryn Siposs, and a handful of Tigers who are widely projected to be undrafted, but could possibly sneak into the final round.
“I think it says a lot, that we have a lot of good players,” Gus Malzahn said. “We're losing some good players, so there is great potential for our young guys and our guys who are new. But they're setting the tone. I think we've got a chance to have one of the best groups of numbers being drafted or the most drafted since we went to seven rounds. Real exciting time for our program. It's just an honor and a blessing to watch those guys and to be able to coach them while they're here.”
Theoretically, Auburn could also make some serious waves on opening night alone. Sure, Brown will, in all likelihood, not slip out of the top 10 picks. He’s a monstrous, disruptive interior tackle with the talent to anchor a franchise that doesn’t come around often. But Igbinoghene and Davidson have earned some late-first-round projections of their own during the past few months of draft preparations and evaluations.
Landing three first-rounders in one year would be record-setting for most programs, and it would be a defining group for the Malzahn era. But Auburn has gone a step further before; in the 2005 draft, following the Tigers’ undefeated Sugar Bowl team, Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, Carlos Rogers and Jason Campbell were all taken in the first round.
As aforementioned, if Brown lands in the top 10, Auburn would become one of just 13 programs with three or more such picks in the past decade, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Stanford, Texas A&M and USC.
“These guys have worked hard,” Malzahn said. “That’s always a really big moment for them and their families.”
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