Based on the initial video it seemed that 2nd degree was plausible but 3rd degree murder was an overcharge even back then. Having read the transcript and seen the leaked bodycam footage it seems without question that they have overcharged Chauvin and the rest of the cops will or should have their cases dismissed
In terms of the non-Chauvin cops and their interactions with Floyd:
- The cops showed a huge amount of patience and even kindness (eg. saying they'd stay with him and roll the windows down for him) leading up to the infamous and tragic video we all saw
- A gun was only drawn for a short time whilst Floyd reached about in his car. Once Floyd stopped the gun was holstered and never came back out.
- Despite claims to the contrary in various places, Floyd was told why he was being detained
- Floyd was clearly off his head on something
- Floyd was resisting throughout, a fact noted by his exGF right from the off
- Floyd's ex GF intermated that he has mental problems (tho it is also likely this was to try and hide their drug use and whilst the cops probably saw through it it is something they will have had to keep in mind)
- His exGF and the other man with Floyd (both black) were not manhandled or even had a gun pulled on them because they complied (kept their hands in view and getting out of the car without resisting)
- Floyd said many times that he couldn't breathe long before he was on the ground.
- The cops put him on the ground in response to Floyd's request to be put on the ground
- Despite the reasons to dismiss Floyd's pleas they still called for a medic and at least one of them verbalised their concern regarding Excited Delirium
These are not the actions of heartless racist thugs out to hurt anyone or help someone commit a murder.
Whilst there is partial overlap in the bodycam footage due to him arriving later, Chauvin is a more complicated case but unless the state has an as yet unknown silver bullet he is not going down for murder. We're talking more about negligence than murder and with excited delirium being a possible reason for Floyd's death (with or without the knee) there is a sizable amount of reasonable doubt there.
Whether Chauvin is found not guilty or guilty on a lesser charge the biggest problem the US (and for some weirdly forced reason the UK) faces is the backlash. This is because the media and various social media outlets (eg. The Young Turks) have so incredibly failed to inform their viewers (and in some cases intentionally misinform) that they will feel utterly blindsided by anything other than everyone involved being sent away for life. The riots will make the last few months look ahem 'largely peaceful'