Only a week away until the 2020 NFL! This draft will be the most important draft in new head coach Ron Rivera’s tenure here. Let me preface my mock draft of the year by saying this is what I think will happen, not what I would do if I were each teams GM. So with that, let’s begin:
- Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB LSU
Joe Burrow is one of the most clear-cut #1 overall picks I’ve seen since I started writing this blog. Coming off of a legendary season where he: passed for 4,715 yards/ 48 TDs, won the Heisman Trophy receiving over 90% of the votes, and led the LSU Tigers #1 offense in FBS to an undefeated season plus their first national championship in 12 years. Burrow is the obvious choice for the rebuilding Bengals and should become their new franchise QB for years to come.
2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, DE, OSU
Chase Young has been linked to the Redskins the moment we lost to the Giants in week 16. Could we trade back here? Sure. Will we? Probably not especially after hearing that Tua is failing physicals and having questionable white board work in his team meetings. Also, let’s also consider the reports that the Dolphins are more interested in Justin Herbert (https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/04/16/dolphins-have-done-plenty-of-work-on-justin-herbert/) than Tua. Obviously this could all be a smoke screen to bring down the skins asking price, but I believe new head coach Ron Rivera has been excited about Chase Young since he took the job. Granted, there is a lot to be excited about. Chase Young who led the NCAA in sacks last year, breaking Ohio States sack record, while being suspended for two games for an odd “profitting from jersey sales” scandal. Chase will join a young, talented defense under a new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio who are all chomping at the bit to change their narrative.
PS: Matt Miller had a nice tweet about Chase this morning. Hopefully he will live up the hype!
3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okaduh, CB OSU
The Lions will likely look to trade back here but again, with the lack of excitement around Tua in the days leading up to the draft, who knows if they’ll offer a 2nd to move up two spots. Lions will stay put and take the best CB in the draft who shined against Tee Higgins at the end of the season.
4. New York Giants: Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson
The Giants probably should go for a bookend left tackle here to protect Daniel Jones. However, Gettlemen has made solid (and somewhat unorthodox) first round selections each of the last 3 years and will continue that trend here. Simmons joins the Joe Judge’s new look Giants and will be a star in the big apple in no time.
5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama
The Dolphins are able to stay pat and get the player they “tanked” for all year. Tua is great prospect who has pinpoint accuracy and a Russell Wilson-like escapability. However, the injury concerns are certainly there after he dislocated his hip last year, had surgery on his wrist and missed game for his ankle. We will see if he is able to stay healthy and become the franchise QB that the Dolphins have needed for decades.
6. LA Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB Oregon
Early on, I thought the Chargers were going to the be the ones to push the Dolphins to trade up for Tua. However, they seem smitten with the big Oregon QB Justin Herbert who dominated the Senior Bowl. Herbert is not quite the prospect that Tua is, but he has all the size (6’6″ 236), athleticism (4.68 40, 123″ broad), and arm strength (big time arm/ stiff arms) to be successful at the next level. He will need time to develop considering the gimmicky offense he played for in Oregon. However, if he can stay healthy, he could be a starter for a long time.
7. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DT Auburn
Derrick Brown was a beast last year for the Auburn Tigers earning 1st-Team AP All-American honors on 12.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. He was instrumental in their Iron Bowl victory over Alabama, ending the Tides chances for a 4th consecutive NCAA playoff berth. The Panthers desperately need help up front and there is not a better player to help sure that up then Brown.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Thomas, OT Georgia
This will probably come as the first ‘shocker’ of the NFL draft but Andrew Thomas is the best tackle prospect out there and the Cardinals need a bookend LT to protect Kyler Murray. Andrew Thomas will start immediately and should have a nice long career for the Cardinals.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Javon Kinlaw, DT South Carolina
Javon Kinlaw was the 1st-Team All-American for the Gamecocks and was dominant at times. The Jaguars will be hard pressed to take a QB here but will be very happy with Kinlaw’s production in year one.
10. Cleveland Browns: Tristan Wirfs, OT Iowa
Wirfs was a state champion wrestler in high school and as a true junior at Iowa was a 2nd-Team AP All American. The Browns should be ecstatic to get potentially the best tackle in the class to protect Baker Mayfield’s blind side.
11. NY Jets: Mehki Becton, OT Lousiville
I could see a WR going here as well but the Jets need to protect Sam Darnold and Becton is their man. Becton is an interesting prospect. At 6’7″ 364 lbs, he is the biggest prospect in the class and has great athleticism to boot. However, he is widely considered a boom or bust prospect because of his inconsistent play at Louisville. It will be interesting to see if the Jets coaching staff can get the most out of him.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: Ceedee Lamb, WR Oklahoma
The Raiders finally get their replacement to Amari Cooper and what a replacement he is. Lamb was nothing short of phenomenal for the Sooners last year and should be an instant star in Vegas.
13. San Francisco 49ers: Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama
Jeudy was a stud for Alabama and is the best route runner in the class. Kittle, Deebo, Goodwin and now Jeudy? The Niners suddenly have a lot weapons for Kyle Shanahan/ Jimmy G.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jedrick Wills, OT Alabama
The Bucs will look to upgrade their OT and protect their new prized possession Tom Brady by picking Jedrick Wills. Wills was solid for the Tide last year but sometimes struggled against elite competition. He comes in as a bit of a boom or bust for me but the Bucs should know quickly if he can get it done for them.
15. Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs III, WR Alabama
The run on Bama players continue! Ruggs shined at the NFL combine blowing away the WR class by running a 4.27 40. However, Ruggs had his fair share for soft-tissue injuries at Alabama which earns him the boom or bust label. He will have a lot of pressure to succeed early alongside of Courtland Sutton in Denver. Can he stay healthy for a full NFL season?
16. Atlanta Falcons: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE LSU
The Falcons benefit from Chaisson’s slide down the board here and pick up an instant starter and much needed edge rusher from the National Champion Tigers. He has all the burst and explosion but will need to add some weight and size to reach his full potential.
17. Dallas Cowboys: CJ Henderson, CB Florida
The Cowboys pick up the consensus 2nd best DB in the draft at #16. The junior Henderson was a three year starter for the Gators, finishing the 2019 season as the 1st-Team All-SEC CB with 11 pass break ups in 9 games.
18. Miami Dolphins: Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE Penn ST
They will have some pressure to take a tackle here but the Dolphins instead take the best player on the board here and stop the consensus 2nd best defensive end in this class’s slide. YGM plenty of raw talent and athleticism to start and make an impact immediately for the fins but he will need to fine tune his technique. If he can, he very well be the second coming of Jason Pierre-Paul.
19. Las Vegas Raiders: Cesar Ruiz, Center Michigan
Jon Gruden loves his grinders and Ruiz is one of the most tenacious lineman in this draft. He should start immediately and be a big reason Josh Jacobs takes the next step this season.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jordan Love, QB Utah State
The Jaguars breath a sign of relief that he is still available and take QB Jordan Love with their 2nd pick of the day. His meteoric rise up mock drafts are mainly because some scouts are seeing traits in him that remind them of Patrick Mahomes. Regardless, he will need a year or two to get used to the speed of the NFL and work on his decision making but he certainly has the arm strength to be productive. I don’t see him becoming half of what Pat Mahomes is but time will tell.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Jefferson, WR LSU
The Eagles stick to their board and get fantastic value with WR Justin Jefferson. Jefferson led all of college football last year in receptions and yards and 2nd in TDs (to fellow teammate Ja’Marr Chase). Eagles fans are probably getting sick of drafting a 1st round WR year after year but Jeffersons talent is hard to pass up here.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Tee Higgins, WR Clemson
The Vikings get their replacement for Diggs with the ultra-productive Clemson receiver here. Higgins should take over as the WR2 pretty quick and an immediate red zone threat for Kirk.
23. New England Patriots: Zach Baun, LB Wisconsin
The Patriots will have to address the hole at the QB position in another round or in free agency because Zach Braun talent is too much to pass up here. Braun is a prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker and should fit into the Patriots scheme perfectly.
24. New Orleans Saints: Patrick Queen, LB LSU
The Saints grab the best player on the board and their biggest need here at 24. Queen was only a year starter for the NCAA champions so he has a lot of room to grow but I wouldn’t be surprised if he become a Saints captain in two years.
25. Minnesota Vikings: Trevon Diggs, CB Alabama
The Vikings scoop up another of the Diggs family here but this one is on the defensive side! Trevon Diggs may be considered a reach here by some after he was abused by LSU which led most to label him as a boom or bust. However, he will benefit from Mike Zimmer’s coaching and could be more productive then any other CB in the class.
26. Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Taylor, RB Wisconsin
With their 3rd 1st round pick, the Dolphins take the first running back of the draft. Taylor hold the FBS record in yards in his first 3 seasons and won back to back Doak Walker Awards (Best RB in NCAA). He’ll compete with Jordan Howard for lead back and eventually be their bellcow.
27. Seattle Seahawks: Xavier Mckinney, S Alabama
The Seahawks fill their need at safety and take the best one in the draft (if you don’t count Isaiah Simmons). There is no better coach than Pete Carroll to groom Mckinney into a stud.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Kenneth Murray, LB Oklahoma
Kenneth Murray plays with his hair on fire which can get him out of position at times. However, many think he is a better prospect than both the LSU linebackers. Either way, he will be a nice addition to the Ravens and their Super Bowl aspirations.
29. Tennesse Titans: AJ Epenesa, DT Iowa
The Titans get great value here by stopping Epenesa’s slide. The true junior was a 2nd-Team AP All-American and forced 14.5 Tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks in 13 games. If he can stay healthy, he should be the nose tackle that the Titans need.
30. Green Bay Packers: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR Colorado
Things will get interesting here towards the end of the 1st round. I can see the Packers listening to trade offers here to move back but if they stay put, look for them to take Colorado’s Shenault. His combine was dreadful (4.58 40) but his tape is excellent. At best, he will take over at WR2 and a slot machine. At the very worst, he should take over as Green Bays kick returner.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Lloyd Cushenberry, Center LSU
Similar to Packers, I’m sure the Niner will entertain trade offers here. However, if they stay put look for the Niners to beef up their interior line with Cushenberry or Simpson.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Deandre Swift, RB Georgia
The Chiefs wrap up the draft by taking the quite possibly the perfect back for Andy Reids scheme with Deandre Swift. He should slide in as the 3rd down back immediately and has all the potential to become another Lesean Mccoy.
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That wraps up this years full 1st round mock draft! Here are some of the top prospects that remain on the board for day 2:
JK Dobbins, RB OSU
Brandon Aiyuk, WR Arizona St
KJ Hamler, WR Penn ST
Michael Pittman, WR USC
Jalen Johnson, CB Utah
Joshua Jones, OT Houston
Chase Claypool, WR Notre Dame
Jalien Reagor, WR TCU
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB LSU
The Skins Skinny 