Here’s our second 2020 NFL Mock Draft of the draft season. There are two rounds so be sure to click the link at the bottom to see Round Two.
2020 NFL Mock Draft
1. Cincinnati Bengals: LSU QB Joe Burrow
This pick has been carved in stone for months now despite the usual flurry of pre-draft speculation. Burrow will try to follow up winning the Heisman and the national title as a senior at LSU by reviving his hometown Bengals next.
2. Washington Redskins: Ohio State DE Chase Young
The tea leaves seem to indicate Washington is homing in on Young with the No. 2 pick. Young played his high school ball in Maryland and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has to be jazzed about the prospect of bringing him back home.
3. Detroit Lions: Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah
This pick has been widely identified as a logical place for a quarterback-needy team like the Dolphins or Chargers to trade into and take their pick of the best-remaining passers after Burrow. But in case those two decide to roll the dice and let the picks fall where they may, Detroit still need a corner to replace Darius Slay. Okudah would likely be the target as well should Detroit trade back.
4. New York Giants: Louisville OT Mekhi Becton
Offensive tackle is a massive need for the Giants. A rookie could slot in on the right side before kicking to the left later to replace Nate Solder. Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs is reportedly high on the Giants’ draft board, but given Giants GM Dave Gettleman’s obsession with size it’s hard not to give them Becton, a mammoth of a tackle prospect. His technique isn’t perfect, but at 6-7 and 364 pounds, it doesn’t have to be. Plus he’s no lumbering juggernaut, he ran the 40-yard dash in an incredible 5.1 seconds.
5. Miami Dolphins: Oregon QB Justin Herbert
Miami’s interest in Herbert is reportedly real, not just a smokescreen to ward off a trade up by someone else seeking to steal Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. Herbert has one key variable on his side that Tagovailoa doesn’t, though, that could push him higher on Miami’s board: health.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
There’s a decent chance the Chargers could sit tight at No. 6 and still end up with Tagovailoa if the rumors of Miami’s interest in Justin Herbert aren’t a smokescreen. They could also take one of the offensive tackles to bolster the offensive line if they are really confident in Tyrod Taylor. But if they want a quarterback of the future, they should have a shot at one here.
7. Carolina Panthers: Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons
Simmons is the perfect hybrid defender for the Panthers defense and can help replace LB Luke Kuechly as an impact defender in Carolina. Keep an eye on this pick for a team looking to trade up for a tackle, receiver or even Simmons. Carolina needs more picks to fuel its rebuild.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs
For as good as this offensive tackle class is, it’s hard to sort out the consensus among the big four at the top. Wirfs is someone who could go as high as No. 4 to the Giants to fill their need at left tackle. Here, he falls to the Cardinals, who get a bookend tackle with D.J. Humphries.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Auburn DT Derrick Brown
With a wealth of picks, the Jaguars could go about their rebuild in multiple ways. But after parting ways with Calais Campbell and Marcell Dareus, restocking the interior of their defensive line has to be high on the priority list.
10. Cleveland Browns: Alabama OT Jedrick Wills
Cleveland has a massive need at left tackle. While Wills played on the left side at Alabama, his head coach Nick Saban said that was basically the same importance for them given their quarterback, Tagovailoa, was left-handed. Given the number of quality pass rushers available, the distinction between left and right tackle matters less than it used to.
11. New York Jets: Georgia OT Andrew Thomas
Every NFL observer and their mother has linked the Jets to a left tackle with this pick. Odds are at least one of the four should be on the board, and here the last one standing is Thomas. If the tackles somehow all go, the receivers available aren’t a bad consolation prize.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III
When it comes to receivers, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Team need, scheme fit, and personal preference come into play more than most other positions here, which is why a speed-obsessed coach could zero in on Ruggs ahead of players like Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb.
13. San Francisco 49ers: Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan has been looking for a No. 1 wideout for some time now. While Lamb isn’t as dominant an athlete as Julio Jones who Shanahan had in Atlanta or Odell Beckham who he pursued in a trade, he does have the trait that Shanahan highly values in his receivers โ toughness.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Houston OT Josh Jones
Now that the Buccaneers landed their big catch in QB Tom Brady, giving him the tools to be successful is their next priority. In this scenario, Tampa Bay has to reach for Jones, but not by much. He can compete for the starting right tackle job with Joe Haeg as a rookie and eventually slide over to the left to replace Donovan Smith down the line.
15. Denver Broncos: Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy
Denver continues to add playmakers around Drew Lock. Jeudy slips a bit in this mock but his speed and ability after the catch should compliment Broncos alpha WR Courtland Sutton perfectly. Throw in TE Noah Fant who’s a weapon down the seam and after the catch along with the tandem of Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay out of the backfield and Denver has some serious firepower to compete with Kansas City in the AFC West.
16. Atlanta Falcons: Florida CB C.J. Henderson
The Falcons addressed their pass rush in free agency by signing DE Dante Fowler from the Rams. Here they find a replacement for CB Desmond Trufant. Henderson has drawn criticism for his tackling but his coverage skills are among the best in this class.
17. Dallas Cowboys: LSU DE K’Lavon Chaisson
Dallas elected not to match the $14 million a year DE Robert Quinn got from the Bears, and as a result there’s a major hole across from DE DeMarcus Lawrence. Chaisson has an intriguing blend of athleticism that makes him worth the swing here as the Cowboys look to rebuild their defense.
18. Miami Dolphins: USC OT Austin Jackson
After quarterback, offensive tackle is the next biggest need on the Dolphins roster. They have the draft capital to make a move up for one of the top tackles and that might actually be the better play in this scenario where five go before their pick. Jackson has elite athleticism for the position but needs time to build strength.
19. Las Vegas Raiders: Utah State QB Jordan Love
Based on a report from Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, this is the start of the range NFL folks are eyeing for Love to come off the board. Raiders HC Jon Gruden loves quarterbacks and Love could sit behind Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota and have much-needed time to develop.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: LSU CB Kristian Fulton
The Jaguars managed to get a good return for CB Jalen Ramsey with two first-round picks, but it left a gaping hole in their secondary, particularly after they traded away A.J. Bouye. Jacksonville can use one of those picks to bolster the secondary here and take Fulton.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: LSU WR Justin Jefferson
After not addressing the position in free agency and not swinging any trades as of yet, the Eagles almost have to address their weakness at wide receiver in the draft. Jefferson doesn’t play like the deep threat Philadelphia needs despite his 4.43 40-yard dash time, but he’s polished and should be able to contribute immediately as both a slot and Z receiver.
22. Minnesota Vikings: South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw
The Vikings need to replenish their defensive line after losing Linval Joseph, Everson Griffen and Stephen Weatherly this offseason. Kinlaw has been mocked as high as the top ten picks, but the run on receivers and offensive tackles pushes a talented player down the board for Minnesota.
23. New England Patriots: Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray
Once the actual draft night rolls around, it’s safe to bet the Patriots don’t stay in this draft slot. New England loves to trade back and their next pick isn’t until No. 87 in the third round. If they stick here or don’t move back too far, though, Murray would fill a need at inside linebacker after the Patriots let Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy walk. Murray has the size and athleticism New England covets at the position.
24. New Orleans Saints: LSU LB Patrick Queen
Linebacker is the Saints’ biggest remaining need after missing out on Jamie Collins in free agency. They stay close to home instead and grab Queen to plug into the heart of their defense. While he’s a little undersized, Queen is rangy and instinctual, embodying the trend of modern linebackers.
25. Minnesota Vikings: Utah CB Jaylon Johnson
Vikings HC Mike Zimmer loves drafting corners, and this year he’s got good reason to. Both his starters from last year, Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes, have moved on. Former first-round CB Mike Hughes is in the pipeline but that’s nowhere near enough for Zimmer. Johnson should help with that.
26. Miami Dolphins: Alabama S Xavier McKinney
The connection between the New England and Alabama programs has been strong for a while, so it stands to reason Dolphins HC Brian Flores could muster a similar connection. McKinney is the type of versatile chess piece Miami is looking to add in its secondary.
27. Seattle Seahawks: Penn State DE Yetur Gross-Matos
If the Seahawks can’t bring back DE Jadeveon Clowney, adding more to their pass rush is a priority in the draft. Gross-Matos is raw but offers a tantalizing blend of athletic traits for a professional team to mold.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa
Epenesa was once seen as a potential top-ten selection but questions about his athleticism drop him to Baltimore. He should add to a stout Baltimore front.
29. Tennessee Titans: TCU WR Jalen Reagor
The writing appears to be on the wall for Tennessee and WR Corey Davis regarding his fifth-year option. Reagor would add another dynamic weapon to complement rookie receiver revelation A.J. Brown and help QB Ryan Tannehill build on his success in 2019.
30. Green Bay Packers: Boise State OT Ezra Cleveland
The Packers replaced starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga with Ricky Wagner after he was cut loose by the Lions but his contract might indicate they view him more as a stopgap measure. Green Bay has taken a look at a few tackles in this class, including Cleveland. They can take him here and not worry about pressing him into the starting lineup before he’s ready.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Texas A&M DT Justin Madubuike
San Francisco picked up one first-round pick by trading DL DeForest Buckner, here they take a shot at finding his replacement. Madubuike is a penetrating defensive tackle who would help keep the 49ers’ biggest strength strong.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Alabama CB Trevon Diggs
Cornerback remains a major need for the defense. While Kansas City brought back Bashaud Breeland, though just on a one-year deal, Kendall Fuller signed with the Redskins. The Chiefs could start the process of retooling the secondary here by plucking Diggs.
Continue to Round 2
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O line first two picks for gmen? Shoot me now