2020 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Three Rounds

Here’s my third 2020 NFL Mock Draft of the draft season. There are three rounds so be sure to click the links at the bottom of each page to see Round Two and Round Three.

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 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 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. They reportedly love Brown and would be thrilled if he fell here. However, Florida CB C.J. Henderson has been building steam and could be the pick here, either for Jacksonville or for another team trading up. 

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 — toughness. 

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw

Tampa Bay has been linked to a potential trade up for an offensive tackle, but they can stand pat here and snare another building block for their front seven by taking Kinlaw. 

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. Atlanta has been linked to a potential trade up into the top 10 for Henderson. 

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 several go before their pick. Jackson has elite athleticism for the position but needs time to build strength. 

19. Las Vegas Raiders: LSU CB Kristian Fulton

Getting another cornerback is one of the priorities Las Vegas has in the draft this year. Raiders GM Mike Mayock has shown a preference for players from strong, championship-winning programs in his one draft so far, so Fulton would check that box. 

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Houston OT Josh Jones

Jacksonville seems to have hit on RT Jawaan Taylor, who fell to the second round last year. Over on the other side, former second-round LT Cam Robinson hasn’t quite settled in. Jones would give the Jaguars options to solidify their line, potentially kicking Robinson to guard sooner rather than later. 

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: Penn State DE Yetur Gross-Matos

Minnesota needs to make major moves to replenish its defensive line depth this offseason after losing Everson Griffen, Stephen Weatherly and Linval Joseph. Gross-Matos is an athletic freak and the Vikings have had success molding those types of pass rushers. 

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: Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa

Epenesa was once seen as a potential top-ten selection but questions about his athleticism drop him to Seattle. Epenesa fits the mold of former Seahawks DE Michael Bennett as someone who plays defensive end on running downs and slides inside to defensive tackle on third downs. 

28. Baltimore Ravens: TCU WR Jalen Reagor

The Ravens have not ruled out taking a wide receiver as high as the first round despite ostensibly having bigger needs elsewhere. Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta has said the goal is still to add pieces to the offense to become “undefendable” going forward. Reagor would be another electrifying weapon on offense for QB Lamar Jackson.

29. Tennessee Titans: Georgia OT Isaiah Wilson

The Titans have been linked to Wilson, another massive tackle prospect, as a potential successor to departed right tackle Jack Conklin. They might not take him here as they’ve also been mentioned as a candidate to trade back, but Wilson might still be the target. 

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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