2020 NFL Mock Draft: QBs, WRs, and OTs Galore

I'm going to start off this mock draft differently than others: I hope everyone reading this is staying safe indoors. If we want summer back, the best we can do is stay inside. Give it some time, and we will all get through this together. Think High School Musical. We're all in this together once we know that we are, we're all stars, and we see that.

The NFL Draft is just around the corner, though. That's always a plus. Although we are not going to get to see the prospects boat onto the stage in the Bellagio fountains, we will still get to see people's lives get changed forever.

With that out of the way, here's my annual NFL Mock Draft. As per usual, this is without potential trades that may happen between now and draft day. Let's jump head first into this year's pool of prospects, shall we?

1. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow (LSU)

If you have ever seen Draft Day where Sonny Weaver just writes "Bo Callahan" on the wall, that is what I imagine is going on in the Cincinnati front office right now. Joe Burrow had one of the best seasons by any college quarterback in history, and the Bengals would be foolish to trade the #1 pick in the draft. Cincy could build around Burrow for years to come, and with a receiving corps that includes AJ Green and Tyler Boyd, there may be happiness in Cincinnati very soon.

2. Washington Redskins: DE Chase Young (Ohio State)

The best overall prospect in the draft, I cannot see a scenario in which Young slides past the Redskins at 2. Sure, Washington already has a stacked defensive line that includes Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat, but Young is a complete game changer and one of the best defensive players that came out of the draft in years. 16.5 sacks in 2019 led all of FBS, and the Redskins have him in the palm of their hands. Please don't draft Tua.

3. Detroit Lions: CB Jeff Okudah (Ohio State)

That's right, 2 of my first 3 picks are Ohio State players. After the Lions traded away Darius Slay earlier in the offseason, this should perfectly set up Detroit to take Okudah. Detroit's secondary was one of the worst in football, and Okudah will line up opposite newly-signed Desmond Trufant.

4. New York Giants: LB Isaiah Simmons (Clemson)

You could slide an offensive tackle in here and it works just as fine, but there should be quality linemen available on Day 2. Isaiah Simmons will not be. A top notch playmaking defender, Simmons adds to a burgeoning Big Blue linebacking corps highlighted by Lorenzo Carter and Blake Martinez.

5. Miami Dolphins: QB Justin Herbert (Oregon)

Yes, I've seen the scouting reports on Herbert. Yes, I know there's questions on whether he's NFL ready or not. However, I've also seen that the Dolphins are starting to sour on Tua Tagovailoa. Herbert goes to South Beach and gets mentored for a year under Ryan Fitzpatrick before beginning to air it out to Devante Parker and crew. Speaking of Tua...

6. Los Angeles Chargers: QB Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)

It is going be Tua Time in Hollywood. The Chargers said that they would be going draft to replace long term quarterback Philip Rivers, and they would have a huge smile on their faces if Tagovailoa falls to 6. Sure, they need offensive linemen, but it would be very tough for Los Angeles to pass up on a hyped up flashy quarterback to put in their new stadium.

7. Carolina Panthers: DT Derrick Brown (Auburn)

I see a few options here out of Carolina, but I'm beginning to lean that the Panthers add some defensive help. Here is a direct quote from my NFL Mock Draft last year:

 "They get a mid round steal in Simmons, who will help the aging defensive line get a little bit younger"

Well, the Panthers did not get Jeffrey Simmons, but that defensive line is still aging. Derrick Brown should fix that. A monster D tackle out of Auburn, he should line up right next to Brian Burns as this helps Carolina during their rebuild. And yes, it is a rebuild.

8. Arizona Cardinals: OT Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama)

This was originally going to be where the first wide receiver goes off the board, but after the heist that was the DeAndre Hopkins acquisition, the Cardinals are actually sitting pretty at wide receiver. Offensive line, however, is a different story. Wills becomes the first lineman taken off the board as the Cardinals have their pick of the litter. In year 2, Kyler Murray is finally going to get some protection.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Tristan Wirfs Jr. (Iowa)

Jacksonville is another team that's wide open when it comes to drafting. Although some help defensively will be great after Sacksonville was torn apart in the offseason, Wirfs is an elite lineman who will provide enough breathing room so that the sophomore year of Minshew Mania goes smoothly.

10. Cleveland Browns: OT Mekhi Becton (Louisville)

You could legitimately shuffle around any of these three picks and it would make sense. Cleveland needed some offensive linemen more than anything, and after signing Jack Conklin, they continue the O line help by drafting Becton. Tons of upside should assist Baker Mayfield grow a bit of confidence while throwing to receivers like Jarvis Landry and OBJ.

11. New York Jets: WR Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)

It's going to come down to either lineman or wide receiver for the Jets at 11. After three straight linemen go before them, I'm believing that Gang Green starts the wide receiver selections, and they get the premier one in Jeudy. A speedster that reminds me a lot of Robby Anderson, who departed for Carolina, the Jets can find some quality offensive linemen in Day 2 and leave with the best receiver available.

12. Las Vegas Raiders: CB C.J. Henderson (Florida)

Las Vegas has some decent secondary options this year. Much improved over last year, but a lack of corners worries me. Henderson should fit in just fine in Vegas, as he'd get to cover the likes of Tyreek Hill and Keenan Allen twice a year. He'd also get the bright lights put on him as the Raiders first draft pick of the Las Vegas era.

13: San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis): WR CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)

After trading DeForest Buckner earlier in the month, the defending NFC Champion Niners jump into the top 15. They lost Emmanuel Sanders to the Saints, so a deep threat wide receiver is not out of the question for them. Lamb is a perfect match, and he can be that top wideout that Jimmy Garoppolo needs.

14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OT Andrew Thomas (Georgia)

When you sign the greatest quarterback to ever live, you have to provide him with something better than what is currently on Tampa's offensive line. Thomas is the last of the elite linemen from this class, and there is a spot perfectly set for him with the Bucs.

15: Denver Broncos: DT Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina)

Denver is such a wild card in this draft. I can see them going anywhere from receiver to linemen to defense, but I think that Kinlaw could be a really good fit here. The Broncos have a young solid D, yet have a lack of defensive tackles. They get the best of the group in Kinlaw.

16: Atlanta Falcons: S Xavier McKinney (Alabama)

The Falcons fixed a lot of their issues on the defense after the signing of Dante Fowler and the emergence of Grady Jarrett. Their secondary still needs a bit of touching up, especially with the safeties. McKinney is a good zone guy and a perfect match for Atlanta.

17: Dallas Cowboys: CB AJ Terrell (Clemson)

Lot of K'Lavon Chiasson love for Dallas in other mocks I've seen, but I think they need a cornerback more than anything. Terrell is a nice young piece for a young defense. Little bit of a reach here, but he's amazing in coverage, and a quick replacement for Byron Jones.

18: Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh): OT Josh Jones (Houston)

Justin Herbert is going to need some protection, and if there's any team with a lack of tackles on their roster, it's Miami. Jones will most likely be available here and the Dolphins could use the second of their three first rounders on their line.

19: Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago): WR Henry Ruggs III (Alabama)

Jon Gruden wants Derek Carr to earn his starting spot this season after rumors of him being shipped out of town were swirling in the offseason. He gets a fast receiver in Ruggs, who I was debating for the 12 spot for the Raiders. The biggest star out of the combine, Las Vegas could easily win the draft if they get their two biggest needs in cornerback and wide receiver

20: Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams): QB Jordan Love (Utah State)

If this mock draft included trades, then I could absolutely see Love being taken a lot higher than 20. More so than last year, it seems like teams picking in the 20s (I see you, New England) could trade up to get their guy. In this scenario, however, Love is able to slip through to Jacksonville as a contingency plan if Minshew does not work out. He'll need some offensive talent eventually, but that could always happen in free agency or the draft next year.

21: Philadelphia Eagles: LB Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma)

I'm slowly becoming a huge fan of Murray, and on a team where linebacker is a major position of need, there's no better place for him than Philly. A fast middle defender who could pressure a quarterback seems like someone that Doug Pederson would fall in love with.

22: Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo): WR Tee Higgins (Clemson)

How ironic would it be if the Vikings use the pick they got from the Bills in the Stefon Diggs trade to draft his replacement? Another scenario where I could see a team trade up to pass Minnesota, but Higgins is a flashy WR from a powerhouse Clemson team that will slot into the spot Diggs had perfectly.

23: New England Patriots: QB Jacob Eason (Washington)

Many different options for the Patriots here, but there's a gaping hole at quarterback if Jarrett Stidham does not pan out. They could wait a year and try to draft a receiver or defensive end here, but I could see Belichick being fascinated at the prospect of working with Eason and developing him.

24: New Orleans Saints: DE K'Lavon Chiasson (LSU)

As much of a fan I am of Murray, I'm an even bigger fan of Chiasson. On a Saints team with very few holes, Cam Jordan is not getting any younger and Noah Spence is not a franchise guy. Chiasson can be that long term guy on a strong Saints defensive line.

25: Minnesota Vikings: CB Kristian Fulton (TCU)

It's no secret that the Vikings want to improve at cornerback after losing Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, and Xavier Rhodes in free agency. Fulton dominated the combine with his 6 foot frame, and he has the quickness that was lacking last year in Minnesota's secondary.

26: Miami Dolphins (from Houston): RB De'Andre Swift (Georgia)

Some picks are ones that are slam dunks, and this is another one from Miami. Unless Jordan Howard or Kalen Ballage is a long term solution, the Dolphins will go to the draft to find their top rusher. Swift is the top RB in the class and he's adjusted well to the NFL dynamic of running backs that double as receivers.

27: Seattle Seahawks: DE A.J. Epenesa (Iowa)

Kinda surprising that Epenesa would still be on the board at 27, but Pete Carroll loves his defensive ends. If Jadeveon Clowney walks away, which is looking more and more likely by the day, Epenesa will slide in on that right side that was once Clowney's territory.

28: Baltimore Ravens: LB Patrick Queen (LSU)

Baltimore's defense ranked #1 in the NFL last season, and the Ravens were one of the few teams with both the top offense and defense in the league. With the Saints passing up on linebacker help to take the best player available, Queen slides down to Baltimore, where he joins the likes of Matthew Judon and Calais Campbell on a reloaded Baltimore D.

29: Tennessee Titans: DE Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State)

Much congratulations to the Titans with one of the greatest playoff upsets in the past 20 years. They were able to retain Ryan Tannehill and tag Derrick Henry, but it came with the cost of trading away a franchise face in Jurrell Casey. They get his replacement in Yetur Gross-Matos. Add a strong edge rusher to an already solid defense, and the Titans could definitely be in the mix with the new 7 team playoff in place.

30. Green Bay Packers: WR Justin Jefferson (LSU)

Surprisingly good season out of the Packers last year, with a rookie head coach and Aaron Rodgers increasing in age, the Packers pulled off 13 wins in a strong NFC. Last year, I predicted Aaron Rodgers would get a new weapon to throw to. That might've not come to fruition, but this year it may. Jefferson is a perfect fit in Matt Lafleur's system, and he should thrive with one of the greatest of our generation.

31. San Francisco 49ers: CB Jeff Gladney (TCU)

San Fran's secondary is one of the best in football, but their corners are led by veterans like Richard Sherman and Jason Verrett. If the team wants to contend for a long time, a pick like Gladney helps in the secondary. Part of me wanted to go offensive lineman here, but Garoppolo was actually one of the more well protected QBs in the game last year. Gladney can be mentored by Richard Sherman and ensure he will be on the Niners secondary for years to come.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin)

Congratulations, Kansas City! You have broken your 50 year Super Bowl curse and are now finally on top of the football world! I'm over the moon happy for the Chiefs and their fans. However, in the draft, an elite RB such as Taylor could be available. KC should jump on this. Damien Williams and Jonathan Taylor already has the ring of a dominant backfield, and the Chiefs should continue their dominance in 2020 and beyond.


So there you have it guys, the official 2020 Mock Draft. I want to thank all of you for making it this far, as this took a while to make. Are you happy with your team's picks?

Once again, stay safe, stay at home, and make sure you guys are doing what you can to help us as a society get out of this crisis. We want a public draft in 2021, don't we?




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