The First (And Last) 2020 Mock Draft

By no means am I a football expert, I am far from a pro scout, but with the NFL Draft fast approaching, I thought I'd put my personal mock draft.

1. Cincinnati Bengals select Joe Burrow, QB out of LSU

This one is a no-brainer. The Bengals need a franchise QB and Burrow is coming off one of the most historic seasons ever in college football. Chase Young may intrigue Cincy, but Burrow is a near-lock to be the first name called in the 2020 draft. 

2. Washington Redskins select Chase Young, EDGE out of Ohio State

The Redskins benefit from the Bengals pick of Burrow, allowing them to take the consensus #1 overall prospect in the draft in Ohio State's Chase Young. Young shined as a Sophomore after Nick Bosa missed most of the season and then followed that up with a 16.5 season in 2019. Chase is a generational talent that the Redskins cannot pass on.

3. Detroit Lions select Jeff Okudah, CB out of Ohio State

There is a solid chance the Lions trade out of the third slot, but with no trades I'll have the Lions taking Jeff Okudah. Okudah is the best CB prospect since Jalen Ramsey, he's strong, he's fast, he can play man and zone, and has technique to die for. Michiganders may hate Ohio State, but I think they'd love this former Buckeye filling the void left by Darius Slay.

4. New York Giants select Isaiah Simmons, LB/S out of Clemson

This pick will alter the course of the draft because the Giants can go a number of ways. They really could use one of the elite OT prospects, but I have them falling in love and taking the ironman that is Isaiah Simmons. Simmons is a positionless player, his freak athleticism allows him to be successful at any position he plays. This is the kind of guy you build your defense around, a future superstar if I've ever seen one. While I really do not like the New York Giants, I love the pick of Isaiah Simmons.

5. Miami Dolphins select Tua Tagovailoa, QB out of Alabama

Rumors have swirled that Tua is falling off teams boards for a few reasons. Tua underperformed in his wonderlic exam and comes with health questions, but the wonderlic isn't indictivate of a player's success and Tua's potential outweighs possible injury risk. The Dolphins have been tanking for Tua for over a year, and here they land the left-handed Hawaaian who won't be rushed into action immediately. Tua can learn under Ryan Fitzpatrick (Josh Rosen who?) until the Fins feel he's ready to take the reigns. Love Tua or hate Tua, he had one of the most majestic college careers of all time and has just as high of a ceiling (maybe even higher) as Joe Burrow.

6. Los Angeles Chargers select Tristan Wirfs, OL out of Iowa

The Chargers may have hoped that Tagovailoa fell to 6, but with him off to Miami, the Chargers choose to bolster the OL instead of taking a QB such as Jordan Love or Justin Herbert. I personally don't have Wirfs as my OT1, but I still think he's an elite prospect. Some question his ability to play tackle in the pros, but the Chargers don't necessarily NEED him to play tackle. If they see him more as a guard, they can kick him inside and he'll be successful. The Chargers don't get a franchise QB, but nab a guy that can anchor the line for many years to come.

7. Carolina Panthers select Derrick Brown, IDL out of Auburn

The landscape of the Panthers roster has changed quite a bit in the last year. Faces of the franchise Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly are gone, and frankly, their roster is not good. Derrick Brown, however, is very good and can be disruptive from the get-go in Carolina blue. Brown is a menace at 6'5" 326 lbs, he tore up high school, tore up the SEC, and will likely tear up the NFL. His stats at Auburn are a bit deceiving and don't tell the whole story of Brown's dominance. Derrick Brown is the consensus top IDL and is the best player available on the board for Carolina.  

8. Arizona Cardinals select Andrew Thomas, OT out of Georgia

The Cardinals adding Nuk Hopkins made taking a WR early in the draft less of a priority, so they are able to take one of the top OL prospects in Andrew Thomas. Thomas thrived as the blind side for Jake Fromm at UGA and may be the safest of the top 4 OT prospects. Arizona continues to add pieces around Calamari, this time in the form of a linemen.  

9. Jacksonville Jaguars select CeeDee Lamb, WR out of Oklahoma

The Jags are in a less than desirable spot as a franchise. They failed with the Nick Foles signing, are in the midst of a battle with disgruntled DL Yannick Ngakoue, have rumors swirling of relocation, and just don't have a surplus of talent. Jacksonville seems committed to giving Minshew Mania another go around, so why not add an electric wideout with their top 10 pick? CeeDee is a monster, a true home run hitter and big play waiting to happen. From day 1 in Norman, CeeDee produced big numbers, including an average of 21.4 yards per catch in 2019. The duo of Gardner Minshew and CeeDee Lamb would maybe be the most polarizing QB-WR combo in the entire league. 

10. Cleveland Browns select Jedrick Wills, OT out of Alabama

As much as I want him to fall to #11 for my Jets to take, I don't see the Browns passing on Jed. There are rumors that Cleveland is interested in trading back and taking OT Ezra Cleveland (a truly fitting name), but with no trades in this mock, taking the BSU product over the specimen built by 'Bama at #10 would be preposterous. Wills played RT in Tuscaloosa, but because Tua is a lefty and Wills was his blind side, he should be able to play LT as well. The Browns have a great offense on paper, but could really use to add protection for Baker Mayfield. Wills is a day one starter for a team that has had OT troubles since the retirement of the legendary Joe Thomas.

11. New York Jets select Jerry Jeudy, WR out of Alabama

Gang Green misses out on the top 3 OT prospects, but gets quite the consolation prize in Jerry Jeudy. The Jets WR corps was bad before they let Robby Anderson leave in free agency, and I like the addition of Breshad Perriman, but the Jets desperately need a true WR1. Jeudy has all the traits to be the star wide out that Adam Gase desires, headlined with generational footwork and route-running that just cannot be taught. The biggest knock on "Jeu" is that he dropped too many passes in 2019, but that isn't nearly enough to stop the Jets from making him Sam Darnold's newest toy. The Jets reeeeeeeaaaaaaaallllllllyyyyyy need more OL help, but with Wirfs, Thomas, and Wills off the board, it's hard to pass on a talent like Jerry Jeudy.

12. Las Vegas  Raiders select Henry Ruggs III, WR out of Alabama

Jon Gruden probably sprints to Commissioner Goodell's basement to submit this pick. Although he was in a crowded WR room, Ruggs was able to show off his incredible speed and hands during his time at Alabama. HRiii leaves the capstone after catching a staggering 24 TDs through 3 seasons. Ruggs was considered second fiddle to Jerry Jeudy for a while, but he has more than proven himself as an elite prospect himself. I wouldn't necessarily dub him the next Tyreek Hill, although he does play similarly to the Chiefs' star. You really don't see many or any players quite like Henry in the NFL, which makes it hard to project how he fairs in the pros. Regardless, I love Henry Ruggs III and I know for a fact that Jon Gruden does too. 

13. San Francisco 49ers select Justin Jefferson, WR out of LSU

As part of winning the offseason (link to nfl offseason winners/losers), the 49ers tapped into a deep position to get themselves a top 15 selection. While I think they'd prefer one of the already selected WRs, GM John Lynch will break the streak of selecting Alabama players and take LSU goon Justin Jefferson. Jefferson, now famously known, wasn't highly-touted coming out of high school, but had a productive year in 2018 before exploding in 2019. His teammate Ja'Marr Chase won the Biletnikoff, but JJettas was tied for first in all of CFB with 111 receptions. Sure he benefited from having Joe Burrow throwing to him, sparingly being double teamed due to the humongous talent at WR, and being coached by Joe Brady, but most of the other top WRs were also in incredibly ideal scenarios. Justin Jefferson may need some time to further develop, but I can see him becoming a favorite target for Jimmy G. 

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Mekhi Becton, OT out of Louisville

The Bucs organization seismically shifted when Tom Brady announced his plans to take his talents to Tampa Bay. Brady has many weapons to work with like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, O.J. Howard, and as of a few hours ago, Rob Gronkowski. With Becton on the board here, Jason Licht gets a chance to strengthen the wall around Brady and add a piece that could help develop TB12's heir. Mekhi is as big of a guy as they come, 6'7" and nearing 370 lbs. Even before it was reported that Becton had failed a drug test, I still saw him as OT4. It remains to be seen how Mekhi Becton's stock is affected by the drug test, but for now Big Mekhi to Tampa Bay makes sense to me. 

15. Denver Broncos select C.J. Henderson, CB out of Florida

It's been rumored that the Broncos are interested in trading up for a WR, but with no trades in the mock, they miss out on the top tier prospects at the position. With all other receivers being a reach here, Denver adds a CB out of the gritty SEC. Henderson was easily one of the best DBs in the country throughout his career in Gainesville and with stalwart Chris Harris Jr. gone, Henderson fits right in for John Elway.

16. Atlanta Falcons select K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE out of LSU

The Vic Beasley era is over in Atlanta and while they did add Dante Fowler Jr. in the offseason, I think K'Lavon would be a big boost for the defense. Javon Kinlaw could make sense here as well, but Chaisson's quickness off the edge combined with his pure athleticism will make defensive coordinators fall in love with him. I see the former LSU standout as similar to Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings as they both have elite speed for a player in the front 7. I think K'Lavon is pretty raw, but as he gets stronger and gets comfortable at the pro level, he'll be very scary.

17. Dallas Cowboys select Xavier McKinney, S out of Alabama

This was one of the easier choices I made for this mock draft. The Cowboys secondary has been mediocre for a while, and especially with the departure of Byron Jones, the need for DBs has never been higher. Enter Xavier, who is an absolute ballhawk with incredible speed and athleticism. Furthermore, X is effective in run support and has great strength for a safety. He isn't incredibly rangy, but he can play both man and zone coverage proficiently. As is the case with many DBs, he can work on his tackling, but Xavier McKinney to Dallas is a perfect match.

18. Miami Dolphins select Cesar Ruiz, IOL out of Michigan

After securing their franchise QB earlier, the Dolphins turn their focus to the porous OL. Cesar Ruiz has been a mainstay for the Maize and Blue up front for the past several years and was widely recognized as a top IOL in the country. He's very good as a pass blocker for an interior lineman and is quite strong, but has to improve as a run blocker and on maintaining good balance. Ruiz may be a stretch this high, but the Fins need OL and he is the best interior one in this class.

19. Oakland Raiders select Justin Herbert, QB out of Oregon

This is the wonky result of not having trades in a mock draft. In the Chargers passing on a QB at #6 and with no incredibly QB needy teams in the middle of the round, Justin Herbert falls to Las Vegas' second pick. The Raiders have Derek Carr and added Marcus Mariota to increase competition in the offseason, but Jon Gruden is Jon Gruden and the way that the Raiders have constantly been in QB discussions, it's clear that Gruden and co. aren't happy with Derek Carr as the franchise play caller. Justin Herbert has off the charts arm strength and has shown flashes of greatness, but hasn't been able to put all of his talent together and show it off consistently. In a situation like this in LV, Herbert will have plenty of time to develop and get to soak in wisdom from the wise, but wacky Jon Gruden. I don't know the likelihood of this pick coming to fruition, but the board fell this way in this instance, so Justin Herbert is a Raider.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars select Javon Kinlaw, IDL out of South Carolina The Jaguars would probably salivate seeing Javon Kinlaw still available at 20. Kinlaw is neck and neck with Derrick Brown for the top IDL spot and plays better than his Auburn counterpart in certain aspects of the game. Kinlaw is as good of a pass-rushing prospect from the interior as you'll see and his 6 sacks in 2019 might not even do justice to the havoc he wreaks on the passer. The Jaguars as a whole don't look very good, but they have some good pieces in the front seven and Javon Kinlaw could fit in perfectly. 

21. Philadelphia Eagles select Denzel Mims, WR out of Baylor

I think the city of Philadelphia will riot if the Eagles don't select a WR with the 21st pick, so here you go Philly! Mims stands at 6'3" with great wheels and the ability to come down with any jump ball. He can improve on concentration drops and it's fair to question the competition he faced in the Big 12, but I think Mims is a solid prospect and would be very helpful for Carson Wentz.  

22. Minnesota Vikings select Jeff Gladney, CB out of TCU

Minnesota lost Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes this offseason, and while they weren't great in 2019, they still leave a hole in the secondary. Gladney is pretty undersized, but is capable of playing man or zone coverage and in or d out of the slot. Gladney will need to bulk up, but once he does he can have a big impact for Mike Zimmer's defense.

23. New England Patriots select A.J. Epenesa, DL out of Iowa

I will be frank, I have no concept of how the Patriots will approach this pick. Epenesa has a limitless ceiling and displayed lots of flashes of his potential during his time at Iowa. However, he doesn't have ideal speed off the edge and many in the industry are hesitant on Epenesa. To me, it would be incredibly Patriotic (haha!) for the Patriots to take Epenesa and turn him into a star.

24. New Orleans Saints select Jordan Love, QB out of Utah State

It seems like a foregone conclusion that Jordan Love is a first round pick, but it's hard to pinpoint where exactly he'll go. Some execs say he'll be the 2nd QB off the board and then others say he'll be the 4th or 5th off the board. With no one to trade up to snag Love, the former Utah State slinger falls right into the arms of Sean Payton. Love possesses terrific raw arm talent, but must cut down on turnovers and polish up his footwork. I think New Orleans would be one of the better places for Love to land because he has a great offensive minded coach in Sean Payton, has a receiver like Michael Thomas to throw to (eventually), and while they don't necessarily have similar play styles, there's nothing like learning from Drew Brees. Maybe the Saints believe Taysom Hill can be a franchise QB, but with a blue-chip prospect like Jordan Love available, I don't see GM Mickey Loomis passing up this opportunity. 

25. Minnesota Vikings select Jalen Reagor, WR out of TCU

Similar to how they lost Trae Waynes and Xavier Rhodes, the Vikings also lost playmaking WR Stefon Diggs. I think Adam Thielen is a capable top receiver and adding a speedster like Reagor to stretch the field would help make up for the loss of Diggs. To be a complete receiver in the NFL, Reagor will have to limit drops and improve over the middle of the field, but his play style as he fits well with Minnesota. 

26. Miami Dolphins select DeAndre Swift, RB out of Georgia 

For the third time, the Dolphins are on the clock in the first round. With QB and OL addressed, Miami can go many places with this pick. The Fins have a stable of decent backs and could be fine as is, but DeAndre Swift is a special player that could turn heads on day one. He has speed, he's explosive, he can catch passes out of the backfield, DeAndre Swift is a complete back that will elevate whatever offense he joins. In Miami, I imagine he'll be able to get lots of touches from the beginning and can work his way into the guy the offense runs through.

27. Seattle Seahawks select Julian Okwara, EDGE out of Notre Dame

While a reunion isn't technically off the table, it seems likely that Jadeveon Clowney will not return to Seattle, making a pass rusher a top need for Pete Caroll's team. Okwara is definitely not the best EDGE available here, but knowing the Seahawks, they'll probably reach down the board for a guy like Okwara who may be available at their next pick. The Notre Dame product is lanky and athletic, but so so so raw and not worthy of being a first round selection. I like Julian Okwara is a pick later in the draft, which means the Seahawks will feel the urge to snag him with their first pick.

28. Baltimore Ravens select Kenneth Murray, LB out of Oklahoma

The Ravens were one of the best teams in 2019 and don't have any gaping holes, but Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray would be a nice fit in the middle of their defense. Oklahoma (and the Big 12 as a whole) is mocked for not playing defense, but big Kenneth Murray is legit. He doesn't have any major flaws in his game, he's effective as a pass-rusher, lockdown in both man and zone coverage, is a surefire tackler, and has sideline to sideline range and pursuit. Murray is the total package and a big asset for BMore. 

29. Tennessee Titans select Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE out of Penn State

Gross-Matos is similar to A.J. Epenesa in the sense that some scouts love them and some scouts hate them. Gross-Matos has been a consistent producer at Penn State and has high upside, but many question if his success was solely as a result of his fame and power. He is raw from a technical standpoint and may need a good amount of time before he can be more than a role player, but the Titans bank on his upside and scoop him up at 29. 

30. Green Bay Packers select Patrick Queen, LB out of LSU

Queen is very similar to his former teammate and 1st round selection Devin White. PQ isn't a massive guy, but plays big and has incredible instincts. Green Bay added Christian Kirksey this offseason, but having a guy like Queen would potentially turn a good defense into a great defense.

31. San Francisco 49ers select Kristian Fulton, CB out of LSU

I doubt that the 49ers stick in their two first round slots, but I've said it a bunch and I'll say it again… this mock doesn't have trades! I have the 49ers taking Fulton, a CB who was a big ticket recruit out of high school and went up against NFL WRs in the SEC. Fulton is knocked for mental lapses and inability to play the ball correctly, but the 49ers have no need to rush him into significant playing time immediately. 

32. Kansas City Chiefs select Rob Hunt, IOL out of Louisiana-Lafayette

With the final pick of the first round, the defending champs select a guy many people probably have never heard of, Robert Hunt from ULL. Hunt was First Team All-Sun Belt in 2019 and helped lead the Ragin Cajuns to have a consistently great running attack. This isn't a sexy pick, but it makes sense for the Chiefs to add some beef up front to keep Patty Mahomes upright and open holes for Damien Williams and the RB group.

Round 2

33. Cincinnati Bengals select Lloyd Cushenberry III, IOL out of LSU

34. Indianapolis Colts select Laviska Shenault Jr, WR out of Colorado

35. Detroit Lions select Zack Baun, EDGE out of Wisconsin

36. New York Giants select Josh Jones, OT out of Houston

37. Los Angeles Chargers select A.J. Terell, CB out of Clemson

38. Carolina Panthers select Noah Igbinoghene, CB out of Auburn

39. Miami Dolphins select Terrell Lewis, EDGE out of Alabama

40. Houston Texans select Ross Blacklock, IDL out of TCU

41. Cleveland Browns select Grant Delpit, S out of LSU

42. Jacksonville Jaguars select Trevon Diggs, CB out of Alabama

43. Chicago Bears select Bryce Hall, CB out of Virginia

44. Indianapolis Colts select Justin Madubuike, IDL out of Texas A&M

45. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select J.K. Dobbins, RB out of Ohio State

46. Denver Broncos select K.J. Hamler, WR out of Penn State

47. Atlanta Falcons select Neville Gallimore, IDL out of Oklahoma

48. New York Jets select Prince Tega Wanogho, OT out of Auburn

49. Pittsburgh Steelers select Raekwon Davis, IDL out of Alabama

50. Chicago Bears select Tee Higgins, WR out of Clemson

51. Dallas Cowboys select Brandon Aiyuk, WR out of Arizona State

52. Los Angeles Rams select Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB out of App. State

53. Philadelphia Eagles select Antoine Winfield, S out of Minnesota

54. Buffalo Bills select Jaylon Johnson, CB out of Utah

55. Baltimore Ravens select Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB out of LSU

56. Miami Dolphins select Ezra Cleveland, OT out of Boise State 

57. Los Angeles Rams select Austin Jackson, OT out of Southern California

58. Minnesota Vikings select Kyle Dugger, S out of Lenoir-Rhyne

59. Seattle Seahawks select Jonah Jackson, IOL out of Ohio State

60. Baltimore Ravens select Jeremy Chinn, S out of Southern Illinois

61. Tennessee Titans select Jonathan Taylor, RB out of Wisconsin

62. Green Bay Packers select Michael Pittman Jr, WR out of Southern California

63. Kansas City Chiefs select Amik Robertson, CB out of Louisiana Tech

64. Seattle Seahawks select Marlon Davidson, IDL out of Auburn

If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Do you agree or disagree with my picks? Who do you think is gonna have their name called on Thursday? Who do you want your favorite team to select? Let me know in the comments below!