Staires: 2020 NFL Mock Draft

1.) Cincinnati Bengals – QB, Joe Burrow (LSU)

In what will be one of the most unpredictable drafts in NFL history, this will be the easiest choice Mike Brown has ever had to make. Joe Burrow is the most NFL ready quarterback in this draft. If Alex Van Pelt can help the Ohio native with his deep-ball accuracy, and the front office builds a team around him, the AFC North will provide a challenge for the division bully, the Baltimore Ravens in the future.

2.) Washington Redskins – DE, Chase Young (Ohio State)

While this pick seems obvious, the Redskins defensive line might be their strongest position group. With names like Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Matt Ioannidis and Montez Sweat on the roster, they have an opportunity to either trade back or address another area on the team. This is where the defensive mind of Ron Rivera makes his presence known by adding a premier pass rusher while they transition into a 4-3 defense.

3.) Detroit Lions – CB, Jeff Okudah (Ohio State)

Barring any trades, replacing Darius Slay by taking the best corner in the draft makes the most sense for Matt Patricia and the Detroit Lions. While Patricia could opt to go another direction closer to the trenches, this will be their best chance to make up for the loss of Slay with the most technically sound defensive back in the country.

4.) New York Giants – T, Tristan Wirfs (Iowa)

As Isaiah Simmons falls, Dave Gettleman gets his tackle at 4. The Giants could go in many directions here, but they have to invest in the protection that Daniel Jones so desperately needs. While rumors float of their interest in Andrew Thomas, Gettleman goes with the safer pick.

5.) Miami Dolphins – QB, Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)

This is where things get interesting in the war room. There seems to be a split between Herbert and Tagovailoa when it comes to who they want as their next franchise quarterback. When April comes around on the NFL calendar, health tends to be the tie-breaker among picks. Miami goes against the grain here and takes the better player.

6.) Los Angeles Chargers – QB, Justin Herbert (Oregon)

The Phillip Rivers era has come to a close in…Los Angeles?

For the first time in 15 years, the Chargers will have to reset at quarterback and decide who the future face of their franchise is going to be. As the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes begins to simmer, Tom Telesco and Anthony Lynn decide not to wait and get their quarterback now.

7.) Carolina Panthers – LB, Isaiah Simmons (Clemson)

As Matt Rhule gets off the bus from Waco, he goes BPA with his first pick as a head coach in the NFL. The Panthers need help all over their defense, so taking the most versatile defensive player in the draft seems like a no-brainer.

8.) Arizona Cardinals – DT, Derrick Brown (Auburn)

While the Cardinals could decide to bolster the offensive-line for second-year quarterback Kyler Murray, taking Derrick Brown at 8 would boost the strength of Arizona’s front seven tremendously. From being considered the next Ndamukong Suh, to being labeled as the third-best player in the draft by some experts, Brown has proven to be a future perennial pro bowler.

9.) Jacksonville Jaguars – DT, Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina)

This is where the first trade of the first round could happen if Detroit doesn’t make the first move. The Jacksonville front office has publicly said they want to gather as many picks as possible in this year’s draft as well as next year. Assuming there isn’t a trade, the revamped front office decides to address one of several glaring wholes on defense with the second-best defensive tackle in the draft.

10.) Cleveland Browns – T, Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama)

There is no question that the Browns take a tackle at 10. The question is, which one will it be?

After signing former All-Pro Jack Conklin to anchor the right side of the line, Cleveland still needs to invest in the left side of their offensive line. With Mekhi Becton and Andrew Thomas still on the board, the Browns opt to go with arguably the best tackle in the draft on some big boards.

11.) New York Jets – WR, Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)

The Jets begin a run on receivers here at 11 with the choice of taking either Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb. In what seems like a situation where it’s hard to go wrong, the Jets choose Jeudy to round out the trio of the talented wideout, Darnold and Bell that Jets fans are nervously hoping to work out.

12.) Las Vegas Raiders – WR, CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)

The run on receivers will continue with the Lincoln Riley product out of Oklahoma. This addresses Las Vegas’ biggest need with another opportunity at 19 to fill their hole at corner. With this being a relatively deep corner class, the Raiders prepare to see how their board holds up.

13.) San Francisco 49ers – WR, Henry Ruggs III (Alabama)

Out of everything that went right for the 49ers in 2019, having a slot receiver that could allow Jimmy Garoppolo to get the ball out quick on third down was not one of them. Ruggs will open up San Francisco’s offense with the speed that can take the top off of a defense. The irony of his comparison to Tyreek Hill speaks wonders knowing what he did to the 49er defense late in Super Bowl LIV.

14.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – T, Mekhi Becton (Louisville)

Tampa Bay takes the third tackle off the board to be a bookend player for Tom Brady and a Buccaneer offensive line that struggled last season. Some would suggest they go a different route, but all signs point towards Tampa Bay putting the house on Brady for the next two seasons.

15.) Denver Broncos – CB, CJ Henderson (Florida)

While John Elway would love to give Drew Lock another weapon for the offense, passing on the second-best corner in the draft in CJ Henderson would be risky. Henderson has been docked points on his ability to tackle, but with improvement, he could be Denver’s lockdown corner for years to come.

16.) Atlanta Falcons – LB, Patrick Queen (LSU)

The argument for who will be the second linebacker taken ends when Dan Quinn and the Falcons take another elite athlete out of LSU. Atlanta will address their defense in some capacity. With the loss of De’Vondre Campbell, their leading tackler in 2018 and 2019, Queen strengthens their defense by building one of the most athletic linebacker units in the NFL. (Deion Jones, Patrick Queen, Foye Oluokun)

17.) Dallas Cowboys – S, Xavier McKinney (Alabama)

With Dallas needing help all across their secondary, Mike McCarthy takes a safety out of Alabama who can also play corner. While Dallas has been reluctant to address their secondary in years past, Jerry Jones allows the McCarthy effect to set in as he executes his signature move of taking a defensive back in the first round.

18.) Miami Dolphins – T, Andrew Thomas (Georgia)

The Dolphins continue to check the boxes on needs as they take advantage of having 3 first-round draft picks. Thomas becomes the fourth tackle to be taken in what seems to be the best tackle class in years. Before scouts started to discuss him potentially playing guard in the NFL, he was considered to be the best tackle prospect coming out of college at the end of 2019.

19.) Las Vegas Raiders – CB, Kristian Fulton (LSU)

The Raiders cap off a successful first round by taking the stingy corner out of Baton Rouge. With the league seemingly all over the place when it comes to Fulton, Las Vegas gets a defensive back that will fit well in the Gruden and Mayock system. As some teams worry about his ball & release skills, the Raiders take the corner with this highest incompletion rate since 2017 in college football.

20.) Jacksonville Jaguars – CB, AJ Terrell (Clemson)

Jacksonville continues to address the holes across their defense when they take the lengthy, physical defensive back out of a Clemson. Terrell helps patch the damage left by the absence of former corners Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye by providing great press-man coverage.

21.) Philadelphia Eagles – WR, Justin Jefferson (LSU)

The former 2-star recruit finds his home in the first round when Howie Roseman tends to the awfully depleted receiving core of the Eagles. Even though most of the fault in 2019 fell on durability, Justin Jefferson provides Carson Wentz with a true WR2 to pair with Alshon Jeffery. If DeSean Jackson can stay healthy in the slot, NFC West defenses will have their hands full.

22.) Minnesota Vikings – DE, K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU)

Minnesota gets lucky here with an opportunity to replace Everson Griffen as Chaisson falls out of the top 20. The athletic edge-rusher has the speed and bend to be a true pass rusher in the NFL. His lack of production at times is made up for by his ability to drop back into coverage. With teams not being able to see him workout because of the current circumstances, he has the potential to be a day one slide due to a 2018 ACL tear.

23.) New England Patriots – QB, Jordan Love (Utah St.)

Bill Belichick is looking for a new dance partner after Tom Brady took his talents to Tampa Bay. With Jared Stidham and Brian Hoyer in the QB room that recently belonged to a six-time Super Bowl Champion, New England will spice up the position with a talent that arguably has the highest ceiling of any QB in this year’s draft.

24.) New Orleans Saints – LB, Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma)

The Saints have one of the best rosters in pro football, so this is a team that could swipe their BPA card without the worry of it being declined. Kenneth Murray provides depth to a New Orleans linebacker group that already has Demario Davis, Craig Robertson and Kiko Alonso. With injuries taking hold of the position in 2019,
Murray will provide youth, speed and durability.

25.) Minnesota Vikings – WR, Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State)

With the departure of Stefon Diggs and the signing of free agent Tajae Sharpe, Minnesota is left to decide if that is enough. Many think otherwise, meaning Rick Spielman grabs the speedy Aiyuk out of Arizona State who can play anywhere on the field. The Vikings will have to play it by ear when it comes to Aiyuk’s core muscle surgery. As of right now, things are looking up for the prospect.

26.) Miami Dolphins – DE, AJ Epenesa (Iowa)

After picking up their franchise quarterback and providing a much-needed facelift to the offensive line, the Dolphins round out their first-round with a pass rusher that is diverse with his skillset and has room to grow. His instincts and explosiveness allow him to play on or off the line of scrimmage.

27.) Seattle Seahawks – DE, Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State)

With Seattle spacing themselves from the type of payday free agent Jadaveon Clowney is seeking, Gross-Matos fills in for what will ultimately be their biggest need. His length and pure athleticism give the Seahawks front seven a disruptive force that doesn’t cost 17 million dollars a year.

28.) Baltimore Ravens – LB, Zack Baun (Wisconsin)

With the Ravens needing a linebacker that can play sideline-to-sideline, they go with the versatile Zack Baun at 28. This a position that the Ravens have notoriously been successful at when they rarely take the bait on a raw linebacker prospect. His explosiveness and ability to get beyond the line of scrimmage will fit well in Don Martindale’s defense.

29.) Tennessee Titans – CB, Jaylon Johnson (Utah)

Tennessee has one of the more unique situations in this year’s draft. Very much still in talks with Jadaveon Clowney, and seemingly failing to talk Logan Ryan off of his 10 million dollar ledge, the Titans address their biggest weakness and take the gritty corner out of Utah. He is a day one starter who fits the mold that Jon Robinson and Mike Vrabel have created in the Music City.

30.) Green Bay Packers – WR, Tee Higgins (Clemson)

Even though the Packers have one of the best receivers in the league in Davante Adams, they have yet to put a true second option on the field in recent years. Tee Higgins presents another option for Aaron Rodgers to throw to. He lacks the speed of the receivers taken earlier in the draft but has the potential to be a true threat if he can deal with the physicality of NFL corners.

31.) San Francisco 49ers – DT, Ross Blacklock (TCU)

The 49ers fill the void that was created by the trade with the Colts that sent Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner to Indianapolis. With Blacklock’s ability to bullrush the passer and stop the run, San Francisco will have the opportunity to immediately reproduce the havoc that took place down in the middle during 2019.

32.) Kansas City Chiefs – C, Cesar Ruiz (Michigan)

Regardless of who the defending Super Bowl Champions pick, they will be the favorite to go for a repeat in the 2020 campaign. With that being said, they address one of the few needs that free agency created in March. Cesar Ruiz is one of the more versatile offensive linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft. Someone who can play Center or either of the Guard positions, the Chiefs plug the gap that opened when Stefen Wisniewski signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Best Player Still Available at Each Position:
QB – Jacob Eason (Washington)
RB – D’Andre Swift (Georgia)
WR – Laviska Shenault Jr. (Colorado)
TE – Harrison Bryant (FAU)
OL – Joshua Jones (Houston)
DL – Marlon Davidson (Auburn)
LB – Malik Harrison (Ohio State)
CB – Jeff Gladney (TCU)
S – Grant Delpit (LSU)

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