Alex Kielar | April 23rd, 2020
Alright ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today is Draft Day! To help you get through the next few hours, I am giving you the very last mock draft for this year. Get ready to argue, fight, and contemplate what you think your team should do in round one tonight. I will include a few trades I see as likely to happen. Now that we’ve gotten all that figured out, let’s dive into it.
1) Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Everyone and their mother knows the Bengals are going to pick Burrow. If they somehow don’t, I will be fully convinced the world is about to explode the way this year has gone.
2) Washington Redskins – Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
The Redskins are all in on Young and you can pretty much lock this one in as well. The rest of this draft is a lot harder to predict.
3) Detroit Lions – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
The Lions decision here is pretty much between Jeffrey Okudah and Simmons. Most mocks have them picking Okudah, but Simmons is the best available and is the most versatile prospect in the draft. The Lions can then grab a cornerback in the second round with the depth that is there in this draft.
** New York Giants trade pick 4 to Los Angeles in exchange for picks 6, 37 **
4) Los Angeles Chargers (via NYG) – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
The Chargers jump the Dolphins to get their franchise quarterback, a guy the Dolphins may be honed in on over Tagovailoa with his injury concerns. With Tyrod Taylor and Easton Stick the other quarterbacks on the roster, Herbert should start right away. Herbert brings a strong arm and a solid running ability.
5) Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
The Dolphins miss out on Herbert but then turn to grab the quarterback they planned to draft for a while until questioning his injury history. Despite said injury history, it is a pick that has a potential high reward that the Dolphins can’t miss out on.
6) New York Giants (via LAC) – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
The Giants trade two picks back and get the offensive line help they desperately need, probably the route they would have gone at fourth overall. Thomas is the tackle of this class most prepared to start from day one which the Giants need to protect Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.
7) Carolina Panthers – Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Okudah falls into the Panthers laps and they take advantage of it. He has the potential to be a shutdown corner in the NFL and should be the Panthers’ number one cornerback before long.
** Arizona trades pick 8 to Tampa Bay in exchange for picks 14, 76, 161, 2021 4th **
8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Via ARI) – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Buccaneers move up five spots to get Tom Brady protection, grabbing the consensus OT1. Wirfs has all the necessary tools to do everything a team needs him to do and give Brady time in the pocket that he needs.
9) Jacksonville Jaguars – C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
The Jaguars have a depleted secondary after the loss of A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey. Henderson is definitely CB2 in this draft and give the Jags a plus man-coverage corner who’s only negative is his tackling ability. He will pair well with Tre Herndon
** Cleveland trades pick 10 and pick 244 to Philadelphia in exchange for picks 21, 53, 127, and 2021 5th **
10) Philadelphia Eagles (via CLE) – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
The Eagles are in desperate need of giving Carson Wentz weapons and trade up to get the best receiver in this draft. Lamb gives Wentz a clear number one receiver and someone who can do it all, he’s explosive, has enough speed, and can do a number of things after the catch.
** New York Jets trade pick 11 to Miami in exchange for picks 18, 70, 153, and 2021 5th **
11) Miami Dolphins (via NYJ) – Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
The Dolphins trade up to get protection for their new franchise quarterback Tua, selecting his Alabama teammate Willis Jr. The comfortability to each other is a plus and adds to the versatility that Willis has to play on both the right or left side. He is the perfect match for the Dolphins as they look to rebuild as quickly as they can.
12) Las Vegas Raiders – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
There really isn’t much difference between Lamb and Jeudy, and in my opinion, Lamb is WR1 while Jeudy is WR2. While there have been concerns about Jeudy’s knee, I don’t see it being a problem. The Raiders need a front-tier receiver to pair with Hunter Renfroe other than Nelson Agholor and Jeudy gives them that and more.
13) San Francisco 49ers – Derrick Brown, IDL, Auburn
This isn’t the sexy pick, but the 49ers fill a need with a top pass rusher in Brown. Brown will fill the void DeForest Buckner leaves on the defensive line after being traded.
14) Arizona Cardinals – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Kyler Murray needs protection after the Cardinals recently acquired DeAndre Hopkins and get the guy they probably would have selected at eight. Becton has loads of untapped potential and should develop into a solid starter at tackle. Becton had a diluted sample at the combine but that’s really not much to worry about.
15) Denver Broncos – Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
The Broncos grab a guy to pair with Courtland Sutton in the speedy Ruggs who can spread the field. He is the fastest receiver in the draft and ran one of the fast 40s with a 4.27. He is a good route runner and gives the Broncos an instant deep threat
16) Atlanta Falcons – Javon Kinlaw, IDL, South Carolina
With quality talent available at both the EDGE and interior defensive line, the Falcons select the best overall player in Kinlaw. This pick gives the Falcons the desperate help they need along the entire defensive line. Kinlaw has the size, versatility, and nonstop motor to be a polarizing threat for the Falcons.
17) Dallas Cowboys – K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
The Cowboys need to improve their pass rushers so they pair Chaisson with DeMarcus Lawrence. They lost a lot of talent on the entire defense and Chaisson is dynamic, versatile, and has a ton of upside.
18) New York Jets (via MIA) – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
The Jets move back seven spots and get a third and fifth-round pick, while still getting one of the top receivers in this class. Jefferson gives Sam Darnold a big weapon after they addressed some of their offensive line holes in the offseason.
19) Las Vegas Raiders – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
The Raiders don’t have an established outside cornerback opposite 2019 rookie Trayvon Mullen. After addressing their receiver need with their first pick, they fill this hole with Fulton who can play man or zone. He has starting corner traits and it has been a long time since they have had two corners who can grow together. They now have that possibility with Fulton and Mullen.
20) Jacksonville Jaguars – Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Whatever quarterback the Jaguars role out needs weapons to work with, DJ Chark being their only real reliable receiver. The Jags had major red-zone woes last year, finishing 31st in the NFL, and Mims thrives in that area. Mims has a large catch radius and great body control which makes him a big target.
21) Cleveland Browns (via PHI) – Austin Jackson, OT, USC
The Browns move back 11 spots and still grab a reliable tackle to protect Baker Mayfield. Jackson is still very raw but his skill set can be groomed and maximized by the Browns. He has exceptional gifts and work ethic made for the NFL.
22) Minnesota Vikings – Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
The Vikings have a number of holes to fill, including at receiver after their trade of Stefon Diggs. But with there being more depth at receiver than at corner, the Vikings fill that hole with their first of two picks in the first round. Gladney isn’t as pro-ready as CB1 and CB2, but he has great potential.
23) New England Patriots – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
The Patriots have their most important draft in a long time this year. They need to find Tom Brady‘s replacement, but they can cover that later in the draft. Losing Kyle Van Noy hurt their depth at linebacker. Queen can play inside and outside linebacker and will step right into the rotation immediately with his high upside.
24) New Orleans Saints – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
The Saints could go with a receiver here to prepare for Drew Brees‘ last season. But with the tremendous depth there and the bigger need at linebacker, they boost their already strong defense with Murray. His strong tacking skills help solidify their defense to get ready for a deep playoff run.
25) Minnesota Vikings – Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
The Vikings fill the hole left by Stefon Diggs by drafting talented WR Aiyuk. He will be ready to step in from day one with his size and explosiveness. The Vikings current WR1 is Adam Thielen and Aiyuk gives them someone to pair him with. Minnesota will probably look to grab another receiver later on in the draft.
26) Miami Dolphins – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
McKinney is a solid pick and is an upgrade for the Dolphins defense. He is a playmaker and while I could have gone with a left tackle I don’t believe McKinney will fall to round two and the tackles will. Strangely enough, and I did not try to do this, the Dolphins spend all of their first-round picks on Alabama players.
** Seattle trades pick 27 to Houston for picks 40, 111 **
27) Houston Texans (via SEA) – Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
The Texans trade back up into the first round one pick below their original position before trading for Kenny Stills and Laremy Tunsil. They use the new pick to bolster their pass-rushing and pair the powerful Gross-Matos with the All-Pro J.J. Watt.
28) Baltimore Ravens – A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
The Ravens are another team that needs help with their edge rushing, and Espenesa is the best available here. He didn’t have a great combine, but he is explosive and has the size to play the position in the NFL. He has strong power and hands and should pair well with Matthew Judon who thrived as the top guy last year.
29) Tennessee Titans – A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Titans’ biggest need is cornerback while Logan Ryan is still on the market and unlikely to return. They need depth and Terrell would be a solid complement to the secondary led by Malcolm Butler. Terrell has a great overall body of work and would be a solid pick for the Titans.
30) Green Bay Packers – Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
The Packers need to get Aaron Rodgers some weapons. Outside of Davante Adams and maybe Allen Lazard, he doesn’t have much to work with. Shenault has been called a swiss-army knife by a lot of scouts as he can be used a number of ways in an offense. That makes him the perfect weapon for Rodgers and the Pack.
31) San Francisco 49ers – Grant Delpit, SAF, LSU
The 49ers’ strength last season was their defense and they should continue to add to that. Delpit would be a valuable piece for San Francisco with his skillset.
32) Kansas City Chiefs – D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
The Cheifs barely had a run game last year and Damien Williams is in a contract year. Swift is my RB1 in this draft and if he doesn’t go here he will probably go early second. Swift could share carries with Williams in year one and start being groomed as the signature back once Williams is gone.
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