1 Cincinnati Bengals; Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
- Not too much to see here. Same pick as my last three mock drafts. Again, here are some things Burrow did at LSU last season. Threw for 5,671 yards (led the nation) and 60 touchdowns (record) while completing 76.3% of his passes (led nation) and having a quarterback rating of 202.0 (record), Burrow went onto win the Heisman Trophy (mentioned above), the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, was named the AP College Player of the Year and the Sporting News Player of the Year, and was named a Unanimous All American as well as First Team All-SEC and was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Not only did he win all these individual awards, he led LSU to the National Championship game, becoming the first no.1 seed in the CFP to ever win the Naty by beating Clemson 42-25 and was named the Offensive MVP of the game, throwing for 463 yards and six total touchdowns (five passing one rushing). Yes, there are rumors swirling about the Dolphins trading up to number one to select Burrow, but around this time of year, rumors are going to be coming out of everywhere. Bengals owner Mike Brown was an integral part in the Bengals meeting with Burrow, looks like Burrow is destined to go back to Ohio. (That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bengals did trade back. Their coaching coached Oregon QB Justin Herbert in the Senior Bowl. They may want Herbert, could the Bengals surprise us all and take Herbert number one overall or will Burrow be the pick? The latter is far more likely in my opinion)
2 Washington Redskins; Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
- Out of all of the teams I feel have their first round pick locked up, I feel the most confident about Chase Young going to the Nation’s Capital. Chase Young is the best overall player in the Draft and I honestly cannot see Washington passing up on him here. Now, there has been some rumors with the Redskins wanting to take Tua Tagovailoa but personally, I just believe they are doing that trying to scare the Dolphins or Chargers into giving up A LOT for the number two pick, like Cleveland tried to do a few years ago with Josh Allen and the Bills. If the Redskins are smart, they take Chase Young. Now I could definitely see the benefits of trading back and filling out more holes in the roster, but you can’t pass up on a generational talent like Chase Young when he’s available.
3 Detroit Lions; Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
- By far the best corner back in the Draft, Jeff Okudah seems to be the betting favorite to land in Detroit, and after trading Darius Slay to Philly, it seems like an absolute lock to happen. Last season, the Lions defense was absolutely atrocious, the worst part being their secondary and with the rumors swirling around that they’re looking to trade Darius Slay, this pick kind of picks itself. . Last season, the Detroit Lions had the worst pass defense in the entire league, giving up 284.4 yards per game through the air and 4,551 yards for the entire season and had a league low seven interceptions while allowing 33 touchdowns, pathetic to say the least. Okudah is by far the best corner back in this draft (who also had 0 penalties in college(!)) and will help fill a major hole in the Lions defense.
4 New York Giants; Isaiah Simmons, DEF, Clemson
- Dave Gettleman always says the Giants are going to go after “gold jacket guys” when it comes to the Draft. I don’t see anyone in this Draft that fits the “gold jacket guy” mantra better than the “Secretary of Defense” (just came up with that) in Isaiah Simmons. While at the Combine, Simmons was asked what his best position is, dude literally just said “defense.” Simmons can play everywhere. At Clemson, I saw him play linebacker (his listed position), safety, corner, defensive end, and even rushing through the middle, he can play everywhere and play it exceptionally well. The comparisons I have seen for him have been Jalen Ramsey, Derwin James, and Von Miller, those three play three different positions! I truly believe this is the guy the Giants are targeting. They need help at linebacker and none of the FA are tickling their fancy. Yes, they could also go with an offensive lineman here, but when a player with the skill set of Isaiah Simmons comes around, you do not pass on him. (I could definitely see them drafting Tristan Wirfs. Reports are they love him as well as Simmons, I just feel Simmons is just too good to pass up here.
5 Miami Dolphins; Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
- This time last year, we were reading reports that Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross was “getting high” off of Tua Tagovailoa, now it seems the tune has changed, or so it may seem. According to reports, Justin Herbert is the favorite of a lot of people in the Dolphins organization, but is Herbert Ross’ favorite or is it still Tua? That’s what really matters, who the owner likes/loves, and I still believe there is some love for Tua. Yes, Tua is a risk due to his injury history, with some calling him the third or fourth best quarterback in the Draft to others saying they would pass on him completely because of the injury risks. The potential though, is undeniable. If it weren’t for the hip injury that ended his season early last year, he’d be a lock for the number one overall pick, or at least more in the discussion than he is now. Let me take you back to the 2006 NFL offseason. The then San Diego Chargers were moving on from a recently injured Drew Brees. Reports were that Brees’ shoulder was just meat, there was nothing there. The top teams in for Brees at the time were the New Orleans Saints and the Nick Saban led Miami Dolphins. Saban really liked Brees, but Dolphins health staff advised against it, so the Dolphins signed Dante Culpepper. With Culpepper, the Dolphins did jack squat, whereas the Saints and Brees went on to win a Super Bowl with Brees holding almost every significant passing record in NFL history. Yes, the Tua’s injury history may scare some teams, but you are potentially passing on the left handed Drew Brees. Tua is extremely accurate, mobile, and is a proven winner. This isn’t slighting the other quarterbacks in the Draft, but they don’t have the same resume as Tua. Even if the injuries do scare Miami, they have Ryan Fitzpatrick (and even Josh Rosen unless they trade him). Tua has even said that a “redshirt” year for him would be very beneficial for him to get fully healthy and to learn the ways of the NFL. Learning from the best “bridge quarterback” in the NFL would help Tua a ton in his first year in the NFL. If the Dolphins do pass on Tua, it will be for Herbert, but I can imagine it’d be very hard to pass on Tua if he’s available. (Reports are don’t expect the Dolphins to trade up in the Draft, they’ll just let the board sort itself out)
6 Los Angeles Chargers; Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
- Here’s the first real surprise of the Draft, the Chargers selecting Jordan Love, not Justin Herbert. For the past couple months, reports have quietly been saying the Chargers are “in Love with Love,” so maybe this isn’t that big of a surprise. Now, speaking in on the field resume, Herbert had a much better college career than Jordan Love, but the skill set Love has is exactly what the NFL is looking for nowadays in the new age quarterback. No more are we looking for stand still pocket passers, we want excitement, we want strong armed QB’s who are mobile. The days of the immobile quarterback are all but done. As I said, Love possesses all the skills the NFL “Loves” in quarterbacks. Compared to Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes for his abilities, Love makes throwing the ball look effortless. That being said, he did have somewhat of a turnover problem in his last year at Utah State, going from only throwing six interceptions to 17 in a year. Safe to say Love had a little bit of a down year in his last year at Utah State, throwing only 20 touchdowns and 17 picks to 32 touchdowns and only six interceptions in his sophomore year. Though his last year wasn’t great, the potential is there. Love has the size, arm strength, mobility, and smarts to be a beast at the next level. He may not be ready to play right away, but that’s why Tyrod Taylor is there. The presence of a QB who rarely turns the ball over will be great for Love’s development, like how Alex Smith was perfect for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City. The 2020 version of what Buffalo’s Josh Allen was in the 2018 Draft. Love, like Allen before him, played in a smaller conference and had a worse last season in college than the season before, but that doesn’t deny their insane potential. If the Chargers do in fact “love Love,” than don’t be surprised if they take him here at six.
7 Carolina Panthers; Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
- The Cam Newton era in Carolina is over, but that doesn’t mean they will be moving for a quarterback with this pick. The Panthers signed former Saints QB Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year $63 million contract just a few days ago, so quarterback doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen here. Before we move on, rumor has it that they’re looking at current Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence in next year’s Draft. Ok, back to the pick. The Panthers need some help on the defensive side of the ball, whether that be at the linebacker spot, defensive backfield, or in the interior of the d-line, they need to fill some holes. Not a lot of players in this Draft can fill holes much like Auburn d-tackle Derrick Brown. Dude was an absolute beast while at Auburn, Brown was named 2019 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, an All-SEC First Team selection and Unanimous All-American selection. Last season, Carolina gave up 143.5 rush yards per game and 5.2 yards per attempt, which ranks dead last in the NFL. Auburn had the third best rush defense in the SEC last season, a big reason for that was Derrick Brown. If the Panthers want to solve their defensive woes against the run, drafting Derrick Brown would be very smart.
8 Arizona Cardinals; Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
- A few days ago, the Cardinals committed a highway robbery, stealing DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans. My prediction in the last Mock Draft was for the Cards to Draft Kyler’s college teammate CeeDee Lamb with the eighth pick, but with Hopkins now there, that don’t make a whole lot of sense now does it? (maybe it does, idk). So, instead of the stud wide receiver, I got the Cardinals taking the best o-lineman in the Draft (imo) in Tristan Wirfs from Iowa. Wirfs put on an absolute show while at the combine, running a 4.85 40 and had a 36” vertical (higher than CeeDee Lamb’s). Now, while those numbers are extremely impressive for a 320 lb. lineman, it doesn’t show how good of a blocker he is, we’ll have to look back at his college stats. While at Iowa, Wirfs gave up only one sack as the starting right tackle and was named the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2019. Before the combine, some were saying Wirfs should move inside to guard, a move that worked out well for former Hawk Brandon Scherff, a three time Pro Bowler, but I don’t think Wirfs needs to do that. At the combine he showed off his athleticism and his college tape shows how dominant he was on the edge. The Cardinals signed left tackle DJ Humphries to a big free agency contract, so drafting Wirfs to play right tackle would surly sure up the Cardinals offensive line.
9 Las Vegas Raiders (trade); Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
- Here’s our second real surprise of the Draft, the Raiders trading up to select Justin Herbert from Oregon. In this move, the Raiders move current starter Derek Carr to Jacksonville. The Raiders have never really seemed to be that committed to Carr, even with Gruden saying how good Carr is, that still doesn’t stop the rumors of him leaving. I feel Carr’s time with the Raiders is done, and I feel Jacksonville is a logical place for him to go with their reported interest in him last offseason. With Carr now with the Jags, the Raiders will need a new QB, that’s where Justin Herbert comes into play. Now, it may be a surprise that Herbert fell all the way to number nine, but if he does, I feel he’d be perfect for the Raiders style of play. The Raiders have never really backed Derek Carr and you can imagine Carr is tired of that and would like a change of scenery. Herbert has an incredibly strong arm, which is something Gruden really likes in his QB’s. Hebert has all the skills to be a beast at the next level. He has the size, arm talent, smarts, and mobility to be perfect for the Raiders offense. Throughout Gruden’s history as a coach, it has been well documented that his offense is very complexed and can be hard to learn. Herbert is fresh off of winning the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is given to the college player with the best combination of academics, community services, and on-field performance, I feel Herbert could easily master Gruden’s offense. On the field, as we said, he has the mobility and arm strength to be perfect for the NFL. To some, inconsistency has been Herbert’s problem, but he still showed out during his time at Oregon. Throwing for 10,541 yards, 95 touchdowns, and only 22 interceptions while completing 63.9% of his passes, having a career high in every one of those numbers in his senior season at Oregon. If Herbert can be consistent, he will be a very good QB in the NFL. Even if the Raiders feel he’s not fully ready to take over the offense, the Raiders signed Marcus Mariota from Tennessee while also having the league’s best quarterback in Nathan Peterman. I feel Herbert and the Raiders are a match made in heaven and would make the Chargers v Raiders rivalry even more interesting with each franchise drafting a new QB.
10 Cleveland Browns; Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
- On paper, it looks like the Browns will be a better team moving into the 2020 season. One place they look improved is on the o-line after signing former Titan and first round pick Jack Conklin to help sure up the right side of the o-line. That’s the right tackle spot, they still need to get someone to slot in at left tackle. That’s where the man mountain Mekhi Becton comes in. Built just like former Browns tackle Orlando Brown Sr., he would be a great get here at number 10. Much like Brown, who was 6’6” 360 lbs., Becton is an absolute unit. Standing at 6’7” and weighing 364 lbs., bigger than the man known as “Zeus.” The size is great, but how athletic is he? Becton shocked everyone at the combine by running a 5.1 40, which some say was more impressive than Ruggs 4.27 40 time, and I’d agree. How a dude that big move that well? I don’t understand it. Becton would sure up Baker Mayfield’s blind side and would be impossible for the Browns to pass on if he’s available here at number 10. (If he’s not, I could maybe see a trade. They have expressed interest in Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland. So maybe a trade back and then a trade back into the first round would see the Browns solve their tackle issues).
11 New York Jets; CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
- After losing Robbie Anderson to the Carolina Panthers, the Jets don’t have any receivers of note for young Sam Darnold. Yes, o-line is a problem of need for the Jets, but if you have a choice between the three best receivers in the Draft, it could be hard for the Jets to pass up on the opportunity. To me, CeeDee Lamb is the best receiver in this Draft. Dude can do everything you ask of a number one receiver. While playing for Oklahoma, Lamb forced 26 missed tackles, he had only three drops in 245 targets, averaged over 17 yards per catch in his three years at OU, and tallied 3,292 receiving yards in his career. Dude does everything on the football field. He catches (everything), he runs, and he blocks. Lamb doesn’t drop the ball, he doesn’t go down easy, he can high point any ball, and can stretch the field, if he’s available here at 11, it will be hard for the Jets to pass him up. (Now, obviously I feel the Jets could draft an o-lineman here. Seems even more obvious since their GM is a former offensive lineman, but I just feel they won’t pass on Lamb is he is here, and their top o-line target is gone, in this case I feel they want either Becton or Wirfs. So, Lamb is the pick)
12 Philadelphia Eagles (trade); Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
- It’s pretty clear to see what the Eagles biggest need coming into this draft is. The Eagles need to help out Caron Wentz, especially after he carried that team to the Playoffs with a bunch of scrubs out wide. This past season, Wentz threw for 4,039 yards (9thin the league) with no receiver having over 500 yards on the season (Alshon Jeffrey had 490 yards to lead all receivers). The Eagles have to get a top receiver early in this Draft, which is why I have them trading up for Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy. Now, Jeudy doesn’t possess the size of Lamb and doesn’t have the killer speed Ruggs has, but he is an elite route running ability. Go and watch Jeudy’s route running, it is something to behold. While at Bama, Jeudy totaled up 2,742 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns. Though he did have a “down” senior season, he is still worth trading up for. The Eagles would be smart to move for the Alabama dude who has been falling down some draft boards. Get Wentz his guy, draft Jeudy.
13 San Francisco 49ers; Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
- In a kind of surprising trade, the Niners sent stud defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to Indianapolis. In the trade, San Fran got the 13thpick (along with some other things), and with the 13thpick the Niners take the fastest receiver in the Draft, Henry Ruggs III from Bama. Reports are going around saying that with the 13thpick, the Niners are going to add some serious speed, they don’t come much faster than Henry Ruggs. At the combine, Ruggs ran a 4.27 in the 40 yard dash, and was upset about it. You know they have serious speed if they are upset after running an insane time like that. No, it wasn’t John Ross’ 4.22 40, but it’s still insanely fast. Unlike Ross though, who is just a speedster, Ruggs is a legit wide receiver. Considered the “alpha” of the Alabama receiving core, Ruggs only dropped one pass in 139 targets. That’s absolutely crazy to think about. When you see an insanely fast 40, all you think about is the speed and kind of question the actual ability of the player, rather than just speed, Ruggs is a very talented wide receiver along with being crazy fast. If the 49ers want to add speed here at 13, Ruggs seems like the pick. As the old adage goes, “speed kills.”
14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
- Much like their division rivals in Carolina, the Bucs are in for a new era at quarterback. Enter the GOAT, Tom Brady. For Tampa, you are going from Mr. Inconsistent in Jameis Winston to, again, the GOAT, it’s going to be an adjustment for fans to look at, Tom Brady not playing for New England, weird. With Brady signing, the Bucs could certainly draft their future QB, with Jordan Love available, but I think they’d be better served to help protect Mr. Brady in the twilight of his career. Now, this isn’t just for Brady, the Bucs o-line has been something of a problem over the years, being widely regarded as one of the worst units in the NFL. Getting Wills would help sure up the o-line, he gave up only 12 sacks in 381 pass attempts and only missed seven blocking assignments in 714 snaps at Alabama, which is a 99.9% success rate, giving Brady a clean(er) pocket to throw to the talent core of wide receivers the Bucs have.
15 Denver Broncos; Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
- The Denver Broncos are a team this upcoming season that a lot of people expect to improve from the season before. The Broncos showed promise in their 7-9 finish but have some holes to fill on the roster. I’m sure second year head coach Vic Fangio would love to address some of their needs on the defensive side of the ball to take the pressure off of Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, and Justin Simmons. Cornerback or linebacker could be an option here, but I feel they will go with the best defensive player available, which happens to be South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw. Kinlaw is an absolute monster. Standing at 6’6” and weighing in at 310 lbs., he is truly a force to be reckoned with inside. This past season at South Carolina, Kinlaw was named first team All-SEC and amassed 35 total tackles, six sacks (career high), and two fumble recoveries. Kinlaw has all the talent and size to be an elite threat at the next level. He would fill a pretty nice sized hole for the Broncos and would be another good addition to a d-line that got Jurrell Casey from Tennessee. If the Broncos go defense with this pick, do not be shocked if Kinlaw goes off the board here, his upside is too great to pass up.
16 Atlanta Falcons; CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
- Over the past few seasons, the thing holding back the Atlanta Falcons has been their defense, with inconsistency being the main cause for concern among those players. Whether it be defensive lineman, linebackers, or defensive backs, the defensive has struggled, leaving the star studded offense to shoulder the burden. With this pick, I feel the Falcons need to take the best players available (or trade back) that will fill an immediate need and I feel that is Florida’s CJ Henderson. Last season for the Falcons, they ranked in the bottom half of the league in every single passing category, and after releasing Trufant, they should probably address the cornerback position in the first round. Henderson last season was named to First Team-All SEC last season and Second Team All-SEC back in 2018. Throughout his career at Florida, he racked up 93 total tackles (66 solo) with six interceptions. Henderson possesses the speed (ran a 4.39 40), strength, and pass coverage abilities to be a very good pick for the Falcons here.
17 Dallas Cowboys; K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
- The Cowboys have made it clear that they are going to build their defense through the Draft, with a whole lot of money going to the QB and Amari Cooper. Everyone knows the Cowboys as perennial underachievers, and this season expectations will be back to where they normally are, even though they have some holes on the defensive side of the ball. Though they lost Byron Jones to Miami this offseason, I don’t feel they’ll address that position here unless CJ Henderson is available. So, the Cowboys go after the next best player for them, LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson. I know they just signed Aldon Smith, but Chaisson is just too good to pass up here. Last season at LSU, Chaisson had 60 tackles, 13.5 for loss, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. In the Playoff, he had 20 pressures, five sacks, four quarterback hits, 11 hurries, 4.5 tackles for loss and 18 total tackles. This offseason, the Ravens have done bits to get talent on the defensive side of the ball, most notably on the d-line with Derek Wolfe and Calais Campbell. They have yet to get another legit pass rusher. The Cowboys already have one elite pass rusher in DeMarcus Lawrence, now they get the chance to partner him with someone as athletically gifted as Chaisson here at 17. Could be a match made in Heaven.
18 Miami Dolphins; Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
- The Dolphins got their quarterback now they’ve just got to protect him. Last season, the Dolphins let their starting right tackle walk to Denver and their starting left tackle they traded to the Houston Texans, they have no tackles, arguably their biggest need, bar quarterback. The Phins have to Draft a tackle, and with Andrew Thomas falling to 18, the Dolphins can’t pass him up. In his last season at Georgia, Thomas was named a Unanimous All-American and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the best blocker in the SEC. To some, Thomas is the most well rounded left tackle in the Draft. If he is available by the time the Dolphins pick again, they can’t/won’t pass on him.
19 Baltimore Ravens (trade); Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
- Reports are the Raiders are trying to trade back from 19 and stock pile some more picks, the only condition is now you have to find a willing suiter to trade with you. That’s where the Baltimore Ravens come into play. Though the Ravens finished 14-2 last season with a very high powered offense and an elite defense they still have some holes. Most notably is the hole left by New York Jet linebacker CJ Mosley, which they can now fill by trading up and getting Kenneth Murray. Now, I consider Murray to be the best linebacker in this draft class, and after his Combine meetings he has been slotted as one of the players to rise up draft boards. I feel that Ravens need a guy like him, and now they may have to trade up to get him. In three seasons at Oklahoma, Murray totaled 334 tackles and was second in the nation in tackles his sophomore tallying 155 tackles, he also tallied 9.5 sacks for his career and six pass deflections. Murray is an extremely active linebacker that the Ravens very much need and could definitely use. Murray is an alpha, a leader, and a gamer, similar to Ravens legend Ray Lewis, someone who Murray looked up to growing up. I feel this would be a great get for Baltimore and would make an already elite defense even better. (now, they could stay put and draft a guard to replace Marshal Yanda, so look out for that come draft night)
20 Jacksonville Jaguars; Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
- The Jaguars are entering familiar territory. They are going back to the same team that dominated the 2010s, a garbage team with no real direction. Now that they have a veteran QB in Derek Carr and a talented young QB in Gardner Minshew, they have some stability. So, with this pick, I’m going to have the Jags give those QBs a nice little weapon, LSU’s Justin Jefferson. Last season for Jacksonville, another former LSU receiver led them in receiving in DJ Chark. Drafting Jefferson would take some of the pressure off of Chark, who was the only real wide receiver the Jags had last season. The thing that’s so appealing to scouts about Jefferson is his ability to play the slot and play outside. While at LSU, Jefferson put up some godly numbers. He put up 1,540 yards (3rd) and 18 touchdowns (2nd) during his last season at LSU while also coming away with a National Championship. Those numbers, though very impressive, were not the best on the team believe it or not, Ja’Marr Chase was first in both categories, but Jefferson still deserves the love. Number one overall pick Joe Burrow called Jefferson “his guy” in a recent interview, I’d say that’s a pretty good recommendation to take a guy. Jefferson can play in the slot and on the outside, showing off great speed in his 40 yard dash, surprising most with his 4.43 40 time. If you pair Chark with Jefferson, it could make for some fun offensive displays from the Jags in the coming years.
21 Jacksonville Jaguars (trade); Austin Jackson, OT, USC
- The Jags are bulking up with Draft picks, trading back twice in the first round with Vegas and Philadelphia. With this pick they can address something that they’ve needed to address for a while, the offensive line. As we said above, the Jaguars got a new quarterback in Derek Carr, now they got to protect him. With one of the worst o-lines in the entire league, the Jags got to address it somewhere in the Draft, so why not here at number 21. Austin Jackson has got all of the tools to be a very good offensive tackle in the NFL. He may be more of a developmental piece, but his upside should get coaches and scouts excited. Jackson started 25 games for the Trojans at left tackle and has the ideal size (6’5” 322 lbs.), long arms, big hands, and is very athletic to where, again, he could play every position on the o-line. Though he may be more developmental, his versatility makes him an intriguing prospect, he would be a very nice get here at 21.
22 Minnesota Vikings; Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
- The Vikings traded disgruntled stud wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills for a ton of picks, including this one. Though Diggs was coming off a career year in Minnesota, you could tell that he no longer wanted to be in Minnesota. Now, the Vikings got to replace him (and just add to an already tiny receiving core), and I feel they could address that need a little later in the Draft with this being a historically deep class. So, with this pick, I have them taking Stefon Diggs younger brother, Trevon, with this pick. Much like Xavier Rhodes before him, Diggs possesses great size for a corner, standing at 6’2” and weighing 207 lbs., he would not get bodied by the bigger wide receivers. The Vikings lost both Rhodes and Waynes this offseason, they’ve got to get someone to replace them, I feel Diggs could be perfect for the Vikings here. He’s long, athletic and can make every play in the defensive backfield, exactly what Minnesota is looking for.
23 New England Patriots; Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin
- Next season is going to be a weird one in Boston. With Tom Brady taking his talents to Tampa Bay, the Pats could address the quarterback situation, but I feel like they really like last year’s draft pick Jarrett Stidham. They also signed Brian Hoyer this offseason to “mentor” Stidham, so I don’t think quarterback will be the pick here at 23. I feel the biggest need for the Patriots going into next season is getting an outside linebacker to replace the likes of Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy, their two leading sack getters from last season (7 and 6.5 respectably). The Patriots have one of the best defenses in the league but need to address that edge rushing problem. The best pure outside linebacker/pass rusher available is Zack Baun from Wisconsin. Baun is a very versatile and intelligent player, something that HC Bill Belichick values in his players. Last season at Wisconsin, Baun finished with 76 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks (9thnationally, 2ndfor linebackers), being named a First Team All-Big Ten selection. I feel Baun fits the Patriots style of defense perfectly and would be a great pick here at number 23. (maybe the Pats go after Epenesa here. I know he struggled at the Combine but he’s a legit “football player,” something the Patriots really like)
24 New Orleans Saints; Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
- The New Orleans Saints finished out last season in familiar fashion, losing to the Minnesota Vikings in the Playoffs. That being said, last season could be viewed as somewhat of a success. After losing Drew Brees early in the season, expectations were low for the Saints, but they kept grinding, undefeated in Brees’ absence. Now, this is more than likely Drew Brees’ final season in the NFL, the Saints need to everything they can to make him happy in his final year. One thing that would make him very happy would be getting another wide receiver to partner Michael Thomas, but with this being a very deep wide receiver class, the Saints go with another position of need, linebacker. If you travel about an hour and 20 minutes north west of New Orleans, you’ll land in Baton Rouge, home to the National Champion LSU Tigers. If you go about 40 minutes past Baton Rouge you’ll end up in the hometown of LSU linebacker Patrick Queen. Queen was an absolute stud for the LSU Tigers in their Championship season, with some saying he was the best player on defense for the Tigers last season. He was all over the field. Dude is extremely athletic, able to play sideline to sideline in the NFL. He has all the skills to be a beast at the next level and for a team who is in need of some linebacking help, the Saints don’t need to travel too far to find it.
25 Minnesota Vikings; Josh Jones, OT, Houston
- As I said above, the Vikings have quite a few holes on their roster on both sides of the ball. One of those holes has been something of a problem over the lifetime of most college Vikings fans, the offensive line. It has been well documented that the Vikings offensive line has struggled over the years. They addressed one area of concern on the o-line last year by drafting Garrett Bradbury from NC State to play center, but the guard and tackle spots are still concerning most Vikings fans. I feel with this pick the Vikings should address one of those spots, so I have them taking Houston’s Josh Jones with the 25thpick. Jones has all the things scouts look for in an offensive tackle. He has the ideal size, 6’5” 319 lbs., and has the ideal arm length the keep rushers away from him. Another thing that could be beneficial for his draft stock is his colligate experience, starting a vast majority of his games in his four years in college (redshirted his freshman year). Some scouts do say that he may not be the finished product, which again makes him intriguing. The Vikings just signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to an extension, I feel it’d be in the Vikings best interest to protect their expensive investment. I feel Jones could be a very nice piece for the Vikings and could fill another position of need for Minnesota.
26 Miami Dolphins; Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
- Exact same pick as last Mock Draft and the third and final pick for the Miami Dolphins in the 2020 first round sees the Dolphins address another position of need, safety. The Dolphins traded away former first round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers last season, so they have a nice little hole their at safety. If Xavier McKinney is still available by the time the Dolphins third first round pick comes up, they can’t pass on him here. McKinney’s versatility makes him, to me, the best safety in this Draft. Though listed as a safety, McKinney can make plays all over the field. He can do everything in the secondary, playing both safety and corner while at Bama. Throughout each year at Alabama, McKinney improved in every statistical category. His senior year he had 95 total tackles, three sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three interceptions and was named First Team All-SEC. He was also named the Orange Bowl MVP in 2018. McKinney is the complete safety and could be perfect for an already much improved Dolphins defense.
27 Seattle Seahawks; Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
- The Seahawks could honestly go a few directions with this pick. I feel they could help fill holes on the offensive line but for right now they should help fill a hole on the edge. Last season, the Seahawks had only 28 sacks, ranking second to last in the league, tied with Atlanta and Detroit. Now, they did Draft LJ Collier from TCU last year, but he only played in 11 games and had three total tackles last season. Add to that they are going to lose Jadeveon Clowney in free agency this is position of need for Seattle. Some consider Yetur Gross-Matos a “Greek god” in regard to his build and athletic ability. Standing at 6’5” and weighing in at 266 lbs., he is an insane athlete coming off the edge. At Penn State, Gross-Matos got 19 sacks and 111 total tackles, setting a career high in sacks in his junior year (9.5). The two time First Team All-Big Ten selection is an “athletic marvel.” Some consider him to have the most upside out of most players in this Draft because of his physical gifts. Though he’s raw, he’s got the size, he’s got the length, he’s got the hands, and he’s got the heart to be an absolute beast for Seattle.
28 Las Vegas Raiders (trade); AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson
- The Raiders smacked it out of the park in last year’s Draft, setting the edge for their defense for years to come with Clelin Ferrell and, surprise of the year, Maxx Crosby. The Raiders in this scenario go after another piece that could fill a position of need on the defensive side of the ball, that would happen to be the secondary. Last season, and for the past few seasons, the Raiders pass defense has been very bad. Ranking in the bottom half of the league in total passing yards, touchdowns given up, and interceptions. Reports are the Raiders want to trade back with their second pick to stockpile some picks in the later rounds, that’s where the Ravens come into play. Now, I have no read on where each corner is going except for Okudah and Henderson, past them, it’s a total crap shoot. I feel with this pick the Raiders will draft the best corner available, and I feel that could very well be AJ Terrell from Clemson. Terrell would add some familiarity to the Raiders secondary, after drafting Trayvon Mullen from Clemson last year in the second round. While playing together at Clemson, Terrell and Mullen made one of the most feared defensive backfield pairings in college football, ranking in the top 10 in yards given up and touchdowns allowed, and this past season, Terrell got even better. In his last year at Clemson, Terrell was a part of the best passing defense in the nation, and though he struggled against LSU in the National Championship game, he’s still a very good corner. Like I said above for Diggs, Terrell possesses great size for today’s NFL corners. Standing at 6’1” and weighing 195 lbs., he’s got the size and length to be an elite corner in the league. Again, he struggled in the National Championship game, but that should not take away from a very impressive junior season at Clemson where he was a First Team All-ACC defender. Terrell and Mullen could combine to make for a very solid secondary for the Raiders in Las Vegas.
29 Tennessee Titans; Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
- The Titans miraculously made it to the AFC Championship game last season, beating New England and Baltimore both on the road before getting beat down by Kansas City at Arrowhead. The Titans surprised everybody in the postseason by how far they went, and though they finished the season strong, they still barley made the postseason, beating a Texans team who played all of their backups. Last year, the Titans took a chance on Mississippi State’s Jeffrey Simmons who was coming off an injury, and have been addressing the defense in the first round every year of Mike Vrabel’s reign as the Titans head coach. Though I could be wrong, I don’t feel they’ll address another position of need, offensive line, in the first round. I actually have them going after a very talented interior defensive lineman in Ross Blacklock. The Titans lost Jurrell Casey this past offseason to Denver and are going to need to replace him, that’s why I have them going after Blacklock. He is a very versatile player along the defensive line and has great power/pursuit and great speed off the ball. While playing for the Horned Frogs, Blacklock secured First Team All-Big 12 Honors in his Junior season while also being named a Freshman All-American and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the year as a Senior (obviously kidding). According to Daniel Jeremiah, Blacklock may be the biggest mystery in the whole Draft, but his upside makes him extremely desirable. Dude has the size, length, power, flexibility, athleticism, and technique to be an absolute beast at the next level. I feel he would slot in nicely into that defense, which has been adding some nice pieces over the past few drafts.
30 Green Bay Packers; Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
- Throughout all of last season, the Packers struggled finding receivers Aaron Rodgers had 100% faith in, other than Devante Adams. So, with this pick, I feel the Packers should address that, by drafting Denzel Mims out of Baylor. While playing for the Bears, Mims put up two thousand yard seasons (2019 and 2017) and caught a career high 12 touchdowns in his senior season. While at the Combine, Mims showed why he should be a first round selection. His size and speed really wowed scouts in Indy, standing at 6’2” and weighing 207 lbs. while also running a 4.38 40. That combination of size and straight line speed are very desirable in today’s NFL. Though his route running is suspect at times (as most Baylor receivers are) he is a very good vertical threat and possesses some of the best hands in the Draft. Pairing Mims with Adams would make Aaron Rodgers very happy and could make the Packers a very scary team going into next season.
31 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (trade); D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
- The Bucs made a signal of intent by letting Mr. “I’m Ballin” Jamies Winston walk in free agency and signing the G.O.A.T. Thomas Edward Brady. The Bucs don’t want to be pushed around anymore, even going back to the uniforms the won the Super Bowl in (I dig em). Though they have all the weapons out wide for Mr. Brady, they do not have a very good rushing attack, ranking in the bottom half of the league in rush yards per game while having the 5thworst attack in yards per carry. Though Ronald Jones had somewhat of a “break out year” last year (going from 44 yards to 724 yards) they still need an upgrade, that’s where D’Andre Swift comes in. While playing at Georgia, Swift rushed for back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons, and yes that may seem small compared to the likes of Jonathan Taylor and JK Dobbins, but they did it on more than 100+ carries, averaging around the same yards per carry as the Big Ten pair. Something that makes Swift very desirable in the Draft is not only that he’s a three down back, but because he can do everything required of today’s NFL running backs. Those attributes are, again, being a three down back, can pass catch (his route running ability is the best out of the other backs), and can block (doesn’t fear any blocking assignment). He is the best at what he does compared to the other backs, he does everything, and could pair up nicely with Jones if they feel Jones should still have a decent role in the offense. The Bucs haven’t had a 1,000 yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015, trading up to draft Swift could change that and give Brady another weapon in an already talented offense.
32 Kansas City Chiefs; Cesar Ruiz, IOL, Michigan
- The Kansas City Chiefs are fresh off of winning the Super Bowl, but they still have some holes on their roster. I would say the most notable holes on the team lie on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield. Though the lost Kendall Fuller to Washington and the existing need for another corner, I’m going to have them address the offensive line. The Chiefs have the most lethal passing attack in the NFL, spear headed by Patrick Mahomes, so why not protect him? The Chiefs offensive line hasn’t been that good for a few years now, especially on the interior of the o-line. I feel Cesar Ruiz would be able to slot into one of the three interior o-line spots and start right away for the Chiefs. Ruiz is a very “impactful blocker,” capable blocker whether it be in the pass game or in the run game. Ruiz has a very nice jab and can use his hands very well, allowing him separate himself from the rushers and possesses a lot of athleticism which allows him to be very versatile inside, which is what a lot of teams really like about him. I think with the last pick in the first round, Ruiz would be a great pick and be an instant day one starter, instantly improving the Chiefs offensive line.
Kommentare