2020 NFL Mock Draft 4.0 (Last One)
This is my final mock draft for 2020 as the draft starts April 23rd. It seems strange to have an actual sporting event even if there is no actual game being played. I’ve always said the NFL Draft is my favorite sporting event of the year and now every sports fan will be tuned in because there is nothing else to do. Right now, it’s lying season when it comes to the draft as everyone puts up smokescreens to hide their intentions. It has been a strange draft prep as teams haven’t been able to bring in players for workouts and can only conduct interviews virtually. Athletes haven’t been able to have pro days or individual team workouts to show off, this will hurt players that either didn’t attend the combine, didn’t work out at the combine or had a bad combine. Teams are going to have to rely pretty heavily on their scouting reports generated from game film, perhaps this draft will have the least busts ever.
Round 1
- Cincinnati Bengals (2-14): Joe Burrow QB LSU
This pairing was decided once the Bengals locked up the #1 overall pick last season. Andy Dalton was never the Bengals long-term QB plan once they let Marvin Lewis go and hired Zac Taylor to be their head coach last off season. Burrow went from a likely late round draft pick when the college football season started to the presumptive #1 overall pick because of an incredible season at LSU. A Heisman trophy, a National Championship and a Tua Tagovailoa hip injury later and Burrow was the clear choice for the QB needy Bengals. Burrow had a senior year for the ages at LSU and now he will return to his native Ohio to be the face of the Bengals franchise. Burrow checks all the boxes of a top QB prospect with great size, a strong arm, good mobility, exceptional accuracy and a high football IQ. The Bengals have some very good skill position players for Burrow to work with; RB Joe Mixon, WRs AJ Green, Tyler Boyd and John Ross, if he’s healthy. They need to get some help on the o-line and a new TE would be a great help to a rookie QB.
- Washington Redskins (3-13): Chase Young DE Ohio St.
I had the Redskins trading out of this spot with the Dolphins moving up in my last two mock drafts but it looks like the Dolphins are content to stay at five and see what happens with either Tua or Justin Herbert. That leaves the Redskins with less options to trade out and that means they stick here and just take the best overall prospect in the draft. Young is a freak athlete coming off the edge and as new head coach Ron Rivera and new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio look to reshape the Redskins’ defense Young gives them an excellent building block on the line. I’m not sure if Young will have the immediate impact former Ohio St. alumni Joey and Nick Bosa had but he’s a fantastic prospect who will only get better with great coaching and better defenders around him. The team will transition from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense and Young should work will with veteran Ryan Kerrigan and pair well long-term with Montez Sweat.
- Detroit Lions (3-12-1): Jeff Okudah CB Ohio St.
Detroit could be a spot where teams look to trade up to move ahead of the Dolphins and Chargers to grab a QB. However, given the unknowns about Tua’s injury because of the pandemic limiting teams’ ability to check him out for themselves I think the appetite to move up may vanish. If the Lions don’t get a good offer they can stay put and draft the CB they so desperately need. They traded Darius Slay, who is such an underrated and underappreciated player, and they need a new #1 CB. They signed Desmond Trufant but he is probably better suited to be a #2 at this point. Okudah would be a great player to have to cover guys like Devante Adams, Adam Thielen and Allen Robinson, three guys this team sees twice a year. Matt Patricia has to improve this teams and his defense is a good place to start.
- New York Giants (4-12): Tristan Wirfs OT Iowa
I said before that I expect GM Dave Gettleman to take an offensive lineman and I had Mekhi Becton as that guy but now I’m giving him Wirfs. The rumors have been the Giants taking Isaiah Simmons and while Simmons would be an understandable pick this smells like a smokescreen to me. Gettleman has to have Daniel Jones work out at QB if he wants to continue running the team and Jones needs better protection. Wirfs is an immediate starter at RT and could be the eventual successor to Nate Solder at LT and that could be as soon as a year from now. I’m switching from Becton to Wirfs because I think Wirfs is farther ahead of Becton in his development and I think Gettleman will trust an Iowa offensive lineman before one from Louisville.
- Miami Dolphins (5-11): Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama
Miami is engaged in the ultimate smokescreen as we head towards the draft. They have simultaneously leaked that they are worried about Tua’s injury issues, they might take Justin Herbert instead of Tua and that they might take an offensive lineman instead of a QB here and look to take Jordan Love with one of their later 1st round picks. They may be trying to force the Chargers to try to move ahead of them to get a QB which would mean they don’t have to make a choice between Tua and Herbert, they just take whoever is left. Or they are trying to convince Washington or Detroit to take less to move up by pretending they don’t care. Either way, I think they take Tua if he’s there. They didn’t make all the moves they made to end up with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jordan Love at QB. They need a franchise QB and while Tua’s injury history is scary, he simply has far too much potential to be a franchise changing QB to pass up. The Dolphins have been starved for a franchise QB since Dan Marino retired and if they pass on Tua their fans may revolt.
- Los Angeles Chargers (5-11): Justin Herbert QB Oregon
The Chargers are saying they are content with Tyrod Taylor as their starting QB and that’s good but it doesn’t preclude them from drafting Herbert. Herbert might be best served not being forced into the starting job for a team that is looking to improve quickly. If Taylor is at least a viable option than Herbert would have to play well enough to beat him out. I don’t think that’s how it will go but that’s the scenario the Chargers are working on. I will say, if there is one team that might pass on Herbert despite a real QB need it might be the Chargers. Taking Isaiah Simmons would make their already formidable defense outstanding, adding his playmaking to Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Casey Hayward, Chris Harris and Derwin James would be scary. When you have to play against Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs twice a year, having an exceptional defense is enticing.
- Carolina Panthers (5-11): Isaiah Simmons LB Clemson
The Panthers are in a position to reap the rewards of someone great falling in the draft because three QBs go in the top six and Dave Gettleman takes an offensive lineman instead of a defender. There are three elite defenders in this draft; Young, Okudah and Simmons, the Panthers get the one that’s left. Simmons is a game changing player that would slide right into the Panthers defense and replace the retired Luke Kuechly. The Panthers defense needs an infusion of talent wherever they can find it and Simmons is the type of swiss-army knife defender that any defensive coordinator would love to have. He can rush the passer, stop the run and cover like a corner. He fits whatever Matt Rhule and his defensive coordinator Phil Snow want to do.
- Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1): Jedrick Wills OT Alabama
The Cardinals pulled off the trade heist of the century when they robbed Bill O’Brien and the Texans in the DeAndre Hopkins trade. That gives Kyler Murray his #1 WR for quite some time and the team still has Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk, and some young guys like Andy Isabella, Hakeem Butler and KeeSean Johnson. That means they can focus elsewhere; the offensive line needs attention and so does the defense. DJ Humphries was resigned at LT but the team still needs a RT and Wills made his reputation playing the right side at Alabama. He would be more comfortable there than at LT so this is an excellent fit. It’s possible the Cardinals take a defender like Derrick Brown but I think protecting Kyler Murray will be the more important to the team’s success.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10): Derrick Brown DT Auburn
The Jaguars need help on their defensive line after cutting Marcel Dareus and trading Calais Campbell along with the fact that Yannick Ngakoue is very unhappy especially after being franchised. They also need help in the secondary after trading Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye and having their free agent deal with Darqueze Dennard fall through. Brown is the next best defensive prospect on the board after the top three (Young, Okudah and Simmons). There has been some talk that CB CJ Henderson is climbing up the boards as the second-best CB prospect so it’s possible the Jaguars might like him better. For now, I think they go with Brown as he fills a huge need and is still considered a better prospect than Henderson. The other possibility is an offensive tackle but I think there are prospects they could pick up later to compete with Cam Robinson at LT.
- Cleveland Browns (6-10): Andrew Thomas OT Georgia
The Browns signed RT Jack Conklin and that solves a huge hole on the offensive line but there is an even bigger one at LT that they have to fill or all their good off-season work will be for not. Baker Mayfield needs some time in the pocket to use his plethora of skill position players and Thomas is the best pure LT in this draft. In this mock, it comes down to Thomas vs. Becton and while Becton has a very high ceiling it’s Thomas who should have the more immediate impact. Thomas steps in on day one at LT and he can dominate. His experience in the more pro-style offense at Georgia should make his transition to the NFL smoother and Cleveland needs their offense to get going now to give Baker Mayfield a chance to succeed.
- New York Jets (7-9): Mekhi Becton OT Louisville
The Jets have two major holes to fill, #1 WR and OT. They could have their pick of any of the fantastic WRs in this draft including CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy but here they take Becton because he’s the last of the elite OTs and he slides right in at LT. Becton is still learning and is a little raw but this offense is still a work in progress and Becton has time to grow while he watches Sam Darnold’s blind side. The WR position is stacked so the team can afford to wait to grab a new WR. Taking Becton would also allow them to swing free agent OT George Fant to RT and that would improve two positions with one draft choice, that’s just smart math.
- Las Vegas Raiders (7-9): CJ Henderson CB Florida
There is a lot of talk about the Raiders going for a new QB like Jordan Love but I think Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden are smart enough to realize they desperately need help in the secondary. Their top CBs are Nevin Lawson and Trayvon Mullen, that’s not good in a division that has Pat Mahomes. Henderson has seemed to separate himself from the rest of the CBs fighting for position behind Jeff Okudah and that’s understandable. The more teams watch his film the more they will see a great cover guy who doesn’t seem to like to tackle. Of all the missing traits a CB can have, an aversion to tackling is the most acceptable one. There have been plenty of CBs in the league that don’t relish tackling that have done just fine, Henderson can hold up in coverage against the best WR, that’s what you draft him to do.
- San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis): Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama
The 49ers picked up this pick from the Colts after dealing DeForest Buckner there so they could afford to re-sign Arik Armstead. They dealt from a position of strength and now they can use this pick to get the best WR in this draft. I’m a huge fan of Jeudy and I think his considerable skill set would be amazing in San Francisco. His precision route running would be a better fit than CeeDee Lamb who is more of a deep ball threat. When you’re coming off a Super Bowl appearance it means your roster is pretty good. Having the luxury of the 13th overall pick after a Super Bowl means you can go luxury shopping, getting the best WR in the draft is a very nice luxury when the one thing you need to do is improve your passing game.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): Josh Jones OT Houston
Taking a RT is still the most likely scenario for the Bucs after signing Tom Brady as their new QB. Demar Dotson is a free agent they are not looking to bring back which leaves free agent pickup Joe Haeg, who is better suited inside, as the leader for the job. That’s not good enough when you have a QB that will be 43 this season and wasn’t exactly fleet-of-foot when he was 23. Jones is a good athlete with nice length and he can step in immediately as a starter. He still has some rawness to his game and he will benefit from NFL coaching because he has plenty of talent to work with. The team could look to grab a defender but securing Tom Brady is priority #1.
- Denver Broncos (7-9): CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma
The Broncos think they finally found their QB in Drew Lock and they are looking to surround him with a proper offense to find out. They have WR Courtland Sutton, TE Noah Fant, RB Phillip Lindsay and they signed RB Melvin Gordon. Sutton stepped up to show the makings of a legitimate #1 WR last year but he needs a complement. Lamb is a deep ball specialist who can take the top off the defense and will make the intermediate area less crowded for both Sutton and Fant to work. He will also make the safeties have to play deep which should open up running room for Gordon and Lindsay. Lamb is one of the best deep ball trackers you’ll ever find and that makes him very valuable an offense overall. Points come in the passing game and Lamb is a game breaker.
- Atlanta Falcons (7-9): Javon Kinlaw DT South Carolina
The Falcons desperately need a CB and there are rumblings that they are going to make a play to move up to draft CJ Henderson. Henderson has separated himself from the pack that is behind Jeff Okudah. Henderson has a high upside and if they make a move it is completely understandable. If they don’t, and they stay here at 16 they could grab any one of a number of CBs; Kristian Fulton, Trevon Diggs, Jeff Gladney and so on. The problem is none of them truly stand out from the rest. I have them taking Kinlaw because he provides another pass rusher up front and he is far more valuable than any CB left on the board. His presence would make Grady Jarrett, Takk McKinley and Dante Fowler Jr. that much more effective. They can wait until the second round to address CB at this point and take a chance a guy like Bryce Hall falls to them and turns out to be a #1 CB.
- Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Kristian Fulton CB LSU
The Cowboys have taken care of just about everything on their list of needs, if you consider franchising Dak Prescott “taking care of him”. Well, everything except their CB needs. I’m not sure counting on the reinstatement of DEs Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory is really addressing that need but they should be okay there overall. At CB they have Anthony Brown, Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis and while that’s solid depth they lack anything resembling a #1 CB. Fulton isn’t necessarily going to step right into the top CB role but he has potential to fill that spot and unless the Cowboys pull off a major trade to move up to get Okudah or Henderson this is about the best they can do. I like Fulton and he has good CB size and instincts. Is he going to shut down top WRs like Michael Thomas or Julio Jones? No. But he can hold his own against guys in their division like Terry McLaurin, Alshon Jeffrey and Golden Tate.
- Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh): Austin Jackson OT USC
The Dolphins spent quite a bit of money in free agency, most of it on the defensive side of the ball. Then they took Tua Tagovailoa with their first pick in this mock draft, now they have to protect him. They did sign OG Ereck Flowers and OC Ted Karras but it’s the edges of the offensive line that still need help. Jackson is a young guy who needs a little time to mature but he has all the makings of an excellent LT. They need both a LT and a RT so I sort of doubt this is the last offensive lineman they draft but Jackson is a solid start.
- Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago): Henry Ruggs III WR Alabama
There’s a real chance if Jordan Love is still available here, they Raiders won’t be able to pass him up. However, Mike Mayock made it pretty clear in an interview that he sees Derek Carr as a pretty good QB and doesn’t plan to replace him. What they do need to do is get him more weapons in the passing game. Ruggs III is the third best WR behind Jeudy and Lamb and if he’s still around at 19 he makes a whole lot of sense for the Raiders. They have Tyrell Williams but he’s more of a big WR who works well in the intermediate area as well as the red zone. Ruggs III is the definition of deep threat with his electric speed. The question will be if Carr has the arm to take advantage of Ruggs’ speed.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (from LA Rams): Trevon Diggs CB Alabama
The Jaguars have traded Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye since the trade deadline and now they have Rashaan Melvin and DJ Hayden slated to start at CB, that’s not good. Head coach Doug Marrone and GM David Caldwell didn’t get fired with Tom Coughlin but that means they don’t have a long leash either. Caldwell’s might be a little longer because he would likely have the power to jettison Marrone if things go bad but that’s not a great place to be as a GM. Caldwell has to help Marrone succeed and drafting a zone corner like Diggs would help their defense tremendously. Diggs is a good corner who should get better with more experience, he hasn’t always been a CB. As he gets more experience, he should improve quite a bit.
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-7): Justin Jefferson WR LSU
The only thing that’s a bigger lock in this draft than Joe Burrow going first overall is the Eagles drafting a WR. It might not be Jefferson if they like Laviska Shenault or Tee Higgins better or if they trade up to get one of the top three but they will take a WR. They needed CB help too but they addressed that in a big way with Darius Slay. The team is solid just about everywhere else but WR is a major problem spot. Alshon Jeffrey doesn’t seem like a long-term fit, DeSean Jackson isn’t getting any younger or healthier, Nelson Agholor is now a Raider. Jefferson has almost become the consensus fourth WR in this draft after Lamb, Jeudy and Ruggs III, and it’s understandable considering his overall skill set. He can play inside or out, he has reliable hands, and he runs good routes. He would be a nice security blanket for Carson Wentz and he easily replaces Agholor.
- Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo): Jaylon Johnson CB Utah
The Vikings have a few holes to fill and another spot or two they should fill but there is no bigger hole than there is at CB. The team cut Xavier Rhodes for salary cap purposes and lost Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander in free agency. That’s their top three CBs leaving former #4 CB Mike Hughes as their top guy, that’s a problem. There are a number of CBs that could go at this spot and beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to Johnson, Jeff Gladney, AJ Terrell or even Noah Igbinoghene or Bryce Hall. The Vikings go with Johnson who comes from a pretty good defense at Utah and can be a top CB. I would usually say that the depth of the position means the team can wait but the truth is they need more than one CB in this draft so they better start early.
- New England Patriots (12-4): AJ Epenesa DE Iowa
This isn’t just a double homer pick for me, it actually makes sense. I just don’t buy into the idea that Bill Belichick will draft a QB in the first round and I certainly don’t believe he’ll draft Jordan Love. The Patriots have lost quite a bit on defense the last couple of years and they have taken quite a few hits in the front seven. Belichick has never been much of speed rusher type of guy on the front line, he likes power guys that can play the run and use their power to get in the backfield. Epenesa is that exact type of player. Belichick also likes guys up front that are versatile, he likes guys who can move inside and out. Another thing Epenesa will be able to do in that defense. The Pats could go with one of the better LBs but Epenesa might present too much value and Belichick has always liked hard working Iowa players.
- New Orleans Saints (13-3): Jordan Love QB Utah St.
This would make more sense than the Patriots taking Love. The Saints are still in Super Bowl mode and they filled their biggest holes with WR Emmanuel Sanders and S Malcolm Jenkins, two good veterans. They can afford to take Love and give him time to learn. Brees should have one or two more years and anyone who thinks Taysom Hill is the heir apparent is crazy. Hill is going to be 30 years old and he’s a gadget player, not a QB. His value is in his ability to do many things and playing QB full-time is not one of them. Love needs coaching and Sean Payton is an excellent offensive coach. Love has all the physical tools to be an NFL starter but he needs to learn the intricacies of the position and no one knows them better than Brees. Also, Brees has reached the stage where he knows the end is near so he shouldn’t be threatened by Love. Teams have control over first round picks for five years, Brees knows he isn’t sticking around that long.
- Minnesota Vikings (10-6): Laviska Shenault WR Colorado
There are teams that I’m sure have downgraded Shenault because of his less than stellar workout at the combine and the fact they can’t check out the injury that led to it (core muscle injury that required surgery). I’m hoping the fact that teams had plenty of time to go back to the game film will make them appreciate this kid. Shenault did everything at Colorado including playing wildcat QB, RB and being one of the best WRs in the country. The Vikings need to replace Stefon Diggs and Shenault is another multifaceted receiver who can take the ball the distance every time he touches it, kind of like Diggs. Kirk Cousins needs someone other than Adam Thielen to throw to and Shenault deserves to be a first rounder. No offense to Denzel Mims, Jalen Reagor or KJ Hamler but if any of those guys go ahead of Shenault those teams will regret it. The only other viable option here is Tee Higgins, I like Shenault better.
- Miami Dolphins (from Houston): K’Lavon Chaisson OLB LSU
The Dolphins are stacked with three picks in the first round and if they don’t have to trade up to get their QB they will have a chance to set themselves up quite well. They spent a lot of money on their defense getting CB Byron Jones, LBs Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts, and DE Shaq Lawson. Brian Flores is going to run a multiple front defense and he still needs someone to get to the QB. This will be a bit of a fall for Chaisson but he might be a guy who suffers from not being able to work out and having teams have to go back to the film to evaluate. He flashes elite tools but they just don’t show up as much as you would like to see from such a phenomenal athlete. The Dolphins have made themselves better but they aren’t looking to be great right now, they just want to make progress, get better and be good going forward. Chaisson needs some work but the Dolphins can invest time into his development.
- Seattle Seahawks (11-5): Yetur Gross-Matos DE Penn St.
The Seahawks have yet to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney and it doesn’t look like they will. They also let Ziggy Ansah walk and right now their starting DEs will be LJ Collier and Bruce Irvin. Collier was their first-round pick last season and didn’t exactly impress his rookie year and Irvin has circled back around to Seattle after floating around multiple teams in the NFL, he’s the definition of journeyman. Gross-Matos isn’t the most polished pass rusher around but I like his upside over Collier and I like anyone more than Irvin. The Seahawks could also address their offensive line and I wouldn’t object if they took C/G Cesar Ruiz and I don’t think Russell Wilson would be upset by that either.
- Baltimore Ravens (14-2): Kenneth Murray LB Oklahoma
The Ravens won 14 games last season so clearly, they’re a pretty good team. The offense could still use an upgrade at WR to pair with Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin. They could also use a replacement at RG for future Hall of Famer Marshall Yanda who retired after the season. However, the biggest hole on the team is at ILB where LJ Fort and Chris Board are slated to start with former Packer Jake Ryan recently signed for depth. For a team that has had guys like Ray Lewis and CJ Mosley leading the way in the middle in the recent past it’s a pretty precipitous drop off to Fort and Board. Murray is a the top interior LB in this draft and he would be an excellent choice to fill the ILB spot for the future. Murray is a do-everything LB who doesn’t have to come off he field and he’s a heck of field general for the defense. If anyone in this draft is going to live up to the legacy of LB for the Ravens, it’s Murray.
- Tennessee Titans (9-7): Jeff Gladney CB TCU
The Titans have a big hole at RT and they need depth on the defensive line but the one spot no one seems to mention that is a pretty big need for them is replacing veteran CB Logan Ryan. Now, Ryan is still available in free agency so he could be re-signed but the Titans haven’t made it seem like they even want to re-sign him. Ryan is one of the smarter CBs in the league and he can play inside or outside but he really excels in the nickel. Gladney isn’t the biggest guy around so he doesn’t bring the length or strength Ryan has but that’s fairly unusual for a nickel back. Gladney can play the slot pretty well and he could also slide outside and replace Malcolm Butler if need be and that’s a distinct possibility. Gladney probably isn’t a star CB but he’s a solid starter with some versatility.
- Green Bay Packers (13-3): Jalen Reagor WR TCU
There are plenty of teams that needs a WR or two from this incredibly strong WR class but not a lot of teams that need one as much as the Packers. They also need a TE but the TE class is pretty poor this year. The group the Packers have at WR behind Devante Adams isn’t exciting anyone, including the fan base, the coaching staff, and most importantly Aaron Rodgers. The team has let Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb leave in the past several years leaving Rodgers more and more reliant on Adams to make plays. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Jake Kumerow, Allen Lazard and especially the newly signed Devin Funchess are a pu-pu platter of crap that no one should have to live with. Jalen Reagor would be a great complement to Adams as he possesses plenty of skills and would fit outside opposite Adams where he can use his deep speed or even play some slot where he can use his quickness. This team needs to give Rodgers better weapons and stop relying on late round picks and bad free agent signings.
- San Francisco 49ers: Ezra Cleveland OT Boise St.
The 49ers have the luxury of a roster that got them all the way to the Super Bowl and a trade that got them an early pick where they addressed their one major need, WR Jerry Jeudy. I have had the 49ers interested in S Xavier McKinney before but the re-signing of Jimmie Ward makes that less of a priority. GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have always been forward thinking and they have an aging LT in Joe Staley. Staley will be 36 at the end of August and they need a plan for when he calls it a career. Cleveland is a developmental prospect who has been climbing the boards. He has the size and athleticism teams want in a LT. He needs to work on his functional strength and refine his technique, he can’t get by in the NFL on being 6’6 310 lbs. and athletic like he did in the Mountain West. Give him a year or two to learn behind Staley and he has a chance to be one of the better OTs to come out of this draft.
- Kansas City Chiefs (12-4): Cesar Ruiz C/G Michigan
The Chiefs need help at CB but they re-signed Bashaud Breeland and I think they might just sign another veteran or two since there is still some value out there. I have had them taking a RB before but one other area this team needs help is the interior offensive line. The offense is fantastic but he one thing that could undermine that is if the offensive line falls apart. C Austin Reiter and LG Nick Allegretti are not great and Ruiz has risen to the top of the interior OL group. Andy Reid was once an offensive line coach so he knows the importance a good blocking up front. Ruiz could start out at LG and eventually move to center or he could push Reiter to LG and take over at center immediately. Either way he’s an upgrade in the middle of the line.
Round 2
- Cincinnati: Patrick Queen LB LSU
The Bengals can go a lot of ways here and drafting an o-lineman would be a smart investment in Joe Burrow’s safety. However, the Bengals defense needs its own “QB”, Queen would be a great start at rebuilding their LB corps.
- Indianapolis: Tee Higgins WR Clemson
This is the Colts first pick after trading #13 overall to the 49ers for DL DeForest Buckner. Buckner fills a huge need up front on the defense so now they can address the offense. The team signed QB Phillip Rivers t give them a small window to try to compete for a Super Bowl. Rivers needs weapons to be affective and outside of WR TY Hilton and RB Marlon Mack there isn’t a ton to work with here. Higgins has been a top WR prospect out of Clemson for a while but he’s slipped a bit in the pre-draft process. Higgins is big, physical and fast, that’s a good place to start. He isn’t the most advanced route runner but he has a huge catch radius and he won’t lose a lot of contested catches. With Hilton drawing the defenses best DB, Higgins could easily find room to operate. The team would love to grab a WR and get last’s years rookie Parris Campbell going and have a legitimate WR corps for Rivers to work with.
- Detroit: Ross Blacklock DT TCU
The Lions need to address a few areas but the defense should take priority. After taking Okudah to fill their CB need they shift to the defensive line where they need help everywhere. Blacklock can step in right away in the middle next to Danny Shelton and give the Lions some versatility up front.
- NY Giants: Denzel Mims WR Baylor
Golden Tate will be 32 this season, Sterling Shepard can’t stay healthy, and while the team likes what they saw out of Darius Slayton none of these guys are very big. Slayton is the only one over 6’0 and he is under 200 lbs. Mims is a fast player who is 6’3 206 lbs. and would give Daniel Jones a different kind of weapon.
- LA Chargers: Lucas Niang OT TCU
The Chargers signed Bryan Bulaga and for now he’s penciled in as the starter at LT but they would be best served to find a LT and let Bulaga stay on the right side where he’s excelled for the Packers. Niang isn’t a surefire bet but he’s better than anyone else they can get here. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chargers make a trade up into the back of the 1st round to grab a guy like Ezra Cleveland.
- Carolina: Xavier McKinney S Alabama
Carolina is in rebuilding mode so they are in a position to draft the best player available. It will be a bit of a surprise if McKinney is still around at this point, he has first-round talent. They are looking for playmakers on defense and between McKinney and Isaiah Simmons they would have two very versatile ones for Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow.
- Miami: D’Andre Swift RB Georgia
The Dolphins signed Jordan Howard but they don’t have much beyond him at RB. He’s not the most versatile back but he does bring the power. Swift is a versatile back who can both complement Howard or simply take his job.
- Houston: Zack Baun OLB Wisconsin
The Texans haven’t adequately replaced Jadeveon Clowney at OLB since they traded him last year. Baun is a versatile LB who will give them some juice off the edge. JJ Watt is still an effective pass rusher and Whitney Mercilus is okay too but they will be 31 and 30 respectively this season, time for some new blood.
- Cleveland: Jordan Brooks LB Texas Tech
The evaluations of Brooks are all over the map, some think he could go in the first round some think the fourth round. The Browns lost Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert in free agency and they need a downhill LB who can stop the run. Brooks has holes in his game but he’s a sure tackler and would be a better option at MLB than anyone the Browns currently have.
- Jacksonville: Jonathan Taylor RB Wisconsin
There are rumors the Jaguars want to move on from Leonard Fournette and are looking to trade him. Who can blame them? He’s a malcontent who is routinely injured and coming to the end of his contract and is going to want big money. Taylor is great value here and he would easily replace Fournette and would likely be more reliable.
- Chicago: AJ Terrell CB Clemson
If the Bears plan on going into the season with Artie Burns lining up as a starting CB in a division where you play Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford and Kirk Cousins twice a year, they are in serious trouble. They need help at safety and they should look to replace the retired Kyle Long at guard but if a guy like AJ Terrell falls this far it’s a no-brainer to grab him. The Bears can certainly wait to take a guard later as it is a pretty deep position and you can get a starter in the later rounds. They may be tempted to take a safety here but they have another pick in this round and they should be able to get a good one then.
- Indianapolis: Cole Kmet TE Notre Dame
The Colts let Eric Ebron go because apparently everyone eventually gets tired of him despite his physical gifts. Frank Reich likes to use the TE position and Phillip Rivers made a career out of throwing to Antonio Gates. Jack Doyle is a solid all-around TE but Kmet would give them a dynamic athlete who could be even better in the pros than he was at Notre Dame.
- Tampa Bay: KJ Hamler WR Penn St.
Tom Brady has to love the talent he has outside in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and while Godwin has lined up in the slot at times, they do not have a true slot receiver. Brady built a legacy making slot receivers great, Wes Welker and Julian Edelman anyone? KJ Hamler would be an excellent inside complement to Evans and Godwin while also being able to hold his own outside if they want to switch up the alignment from time to time.
- Denver: Grant Delpit S LSU
Not the biggest need on the team with veteran Kareem Jackson at one spot and the franchised Justin Simmons at the other but Delpit is a great value here and Jackson is 32. Delpit slips because he had a rough year last season at LSU but some of that was due to an injury. He can be the third safety allowing Jackson and Simmons to move around and eventually replace Jackson. Good player, great value.
- Atlanta: Bryce Hall CB Virginia
Atlanta needs to get a top CB after going for the best value in round one. Most of the guys left at CB are not likely to be #1 caliber guys but Hall has that potential. The only reason he is still around is he is coming off a brutal ankle injury. If he had been healthy all year, he likely would be challenging to be the best CB not named Jeff Okudah in this draft. He’s well worth taking a shot here, he could pay off huge.
- NY Jets: Brandon Aiyuk WR Arizona St.
The Jets filled their LT hole in round one, now they look to their other big need, WR. Robby Anderson left for Carolina and the team needs help there. Aiyuk isn’t built like Anderson but he has similar skills and is a good deep ball receiver. He needs some refinement but in the mean time he can be a fantastic return man.
- Pittsburgh: Isaiah Wilson OT Georgia
The Steelers traded their first-round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick and after the way he turned their defense around last year they don’t have any regrets about it. That does make this their first pick and they need to fill a couple of holes. They need a better #2 WR, they should look to fill their NT position after losing Javon Hargrave, and they need a better option than Stefan Wisnieski to replace Ramon Foster at OG. Wilson could very well be gone by this point but I have him still here because he’s really a RT prospect only. He isn’t really quick enough to be LT and he’s so massive he might not have the agility to really excel inside. That said, he has a really high ceiling as a RT, he could be one of the best in the league. If he fills the RT need in Pittsburgh, they can move Matt Feiler inside to fill Foster’s spot at guard.
- Chicago: Antoine Winfield Jr. S Minnesota
The Bears let Ha Ha Clinton-Dix leave in free agency and while they already took a CB with their first second-round pick they need help at safety. Right now, Deon Bush is penciled in next to Eddie Jackson but he’s better as the third safety. Winfield isn’t a very big guy but he’s extremely versatile and he and Jackson would be a pair of dynamic playmakers for Chuck Pagano to deploy in the deep middle.
- Dallas: Neville Gallimore DT Oklahoma
This may seem strange considering the team just signed Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe at DT but McCoy is 32 and Poe will be 30 just before the season. The only reason the Cowboys would sign two aging DTs is if they are not sure about youngsters Antwaun Woods and Trysten Hill. Gallimore would be a steal here and can spend the year learning from McCoy and Poe while being an excellent rotational player.
- LA Rams: Curtis Weaver OLB Boise St.
The Rams traded their first-round pick for CB Jalen Ramsey and they can’t really complain because he’s a far better option than anything they would have gotten where they were picking. However, this team has mismanaged their salary cap overall and Ramsey will cost plenty to retain. They either lost players to free agency because they couldn’t afford them or they cut guys to save money. RB Todd Gurley, LBs Corey Littleton, Clay Matthews, and Dante Fowler Jr, along with WR Brandin Cooks were all lost for financial reasons. They signed Leonard Floyd but he isn’t going to replace the pass rush of Matthews and Fowler so this team has to find someone to get to the QB so Aaron Donald isn’t working alone. Weaver is a good OLB who can get to the QB and he would immediately start for the Rams. He’s a stout player who needs some refinement but he would be a steal here, he has been talked about as a possible first round pick.
- Philadelphia: Lloyd Cushenberry III C/G LSU
The Eagles have a very solid offensive line but when you dig a little deeper there are some issues. During the upcoming season C Jason Kelce turns 33 while RG Brandon Brooks will turn 31. Throw in the fact that LG Isaac Seumalo is just a guy and there is a definite need inside. The Eagles were forward thinking last year when they drafted OT Andre Dillard and now, he replaces Jason Peters at LT. Here they draft Cushenberry early and he could eventually replace either Kelce or Brooks and could actually compete with Seumalo this season.
- Buffalo: Terrell Lewis DE/OLB Alabama
This is the first pick for the Bills because they dealt their first-rounder o Minnesota for WR Stefon Diggs. Diggs fills a huge need so it’s understandable. Diggs becomes the #1 WR that Josh Allen needs. The Bills have done a nice job over the last several years building their roster and they have supplemented good draft picks with solid veteran free agents. This year they added Mario Addison at DE to give them a little more punch than Trent Murphy provides as a pass rusher, the problem is that Addison will be 33 this year. Jerry Hughes is also over 30 so the team needs to get younger on the edge. Lewis isn’t a typical 4-3 DE, he lined up as an OLB at Alabama. He does have great length and he should be able to add weight and get to a point where he can hold his own up front. He has some nice pass rush skills that he can utilize as a designated pass rusher in the meantime.
- Baltimore: Marlon Davidson DL Auburn
Free agent DE Derek Wolfe is 30, NT Brandon Williams is 31, and Calais Campbell who came over in a trade with Jacksonville will be 34 and there isn’t a lot of depth behind these three. Davidson was overshadowed at Auburn by Derrick Brown but he’s a pretty solid prospect on his own. He should play well as a 3-4 DE.
- Miami: Matt Peart OT UConn
The Dolphins need help on the offensive line and Austin Jackson isn’t going to be the end of it. Matt Peart could certainly be a RT for them or he could move inside. At the very least he is going to make Julie’n Davenport earn a starting spot. Pretty sure Jackson will be the LT, Davenport and Peart can duke it out for the RT spot.
- LA Rams: Noah Igbinoghene CB Auburn
The team has Jalen Ramsey but they did lose a CB this off season in Nickell Robey-Coleman. It might not seem like the biggest need but Igbinoghene might just be too good to pass up. He does need some development because he’s still a bit raw. He hasn’t been a CB that long but he has all the physical tools to excel.
- Minnesota: Julian Okwara DE Notre Dame
The Vikings lost Everson Griffin after they cut him for salary cap purposes and then failing to get him to re-sign at a lower number. They need a DE opposite Danielle Hunter. They like Ifeadi Odenigbo but he needs a partner to rotate with and Okwara needs some time to grow into the DE spot.
- Seattle: Justin Madubuike DT Texas A&M
The Seahawks have a solid starting duo at DT with Jarran Reed and Poona Ford but they have absolutely no depth behind them. Madubuike has a lot of good traits and he could eventually be a starter. The Seahawks could also use his ability to rush the passer considering they don’t have an elite edge guy.
- Baltimore: Michael Pittman Jr. WR USC
Pittman is often one of the forgotten men in this draft at WR because it’s such a deep group. Pittman doesn’t wow you with his speed or suddenness he just gets the job done. He has great size and fantastic hands. His lack of speed shouldn’t be a problem with Marquise Brown lining up opposite him.
- Tennessee: Robert Hunt OT Louisiana
The Titans have a huge hole at RT and if they wait to address it here instead of in the first round it could get dicey. Hunt is generally seen as a guy that played OT at a smaller school who will move inside in the pros but I think he can play RT. He would fit in Tennessee’s scheme because he plays with great power and is a strong power run blocker which would fit well with the Titans run heavy offense.
- Green Bay: Damon Arnette CB Ohio St.
Green Bay loves Jaire Alexander and Kevin King has proven to be a legit outside CB. Josh Jackson has been a disappointment and the team doesn’t have much depth at safety either. Arnette would give them a guy that can play outside, allowing Alexander to slide into the slot, and he could also play safety if need be.
- Kansas City: JK Dobbins RB Ohio St.
Dobbins would be an excellent addition to an already ridiculous offense. He will probably be gone by this point but he’s a perfect fit. They have Damian Williams but they could use the depth.
- Seattle: Matt Hennessy C/G Temple
The Seahawks signed BJ Finney because Justin Britt’s future is up in the air, however, I’m not sure Finney is the answer at center. If the Seahawks finally invest a little in the offensive line Hennessy would be a great get here. He’s a technician in the middle who would be quite good at center and bump Finney to compete at guard.
The Hott Read 