Mock Draft 1.0: Post-NFL Week Five

How would the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft look like if it were held today?

Five weeks of the NFL season are in the books. There is now a better idea as to who are true playoff contenders and who will likely be competing for the top spot in the draft. Along with that is a better idea of what each team’s needs are and who they could possibly be looking at with their first pick in the draft. So what better time to do a mock draft than right now? The draft order is based on current records and standings with strength of schedule being the tiebreaker.

If the Bengals do in fact end up with the number one overall pick, it will likely mean the end of the Andy Dalton era in Cincinnati. Tua Tagovailoa will bring more arm talent and explosiveness to the passing game than the Bengals were ever able to muster with Dalton. His excellent accuracy is also perfectly suited for Zac Taylor’s offense.

Chase Young is the best prospect in the draft in my opinion and he has definitely played like it to start the season. His combination of size, speed, and strength have made him nearly unblockable at times. Pass rusher isn’t really a need for Washington, but they can’t afford to pass on a player like Young at this point.

The Miami Dolphins basically have two options: add talent and build around Josh Rosen or take a QB early and build around them. While I don’t necessarily agree, the scuttlebutt from Miami is that they want to take a quarterback with their first pick. They seem to be fully embracing the “Tank for Tua” campaign after trading away the likes of Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick. But with Tua off the board, they will gladly take Herbert whose size, arm strength, and athleticism may give him a higher ceiling than Tagovailoa in the long run.

So far the Jets look to have found their franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold. Outside of newly signed Le’Veon Bell, however, Darnold does not have a lot to work with on that side of the ball. Enter Jerry Jeudy, the most complete receiver in the class. He is a very good route runner with excellent hands and the speed to stretch the field vertically. The only thing he is really missing is a bigger frame.

The Dolphins got this pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade. Regardless of who is playing quarterback in Miami next year, the talent around them needs to be significantly upgraded. And that is no truer than along the offensive line. Thomas is a big, powerful run blocker who is athletic enough to mirror speed rushers in pass protection. He will solidify the left tackle position for years to come.

Of the teams currently slated to pick high in the draft, Denver is the team I feel is most likely to turn it around enough to be picking in the teens by the end of the season. That being said, if they do pick this high, John Elway and co. should have plenty of talented players to choose from. With Chris Harris being a free agent and the other cornerbacks on the roster not yet playing to Vic Fangio’s standards, I could see them looking for a new cornerback early. Okudah looks like the best of a very good position group at the moment. He is long, athletic, and has the look of a shutdown man cornerback at the next level.

The Falcons have to be one of the more disappointing teams so far this season. Especially on the defensive side of the ball where they have struggled to slow, let alone stop, opposing offenses on a regular basis. A big culprit for that has to be the lack of a consistent pass rush. Vic Beasley, in particular, hasn’t been able to replicate the career year he enjoyed a few seasons ago. Epenesa mostly wins with power and a very good first step off the ball. I think he would be the perfect complement to speed rusher Takkarist McKinley on the edge.

The Arizona Cardinals are obviously improved over last season, but they still have many holes to fill on the roster, especially on the offensive line. The line deserves as much to blame for the offense’s struggles last season as the quarterback position, and the front office didn’t do much to help that position group much in the off-season. While they do have a much more mobile quarterback in Kyler Murray, having a better offensive line in front of him can help him reach his full potential. Wirfs is arguably the most athletic offensive tackle in the draft class while also having good power in the run game. He will be able to step in immediately on either side of the offensive line.