2020 NFL Draft: Mock Draft Monday
By Seth Steere
The 2020 NFL Draft is shaping up to be a star-studded class and has to potential to produce some top-tier talent.
A lot has changed since my last mock draft: the LA Rams acquired Jalen Ramsey, the Tennessee Titans have moved on from Marcus Mariota, and the Washington Redskins fired their head coach, Jay Gruden.
Looking back at the mock, each move had an effect on the team’s selection. For example, I mocked Paulson Adebo to the Rams, but with the recent acquisition of Ramsey, they won’t even have a first-round pick.
Let’s take a look at how these moves affected the draft (using thedraftnetwork.com‘s mock draft simulator for the order).
1) Cincinnati Bengals (0-7): Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Joe Burrow has hit the ground running this year for LSU and has shown no signs of slowing down. Against Mississippi State, he struggled to get into a rhythm early, but eventually found his groove, finishing the game with 327 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Just how good has Burrow been this, year you ask?
Well, through 7 games this year he already has thrown for 9 more touchdowns than last season and is roughly 500 yards away from surpassing last years total. Burrow has been on fire and if he continues pace teams will have him listed as QB1.
2) Miami Dolphins (0-6): Tua Tagovaiola, QB, Alabama
Despite not capturing the number one pick the Dolphins still came away with Tua, their first option. Miami can thank Joe Burrow because, without his contributions, Tua is likely in black and orange.
With a new franchise quarterback in place (sorry Josh Rosen), the Dolphins can look to turn the corner in their rebuild, however, landing a quarterback is just part of the battle. If Miami wants to rebuild correctly, they’ll need to nail their other first-round picks.
3) Washington Redskins (1-6): Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Yes, I know Chase Young is the better player and you should always draft the better player, but with an investment in pass-rusher last year (Montez Sweat) and Ryan Kerrigan on the opposite side, you can do without Young.
The Redskins desperately need weapons on the outside. Terry McLaurin has been great early, but teams will eventually begin to key on him and his production will likely drop. If you can get Jeudy in there with McLaurin, the Redskins could have an extremely formidable duo for years to come.
4) Atlanta Falcons (1-6): Chase Young, Edge, Ohio State
“And with the fourth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select,” the best player in the draft. Ask anybody around and they’ll tell you Chase Young is the best player available at the second (arguably) most important position on the field.
This pick is a no-brainer — that’s my analysis.
5) New York Jets (1-4): Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
The Jets play New England tonight, and will likely lose that match-up, but on the bright side, you don’t move up in the draft order.
Sam Darnold having to sit out games for the Jets due to mono may just be a blessing in disguise for New York. Of course, you’d like to win games, but if we’re being honest you’re probably not making the playoffs and now you just paired Darnold with a franchise left tackle.
Sounds good to me!
6) New York Giants (2-5): AJ Epenesa, Edge, Iowa
Epenesa has yet to put together the production this year that you’d like to see; through 7 games he only has 3 TFLs and 3 sacks on the year. Last season he finished with 16.5 TFLs and 10.5 sacks and wasn’t even a full-time starter.
Even though he hasn’t had the production of some of the other top guys, he has the looks. Standing at 6-foot-6, 280 pounds, Epenesa is likely to blow up the combine, making him a sure-fire top ten pick.
7) Los Angeles Chargers (2-5): Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
If you would’ve told me before the season that the Chargers were drafting in the top ten, I probably would’ve laughed in your face, but here we are. A poor offensive line and some costly injuries have caused LA to struggle out the gate.
Philip Rivers is nearing the end of his career and has never been a mobile quarterback; getting him protection is a necessity. If Wirfs didn’t play on the right side he may have been the first tackle selected, but nonetheless should help keep Rivers protected.
8) Denver Broncos (2-5): Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
At this point, the Broncos could draft any position and it would help them out. Things haven’t gone according to plan under head coach Vic Fangio thus far, and they don’t appear to be getting better anytime soon.
Drafting Okudah will help this team a ton. Vic Fangio can trust that Okudah will lock down his man on the outside, allowing Fangio to be more creative with how he brings pressure, an area the Broncos have struggled with this season.
9) Cleveland Browns (2-4): Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Grant Delpit had a rough 5 game stretch at the start of the season. He wasn’t producing at the same rate he was last season and he was missing too many tackles. However, in the last two games, things have been different.
Delpit has returned to form, flying around from sideline-to-sideline making plays, both in the air and on the ground. They lost out on Jabrill Peppers in the OBJ trade but will get an upgrade by selecting Delpit.
10) Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh Steelers [2-5]): CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
It does no good to draft a quarterback if you have a team full of receivers who can’t catch. In order to fix that, the Dolphins select Lamb, arguably the best receiver in the class.
Lamb is an absolute treat to watch, whether he’s catching a toe-drag on the sideline or breaking 3 tackles, he will constantly and consistently make plays. Lamb will be huge for Miami, likely making an impact both offensively and in the return game.