With The First Pick
Fansided

2020 NFL Mock Draft: Tua Tagovailoa still a top-20 pick

By Nicholas McGee

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the second half against the LSU Tigers in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass during the second half against the LSU Tigers in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next

Tua Tagovailoa’s status as a first-round pick is in doubt following his hip injury, but he still goes in the top 20 in this 2020 mock draft.

Mock drafts have changed drastically in the wake of Tua Tagovailoa’s season-ending hip injury.

There is doubt about when Tagovailoa will be able to return following hip surgery, and that is reflected by him falling out of the first round in a plethora of mock drafts.

That is not the case in this mock, which has Tagovailoa still going in the top 20 despite the uncertainty over his long-term health.

Read on to find out where he and the other top prospects in the class land.

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – NOVEMBER 16: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers reacts during the first half of a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 16, 2019, in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – NOVEMBER 16: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers reacts during the first half of a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 16, 2019, in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

1. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

With Tagovailoa on the shelf and set for a long recovery, this is the no-brainer pick for the Bengals.

Burrow continues to add to his glowing resume every week and seems sure to earn the distinctions of winning the Heisman Trophy and then being selected first overall.

The only avenue to Burrow not becoming a Bengal would be a trade down. Cincinnati has an awful roster and a plethora of holes to fix. A godfather offer could tempt them to move out of the number one pick, but the most significant issue the Bengals have is at quarterback, and drafting Burrow is the best way to address it.

2. Washington Redskins – Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State

The Redskins will likely receive a lot of interest for this pick but should stick and take the best player in the draft. The 49ers have reaped the benefits of adding an Ohio State pass rusher to a talented defensive line in last year’s draft, and Young has the potential to have the same impact for a Washington team in desperate need of sparks wherever it can get them.

3. New York Giants – Andrew Thomas, OT, Stanford

Daniel Jones’ rookie year with the Giants has not been impressive, but he has not been helped by the continued struggles of those protecting him.

General manager Dave Gettleman has never been shy about his passion for building the trenches, so don’t expect him to hesitate when he gets the opportunity to draft arguably the top tackle in the class.

4. Miami Dolphins – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Robbed of the chance to spend a top-five pick on Tagovailoa, the Dolphins have something of a conundrum. Do they tank another season to pick Trevor Lawrence? Or do they think highly enough of another quarterback to take one at this spot?

Herbert has done enough in a superb senior season to prove he is worthy of a top-five pick and could still be in the conversation for being QB1 by the time the draft rolls around.

5. New York Jets – Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

A match made in heaven. The woeful Jets defense is in desperate need of secondary help. At this stage, Okudah is the consensus top cornerback in the class and would provide a significant upgrade to a back end short of talent aside from star safety Jamal Adams.

Home/NFL Draft News