2020 NFL Mock Draft: Chargers trade up for Justin Herbert, Cardinals go O-line after adding DeAndre Hopkins

Three quarterbacks go in the top five, while Arizona adds protection for a Kyler Murray-Hopkins connection

A lot has changed since my last mock draft, both on and off the field in the world of football. The draft itself will no longer look like the NFL Draft we've come to know in recent years as COVID-19 has changed a lot about our world recently. At this point, we can't even assume there will be a 2020 NFL season, but the mock must play on.

Another big change for this mock is that, while nothing is official, teams have started agreeing to deals with free agents and making trades. All of which give us a better idea of what they could be looking to do in the draft.

Using all that information, here's my best guess as to what the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft would look like right now.

NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Joe Burrow QB
LSU • Sr • 6'4" / 221 lbs
Projected Team
Cincinnati
PROSPECT RNK
2nd
POSITION RNK
1st
At a time like this, when almost nothing is certain, it's nice to know that we can rely on the Bengals drafting Joe Burrow.
Round 1 - Pick 2
Chase Young EDGE
Ohio State • Jr • 6'5" / 264 lbs
Projected Team
Washington
PROSPECT RNK
1st
POSITION RNK
1st
I toyed with the idea of having the Redskins make a trade or take a QB here, but I just don't see it happening. Young is the safest player in this draft from a floor perspective, and he could have the highest ceiling as well.
Round 1 - Pick 3
Isaiah Simmons LB
Clemson • Jr • 6'4" / 238 lbs
Projected Team
Detroit
PROSPECT RNK
3rd
POSITION RNK
1st
The Lions are still an absolute wild card at this spot, as anything could happen here. They will receive a lot of phone calls, but in this mock nothing entices them to risk passing up on Simmons.
  Mock Trade from New York Giants
Round 1 - Pick 4
Justin Herbert QB
Oregon • Sr • 6'6" / 236 lbs
Projected Team
L.A. Chargers
PROSPECT RNK
20th
POSITION RNK
4th
The Chargers don't want to risk missing out on their guy, so they trade up with the Giants to take the Oregon quarterback. Herbert is a Rorschach test QB. You're going to see whatever you want to see when you look at him.
Round 1 - Pick 5
Tua Tagovailoa QB
Alabama • Jr • 6'0" / 217 lbs
Projected Team
Miami
PROSPECT RNK
5th
POSITION RNK
2nd
Maybe Miami wanted Herbert and just got him stolen from them, or maybe they wanted Tua the whole time. Either way, I won't be surprised if Miami takes a QB here at No. 5 or moves up to do so.
  Mock Trade from Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1 - Pick 6
Mekhi Becton OL
Louisville • Jr • 6'7" / 364 lbs
Projected Team
N.Y. Giants
PROSPECT RNK
11th
POSITION RNK
3rd
The Giants drop a couple spots, pick up a few extra picks and take the guy they hope protects Daniel Jones for the next decade. It might not be Becton, but the Giants should take the first OT off the board.
Round 1 - Pick 7
Jeff Okudah CB
Ohio State • Jr • 6'1" / 205 lbs
Projected Team
Carolina
PROSPECT RNK
4th
POSITION RNK
1st
Considering the Panthers are entering a rebuild, it would not be a surprise to see them trade down here to pick up extra picks. The problem is, given how my mock has gone, I don't know who is trading up to this spot right now. So the Panthers take a player who could prove to be the best corner in the NFL soon enough.
Round 1 - Pick 8
Jedrick Wills Jr. OL
Alabama • Jr • 6'4" / 312 lbs
Projected Team
Arizona
PROSPECT RNK
6th
POSITION RNK
1st
Well, thanks to Houston's incredible generosity, I don't think the Cardinals will feel the need to take a WR here anymore. That allows them to draft a tackle to protect their franchise QB and allow him the time to throw to DeAndre Hopkins.
Round 1 - Pick 9
CeeDee Lamb WR
Oklahoma • Jr • 6'2" / 198 lbs
Projected Team
Jacksonville
PROSPECT RNK
8th
POSITION RNK
1st
The first "surprise" pick of my mock, as receiver isn't Jacksonville's biggest need, but it is a need. Lamb will help make Gardner Minshew, or whoever is playing QB, look a lot better next season.
Round 1 - Pick 10
Tristan Wirfs OL
Iowa • Jr • 6'5" / 320 lbs
Projected Team
Cleveland
PROSPECT RNK
9th
POSITION RNK
2nd
Picking up Jack Conklin to play right tackle is a good start, but it doesn't fix the Browns offensive line. Wirfs could turn a weakness into a strength almost immediately.
Round 1 - Pick 11
Andrew Thomas OL
Georgia • Jr • 6'5" / 315 lbs
Projected Team
N.Y. Jets
PROSPECT RNK
15th
POSITION RNK
4th
The Jets make Andrew Thomas the fourth OT to go off the board in the first 11 picks as they look for a way to protect Sam Darnold.
Round 1 - Pick 12
Jerry Jeudy WR
Alabama • Jr • 6'1" / 193 lbs
Projected Team
Las Vegas
PROSPECT RNK
12th
POSITION RNK
2nd
The Raiders traded their No. 1 WR from Alabama two seasons ago and now use their first selection to take another No. 1 WR from Alabama. It's the circle of life.
  From Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 13
Derrick Brown DL
Auburn • Sr • 6'5" / 326 lbs
Projected Team
San Francisco
PROSPECT RNK
7th
POSITION RNK
1st
While it's not yet official, the 49ers traded DeForest Buckner to the Colts for this pick on Monday. Now the Niners use the pick to pick up Buckner's replacement, and at a far lower cap hit!
Round 1 - Pick 14
Javon Kinlaw DL
South Carolina • Sr • 6'5" / 324 lbs
Projected Team
Tampa Bay
PROSPECT RNK
10th
POSITION RNK
2nd
I love Kinlaw's burst off the snap and his overall power. He's a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line, and would be an excellent start to revitalizing the Tampa defense.
Round 1 - Pick 15
Henry Ruggs III WR
Alabama • Jr • 5'11" / 188 lbs
Projected Team
Denver
PROSPECT RNK
14th
POSITION RNK
3rd
Courtland Sutton can get deep and has great size to make plays down the field, but he doesn't take the top off a defense like Ruggs can. Pairing Ruggs and Sutton with Drew Lock in the thin Denver air could lead to some gonzo touchdown passes.
Round 1 - Pick 16
K'Lavon Chaisson EDGE
LSU • Soph • 6'3" / 254 lbs
Projected Team
Atlanta
PROSPECT RNK
13th
POSITION RNK
2nd
Chaisson is far from a perfect prospect as he's not the most refined pass-rusher in the world, but he's got so much talent that his ceiling is sky high should he truly figure out the art of it.
Round 1 - Pick 17
CJ Henderson CB
Florida • Jr • 6'1" / 204 lbs
Projected Team
Dallas
PROSPECT RNK
18th
POSITION RNK
2nd
Henderson strikes me as a perfect Dallas Cowboy. He has tremendous athleticism and good ball skills. He's also willing to take risks to make the big play. Sometimes it blows up in his face, but sometimes it pays off handsomely.
  From Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1 - Pick 18
Yetur Gross-Matos EDGE
Penn State • Jr • 6'5" / 266 lbs
Projected Team
Miami
PROSPECT RNK
21st
POSITION RNK
4th
I had Gross-Matos going in the top 10 of my first mock this year, which is an indication of how high I've been on him from the start. Admittedly, that was too high, but the rest of the world seems to be coming around on my opinion of him. This would be great value for the Dolphins.
  From Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 19
Kristian Fulton CB
LSU • Sr • 6'0" / 197 lbs
Projected Team
Las Vegas
PROSPECT RNK
22nd
POSITION RNK
3rd
Fulton is not perfect, but he has the speed and athleticism that helps him overcome mistakes. Put him in the right scheme and he could be a solid NFL starter for years to come with the potential for a lot more.
  From Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 20
Kenneth Murray LB
Oklahoma • Jr • 6'3" / 241 lbs
Projected Team
Jacksonville
PROSPECT RNK
25th
POSITION RNK
2nd
I believe Murray has the ability to be a three-down linebacker in the NFL. He can sometimes overplay the ball, and it can get him in trouble, but that can be seen as a byproduct of the range that allows him to cover sideline to sideline in the first place.
Round 1 - Pick 21
Justin Jefferson WR
LSU • Jr • 6'1" / 202 lbs
Projected Team
Philadelphia
PROSPECT RNK
31st
POSITION RNK
5th
Jefferson seems like a natural fit for what the Eagles offense needs. He'd stretch the field vertically, opening up more room for everybody.
  From Buffalo Bills
Round 1 - Pick 22
Jaylon Johnson CB
Utah • Jr • 6'0" / 193 lbs
Projected Team
Minnesota
PROSPECT RNK
57th
POSITION RNK
9th
Johnson might not have the ideal size that the Vikings are hoping for, but he's not afraid to mix it up in run defense. He's physical and can jam opposing receivers, all while having the necessary athleticism to cover.
Round 1 - Pick 23
Jordan Love QB
Utah State • Jr • 6'4" / 224 lbs
Projected Team
New England
PROSPECT RNK
19th
POSITION RNK
3rd
The Patriots are going to have to find a replacement for Tom Brady at some point. Love has Mahomes-esque arm talent as well as the ability to throw from all different arm slots, but the decision-making needs to improve.
Round 1 - Pick 24
Laviska Shenault Jr. WR
Colorado • Jr • 6'1" / 227 lbs
Projected Team
New Orleans
PROSPECT RNK
33rd
POSITION RNK
6th
I've had this pick happening in so many mocks that I wonder if I'm trying to will it into existence. It's a perfect fit in my mind.
Round 1 - Pick 25
Neville Gallimore DL
Oklahoma • Sr • 6'2" / 304 lbs
Projected Team
Minnesota
PROSPECT RNK
27th
POSITION RNK
3rd
The Vikings should be on the hunt for more help on the defensive front after cutting ties with Linval Joseph. Gallimore's a disruptive player in the middle of the defensive line.
Round 1 - Pick 26
D'Andre Swift RB
Georgia • Jr • 5'8" / 212 lbs
Projected Team
Miami
PROSPECT RNK
41st
POSITION RNK
2nd
Running backs in the first round are a rarity these days, but if there's ever a team that can afford to do it, it's the team with three first-round picks.
Round 1 - Pick 27
Terrell Lewis EDGE
Alabama • Sr • 6'5" / 262 lbs
Projected Team
Seattle
PROSPECT RNK
46th
POSITION RNK
6th
The Seahawks will be looking for more pass rush if Jadeveon Clowney departs in free agency, and they get it here with Lewis.
Round 1 - Pick 28
Patrick Queen LB
LSU • Jr • 6'0" / 229 lbs
Projected Team
Baltimore
PROSPECT RNK
34th
POSITION RNK
3rd
Great sideline-to-sideline speed and range, but there's more projection than production at this point. Showed plenty of flashes at LSU, but consistency is an issue. That said, when he errs, he does so on the side of aggression. You'll take that.
Round 1 - Pick 29
A.J. Epenesa EDGE
Iowa • Jr • 6'5" / 275 lbs
Projected Team
Tennessee
PROSPECT RNK
16th
POSITION RNK
3rd
You know who A.J. Epenesa reminds me of a little bit? The coach drafting him in this mock draft. Though I'm not sure how many touchdowns he'll catch.
Round 1 - Pick 30
Jalen Reagor WR
TCU • Jr • 5'11" / 206 lbs
Projected Team
Green Bay
PROSPECT RNK
45th
POSITION RNK
9th
Reagor would give the Packers receiving core some high-end speed. He's not the most refined route runner, but I don't think that's Reagor as much as the offense he played in at TCU. He could be a big-play machine for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
Round 1 - Pick 31
Grant Delpit S
LSU • Jr • 6'3" / 213 lbs
Projected Team
San Francisco
PROSPECT RNK
23rd
POSITION RNK
2nd
Trading for the Colts' first-round pick makes me believe the 49ers are even more likely to trade this pick than they were before, but if they don't, and Delpit is still on the board, it would make a lot of sense.
Round 1 - Pick 32
Trevon Diggs CB
Alabama • Sr • 6'1" / 205 lbs
Projected Team
Kansas City
PROSPECT RNK
28th
POSITION RNK
4th
Diggs is an intriguing prospect with terrific ball skills. While he's the last corner being taken in the first round of this draft, it's not insane to imagine he could end up being the best.
CBS Sports Writer

Tom Fornelli has been a college football writer at CBS Sports since 2010. During his time at CBS, Tom has proven time and again that he hates your favorite team and thinks your rival is a paragon of football... Full Bio

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