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
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
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.
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Mock Trade from
New York Giants
Round 1 - Pick 4
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
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.
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Mock Trade from
Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1 - Pick 6
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
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.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 13
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!
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Round 1 - Pick 14
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
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.
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From
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1 - Pick 18
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.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 19
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.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 20
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Jefferson seems like a natural fit for what the Eagles offense needs. He'd stretch the field vertically, opening up more room for everybody.
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From
Buffalo Bills
Round 1 - Pick 22
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
The Seahawks will be looking for more pass rush if Jadeveon Clowney departs in free agency, and they get it here with Lewis.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
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.
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