The hiring of Matt Rhule, luring Joe Brady from the instantly legendary LSU football team, and the retirement of Luke Kuechly -- what a week for the Carolina Panthers.
And their pick in this mock addresses the latter development, although no one should expect someone to fully replace Kuechly in the middle.
The draft order is now set through No. 28 overall. Position rankings are based on our composite prospect rankings.
Is Trevor Lawrence a better pro prospect than Joe Burrow? Brady Quinn and Ryan Wilson join Will Brinson to break down the 2020 draft and more on the Pick Six Podcast. Listen below and be sure to subscribe for daily NFL goodness.
Now, to the picks.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
You earned this with your 2019 season, Bengals. Burrow is yours.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Think Ron Rivera will like the idea of drafting Young? I do too.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Don't overthink this, Lions. Okudah is everything you could want in a corner and the secondary needs work.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Dave Gettleman has to protect his 2019 first-round pick better. Thomas is the best left tackle in the class.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Tua lands in Miami and probably plays at some point in 2020 on a very young and improving team.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Herbert is too talented and too experienced to fall in this draft, and the Chargers are in a position to turn to a new chapter at quarterback.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
After the Luke Kuechly retirement, the Panthers turn their attention to the linebacker spot and pair Shaq Thompson with another freakazoid in Simmons.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Please make this happen, Cardinals. I want to see Kyler Murray throwing to Lamb again.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
The Jaguars could use some fortification on the interior of their defensive front, and Brown is the most impactful pure pocket pusher in the class.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
In this scenario, the Browns aren't able to corral a starting left tackle in free agency. Wirfs is a rock and can play on either edge.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
The Jets are perfectly happy landing Jeudy here for Sam Darnold.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Last year, Mike Mayock prioritized drafting players from winning programs, and he follows that philosophy again with Fulton.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Good luck tackling the Colts top two receivers -- T.Y. Hilton and now Ruggs -- after the catch in 2020.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
The Buccaneers may go defensive line here but instead add more youthful, high-end talent to the secondary.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
The Broncos are suddenly in need of more bodies up front who could disrupt the opposing quarterback. They get that with Kinlaw, the most versatile defensive lineman in the class.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
After a steadily improving career at Alabama, McKinney is ready to do anything you ask of him on the back end. He's a safety/cornerback hybrid with good range and the mentality of a linebacker against the run.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
The Cowboys are going to have a need on the edge next season. Chassion is a bendy, high-motor, heavy-handed star in the making.
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From
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1 - Pick 18
While he's a right tackle, the Dolphins simply need to add top talent to the roster. Wills isn't a true dancing bear but is as fundamentally sound as you're going to get on the outside and plays with overwhelming power.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 19
Shenault would be the ideal complement to Tyrell Williams in Jon Gruden's West Coast offense.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 20
Diggs has similarly imposing length and physicality to that of Jalen Ramsey.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Right before the Bills could draft him, the Eagles go Higgins to inject some life into the receiver group for Carson Wentz.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Epenesa comes in and starts on the edge if Shaq Lawson isn't retained in free agency. He's a three-down player with NFL size, power, and an ascending arsenal of pass-rush moves.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
The Patriots surprise by going Bryant over the consensus top tight end, Cole Kmet. Bryant is smaller and more dynamic after the catch.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
The stars are aligning for the Saints to pick Reagor, an ultra-talented receiver without gaudy statistics in 2019 because of bad quarterback play.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
The Vikings get Kirk Cousins a left tackle of the future in Becton, who plays like he's much smaller than he really is. And he towers over defensive linemen.
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From
Houston Texans
Round 1 - Pick 26
Taylor has legit track speed at 220 pounds, and instantly becomes the bell cow in South Beach.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Hall is off the radar a bit after an early-season injury ended his senior year at Virginia. But at well over 6-0 and 200 pounds with major length and zone savvy, he'd be a perfect fit in Seattle.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
If Matthew Judon isn't retained in free agency, Baltimore will have a glaring need on the edge. Enter Lewis, an explosive, angular outside linebacker with good counter moves.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Weaver has been productive since his freshman season at Boise State and would give Mike Vrabel some coverage versatility from the linebacker spot.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Murray is the immediate replacement for impending free agent Blake Martinez.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
The Chiefs skill-position stars are getting a little older, so Kansas City reloads with Jefferson, one of the best big slot receivers in the class.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
San Francisco adds another lengthy perimeter corner to the roster to learn from Richard Sherman.
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