We're finally here. One week until the 2020 NFL Draft. These are weird times in our country and it's been reflected in terms of the buzz surrounding this year's draft. But we're starting to see the rumor mill pick up some serious steam, with noise popping out about teams who want to trade up and teams who want to trade down.
Behind it all is the consistent hum of the hilariously transparent smokescreen the Dolphins are running in order to convince everyone they don't really like Tua.
We'll know the truth come next Thursday, but for now let's indulge some of the rumors we've heard over the last week or so.
Make sure and check out our latest Pick Six Podcast Mock Draft Monday, which features Ryan Wilson and R.J. White talking about the latest NFL buzz with Will Brinson.
Alright, let's get to it.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
This is just a formality at this point, barring an idiotic trade decision by another team.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Tua would be fun but the Redskins are more likely to do the safe thing, barring a trade down.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Trading will be tough on draft day this year, so the Lions might be forced to simply hang out and take the best option at No. 3. In this case it's a replacement for Darius Slay.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Dave Gettleman needs a plug-and-play guy who can help him win games and protect Daniel Jones right now.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
This smokescreen stuff is garbage. The Dolphins want to take Tua, not Herbert.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Adding Simmons to that defense would give them a ridiculously stout group of talent to try and slow down Patrick Mahomes and Co.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Feels like the Panthers are probably going to go defense and just let either Brown or Simmons fall to them. They need to get better against the run and Brown helps that.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
GM Steve Keim mentioned taking a wide receiver here despite trading for DeAndre Hopkins, and I'm not sure it's THAT crazy. Larry Fitzgerald is going to be gone and Kyler Murray needs as many weapons as he can. So let's get nuts!
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Feels like the Jaguars are going to try and double dip on defense in this draft in order to try and be decent on a side of the ball where they've lost a lost of talent over the past year.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
The Browns need a left tackle after getting Jack Conklin in free agency and land a big boy here.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
No problem with a WR or an OL here for New York, but I'll lean OL knowing they can get WR help early in the second round.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Lamb is a perfect fit with the Raiders because of his catch and run ability and how he can fit in Jon Gruden's offense.
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Mock Trade from
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 13
Let's just fill out all the rumors! Thomas Dimitroff made it clear he wants to move up, and rumor has it he wants to come up for CJ Henderson, who wouldn't have lasted much longer. There you go, TD. The 49ers would love Henderson but would vastly prefer to move down and acquire more picks.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Tampa would love this scenario where they land a top-tier offensive lineman without trading up in the draft.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Ruggs is a perfect final (potential) puzzle piece in this Broncos offense with his deep speed serving as a nice complement to Courtland Sutton.
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Mock Trade from
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 16
The All-Rumor Mock Draft! The Patriots move up from 23 to 16 to grab the Oregon quarterback, who took a surprising tumble down the draft board. I don't think we're going to see Bill Belichick give up a future first to move up, not with the questions about this team, but he can get seven spots up for cheaper than that. 49ers keep adding picks.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Plug n' play replacement for Travis Frederick, whose departure isn't being treated with the proper amount of concern.
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From
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1 - Pick 18
Getting a quarterback early means you better build around that quarterback after it -- that's what this pick is after the Dolphins used free agency to address defense.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 19
The perfect landing spot? Love has all the upside in the world but probably needs a year sitting and learning a system, particularly one like Jon Gruden's. With Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota in the fold but on cheaper deals (depending on playing time and roster status), Love can sit and wait here.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 20
Hard to imagine the Jaguars not using at least one of these picks on a cornerback to replace Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Justin Jefferson to the Eagles might break the record for most times one player has been mocked to the same team in a single offseason.
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From
Buffalo Bills
Round 1 - Pick 22
This pick could be used to replace Stefon Diggs, but I think the Vikings will double dip on defense with their picks in this first round to replace guys like Linval Joseph, who departed in free agency.
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Mock Trade from
New England Patriots
Round 1 - Pick 23
The 49ers get to move down a couple of different spots and land a player at a position of need. Don't be surprised if they aren't done trading.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
This is where the linebackers could start to fly off the board and it makes a ton of sense for the Saints to grab a guy with sideline-to-sideline speed like Murray.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Mike Zimmer can never have enough corners from the early rounds on his roster.
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From
Houston Texans
Round 1 - Pick 26
Double dipping on the offensive line is a logical thing to do if you want to protect your young signal caller, especially if he's had injuries in the past.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
The Seahawks always have the weirdest picks, but this one is pretty easy. Pure rusher right now, Chaisson can get better against the run but he can assist Seattle in its biggest need (pass rush) out of the gate.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Combo of need and value here for the Ravens as they get a linebacker in the fold to help secure a defense that is suddenly looking quite stout again.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Versatile defensive lineman who could pair nicely with what the Titans already have on that side of the ball.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Feels too easy to give the Packers another weapon for Aaron Rodgers, but it makes a lot of sense. And Aiyuk gives them a great catch and run guy who can pair nicely with Davante Adams downfield threat.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
He has the tools to be that alpha X receiver that Kyle Shanahan really loves to have and he pairs nicely with Deebo Samuel.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Easy trade down spot for the Chiefs but if they stay here, grabbing another defensive back would make a lot of sense.
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