Stop. Before you rage-tweet at us, just know this: Trevor Lawrence isn't the first-overall selection in this week's mock draft for one simple reason: We're not doing mock-draft trades. That's it. Because rest assured, Lawrence is the best player in this class and we can't envision a situation where doesn't go No. 1, even if the Bengals end up with that pick in back-to-back years; they'll just shop that right to the highest bidder.
With that out the way, let's get to this week's mock draft, where three quarterbacks go in Round 1. In addition to Lawrence, who heads to the Jets, Justin Fields and Trey Lance make their way to AFC North teams. The two other AFC North teams grab offensive linemen while the best wide receiver in this class makes his way to Washington.
And remember, the draft order below was determined using SportsLine's reverse Super Bowl odds following Sunday's Week 1 action.
OK, let's go.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Joe Burrow was running for his life in his NFL debut but he did a lot of things well. The Bengals need to protect their franchise QB and Sewell is a plug-and-play prospect whose rare blend of strength and athleticism will make him a top-5 pick.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Coming into the season the consensus was that the Jaguars were tanking for Trevor. Someone forgot to tell them because they beat the Colts on Sunday. The Jets looked terrible and it's hard to imagine they'd pass on Lawrence if he's still on the board.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
The Dolphins looked sloppy in their loss to the Pats. And while the expectation is that they'll only get better, the pass rush needs to improve. Rousseau came out of nowhere in 2019, logging 15.5 sacks for the Hurricanes. He's new to the position, but there's a lot to work with and he'd give Miami a much-needed spark off the edge.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Freakishly athletic, Parsons has opted out of the 2020 college football season. The Jags were one of the biggest surprises of Week 1 and that young explosive defense would only improve with Parsons flying all over the field.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Surtain was arguably the best defensive back on Alabama's roster last season, one that included Trevon Diggs and Xavier McKinney. The Panthers offense is going to be fun to watch but that defense is still a few players away.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
No. 2 overall pick Chase Young had two strip sacks in his debut along with the rest of Washington's dominant D. Here they take another Chase to upgrade an offense that lacks much in the way of playmakers beyond Terry McLaurin.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
The Giants have already moved on from 2019 first-rounder DeAndre Baker and there is a desperate need to upgrade the cornerback position. Farley, who has opted out of the '20 season, has the potential to become the type of CB you can build a secondary around.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay will have their current contracts expire after the season, and while the expectation is that the team won't let Golladay get away, adding a weapon like Smith, who provides instant offense with the ball in his hands, would make life easier for Matthew Stafford.
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From
Houston Texans
Round 1 - Pick 9
Ereck Flowers has been much improved after moving inside to guard, but Tua Tagovailoa is the future (and possibly the present if Ryan Fitzpatrick keeps throwing picks) and Wyatt Davis is the best interior lineman in this class.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
The Raiders defensive line struggled to get pressure on Teddy Bridgewater on Sunday, and Johnathan Hankins and Maliek Collins' contracts expire after the 2020 season. Barmore, who was a part-time player a year ago, could be primed for a Quinnen Williams-type breakout campaign we saw two seasons ago.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Slater was dominant at left tackle last season, and he played right tackle the two seasons before that. Meanwhile, Garett Bolles could be entering the final year of his rookie deal should the Broncos choose not to pick up his fifth-year option.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
It's hard to take many positives following the Week 1 throttling by the Ravens, but it's also hard to blame Baker Mayfield for all that ails this team. That said, it also wouldn't be surprising if the Browns drafted their next franchise QB in Fields, who is coming off a breakout season for the Buckeyes, though we'd love to see him get a chance to play one more college season.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
The Falcons are an enigma and it can be incredibly frustrating at times. They have offensive weapons, but they need more consistency on defense, especially off the edge. Oweh, a freakish athlete, needs more reps, but he's flashed the type of potential that could make him a first-round pick.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Stefon Diggs is gone and while Adam Thielen remains the top target, and rookie Justin Jefferson will have a chance to contribute immediately, adding Jaylen Waddle brings another level of speed and athleticism to the field. Added bonus: he can also return kicks.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Cosmi has solidified the left side of the Longhorns' offensive line and he'd quickly find his way into L.A.'s starting lineup. Meanwhile, Sam Tevi is in the final year of his rookie deal and there's every reason to expect 2020 first-rounder Justin Herbert to be the starting QB by next September.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Last week we had the Bears taking a quarterback here. Mitch Trubisky had something to say about that with that come-from-behind performance over the Lions in Week 1. We're not ready to concede that he's finally the future in Chicago, but if he can continue to improve, bolstering his O-line would be the next logical step. Smith, who played tackle earlier in his career is a road grader on the interior.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Moore played in just four games last season because of a hamstring injury, and he's opted out for 2020, but he's one of the most dynamic playmakers in this draft class.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Yikes. That's our one-word description of how the Eagles played in Week 1. Injuries continue to plague this team and that was on full display as Carson Wentz was sacked eight times in the loss. Help comes via Wentz'a alma mater; Radunz has been overshadowed by his teammate, QB Trey Lance, but he's been dominant at left tackle for the Bison.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
We were tempted to take a QB here after Philip Rivers' Week 1 performance, but instead we get him the most athletic tight end in this class. Pitts can line up anywhere and threaten all three levels of the defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Big Ben looked pretty good in his return to the field, but he's 38 and even if he plays in 2021, Lance could use the time on the sidelines. The NDSU standout who had 28 TDs and no interceptions last year is short on experience but long on just about everything else you look for in an NFL franchise quarterback.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 21
Turns out, Gardner Minshew is good! We all saw glimpses of that last season, but Minshew continues to do it week after week. At some point we're going to have to believe what we're seeing. Freiermuth isn't the most athletic TE in this class but he does everything at a high level.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
It was something of a surprise that Wade didn't come out after the 2019 season. He played mostly in the slot throughout his career and the plan was for him to move to the outside before the Big Ten season was put on hold. He has plenty of big-game experience even if he's not the playmaker of former teammates and first-rounders Damon Arnette and Jeffrey Okudah.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Moses would have likely been in the first-round conversation had he come out after last season, but he tore his ACL in August 2019 and decided to return to Alabama, where early reports are that he's consistently been a practice standout.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Maybe the only thing Aaron Rodgers needs is to feel like people doubt he's still elite. Having some big-time receivers wouldn't hurt either, however, and Bateman was a special talent at Minnesota. He'll need to show he can consistently create separation, but he was one of the best pass catchers in college football last season.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
The Cowboys added rookies Trevon Diggs and Neville Gallimore through the draft, but the need at safety remains. Moehrig excels in coverage and can play both deep centerfield and closer to the line of scrimmage.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Paye is an athletic marvel who will only get better with more reps. Unfortunately, Michigan's season is currently on hold, which means Paye may be more of a projection than he would be in a typical year.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
The Bucs had one of the best defenses in the league a year ago, though they looked a little out of sorts in New Orleans in Week 1. We expect them to bounce back as the season progresses, and in 2021 adding an interior presence like Tufele will only enhance ability to get after the quarterback.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 28
A year after using a first-round pick on Mekhi Becton, the Jets bookend him with right tackle Jalen Mayfield, who announced in August that he was leaving Michigan to prepare for the NFL Draft.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
If Washington was 6-foot-1 he'd be slam-dunk first-rounder. But he's only 5-foot-8. That said, he plays much bigger, lines up all over the field and excels in coverage. If former teammate Jeff Gladney, who is 5-foot-10, can go in Round 1, don't be surprised if Washington does the same.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Matt Skura is in the final year of his contract and Humphrey, the anchor of a dominant offensive line at Oklahoma, has been the center for Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Janoris Jenkins is 31 and the Saints can get out of his contract after the 2020 season if they choose -- though given the way he played against Tom Brady and the Bucs in Week 1, they may want to keep him around. Even if they don't, Campbell, who is an intriguing height/weight/speed guy, would make his way up draft boards with a solid season at Georgia.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Owusu-Koramoah is listed as a linebacker, but you can find him all over the field. He can come off the edge and has the athleticism, speed and change of direction to be an asset in coverage.
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