The 2020 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and it's already loaded with drama. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is forcing the league to stage a fully virtual draft that features all 32 general managers sending in their picks from home, making discussion surrounding the selections that much more complex. The unprecedented format will also impact how trades are executed, and whether some are simply waved off altogether, but there are some teams who simply can't afford to do the latter. All eyes will be on the NFL to see how they handle such a massive virtual undertaking, but also on which draft prospects will land where.
There's bound to be a curveball -- or several -- as the usual smoke-and-mirrors game is already well underway this offseason by virtue of draft rumors designed to either throw opposing teams off a scent, or to create anxiety that would lead to some being willing to give up assets in a trade. It's the annual offseason Super Bowl, and although it's wearing gloves and a cloth mask, don't expect it to disappoint.
Here is my one and only mock draft of the year.
It's science.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Burrow is the Bengals guy, and don't let anyone tell you different.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
The Redskins aren't giving up on Dwayne Haskins, and defensive-minded Ron Rivera knows he can't pass up on Young.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
With as many needs as the Lions have, ignoring arguably the most versatile athlete in the draft simply isn't an option.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Daniel Jones needs to stay upright, so upgrading the OL is a no-brainer for the Giants, and Thomas does that in spades.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
They're not fully sold on Rosen, and Fitzpatrick isn't a long-term solution, clearing the path for Tagovailoa to eventually be the man in South Florida.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Philip Rivers is gone and Tyrod Taylor is serviceable, but the Chargers need a new face of the franchise and Herbert -- a Pac-12 star -- is quite familiar with playing football in California.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy joined Vernon Butler in leaving Carolina, making Brown a necessity at rebuilding an interior defensive line ransacked by free agency.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
With their No. 1 wideout situation resolved thanks to DeAndre Hopkins, adding protection on a porous line will land them a high-five from Kyler Murray.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
There's no way to fix all that ails the Jaguars with one pick, but Okudah will be easily viewed as the successor to Jalen Ramsey.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
The Browns have a ton of offensive talent, but also have an offensive line that needs Wills to keep Baker Mayfield upright and out of trouble.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Robby Anderson took his talents to the Panthers, and Jeudy is just what the doctor ordered for a still-progressing Sam Darnold.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Yes, the Raiders need a top cornerback, but they haven't had a true No. 1 receiver since trading away Amari Cooper. Because of that, Gruden and Mayock should order the Lamb.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 13
At this point there's a run on the top WR prospects, and Ruggs is a speed demon who complements Deebo Samuel and George Kittle nicely after waving goodbye to Emmanuel Sanders in free agency. This is the pick they gained by trading away DeForest Buckner, so they had better make it count, and calling Ruggs is doing just that.
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Mock Trade from
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1 - Pick 14
The Cowboys have done well in free agency, but are still in dire need at CB1 with Byron Jones gone. With this move, they jump the Falcons and the Broncos -- both in dire need of a starting corner -- and the Bucs get an extra pick for sliding down three seats. Now having two fourth-round picks and tradable compensatories, the Cowboys can later figure out a way to jump back into the third round. Total compensation: Bucs are awarded the 17th, 82nd, and 179th picks in exchange for sending Dallas the 14th and 117th selections.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Despite the top three WRs being gone and the Cowboys having jumped them to steal Henderson, landing Kinlaw is not simply a consolation prize. Throwing him in the mix with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb creates a devastating pass rush.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
After moving on from Vic Beasley and seeing Henderson leave the board, the Falcons add a versatile -- and possibly underrated -- edge rusher threat to their defense.
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Mock Trade from
Dallas Cowboys
Round 1 - Pick 17
Tom Brady is no spring chicken, so protecting him is job numero uno for Tampa. They'll find Becton gets that job done fairly handily. And considering he would've been their pick at No. 14, they landed their guy and an extra pick from the Cowboys, because chess.
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From
Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1 - Pick 18
Using the pick acquired in the loss of Minkah Fitzpatrick to land his replacement is fortuitous, and what Delpit could do behind Byron Jones and Xavien Howard might be outlawed in some states.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 19
Ah, there's the Raiders starting cornerback. Johnson is a ready-made CB1 who is aggressive, physical and doesn't shy away from No. 1 receivers -- ever. Gruden will love him.
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Mock Trade from
Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1 - Pick 20
Bill Belichick has a wealth of draft picks but a grievous need at WR. With the wideout-needy Eagles and Vikings ahead of them, they strike a deal to leapfrog both and grab Jefferson -- a player who had more than 1,500 receiving yards and 18 TDs in LSU's championship 2019 season. As far as QBs go, well, call Cam Newton. Total compensation: Jaguars get the 23rd, 125th and 241st picks in exchange for the 20th overall selection.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
An aging DeSean Jackson presents continued durability concerns, and the issues with Alshon Jeffery aside, the Eagles need a receiver who can be the future turbo at the position. Mims could give them what they were hoping for when they re-signed Jackson.
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From
Buffalo Bills
Round 1 - Pick 22
Let's assume the Vikings are willing to make amends to the Diggs family after trading away Stefon, because they understand they need to replace Xavier Rhodes and can't let personal feelings get in the way of winning football games. Stranger things have happened, and what's a draft without a little drama, anyway?
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Mock Trade from
New England Patriots
Round 1 - Pick 23
A trade is looming with Yannick Ngakoue and Calais Campbell is already gone, leaving the Jaguars to replace their top two pass rushers going forward. Gross-Matos fills at least one of those voids in Jacksonville, as a high-ceiling QB bully who is an absolute handful at the EDGE.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Simply put, this is an absolute home run for the Saints, who are able to grab Murray without having to trade up for him. They should pop champagne and offer each other a virtual toast if this comes to fruition.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
With Stefon Diggs gone, adding Reagor injects an explosive complement to the offense opposite Adam Thielen, which is precisely what Diggs was for the Vikings.
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From
Houston Texans
Round 1 - Pick 26
This is quite a first-round haul for the Dolphins -- having landed their future franchise QB, a versatile safety who's a Day 1 starter, and now a needed upgrade at offensive tackle from a school that's become a farm for OL big boys.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Regardless of what happens with Jadeveon Clowney, the Seahawks need more from their pass rush. Say hello to Epenesa, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten talent who has 36 TFLs and 22 sacks in his last two football seasons with Iowa. Not even T.J. Watt put up those kinds of numbers in college.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Queen is no stranger to the bright lights, having been key in helping lift LSU to a national championship in 2019. For a Ravens team that needs more juice at linebacker, and on a defense that got mauled in the playoffs by Derrick Henry, grabbing Queen would go a long way in making sure the "King" doesn't have a repeat performance in 2020.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
A position change helped Baun find his true calling as a linebacker, and his 12.5 sacks put him on the Titans' radar. Still available as Day 1 comes to a close, Tennessee will eventually discover this is one of the biggest steals of the first round.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Davante Adams is the alpha, but there is no quality No. 2 in Green Bay at the wide receiver position. Shenault is just that, an uber-physical talent that can either go long or take a short grab to the house, and leave one or two smaller defensive backs flattened in the process. It'd be one hell of a one-two punch for Aaron Rodgers.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Gladney has the speed to carry nearly any NFL receiver down the field and the ball skills to get extra possessions for this offense. That's music to the 49ers' ears after failing to stop the fourth-quarter surge in the Super Bowl that cost them the title. Richard Sherman had a stellar 2019 season, but he's not getting any younger -- or any faster.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
The Chiefs successfully retained 20 of 22 free agents and can approach the draft with little worry, which gives great flexibility in what they can do at No. 32. They'll ask Damien Williams to shoulder more of the load at RB -- considering he's earned it -- but losing Emmanuel Ogbah in free agency means replacing his 5.5 sacks from 2019. They'll find Weaver is more than up to the task, and is fantastic value at the end of Round 1.
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