We are less than a week away from the start of NFL free agency. It won’t be long until we find out where free agents such as Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, Byron Jones, Amari Cooper, and Jadeveon Clowney will play for the 2020 season. We will see whether players such as Matt Judon, Bud Dupree, Hunter Henry, and others are slapped with the franchise tag, or will they be allowed to enter the free agent market. Free agency marks the beginning of the 2020 NFL season, and it is also the last event before the 2020 NFL Draft. The 2020 NFL Draft rumor mill is heating up, and one thing is for certain, there will be trades.
When it comes to the 2020 NFL Draft, the only things we know are that it is very likely that the Cincinnati Bengals spend the first overall pick on LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. From there, it is also very likely that the Washington Redskins select Ohio State’s pass-rushing phenom Chase Young with the second overall pick. The 2020 NFL Draft really starts when the Detroit Lions are on the clock with the third overall pick, as this is when a plethora of trades will start. Let’s take a look at five 2020 NFL Draft trade rumors that make a great deal of sense.
The Miami Dolphins trade up for a quarterback
Whether it’s Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, or Jordan Love, it seems the Miami Dolphins have been linked to just about every quarterback that is available in the 2020 NFL Draft. If you read any mock draft, it seems like a foregone conclusion that you will see the Dolphins trade up with the Detroit Lions and select a quarterback. Not only is the Dolphins trading up a highly likely scenario, but I’d also be completely shocked if it did NOT happen.
The primary goal of the 2019 season for Dolphins’ owner Stephen Ross and the front office was to put the team in position to select their quarterback of the future. Entering the 2019 season, the Dolphins were connected to the “Tank for Tua” sweepstakes, but the team greatly overachieved by winning five games, which concluded with the organization holding the fifth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Due to outperforming the expectations, Miami might have to pay a steep price to ensure they get the quarterback they covet. The Detroit Lions are not the Dolphins’ only option for a trade partner, as the Washington Redskins could have some interest if the price is right. While it is a long shot, the Cincinnati Bengals could also be an option if the Dolphins’ love for Joe Burrow is real.
Prediction: When the dust settles, I see the Dolphins trading picks 5 and 26 in round one of the 2020 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions for the third pick. If Tagovailoa’s medicals check out, he will be the pick. If not, you can expect the name Justin Herbert to be called.
The Philadelphia Eagles mortgage the future to move up for a game-breaking wide receiver
The 2020 wide receiver group is destined to be one of the best positional groups in NFL history. The cream of the crop when it comes to the wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft are players such as Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma), and Henry Ruggs III (Alabama). All three of these players are likely to be top-15 selections, which unfortunately puts the receiver-needy Philadelphia Eagles on the outside looking in.
There is no doubt that the Eagles are desperate to add a world-class receiving target to the fold for quarterback Carson Wentz. Rumors are floating around that the organization is headed for a divorce with Alshon Jeffrey. If that’s the case, the cupboard becomes quite bare. The Eagles have two options in order to fill this void. First, they can play it safe and stand pat with the 21st selection to select a player such as Justin Jefferson (LSU) or Tee Higgins (Clemson), or they can be bold and go up to land one of the premium players at the position.
Prediction: When I look into my crystal ball, the scenario I see playing out is the Philadelphia Eagles packaging their 21st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and their first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft to move up and select Ruggs. Two teams that would be perfect trade partners for Philadelphia would be the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Cleveland Browns make a bold move to shore up their offensive line
According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs is the offensive tackle that the Cleveland Browns covet most. It is no secret that a bad offensive line was the Achilles heel for the Browns during the 2019 season. For the team to become a legitimate contender, priority number one has to be solidifying the offensive line. Their starting left tackle in 2019, Greg Robinson, recently made headlines for being arrested with 157 pounds of marijuana, so it is safe to say he will not be back in 2020. Not only replacing him but upgrading him has to be the focus of the Browns’ front office.
There are four premier offensive tackles in the 2020 NFL Draft. The above mentioned Wirfs, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Alabama’s Jedrick Wills, and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton are those players, and the whole group could be selected in the top-10 picks of the draft. If the Browns want Wirfs, they should be bold and make a move to go get him.
Prediction: When the Carolina Panthers are on the clock with the seventh pick of the draft, their phone will ring, and on the other line will be the Cleveland Browns. The Browns will package picks 10 and 74 to send to the Panthers for pick 7. With that pick, the Browns will get their man in Wirfs.
The Las Vegas Raiders fill their biggest need and land the most versatile player in the 2020 draft
You won’t find a team that has more of a need at linebacker than the Las Vegas Raiders. Following Monday’s release of Tahir Whitehead, the only starting-caliber linebackers on the Raiders’ roster are Vontaze Burfict and Nicholas Murrow. If we’re being honest, the team needs at least two new starters to be added into the fold.
The best linebacker in the 2020 NFL Draft just so happens to be the most athletic and versatile player as well. His name is Isaiah Simmons, and he is coming off the heels of blowing the roof off of the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Raiders have two selections in round one and three selections in round three, so they certainly have the ammunition to make a bold move to land Simmons.
Prediction: The Arizona Cardinals are the perfect trade partner for the Raiders. Arizona covets offensive line help or a receiver for Kyler Murray, and they should be able to land one of those with pick #12. The Raiders send picks 12, 81, and 118 to Arizona for pick 8, and with that pick, they snag the dynamic Simmons.
Surprise! A fifth quarterback is selected in round one
It is no secret that the benefit of selecting a player in round one of the NFL Draft is getting that additional fifth year of control over that player. In 2018, we saw the Baltimore Ravens make a bold move to move back up into round one to select quarterback Lamar Jackson with the 32nd pick. The Chiefs are a prime trade partner for a quarterback-needy team looking to jump back into the end of round one to select their quarterback of the future. The quarterbacks who could be available to warrant such a move are Jacob Eason (Washington) and Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma).
Prediction: The Pittsburgh Steelers will make a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for the last pick on day one of the 2020 NFL Draft and select quarterback Jalen Hurts. Pittsburgh will package pick 49 and their second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for pick 32. The Steelers are desperate to start grooming their heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger, and this bold move allows them to do just that.