With the 2020 NFL Draft less than two weeks away, it is peak smokescreen season. There is as much bad information being tossed around as there is credible information. One of the more interesting rumors claims that the Miami Dolphins are in love with LSU quarterback Joe Burrow and will make an attempt to trade with the Cincinnati Bengals for the first overall pick. Will the Dolphins, who are loaded with draft picks, be able to make an offer that Cincinnati cannot refuse? In this 7-round 2020 NFL mock draft, we take a look at this and much more right through pick 255.
2020 NFL Mock Draft | First Round
#1) Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB LSU
The Bengals like Justin Herbert and the Miami Dolphins could offer them a king’s ransom for the first overall pick. However, when all is said and done, I don’t think Cincinnati will pass on Burrow. He is coming off of one of the best collegiate seasons we have seen and is everything you could want in a franchise quarterback.
#2) Washington Redskins: Chase Young, Edge Ohio State
If Tua Tagovailoa was healthy, he would go here; however, the Redskins will draft a player that many have dubbed as the best overall prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. Chase Young will make an immediate impact and could become one of the league’s best defensive players in no time.
#3) Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB Ohio State
I’ve had Jeffrey Okudah to the Detroit Lions in every mock draft prior to the Darius Slay trade. Now, it makes even more sense. Unless a team offers them a deal they can’t refuse, the Lions will get themselves a shutdown cornerback.
#4) New York Giants: Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson
David Gettleman loves to spend high draft resources in the trenches; however, he has fallen in love with Simmons’ athleticism and playmaking ability. Related: 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons.
#5) Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama
This is a match made in heaven. The Dolphins have coveted Tua for quite some time, and they are able to snag the elite prospect without having to trade up. If healthy, Tagovailoa has a chance to be one of the NFL’s best players.
#6) Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB Oregon
A new era emerges in Los Angeles as the Chargers snag their franchise quarterback for the future. Herbert has his critics, but he is smart, athletic, and has a big-time arm.
#7) Denver Broncos (via CAR): Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama
Trade Alert! The Carolina Panthers sent pick #7 to the Denver Broncos in exchange for picks #15 and #46. The Broncos make a bold move to secure the best wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft for Drew Lock. Jeudy is NFL-ready and is a brilliant route runner with good hands and playmaking potential every snap. Related: Denver Broncos’ 7-round mock draft.
#8) Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs, OT Iowa
The Arizona Cardinals are building their team the right way. The trade they made to acquire DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans will go down as one of the biggest one-sided trades in NFL history. Now, priority number one for Arizona is protecting Kyler Murray.
#9) Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, DT Auburn
The Jaguars are clearly a team in rebuild mode, as they have traded away the likes of Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye this offseason, just a few months after trading superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Derrick Brown is a top-five prospect in this draft class and instantly improves the Jacksonville defense.
#10) Cleveland Browns: Mekhi Becton, OT Louisville
The Browns did a good job of addressing their offensive line in free agency by signing right tackle Jack Conklin to a historic deal. Now, they address the other side of the line and snag the mammoth left tackle from Louisville.
#11) New York Jets: CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma
It is very tempting to draft a left tackle for the Jets here; however, how is Sam Darnold supposed to live up to his potential when Breshad Perriman is the teams’ number-one receiver?
#12) Las Vegas Raiders: Henry Ruggs III, WR Alabama
Henry Ruggs III is the fastest football player in pads that I have ever seen. The Raiders are starved for an electrifying weapon for Derek Carr to open up their offense.
#13) Miami Dolphins (via SF): Jedrick Wills, OT Alabama
Trade Alert! The San Francisco 49ers trade pick #13 to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for picks #18 and a 2021 2nd round pick. The Dolphins need a lot of help along the offensive line, namely the offensive tackle position. Tagovailoa is happy to see his teammate from Alabama joining him in South Beach. Wills has the potential to be one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL.
#14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Thomas, OT Georgia
After acquiring Tom Brady in free agency, it is vital that the Buccaneers protect him. Andrew Thomas is a plug-and-play left tackle from day one and will keep Brady upright for the Bucs.
#15) Carolina Panthers (via DEN): Javon Kinlaw, DT South Carolina
The Panthers traded back, acquired an additional second-round pick, and still get their guy. This offseason, the Panthers have lost Dontari Poe, Vernon Butler, and Gerald McCoy, so defensive tackle emerges as one of their biggest needs. The sky is the limit for Kinlaw, as he possesses superstar qualities and a tremendous athletic profile. Related: 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Report: South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw.
#16) Atlanta Falcons: Patrick Queen, LB LSU
This may surprise some, especially considering that Florida cornerback CJ Henderson is available; however, Patrick Queen is a stud. Queen has tremendous speed, can cover, and makes plays sideline-to-sideline.
#17) Dallas Cowboys: CJ Henderson, CB Florida
After losing Byron Jones, cornerback becomes the biggest need for “America’s Team.” Henderson is super-fluid and just might be the best pure cover cornerback in the 2020 NFL Draft.
#18) San Francisco 49ers (via MIA): Justin Jefferson, WR LSU
The 49ers waited for one of the “big-three” wide receivers to fall to them, but they were all selected before San Francisco’s pick. So, John Lynch trades back a few spots, acquires 2021 Draft capital, and lands the next-best receiver. Jefferson is masterful in the slot, and the combination of him and Deebo Samuel should have 49ers’ fans excited.
#19) Las Vegas Raiders: Jordan Love, QB Utah State
Well, the Raiders like but don’t love Derek Carr. It’s clear that something has been off between Carr and Jon Gruden for quite some time. Did Mike Mayock just find the next Patrick Mahomes?
#20) Jacksonville Jaguars: Kristian Fulton, CB LSU
In the last calendar year, the Jaguars have lost Ramsey and Bouye, so it is safe to assume that they will spend a high draft pick at the cornerback position. Fulton is battle-tested and displayed unexpected speed at the NFL Scouting Combine.
#21) Philadelphia Eagles: Denzel Mims, WR Baylor
While Denzel Mims is a solid player at a position of need, this had to be a worst-case scenario for the Eagles. Regardless, the Eagles must upgrade the wide receiver position to provide Carson Wentz ample weapons.
#22) Minnesota Vikings: Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE Penn State
Everson Griffin was such a brilliant player, and replacing him will be no easy task. With that said, Yetur Gross-Matos has an incredibly high ceiling and could form quite the tandem with Danielle Hunter.
#23) New England Patriots: AJ Epenesa, EDGE Iowa
It will be interesting to see how the Patriots act after the loss of Brady. It looks like they are really going to give Jarrett Stidham a shot to be the man in 2020, so New England selects a versatile player on the defensive line.
#24) New Orleans Saints: Kenneth Murray, LB Oklahoma
The Saints are trying to win now, so drafting an impact linebacker that can make plays sideline-to-sideline could pay huge dividends.
#25) Minnesota Vikings: Austin Jackson, OT USC
While the Vikings have needs at wide receiver and cornerback, they have needed to improve the offensive tackle position for awhile. Austin Jackson is far from a finished product, but he has elite tools to work with. The Vikings paid Kirk Cousins again and must keep him upright.
#26) Los Angeles Chargers (via MIA): Josh Jones, OT Houston
Trade Alert! The Miami Dolphins trade pick #26 and #153 to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for picks #37 and #71. After getting their new franchise quarterback at the beginning of the draft, the Chargers move up to get the left tackle that will be protecting his blindside for the next decade.
#27) Seattle Seahawks: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE LSU
If it wasn’t for his injury history, there is a chance that K’Lavon Chaisson would be a top-15 selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. It’s looking more and more likely that the Seahawks and Clowney will not be working out a new deal, so the Seahawks need to take a big swing to replace him. Related: 2020 NFL Draft Scouting Report: LSU OLB K’Lavon Chaisson.
#28) Baltimore Ravens: D’Andre Swift, RB Georgia
The Ravens have their share of needs; however, they also have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL. Baltimore always operates with a “best player available” approach, and there is no doubt that the Georgia running back is the best player on the board. Swift is special and could make an elite Baltimore rushing attack unstoppable.
#29) Tennessee Titans: Jeff Gladney, CB TCU
Jeff Gladney is an alpha, who is extremely talented and isn’t afraid to let you know. The Titans could stand to give their secondary a boost and Gladney certainly accomplishes that objective.
#30) Green Bay Packers: Brandon Aiyuk, WR Arizona State
Outside of Davante Adams, the cupboard is pretty bare when it comes to weapons for Aaron Rodgers. As good as Rodgers is, he cannot do it alone.
#31) San Francisco 49ers: Xavier McKinney, S Alabama
The 49ers added to their offense earlier, and now they add the best safety in the 2020 Draft to the defense. McKinney checks all the boxes and should quickly become an enforcer in the 49ers’ secondary.
#32) Kansas City Chiefs: Cesar Ruiz, OL Michigan
Despite winning Super Bowl 54, the Kansas City Chiefs have their fair share of needs. One of those needs is interior offensive line, and Cesar Ruiz is the best one in the 2020 NFL Draft. Patrick Mahomes is the NFL’s best player, and Kansas City should spare no resource when it comes to his protection.