The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl Champions and the Cincinnati Bengals are now on the clock. There are still major events that can change the course of the draft specifically the combine and free agency so by no means will the be our only NFL Mock Draft. For the sake of simplicity there will be no trades although I do expect there to be a ton of movement on draft night.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow (QB), LSU
Burrow is the obvious pick here as the hometown boy and top signal caller in this draft. He will bring some swagger to a Bengals offense and team that desperately needs it.
Washington Redskins: Chase Young (Edge), Ohio State
Washington spent a significant amount of draft capital on their defensive front in recent years, Young will terrorize tackles with his speed-to-power capabilities and elite quickness off the edge.
Detroit Lions: Jeffrey Okudah (CB), Ohio State
Okudah will give the Lions another lockdown outside corner Matt Patricia loves and a long-term answer should the Lions decide to move on from Slay this year or next.
New York Giants: Jedrick Wills (OT), Alabama
The Giants drafted their quarterback of the future last year and now secure him further protection. Wills should start at right tackle immediately and could move to the left side as Nate Solder ages.
Miami Dolphins: Justin Herbert (QB), Oregon
Last year it was reported the Dolphins did a lot of work on Herbert before he ultimately returned to Oregon. With Tua Tagovailoa’s health still far from a sure thing the Dolphins select they guy they know in Herbert.
Los Angeles Chargers: Tua Tagovailoa (QB), Alabama
The questions surrounding Tua’s health are certainly going to factor into his draft position, but the Chargers have a veteran bridge starter in Tyrod Taylor to carry the team while Tua heals and learns.
Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown (DT), Auburn
Carolina gets in Brown one of the best players in this draft to inject youth into their front seven that is potentially losing all three of their starting defensive linemen to free agency this year.
Arizona Cardinals: Mekhi Becton (OT), Louisville
With a young quarterback and a division that includes Aaron Donald and Nick Bosa, the Cardinals need to protect Kyler Murray. Becton can play either tackle spot and is an instant upgrade for Arizona.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Isaiah Simmons (LB), Clemson
Linebacker, safety, corner? For the Jags, Simmons might play a bit of all three. With his size and speed, Simmons could help fill holes left by Telvin Smith and Jalen Ramsey.
Cleveland Browns: Andrew Thomas (OT), Georgia
The Browns needs a franchise left tackle, and Thomas locked down the left side of the line for Jake Fromm over the past couple years and will set right in doing the same for Baker Mayfield.
New York Jets: Tristian Wirfs (OT), Iowa
The Jets need help in a lot of areas, but the offensive line is undoubtedly their priority. Wirfs will be a day one starter at tackle or guard and help keep Sam Darnold standing in the coming season.
Las Vegas Raiders: Henry Ruggs III (WR), Alabama
Jon Gruden wants to add more speed and rumors have the Raiders targeting players like Robbie Anderson in free agency. Ruggs gives them a younger version and better rout runner with legit speed to match.
Indianapolis Colts: CeeDee Lamb (WR), Oklahoma
CeeDee Lamb gives T.Y. Hilton a running mate and Jacoby Brissett or whoever is starting at quarterback next year and in the future for the Colts a legit number one receiver.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jacob Eason (QB), Washington
Bruce Arians will eventually want a quarterback of his own to develop into a starter, one that ideally won’t throw 30 interceptions in a season. Eason has a big arm to push the ball down the field to Mike Evans, and Co.
Denver Broncos: Jerry Jeudy (WR), Alabama
The Broncos already have one great receiving threat with Cortland Sutton. Adding Jeudy gives Drew Lock another elite weapon and on the outside and speed compliment to Sutton.
Atlanta Falcons: A.J. Epenesa (Edge), Iowa
The Falcons have tried and failed to add an elite edge rusher and take another swing here with Epenesa, who Dan Quinn could use like how he used Michael Bennett in Seattle as a power edge rusher.
Dallas Cowboys: Kristian Fulton (CB), LSU
The Cowboys paid Ezekiel Elliott last year, now they must pay Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and Byron Jones. Chances are Jones is the odd man out and Fulton, the latest DBU product will be able to step right in as his replacement.
Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones (OT), Houston
Miami got their quarterback of the future with Justin Herbert and now gets him another protector with Jones. Jones has the athleticism and movement skills to play on the left side and be Herbert’s blind side protector.
Las Vegas Raiders: Patrick Queen (LB), LSU
Just like their first pick, the Raiders choose a player to add more speed this time to their defense. Queen will step into a starting linebacker spot day one injecting some much-needed athleticism to the group.
Jacksonville Jaguars: K’Lavon Chaisson (Edge), LSU
This pick is assuming the Jags are unable to get a long-term deal done with Yannick Ngakoue. Chaisson brings speed off the edge like Ngakoue and has the best bend in this class.
Philadelphia Eagles: CJ Henderson (CB), Florida
The Eagles need a true number one corner. CJ Henderson will try to buck the trends of past Florida corners and use his superb man-to-man skills to become the lock down corner the Eagles need.
Buffalo Bills: Tee Higgins (WR), Clemson
I wrote about building a basketball team when drafting wide receivers. With Higgins, the Bills get their center, a big bodied receiver who will box out defenders and consistently play above the rim.
New England Patriots: Javon Kinlaw (DT), South Carolina
Most have the Patriots loading up on offensive skill talent for 2020, but Kinlaw is the best player available and has the interior pass rush ability to be disruptive early on with the Patriots.
New Orleans Saints: Laviska Shenault (WR), Colorado
Sean Payton has shown he is still one of the most creative play callers in the league and gets to pair Shenault and his all-purpose skills with an already elite group of offensive talent.
Minnesota Vikings: Grant Delpit (S), LSU
Anthony Harris and Andrew Sendejo are both free agents in 2020. Delpit gives the Vikings a legit presence in center field and allows Harrison Smith more flexibility to play in the box.
Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Taylor (RB), Wisconsin
The best friend to a rookie quarterback is a strong running game. Jonathan Taylor will run a 4.4 and is used to carrying the ball 25+ times a game. He’s a major upgrade to the current running back room in Miami
Seattle Seahawks: Trevon Diggs (CB), Alabama
With no offensive tackles worth drafting here Seattle takes Trevon Diggs. The Alabama corner is a bit raw but has the athletic and physical profile the Seahawks value in their secondary players.
Baltimore Ravens: Kenneth Murray (LB), Oklahoma
Murray is a true mike linebacker, who can blitz and get downhill in a hurry. The Ravens are still looking for their CJ Mosley replacement and find him here with Kenneth Murray.
Tennessee Titans: Zach Baun (LB/Edge), Wisconsin
Mike Vrabel gets his version of a Jamie Collins with Zach Baun out of Wisconsin. Baun uses speed and quickness to win on the edge and can also drop into zone coverage when asked.
Green Bay Packers: James Lynch (DL), Baylor
It needs to be said, the Packers don’t draft wide receivers in the first round. Lynch played 3-4 end in college and has the strength and explosive first step quickness to be a disruptive force on the D-Line.
San Francisco 49ers: Xavier McKinney (S), Alabama
The 49ers are in a great place with nearly every key piece of their NFC championship team returning. Xavier McKinney and his versatility helps round out the secondary to make another charge in 2020.
Kansas City Chiefs: Jeff Gladney (CB), TCU
Corner is the biggest hole on the Kansas City roster with only two corners from 2019 under contract in 2020. Gladney gives the Chiefs a day one starter and positional flexibility to play outside or in the slot.
Post Mock Hot Takes
Biggest Steal: Javon Kinlaw to the New England Patriots
Biggest Reach: Trevon Diggs to the Seattle Seahawks
Team Most Likely to Trade Up for a Quarterback: Dolphins – Justin Herbert/Tua Tagovailoa
Team Most Likely to Trade Up for a Non-Quarterback: Jets – Andrew Thomas/Tristan Wirfs/Mekhi Becton
Team Most Likely to Trade Down in the draft: Lions – Third overall pick
Team Most Likely to Trade Back into the First Round: Colts – Jordan Love/Jacob Eason
Team Most Likely to Trade Out of the First Round: Patriots – Recouping traded assets
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