2020 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins, Panthers trade up in 3-round projection
QB. Miami Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa. 3. player. 59.
TRADE: Dolphins send No. 5, 26 and 2021 second-round pick to Lions for No. 3
The big question about Tua Tagovailoa following his hip fracture near the end of the college football regular season has been his health. However, with a successful three-month CT scan on Monday that has him well on track to be good to go at the NFL Combine and then get back to full health, he’s once again an elite prospect that could cause a bidding war once Burrow is off of the board.
Armed with three first-round picks, the Miami Dolphins win that bidding war and stand as the best landing spot for Tagovailoa. The Alabama quarterback will have ample time to recover and learn behind veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick as the Dolphins fill out the rest of their roster. The result is Miami getting their franchise guy to unleash whenever they’re ready to take the next step in the rebuilding process.
Isaiah Simmons. 4. player. 31. . LB. New York Giants
In a vacuum, you could make the argument that teams will look at the New York Giants as a potential trade partner in the top five if another franchise wants to move into the top five. That, however, is not how general manager Dave Gettleman does business. He stands pat and takes his guy. And with the needs on the Giants defense moving forward, that’s what they do here as they take a highly unique and enticing talent, Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons.
Calling Simmons just a linebacker, of course, doesn’t do him justice. Versatility is the name of his game as he has the size, physicality and speed to line up as a MIKE linebacker but also has the ability to drop back as a safety in coverage, rush off the edge and do just about anything you could ask of him. He’s an elite prospect that would give Big Blue a boost the defense desperately needs.