The first wave of free agency shook up some draft needs and it changes how things look in this 2020 NFL Mock Draft with projected trades
The football world was on fire as soon as the legal tampering period opened up. Between Monday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 18 there were several deals agreed upon and the moves continued to come even after that. And as always, these free-agent signings will shake things up as the NFL Draft approaches.
Some of the biggest changes as we dive into our latest 2020 NFL Mock Draft come courtesy of the moves at quarterback around the league. Philip Rivers signed with the Indianapolis Colts, Tom Brady landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (which still sounds weird), and Teddy Bridgewater is in Carolina.
All three of those teams were expected to draft signal-callers, but that’s no longer a guarantee. As for the Colts, it’s pretty much a certainty even as they also traded their first-round pick to acquire DeForest Buckner from the San Francisco 49ers.
Another team that made a splash and traded their day one pick was the Buffalo Bills, who were expected to land a receiver. They still did so as they ended up with Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings, but that wasn’t exactly expected.
With all that dust settling, we look ahead to the 2020 NFL Draft, but we want the trades to keep happening. With that being said, we now predict how the first three rounds of the draft will play out while also predicting a couple of deals that could happen.
All trades were worked out on The Draft Network’s mock draft machine. TDN Premium membership required to complete trades.
The Miami Dolphins were rumored to be interested in moving up to the No. 1 overall spot in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. If any team could entice the Cincinnati Bengals to drop down, it would be the Dolphins, who have three picks in the first round. However, that’s still not enough to get them to budge.
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Cincinnati is ready to turn the page at quarterback and head coach Zac Taylor needs to find his own guy to get the job done. It just so happens that they can look for that here with Joe Burrow, who was the best quarterback in the nation last season, and it wasn’t even close.
Burrow has all the tools needed to be successful. He’s calm and cool in the pocket but he can also race outside of it when things break down and make plays. He can throw it on the run as well as anyone and his confidence is through the roof.
The question will be whether or not the brass in Cincy can build a winning team around him. They’ve struggled with roster-building in the past but they have shown early on this offseason that they’re finally willing to pay some people. Perhaps that’s a good sign for Burrow as he will be in charge of turning the franchise around.
Trade alert: Miami trades the No. 5 and No. 26 picks in Round 1 as well as No. 70 in Round 3 for the No. 2 overall pick from the Washington Redskins
The first trade of the draft was accepted as the Miami Dolphins moved up to the No. 2 spot. In exchange for this pick, they gave the Washington Redskins the fifth pick, the 26th pick, and the 70th overall pick. The reason for doing so, was so no one else could leapfrog them at No. 5 and land their quarterback — Tua Tagovailoa.
Miami was accused of “Tanking for Tua” last year and it was easy to see why that was the belief. They traded, or released, just about every good player and fielded a less-than-stellar roster. Still, the players weren’t in on the tanking and thus the fact that they not only didn’t get the first pick but slid to No. 5.
As for their love for Tua, they haven’t made it a huge secret. They even tried to get him in for a visit before the COVID-19 pandemic halted travel and made the team unable to sit down with the Alabama product.
Even without that meeting, this is their guy and while they gave up a lot to get him, they have to feel good about finally having a starting-caliber quarterback.
The Detroit Lions might not have as huge of a need at cornerback after signing Desmond Trufant but a talent like Jeffrey Okudah is going to be hard for them to pass up. In recent seasons, Ohio State has been able to produce a ton of talented defensive backs and it’s hard not to think Okudah could end up being the best one of the bunch.
And for head coach Matt Patricia, he would be more than happy to shut down half the field with Okudah, who is on his way to becoming an elite player very fast according to Jonah Tuls of The Draft Network.
"Explosive boundary corner with elite mirror and match quickness in Man, projecting as a high-upside difference maker in both press and off alignments. Took his playmaking ability to another level in 2019 & could become an elite NFL CB very quickly."
In addition to his great work on the field, Okudah showed he has great confidence in himself. He was asked about his sloppy technique by a reporter at the Combine and was quick to offer a rebuttal. He wasn’t rude, but he corrected him to say he was not sloppy at all and asked him to watch the tape again. There’s no doubt that this kid is going to be a star in the league for a long time.
Dave Gettleman has taken a lot of heat as the general manager of the New York Giants. He’s already considered an old-school GM and that was reinforced when he used the No. 2 overall pick on a running back in 2018.
In his defense, the pick was Saquon Barkley who is no ordinary running back. But those who hated the move said they would still struggle on offense even with him, and here they are picking fourth overall which proves that thought process was correct.
He took even more heat for trading Odell Beckham, Jr. to the Cleveland Browns and then drafting Daniel Jones at No. 6. As for the OBJ trade, Beckham wasn’t the same player last season and the Giants ended up with a starting safety in Jabrill Peppers and took Dexter Lawrence at No. 17 — who is another starter.
Jones also started to prove he was worthy of the pick as he came on strong as a rookie. He still has a lot to work on but was good enough for the G-Men to move on from Eli Manning in order to start him going forward. With Jones set as the quarterback, Gettleman now just needs to make sure he’s comfortable in their offense. The best way to ensure that is to fix their issues at offensive tackle.
They do exactly that by taking Tristan Wirfs, the Iowa product who wowed everyone at the Combine. His addition can help the Giants move on from one of their previous additions that have yet to pan out. They most likely will move on from Nate Solder but could also shift him to guard to fill another hole. Wirfs addition simply gives them some much-needed options.
(via Dolphins)
The Washington Redskins have been linked to Chase Young for the majority of the offseason. This is due to them owning the second overall pick but not needing a quarterback since they believe in 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins. In this mock, they went a different route and risked losing the best edge rusher in the class by making the deal with Miami.
The good news is that even with trading down, they still are able to land the dominant edge-rusher as Young slips to the fifth spot. It’s similar to when the Indianapolis Colts moved from No. 3 to No. 6 in the 2018 NFL Draft as the New York Jets made a jump for Sam Darnold. Indianapolis reportedly still wanted Quenton Nelson from Notre Dame at No. 3 and landed him as well as a stockpile of picks.
Young will be the second pass-rusher that Washington drafts in as many seasons. Last year, they traded back into the first-round to get Montez Sweat from Mississippi State. Sweat looked to be the real deal as a rookie and now adding Young makes Washington one of the better defensive fronts on paper.
Philip Rivers was taken by the New York Giants in the 2004 NFL Draft and promptly traded to the San Diego Chargers. After backing up Drew Brees for a couple of seasons, Rivers took the reins full-time in 2006. Since then, he’s been the face of the franchise as he displayed great leadership and toughness — none more so than when he played in the AFC Championship Game on a torn ACL.
Even with that serious injury, he never missed a start for the Chargers and led them to two winning seasons in their first two years of their second-stint as the Los Angeles Chargers. That all has come to an end as Rivers is now with the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles appears ready to trot out Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback.
Of course with Taylor, it’s pretty apparent he’s a stop-gap. The former Virginia Tech quarterback has now had stints with the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Cleveland Browns before coming to L.A. and he hasn’t been able to hold down any starting job long-term. That doesn’t mean he can’t play for a year while they work in a rookie, which is what they plan to do here with the selection of Justin Herbert.
The Oregon product was highly sought after last year but elected to return for his senior campaign. His stock remained similar to 2019, but Joe Burrow and Tua end up surpassing him. That becomes a win for the Bolts as they land a guy who can lead them for the next 10-15 years.
Entering this offseason, the Carolina Panthers were one of the teams expected to be looking to move up for a quarterback. They were coming off a season in which Cam Newton missed 14 games due to injury and neither Kyle Allen or Will Grier looked to be the answer. Although with Allen, he did have a hot start and could be a solid No. 2 for them.
Carolina no longer needs to make a move though as they landed Teddy Bridgewater in free agency. The former first-round pick had a gruesome knee injury which cost him his job with the Minnesota Vikings and nearly cost him his career as well. Bridgewater then went to the New Orleans Saints to rebound his career and he now joins their in-division rival.
With that question answered for first-year Matt Rhule and his Panthers, they can look for the best player available which happens to be Isaiah Simmons. For Carolina, this is huge as Simmons is not only the top talent on the board but he also fills a great need for them.
Recently, Luke Kuechly decided to call it a career. Kuechly is well known as the Panthers’ best linebacker, possibly ever, and it will be hard to replace him. Simmons is the right type of player to give it a try though.
He’s got the range of a safety and coverage skills as one also, but can make plays on the run like a linebacker. Some call him a tweener but that’s not a bad thing as it has nothing to do with him being poor at any position but rather due to confusion since he’s capable of playing more than one spot exceptionally well.
Trade alert: Denver trades the No 15 pick in Round 1 and No. 46 in Round 2 for the No. 8 overall pick from the Arizona Cardinals
Originally, this looked like a good spot for the Arizona Cardinals to draft Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. That changed when Bill O’Brien made the most curious move in the past 10-plus seasons. After inexplicably comparing DeAndre Hopkins to Aaron Hernandez, O’Brien somehow then got mad at Hopkins and traded him away.
In exchange for a player some consider the best at his position, the Texans landed a second-round pick and an overpriced running back in David Johnson. There was also a fourth exchanged by each team — the Cards fourth in 2021 and the Texans this year.
No one has come out in support of this move by B.O.B., but everyone knows the Cardinals got much better. And it also allows them to drop down here, adding the Denver Broncos 46th pick as they slide just seven spots.
For Denver, it allows them to wind up with CeeDee Lamb, who will be a great addition to play on the opposite side of Courtland Sutton. It’s a steep price to give up their second-rounder but they had two last season and were able to land their new quarterback Drew Lock with one of those.
Now, they give Lock a more potent arsenal and suddenly this team looks ready to compete in the AFC West.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been accused of tanking already as they traded away Calais Campbell for a day three pick after already moving on from A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey (who was traded last season). They also have sent Nick Foles to Chicago and are going to start Gardner Minshew, the former sixth-round pick that took the NFL world by storm a season ago.
While it’s understandable to question those moves, the Jags seem more like a team trying to get out of a couple of high-dollar contracts and with Ramsey, he was more of a distraction than anything. He made far too many highlights with his words to justify the massive contract he wanted.
In the end, this could lead to them getting the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, which would land them Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but they would also be in much better shape to try and build around him.
With all that being said, they continue to fill their roster with young talent as they take Auburn defensive tackle, Derrick Brown, here. Brown was expected to go into the draft last season and he decided to return to school, but unlike many of the other big-name players to do so, Brown was able to increase his stock in a huge way.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 326-pounds, Brown is a rare combination of power, size, and athleticism. He will be a problem for interior offensive linemen and will surely wreck some gameplans. The Jags have fielded a good defense in the past that carried Blake Bortles to an AFC Championship and now they hope to rebuild a dominant unit.
Trade alert: Seattle trades the No 27 pick in Round 1, No. 59 in Round 2 and No. 133 in Round 4 for the No. 10 overall pick from the Cleveland Browns
No team has positioned themselves better than the Cleveland Browns as the draft approaches. For a team with so many holes entering the offseason, they’ve managed to fill just about all of them which frees them up to do just about anything they want in this draft. They can trade up to get an elite playmaker, trade down to add more talent, or stay put and take the best player available.
In this mock, they end up trading down, although they wouldn’t have if Isaiah Simmons fell this far, and adding more draft capital. The Seattle Seahawks are the team that makes the leap as they go from No. 27 to No. 10 to finally land an elite offensive tackle in the draft.
Mekhi Becton turned a lot of heads at the Scouting Combine as he proved a 6-7, 364-pound man could still be athletic. In Seattle, he would likely start out as a right tackle, but could eventually replace Duane Brown, their 34-year-old left tackle. It’s a long-overdue move for Seattle but their roster is close to contending for a Super Bowl and keeping Russell Wilson upright should be their primary concern as they keep trying to get another title.
There are several areas where the New York Jets could go with this pick, with offensive tackle and wide receiver being the top two areas. In this mock, they go with the tackle since wideout is so strong in the 2020 class. And with Jedrick Wills on the board still, they land an absolute stud.
For whatever reason, some have soured on Wills, who was the top tackle prospect not too long ago. The main topic of discussion seems to be whether or not he stays at tackle, or kicks inside to guard. That shouldn’t be an issue at all though as he played right tackle just fine for Alabama and held his own against some elite talent in the SEC. And according to Kyle Crabbs The Draft Network, he’s still the best offensive lineman overall.
"U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E. He’s an elite pass protector with the best blend of step cadence, framing, redirection skill, patience and anchor ability. Quick sets, vertical sets, 45 degree sets — you name it, he can execute at a high level. He’s patient with his hands, too — has effective stab and snatch techniques."
This pick will do more good for Sam Darnold than anything else the Jets can do. Getting him such a dominant pass protector will allow him more time in the pocket as he makes his reads — which will, in turn, help him progress even quicker.
It seemed for a brief moment that the Las Vegas Raiders were going to make a play for quarterback Tom Brady. It just felt right as he’s going to turn 43 this season and head coach Jon Gruden absolutely loves older players. Throughout his career as a head coach, he has done great work with guys who are finishing up on the back nine, but they weren’t able to bring Brady in. And they might not have really been trying that hard — but it would have been fun.
That doesn’t mean they didn’t get at least one old dude, because they did sign Jason Witten, the 38-year old tight end that has been in the NFL since 2003, other than that one season where he was on Monday Night Football, which was awful. And oddly enough, he was taken over for Gruden at that job and now he will play for him, which has to be a first.
While Witten is one of the best to ever play the game, he’s not exactly a burner. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t speed on this offense as Tyrell Williams can fly at wideout and Darren Waller is one of the quicker tight ends in the game.
And now, they get even faster with Henry Ruggs out of Alabama. Ruggs was a deep threat for the Tide and then wowed everyone by running a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash. His speed is something teams will crave, which even allows him to leapfrog his teammate, Jerry Jeudy, who was the top target during their time together in Alabama.
(via Colts)
Speaking of Jerry Jeudy, he’s the next player off the board as the San Francisco 49ers use the No. 13 overall pick to add him to their roster. This pick was added recently as the 49ers decided to send DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts as he was ready to cash in on a second contract.
Buckner is one of the better defensive linemen in the NFL but the Niners felt as though they could part with him and still be fine. They did retain Arik Armstead and have Dee Ford as well as Nick Bosa, so it’s hard to argue they won’t be just fine. Making this move look even better is the addition of Jeudy, who plays a position of great need for them.
San Francisco just lost Emmanuel Sanders in free agency, a player they added in-season in a trade with the Denver Broncos. The veteran was traded for as they were looking for someone to lead their youthful receiving corps which is led by Deebo Samuel, the South Carolina product who flashed immense potential as a rookie.
As good as Samuel is, having another wideout such as Jeudy will take a lot of pressure off him — just like when Sanders was there. As for Jeudy himself, this is one of the cleanest route runners in the class, with a similar style to Calvin Ridley, Amari Cooper, and other Alabama lead wideouts. It won’t take long for him to earn the trust of Jimmy Garappolo and the passing game should take a huge step forward for them.
The biggest news of this entire offseason was what was going on with Tom Brady. A 20-year NFL veteran, Brady had spent his entire career with the New England Patriots. In that time, he won six Super Bowls which is the most by any quarterback, ever. It’s also the most by a single-franchise as he took the Patriots to places they never dreamed of going.
Then, he finally decided to leave. The writing was on the wall all offseason as he was selling his house in Massachusetts and started looking for somewhere else to live. From there, it was all about where he would fit. Several teams were mentioned as suitors then at the 11th hour, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers emerged. And then before long, TB was heading to TB as Brady will join forces with Bruce Arians to try and put the Bucs franchise back on the map.
Brady will have a lot to work with as well with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, O.J. Howard, and Cameron Brate on the roster. However, they could stand to improve their offensive line, which is exactly what they do at this spot by selecting Georgia’s Andrew Thomas.
Thomas is arguably the best pure left tackle in the class and had a ton of starting experience for the Bulldogs. He has been skipped over as of late by other prospects but this is still a kid who will be a plug-and-play starter, and Brady and the Bucs will be more than happy with his ability to keep edge rushers at bay.
(via Broncos)
With the Arizona Cardinals adding DeAndre Hopkins in their trade with the Houston Texans, their offense suddenly looks to be one of the most explosive in the NFL. 2019 No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray looked comfortable in head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and Christian Kirk took a step forward as a pro.
They also still have Larry Fitzgerald, who is productive despite being well past his prime. And he’s also mature enough that deferring to Hopkins won’t bother him at all. With so many options on offense, the Cardinals can start working on the defensive side of the ball, which is what they do here as they take K’Lavon Chaisson at No. 15.
The LSU edge rusher looks like he was molded to play the position. He has incredibly long arms which help him in hand fights with opposing linemen and is excellent off the snap. WIth him on one side and Chandler Jones on the other, Arizona suddenly looks as though they can be just as explosive on defense as they are on offense.
We need to wait to see if Kingsbury can put it all together, but so far things are looking up for the former Texas Tech head coach.
When the Atlanta Falcons made their run to the Super Bowl following the 2016 season, much of the credit was given to quarterback Matt Ryan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. This was understandable as Shanahan did so well calling plays that he was hired as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Ryan also deserved a lot of credit as he was the NFL MVP that season.
While both those men were huge contributors, the Falcons defense also deserved a lot of credit for that year. And on that side of the ball, Vic Beasley was their best player. The young edge rusher had a breakout campaign, reeling off a league-high 15.5 sacks while forcing six fumbles.
Since then, the team has fallen off the map some. Ryan hasn’t had the same killer instinct and the defense has become average. Part of that also falls on Beasley as he has 18 sacks in the three seasons since and is now with the Tennessee Titans. That means Atlanta needs to find a new defensive end that can give opponents heartburn. And with that being the goal, they use the No. 16 overall pick on A.J. Epenesa from Iowa.
Beasley’s issue in Atlanta was his frame (6-3 and 245 pounds isn’t ideal for an edge in a 4-3) but that won’t be the case with Epenesa who is an imposing 6-5 and 275 pounds. He doesn’t have that explosion off the snap and isn’t a fast player by any means but he’s got power to spare and already boasts a strong collection of pass-rushing moves.
So far in the 2020 offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have done a pretty good job filling out their roster. While they lost cornerback Byron Jones, edge rusher Robert Quinn, and slot receiver Randall Cobb, they did pick up some players that fill massive needs which allows them to draft for the best player available.
Dallas signed safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, cornerback Maurice Canady and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. Canady gives them someone capable of helping at cornerback whereas McCoy and Clinton-Dix play two spots that have been linked to the Cowboys at No. 17. Neither stops them from adding a safety or defensive tackle, but they won’t have to reach.
With that being the case, Dallas decides against Xavier McKinney, Grant Delpit, or Javon Kinlaw and instead grabs C.J. Henderson, the cornerback out of Florida. Henderson is not only the top guy for them on the board but he also fills a much greater need for Dallas.
Much like Byron Jones, who just left in free agency, Henderson has elite size for the outside at 6-foot-1 and 204-pounds. He’s also lightning fast, evidenced by his 4.39 time in the 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine. He also had 20 reps in the bench press showing he has great strength as well. He won’t be as polished as Jones but they will be good enough in the secondary to stay competitive.
(via Steelers)
Last season, the Miami Dolphins went crazy in their fire sale and so far, they have to be happy with the results. In this mock, they were able to turn their top-five pick and the first-rounder they got into Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. And now they’re back on the clock thanks to another trade they made during their garage sale.
Miami shipped defensive back Mikah Fitzpatrick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which was a highly criticized move. Fitzpatrick, another Alabama product, was a Swiss Army Knife in the secondary. He could play centerfield, close to the line, in the slot, and was good in run support. This is why he was so highly coveted by other teams, but also means they have a hole to fill.
After finding (and then trading) such a good player, the Dolphins go right back to where they found him. With the pick acquired for Fitzpatrick, they add another Alabama safety, Xavier McKinney. He may not be the exact caliber as Fitzpatrick but he can do all the same things, and he enters this class as the most complete safety.
McKinney really broke out in 2018, recording 74 tackles, three sacks and two picks. He was even better in 2019, despite playing two fewer games. That season he registered 95 tackles, another three sacks, and a career-high three picks. They surely hated giving up their second pick in this round but the two Alabama kids they add make them a much better team.
(via Bears)
After adding a speedster at wide receiver with Henry Ruggs III at No. 12, the Las Vegas Raiders are back on the clock at No. 19. This selection comes courtesy of the Chicago Bears as part of their big trade that sent Khalil Mack to the Windy City. Vegas (which was still Oakland at the time) gave up their second-round pick in this draft as well, but they’re happy with another top-20 pick.
Their selection here is TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney, a redshirt senior excels in man coverage and could be even better in 2020 than he was during his final year with the Horned Frogs. That’s because Gladney played his entire final season in college on a torn meniscus. He then went to the Scouting Combine to test and had surgery afterward.
Some might look at that and his previously torn ACL and consider him an injury risk but it’s also a testament to his toughness. Gladney bounced back from the first knee injury and then played through the pain on the latest one.
For Oakland, he would be a welcome addition, especially after head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock decided to trade Gareon Conley away. The former first-round pick didn’t last with the new regime, so they get their own guy here to pair with Trayvon Mullen. And hopefully, he can also limit the snaps given to Eli Apple.
(via Rams)
As previously mentioned, the Jacksonville Jaguars sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams last season and they ended up with the 20th pick in this draft in exchange. The move helps the Jags as they can continue to rebuild their team but it’s confusing what the Rams are doing.
This team was the talk of the NFL a couple of seasons ago and even made it to the Super Bowl. Then, they just started trading away all their picks, believing that their best chance to win a Super Bowl was with high-priced veterans who have already developed elsewhere.
So far, that hasn’t worked and they took quite a step backward this past season. They’re also not going to be picking early anytime soon, so they really need those veterans to rise to the occasion.
Back to the Jaguars, they use this pick to replace Ramsey as they select Kristian Fulton out of LSU. Another Tigers defender who showed a ton of talent but has yet to reach his potential, Fulton is capable of holding his own against any wide receiver.
He’s going to have a lot on his plate as the Jaguars need him to replace one of the better corners in the game and he will be compared to Ramsey often — fair or not.
The Philadelphia Eagles were an up and down team last season but still managed to win the NFC East. That says a lot about them as they showed incredible resiliency. At one point, they seemed dead in the water as they were behind the Dallas Cowboys by a couple of games and then started losing players.
By the end of the season, they even toyed with the idea that they might have to put 40-year-old backup quarterback Josh McCown into the game as a wide receiver. It never came to that but the fact that it was discussed during a game shows how bad things were getting.
Then in the playoffs, they lost starting quarterback Carson Wentz to a concussion and McCown was unable to lead them to a win — although he deserved a medal for how hard he fought for his team. ANd McCown might have had a better shot at winning in his first-ever playoff appearance had the Eagles been able to give him more weapons at receiver.
With that being the case, they decide to fix the problem now as they add Justin Jefferson from LSU. He was unstoppable down the stretch for the Tigers and did a lot to help them win the National Championship. Now he looks to become Wentz’ No. 1 target, which he will likely be from the moment he arrives.
(via Bills)
Losing Stefon Diggs will be tough. Even though there was a lot of bad blood between him and the team last season, there were some great moments for him in Minnesota. The best was without a doubt, the “Minneapolis Miracle,” which was when Diggs took a pass from Case Keenum 61 yards for a walk-off win over the New Orleans Saints in the 2017 NFC Championship Game.
The 13-win Vikings fell short of the Super Bowl that season, but Diggs’ huge play gave them a shot. And now just a couple of seasons later, he will be the No. 1 target for Josh Allen with the Buffalo Bills. And with the pick they got from the Bills for Diggs, the Vikings do their best to replace him by selecting Colorado’s Laviska Shenault, Jr.
Shenault was a jack-of-all-trades for the Buffaloes and oddly enough had been mocked to the Bills often before they landed Diggs. Now, he replaces Diggs in Minnesota, but still lands at No. 22 in this mock draft. While at Colorado, Shenault lined up as a receiver, running back, H-back, and wildcat quarterback.
There was nothing he couldn’t do and should be a great addition to pair alongside Adam Thielen. He isn’t the same caliber as Diggs, but they could do a lot worse when trying to add a new receiver.
The New England Patriots are going to look a lot different in 2020 with Tom Brady leaving. It will be interesting to see how head coach Bill Belichick goes about replacing Brady, but don’t expect him to use a first-round pick on a quarterback. That just doesn’t seem to be the way he will go. Instead, look for him to add the best player on the board which is easily Javon Kinlaw at this point.
Kinlaw, the South Carolina product, is one of the better interior pass rushers in this class and he even believes he can be better than Aaron Donald, which is what he said according to Luke Easterling of USA Today’s Draft Wire.
"At Tuesday’s Senior Bowl Media Day in Mobile, I asked Kinlaw if he believed he can become the kind of player Donald has been for the Los Angeles Rams. His response was emphatic: “I think I can be better.”"
The Patriots are famous for their offensive stars with Brady leading the way. They’ve also had guys such as Julian Edelman, Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski during their historic run. Even so, they’re a team that thrives on having a championship defense. And Belichick makes sure they stay on top with this move.
Just a few days ago, it seemed as though there was only one position the New Orleans Saints should consider in this draft — wide receiver. While they have Michael Thomas, who is one of the best in the gams, they needed to. put a No. 2 option out there alongside him. That’s changed though as they came to terms with free-agent Emmanuel Sanders on a two-year, $16 million deal.
Sanders is a great fit with them and even though he’s 33-years old, he’s coming off a season where he finished with 869 yards and five touchdowns om 66 receptions.
More impressively, he did so with two different teams, and wide receiver is usually not a position where a player can make a huge impact when he’s traded in-season. That wasn’t the case with Sanders, who had 502 yards and three scores for the 49ers, who were able to open their offense up immensely with his addition.
With him now lined up opposite Thomas, the Saints can add to another position of need, linebacker. Last season, New Orleans didn’t get great results from any linebacker not named Demario Davis, which is why they pick up LSU’s Patrick Queen here. Queen is undersized at 6-foot-0 and 229-pounds but he has three-down ability due to his skill in the passing game.
Queen also has elite instincts and more than enough speed (4.5 in the 40-yard dash) to get from one sideline to the other in a hurry.
It’s not easy to recognize the Minnesota Vikings defensive line anymore. Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph are both gone after spending last season with the Vikings and they also lost Sheldon Richardson in the 2019 offseason — although he did only spend one season with the team. That means only Danielle Hunter remains from one of the most daunting lines in the NFL.
Head coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive-minded guy and can bring the best out in his players, but he still needs to have talent to work with. They should be good at defensive end with Hunter and Ifeadi Odenigbo, who made huge strides in his second season in the NFL last year. But the interior is a different story.
For that reason, Minnesota picks up Oklahoma’s Neville Gallimore here with their second pick in the first round. Gallimore is a big man at 6-foot-2 and 304-pounds, but he’s also very quick despite that size. He ran a 4.79 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine, which is impressive for such a large body. He’s also a relentless player who never eases up, which is something Zimmer will love.
Gallimore is still raw though, which is where having a defense-first coach can help. If Minnesota can get him to reach his potential, they might boast one of the better defensive lines once again in no time at all.
(via Dolphins through Texans)
For the second time in the first round of this 2020 NFL Mock Draft, the Washington Redskins are on the clock. Originally, this pick belonged to the Houston Texans but they traded it to Miami for offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. It has to sting a little not to have a third choice but the reward was worth it as they got their quarterback.
For Washington, they’re more than happy to have this selection and it’s the second year in a row that they have two picks in the opening round. It’s also the second year that they end up with the No. 26 pick, which is where they traded to in 2019 for Montez Sweat.
This time, they add to the offensive side of the ball as they select Denzel Mims out of Baylor. No player has raised their stock more than Mims has since the end of the season. He went to the Senior Bowl and stood out as the best receiver. From there, he went to the Scouting Combine and continued to shine.
There are some worries that he could be another Baylor player that doesn’t translate but forgetting the school history would be wise when evaluating Mims.
(via Seahawks)
It was tempting to try and move up for the Cleveland Browns to add another splashy player but the fact is, they already have plenty of those. This is a roster that has Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, Jr., Jarvis Landry, Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb, Olivier Vernon, and Myles Garrett. That’s already an insane amount of star power and they then added Austin Hooper in free agency as well as Karl Joseph.
With all that being said, they have the makings of a really tough team to beat. They just need to add some of the guys to do the dirty work as role players. Every good team has always had plenty of those and that’s where Cleveland came up short last season and could still look to improve in 2020.
That’s why they took this deal to drop down as adding another top-60 pick, as well as a mid-rounder, was too good to pass up. And with their pick in the opening round, they land the exact type of player they need in Ezra Cleveland.
Other than having a perfect name for them, Cleveland is a lunch pail type of lineman. He’s not flashy and he doesn’t make a lot of noise. He just simply shows up to work and does his job. He’s also a guy who can start as a rookie and will be part of a line that looks much better with him on one edge and Jack Conklin — another big free-agent addition — on the other. They just have to hope now that Kevin Stefanski is the right coach to get it done.
Last season, the Baltimore Ravens looked like the team to beat. They started out 2-2, but then went on a sensational run after their embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. From that point on, they reeled off 12-straight wins, heading into the playoffs with a bye week.
They were the No. 1 overall seed and had the MVP of the league in Lamar Jackson. Everything was going great but then they lost to the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round. It was a disheartening loss for the No. 1 offense in the NFL but this team is young and on the right track. They also should be applauded for completely remaking themselves as they went from a defensive powerhouse to an offensive threat in the blink of an eye.
While that’s impressive on its own, they stayed strong on defense as well, giving up less than 18 points per game according to NFL.com. And that was even after losing Za’Darius Smith and C.J. Mosley in free agency. Now, they look to be even better on that side by adding a new edge rusher in Boise State’s Curtis Weaver.
Weaver was an immediate impact player, recording 11 sacks as a freshman and finishing with 34 in his three-year career. He’s also experienced in the stand-up pass-rushing position Baltimore will utilize, which just makes this match seem even more perfect.
The Tennessee Titans nearly shocked everyone in 2019 as they went from an afterthought as the No. 6 seed to a potential AFC Champion. The Titans first knocked off the defending Super Bowl champs, the New England Patriots, by a score of 20-13. They did so behind a 182-yard rushing performance out of Derrick Henry.
They then went on to beat the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens, holding the top offense in the NFL to just 12 points. And this time, Henry had an impressive 195 yards rushing. Tennessee then headed into Kansas City and while they had an early lead, they were unable to hold off the high-flying Chiefs.
After the season ended, they franchise tagged Henry and gave Ryan Tannehill a huge contract — that no one saw coming. With those two under contract, they feel as though their offense will be just fine and now they look to add more talent to the defense with the selection of Ross Blacklock.
The 6-4, 305-pound Blacklock would join a defensive front that already has Jeffery Simmons with Harold Landry and Vic Beasley as the pass-rushing outside linebackers. That’s a potentially dominant group that can keep them competitive in the AFC South, especially with one of their biggest rivals — the Houston Texans — trading off their good players because the coach loves power.
Last year, the Green Bay Packers made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game, which was impressive for rookie coach Matt LaFleur. They were able to win 13 games on the year but ended up falling 37-20 to the San Francisco 49ers as they were trying to get to the Super Bowl for the second time in Aaron Rodgers‘ career.
Despite the success they had, the Packers were constantly called one of the least-talented 13-win teams ever. That was due to the fact that their offense would, at times, go stagnant. While they did have Rodgers, one of the better quarterbacks in the game, and Davante Adams, one of the best receivers, they had little else in the passing game.
Their group of young wideouts didn’t rise to. the occasion and while Aaron Jones took a massive step forward as a running back, they need more weapons to take the next step. For that reason, they add Clemson receiver Tee Higgins. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Higgins had 25 touchdowns over the past two seasons while also pulling in more than 2,000-yards during that span.
His addition would be a huge benefit to everyone on the offense, especially Adams, who could use a good second receiver to take some of the pressure off of him.
The San Francisco 49ers had a great season in 2019 and nearly capped it off with a Super Bowl win. Now, they start to re-tool as they look for another run. With the 31st overall pick in this draft, they land Grant Delpit who will help an already strong defense stay on top.
Delpit is a versatile safety who didn’t have as good of a 2019 campaign as he did the prior season, but he’s still got a tremendous ceiling, especially when it comes to being able to punish the ball carrier, as pointed out by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
"“Aggressive, urgent striker with good upside who posted a disappointing follow-up to an exciting 2018 campaign. His evaluation requires a full load of 2018 tape, where his coverage potential was better illustrated. He transitions with instinctive eyes and plays physically against tight ends. Willingness to rush in and hit has never been a problem in the alley or in his fits, but tackle inconsistencies have plagued him throughout his career due to angles and technique that could be challenging to fix. LSU sources say NFL teams won’t be getting the alpha leadership Jamal Adams provided for the Tigers, but Delpit should find a starting role early in his career as a versatile safety with big nickel potential"
The 49ers secondary is one of the best in the game and now with Jimmie Ward and Grant Delpit at safety, they could remain one of the premier pass defenses for years to come.
The first round of this 2020 NFL Mock Draft comes to a close with the Kansas City Chiefs making the final selection. The defending NFL Champions made a huge commitment to defense last season after missing the Super Bowl the year prior due to a defensive meltdown against New England.
In free agency, they added safety Tyrann Mathieu and also made a couple of trades for edge rushers in Emmanuel Ogbah and Frank Clark. From there, they continued to work, even landing Terrell Suggs late in the season once he was released by the Arizona Cardinals.
No one was going to mistake them for a defensive powerhouse, but they didn’t need to be. All they needed was to be able to make situational stops and keep the game within reach. And we saw throughout the playoffs that pretty much anything was within reach for Patrick Mahomes and this offense.
In this mock, they continue to add to their defense, realizing their offense will be just as powerful as it stands, by selecting Noah Igbinoghene out of Auburn. A former wide receiver, Igbinoghene doesn’t have the ideal size for the position but what he lacks there, he makes up for with his aggressive style of play — and great ball skills. He fits perfectly into the defensive style of the Chiefs and will help them keep scores close enough for Mahomes, and co.
33. Cincinnati Bengals: Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama
The Cincinnati Bengals are back on the clock to start the second round and this time, they add an edge rusher in Terrell Lewis from Alabama. They’re remaking this entire roster and adding another stud from a top-ranked program is never a bad idea.
34. Indianapolis Colts (via Redskins): Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
The Indianapolis Colts signed Philip Rivers and he should help them improve this season. The problem is, he’s closing in on the end of his career. And the fact that he was signed shows Jacoby Brissett isn’t the guy either. With that being said, they land Utah State’s Jordan Love, an intriguing prospect that just slides out of the first round.
35. Detroit Lions: Zack Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin
Matt Patricia continues to add defensive help by selecting Zack Baun out of Wisconsin. Like the two players ahead of him in this draft, Baun has first-round talent but just misses the cut. For the Lions, he should be able to start opposite Trey Flowers pretty quickly.
36. New York Giants: Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
The New York Giants beefed up their offensive line with Tristan Wirfs in the first, and now they add more talent to their front-seven on defense with Yetur Gross-Matos out of Penn State. He’s a talented pass rusher but needs to be vetted after being named in a gruesome hazing incident — although it’s worth noting he was not one of the defendants in the suit brought forward on the events.
37. Los Angeles Chargers: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
The younger brother of Stefon Diggs, Trevon lands with the Los Angeles Chargers in this draft. He’s a former wide receiver who has great ball skills but will need some seasoning at cornerback. He did get a lot of work against elite talent in the SEC, which should help him along.
38. Carolina Panthers: Cesar Ruiz, IOL, Michigan
The Carolina Panthers snatch up the best center in this class as they grab Cesar Ruiz from Michigan. There’s not a lot about his game to poke holes in and he will be a stabilizing force for a long time in the NFL.
39. Miami Dolphins: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
The Miami Dolphins get another big difference-maker with their first pick in the second round as they select J.K. Dobbins out of Ohio State. He was amazing in 2019, running for 2,003 yards on the ground with 21 touchdowns. His addition will take a lot of pressure off Tua as he takes over under center.
40. Houston Texans (via Cardinals): Josh Jones, OT, Houston
The Houston Texans finally got one solid offensive tackle in Laremy Tunsil, and now they get one more with Josh Jones. And they’re going to need it because they got this selection by trading DeAndre Hopkins. That means they will need to give Deshaun Watson more time to find his receivers since no one will be getting open as quickly as he could.
41. Dallas Cowboys (via Browns): K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
Trade alert: Dallas trades the No 51 pick in Round 2 and the No. 123 pick in Round 4 for the No. 41 overall pick from the Cleveland Browns
After adding C.J. Henderson earlier, the Cowboys suddenly looked a lot better in the secondary. However, they still need help at wide receiver after losing Randall Cobb. They decided against signing Emmanuel Sanders, who got $8 million a year in New Orleans which was smart considering the depth in this class.
With that depth running out, they make a move here as they jump up 10 picks to secure K.J. Hamler. The Penn State deep threat will be a great compliment to Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup and is well worth the mid-round pick to move up.
42. Jacksonville Jaguars: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
The Jaguars continue to rebuild their defense. Antoine Winfield, Jr. is the son of a former NFL player and has all the tools necessary to be a long time starter himself.
43. Chicago Bears (via Raiders): Ashtyn Davis, S, California
Entering the offseason, Ashtyn Davis was a big name in this class. That’s died off some as others have increased their stock. That’s good news for the Bears who didn’t have a first-round pick but still get a starter who can replace Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
44. New England Patriots (via Colts): Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
Trade alert: New England trades the 87th and 98th pick in Round 3 and the 195th pick in Round 4 for the 44th overall pick from the Indianapolis Colts
The Patriots will be without Tom Brady for the first time in 20 years, which is weird. And right now, they don’t really have an answer. Jarret Stidham could be the guy but they might also want to have some competition. With that being the case, they trade three picks to move up for Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts.
Hurts fits what Bill Belichick likes in a quarterback. He’s smart, safe with the ball (80-to-20 career touchdown-to-interception ratio) and is a natural leader. Not a bad player to try and groom.
45. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Raekwon Davis, IDL, Alabama
Last season, Raekwon Davis was one of the bigger names ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft. Then he decided to go back to Alabama for his senior season. That ended up lowering his stock as other players at the position emerged. Tampa Bay is fine with that as they land a talented D-tackle with the 45ht pick.
46. Arizona Cardinals (via Broncos): Austin Jackson, OT, USC
The Cardinals get their second pick from the Broncos for their move in the first round. This makes up for the second they traded to Houston in the DeAndre Hopkins deal, which makes it look like even more of a steal. With the pick, they grab USC’s Austin Jackson, who looks poised to be a long-term option for them at left tackle, even if it takes him some time to develop at the pro level.
47. Baltimore Ravens (via Falcons): Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
His Scouting Combine testing wasn’t ideal but Damon Arnette is still a great prospect and the Baltimore Ravens get themselves a starter here. Arnette plays with an edge and should be a quick contributor.
48. New York Jets: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
There were questions about his hands but Jalen Reagor has done nothing but show up in workouts this offseason. The Jets need help at receiver and he’s a great value at this point.
49. Pittsburgh Steelers: Lloyd Cushenberry III, IOL, LSU
The Steelers are getting older on the offensive line so they decide to start bringing in some youth to compete. Lloyd Cushenberry was a good center for LSU and could end up playing there for Pittsburgh but he can fill in at guard until that day comes.
50. Chicago Bears: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
The Chicago Bear made a splash landing Nick Foles but this is still a defensive-minded team. They continue to add talent to that side of the ball with Jaylon Johnson, who can take advantage of the fact that he will rarely have to cover anyone for long with Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn rushing the passer.
51. Cleveland Browns (via Cowboys): Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Cleveland dropped 10 picks in their deal with Dallas and it doesn’t hurt them at all. They still not only land a player who would have been good at No. 41, but he’s also going to fill a major need. The Browns let Joe Schobert leave in free agency and released Christian Kirksey. They will now turn to Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki but Kenneth Murray could be better than both.
52. Los Angeles Rams: Jonah Jackson, IOL, Ohio State
It feels weird when the Los Angeles Rams are actually on the clock. This team is constantly trading their picks for veteran players but the one area they seem to be fine drafting is the offensive line. They stick with that strategy here by taking Jonah Jackson from Ohio State.
53. Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois
Jeremy Chinn is an impressive small-school player who has increased his stock dramatically since the season ended. His workouts have proven he’s a great athlete and while he will need time to adjust to the speed and competition of the NFL game, he should have no problem being a long time player in this league.
54. Buffalo Bills: D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
Devin Singletary did a good job as a rookie but he struggled with health. He also had a few games where he looked less than impressive. Buffalo adds a player who can be a dynamic back here in D’Andre Swift and while it might not be a huge need, the value here is too much to pass up.
55. Atlanta Falcons (via Patriots): Matt Hennessy, IOL, Temple
The Falcons bolstered the defensive line in the first round and now they get better on the offensive line with Temple’s Matt Hennessy. Another player from a small school with big potential, Hennessy could help them improve their ever-struggling offensive line.
56. Miami Dolphins (via Saints): Lucas Niang, OT, TCU
Miami traded away Laremy Tunsil last season and can use a new left tackle. Lucas Niang could provide that for them, and as long as he stays healthy, he will be a great addition for them.
57. Houston Texans: Justin Madubuike, IDL, Texas A&M
A player who isn’t getting the love he deserves is Justin Madubuike out of Texas A&M. At 6-foot-3 and 293-pounds, Madubuike has great size to play end in the Texans 3-4 defense and proved he can get after the quarterback in college, recording 11 sacks over the past two seasons.
58. Minnesota Vikings: A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
Minnesota lost the majority of their secondary this offseason and that means they have to start rebuilding it. A.J. Terrell is their pick here as they aim to do just that. He’s faced some of the best in the game for a team that’s always playing in the College Playoffs which should help him transition to the pros.
59. Cleveland Browns (via Seahawks): Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame
Cleveland added a starter on the offensive with the 27th overall pick and a starting linebacker at 51 after dropping down to each of those spots. Now with the second pick they got from Seattle, they add someone to the defensive line in Julian Okwara, who has the potential to start down the road. He won’t as a rookie, but he has the talent to develop into a solid piece for them. And with the questionable health of Olivier Vernon, he should get a lot of time on the field to develop early.
60. Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
A JUCO transfer, Brandon Aiyuk had a big season in 2019 for the Arizona State Sun Devils as he took over as the NO. 1 target after N’Keal Harry went pro. Aiyuk joins a steadily improving Baltimore offense and gives them another big-bodied receiver to go along with Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin.
61. Tennessee Titans: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill are returning but the Titans are moving on from Delanie Walker. The cupboard isn’t bare there by any means with Jonnu Smith playing well for them in 2019. However, they can use more depth and competition and Cole Kmet is one of the better tight ends in a less than impressive class.
62. Green Bay Packers: Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State
Christian Kirksey was added but the Packers lost both Blake Martinez and B.J. Goodson. In addition to those losses, Kirksey’s health has been an issue as of late — which is why the Browns released him. With all that being said, they add a good linebacker here in Malik Harrison of Ohio State.
63. Kansas City Chiefs (via 49ers): Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
The Chiefs offense was great with Damien Williams as the running back. Imagine how much better they will be with someone like Jonathan Taylor who can carry an offense on his own. Of course, he won’t need to in Kansas City, but he still can take over games on the rare occasion the aerial attack isn’t perfect.
64. Seattle Seahawks (via Chiefs): Joshua Uche, EDGE, Michigan
The Seahawks defensive line has been full of short-term fixes lately. Adding Joshua Uche gives them a shot at finding a long-term defensive end as they find another good player late in Round 2 — which is where the landed D.K. Metcalf last year.
65. Cincinnati Bengals: Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
Round 3 kicks off with the Cincinnati Bengals on the clock once again. This time, they land a good wide receiver in Bryan Edwards. The South Carolina product isn’t getting the attention he deserves but will end up impressing plenty of people once he’s in the NFL. Smooth route runner with great hands.
66. Washington Redskins: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
Washington has some talented running backs on their roster but two of those players, Bryce Love and Derrius Guice, have extensive injury histories. Enter Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who is a good complimentary back and can help a lot in the passing game.
67. Detroit Lions: Robert Hunt, IOL, Louisiana-Lafayette
Robert Hunt is a big man that can play either guard or right tackle. There’s no set position for him yet and the Lions can bring him in and see where he fits best before deciding on that.
68. New York Jets (via Giants): Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn
A 303-pound defensive lineman, Marlon Davidson is the perfect build to line up on the New York Jets three-man line.
69. Carolina Panthers: Darrell Taylor, EDGE, Tennessee
Darrell Taylor is one of the more underrated pass rushers in this class. Tennessee has fallen off the map some in recent years which could be a reason for this. Carolina ends up with a good player here who recorded 16.5 sacks in the SEC over the past two seasons.
70. Washington Redskins (via Dolphins): Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
The Redskins still landed Chase Young with the No. 5 pick and then added Denzel Mims at No. 26. Now with the final piece of their trade with Miami, they add Prince Tega Wanogho out of Auburn. With Trent Williams on the way out, they get a player here that could develop into a starting tackle as they re-tool the line.
71. Los Angeles Chargers: Willie Gay, Jr., LB, Mississippi State
This linebacker class isn’t incredibly strong but there are a few guys who have shown flashes. Willie Gay is one such player. His numbers aren’t too crazy but he checks a lot of the boxes.
72. Arizona Cardinals: Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
The Cardinals offense has gotten so much better over the past two years. They continue to trend upward by snatching up one of the more intriguing tight end prospects in this class in Adam Trautman. He played at a smaller school but has big potential.
73. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
Leonard Fournette turned things back around in 2019 and looked like the running back the Jags thought they were drafting in 2017. Still, they might not be willing to extend him as his contract starts to inch near its end. For that reason, they grab Cam Akers from Floridas State who can offer his some rest as a rookie but could develop into a starter one day.
74. Cleveland Browns: Davon Hamilton, IDL, Ohio State
Andrew Billings signed a one-year deal so the Browns need a long-term 1-technique defensive tackle for the long haul. They end up with a good one here in Davon Hamilton, who is also still learning the game and will only get better.
75. Indianapolis Colts: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
Donovan People-Jones took a step back last season for Michigan but it wasn’t as if he had the best quarterback play. He’s still a good prospect and gives Philip Rivers a big-bodied target, which is something the Colts need more of.
76. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
The Tampa Bay Bucs get a first-round talent in Jacob Eason here. He’s got everything you want on the field but there are questions about his leadership and his interviews at the Combine apparently didn’t go so well. Landing here could be great for him though as he gets to learn from one of the best in the game in Tom Brady.
77. Denver Broncos: Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
Mississippi State cornerback Cameron Dantzler hasn’t been getting the attention he feels he deserves throughout this draft process. The whole “chip on the shoulder” thing is overplayed but it seems as though cornerbacks do actually use that to motivate themselves. Could work out here.
78. Atlanta Falcons: Rashard Lawrence, IDL, LSU
The Falcons are trying to get tougher on both sides of the line, which is evident in this mock draft as they get another big body in Rashard Lawrence from LSU. The defensive tackle racked up 20.5 tackles for a loss during his four seasons with the Tigers.
79. New York Jets: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
Bryce Hall was a good cornerback for Virginia after converting from wide receiver. With his offensive background, he proved to have very good hands. He’s also built like a wideout at 6-foot-1 and 202-pounds. He has a shot at developing into a very good starter due to his high ceiling.
80. Las Vegas Raiders: Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
The Las Vegas Raiders need to add some talent to their linebacker corps and Troy Dye has plenty of that. The question about him is where he plays. He’s smaller than most middle linebackers at 231-pounds, but that’s where he’s best suited. Still, he’s a good player who will find a role somewhere.
81. Las Vegas Raiders (via Bears): Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Right back at it again. The Raiders have two picks in arrow and use this one to add Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm. He looks to be a smart game manager which makes him an ideal backup. But who will he be the long-term backup for? Derek Carr could be threatened by Marcus Mariota but only time will tell.
82. Dallas Cowboys: Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne
They waited on a safety, which they were able to do thanks to the signing of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and it paid off. Dallas selects Kyle Dugger out of Lenoir-Rhyne here, which goes against their normal trend of shying away from small-school kids. But his potential and fit with their roster are too much to ignore.
83. Denver Broncos (via Steelers): Larrell Murchison, IDL, NC State
A 291-pound defensive tackle that can generate a pass rush, Larrell Murchison is the 83rd pick here as the Denver Broncos add some help on the d-line.
84. Los Angeles Rams: Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
Again, the Los Angeles Rams draft an offensive lineman. This is the one position they do this for as they just trade for stars everywhere else. Their cap management is either crazy or brilliant, it’s hard to tell which.
85. Detroit Lions (via Eagles): K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State
Detroit has a No. 1 wideout in Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones still has moments of brilliance. The Lions could still add talent behind them, which is why they go after K.J. Hill from Ohio State here. Hill wasn’t the No. 1 target at Ohio State but he had a solid career and scored 10 touchdowns in his final season.
86. Buffalo Bills: Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame
Buffalo already has one of the best defenses in the entire NFL, but they did lose Kevin Johnson in free agency. They go ahead and get a replacement here in Troy Pride, Jr. out of Notre Dame. Pride has solid hands and is pro-ready but there are those who knock his consistency. This is a great place for him to land as the coaching staff knows how to get the most from their defenders.
87. Indianapolis Colts (via Patriots): Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
Eric Ebron is gone but the Colts do their best to replace him here with another pick acquired in our simulated trade from New England. Albert Okwuegbunam was a top tight end last year but lost some buzz after returning for his senior year. He got it back when he ran a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash at 258-pounds.
88. New Orleans Saints: Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
Signing Emmanuel Sanders was huge and kept them from reaching in the first. Now, the Saints just take advantage of a good wideout falling to them at No. 88. Chase Claypool, Michael Thomas, and Emmanuel Sanders give Drew Brees a great trio of wideouts.
89. Minnesota Vikings: Netane Muti, IOL, Fresno State
Netane Muti is a first-round talent. He didn’t play for a power-five team but he was a bulldozer for the Fresno State Bulldogs. The problem is, he has had durability issues that have plagued him throughout his career. Minnesota rolls the dice and could be rewarded nicely.
90. Houston Texans: Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Florida
The Houston Texans are back on the clock and Bill O’Brien picks up an edge rusher here in Jonathan Greenard from Florida. He’s solid against the pass and run, giving them a versatile weapon to use opposite Whitney Mercilus.
91. Las Vegas Raiders (via Seattle Seahawks): Terrell Burgess, S, Utah
Good instincts and the speed to cover the entire field were defining traits of Terrell Burgess, the Utah safety who lands with the Raiders at No. 91. They let Karl Joseph go and signed Jeff Heath, and Burgess could end up pushing Heath for snaps early. If anything, he can spell the veteran, who is also a special teams ace and will play there a lot as well.
92. Baltimore Ravens: David Woodward, LB, Utah State
A Utah safety is followed by a Utah State linebacker. The Baltimore Ravens are a great defense and they stay this way by constantly bringing in new talent. David Woodward gives them a linebacker who has 252 tackles in three seasons and had 93 in just seven games last year.
93. Tennessee Titans: Ben Bartch, OT, St. John
St. John doesn’t turn out a lot of talent but Ben Bartch is a player worth drafting. He showed out at the NFL Senior Bowl and creeps into the latter portion of the third round.
94. Green Bay Packers: Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington
Hunter Bryant is another player who has immense potential but plenty of concerns. The problem here is whether or not he can stay healthy. If he can, he’s going to be the player the Green Bay Packers thought they were getting a few years ago with Jimmy Graham. That’s worth taking a gamble here.
95. Denver Broncos (via 49ers): Alohi Gilman, S, Notre Dame
Alohi Gilman ran just a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash which hurts his stock. But on tape, he plays with enough aggression to make you overlook his shortcomings. Will probably be a special teams ace for several years.
96. Kansas City Chiefs: Nick Harris, IOL, Washington
Nick Harris is considered to be a “center only,” but he did that job very well for the Washington Huskies. He could be a starter there down the road or at the very least, a great backup. Although, teams will probably want him to work at other positions as well to increase his versatility.
97. Cleveland Browns (via Texans) Damien Lewis, IOL, LSU
The Browns have filled many of their needs but they still need to improve at right guard. Damien Lewis helps there as the big man took on the best of the best during LSU’s title run and always held his own. He might not win the starting job right away but he has a chance to.
98. Indianapolis Colts (via Patriots): Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah
The final pick the Colts got from New England in our predicted trade nets them Bradlee Anae. The Utah edge rusher made everyone take notice of him during the Senior Bowl. He’s tough to block and has a non-stop motor.
99. New York Giants: Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU
The son of Randy Moss, Thaddeus Moss is a talented tight end but has a bad ankle. If he can get healthy, this is a great pick. If not, he might be a big name that just patrols the sideline.
100. New England Patriots: Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt
Remember when everyone kept waiting for the next Rob Gronkowski in New England? That will never happen again. But they can get a good tight end still, which is exactly what Jared Pinkney is — even if he isn’t as dynamic as Gronk was.
101. Seattle Seahawks: Logan Stenberg, IOL, Kentucky
In this mock, we have had the Seahawks pick a couple of offensive linemen. They do this a lot, but it hasn’t worked out. Maybe this time will be different.
102. Pittsburgh Steelers: Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue
Suddenly, there’s a run on tight ends. The group as a whole isn’t dynamic but there are several capable players. For Pittsburgh, they land one who can be a contributor here in Purdue’s Brycen Hopkins.
103. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
Texas Tech isn’t exactly a defensive powerhouse but Jordyn Brook was a player who recorded 360 tackles in four seasons with 108 as a senior. He was all over the field and should find a niche in the NFL.
104. Los Angeles Rams: Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
At 5-foot-8 and 187-pounds, Amik Robertson is an undersized cornerback but can play on the outside. Los Angeles has the star corners, but they can use someone with the edge Roberston brings to round things out.
105. Minnesota Vikings: Matthew Peart, OT, UConn
At 6-foot-7 and 318-pounds with long arms, Matthew Peart was clearly born to be an NFL offensive tackle. He should be a swing tackle early but as he plays against NFL talent more frequently, he could develop to more.
106. Baltimore Ravens: Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State
With the final pick in this three-round mock draft, the Baltimore Ravens pick up a running back in Eno Benjamin from Arizona State. This isn’t a big need of theirs but he’s a steal at this point. Benjamin had over 2,700 yards rushing the past two seasons with 77 receptions in that same span.
That’s a pretty impressive stat-line and makes him worth putting in a rotation for what is already the best rushing attack in the NFL.