2020 mock draft: Two-round projections
Super Bowl LIV between San Francisco and Kansas City is all that remains of the 100th NFL season, and the 2020 draft class is finally set.
The NFL on Tuesday released the official list of underclassmen who decided to leave college early for the pros.
There were 120 players who were either granted special eligibility or completed their degrees with eligibility remaining. This is down from 144 last season.
A whopping 24 of them make up the first round of this mock.
The NFL draft has become a nice appetizer before our main course in September. A mock version of said draft is meant to educate, and even entertain. At very least, it helps you pass the time.
This is an early attempt at identifying the best players available in this season's draft class, and which teams they match up well with considering the updated draft order (according to NFL.com).
The closer we get to draft day, the more I attempt to match what teams will actually do with their draft picks as opposed to what I believe they should do.
Last season, I was the fifth most accurate (out of 101) — most accurate in print — NFL draft prognosticator according to The Huddle Report. I'm 18th over the past five years.
Follow me on Twitter @UTEddieBrown so we can continue the conversation.
Here's my updated 2020 NFL mock draft, now through two rounds: 1. Cincinnati (2-14) — Joe Burrow, QB, LSU, Sr.
It's probably best not to overthink this. Burrow just finished a silly statistical season. The nearly unanimous Heisman Trophy winner had 5,671 passing yards (third all-time in a season), 60 touchdowns (first all-time) against only six interceptions and a completion percentage of 76.3 (second all-time). He's the type of quarterback that aces the intangible checklist, but doesn't feature any physical qualities I'd consider elite. The Bengals would be wise to adapt the LSU offensive system, masterminded by passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Joe Brady and executed perfectly by coordinator Steve Ensminger. It would maximize the return on their investment. Top needs: QB, OL, LB 2. Washington (3-13) —
Chase Young, Edge, Ohio St., Jr.
New head coach Ron Rivera would be giddy to land the best player/pass rusher in this draft class (Young had 16.5 sacks this season and 30.5 sacks in three years at Columbus). The Redskins will add him to a young, talented defensive line unless a team pays a king's ransom for the Buckeye or a quarterback. Top needs: OL, CB, LB 3. Detroit (3-12-1) —
Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn, Sr.
It's conceivable the Dolphins, Chargers, Panthers, Raiders or Colts could all target this selection in order to land a quarterback, assuming the Redskins don't get cute and select Young, the best player in this draft. The Lions have to prioritize improving their front seven if they have any hopes of competing in the NFC North (defensive tackles Mike Daniels and A'Shawn Robinson are both free agents). The SEC Defensive Player of the Year (and consensus All-American) is the most talented interior defensive lineman in this draft class and the most disruptive player Detroit has had a shot at drafting since Ndamukong Suh. Top needs: DL, DB, WR 4. N.Y. Giants (4-12) —
Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia, Jr.
Starting right tackle Mike Remmers is an unrestricted free agent. You'd get the first team All-SEC selection if you could Weird Science an offensive tackle. He's a big, powerful, athletic lineman with springy footwork and quick hands who's a dynamic closer in both the run and pass game. Thomas is an investment in the futures of both Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Top needs: OT, S, DL 5. Miami (5-11) —
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama, Jr.
Barring a move to land Teddy Bridgewater in the off-season, it'll be hard for the Dolphins to pass on a signal-caller here. Back-to-back seasons with an ankle injury and a dislocated hip will give us something to talk about until April (and the Bengals an excuse for passing on him). Mostly, because people will tire of talking about how prolific and precise the southpaw is. Some will try to compare Tagovailoa to Mike Vick, but he's closer to a lefty (and taller) version of Russell Wilson. Multiple reports have him ahead of schedule in recovery from hip surgery. Top needs: QB, OL, Edge 6. L.A. Chargers (5-11) —
Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson, Jr.
The Chargers miss out on a splashy replacement for Philip Rivers, but they land another impact player for their defense at a position GM Tom Telesco prioritizes. The Butkus Award winner (best linebacker) is an athletic unicorn (the only defensive position Simmons is ill-equipped to play is nose tackle) with incredible range and instincts. One of the top offensive tackle prospects would make a lot of sense here as well. Top needs: OL, QB, RB 7. Carolina (5-11) —
Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio St., Jr.
Luke Kuechly's retirement makes Simmons a target for the Panthers, but he's off the board here. Okudah, a consensus All-American, is an elite athlete who has proven proficient in man coverage and is only scratching the surface of his potential. Cornerbacks James Bradberry, Ross Cockrell and Javien Elliott are all free agents. Top needs: OL, DB, DL 8. Arizona (5-10-1) —
Jedrick Wills, OL, Alabama, Jr.
Offensive tackles D.J. Humphries and Justin Murray are both free agents. Wills is a powerful upgrade who is versatile enough to play guard and has shown some serious growth this season. He only allowed one quarterback pressure in his last five games, according to Pro Football Focus. Top needs: OL, DL, DB 9. Jacksonville (6-10) —
A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa, Jr.
Pass rush specialist Yannick Ngakoue will likely command $18-$20 million per season on the open market. The AP All-American racked up 11.5 sacks and forced four fumbles despite facing persistent double-teams all season. Top needs: DT, WR, LB 10. Cleveland (6-10) — Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa, Jr.
The Browns must upgrade their offensive line if Baker Mayfield has any hope in improving on a porous sophomore campaign in the pros. Wirfs is the best pass protector in this class, and talented enough to play multiple positions on the line. Top needs: OT, S, LB 11. N.Y. Jets (7-9) —
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama, Jr.
Elite prospects seem to fall in the Jets' lap (See: Leonard Williams and Jamal Adams). Wide receiver Robby Anderson is facing free agency. Jeudy is an upgrade and the crown jewel of what is shaping up to be a special 2020 class of receivers. He's the best prospect at the position in almost a decade. Top needs: OL, WR, Edge 12. Las Vegas (7-9) —
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma, Jr.
Antonio Brown's preseason antics left a huge hole in the depth chart at wide receiver. Lamb has elite hands and ball skills (he's special with the ball in the air). He can also contribute as a blocker. Top needs: WR, LB, CB 13. Indianapolis (7-9) —
Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama, Jr.
GM Chris Ballard took a chance on Tyreek Hill when he was the Director of Football Operations in Kansas City. Like Hill, Ruggs is pure electricity with the football in his hands. He scored 25 total touchdowns on 100 touches in his Crimson Tide career. Top needs: DT,
WR, Edge
14. Tampa Bay (7-9) —
Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon, Sr.
Demand ALWAYS overrules supply when it comes to quarterbacks in the draft. The Buccaneers aren't a fantasy football team so I don't see why they'd pay Jameis Winston $30 million per season. Herbert has all the physical attributes (prototypical size and elite arm talent) coach Bruce Arians requires, but consistency has been his bane. His performance during Senior Bowl week could significantly impact his draft stock. Top needs: QB, OL, DL 15. Denver (7-9) —
Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU, Sr.
All-Pro cornerback Chris Harris will certainly test the free agent market in March. Fulton is an elite athlete who was the top cornerback prospect coming out of high school in 2016. Like his record-setting quarterback, he decided to skip the Senior Bowl after a 15-game season plus the wear and tear that comes with a Championship run. Top needs: OL, DB, DL 16. Atlanta (7-9) —
Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge, Penn St., Jr.
The underwhelming Vic Beasley is a free agent. Gross-Matos needs to add some strength to his frame, but he's a gifted pass rusher with elite athleticism and a nose for the ball. Top needs: Edge, OG, LB 17. Dallas (8-8) —
Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina, Sr.
The Cowboys have had success creating pressure on the quarterback from the edge, but not inside. An interior wrecking ball like the AP All-American has the potential to be a force against the pass and run at the next level. This could be wishful thinking for Dallas if Kinlaw continues to dominate in Mobile. Top needs: S, DL, TE 18. Miami from Pittsburgh (8-8) — D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia, Jr.
The Dolphins backfield has been a mess all year. A quarterback (Ryan Fitzpatrick) led them in rushing yards (243) and rushing touchdowns (four) while a wide receiver (Albert Wilson) had their longest rush from scrimmage (28 yards). Swift is a shifty back able to bounce it outside or handle the rigors of running between the tackles. He's also a weapon out of the backfield (he has 56 receptions and four touchdowns the last two seasons). Top needs: QB, OL, Edge 19. Las Vegas from Chicago (8-8) — Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma, Jr.
The Raiders find a potential quarterback for their defense. Murray is an explosive athlete who has developed elite instincts during his three seasons in Norman. His draft stock should benefit from Alabama's Dylan Moses returning to school. Top needs: WR, LB, CB 20. Jacksonville from L.A. Rams (9-7) — Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama, Sr.
The Jaguars will seek a replacement for All-Pro Jalen Ramsey (Tre Herndon certainly isn't). Diggs (Stefon's little brother) is still raw, but he features prototypical size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and elite athleticism. Top needs: DT, WR, LB 21. Philadelphia (9-7) —
Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson, Jr.
The Eagles wide receiver corps is in shambles. The inconsistent Nelson Agholor faces free agency while DeSean Jackson isn't getting any younger (or healthier). Higgins is a big-play machine with elite size (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) and speed. He has an “above the rim” mentality as a former basketball player and would be a steal this low in the first round. Top needs: WR, DB, LB 22. Buffalo (10-6) —
Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado, Jr.
An offense featuring Josh Allen, Devin Singletary and Shenault could get really creative. His size (6-foot-2, 225 pounds), speed (he could run a sub-4.4 40 at the combine) and nose for the end zone (he has 10 receiving and seven rushing touchdowns the past two seasons) could catapult him into the top-15 discussion. Top needs: WR, OG, LB 23. New England (12-4) —
K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU, Soph.
Few teams replenish the talent in their front-seven like the Patriots. Chaisson features one of the highest upsides at any position in this draft class. He's a natural speed rusher who is capable of dropping into coverage and can be an asset in defending the run. The one knock is his durability. Top needs: TE, OG, LB 24. New Orleans (13-3) —
Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama, Jr.
Cornerback Eli Apple is a free agent and has become a liability in coverage. Secondary members P.J. Williams and Von Bell are both free agents as well. McKinney is an elite athlete with prototypical size (6-1, 200) who can play every position in the defensive backfield. Top needs: WR, LB, OG 25. Minnesota (10-6) —
C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida, Jr.
Trae Waynes is an unrestricted free agent after this season and something is clearly wrong with Xavier Rhodes. It's nitpicking to say Henderson is a shy tackler in the run game. Shutdown corners aren't charged with shutting down running backs. They're supposed to shutdown wide receivers and Henderson has no problem doing that. Top needs: CB, OG, WR 26. Miami from Houston (10-6) — Mekhi Beckton, OT, Louisville, Jr.
The Dolphins raid the south for an entire new offense, addressing quarterback (Tagovailoa), running back (Swift) and the offensive line with their three first-round selections. You can't teach Beckton's size (6-7, 369) and he's surprisingly nimble, especially as a run blocker. Top needs: QB, OL, Edge 27. Seattle (11-5) —
Curtis Weaver, Edge, Boise State, Jr.
The Seahawks need an edge rusher who can take advantage of Jadeveon Clowney's presence, assuming he resigns. The Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year is a productive pass rusher (34 sacks in three seasons for the Broncos) who has also shown the ability to drop and play in space. Top needs: Edge, OL, TE 28. Baltimore (14-2) — Patrick Queen, LB, LSU, Jr.
The Ravens finally replace C.J. Mosley. Queen is a three down, sidelineto-sideline terror with an elite football mind. Top needs: Edge, LB, WR 29. Tennessee (9-7) —
Jonathan Taylor, RB Wisconsin, Jr.
All-Pro running back Derrick Henry could command $14-$16 million per season as a free agent. There have been very few collegiate tailbacks as productive as Taylor (6,174 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns in three seasons in Madison). Top needs: Edge, OT, RB 30. Green Bay (13-3) — Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU, Jr.
It's hard not to draft a run stopper after the Packers got bulldozed in the NFC Championship, but their wide receiver corps has been a disappointment this season outside of Davante Adams. Reagor is one of the most impressive athletes at any position in this draft class. He's special with the ball in his hands. Top needs: WR, LB, OT
Kendall Fuller is an unrestricted free agent after this season. Hall led the nation in passes defensed his junior year with 21 (a testament to his elite ball skills), but missed most of this season with an ankle injury. Top needs: CB, RB, OG
The 49ers will likely trade this pick to the highest bidder, considering they won't be on the clock again until the fifth round. If they stand pat, the Jim Thorpe Award winner (nation's top defensive back) is a steal here despite his sub-par (by his standards), injuryprone season. Top needs: OL, DB, WR 33. Cincinnati —
Austin Jackson, OT, USC, Jr.
34. Indianapolis from Washington — Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma, Sr. 35. Detroit —
A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson, Jr.
36. N.Y. Giants —
Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn, Sr.
37. L.A. Chargers —
Jordan Love, QB, Utah St., Jr.
38. Carolina —
Troy Dye, LB, Oregon, Sr.
39. Miami —
Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin, Jr.
40. Arizona —
Julian Okwara, Edge, Notre Dame, Sr. 41. Cleveland —
Ashtyn Davis, S, California, Sr.
42. Jacksonville —
Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU, Jr.
43. Chicago from Las Vegas —
Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue, Sr.
Neither Trey Burton or Adam Shaheen have proven durable and the tight end is a focal point of this offense. Hopkins is a supersized wide receiver who can line up anywhere and is dangerous after the catch. Top needs: OG, TE, Edge 44. Indianapolis —
Jacob Eason, QB, Washington, Jr. 45. Tampa Bay —
Reakwon Davis, DL, Alabama, Sr. 46. Denver —
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona St., Sr. 47. Atlanta —
Solomon Kindley, OG, Georgia, Jr. 48. N.Y. Jets —
Josh Jones, OT, Houston, Sr.
49. Pittsburgh —
Darrell Taylor, Edge, Tennessee, Sr.
Sack artist Bud Dupree is an unrestricted free agent. Taylor is a talented pass rusher who could see his draft stock soar after the Senior Bowl. Top needs: OL, Edge, TE 50. Chicago —
Terrell Lewis, Edge, Alabama, Sr. 51. Dallas —
Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame, Jr. 52. L.A. Rams —
Trey Adams, OL, Washington, Sr.
The Rams offensive line needs an overhaul if the offense hopes to return to its lofty stature of 2018. There are durability concerns, but Adams features the size (6-8, 314), power and athleticism the NFL requires in a starting left tackle. Top needs: OL, DL, LB 53. Tennessee —
Josh Uche, Edge, Michigan, Sr. 54. Philadelphia —
Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah, Jr.
55. Minnesota — Nick Harris, OL, Washington, Sr.
56. Buffalo —
Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio St., Sr. 57. Houston —
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio St., Jr.
Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson were serviceable, but Dobbins is an upgrade in every way. He's a three down threat with natural hands and a nose for the end zone. He's a steal here. Top needs: DT, OT, RB 58. Seattle —
Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia, So.
59. Atlanta from New England — Cameron Dantzler, CB,
Mississippi St., Jr.
60. Green Bay —
Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Texas Tech, Sr.
61. Kansas City —
Shane Lemieux, OG, Oregon, Sr.
62. Miami from New Orleans —
Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota, Sr. 63. Seattle from San Francisco — Justin Madubuike, DL, Texas A&M, Jr. 64. Baltimore —
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC, Sr.