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Three Round 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Post Free-Agency

2020 NFL Mock Draft

Amidst the chaos of the sports world almost being completely shut down, the 2020 edition of NFL Free agency was one of the most exciting in recent memory. A number of teams have already shown they are all in on competing in 2020 and perhaps more have shown they may already have their eyes set on bottoming out for a better draft pick in 13 months’ time. This 2020 NFL mock draft reflects all of the latest moves from the NFL landscape.

Per usual, money was flying around but the number of stars switching jerseys felt larger than usual. One of the best receivers in the entire NFL, DeAndre Hopkinsfound himself shipped to Arizona to become the newest teammate of reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray and Todd Gurley, an MVP candidate just two seasons ago, is now headed east to Atlanta to hook up with Matt Ryan. Perhaps the biggest fish of all and most successful quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, will also look a little different than usual when he suits in Buccaneers red to begin the 2020 season.

Free agency is the NFL event that has the largest effect on the draft outside of where teams end their season. Filling needs through free agency is a lot easier than via the draft, but deciphering if a player is worth their demanded salary is far more complicated. There is also the added ripple that if you strike out in free agency, there is not necessarily an available player with the ability to fill the same hole.

This is a three-round mock draft of the players and fits that could be filling roster spots when the 2020 NFL season opens up in September.

Three Round 2020 NFL Mock Draft

Round 1

1. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow (LSU) – Quarterback

The Bengals are keeping A.J. Green and are giving the soon-to-be number-one overall pick a nice new set of receiving weapons for his rookie season. Having a safety blanket like Green as well as a blooming receiver like Tyler Boyd, should make Burrow’s new job a lot easier. Jonah Williams will also be healthy, giving Burrow a fairly ideal situation to step into — at least for a team that finished dead last in the NFL in 2019.

2. Washington Redskins – Chase Young (Ohio State) – Edge

It’s easy to forget that Washington drafted a pass rusher just a year ago but Young and Montez Sweat could be a necessary duo to have in the NFC East. The Dallas offensive line is one of the best in football, the Eagles drafted Andre Dillard in the first round last year and the Giants are more than likely going to take a tackle with their fourth-overall selection in 2020. There’s a good chance that both Young and Sweat could register 10+ sacks next season for Washington.

3. Detroit Lions Jeffrey Okudah (Ohio State) – Cornerback

The Lions dealt their best corner, Darius Slay, to the Eagles and already had a pressing need at corner. Okudah is the best corner in the class and should become the next cornerstone on defense for Matt Patricia. He won’t completely fix the Lions secondary but he shows the potential to be a number-one corner in the NFL.

4. New York Giants – Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama) – Offensive Tackle

The Giants added one of everything in free agency, spending upwards of $90 million on new players. Cameron Fleming was the only tackle added by the Giants but he has never started more than seven games in a single season. He should be a good backup but Wills should be a cornerstone of the offense for the next decade. Wills showed incredible production at Alabama and has shown even more athleticism throughout the draft process. He should be locked in as OT1 as of now.

5. Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) – Quarterback

The Dolphins added 10 new names in free agency and yet, the best thing that could’ve happened to them was having a quarterback leave their division. With Brady now a Buc, Tagovailoa has a chance to be the best quarterback in the AFC East in maybe under two-years time. Miami is doing a lot to assemble a competitive team as soon as possible and Tagovailoa could be the centerpiece.

6. Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert (Oregon) – Quarterback

With the Chargers missing out on the Tom Brady sweepstakes, they are still a quarterback short of a competitive team. Ian Rapoport has reported that Los Angeles will no longer pursue a veteran quarterback in free agency but Tyrod Taylor is not a long term option. Herbert has the experience, starting all-four years at Oregon, and could be the tool that allows the Chargers to look more like the 2018 team than the 2019 team. Tom Telesco has done a great job in free agency and Herbert may be the final piece to a potential AFC West contender.

7. Carolina Panthers Isaiah Simmons (Clemson) – Linebacker/Safety

The buzz around the NFL seems to be that the Panthers are fully committed to punting away the 2020 season in pursuit of Trevor Lawerence, but they are more than just a quarterback away from competing again. Simmons is debatably the second-best player in the entire draft and would become the new identity of the Panthers defense, succeeding Luke Kuechly. The Panthers need both help at safety and linebacker.

8. Arizona Cardinals – Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) – Offensive Tackle

The Cardinals shook the football world by acquiring DeAndre Hopkins but their weakest position group, the offensive line, still remains unaddressed. Wirfs’ ability to effortlessly move his feet and get the second level would make him a huge contributor in Kliff Kingsbury‘s air raid offense. He’s an athletic monster and would be a needed cornerstone for protecting Kyler Murray.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars Derrick Brown (Auburn) – Defensive Tackle

Jacksonville’s defensive line used to be one of the strongest position groups in the NFL but over the past two weeks, has shallowed out. Trading Calais Campbell to the Ravens and declining Marcell Dareus‘ 2020 option leaves the Jaguars with a huge hole on the defensive line. Brown is a hulking defensive tackle at 6’5″ 326 lbs and both an incredible run stopper and disrupter up the middle. Brown and Josh Allen could become the two players that help revitalize the defensive line in Jacksonville.

10. Cleveland Browns – Andrew Thomas (Georgia) – Offensive Tackle

The Browns made one of the biggest splashes in free agency in 2020, locking up Jack Conklin to a three-year(s)/$42 million deal. Conklin was one of the best right tackles in football last season but the Browns are still short a tackle on the left side. Cleveland still looks like they’re gearing up to contend in 2020 and Thomas should be a plug-and-play left tackle next season. Andrew Berry needs to continue to use resources on an offensive line that badly needed to improve after 2019.

11. New York Jets – Mekhi Becton (Louisville) – Offensive Tackle

The Jets added three new offensive linemen via free agency but the unit is still far from a finished product. Adding Becton would only further the process of protecting Sam Darnold. The former-Cardinal is a mountain of a man and could benefit from a year of sitting behind new signee and veteran George Fant. You can’t teach size and Becton has that and then some.

12. Las Vegas Raiders Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) – Wide Receiver

Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden continued their goal of rehauling the Raiders in free agency but didn’t add a big name receiver due to the lack of quality on the open market. Jeudy showed the potential in college to become a true number-one receiver and would give Derek Carr a necessary pair of sure hands. The wide receiver class is maybe the deepest in Draft history and Jeudy could be the best of the bunch.

13. San Fransisco 49ers (via Indianapolis Colts) – Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina) – Defensive Tackle

With the Niners receiving this selection in the DeForest Buckner trade, taking his replacement could be a slam dunk — especially if it’s Kinlaw. San Francisco’s best position group was their defensive line and Kinlaw would come in and keep the unit scary as ever. John Lynch loves using draft picks on the defensive line and the Niners get the best pass-rushing interior defensive lineman in the draft.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Xavier McKinney (Alabama) – Safety

Now that the Bucs have Tom Brady, they could be looking for offensive line help — especially on the left side. However, with the top-four already off the board, McKinney helps beef up the secondary. The Tampa secondary has been a revolving door over the past few seasons and McKinney can fill multiple holes. He played everywhere in the secondary at Alabama and would be a day-one starter for the Bucs.

15. Denver Broncos – CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) – Wide Receiver

The Broncos have made it known that they’re very interested in Henry Ruggs but if Lamb is on the board, he’d likely be the pick. Lamb is a top-two receiver in the class and would form one of the best young receiving duos in the NFL alongside Courtland Sutton. Both receivers can do a little bit of everything.

16. Atlanta Falcons – C.J. Henderson (Florida) – Cornerback

The Falcon’s spent the 2019 draft and 2020 free agency adding pieces around Matt Ryan but they need to allocate some resources to the defensive side of the ball. Drafting Henderson fills a big need by adding depth and quality to a very shallow position group. He’s maybe the most athletic corner in the class and has the length and natural ball skills to be a number-one corner in the NFL.

17. Dallas Cowboys Grant Delpit (LSU) – Safety

With the way the Cowboys off-season is playing out, they are going to have to get creative finding good players. Signing Ha Ha Clinton-Dix gives the Cowboys a short term option at free safety but Delpit could be the long term answer. He’s the best single high safety in the class and fly’s to the ball when he’s on the field. Delpit’s stock might be slipping but his ceiling is still incredibly high.

18. Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh Steelers) – K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU) – Outside Linebacker

The Dolphins have a lot of roster issues on both sides of the ball but getting a player like Chaisson who can play multiple positions would be a great addition. He is can set the edge, drop back in coverage, rush the passer from as a standup-linebacker, and has an explosive first step. Miami finished 2019 with the least sacks in the NFL (23.0) and adding versatile pieces like Chaisson and Kyle Van Noy allows Brian Flores to get creative.

19. Las Vegas Raiders (via Chicago Bears) – Kristian Fulton (LSU) – Cornerback

The Raiders surprisingly only added one player in the secondary via free agency after giving up the eighth-most passing yards in the NFL. Fulton was one of the most effective corners in all of college football over his 24 games at LSU. He soundly did a great job against SEC wide receivers and could be the shut-down corner the Raiders have been trying to find for a long time.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams) – Trevon Diggs (Alabama) – Cornerback

With A.J. Bouye being shipped to Denver for a fourth-round pick, the Jaguars corner depth looks significantly shallower than it did just a season ago. Diggs is still learning the corner position but has shown leaps in improvement over the past two years. He has both the ideal length and athletic ability for a press-man corner in the NFL. It’s hard to fill the shoes of Jalen Ramsey but Jacksonville has to start looking for a long-term replacement.

21. Philadelphia Eagles Henry Ruggs III (Alabama) – Wide Receiver

The acquisition of Darius Slay addressed one of the two large holes on the Eagles depth chart. Howie Roseman is now likely looking to take the best receiver available off the board with his team’s first-round pick. Ruggs is a burner and probably the most athletic receiver in the draft. After having little presence over the top in 2019, Carson Wentz would love to have another player with DeSean Jackson-like deep threat ability.

22. Minnesota Vikings (via Buffalo Bills) – A.J. Epenesa (Iowa) – Defensive End

Despite the minimal purge done by the Vikings and Rick Spielman, they are still likely trying to compete for a title again in 2020. Releasing Everson Griffen leaves Minnesota with an open spot opposite Danielle Hunter and Epenesa has one of the highest floors of any pass rushers in the draft. He would be a day one starter on the defensive line with the ability to play as a pass rush specialist on the inside and outside.

23. New England Patriots Josh Jones (Houston) – Offensive Tackle

The Patriots are in a peculiar spot with Brady leaving for Tampa Bay. Bill Belichick has a chance to spend 2020 restocking the cupboards in New England and that could start with drafting Jones. He’s not a finished prospect but would give the Patriots a player that has a chance to develop into one of the best left tackles in all of football and provide much-needed protection for whoever is playing quarterback in New England over the next few seasons. Jones is an incredibly smooth moving offensive lineman at 6’5″ 319 lbs.

24. New Orleans Saints Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma) – Inside Linebacker

By resigning Drew Brees to a two-year extension, the Saints are signaling they are all-in on winning until their long-time quarterback retires. Acquiring a high octane player like Murray on the defensive side of the ball would be a sure-fire way to beef up the defense for the foreseeable future. He’s as dynamic a playmaker as you can find in the middle of the field and could fortify the Saints linebacking corps with and post-Demario Davis.

25. Minnesota VikingsTee Higgins (Clemson) – Wide Receiver

With Stefon Diggs headed to Buffalo, the Vikings need to find another high-quality target for the recently extended Kirk Cousins. It’s easy to forget that even though Diggs and Adam Thielen had been one of the best receiving tandems in football, Minnesota has very little depth in the receiver room. Higgins is a big-bodied receiver who will provide Cousins another downfield option as well as give the Vikings a plethora of red zone weapons.

26. Miami Dolphins (via Houston Texans) – Laviska Shenault Jr. (Colorado) – Wide Reciever

If the Dolphins presumably take a quarterback with their fifth-overall selection, getting him targets will be very important. Shenault is a quarterback’s best friend — all you have to do is get the ball in his hands and he does the rest. He’s a missed tackle waiting to happen and has the size to snag balls from anywhere on the field. Having solid pass catchers is a huge boost for bringing along a young quarterback.

27. Seattle Seahawks – Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State) – Edge

The Seahawks were fairly quiet in free agency and edge remains a pressing need with Jadeveon Clowney trying to cash in on the open market. Gross-Matos has the ability to swat, rip and bull rush his way past blockers while being maybe the most physically talented pass rushers in the class outside of Chase Young. Finding good pass rushers is hard and the Seahawks have had trouble replacing Frank Clark after moving him last offseason.

28. Baltimore Ravens – Curtis Weaver (Boise State) – Outside Linebacker

Surprisingly, Eric DeCosta did not address the Ravens’ desperate need for a pass rusher in free agency. Putting the franchise tag on Matt Judon gives Baltimore a fallback option for 2020 but the pass rush is still in need of long term-answers. Weaver was the most productive of any pass rusher entering the draft (34.0 sacks in three seasons) and Ozzie Newsome is a firm believer that sack production in college carries over to the NFL.

29. Tennessee TitansD’Andre Swift (Georgia) – Running Back

Placing the franchise tag on Derrick Henry keeps the running back in-house for 2020 but their timidity to commit to him long-term after the best season of his career speaks volumes. Tennessee ran the ball a lot at the end of the season and Swift could be the next Titan’s workhorse. He was incredibly shifty in space while showing the ability to be a true three-down back in an offense centered around running the football. If the Titans aren’t willing to spend big money on Henry, Swift is probably their best long-term option at replacing his production in the draft.

30. Green Bay PackersDenzel Mims (Baylor) – Wide Receiver

The Packers decided not to spend heavily in free agency and therefore still have to find new weapons for Aaron Rodgers in 2020. Mims has been one of the largest risers during the draft process and could fit well in Green Bay. His very large catch radius combined with snappy route running should make him an easy target in the NFL. Davante Adams was the only wide receiver with over 40 catches on the Packers in 2019.

31. San Fransisco 49ers – A.J. Terrell (Clemson) – Cornerback

There’s a very good chance that the Niners trade back from 31. After picking here, they do not have a pick until the fifth round. John Lynch decided to resign Jimmie Ward in free agency but the Niners still need more help in the secondary. Terrell is a taller, longer corner with the ability to match up against physical receivers while being smart enough to challenge the more crafty ones. The worst game of his college career came in his last game but he still projects to an effective pass defender at the NFL level.

32. Kansas City ChiefsPatrick Queen (LSU) – Inside Linebacker

The Cheifs explosive offense is returning almost completely intact in 2020 so adding on the defensive side of the ball makes sense. Queen only played one year in college as a consistent starter but improved as the season wore on. He showed the ability to quickly diagnose plays, fly to the ball (4.5 speed) and anticipate throws in coverage at LSU. As only a one-year starter, Queen has even more room to improve as a pro.

2020 NFL Mock Draft – Round 2

33. Cincinnati Bengals – Jeff Gladney (TCU) – Cornberack
34. Indianapolis Colts (via. Washington Redskins) – Jordan Love (Utah State) – Quarterback
35. Detroit Lions Antoine Winfield Jr. (Minnesota) – Safety
36. New York Giants – Jaylon Johnson (Utah) – Cornerback
37. Los Angeles ChargersAustin Jackson (USC) – Offensive Tackle
38. Carolina Panthers Ross Blacklock (TCU) – Defensive Tackle 
39. Miami Dolphins – Cesar Ruiz (Michigan) – Interior Offensive Line
40. Houston Texans (via Arizona Cardinals) – Damon Arnette (Ohio State) – Cornerback
41. Cleveland Browns Ashtyn Davis (Cal) – Safety
42. Jacksonville Jaguars Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State) – Wide Reciever
43. Chicago Bears (via Las Vegas Raiders) – Zack Baun (Wisconsin) – Outside Linebacker
44. Indianapolis Colts – Justin Jefferson (LSU) – Wide Receiver
45. Tampa Bay BuccaneersJonathon Taylor (Wisconsin) – Running Back
46. Denver BroncosMarlon Davidson (Auburn) – Defensive End
47. Atlanta Falcons – Julian Okwara (Notre Dame) – Edge
48. New York Jets – Jalen Reagor (TCU) – Wide Receiver
49. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jacob Eason (Washington) – Quarterback
50. Chicago BearsKyle Dugger (Lenoir-Rhyne) – Safety
51. Dallas Cowboys – Neville Gallimore (Oklahoma) – Defensive Tackle
52. Los Angeles RamsTyler Biadasz (Wisconsin) – Interior Offensive line
53. Philadelphia EaglesNoah Igbinoghene (Auburn) – Cornerback
54. Buffalo Bills Terrell Lewis (Alabama) – Edge
55. Baltimore Ravens (via Atlanta Falcons) – Michael Pittman Jr. (USC) – Wide Receiver
56. Miami Dolphins (via New Orleans Saints) – Lucas Niang (TCU) – Offensive Tackle
57. Houston Texans – Justin Madubuike (Texas A&M) – Defensive Tackle
58. Minnesota Vikings – Cameron Dantzler (Mississippi State) – Cornerback
59. Seattle Seahawks Netane Muti (Fresno State) – Interior Offensive Line
60. Baltimore RavensTroy Dye (Oregon) – Linebacker
61. Tennessee TitansIsaiah Wilson (Georgia) – Offensive Tackle
62. Green Bay Packers – Cole Kmet (Notre Dame) – Tight End
63. Kansas City Chiefs Cam Akers (Florida State) – Running Back
64. Seattle Seahawks (via San Fransisco 49ers) –  Tyler Johnson (Minnesota) – Wide Receiver

Round 3

65. Cincinnati Bengals – Lloyd Cushenberry III (LSU) – Interior Offensive Line
66. Washington Redskins – Donovan Peoples-Jones (Michigan) – Wide Receiver
67. Detroit LionsJordan Elliott (Missouri) – Defensive Tackle
68. New York Jets (via New York Giants) – Bryce Hall (Virginia) – Cornerback
69. Carolina PanthersBen Bartch (St. John) – Offensive Tackle
70. Miami DolphinsJ.K. Dobbins (Ohio State) – Running Back
71. Los Angeles ChargersWillie Gay Jr. (Mississippi State) – Linebacker
72. Arizona Cardinals – Clyde Edwards-Helaire (LSU) – Running Back
73. Jacksonville JaguarsHunter Bryant (Washington) – Tight End
74. Cleveland BrownsAkeem Davis-Gaither (Appalachian State) – Linebacker
75. Indianapolis Colts – Prince Tega Wanogho (Auburn) – Offensive Tackle 
76. Tampa Bay BuccaneersJonah Jackson (Ohio State) – Interior Offensive Line
77. Denver BroncosTroy Pride Jr. (Notre Dame) – Cornerback
78. Atlanta FalconsBradlee Anae (Utah) – Edge
79. New York JetsMatt Hennessy (Temple) – Interior Offensive Line
80. Las Vegas RaidersJalen Hurts (Oklahoma) – Quarterback
81. Las Vegas Raiders (via Chicago Bears) – Malik Harrison (Ohio State) – Linebacker
82. Dallas CowboysJonathan Greenard (Florida) – Edge
82. Denver Broncos (via Pittsburgh Steelers) – Robert Hunt (Louisiana Lafayette) – Offensive line
84. Los Angeles RamsJordyn Brooks (Texas Tech) – Inside Linebacker
85. Philadelphia EaglesJeremy Chinn (Southern Illinois) – Safety
86. Buffalo BillsZack Moss (Utah) – Running Back
87. New England PatriotsKJ Hamler (Penn State) – Wide Receiver
88. New Orleans SaintsDarnay Holmes (UCLA) – Cornerback
89. Minnesota VikingsJake Fromm (Georgia) – Quarterback
90. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans) – Josh Uche (Michigan) – Edge
91. Las Vegas Raiders (via Seattle Seahawks) – K’Von Wallace (Clemson) – Safety
92. Baltimore RavensLogan Stenberg (Kentucky) – Interior Offensive Line
93. Tennessee TitansDarrell Taylor (Tennessee) – Edge
94. Green Bay PackersAdam Trautman (Dayton) – Tight End
95. Denver Broncos (via San Fransisco 49ers) – Ezra Cleveland (Boise State) – Offensive Tackle
96. Kansas City ChiefsRaekwon Davis (Alabama) – Defensive Tackle
97. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans)* – Michael Ojemudia (Iowa) – Cornerback
98. New England Patriots* – Nick Harris (Washington) – Interior Offensive Line
99. New York Giants* – Chase Claypool (Notre Dame) – Wide Receiver
100. New England Patriots*Brycen Hopkins (Purdue) – Tight End
101. Seattle Seahawks* – Kenny Willekes (Michigan State) – Edge
102. Pittsburgh Steelers* – Matt Peart (Uconn) – Offensive Tackle
103. Philadelphia Eagles* – Devin Duvernay (Texas) – Wide Receiver
104. Los Angeles Rams* – Jack Driscoll (Auburn) – Offensive Tackle
105. Minnesota Vikings* – Alohi Gilman (Notre Dame) – Safety
106. Baltimore Ravens* – Collin Johnson (Texas) – Wide Receiver
*= Compensatory Pick

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