Final 2020 NFL Mock Draft

It’s draft day! Hopeful NFL fans are optimistic and excited, ready for their favorite team to ace the draft. For some fanbases, the reality may be more disappointing. Part of the fun of the NFL Draft is the uncertainty of it. "Chalk" mock drafts rarely turn out to be even remotely accurate.

Creating a mock draft for accuracy is usually an exercise in futility. After the first trade, the whole thing usually crumbles. No matter how much scouting, research, and Vegas line-reading someone can do - mocks are tough. So why make one? Because that's just what draftniks do.

This is my final stab at it. You can also see my Mock Draft 1.0 and Mock Draft 2.0. These NFL Draft projections are what I believe will happen tonight, not what I would do if I were making the picks.

Round One - The Top 10

1. Bengals - Joe Burrow - QB, LSU

Joe Burrow is probably on Day 14 of install at this point.

2.Redskins - Chase Young - EDGE, Ohio St.

Chase Young will help give the Redskins one of the best defensive lines in football next year.

Projected Trade – Dolphins get pick No. 3.  Lions get picks No. 5 and No. 39.

3. Dolphins (f/DET) - Tua Tagovailoa - QB, Alabama

It doesn't make any sense for the Dolphins to make this move for anyone but Tua Tagovailoa.

4. Giants - Tristan Wirfs - OT, Iowa

The Giants go with Tristan Wirfs because of his right tackle experience and athleticism.

5. Lions (f/MIA) - Derrick Brown - DT, Auburn

The Lions could go Jeff Okudah here, but reports say they are high on Derrick Brown. 

Projected Trade – Falcons get pick No. 6.  Chargers get picks No. 16, No. 47 and a 2021 1^st-round pick.

6. Falcons (f/LAC) - Jeff Okudah - CB, Ohio State

Rumors are swirling about the Falcons trading up for an impact defender.

7. Panthers - Isaiah Simmons - LB, Clemson

The Panthers need help at safety and linebacker.  Isaiah Simmons can play safety and linebacker.

8. Cardinals - Andrew Thomas - OT, Georgia

The Cardinals could go C.J. Henderson here, but decide Andrew Thomas is the best player available.

Projected Trade – Buccaneers get pick No. 9.  Jaguars get picks No. 14 and No. 45.

9. Buccaneers (f/ARI) - Jedrick Wills Jr. - OT, Alabama

The Buccaneers need to protect Tom Brady.  Jedrick Wills Jr. gave up just one sack at Alabama.

Projected Trade – Eagles get pick No. 10.  Browns get picks No. 21, No. 53, and No. 103.

10. Eagles (f/CLE) - CeeDee Lamb - WR, Oklahoma

This draft is deep at wide receiver, but the Eagles jump the Jets for Carson Wentz’s future WR1.

Round One - #11-20

11. Jets - Mekhi Becton - OT, Louisville

The Jets miss out on Lamb so go tackle before focusing on receivers on day two.

12. Raiders - C.J. Henderson 

The Raiders have a need at cornerback and C.J. Henderson has shutdown potential.

13. 49ers (f/IND) - Henry Ruggs III - WR, Alabama

The 49ers go with the speedy teammate of Jerry Jeudy due to question marks about Jeudy’s knee.

14. Jaguars (f/TB) - Javon Kinlaw - DT, S. Carolina

The Jaguars wanted Javon Kinlaw all along and add some extra picks in the process.

15. Broncos - Justin Jefferson - WR, LSU

The Broncos need an outside wide receiver and a slot wide receiver.  Justin Jefferson can play both.  Not at the same time, though.  I think.

16. Chargers (f/ATL) - K'Lavon Chaisson - EDGE, LSU

The Chargers move down and pass on a quarterback for a high-upside pass-rusher.

17. Cowboys - Jerry Jeudy - WR, Alabama

The Cowboys are thrilled to land a sliding Leon Lett - I mean Jerry Jeudy.

18. Dolphins (f/PIT) - Xavier McKinney - S, Alabama

The Dolphins add a starting safety with a pick they got for trading a starting safety.

19. Raiders (f/CHI) - Denzel Mims - WR, Baylor

The Raiders can't pass on the dominant traits of Denzel Mims.

20. Jaguars (f/LAR) - Trevon Diggs - CB, Alabama

Trevon Diggs is rising up boards as the Jaguars continue to re-tool their defense.

Round One - #21-32

21. Browns (f/PHI) - Ezra Cleveland - OT, Boise St.

Ezra Cleveland lands in Cleveland as the Browns stockpile picks.

22. Vikings (f/BUF) - A.J. Terrell - CB, Clemson

The Vikings have a desperate need at cornerback.

23. Patriots - Justin Herbert - QB, Oregon

In the 2011 NFL Draft, Bill Belichick used the 74^th overall pick on Ryan Mallett.  Justin Herbert is like Ryan Mallett, but if he had a scantron.

24. Saints - Kenneth Murray - LB, Oklahoma

Kenneth Murray can step in and call the defense for Dennis Allen on day one.

25. Vikings - Michael Pittman Jr. - WR, USC

In a surprise pick, Michael Pittman Jr. and strong hands go to Minnesota.

26. Dolphins (f/HOU) - Jonathan Taylor - RB, Wisconsin

Brian Flores comes from New England, where a pounding early-down running back has some value.  Jonathan Taylor can be the Dolphins non-terrible version of Sony Michel.

27. Seahawks - Austin Jackson - OT, USC

When this pick turns out to be Cam Akers or Zack Moss, Seahawks fans will still defend John Schneider.  Schneider had an all-time great draft in 2012, but hasn’t hit on a first-round pick once since then.

28. Ravens - Patrick Queen - LB, LSU

Patrick Queen won’t call the defense, but he’ll run really fast and hit people, which fits the Ravens style.

29. Titans - A.J. Epenesa - EDGE, Iowa

A.J. Epenesa’s poor three-cone time might be a bad omen, but his toughness and length fit in well with Mike Vrabel’s smashmouth tendencies.

30. Packers - Jalen Reagor - WR, TCU

The Packers need a deep threat for Aaron Rodgers.  Jalen Reagor has speed to burn.

Projected Trade – Chargers get pick No. 31.  49ers get picks No. 37 and No. 71.

31. Chargers (f/SF) - Jalen Hurts - QB, Oklahoma

Lamar Jackson may have changed the way teams evaluate running quarterbacks.  The Bolts trade up to get the fifth-year option on Jalen Hurts.

32. Chiefs - Cesar Ruiz - C, Michigan

It makes perfect sense for a team that lacks speed like the Chiefs want to move up for Henry Ruggs III.  That turns out to be smoke as they stay put and add yet another slow-footed player to their anemic offense.

Round 2

33. Bengals - Cole Kmet - TE, Notre Dame
34. Colts (f/WAS) - Jordan Love - QB, Utah St.
35. Lions - Yetur Gross-Matos -EDGE, Penn St.
36. Giants - Matt Hennessy - C, Temple
37. 49ers (f/LAC) - Kristian Fulton - CB, LSU
38. Panthers - Jordyn Brooks - LB, Texas Tech
39. Lions (f/MIA) - D'Andre Swift - RB, Georgia
40. Texans (f/ARI) - Curtis Weaver - EDGE, Boise State
41. Browns - Antoine Winfield Jr. - S, Minnesota
42. Jaguars - Isaiah Wilson - OT, Georgia
43. Bears (f/LVR) - Grant Delpit - S, LSU
44. Colts - Damon Arnette - CB, Ohio St.
45. Jaguars (f/TB) - Jonathan Greenard - EDGE, Florida
46. Broncos - Malik Harrison - LB, Ohio St.
47. Chargers (f/ATL) - Brandon Aiyuk - WR, Arizona St.
48. Jets - Tee Higgins - WR, Clemson
49. Steelers - Jaylon Johnson - CB, Utah
50. Bears - Josh Jones - OT, Houston
51. Cowboys - Jeff Gladney - CB, TCU
52. Rams - Zack Baun - EDGE, Wisconsin
53. Browns (f/PHI) - Neville Gallimore - DL, Oklahoma
54. Bills - J.K. Dobbins - RB, Ohio St.
55. Ravens (f/NE t/ATL) - Ross Blacklock - DL, TCU
56. Dolphins (f/NO) - Lloyd Cushenberry - C, LSU
57. Rams (f/HOU) - Terrell Burgess - SCB, Utah
58. Vikings - Josh Jones - OT, Houston
59. Seahawks - Cam Akers - RB, Florida St.
60. Ravens - Laviska Shenault Jr. - WR, Colorado
61. Titans - Raekwon Davis DL Alabama            
62. Packers - Logan Wilson LB Wyoming
63. Chiefs (f/SF) - Clyde Edwards-Helaire - RB, LSU
64. Seahawks (f/KC) - Darrell Taylor - EDGE, Tennessee

Round 3                               

65. Bengals - Julian Okwara - EDGE, Notre Dame
66. Redskins - Jeremy Chinn - S, Southern Illinois
67. Lions - Lucas Niang - OT, TCU
68. Jets (f/NYG) - Josh Uche - EDGE, Michigan
69. Panthers - Kyle Dugger - S, Lenoir-Rhyne
70. Dolphins - Jordan Elliot - DL, Missouri
71. 49ers (f/LAC) - Justin Madubuike - DL, Texas A&M
72. Cardinals - K.J. Hamler - WR, Penn St.
73. Jaguars - Bryan Edwards - WR, S. Carolina
74. Browns - Damien Lewis - OG, LSU
75. Colts - Tyler Johnson - WR, Minnesota
76. Buccaneers - Marlon Davidson - EDGE, Auburn
77. Broncos Noah Igbinoghene CB       Auburn          
78. Falcons - Davon Hamilton - DT, Ohio St.
79. Jets - Lynn Bowden Jr. - WR, Kentucky
80. Raiders - Jacob Eason - QB, Washington
81. Raiders (f/CHI) - Chase Claypool - WR, Notre Dame
82. Cowboys - Ashtyn Davis - S, Cal
83. Broncos (f/PIT) - Ben Bartch - OG, St. Josephs
84. Rams - Matt Peart - OT, Connecticut
85. Lions (f/PHI) - Zack Moss - RB, Utah
86. Bills - Bryce Hall - CB, Virginia
87. Patriots - Anfernee Jennings - EDGE, Alabama
88. Saints - Antonio Gibson - WR, Memphis
89. Vikings - Reggie Robinson II - CB, Tulsa
90. Texans - Jason Strowbridge - DT, North Carolina
91. Raiders (f/SEA) - Jonah Jackson - OG, Ohio St.
92. Ravens - Jabari Zuniga - EDGE, Florida
93. Titans - Devin Duvernay - WR, Texas
94. Packers - James Lynch - DL, Baylor
95. Broncos (f/SF) - Donovan Peoples-Jones - WR, Michigan
96. Chiefs - Cameron Dantzler - CB, Mississippi St.
97. Browns (f/HOU)* - Amik Robertson - CB, La. Tech
98. Patriots* - Alton Robinson - EDGE, Syracuse
99. Giants* - Terrell Lewis - EDGE, Alabama
100. Patriots* - Antonio Gandy-Golden - WR, Liberty
101. Seahawks* - Nick Harris - C, Washington
102. Steelers* - Saahdiq Charles - OT, LSU
103. Browns (f/PHI)* - Akeem Davis-Gaither - LB, App. State
104. Rams* - Van Jefferson - WR, Florida
105. Vikings* - Isaiah Hodgins - WR, Oregon St.
106. Ravens* - John Simpson - OG, Clemson

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