2020 NFL Mock Draft (With Special Guests)

The week, and almost the day, is upon us! The 2020 NFL Draft happens this Thursday, and for the first time in what feels like forever, we have something sports related to look forward to. The NFL world is buzzing with one of the most anticipated drafts in memory (partly because there is nothing else to talk about). So what we decided to do, was invite some experts, each of whom, has an allegiance to a different team, then we gave each participant three additional teams and we held a mock draft over zoom to simulate what could happen this weekend at the 2002 NFL Draft. 





If you are bored, which many of us are, this is a lot of fun, especially if your fan of football, plus you will get somewhat of an idea of how hard it is to be a general manager of a football team. This is not like drafting a fantasy football team, to have a deep knowledge of the game to conduct a three round mock draft is difficult, and to pretend you do, is even harder. 

I didn't even know Lenoir Rhyne was a school, I thought she played Kevin James's wife in King of Queens. 

But our experts came with it last night, and we had a very entertaining draft. Here are the participants and the original amount of picks they were responsible for:

Mike: 49ers(2), Dolphins(6), Bears(2), Buccaneers(3)         13

Kevin: Patriots(4), Chargers(3), Falcons(3), Colts(3)           13

Jeremy: Saints(2), Broncos(5), Browns(4), Packers(3)         14

Scott: Bills(2), Cowboys(3), Lions(4), Rams(4)                    13

Tim: Redskins(2), Chiefs(3), Panthers(3),Vikings(5)           13

Joe: Jets(4), Texans(2), Bengals(3), Seahawks(4)             13

Sam: Eagles(3), Ravens(5), Cardinals(2), Jaguars(4)        14

Pat: Giants(3), Steelers(2), Raiders(5), Titans(3)                 13

The draft took about two and half hours to complete, and that was mainly because we had to keep restarting the zoom because nobody wants to sign up and actually have to pay for it. 

But regardless, we had an outstanding time, and made some interesting picks. So here is our 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT:

ROUND 1

1. Joe Burrow, QB LSU



2. Chase Young, DE Ohio State



3. Isaiah Simmons, OLB Clemson



4. Tristan Wirfs, OT Iowa



5. Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama


6. Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama


7. Jeffrey Okudah, CB Ohio State



8. Mekhi Becton, OT Louisville 

9. CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma



10. Andrew Thomas,OT Georgia



11. Jedrick Wills, OT Alabama



12. Derrick Brown, DT Auburn

13. Henry Ruggs III, WR Alabama


14. Javon Kinlaw, DT South Carolina


15. C.J. Henderson, CB Florida



16. Kenneth Murray, OLB Oklahoma



17. Grant Delpit, S LSU



18. Justin Herbert, QB Oregon





19. K’Lavon Chaisson, OLB LSU





20. Josh Jones, OT Houston





21. Brandon Aiyuk, WR Arizona State


22. Patrick Queen, OLB LSU


23. Cesar Ruiz, C Michigan

 
 

24. Justin Jefferson, WR LSU



25. Trevon Diggs, CB Alabama



26. Xavier McKinney, S Alabama


27. D’Andre Swift, RB Georgia


28. Kristian Fulton, CB LSU



29. A.J. Terrell, CB Clemson





30. Tee Higgins, WR Clemson




31. Antoine Winfield Jr., S Minnesota





32. Jeff Gladney, CB TCU

ROUND 1 RECAP

Trades A Plenty! 

So our experts see lots of trades happening. 

Its either that or they are way to excited to be pretend GMs for a day. 

But the trades that took place in our mock first round were very well timed, and matched the needs of all the teams involved. The Vikings were very aggressive trying to trade up into the first round, and some would say they took advantage of the technical difficulties of the San Francisco 49ers who tried having a digital draft in a cave or something. The Vikings were able to use morse code, or something, and struck a deal with San Fran to land Henry Ruggs III, a nice addition to try and fill the role left behind by Stephon Diggs. 

The Giants also made a splash in the first round, and really set the tone for their next several seasons, by putting all of their eggs into the 2020 draft basket, sending future picks to get back up into the first round to get Tee Higgins. A savvy move to get Daniel Jones a playmaker on the outside after adding some help to the offensive line with their first pick in the draft. The Giants made a lot of noise in the first round, but it's what GM Pat does in the 2nd and 3rd rounds that will beg the question:

Does Coors Light and a love for Notre Dame players go together on draft night? 

Best Pick of the Round: Justin Heubert, QB, Oregon (Miami, 18th Overall) 

GM Dubs played it well in the first round, really well, by going with the best receiver in the draft Jerry Jeudy, and gambling that Heubert would be there in the middle of the first round, and in Aaron Rodgers fashion, he was correct. Heubert steps into a great fictional situation with Miami, without having the pressure of being a top 5 pick. 

Worst Pick of the Round: Brandon Aiyuk, WR Arizona State (Philadelphia, 21st Overall)

GM Sam operated under the principle of 'pick your top guy on the board' rather than the actual board. And while Aiyuk is a good prospect coming out of ASU, he's far from a number 1 or 2 receiver in the NFL. Which is what the Eagles really needed (among other things). If Aiyuk was the guy, the Eagles needed to trade down and then select him, but choosing him over Jefferson or Higgins may prove to be a mistake. 

ROUND 2 

33. Austin Jackson, OT USC



34. Jordan Love, QB Utah State



35. J.K. Dobbins, RB Ohio State



36. Jalen Reagor, WR TCU




37. Ezra Cleveland, OT Boise State


38. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE Penn State



39. Isaiah Wilson, OT Georgia



40. Jeremy Chinn, S Southern Illinois





41. A.J. Epenesa, DE Iowa



42. Cole Kmet, TE Notre Dame



43. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR Colorado



44. Denzel Mims, WR Baylor



45. Marlon Davidson, DE Auburn



46. Julian Okwara, DE Notre Dame



47. Jaylon Johnson, CB Utah



48. Terrell Lewis, OLB Alabama


49. Joshua Uche, OLB Michigan



50. K.J. Hamler, WR Penn State




51. Lloyd Cushenberry, C LSU



52. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT Auburn



53. Curtis Weaver, DE Boise State



54. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE Missouri



55. Zack Baun, OLB Wisconsin



56. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB LSU



57. Michael Pittman Jr., WR USC




58. Lucas Niang, OT TCU



59. Jonathan Taylor, RB Wisconsin


60. Matt Hennessy, C Temple


61. Tyler Biadasz, C Wisconsin




62. Ross Blacklock, DT TCU

63. Noah Igbinoghene, CB Auburn


64. Raekwon Davis, DT Alabama

ROUND 2 RECAP 

Jordan Love comes off the board

While many are touting the Utah State quarterback as a first round pick, Love's fall is harder than Heubert. No team traded back into the first round, but it didn't take long in the second round for him to find a home, because sitting there was Indianapolis. Since Andrew Luck's departure, the Colts are in need for a suitable replacement, and landing Love in the second provides them a low risk investment for finding a replacement, for now. If Love proves to be the goods, they found their heir apparent, but if Love and the Colts have another subpar year, they may be in the market for another QB in 2021. 

There were some really creative picks in this round as our GMS were able to find some great value, and make some 'interesting trades'. GM Tim was able to steal Jonathon Taylor for the Chiefs, which was a brilliant move. Kansas City had been lacking an impact player in their run games since the Kareem Hunt debacle, and Taylor, this late in the second round could provide Andy Reid the workhorse back he is accustom to having. Granted Mahomes will still throw about 30-40 times a game, but small doses of Taylor is a nice addition. 

Best Pick of the Round: K.J. Hamler, WR Penn State (Washington, #50) 

But GM Tim's best move in the 2nd round was trading up for K.J. Hamler. The Redskins need a playmaker for Dwayne Haskins if they are going to get a good read on him, as to whether or not, he factors into new coach Ron Rivera's plan. Hamler is a first round talent, who can make big catches in traffic. And based on what we have seen from Haskins, he is going to deliver the ball in those exact situations (whether intentional or not). 

Worst Pick of the Round: Jalen Reagor, WR TCU (New Orleans #36)

GM Jeremy did a terrific job on draft night. All of his teams grade out very well, including his Saints, who did a lot of trading back and acquiring picks for next season. Now perhaps the plan is to find Drew Brees's successor in next year's draft, like a Trevor Lawerence or a Justin Fields. However using this pick, to select the 9-10th best receiver in the draft seemed liked a waste. Especially considering the defensive talent that remained on the board that the Saints could of used (Matos and Epenesa who project to go in the first round). 

ROUND 3

65. Kyle Dugger, S Lenoir Rhyne


66. Jabari Zuniga, DE Florida



67. Jalen Hurts, QB Oklahoma



68. Jason Strowbridge, DT UNC



69. Justin Madubuike, DT Texas A&M



70. Adam Trautman, TE Dayton



71. Harrison Bryant, TE FAU



72. Hunter Bryant, TE Washington



73. Neville Gallimore, DT Oklahoma



74. Devin Duvernay, WR Texas



75. Chase Claypool, WR Notre Dame



76. John Simpson, G Clemson 

77. Gabriel Davis, WR UCF



78. Jacob Eason, QB Washington



79. Ashtyn Davis, S Cal


80. Malik Harrison, OLB Ohio State



81. Collin Johnson, WR Texas



82. Akeem Davis-Gaither, OLB Appalachian State




83. Jordan Elliott, DT Missouri



84. Jacob Phillips, ILB LSU



85. Damon Arnette, CB Ohio State



86. Bradlee Anae, DE Utah




87. Khalid Kareem, DE Notre Dame



88. Lynn Bowden, WR Kentucky



89. James Lynch, DT Baylor




90. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR Michigan


91. Matt Peart, OT UConn

92. Bryan Edwards, WR South Carolina


93. Tyler Johnson, WR Minnesota


94. Ben Bartch, OT St. John's




95. Logan Wilson, ILB Wyoming



96. Joe Bachie, ILB Michigan State



97. Jonathan Greenard, OLB Florida


98. Troy Dye, ILB Oregon



99. Troy Pride Jr., CB Notre Dame



100. Bryce Hall, CB UVA



101. Keith Ismael, C San Diego State



102. K.J. Hill, WR Ohio State 

103. Darnay Holmes, CB UCLA



104. Jake Fromm, QB Georgia



105. K'Von Wallace, S Clemson



106. Cameron Dantzler, CB Mississippi State 

ROUND 3 RECAP 

So how many Wyoming and St. John's games have you watched this year? 

This is when things got difficult. 

All of us here have watched our fair share of College Football this season, but unless you do it as a full time job (or are not married with children) it's tough to know the prospects once you get out of the 2nd round. But needless to say, our experts did their homework and had a few steals up their sleeves. GM Pat found some really good value picks in the third round, even though he was 3-5 beers in, especially as the Raiders GM getting Bryce Hall (CB from Virginia) and Troy Dye (LB from Oregon) creating an epic defensive draft for the Raiders, who, based on his picks, could have the next top ten defense in 2 years time. Even though he did not address the offense, Oakland gave up the 9th most points in the league last year, something sure to improve with this draft. 

Best Pick of the Round: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota  (Dallas, #93) 

GM Scott had some nice picks in this draft as well, and it was one of his later picks that really shined (Not the Lions selecting JK Dobbins early in the 2nd). Johnson is one of the gems of this draft, and falling as far as he did was borderline inexcusable, but him landing in Dallas is a phenomenal get, and a much needed weapon. At this point, Das needs all of the help he can get. 

Worst Pick of the Round: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington (Atlanta, #78)

And this was not one of my better moments. The Falcons may have to move on from Matt Ryan, and one day they will have to truly blow up this team in order to do so. However, the first dominos would have to fall, which would include a new GM and a new Head Coach. If Dan Quinn were to make this selection, especially in the 3rd round, he would more than likely seal his fate as head coach of the Falcons. But if he doesn't win in 2020, he may have sealed it already. 

TEAM GRADES

1) Mike: 49ers (B-), Dolphins (A), Bears (C), Buccaneers (B-) OVERALL: B+

2) Tim: Redskins (B+), Chiefs (B), Panthers (B-), Vikings (B-) OVERALL: B

3) Joe: Jets (B-), Texans (C-), Bengals (B), Seahawks (A-) OVERALL: B

4) Scott: Bills (B-), Cowboys (B-), Lions (B-), Rams (B+) OVERALL: B

5) Pat: Giants (B-), Steelers (B-), Raiders (B+), Titans (C) OVERALL: B

6) Sam: Eagles (C+), Ravens (B), Cardinals (B-), Jaguars (B-) OVERALL: B-

7) Jeremy: Saints (C+), Broncos (B), Browns (B), Packers (B-) OVERALL: B-

8) Myself: Patriots (C), Chargers (B-), Falcons (C), Colts (B) OVERALL: C+