Photo credit: theathletic.com
The Black Squirrel Radio Sports Staff is back with another 2020 first-round NFL mock draft. Check back every two weeks to see the latest NFL mock draft from the members of the BSR Sports Department. With that being said, let’s get into the picks!
1. Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow, QB, LSU (Dylan Bowers- Sports Director. Co-host of Victory Formation)
Everyone in the solar system, including the habitants of planet Neptune, expect the Bengals to select the Heisman and national championship winner that set the college football world on fire this year. Of course, this consensus is correct. Joe Burrow, the hometown boy, is coming back to save you Cincinnati. Rejoice in it, for the days of the “Red Rifle” are no more.
2. Washington Redskins- Chase Young, DE, OSU (Mason Lawlor- BSR Sports Staff)
Washington can’t pass on a game changing talent here at No. 2, especially at a cornerstone position. Defense in the NFL is all about pass rush, and Young has the tools to be one of the best.
3. Detroit Lions- Jeff Okudah, CB, OSU (Enzo Orlando- Sports Coordinator. Co-host of Pass the Mic Sports Talk)
The second best defensive player on the Buckeyes last season, Okudah is one of those guys who can change your teams’ defense chemistry, especially with the way he is able to cover receivers in man coverage.
4. New York Giants- Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson (Dylan)
The Giants could go offensive lineman here, but with a defense that ranked near the bottom fourth of the league, the Giants need defensive play makers. Simmons can play as a linebacker and defensive back, similar to potential teammate Jabrill Peppers. As one of the most athletic defenders in the country, the Giants would be getting a dynamic gadget at No. 4.
5. Miami Dolphins- Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon (Alex Wilcox- Host of The Wilcox Show)
This pick is inevitably dependent on Tua Tagovailoa’s medicals. If the medicals are promising, the Dolphins will be jumping for joy if he’s still on the board for them to take at No. 5. I’m banking on the results being not as promising. Tua will drop slightly and with that, the Rose Bowl and Senior Bowl standout Justin Herbert will eclipse him and head to South Beach.
6. Los Angeles Chargers- Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama (Brandon Lewis- Web Director. Host of Brandon’s World)
The fact Tagovailoa fell into the Chargers lap at No. 6 makes this pick a no-brainer for the Bolts. Coming off a hip injury, the young signal caller may not be ready to play right away, and the Chargers provide him with stability. The Chargers have a roster that can beat anybody and most of their key guys are young. Tyrod Taylor can take the reigns until Tagovailoa is ready.
7. Carolina Panthers- Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn (Sean Fitzgerald- Sports Coordinator. Co-host of Pass the Mic Sports Talk)
Dylan took my pick in Isiah Simmons to help with the Panthers now glaring needs at linebacker with Luke Kuechly retired. Instead, we’ll upgrade the defensive line with Brown. He’s a run stopper and powerful up front. While offensive line is a need, the defensive line may see many departures in a few weeks with free agency and cap casualties.
8. Arizona Cardinals- Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa (Sean)
Kyler Murray needs to stay upright. Wirfs is another offensive tackle from Iowa who has athleticism and can provide that right side blocking for Murray.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars- Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia (Christian Hinton- Host of The Christian Hinton Experiment)
I thought about picking wide receiver here for the Jags, but their most glaring need is offensive line. Assuming the Jaguars trade for or sign a quarterback, this would be the best first step in bolstering the OL.
10. Cleveland Browns- Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville (Brandon)
After the Browns miss out on the top two tackles in the draft, they MUST grab Becton here. As we all know, the only weak link on the Browns offense is the offensive line, so if they do not select an offensive lineman here, I don’t even know what to say.
11. New York Jets- CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma (Enzo)
The Jets need a big time receiver to upgrade the offense around Sam Darnold. This pick is a no-brainer. If Darnold is going to improve, he needs to have a better supporting cast.
12. Las Vegas Raiders- Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama (Christian)
Much like the Jets, the Raiders need more play makers at the WR position. Jeudy is arguably the best WR in this class. He’d fit in with Derek Carr or Tom Brady quite well.
13. Indianapolis Colts- Jordan Love, QB, Utah State (Enzo)
Jacoby Brissett is a good quarterback to have, but he is definitely not a franchise quarterback for the long run. Drafting and developing Jordan Love will be a great way to put the Colts back on track where they were before Andrew Luck retired.
14. Tampa Bay Buccanneers- Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina (Mason)
Tampa Bay needs to improve their line of scrimmage, and Kinlaw provides great value at No. 14. He’s a well rounded player with great character and will likely make an immediate impact on the front four.
15. Denver Broncos- Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama (Alex)
John Elway feels he may have finally hit home on a quarterback in the draft as Drew Lock showed promise towards the end of the 2019 season. Now, the job for the Broncos is to surround him with as much offensive help as possible. Other than Courtland Sutton, the Broncos have zero answers at receiver. Ruggs is an absolute burner and will prove to be a security blanket for Lock on the outside.
16. Atlanta Falcons- A. J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa (Quentin Griffin- Co-host of Victory Formation)
The Falcons need an edge presence to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable and could be looking to dump the salary of Vic Beasley. Epenesa could fill that void perfectly. If he is there at No. 16, the Falcons will pull the trigger.
17. Dallas Cowboys- C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida (Brandon)
The second best corner in the draft, Henderson’s ball skills are what the Cowboys need to fix their depleted back end.
18. Miami Dolphins- Josh Jones, OT, Houston (Enzo)
After grabbing their franchise quarterback in Herbert at No. 5, the Dolphins will grab a tackle to protect the QB, and Jones is one of the most athletic offensive lineman in this draft class.
19. Las Vegas Raiders- Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma (Alex)
The Raiders linebacking core has been in shambles for the better part of three seasons. Although Kenneth Murray, the versatile cover linebacker from the Sooners, is viewed as a fringe first round prospect, the Raiders will happily take him at No. 19 here. Expect Murray to immediately contribute in a starting capacity for Paul Guenther in Vegas.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars- Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson (Sean)
While going with a safety to help restock the defense is one way to rebuild this roster, the offense could use a dynamic wide out. Higgins can come in and play a big role right away, and whether it’s Nick Foles or Gardner Minshew under center, giving the Jaguars Higgins and also having Leonard Fournette in the backfield makes for a much more potent attack.
21. Philadelphia Eagles- Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU (Brandon)
My birds could go wide receiver here, but I’m going to say Howie Roseman addresses that position in free agency and later in the draft. The Eagles defensive backfield should look a whole lot different next year, and Fulton is a big physical corner. The Eagles also need help at linebacker and defensive line, but those positions can be addressed later in the draft and free agency as well.
22. Buffalo Bills- K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU (Christian)
If Chaisson actually falls to No. 22, the Bills would be stupid not to select him. Watch the tape, this LSU edge rusher has the talent of a top 15 pick.
23. New England Patriots- Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU (Mason)
New England needs play makers on offense to help out an aging Tom Brady. Jefferson has size and speed to give him an outside weapon he sorely missed last season.
24. New Orleans Saints- K. J. Hamler, WR, Penn State (Sean)
With Drew Brees back for at least one final season and do it all QB Taysom Hill the likely successor, giving Brees someone other than All-Pro Michael Thomas would be nice. The shifty and quick Hamler will be a nice complement to the current core of Thomas and Alvin Kamara in the Big Easy.
25. Minnesota Vikings- Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama (Quentin)
Let’s start with addressing a pressing need that I have been wanting to get off my chest; SKOL. Now… back to the pick! For my Vikings at No. 24, I would love to say they go out and get a tackle but with pressing needs by a ton of teams to address the tackle position, the OT field will be picked clean by now. The Vikes will address O-line in free agency, and this pick will be used on Trevon Diggs. Diggs size and speed match perfect with Mike Zimmer, and he can replace Xavier Rhodes perfectly on the outside.
26. Miami Dolphins- Terrell Lewis, DE/OLB, Alabama (Alex)
Let’s not forget that at the beginning of the 2019 season, we all thought that this rendition of the Miami Dolphins could be one of the worst teams in NFL history. That’s how atrocious this roster is on paper. This team has holes at literally every position. They need the three first-round picks they have this year desperately and will take a “best player remaining” approach here and take Terrell Lewis. When in doubt, take pro-ready defensive studs from Alabama. They rarely disappoint.
27. Seattle Seahawks- Austin Jackson, OT, USC (Mason)
Seattle needs to improve the edges of their lines as they have the offensive play makers necessary in Carson, Metcalf, and now Greg Olsen. Jackson is a long, athletic tackle who needs to develop but is a safe bet in the first-round.
28. Baltimore Ravens- Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State (Dylan)
Baltimore is going to add to their already solid defense and get a versatile guy who can rush the passer and create havoc, which is just what the junior did at Penn State this past season, racking up eight sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
29. Green Bay Packers- Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama (Quentin)
Having not taken a first-round wide receiver in almost two decades, the Cheese Heads will use this pick on the Alabama product. Coming off a 1,200 yard season that saw him complement Herny Ruggs well in Alabama, he will look to do the same as a second option to Devante Adams.
30. Tennessee Titans- Paulson Edebo, CB, Stanford (Quentin)
The Titans defense was a staple last year, and one of the reasons they made a run at the Super Bowl. Defense wins championships, and Mike Vrabel looks to continue that mantra here with the best defensive player available in Edebo.
31. San Francisco 49ers- Grant Dulpit, S, LSU (Christian)
Look, we’re all pretty comfortable with the depth of the front seven on the 49ers. While a tad weak at LB, the Niners may look to draft a safety here that can cover the field well
32. Kansas City Chiefs- D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia (Dylan)
Adding another dynamic play maker in Swift is a dream scenario for offensive guru Andy Reid and superstar QB Patrick Mahomes. The defending Super Bowl champions could look to bolster the protection upfront for Mahomes, but I think they take another gadget for Mahomes to take advantage of.