2020 NFL mock draft: Bengals land Justin Herbert
By Brad Weiss
48. . Edge. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A.J. Epenesa. 11. player
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a tale of two games through the first two weeks of the season, looking lost in a Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, an then beating a division rival in the Carolina Panthers on the road in Week 2. This is a team that is going to struggle to put wins together in 2019, and they should certainly be picking in the top half of the 2020 NFL Draft.
With that selection, Tampa Bay has to get better along the defensive line, as some of their key edge rushers are starting to get up there in age. With the No. 11 overall pick in 2020, they should look to add a player like A.J. Epenesa from Iowa, who is one of the more dangerous edge rushers in college football.
Jason Pierre-Paul is not getting any younger, and is coming up on the end of his contract in 2020, so adding talent in round one next April at that position is paramount. There is still a ton of question marks regarding quarterback Jameis Winston, but if the Buccaneers are picking outside of the top-10, and the top signal-callers are gone, going edge rusher makes a lot of sense.
player. 28. . Safety/LB. Las Vegas Raiders. Isaiah Simmons. 12
The Oakland Raiders surprised a lot of people in Week 1, as they took on the Denver Broncos at home, and basically dominated on both sides of the ball. Outside of a historic second quarter by Patrick Mahomes in Week 2, the defense also looked pretty good, but they have a lot of work to do as they move to Las Vegas.
Enter Isaiah Simmons, a freakishly good athlete who is a kind of linebacker and safety hybrid. He could do wonders for the Silver and Black in Paul Guenther’s defense, which is based around speedy linebackers, and safeties who want to come up and make the big hit. Las Vegas will need help in both areas.
This is a Raiders team that looks fine on offense for the most part, and unlike other media members, I do not expect them to move away from Derek Carr as they enter Vegas. Look for them to utilize their first of two first round picks on the defensive side of the ball, and Simmons would be an absolute steal for their defense at No. 12 overall.