2020 NFL mock draft: Saints take Joe Burrow
By Brad Weiss
New York Giants. A.J. Epenesa. 9. player. 31. . Edge
The New York Giants made the choice early last week to roll with rookie quarterback Daniel Jones in Week 3, and boy did the kid from Duke come up big. Jones not only threw for over 330 yards in the Giants come from behind win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he also rushed for two scores, and threw for two scores, leading the Giants to a 32-31 victory in his debut.
That was the kind of win that will have Giants fans buzzing, but it did come with a cost, as Saquon Barkley will be out for a while with a high ankle sprain. The Giants should show some flashes this season, but do not figure to be a real player in the NFC East, and should be picking in the top-10 when the 2020 NFL Draft rolls around.
With that pick, they have to get better on the defensive side of the ball, and bringing in a talented edge rusher like A.J. Epenesa from Iowa makes a lot of sense. The Giants just get no pass rush, and they are not talented on all three levels of the defense, but Epenesa is a difference-maker, and would instantly upgrade the Giants on the edges in year one.
10. player. 52. . Wide Receiver. Jacksonville Jaguars. CeeDee Lamb
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a folk hero under center for the foreseeable future, as Gardner Minshew has taken over in a big way for the Jags. The former Washington State Cougar has electrified fans of not only the team, but also the NFL, thanks for his gutsy performances on the field, and his star power off of it.
On Thursday night, Minshew and company went into Tennessee and the beat division rival Titans, putting an end to a two-game losing streak to start the season. For Minshew, he may be the long-term solution in Jacksonville, even with Nick Foles getting so much money this offseason, but they need more help at wideout no matter who is under center.
Enter CeeDee Lamb, who is one of the better wideout prospects in this draft class, and should be an early pick next April. He would be a perfect fit for a Jaguars team that is looking for more weapons on the outside, and based on his skill set, and speed, Lamb is someone who will be a legitimate deep threat early in his career at the NFL level.