2020 NFL mock draft: Joe Burrow moves to the head of the pack

2020 NFL mock draft: Justin Herbert goes to the Chargers

By Brad Weiss | Oct 23, 2019

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 31: Oregon Ducks Quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the Redbox Bowl between the Michigan State Spartans and the Oregon Ducks at Levi's Stadium on December 31, 2018 in Santa Clara, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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IOWA CITY, IOWA – SEPTEMBER 07: Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates his sack during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Edge. Arizona Cardinals. A.J. Epenesa. 17. player. 32.

The Arizona Cardinals have hit their stride in their first season with Kliff Kingsbury as head coach, and head into Week 8 fresh off their third straight victory. Rookie quarterback Kyler Murray has looked outstanding in his first season in the league, and this past weekend, the other side of the ball really stepped up against the New York Giants.

While the team is set at quarterback for the foreseeable future, they could look to the defense when it comes to bringing in their first round pick next April. While Chandler Jones is one of the better pass rushing talents the league has to offer, a guy like A.J. Epenesa from Iowa would be a nice compliment to him on the edges next season.

Of course, Epenesa is an elite edge rushing talent, and he could certainly be gone by the time the Cardinals pick at No. 17. Still, imagine a world where he and Jones are flying off the edge every play, because that is a world that would be a complete nightmare for opposing quarterbacks for years to come.

Linebacker. Las Vegas Raiders. Dylan Moses. 18. player. 28.

For the second straight year, the Raiders will select in the first round instead of the Chicago Bears, as the Bears traded both their 2019 and 2020 first round picks to the Silver and Black for Khalil Mack prior to the 2018 NFL season. During the 2019 NFL Draft, the Raiders hit the lottery by adding Alabama running back Josh Jacobs, who could be in line for Rookie of the Year honors this season.

In 2020, they could very well jump back into the Crimson Tide pool, bringing in arguably the most talented linebacker in this draft class. While Dylan Moses is coming back from a torn ACL, he would fill one of the bigger needs this Raiders franchise has had for years, and that is at the middle linebacker position.

Moses is a special talent, and has long been considered one of the better linebackers in the country. This is a Raiders team that drafted a ton from Alabama and Clemson in Mike Mayock’s first draft as general manager, and you can expect him to go back to that well once again next April.

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