2020 NFL mock draft: Joe Burrow to save the Bengals
By Brad Weiss
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kristian Fulton. 17. player. 48. . Cornerback
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gotten strong play from quarterback Jameis Winston in recent weeks, and while he still is having issues with the interceptions, he has been putting up monster numbers. With Winston, you are going to get the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows, and it remains to be seen whether or not they move on from him in 2020.
In fact, the Bucs could put a franchise tag on him, giving him another season with Bruce Arians while they weigh their options in 2021 and beyond. In the 2020 NFL Draft, if they do pass on a quarterback, they have to get better in the defensive backfield, bringing in Kristian Fulton from LSU.
Fulton is regarded as the second-best cornerback in this draft class, so getting him at No. 17 overall would be a steal for the Bucs. This is a team that plays in the NFC South, which has some elite quarterbacks, so if they cannot do a better job in defending against the pass, they are never going to make it back to the top of the division.
28. . Wide Receiver. Las Vegas Raiders. Henry Ruggs III. 18. player
The Las Vegas Raiders will hold two first round picks in 2020, and after seeing what they did with their three first rounders in 2019, you have to think the future is bright for the Silver and Black. After addressing a major need with their first pick, bringing in Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, they add a piece to their biggest weakness on offense, selecting a wideout at No. 18.
Last year, the Raiders made a killing in bringing in players from big schools like Clemson and Alabama, and with their second pick in the first next April, they should add Alabama wideout Henry Ruggs III. Ruggs is an absolute burner, and after seeing how bad the Raiders wide receivers were this season, Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden have to use one of their first rounders on that position group in 2020.
It still remains to be seen if Derek Carr will be the quarterback of this franchise moving forward, and some mock drafts have the Raiders trading away these picks for a higher pick to get a new signal-caller. I do not see that happening, as Gruden will want experience under center in their first season in Las Vegas, and Carr has proven he can lead this team in the past.