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Updated 2020 NFL Draft order: Bengals win Joe Burrow sweepstakes

By John Buhler

Zac Taylor, Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Zac Taylor, Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Cincinnati Bengals have the right to draft Joe Burrow No. 1 in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here is the updated draft order of who’s picking in the top 10.

We have only one week left in the 2019 NFL season. While many teams have punched their tickets into the postseason, several others have one more week left before getting ready for the 2020 NFL Draft. On Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals’ latest loss to the Miami Dolphins in overtime solidified them as the team picking No. 1 in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Cincinnati fell to 1-14 on the year and can finish no better than 2-14 this season. No other team in football can finish with a record worse than 3-13 other than the Bengals. With this defeat, the Bengals have won the Joe Burrow sweepstakes. They can draft the 2019 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback No. 1 out of LSU if they feel so inclined.

Of course, the Bengals may still have a use for Andy Dalton in 2020 for some reason because they’re the Bengals. So they might want to use that top pick to draft Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Chase Young with that top selection. Otherwise, the Chuck Bednarik Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist will almost certainly go to the team picking No. 2.

With only one week left before the regular season comes to an end, here is the updated 2020 NFL Draft order through Week 16. Who is picking in the top five, the top 10 and who is just on the outside looking in at one of those selection tiers?

2020 NFL Draft top 10 through Week 16

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (1-14)
  2. Washington Redskins (3-12)
  3. Detroit Lions (3-11-1)
  4. Miami Dolphins (4-11)
  5. New York Giants (4-11)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
  7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10)
  8. Carolina Panthers (5-10)
  9. Arizona Cardinals (5-9-1)
  10. New York Jets (6-9)

Cincinnati has locked up the No. 1 spot, so the Bengals will get to take whichever player they think will make them not the worst team in football next year. In the No. 2 position and the pole position to draft Young out of Ohio State would be the Washington Redskins at 3-12. A loss on the road to the Dallas Cowboys would ensure them that they’ll be picking No. 2.

Coming in at No. 3 would be the rudderless Detroit Lions at 3-11-1. Head coach Matt Patricia is coming back in 2020 for some reason, as he has the excuse of his starting quarterback Matthew Stafford getting hurt. The Lions need a lot of help and might even look to move off Stafford if they don’t buy into his health long-term.

Picking No. 4 would be the Miami Dolphins at 4-11, edging out the New York Giants picking at No. 5, who beat the Dolphins head-to-head in Week 15. Miami is likely to go with a quarterback, while New York probably needs a pass rusher or an elite defensive playmaker.

The team picking at No. 6 would be the Los Angeles Chargers at 5-10, edging out both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers. Los Angeles is 0-5 in divisional play and will likely look to draft Philip Rivers’ replacement in the top 10.

Jacksonville lost to Carolina earlier this season, so the Jaguars will be picking No. 7 overall. They could go in a lot of directions, possibly even at quarterback if they don’t think Gardner Minshew is worth starting full-time next year. Carolina will pick at No. 8 and may go with a quarterback as well if they don’t think Cam Newton is a trustworthy option in 2020 and beyond because of his health.

The team picking at No. 9 will be the Arizona Cardinals at 5-9-1. They have their franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray, so they could go with a defensive playmaker, an offensive weapon or an elite offensive line prospect. Arizona could also be a likely trade partner for a team picking outside of the top 10 that is desperate for a quarterback.

Next: Every NFL Team's Best Draft Pick Of All-Time

And the last team pick in the top 10 will be the New York Jets at 6-9. They edge out the Atlanta Falcons, the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos because they have a worse divisional record this season. This is a pick where the Jets will look to get starting quarterback Sam Darnold some help on the offensive side of the ball.

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