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2020 NFL Mock Draft: Full first round with playoffs looming

By Brad Weiss

Joe Burrow, LSU Tigers. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Joe Burrow, LSU Tigers. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 03: Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) lines up for a play during a game between the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide on November 3, 2018 at Tiger Stadium, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 03: Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) lines up for a play during a game between the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide on November 3, 2018 at Tiger Stadium, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

. Offensive Lineman. Denver Broncos. Alex Leatherwood. 15. player. 45

The Denver Broncos capped off another below-.500 season with a win in front of the home fans on Sunday, as they held on for a one-point victory over the Oakland Raiders. While the Broncos finished with only seven wins, four of them came once they made the move to rookie quarterback Drew Lock, so that should excite the fan base.

This is a team that has been looking for a franchise quarterback since Peyton Manning retired, and the hope is that Lock is that guy. Looking ahead, they have to do something to protect him better, and a player like Alex Leatherwood from Alabama would be an excellent addition to an offensive line that really struggled in 2019.

Leatherwood has the talent to play both guard and tackle at the NFL level, and the Broncos could surely use some help in both spots. Garret Bolles has been terrible since being selected in the first round a few years back, and nearly cost the Broncos the win in Week 17, so replacing him may be the right thing at this point.

Atlanta Falcons. Yetur Gross-Matos. 16. player. 44. . Edge

The Atlanta Falcons put an exclamation point on a tough 2019 season on Sunday, as a pick-six gave them the come-from-behind victory over division rival Tampa Bay. The Falcons played well below their talent level this season, but won some games late in the year, and saved the job of head coach Dan Quinn.

Looking ahead, the Falcons should have enough talent on offense to get back in the conversation in the NFC South, but they need help on the defensive side of the ball. One area of need is coming off the edge, where Vic Beasley has taken a step back in recent years, and the team could use the talent of a guy like Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos going forward.

Gross-Matos has already declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, and on this Falcons defense, he could be the kind of addition that could help spring Beasley back into being a top edge rusher in the league. The Falcons are way too talented to finish outside of the playoffs in 2020, and after nearly losing his job this season, Quinn should have this team ready to go next season.

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