2020 NFL mock draft: Ron Rivera gets his defensive cornerstone
By Brad Weiss
The Washington Redskins hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and head coach Ron Rivera will be in line to get a franchise defensive talent.
The 2020 NFL Combine will kick off this week, as teams begin preparing their draft boards for the 2020 NFL Draft. The Washington Redskins hold the No. 2 overall pick, and after bringing in a defensive-minded head coach in Ron Rivera, they add the best defensive player in the draft class early on.
Here is our latest 2020 NFL mock draft.
1. player. 56. . Quarterback. Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow
The Cincinnati Bengals are officially on the clock, and with the first overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, they change the face of their franchise. After rolling with Andy Dalton as their quarterback since the 2011 NFL season, the Bengals make a move under center, bringing in LSU star Joe Burrow.
The 2019 college football season was a magical one for Burrow, as he threw for 60 touchdowns, led his team to a national title, and won the Heisman Trophy. This is a kid who will come in and be able to start right away at the NFL level, and would be inheriting a Bengals team in full rebuild mode.
The Bengals do have a solid running back in Joe Mixon, but star wideout A.J. Green is entering free agency, and there should be a ton of changes on the offensive side of the ball. First-year head coach Zac Taylor had this team playing hard all of last season, and with a reset pushed at quarterback, the franchise should start trending in the right direction.
Chase Young. 2. player. 58. . Edge. Washington Commanders
The Washington Redskins are hitting the reset button with their franchise, bringing in a veteran head coach in Ron Rivera this offseason. This is a guy who led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl not too long ago, and he will bring a whole new culture into the building in our Nation’s Capital.
Rivera has already made his presence known, releasing some big-name players, including cornerback Josh Norman. Staying on that side of the ball, the Redskins are looking for a leader on their defense, and they get one in the person of Chase Young, who just happens to be the best overall player in this draft class.
Young did not finish the season strong for the Ohio State Buckeyes statistics-wise, but he was getting doubled on every play, allowing his teammates to make an impact. At the next level, this is a guy who is going to be a double-digit sack machine, bringing stability, and legitimacy to this Redskins defense.