2020 NFL mock draft: Ron Rivera gets his defensive cornerstone

By Brad Weiss | Feb 26, 2020

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Chase Young (2) looks on during the 2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl college football playoff semifinal game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Clemson Tigers on December 28, 2019 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 31: Auburn Tigers defensive tackle Derrick Brown (#5) tries to work around the block of Oregon Ducks offensive tackle Penei Sewell (#58) during the Advocare Classic College Football game between the Auburn Tigers and the Oregon Ducks on August 31, 2019 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky) /

Carolina Panthers. Derrick Brown. 7. player. 87. . Defensive Tackle

The Carolina Panthers are having an interesting offseason, as they added a new head coach in Matt Rhule, and said goodbye to future Hall of Fame linebacker Luke Kuechly. In addition, they recently stated that they will stay with quarterback Cam Newton, who is either healthy enough to go back to being one of the best in the game, or will end up back on the injured list in 2020.

One thing is for sure, if the Panthers are going to be better in 2020, they have to get better along the defensive line. Sure, the Newton question has dominated the headlines, but if this team does not improve their defensive tackle spot, they are once again going to be one the NFC South teams on the outside looking in at the playoffs.

When it comes to this draft class, Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown is the best of the bunch at his position, and would be an outstanding fit on this defense. The NFC South is one of the more high-powered divisions offensively in football, and in Brown, the Panthers would be getting a player who is a menace against the run, and can chase down quarterbacks.

Wide Receiver. Arizona Cardinals. CeeDee Lamb. 8. player. 32.

The Arizona Cardinals are in good position to upgrade at the wide receiver spot holding the No. 8 overall selection in 2020, and they do so in our latest mock draft. Of all the players available at the position group, two really stand out to me, and that is Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb and Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy.

Last year, the Cardinals selected Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick, and this April, they bring in his buddy, and teammate, Lamb. This is a player who is going to be a dynamic playmaker at the NFL level, and reuniting him with Murray will prove to be a stroke of genius by head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Arizona needs help along the offensive line, and there are some special tackles in this draft class, but Lamb may be too hard to pass up. Larry Fitzgerald is not getting any older, and Christian Kirk is not a WR1, so why not add one of the more explosive players this draft class has to offer here at pick No. 8.

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