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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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers during the first quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

52. . Linebacker. Jacksonville Jaguars. Isaiah Simmons. 9. player

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, and it looks like they already made a big one, as they will not pick up the option for defensive tackle Marcel Dareus. On that side of the ball, this Jaguars team needs a lot of help, especially if they decide to move on from free agent Yannick Ngakoue, who is a monster off the edge.

With the No. 9 overall pick, the Jaguars could end up with one of the more versatile defensive players in this draft class, adding a guy who could fill a number of roles on their defense. Isaiah Simmons really has no NFL comparison, as he plays all over the field, and would be a perfect fit on this Jaguars defense.

Simmons played linebacker and safety during his time with the Clemson Tigers, and is not only a solid tackler, but is great in coverage, and can even make things happen behind the line of scrimmage. This is a guy who will have a Derwin James-like impact in Year 1, and the Jaguars need all the talent they can stack on that side of the ball.

player. 53. . Offensive Tackle. Cleveland Browns. Andrew Thomas. 10

The Cleveland Browns have some serious issues on their roster heading into this offseason, especially after a 2019 campaign that fell way below expectations. They have to make sure they have the right guy under center in Baker Mayfield, who was so good as a rookie in 2018, and then came back down to Earth in Year 2.

For Mayfield, the biggest thing will be keeping his head on straight, and for the team to keep him off his back. This is a guy who ran for his life for much of the season in 2019, and if they want to make sure he starts to trend back in the right direction, they should use the No. 10 overall pick on one of the many elite offensive tackles in this draft class.

Andrew Thomas from Georgia is a mountain of a man, and at the NFL level, he is talented enough to come right in and start on the left side at tackle for the Browns. The Browns need to make protecting Mayfield priority No. 1, and in Thomas, they could be getting the best tackle in this class before all is said and done.

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