2020 NFL mock draft: Dolphins trade up for Tua
By Brad Weiss
87. . Defensive Tackle. Carolina Panthers. Derrick Brown. 7. player
The No. 7 overall pick belongs to the Carolina Panthers, who have stated that if Cam Newton is healthy, they are going to roll with him at quarterback in 2020. However, if they have another bad season, they may want to go all in on getting Trevor Lawrence next season, as he will be the consensus top pick.
Looking at this roster, if Newton is healthy, the Panthers have to do something to address the defensive side of the ball. They have already lost captain, and team leader Luke Kuechly to retirement, but with a top-10 pick, they could get the best defensive tackle this draft class has to offer.
Sure, Derrick Brown did not put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine, but the tape does not lie, and he is going to be a standout player at the NFL level. New head coach Matt Rhule will be tasked with getting this team back to the top of the NFC South, and a player like Brown instantly improves their run defense, and makes them better up front on defense as a whole.
Arizona Cardinals. Mekhi Becton. 8. player. 32. . Offensive Tackle
The Arizona Cardinals rolled the dice on quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, as many felt he was not big enough to play quarterback at the NFL level. Well, all Murray did was go out and win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award, thanks to his strong play for a Cardinals team lacking a ton of talent.
In 2020, the Cardinals have to make their offseason all about Murray’s development, and they do so here by selecting Mekhi Becton with the No. 8 overall selection. This man is big, strong, and agile, and for the Cardinals, he would provide a solid bookend at offensive tackle, protecting Murray for years to come.
Even though the team brought back D.J. Humphries, the offensive line is still not set in stone, and Becton is arguably the best offensive tackle in a very deep class in 2020. Murray is the No. 1 priority for this organization moving forward, and selecting Becton is a good indicator that they will do everything in their power to make sure he continues to move in the right direction.