The NFL’s legal tampering period kicked off on Monday, and with it, the first round began to take a brand new shape in terms of draft order and needs.
On Monday, the NFL’s tampering period kicked off, and there was an incredible amount of movement for free agents, draft picks, and team needs. As we enter the new league year, the needs of teams are going to continue to change, and that means our mock drafts will continue to change up until draft night.
Here is our latest 2020 NFL Draft.
While the draft needs have changed for a ton of teams around the league, the Cincinnati Bengals have one glaring hole at the most important position in all of sports. The talk around this franchise is that they are going to move on from Andy Dalton, clearing the way for them to draft LSU star Joe Burrow.
The winner of the Heisman Trophy, Burrow is destined for a long, and successful career at the NFL level, and the Bengals will have to start building around him. The Bengals have not been too active in free agency so far, but they did place the franchise tag on star wide receiver A.J. Green, whom Burrow wanted back with the team in 2020.
Cincinnati has a lot of holes to fill, and it will be a long time before they are a legitimate playoff contender. However, they did play hard for first-year head coach Zac Taylor this past season, and adding a player like Burrow could be the injection of talent at quarterback this franchise has been looking for.
The Washington Redskins have been busy revamping their roster this offseason, getting rid of some high-priced veterans as they welcome in their new head coach. Ron Rivera will be tasked with turning this once-proud franchise around, and can start by adding the best overall player in this draft class early in round one.
While Joe Burrow is the consensus top overall pick this April, Chase Young is widely regarded as the most talented, and would be a monster on this Redskins defense. Teaming him with Montez Sweat on the outside would give the Redskins an incredibly talented young duo, and when you add Ryan Kerrigan to the mix, this defensive line becomes scary good.
The NFC East was wide open this past season, and a solid offseason, teamed with a very capable head coach, could see the Redskins take a big leap forward in 2020. Of course, this team has also been rumored to be in the market for a first round quarterback for the second straight year, but for now, they get the player they need in Young.
The Detroit Lions stand firm with the No. 3 overall pick in this mock draft, although there are some rumors circulating that the team may be in the market to trade down for more picks. If they do stay here, they have to address a position group that will need revamping, especially is Darius Slay is traded this offseason.
Looking at this draft class, there is only one player who deserves to be selected in the first five picks, and that is Jeffrey Okudah from Ohio State. Okudah is a guy who could step right in and help this secondary in Year 1, and if Slay is out of the picture, the Lions have to do something to improve the position group immediately.
Detroit will go into next season with head coach Matt Patricia on the hot seat, so you can expect them to be aggressive in free agency. They have already added Jamie Collins and Nick Williams to this defense, and with this selection, they address the third line.
In the first big move of this draft, the Miami Dolphins trade up one spot to ensure they get their next franchise quarterback. With the No. 4 overall selection, the Dolphins roll the dice on the health of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who by all measures should heal completely from his hip injury.
After being one of the worst teams in football in 2019, the Dolphins are in full rebuild mode, and they are doing one heck of a job in free agency. They have added significantly talented players to both sides of the ball already, and with so much draft capital over the next two year, they are poised to be a player in the AFC East sooner than later.
Of course, Tua could be gone by the time the No. 4 pick is up, as there are plenty of teams who need a new quarterback, and he is a special talent. The Dolphins could go into next season with Ryan Fitzpatrick mentoring Tua, which for Tua and the organization, could be a best case scenario.
The New York Giants drop one slot to No. 5 in this mock draft, and in the process, they also add a late first round pick from the Miami Dolphins. With this pick, they address the offensive line, bringing in Jedrick Wills from Alabama, who becomes the protector of Daniel Jones’ blindside.
New York has been very active in free agency already this offseason, bolstering the defense, which was a big weakness for the team last season. Guys like cornerback James Bradberry and linebacker Blake Martinez are going to make this defense so much better in 2020, and they enable the Giants to bolster the offensive line here.
Wills is going to be a mauler at the next level, and the Giants have to make Jones their No. 1 asset moving forward. If he continues to have to run for his life, it is only going to stunt his growth, and after picking him so early in 2019, they cannot afford to let that happen.
The Los Angeles Chargers are still in the running for Tom Brady at press time, but many believe that he will end up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Former starting quarterback Philip Rivers has landed with the Indianapolis Colts, leaving the Chargers with Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback, so they address that issue here at No. 6.
Justin Herbert is arguably the most NFL-ready quarterback in this draft class, and with the Chargers, he would get a chance to start right away. The Chargers are hopefully moving into their new building this season, barring a delay due to the coronavirus, so bringing in a new franchise quarterback makes sense.
The Chargers pulled off a solid move in free agency on Tuesday, agreeing with Ryan Buluga to be their starting left tackle moving forward. That is the kind of move you make when you plan on bringing in a new starting quarterback, and in Herbert, they get a guy who can start right away.
The Carolina Panthers made a big statement on Tuesday, as they announced that they would be letting starting quarterback Cam Newton look for a new place to work. Newton has been the face of the franchise for years, leading them to a Super Bowl berth, but with a new head coach in town, his time was up.
Carolina will be replacing Newton with a solid young quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, who went undefeated as a starter last season for division rival New Orleans when Drew Brees was injured. The Panthers have talent on both sides of the ball to be a threat in a tough NFC South next season, and they get the most versatile defensive talent in this draft class here at No. 7.
Isaiah Simmons from Clemson is a guy who can play all over the field, and will have a Derwin James-like impact at the NFL level. Simmons would be joining a Panthers defense that lost a leader in linebacker Luke Kuechly to retirement, and new head coach Matt Rhule could certainly find plenty of ways to utilize his skill set.
The Arizona Cardinals got the tampering period kicked off with a bang, trading with the Houston Texans for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. That gives second-year quarterback Kyler Murray arguably the best wide receiver in football, pairing him with Larry Fitzgerald as he looks to get the Cardinals back to the playoffs.
With Hopkins on board, and talent at the skill positions, the Cardinals need to make sure they continue to bolster the offensive line. They are bringing back D.J. Humphries to man one side of the line, and at pick No. 8, they bring in a monster of a man to pair with Humphries for the long haul.
Mekhi Becton is not only incredibly big, but he is as athletic as they come for a guy his size, and it will be interesting to see if Murray can get the ball over his head. In all seriousness, this is a team that is going to be dangerous on offense next season, and Murray showed as a rookie that he can lead this team and win games at the NFL level.
The Jacksonville Jaguars hold two first round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, thanks to the fact they traded away former star cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams during the 2019 season. Their first pick comes in at No. 9, and it the pick they earned by seriously under-performing this past season, finishing last in the AFC South.
With the No. 9 overall pick, the Jaguars have to do something to bolster their offensive line, as they must do a better job in protecting Nick Foles, or Gardner Minshew, whoever is under center next season. They have talent on the offensive side of the ball to put up points, but the offensive line just was not good enough in 2019 to let play develop downfield.
Jacksonville made a big splash on the defensive side of the ball on Tuesday, signing former Cleveland Browns lineback Joe Schobert to a five-year deal. This team will look a lot different next season on defense, especially after trading away Calais Campbell, but they can address that need later on.
The Cleveland Browns have been busy building up their offense this offseason, bolstering their offensive line, and bringing in a capable backup behind quarterback Baker Mayfield. During the 2019 NFL season, the Browns were expected to be a player in the NFC North, but Mayfield took a serious step back, mostly due to the fact he was running for his life for most of the season.
With Mayfield getting better protection up front, the Browns can now turn their attention to the defensive line with the No. 10 overall pick this April. Derrick Brown from Auburn is widely considered the best defensive tackle in this draft class, and now that Myles Garrett is coming back, they would form a dominant duo up front.
Cleveland has a brand new head coach in Kevin Stefanski this season, and it appears the organization is making moves to ensure his success in Year 1. The Browns are building up the roster the right way this offseason, adding talent up front, and Brown is going to be a solid player immediately.
The New York Jets went into the league year needing to do something to bolster the offensive line, and you figured they would with Joe Douglas coming in as the general manager. This is a guy who knows how to build teams up front, and they have attacked in free agency, bringing in offensive tackle George Fant on a three-year deal.
Getting better up front is paramount for the Jets on offense, as they have to protect their No. 1 asset in quarterback Sam Darnold. He has shown during his two years as the starter that he is going to be a good player at the NFL level, but he is getting hit way too much early on in his career.
New York has a lot of work to do with the roster, including bolstering the wide receiver spot, and getting better at cornerback. They can do so here at No. 11, as C.J. Henderson could find himself in the top-15 picks, and the Jets should be waiting with open arms to get him.
Thanks to all the moves made by the teams ahead of him in this draft, the Las Vegas Raiders can go into the 2020 NFL Draft ready to attack their biggest need on offense. When it comes to this Raiders offense, they need to find themselves a legitimate WR1, and they get their guy at pick No. 12 in Jerry Jeudy from Alabama.
The best route-runner in this draft class, Jeudy would be perfect for Jon Gruden’s offense, and he would stand atop the depth chart above Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow. Quarterback Derek Carr already has an elite running back in Josh Jacobs, and tight end in Darren Waller, so adding a wide receiver right here makes sense.
Linebacker is another issue for the Raiders, but they have attacked that in free agency, adding Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton. Sure, the defensive side of the ball needs a complete overhaul, but being able to add a player like Jeudy at No. 12 would be a best-case scenario for Carr and Gruden this April.
The San Francisco 49ers traded away defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts this week, and in return, they grabbed the Colts first round pick this April. The Colts have been quite busy this week, adding franchise quarterback Philip Rivers, and with pick No. 13, the 49ers reap the benefits of the trade of Buckner.
CeeDee Lamb is widely regarded as the best overall wide receiver in this draft class, and he would be a dream scenario for Jimmy Garoppolo and this 49ers offense. The 49ers have made it clear that Jimmy G is their guy moving forward, and in Lamb, he gets a pass-catching machine that can help take this offense to the next level.
San Francisco agreed on a long-term deal with Arik Armstead already this offseason, locking up a key piece to their defense. Remember, this is a team that went to the Super Bowl last season, and them having two first round picks is almost unfair when you look at the talent they already have on their roster.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the favorite to add Tom Brady as their franchise quarterback, bringing in the prized free agent of this year. While it has not been announced as of press time, Brady to the Buccaneers seems like a done deal, so now the team should spend their first round pick on protecting him.
Tampa Bay has tremendous talent on the outside, as both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are 1,000-yard receivers. The Buccaneers will be the team to beat in the NFC South with Brady under center, and adding Andrew Thomas from Georgia would give them a guy who can start at left tackle right away.
The NFC South was one of the more explosive divisions in football over the past few seasons, and adding Brady to the mix makes it even more interesting. Tampa Bay would be making a big splash by bringing in Brady, as the NFC South now is home to two future Hall of Famers in Brady and Drew Brees.
The Denver Broncos have found their starting quarterback in Drew Lock, and the hope is that they can continue to build around him. He stepped in for the injured Joe Flacco last season and proved he could win games at the NFL level, and new John Elway can stop his search for his first franchise quarterback since Peyton Manning.
Denver already has some solid weapons on the offensive side of the ball, but with the No. 15 overall pick, they can grab an absolute speed demon in Henry Ruggs III. Ruggs would bring a different dimension to this Broncos offense, which already has some talent on the outside, at running back, and at tight end.
Of course, Denver does need to add some help along the offensive line, but with the way this mock worked out, there was no one to get here in the middle of the first round. The Broncos are going to be an exciting team to watch on offense this season, and Ruggs could be the deep threat this team is missing.
The Atlanta Falcons have work to do on the defensive side of the ball, this after stating they would not be bringing back Vic Beasley this offseason. Beasley was quickly signed by the Tennessee Titans early in the legal tampering period, and as they move towards the 2020 NFL season, Atlanta needs to fill the void along their defensive line.
Javon Kinlaw may not be an edge rusher, but he is widely regarded as the most versatile defensive linemen in this draft class. He has the ability to be dominant inside against the run, but also has the athleticism to line up on the outside and rush the passer, giving head coach Dan Quinn a solid weapon to work with.
Atlanta is revamping their offense, and have already replaced Austin Hooper with Hayden Hurst this offseason. It will be interesting to see how they play when the season kicks off, because if they get off to a slow start, Quinn may be out of a job.
The Dallas Cowboys are making a lot of moves this offseason, whether it is bringing people back, or seeing some big-name players leave. Cornerback Byron Jones has landed with the Miami Dolphins, and in his place, the Cowboys use their No. 17 overall pick on LSU star corner Kristian Fulton.
Dallas placed the franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott, so they will still need to lock him up long-term. They have, however, landed on a deal with wide receiver Amari Cooper, who was given a monster contract, inking a deal for five season and $100 million.
The Cowboys should have the talent in place to be a contender in a very tight NFC East this upcoming season, and Fulton would fill an immediate void in the team’s secondary. Getting Prescott under contract is priority No. 1, but the defense also need to make sure they do not fall back due to Jones’ leaving.
The Miami Dolphins hold the No. 18 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, this after trading away Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2019 NFL season. With their earlier first round pick, the Dolphins get their new franchise quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa, and here, they get the guy who will protect his blindside for the foreseeable future.
Josh Jones from Houston has been rocketing up draft boards, and in Miami, he would be able to start along their offensive line immediately. Coming off a devastating hip injury, the Dolphins are going to want to make sure they make protecting Tua a priority, and they do so here by selecting Jones.
Miami has the talent on defense to be a contender in the AFC East, this after bringing back a huge haul in free agency this week. Brian Flores had this team playing hard all season long in 2019, and after free agency, and two first round picks, they should at least double their win total from last season.
The Las Vegas Raiders had a ton of issues to take care of on the defensive side of the ball heading into the new league year, and they took care of some of them via free agency. Guys like Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton significantly upgrade their linebacker corps, and they can shift their focus at No. 19 to the secondary.
Karl Joseph is entering free agency, and while they are getting Johnathan Abram back, they still have work to do at safety. Of course, they could go after a cornerback here, but there is no-one I really like at No. 19, so bringing in the best safety in this draft class outside of Isaiah Simmons makes sense.
Xavier McKinney is a guy who can come in and make an impact right away alongside Abram, bolstering a group that will also include Lamarcus Joyner and Erik Harris. All of a sudden, this Raiders defense is starting to look like a formidable group, and they are already set with talent on offense.
The Jacksonville Jaguars hold the No. 20 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, this after trading away Jalen Ramsey during the 2019 NFL season. This offseason, the Jaguars have already been making moves to make the roster look very different this season, including trading away star edge rusher Calais Campbell.
While the team does also need cornerback help, and they could get some here, they roll the dice on a solid edge rusher from LSU to take over for Campbell. K’Lavon Chaisson is a guy who can flat out get the edge, and he would bring an animal mentality to a Jaguars defense that is looking for new leaders.
Jacksonville is going to be an interesting team to keep an eye on this season, as they have talent on both sides of the ball, but still have to figure out the quarterback spot. The Jaguars are going to be very active this offseason, as they have already traded away some big members of the defense, so now they must replace them with young talent.
The Philadelphia Eagles make a move to bolster the secondary here, bringing in Grant Delpit after letting Malcolm Jenkins walk via free agency. Outside of Xavier McKinney, Delpit is the best overall safety in this draft class, and would join a group that already includes Jalen Mills and Rodney McLeod.
Delpit is an exciting young defensive back, and the Eagles certainly need to bolster their defensive backfield heading into next season. They just were not good enough to deal with the better offenses in the NFC in 2019, and in Delpit, they get a young player who can help right away, but also be a long-term solution.
With a healthy Carson Wentz returning in 2020, the Eagles are going to be the team to beat in the NFC East, and will be looking to do a rare thing and repeat in the division. They have some bigger needs on this roster, but Delpit is a special talent, and the Eagles are looking to build this defense up for the long haul.
The Minnesota Vikings made a big move early in the league’s legal tampering period, sending Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills for a first round pick among other things. That move leaves a bit of a void at the wide receiver position, but they can take care of that with the No. 22 overall selection this April.
Of course, the Vikings still have a very dangerous weapon in Adam Thielen, and here, they add Justin Jefferson, a dynamic playmaker for the LSU Tigers last season. This is a guy who can flat out get it done in the red zone, and luckily for him, he does not even have to change the color his uniform.
Jokes aside, this is a guy who can take the lid off the defense, and after locking up Kirk Cousins on a two-year extension, the Vikings go and get him another weapon. Minnesota has the talent on both side of the ball to be a contender in the NFC North next season, and should be able to take their next step forward.
The New England Patriots saw the end of an era on Tuesday, as Tom Brady went to Instagram and stated that his time with the team is coming to an end. The run for Brady in New England was a special one, as he brought home six Super Bowl rings, nine trips to the big game, and countless records along the way.
As they look towards their new normal, the Patriots will have to figure out what they want to do with the quarterback position. Of course, they could hand the reigns to Jarrett Stidham, the former Auburn quarterback they drafted last year, but they are more likely to add a veteran free agent for the 2020 season.
Looking at their needs at the other side of the ball, the Patriots have to do something to add to the linebacker position, and they can do so by bringing in Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray. Widely regarded as the best true linebacker in this draft class, Murray can play on the inside or out, giving defensive genius Bill Belichick a tremendous weapon to work with moving forward.
The New Orleans Saints had two big moves happen to them in terms of the quarterback position on Tuesday, as Drew Brees inked a new two-year deal, and Teddy Bridgewater left for the Carolina Panthers. That leaves Brees and Taysom Hill as the two quarterbacks remaining on the roster, so they may want to add one late in round one.
Jordan Love is a guy who has been mocked everywhere from the top-10 of the 2020 NFL Draft, to the second round, and we meet somewhere in the middle here at No. 24. The bottom line is, this kid has all the physical talent to be an elite passer at the NFL level, and would get to learn behind a legend in Brees.
Of course, the Saints do need some help at the wide receiver position, and they could go that route with their first round selection in 2020. For Love, he is going to find himself picked in the first round next April, and New Orleans would be a solid landing spot for him.
The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of work to do in terms of their roster this offseason, as they have a ton of big-name players entering free agency. After locking up Kirk Cousins on a two-year extension, the team is set at quarterback, and after trading for a second first round pick, they grab a stud wide receiver in Justin Jefferson from LSU.
With pick No. 25, the Vikings should look to address the offensive line, and they do so by adding Austin Jackson from USC. This is a kid who can come in and start on the left side of the line right away, and after giving Cousins a new contract, they are going to make sure they do everything they can to protect him.
Cousins proved that he can win a big game during the playoffs last season, as he went into New Orleans and beat the Saints in overtime. The Vikings are going to be a team to beat in the NFC once again next season, and they have the talent, as well as the head coach to possibly take the next step forward.
Thanks to the trade they did with the Miami Dolphins earlier in this mock draft, the New York Giants now hold two first round picks in 2020. With their first of two first round picks, the Giants added an offensive tackle, something they desperately need with a young quarterback, and with this pick, they get him a weapon.
While Tee Higgins from Clemson did not have the best Pro Day, he is an elite wide receiver prospect, and would be a great fit for this Giants offense. New York is using a lot of free agent money on the defensive side of the ball, so it would make sense for them to add a tackle and wide receiver here.
Saquon Barkley is one of the better running backs in football, and as a rookie, Daniel Jones showed that he can win games at the NFL level. The Giants are a team to keep an eye on next season, as they have a lot of young talent on offense, and have now spent their money on their biggest weakness, the defense.
The Seattle Seahawks made a move prior to the 2019 NFL season for edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, hoping he would have a good season for them, and then be a part of their long-term solution on defense. Well, Clowney is certainly going to leave via free agency, and that will leave the Seahawks with a hole at the edge rusher spot.
Enter A.J. Epenesa, who many believe is one of the top-3 pure edge rushers in this draft class, and who could come in and start right away. The Seahawks are a team that has always had a solid defense, and in Epenesa, they would be able to get a solid, young pass rusher that can be a foundation for this defense up front.
The Seahawks have already made a strong investment in their defensive line, bringing back Jarran Reed on a two-year contract for over $20 million. Seattle put together a solid season in 2019, and as they enter 2020, there is going to be some change along the roster, but Russell Wilson remains one of the best quarterbacks in football.
The Baltimore Ravens ran through the AFC this past season, as Lamar Jackson led them to the best record in the conference, and then went on to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award. As they look ahead, they have already started building for the future, trading for Calais Campbell, and signing Michael Brockers to bolster the defensive line.
At the second level of the defense, Baltimore still needs some help at the linebacker spot, and they get some here in the player of Patrick Queen from LSU. This is a linebacker that can play sideline to sideline, and Baltimore is still trying to fill the void left by C.J. Mosley, who left for the New York Jets in last year’s free agency period.
The Ravens have the talent to get back to the top of the AFC once again this upcoming season, as Jackson is only going to get better moving forward. The AFC North is theirs for the taking once again, but the defense will have to be better with Ben Roethlisberger returning for Pittsburgh, and that seems to be a priority already this offseason.
The Tennessee Titans were one of the better stories in the NFL this past season, as Ryan Tannehill stepped in for Marcus Mariota and led the team to the AFC Championship Game. The team rewarded Tannehill with a huge new deal, quieting all the talk surrounding them bringing in Tom Brady, and placed the franchise tag on fellow free agent Derrick Henry.
One other big name free agent who is likely gone is cornerback Logan Ryan, and with the No. 29 overall selection, the Titans should look to address him leaving. Trevon Diggs is not only one of the better cornerbacks in this draft class, but he comes from an NFL pedigree, as his brother, Stefon, is a star wideout for the Buffalo Bills.
Tennessee has the right pieces in place for them to be good for a very long time, and Tannehill more than earned his money this past season. The Titans play in a division that is going to be very tough next season, and with Philip Rivers joining the Indianapolis Colts, they cannot afford to take a step back in their secondary.
The Green Bay Packers will look to bring in a new weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers via the 2020 NFL Draft, and a player like Laviska Shenault Jr. could be available this late in round one. Injuries questions will plague him during the draft process, and if he is available with pick No. 30, the team needs to jump at selecting him.
Green Bay made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season, and if they want to take the next step forward, they have to shore up the issues on this roster. Sure, they need linebacker help with Blake Martinez heading to the New York Giants, but if they are not better on offense next season, there is now way they can get to the top of the NFC.
Rodgers still has a ton of good football left in him, and Davante Adams is still one of the better wideouts in this league. Allen Lazard was given an original round tender on Tuesday, so he should be back in 2020, but they have to go into next season with more than what they have at the position group.
The San Francisco 49ers will pick twice in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, this after trading away DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 13 overall pick. After adding a star wide receiver early on, they shift their focus to the defensive side of the ball, bringing in a player who can fill the void left by the Buckner trade.
San Francisco is no stranger to getting defensive line talent in the first round, and they continue that trend by selecting Ross Blacklock from TCU at pick No. 31. This is a guy who can flat out stop the run, and is someone who has been climbing draft boards, most of which have him going early in round two.
In all honest, I think the 49ers will trade out of this spot, adding a second round pick or two to help fill more holes on this defense. Remember, they need help in the defensive backfield, and if they do not see the guy they want here, it would not be surprising to see them trade this pick away.
After winning their first Super Bowl in 50 years, the Kansas City Chiefs round out our first round by picking No. 32 overall. With this pick, the Chiefs add to their secondary, bringing in a stud of a cornerback in A.J. Terrell from Clemson. Terrell has played winning football during his college years, and joins arguably the best franchise in the NFL right now.
Kansas City is going to be a team to beat for many years, as they have the best quarterback in football, and have surrounded him with a ton of weapons on that side of the ball. Their defense was great last season, but that does not mean they should stop adding talent, and they do so with Terrell here.
With the new league year starting on Wednesday, these mock drafts are going to be changing from week to week, so make sure you check back in and see what we have for you next week. Not only are needs changing, but draft picks are being swapped all the time, which is why this is one of the more exciting times of the year.