2020 (Pre-Combine) Mock Draft, BIG Trades
February 27, 2020 by James Fedewa
The only time I even attempt a mock draft before the NFL Combine, is with offbeat trades. After the NFL Combine, the I will eliminate silly, unpredictable trades, but let’s have some fun with it (for now).
| PICK |
TEAM |
PLAYER |
POSITION |
COLLEGE |
NOTES |
| 1 |
Cincinnati |
Joe Burrow |
QB |
LSU |
I do like Andy Dalton as a starting NFL quarterback, and I do not think his play gave the Bengals the first pick in the draft. But the Bengals are in full rebuild, so trading Dalton is probably the only team option, especially with Joe Burrow available. Burrow had a phenomenal 2019 in college and he is their new hope… |
| 2 |
Washington |
Chase Young |
EDGE |
Ohio State |
Young is probably the TOP player in this draft, and the sky is the limit for him to excel in the NFL. He is the perfect pass rushing blend of speed and power and will be a superstar in this league. |
| 3 |
Trade: Carolina (from Detroit) |
Tua Tagovailoa |
QB |
Alabama |
Trade: Carolina trades 2020 #7, #69 plus 2021 1st round pick, for Detroit’s #3. A bidding war starts for the rights to draft Tua (between Miami, Carolina and the Chargers – and the Panthers win). Cam Newton will remain with the team and tutor Tua, and Newton will NOT like it. Yes, the Trade Value Chart does not add up, but when trading up for a Quarterback, the value compensation is out the window… |
| 4 |
Trade: Detroit (from NYG) |
Jeffrey Okudah |
CB |
Ohio State |
Trade: Detroit trades back up to get the player they indeed wanted, Okuda. Detroit gives their 2020 #7, #69 and their 2021 3rd round pick (and still acquire Carolina’s 2021 first round pick – BRILLIANT MOVE). Yes, the Giants could draft Okudah here, but Gettleman is really targeting one of two Offensive Linemen, who could be available a bit later in the draft (and still trade for more draft assets). |
| 5 |
Miami |
Justin Herbert |
QB |
Oregon |
Miami gets their true quarterback of the future and a true leader of the franchise. Herbert is not only a gifted athlete; he is even a better leader. Herbert is a top tier QB prospect (and I like him as an NFL QB more than brittle Tua). Miami could keep Josh Rosen as a 3rd QB, based on his cheap cost, but I believe Miami will let Rosen go, and he will be traded to the Colts or Saints. |
| 6 |
Trade Miami (from Chargers) |
Derrick Brown |
IDL |
Auburn |
Trade: Miami trades #18 and #26 with the Chargers #6 – The Chargers really wanted Tua or Herbert at this spot, but both are off the board, and they will not trade up to get either of them. Tom Telesco could draft Derrick Brown at this spot (BPA), but a trade down offer is just too tempting. Miami gets a pass rushing, run stuffing, relentless defensive beast. |
| 7 |
Trade New York Giants (from Carolina) |
Andrew Thomas |
OT |
Georgia |
Trade: Gettleman generally draft what he likes, without any trades. But with this year’s draft, the G-Men like two offensive linemen in the first round (Thomas or Jedrick Wills Jr) who could be available a little later than at #4 (so Gettleman trades down) Big Run blocking offensive linemen is what this team really needs. Finally, a quality left tackle in New York. Thomas is the BEST left tackle prospect in this draft. |
| 8 |
Arizona |
Javon Kinlaw |
IDL |
South Carolina |
Arizona could be in a “full offensive prospect draft” and target wide receivers, running backs, tight ends and offensive linemen, but in reality, their defensive line needs the most attention. Kinlaw is a force and will instantly upgrade the defensive line |
| 9 |
Jacksonville |
Isaiah Simmons |
LB |
Clemson |
What is Simmons; A Safety or a linebacker? Who cares, he is awesome (I initially had POTENTEIAL TRADE DOWN with Dallas trading up to draft Simmons, as a strong safety) |
| 10 |
Cleveland |
Jedrick Wills Jr. |
OT |
Alabama |
Cleveland just need to draft the best O-Tackle available. I vision him as a right tackle, but Cleveland can plug him in a left tackle for now, anything to keep Mayfield upright. |
| 11 |
New York Jets |
Tristan Wirfs |
OT |
Iowa |
Jets could draft a wide receiver, or go defense, but with Adam Gase as coach, he would want to product Sam Darnold as much as possible (and open holes for Bell) |
| 12 |
Las Vegas |
Jerry Jeudy |
WR |
Alabama |
What will Mike Mayock do here? As a former “NFL Draft Guru,” he was one of the BEST at evaluating player-prospects (and mock drafting NFL teams), but as a general manager, he has been very unpredictable (especially with all the first-round draft picks he has had). Jeudy is the TOP wide receiver in a great WR draft, but I think they can go Cornerback or Linebacker here (if Simmons is available here) |
| 13 |
Indianapolis |
CeeDee Lamb |
WR |
Oklahoma |
I had another POTENTEIAL TRADE DOWN with Dallas here too, but their target was already drafted (#17, #82 and 2021 5th Round pick, for Indianapolis #13) Indy could be targeting a QB here, but with Lamb is too fast to pass. Whoever might be the QB in Indy, they are desperate for more weapons, and with Lamb in the fast Indy turf, he will be lightning fast on Sundays. |
| 14 |
Tampa Bay |
Mekhi Becton |
OT |
Louisville |
The Tampa O-line needs help and Becton can plug in at Right Tackle. Becton will eventually grow into Tampa’s LT spot. |
| 15 |
Denver |
A.J. Epenesa |
EDGE |
Iowa |
Epenesa looks like a 5-Technique defensive end (3-4 DE). He has size, power and can set the edge. if the Broncos decide to move on from Derek Wolfe, Epenesa is a good replacement, |
| 16 |
Atlanta |
K’Lavon Chaisson |
EDGE |
LSU |
Vic Beasley will not be resigned, so Atlanta needs pass rushers, badly… |
| 17 |
Dallas |
Henry Ruggs III |
WR |
Alabama |
Dallas has too many free agents to re-sign, and Amari Cooper is not at the top of the list. Cooper will test free agency, and get a bigger contract offer than Dallas can afford. |
| 18 |
Trade: LA Chargers |
Jacob Eason |
QB |
Washington |
Trade: The Chargers were built around Philip Rivers, a classic pocket passer, with quality receiving weapons all over the offense. Jacob Eason’s game is also similar to Rivers game, and the Chargers do not have to change much offensively in the transition of QB styles. Eason is very raw but is exploding with talent. He could sit a year behind Tyrod Taylor. Eason has the BEST arm in this draft, hands down… |
| 19 |
Las Vegas |
C.J. Henderson |
CB |
Florida |
What will Mike Mayock do here (part 2)? The Raiders could target QB Jordan Love, LB Patrick Queen or corner C.J. Henderson, but a pass rusher like Gross-Matos is just too tempting. You can never have enough pass rushers.
|
| 20 |
Jacksonville |
Josh Jones |
OT |
Houston |
Jacksonville’s O-Line seems like they always need improvement. If the Jags want to be a running team or a passing team, they are going to have to start building in the trenches. Cam Robinson is not the solution at left tackle… |
| 21 |
Philadelphia |
Laviska Shenault Jr. |
WR |
Colorado |
Philly could dump all of their wide receivers this off-season, but they also need some upgrades at cornerback. |
| 22 |
Buffalo |
Yetur Gross-Matos |
EDGE |
Penn State |
Buffalo needs edge pass rushers and Gros-Matos paired with Ed Oliver can strike fear into opposing QB’s. Shaq Lawson, 16/1 |
| 23 |
New England |
Jordan Love |
QB |
Utah State |
Jordan Love’s draft stock is on the rise. I do not think he is a Belichick style of QB, but he is for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. I cannot imagine Tom Brady in a different uniform, but it will probably happen, only because the Patriots O-Line is weak, and their receiving core is even worse. Brady is going to want TOP dollars, and the Patriots will not offer the contract Brady wants. I think Brady leaves New England, or retires… |
| 24 |
New Orleans |
Xavier McKinney |
S |
Alabama |
Vonn Bell will not be re-signed, and McKinney takes his spot. |
| 25 |
Minnesota |
Grant Delpit |
S |
LSU |
Vikings could be targeting a CB, but Delpit is too good to pass up at this spot… |
| 26 |
Trade LA Chargers |
Austin Jackson |
OT |
USC |
Trade: The Chargers could either cut Russell Okung and save $13MM, or he will stay with a restructured deal. Austin Jackson will play right tackle until he’s ready to take over at left tackle. The Chargers gamble with their trade down, but they capitalize with two first round pick (QB and LT). |
| 27 |
Seattle |
Trevon Diggs |
CB |
Alabama |
Seattle needs pass rushers, defensive secondary help and offensive tackles. Diggs is a Long-Tall cornerback and fits the mold of what Pete Carol looks for in a CB. |
| 28 |
Baltimore |
Patrick Queen |
LB |
LSU |
Baltimore have a very stout defense, let by their secondary, but in 2020, there are five starters up for free agency. |
| 29 |
Tennessee |
Kristian Fulton |
CB |
LSU |
The Titans have some secondary holes to fill, especially if Logan Ryan leaves in free agency |
| 30 |
Green Bay |
Justin Jefferson |
WR |
LSU |
The Packers saw how thin their receivers are when Devante Adams was out with injuries. |
| 31 |
San Francisco |
Tee Higgins |
WR |
Clemson |
49ers need to add weapons for Jimmy G. Emmanuel Sanders could possibly leave in free agency as well… |
| 32 |
Kansas City |
Kenneth Murray |
LB |
Oklahoma |
Cornerback is probably the largest need for the Chiefs, but Murray added to the defense, wow. |
*For the record, I have been watching quarterbacks Jordan Love and Jacob Eason since their high school football days. Both are from the town I am from (Jordan Love = Bakersfield, CA / played football with my nephew) and the town I currently lived in (Jacob Eason = Lake Stevens, WA). Plus, I am a Chargers fan whose favorite player is Philip Rivers (so I have been dreaming of one of these guys being the next quarterback of the BOLTS).
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