April is officially upon us, and that means we’re just a few weeks away from the 2020 NFL draft.
This year’s event will obviously look much different than we’re used to, thanks to league and government restrictions and regulations put in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The league is still moving forward with the event on the scheduled dates (April 23rd-25th), but fan events in Las Vegas have been cancelled, and the entire draft will take place virtually.
As we head into the home stretch, here’s an updated look at how the first three rounds of this year’s draft could shake out.
Positional Rankings | Top 200 Big Board
1. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow | QB | LSU
Despite rumors to the contrary, this has been set in stone for quite a while. Burrow won’t make trouble about playing in Cincy, and the Bengals finally get the franchise quarterback they so desperately need.
2. Washington Redskins
Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State
This is another no-brainer pick. Unless Washington gets a huge offer from a QB-needy team trying to jump ahead of everyone else on the board, this has to be the selection. Young is the best overall prospect in this year’s class, which makes him a steal anywhere else but No. 1 overall.
3. Detroit Lions
Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State
I’m betting the Lions would love to move down from this spot, and they’re sure to have plenty of willing trade partners with some talented QB prospects on the board. If not, though, expect them to replace the recently traded Darius Slay with Okuda, this year’s best corner prospect by far.
4. New York Giants
Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa
Any of this year’s top four offensive tackle prospects could make a strong case to go here, which is good news for the Giants, who need a franchise player at the position. Wirfs is a rare athlete for his size, and has as much upside as any other tackle in the class. He’s ready to protect Daniel Jones from Day 1.
5. Miami Dolphins
Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon
I’ve resisted the urge to jump on this bandwagon, but I think there might be some fire to this smoke. There’s no denying Tua Tagovailoa’s incredible upside, but there’s also no arguing the long-term durability concerns, considering his injury history. If the Dolphins want a safer bet, don’t be surprised if they prefer Herbert here.