2020 NFL mock draft: 3-round projections with a top-5 surprise

Luke Easterling updates his three-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft, complete with comp picks and a few surprises

26. Miami Dolphins (from HOU)

Cesar Ruiz | OL | Michigan

Let’s keep with the “protect our rookie QB at all costs” mentality here. Yes, it would be tempting to take a running back off the board here, but the depth of this year’s class should give Miami better value on Day 2. Instead, they grab this year’s best interior blocker in Ruiz, who is just 20 years old and already as athletic and physical as they come.

27. Seattle Seahawks

Xavier McKinney | S | Alabama

Gone are the days of Earl Thomas roaming the Seattle secondary, but if the Seahawks want to try and recreate that kind of presence for the future, McKinney has all the mental and physical tools to make it happen. He’s athletic, physical and versatile, three things every NFL team wants in their back-end playmakers.

28. Baltimore Ravens

Antoine Winfield, Jr. | S | Minnesota

Speaking of Earl Thomas, he’s now patrolling the secondary in Baltimore, but he can’t do it forever. There are few glaring holes on this roster, but following Tony Jefferson’s departure, the Ravens could use a running mate for Thomas on the back end. Winfield, the son of a Pro Bowler, has all of the tools to become an NFL star in his own right, and learning from Thomas would only get him to his lofty ceiling faster.

29. Tennessee Titans

Yetur Gross-Matos | EDGE | Penn State

The Titans are built for sustained success, which should allow them to play the “best player available” game here. Thankfully for them, this scenario gives them a fantastic balance of value and need. Gross-Matos is the prototype for today’s NFL edge defender, and his strong finish to the 2019 season proved he’s still worthy of first-round consideration.

30. Green Bay Packers

Justin Jefferson | WR | LSU

This pick simply has to be another weapon for Aaron Rodgers, and the Packers have some fantastic options in this scenario. Clemson’s Tee Higgins and Colorado’s Laviska Shenault, Jr. would be solid picks, but after Jefferson’s combine performance, he may have just leapfrogged those names on some draft boards. He’s a polished, complete player who would pair extremely well with Devante Adams.

31. San Francisco 49ers

Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama

Defensive tackle is tempting here after trading away DeForest Buckner, but there’s quality depth already on the roster. That’s not necessarily the case at corner, where the defending NFC champs could use an understudy for veteran Richard Sherman. Diggs’ combination of size, length, athleticism and physicality would be the perfect fit.

32. Kansas City Chiefs

A.J. Epenesa | EDGE/DL | Iowa

Another team that probably wouldn’t mind trading back, the Chiefs can also just wait for the value to fall to them. That lines up with their biggest needs in this situation, as a versatile defensive linemen like Epenesa would be a huge boost to a front that needs to reload with some youth. Despite disappointing at the combine, Epenesa’s film should still prove him to be a first-round pick.