The 2020 NFL Draft is officially this week, as the first round will be held on Thursday. In preparation, Draft Wire and Luke Esterling have released their latest seven-round mock draft. With Texas having four prospects projected to be drafted, Esterling says all four will be drafted in the third round or later.
Here is where they are projected to fall:
- Brandon Jones at 80 to the Las Vegas Raiders
- Collin Johnson at 142 to the Washington Redskins
- Devin Duvernay at 157 to the Baltimore Ravens
- Malcolm Roach at 174 to the Tennessee Titans
After only having two players drafted in 2018, if Jones, Johnson, Duvernay, and Roach are selected in the draft, it would make the second time in three years Texas had four players selected through the seven rounds. Former linebacker Malik Jefferson is the highest-drafted Longhorn during that time span, going 78th overall.
Once Johnson and Duvernay are drafted, it will be the first time a wide receiver from Texas has been selected since 2013. Marquise Goodwin was selected in the third round by the Buffalo Bills after four seasons in Austin.
Jones remains consistent as the 80th overall pick to the Raiders in Easterling’s mock draft as he also projected the safety to be selected by Las Vegas a couple weeks ago. Jon Gruden’s team needs help at the safety position, even after signing former Dallas Cowboy Jeff Heath in free agency.
The Tennessee Titans are coming off an AFC Championship appearance in which saw them defeat the New England Patriots and Baltimore Colts. In order to make a similar type run, Tennessee could be looking to bolster their defensive line. Drafting Roach, who had eight sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss over his career at Texas, could bring much-needed depth.
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