2020 NFL mock draft: Updated 3-round projections after Week 11

See how Tua Tagovailoa’s season-ending injury impacts Luke Easterling’s latest three-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft

We’re halfway through November, which means while the NFL playoff picture is starting to come into clearer focus, so is the top of the board for next year’s NFL draft.

While the league’s worst teams are jockeying for position at the top of the first round, the nation’s top college prospects are trying to take advantage of key opportunities in big games down the stretch.

Here’s an updated look at how the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, using the latest updated order after Week 11 games:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

For the longest time now, it’s seemed Tua Tagovailoa was written into this spot with permanent marker. But Burrow’s performance so far this season has launched him into the No. 1 overall conversation, while a hip injury has ended Tagovailoa’s season. Burrow looks like the real deal in every way.

2. Washington Redskins | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

Another franchise in disarray, Washington needs to add as much talent as possible, regardless of position. They already have their quarterback of the future in Dwayne Haskins, so they need impact players elsewhere on both sides of the ball. Young is a monster of a pass rusher with all size, athleticism and technique to be a dominant player at the next level.

3. New York Giants | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

Offensive tackle is a bigger need and a more premium position, but GM Dave Gettleman has proven he’s willing to go for the dynamic playmaker over the pick that seems to make more sense. Jeudy is an explosive pass-catcher and the most polished route-runner in college football.

4. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

After his season-ending hip injury, Tagovailoa is obviously the biggest wild-card in this year’s class. He’s since had successful surgery, and is expected to make a full recovery. That being the case, I’m leaving him in this spot for now. If his recovery has any setbacks that cause him to miss key workouts leading up to the draft, his stock could still take a hit.

5. New York Jets | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

If Sam Darnold is ever going to develop into the franchise quarterback the Jets drafted him to be, he’ll need a franchise left tackle to keep him upright. Thomas is the best of a deep class, and would be an immediate upgrade for New York.

Latest 2020 NFL mock draft has Bucs passing on both Tagovailoa and Herbert

The latest 2020 mock draft from Draft Wire has the Buccaneers looking to shore up their offensive line.

The Bucs sit at 3-7 right now and at the bottom of the NFC South.

With another losing season potentially in their future, Tampa Bay could find itself sitting at or near the top of the 2020 NFL Draft. The good news for them, should they decide to move on from quarterback Jameis Winston, is that next year’s draft will likely be filled with talented young signal-callers.

So, if one of the top quarterbacks in the 2020 class falls into their laps, the Bucs will have to draft them, right? Not according to the latest mock from Draft Wire, which predicts the Buccaneers taking Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs in the seventh spot, passing on both Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. (LSU’s Joe Burrow is pegged to be the top pick by the still-winless Cincinnati Bengals.)

While Wirfs would certainly help shore up the offensive line, would the Bucs really pass up the chance at drafting either Tagovailoa or Herbert? Tagovailoa’s recent hip injury might scare some teams away, but Herbert looks to be the ideal quarterback for a guy like Bruce Arians.

To check out the rest of mock draft, click here.

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2020 NFL mock draft: Latest 3-round projections

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling updates his three-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft

We’re 10 weeks into the NFL regular season, and the college football season is hitting crunch time, with playoff pushes starting at both levels.

It’s crunch time for some of the nation’s top prospects, as well as the pro teams fighting for position at the top of next year’s draft board.

Here’s an updated look at how the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, using the latest updated pick order:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

For the longest time now, it’s seemed Tua Tagovailoa was written into this spot with permanent marker. But Burrow’s performance so far this season has launched him into the No. 1 overall conversation, while another high-ankle injury has dinged Tagovailoa’s stock. Don’t be shocked if there’s a different QB in the top spot come next April.

2. Washington Redskins | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

Another franchise in disarray, Washington needs to add as much talent as possible, regardless of position. They already have their quarterback of the future in Dwayne Haskins, so they need impact players elsewhere on both sides of the ball. Young is a monster of a pass rusher with all size, athleticism and technique to be a dominant player at the next level.

3. New York Giants | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

Now that Odell Beckham, Jr. is gone, the Giants need a true No. 1 target to help Daniel Jones reach his full potential. Jeudy is one of the most polished, explosive pass-catchers we’ve seen in years, and he’s well worth a top-three pick.

4. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

Aside from the injuries, it’s hard to find a flaw in Tagovailoa’s game. A few months ago, it would have been hard to imagine the Dolphins landing him without getting the No. 1 overall pick, but thanks to Burrow’s soaring stock, he just might fall into their lap here.

5. New York Jets | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

If Sam Darnold is ever going to develop into the franchise quarterback the Jets drafted him to be, he’ll need a franchise left tackle to keep him upright. Thomas is the best of a deep class, and would be an immediate upgrade for New York.

6. Atlanta Falcons | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

In today’s NFL, you can never have too many quality corners. The Falcons may have more pressing needs elsewhere, but with this pick, they land one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country. Okudah is keeping up the trend of sending blue-chip defensive backs from Columbus to the pros.

7. Cleveland Browns | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

After all the offseason hype, the Browns have struggled mightily this season. They need to give Baker Mayfield everything he needs to succeed, and that means improving things up front. Wirfs would be an instant upgrade at either tackle spot.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Grant Delpit | S | LSU

Despite investing heavily into their secondary in recent drafts, Tampa Bay still needs help on the back end. Without a worthy tackle prospect still on the board here, the Bucs opt for the best playmaker in the defensive backfield, getting a versatile playmaker who can line up all over the field.

9. Denver Broncos | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

Offensive tackle is the bigger need, but the talent is too good to pass up elsewhere. Brown is a rare athlete for his size, with the explosiveness and power to be a dominant force up front. He’d be a much better use of a top-10 pick than reaching for he next-best tackle.

10. Arizona Cardinals | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

The Cardinals have lots of young talent, but they need more difference-makers on defense. Epenesa is a disruptive force who can line up inside or on the edge, making him the kind of versatile prospect Arizona should be targeting.

Which QB would former Dolphins executive Mike Tannenbaum covet as QB1?

Mike Tannenbaum appeared this morning on ‘The Golic and Wingo Show’ to discuss which 2020 NFL Draft QB he would covet as QB1.

The Dolphins made the decision this offseason to relieve former Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum of his duties with the team, instead electing to elevate general manager Chris Grier to total control over the Dolphins’ direction and philosophy as a football team. That decision has yielded a drastic change versus what Dolphins fans have been accustomed to for nearly a decade — an intriguing shift into unfamiliar territory that will provide Miami with much more flexibility in how they choose to approach their roster rebuild.

But what would the Dolphins’ quarterback preferences look like if Tannenbaum were still on the team? Would he like the hot new name, Joe Burrow? Or what about the Alabama prodigy, Tua Tagovailoa?

The correct answer? None of the above.

Tannenbaum preferring Oregon’s Justin Herbert to both Tagovailoa and Burrow is hardly surprising — but is a clear indication that the Dolphins made the right decision to elevate Chris Grier within the organization. This isn’t to say that Herbert will be a bad professional quarterback, he very well may be a very good one. But the justification of the position for Tannenbaum? It stems all around Herbert’s size, while ignoring that Joe Burrow is listed at 6-foot-4, 214 pounds and Tua Tagovailoa checked in last March at 230 pounds, according to Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl.

Never mind the fact that Justin Herbert has experienced a broken collarbone and a concussion thus far in his college career. To presume Herbert is durable and “built to last” because of his frame while ignoring Burrow’s frame and Tagovailoa only missing 6 quarters of action over two years of action is an old-school way of thinking — and quite frankly in ineffective one. The NFL has drafted “smaller” quarterbacks 1st-overall in each of the last two seasons, to prioritize a player over other contenders based on height and a misplaced faith in durability is all Miami fans need to know about the man who used to call the shots.

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