NFL draft preview – Page 4 – Syndication Server

2020 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears team preview

Everything Chicago Bears fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft

Everything Chicago Bears fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

VITALS

Head Coach: Matt Nagy

General Manager: Ryan Pace

2019 Record: 8-8

2020 DRAFT PICKS

2 (43, from Raiders)

2 (50)

5 (163)

6 (196)

6 (200, from Eagles)

7 (226, from Raiders)

7 (233)

TEAM NEEDS

Offensive Guard

With the retirement of Kyle Long, the Bears currently have a big hole at right guard. While Germain Ifedi was signed for cheap to provide veteran competition for the starting spot, look for them to throw a draft prospect into the mix and have him fight for reps – and don’t be surprised if that rookie is a player who started at center in college.

Defensive Back

After Prince Amukamara was released and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix having left in free agency for Dallas, the Bears have needs at both cornerback and safety. They seem to be confident in taking a cheap approach to both positions, but don’t be surprised if one of their two second-round picks was used on a defensive back.

Wide Receiver

It may not seem like a major need on paper, but the Bears don’t have a dynamic speed option at wide receiver at the moment. Taylor Gabriel was released, and though second-year wideout Riley Ridley is a talented player, he doesn’t bring that game-breaking speed to the ‘Z’ receiver position that Gabriel did. If the Bears like the value enough early on, they could look at add a wideout to a room that already features Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller.

TOP TARGETS

Cesar Ruiz | OL | Michigan

Lloyd Cushenberry | OL | LSU

A.J. Terrell | CB | Clemson

Jeremy Chinn | S | Southern Illinois

Jalen Reagor | WR | TCU

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2020 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions team preview

Everything Detroit Lions fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft

Everything Detroit Lions fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

VITALS

Head Coach: Matt Patricia

General Manager: Bob Quinn

2019 Record: 3-12-1

2020 DRAFT PICKS

1 (3)

2 (35)

3 (67)

3 (85, from Eagles)

4 (109)

5 (149)

5 (166, from Eagles)

6 (182)

7 (235, from Eagles via Patriots)

TEAM NEEDS

Cornerback

Desmond Trufant gives the Lions a solid No. 1 starting cornerback with Darius Slay gone, but they still lack depth and a reliable starter on the outside. Many expect them to draft Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah, either at No. 3 or in a trade-back scenario, for this very reason.

Edge Rusher

Trey Flowers is a talented defender off the edge, but the Lions only got 1.5 sacks out of the edge rusher position outside of him in 2019. Don’t be surprised if they look for some pass-rushing value at some point early in the draft.

Offensive Guard

The Lions signed Halapoulivaati Vaitai in free agency to presumably play right tackle on their offensive line, but they still could use an upgrade from Joe Dahl at left guard. Though this year’s guard class isn’t a stellar one, they could still find a potential starter on Day 2.

TOP TARGETS

Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

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2020 NFL Draft: New England Patriots team preview

Everything New England Patriots fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft

Everything New England Patriots fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

VITALS

Head Coach: Bill Belichick

General Manager: Bill Belichick

2019 Record: 12-4

2020 DRAFT PICKS

1 (23)

3 (87)

3 (98, compensatory pick)

3 (100, compensatory pick)

4 (125, from Bears)

5 (172, from Seahawks via Lions)

6 (195, from Broncos)

6 (204, from Texans)

6 (212, compensatory pick)

6 (213, compensatory pick)

7 (230, from Falcons)

7 (241, from Seahawks)

TEAM NEEDS

Quarterback

The Patriots need to find a new starting quarterback to replace Tom Brady, which is a sentence that still feels weird to write. Even if their front office feels confident in Jarrett Stidham, they should strongly consider drafting a quarterback early or even trade up in the first round for one.

Edge Rusher

Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy both left the Patriots in free agency, leaving their defense devoid of their two most productive pass-rushers from their dangerous 2019 unit. Adding some talent at edge rusher should be a priority for New England.

Tight End

Benjamin Watson retired in March, leaving the Patriots with an even thinner group of tight ends than they already had. While the 2020 draft class doesn’t feature much in the way of Day 1 starters at tight end, New England would be wise to add a player with some upside at the position to their roster.

TOP TARGETS

Jordan Love | QB | Utah State

Jacob Eason | QB | Washington

A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

Yetur Gross-Matos | EDGE | Penn State

Cole Kmet | TE | Notre Dame

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2020 NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins team preview

Everything Miami Dolphins fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

VITALS

Head Coach: Brian Flores

General Manager: Chris Grier

2019 Record: 5-11

2020 DRAFT PICKS

1 (5)

1 (18, from Steelers)

1 (26, from Texans)

2 (39)

2 (56, from Saints)

3 (70)

4 (141, compensatory pick)

5 (153, from Cardinals)

5 (154, from Steelers)

5 (173, from Broncos)

6 (185)

7 (227, from Colts)

7 (246, from Chiefs)

7 (251, compensatory pick)

TEAM NEEDS

Quarterback

The Josh Rosen experiment didn’t work out, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is not a long-term answer as a starting quarterback, so the Dolphins will look to draft a quarterback in the first round this year. Given their abundance of draft picks, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see them trade up from their fifth overall spot to secure their franchise signal-caller.

Offensive Tackle

The Dolphins signed Ereck Flowers and Ted Karras to improve their interior offensive line, but they’re still weak at both tackle spots. Assuming their first pick is used on a quarterback, they should look to use their next pick on some who can protect him.

Safety

Running back stands out as another major need, but with Jordan Howard now in the fold as at least a quality committee option, the Dolphins can focus a bit more on the safety position, where depth is lacking and long-time starter Reshad Jones is no longer on the team. With six picks in the top 70 of the draft, expect one of those selections to be use on a safety.

TOP TARGETS

Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

Josh Jones | OT | Houston

Xavier McKinney | S | Alabama

D’Andre Swift | RB | Georgia

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2020 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills team preview

Everything Buffalo Bills fans need to know heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

VITALS

Head Coach: Sean McDermott

General Manager: Brandon Beane

2019 Record: 10-6

2020 DRAFT PICKS

2 (54)

3 (86)

4 (128)

5 (167)

6 (188, from Browns)

6 (201)

7 (239, from Vikings)

TEAM NEEDS

Edge Rusher

The Bills are in a good spot at edge rusher for 2020 with Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison and Trent Murphy. But by the end of the season those players will be 32, 30 and 33, respectively. They could look to add a young player who could serve as depth and eventually develop into a long-term starter.

Cornerback

Tre’Davious White is one of the best cornerbacks in the league, but alongside him is an aging Josh Norman, with an injury-prone Taron Johnson in the nickel. Buffalo should make it a priority to add some youth to the group to push either Norman or Johnson for a starting spot.

Running Back

Devin Singletary showed plenty of promise in 2019, but as they showed with Frank Gore this past season, the Bills seem to prefer a committee in their backfield, and their depth at the running back position is poor. They could target another back to complement Singletary at some point in the draft.

TOP TARGETS

Julian Okwara | EDGE | Notre Dame

Josh Uche | EDGE | Michigan

Jaylon Johnson | CB | Utah

Noah Igbinoghene | CB | Auburn

Zack Moss | RB | Utah

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