Tag: NFL mock draft with trades

2020 NFL mock draft: Final 1st-round projections with trades

Luke Easterling makes his final projections for the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, with a handful of big trades and surprise picks

The wait is nearly over, NFL fans.

In just mere hours, the 2020 NFL Draft will finally kick off, and the strangest predraft process in recent memory will crescendo in (hopefully) a glitch-free virtual experience.

Before the real action gets rolling, here’s my final attempt at projecting how the top 32 picks will shake out, including a handful of trades. This is how I think the first round might unfold, rather than the picks I would make if I had the chance.

Happy draft day, y’all. We made it.

*denotes projected trade

1. Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

This has been set in stone for quite some time. No, Burrow never had any problems with the idea of playing for the Bengals, despite whatever rumors may have circulated throughout the draft process.

I also don’t buy the narrative that he can’t be successful in Cincinnati, or that the Bengals have a poor track record with drafting quarterbacks. Carson Palmer was one of the league’s best throughout his tenure in Cincy, and Andy Dalton was effective enough to be worthy of his second-round draft slot. They won the division twice with Palmer at the helm, and made five straight trips to the playoffs with Dalton.

The Bengals have been uncharacteristically aggressive in free agency this year, hoping to build a winner around their eventual franchise quarterback. Burrow is their man, and he’s got all the tools to return this team to playoff contention.

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2020 NFL mock draft: Post-Super Bowl projections with trades

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling throws out some potential trade scenarios in his latest projection for the first round of the 2020 NFL draft

I’ve watched the Super Bowl from many different places, but this was the first year in which I took in the big game while flying over the Atlantic.

On our way to attend my wife’s graduation in England, my nine-year-old daughter and I huddled around the screen in our seats and watched the NFL season come to an entertaining and dramatic end. It was a worthy ending to the league’s 100th season.

You know it’s always draft season around here, but now it’s official, as all 32 teams now enter the offseason with their sights set on getting to where Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs just went.

To that end, here’s an updated look at how the first round of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, with a few trade scenarios that could spice things up:

*denotes projected trade

1. Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

This has seemed like a foregone conclusion for so long, that we’re starting to get to the point in the process where rumors and speculation start to swirl to the contrary. Don’t buy into the boredom; Burrow has always been the guy for the Bengals, and that’s not going to change between now and draft day.

2. Washington Redskins

Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

This is an absolute no-brainer for Washington, unless they’re bowled over by a trade offer from another team. They have bigger needs at other positions, but there’s no way they should pass up a rare talent like Young at such a premium spot. He’s the best overall prospect in this entire class.

3. Miami Dolphins (from DET)*

Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

This move just makes too much sense. Tagovailoa seems destined for Miami, as long as his recovery is in a good place. If the medicals are in order, though, the Dolphins will likely have to make a small jump up the board to make sure another team doesn’t leapfrog them. The position is too important, and Tua is too good a player, to risk losing out.

4. Carolina Panthers (from NYG)*

Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

While the Dolphins moving up for Tagovailoa wouldn’t be a surprise, this move might be a bit more of a shock. New head coach Matt Rhule will be overseeing a huge rebuild, though, and will likely want to hand-pick his quarterback. Herbert followed up a solid career at Oregon with a Rose Bowl MVP and a strong week at the Senior Bowl, making him worthy of top-five consideration.

5. Detroit Lions (from MIA)*

Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

This is a fantastic scenario for the Lions, who trade back a couple of spots, get an extra first-round pick, and still land the player they likely would have taken at their original spot. Okudah is by far this year’s top corner prospect, and would team up with Darius Slay to give Detroit one of the league’s best tandems at a premium position. Don’t rule out Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown here, either.

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