The Draft Network, a site dedicated to analyzing, predicting and breaking down the NFL Draft, has started putting out mock drafts ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Their most recent mock draft, this time from Joe Marino, has a total of eight Alabama players being selected in the first round.
Here’s where Marino believes members of the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide will start their NFL careers:
3. Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB
Marino believes that the unfortunate injuries Tagovailoa has sustained late in his Junior season aided the struggling Miami Dolphins win the ‘Tank for Tua’ sweepstakes.
7. New York Jets – Jedrick Wills, OT
The reasoning behind this pick: Sam Darnold can’t throw if Sam Darnold keeps getting sacked. He needs protection, and Wills is one of the best at offering it in this draft class.
10. Denver Broncos – Jerry Jeudy, WR
Jerry Jeudy’s route-running paired with a healthy Drew Locke? Sounds like an SEC Football reunion in Denver. Can the Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton combo replace the elite Denver duo that was Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas?
13. Oakland Raiders – Henry Ruggs III, WR
Marino’s reasoning for this pick has nothing to do with how well Ruggs would fit into the Raiders’ offensive scheme, but rather how big of a weapon he would be on an offense with his speed and versatility.
14. Cleveland Browns – Alex Leatherwood, OT
Much like the Jets’ pick of Jedrick Wills earlier in the draft, this is a team with offensive talent and promise, but they are no use if Baker Mayfield can’t get the ball off without getting hit. If the Browns want to protect Mayfield, Leatherwood is their guy.
27. New Orleans Saints – Dylan Moses, LB
Marino recognizes the fact that Moses didn’t play a single snap in the 2019 season due to injury, but cites that it shouldn’t hinder his draft stock because of how well he’s played in previous years. He believes Moses will fill a hole the Saints have in the secondary.
28. San Francisco 49ers – Xavier McKinney, S
Marino believes that McKinney could offer some versatility to the secondary that the 49ers need. He cites the different skillsets McKinney has learned while at Alabama which could make him a valuable asset to the San Fransisco defense.
32. Baltimore Ravens – Terrell Lewis, EDGE
Would the Ravens really be the Ravens if they didn’t at least consider and Alabama player for their first round pick? Marino doesn’t believe so. He also feels that Lewis could be a big help for the ravens defense as a monster with the blitz.
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