Jordan Katz Way Too Early 2020 NFL Mock Draft

Posted on October 2, 2019 Updated on October 2, 2019

WE ARE BAAAAAACCCCCKKKKKKKKK! Even though we are only a quarter of the way into the NFL season, it’s never too early to start looking towards the 2020 draft (and believe me, some teams are already doing that).

The rules for this mock were simple; no trades (because it’s way too early), and the draft order was projected by yours truly. So if you have a complaint on your favorite teams overall record, just know that my prediction will probably go haywire in every possible way.

Keep in mind, this is a very early look into the 2020 draft class. Right now, the quarterback class looks loaded, the skill position group is the most dominant I’ve seen in quite some time, and Chase Young looks better than Nick Bosa. It’s important to remember, there’s still a ton of time left in the collegiate season, and plenty of tape to digest. Plus, there’s the chaos that is Draft SZN. In short, a lot will change from now until April.

With all that being said, Mock Draft Lyfe never sleeps. So let’s get to it.

ROUND ONE

1) Miami Dolphins (Projected Record: 1-15): Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama- Miami is in the most obvious tank mode that has ever existed in the NFL. That’s why this pick is based on what they’re likely to do rather than my plans for this rebuild.

Tagovailoa has a big time arm and NFL level athleticism. He still struggles a bit with timing NFL open windows, but we’ve got a long way to go with this season. Right now, he’s the top QB for 2020. 

2) Cincinnati Bengals (Projected Record: 2-14): Jacob Eason, QB Washington- Here’s where we shake things up. Many people would have the Bengals take Justin Herbert assuming they go quarterback. 

However, Eason has had a much better start to his 2020 campaign. I’ve been impressed with the touch he’s developed on his throws, and he still has a cannon for an arm. Eason still needs to improve his footwork and force fewer throws, but the strides he’s taken so far make me think he has potential to be a big time NFL talent.

3) Washington Redskins (Projected Record: 2-14): Chase Young, EDGE Ohio State- Even though Washington took Montez Sweat last year, you need more than one pass rusher in the modern day NFL. Young is an elite talent and the best overall player in the draft right now. His get off is ridiculous, he has insane athleticism around the edge, and he can beat an opposing tackle with just about any move you could teach. Easy pick here for Washington.

4) Denver Broncos (Projected Record: 4-12): Grant Delpit, S LSU- The Broncos secondary is in shambles, and it will only be worse once they inevitably move Chris Harris. Delpit is easily the best secondary play in the draft. He can play close to the line of scrimmage, his coverage abilities are better than the traditional in-the-box safety, and his ball skills are NFL caliber. Delpit and Justin Simmons would make a lethal combination moving forward.

5) Arizona Cardinals (Projected Record: 4-11-1): Andrew Thomas, OT Georgia- Personally, I don’t understand how Thomas does not have more hype at this point. His tape is incredibly complete. He’s a mauler in the run game, with the athleticism to get to the second level. Thomas has incredible power in the pass game as well. The minute he gets his hands on an edge player, it’s game-set-match. He gains leverage with ease, and when he kicks out in pass protection, his first punch is powerful. This is the type of player the Cardinals need on their offensive line.

6) Atlanta Falcons (Projected Record: 5-11): AJ Epenesa, EDGE Iowa- Atlanta has struggled getting to the passer this year, and it’s been the downfall of their defense. Vic Beasley is not worthy of a contract extension, and Takk McKinley has just half a sack in four games. Epenesa is a complete defensive end. He can set the edge against the run, and then come off the blocks to make plays in the backfield. Epenesa has a quality set of moves, which allows him to be a presence in the passing game. If he becomes a more fluid dip and bend guy, Epenesa could go top five in April.

7) Oakland Raiders (Projected Record: 5-11): Jerry Jeudy, WR Alabama- I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Oakland made a move for a receiver this offseason and it didn’t quite work out. That’s right…. I’m talking about JJ Nelson. 

JJ Nelson’s elite route running has been sorely missed in this passing attack. Fortunately, this draft is loaded at receiver, and at the top of the class is the best route runner I’ve seen at the collegiate level in a long time. Jeudy cuts on a dime and his explosiveness adds to his abilities as a route runner. So to replace…. JJ Nelson…. Oakland adds Jeudy.

8) New York Giants (Projected Record: 6-10): Tristan Wirfs, OT Iowa- The Giants offense looks a lot better through two weeks with Danny Dimes at the helm, but there’s still work to be done. Nate Solder looks a step slow against athletic edge rushers, and Mike Remmers is, well, Mike Remmers. 

Wirfs has really quick feet, plus NFL level length. He’s consistent with his footwork in pass protection, and he has a strong counter-punch against an opposing pass rusher. He’s 1A to Andrew Thomas in this draft.

9) New York Jets (Projected Record: 6-10): Henry Ruggs III, WR Alabama- With the top two tackles off the board, the Jets move to their next big need on offense. Ruggs is ridiculously fast and a big time playmaker with the ball in his hands. What has surprised many so far this year is the development in his precision as a route runner. He still has room for improvement in that area, but if he can combine separating at the line of scrimmage with his 4.2 speed, this kid could dominate NFL corners for years to come.

10) Indianapolis Colts (Projected Record: 6-10): Justin Herbert, QB Oregon- Indianapolis is trying to navigate this season with Jacoby Brissett at the helm, and while they did opt to extend him, a short term extension does not show a great deal of faith. The golden situation for a quarterback heading into the NFL is being selected by a team with a really strong offensive line. The Colts have that now, but not having one for a long time might have costed them Andrew Luck’s career. It will not cost them the career of Justin Herbert.

11) Carolina Panthers (Projected Record: 6-10): Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson- Simmons has elite level athleticism. Don’t believe me? He outran Travis Etienne in a 40 yard dash this summer. 

Let me say that again. A linebacker, outran a running back with 4.4 speed, in a 40 yard dash. He’s that kind of athlete.

Having said that, athleticism is not the only facet of his game. Simmons has experience at safety, which helps his ability in coverage as a linebacker. He’s a sure tackler with elite sideline to sideline speed. Most importantly, he’s the new age linebacker defenses are looking for. Putting him next to Luke Keuchly is most certainly what you want if you’re a Panthers fan.

12) Miami Dolphins via Pittsburgh Steelers (Projected Record: 7-9): Tyler Biadasz, OG/C Wisconsin- “Offensive Line University,” is back with the nation’s top interior offensive linemen for 2020. Biadasz could’ve been a first round pick if he came out last year, but going back to school is going to catapult him into the top 15. His game is clean with very little weaknesses. Biadasz can win one-on-one reps in the pass game, and he moves with athleticism and power in both the pass and run game. Miami gets a future Pro Bowl Center with this pick.

13) Jacksonville Jaguars (Projected Record: 7-9): Jeffrey Okudah, CB Ohio State- My belief is that the Jaguars will trade Jalen Ramsey instead of paying him, which puts cornerback atop their wish list in 2020. The top corners in 2020 can all play big time man coverage, but the best of the bunch is Okudah. I’m a sucker for corners that can excel in cover one and cover three, and that is Okudah in a nutshell.

14) Detroit Lions (Projected Record: 7-8-1): Bryce Hall, CB Virginia- Speaking of man cover corners, Hall has big time skills in cover one and cover three along with quality ball skills. I think the one thing that still needs to improve for Hall is his footwork in off coverage. Having said that, putting him opposite Darius Slay would create an elite secondary in Detroit.

15) Minnesota Vikings (Projected Record: 8-8): Derrick Brown, DL Auburn- Brown is a menace along the interior. He wins with power in both the run and pass game, showing a strong lower base and the ability to stack and shed. He’s got powerful strikes and really quality rip move as a rusher. Brown should be a quality pro.

16) Tennessee Titans (Projected Record: 8-8): Joe Burrow, QB LSU- I think Marcus Mariota still has the ability to be a modern day game manager in the NFL. The problem is, I don’t know if you can pay that person 11-13 percent of the cap in the modern day NFL. Even if the Titans choose to franchise tag Mariota, that could put the Titans in the market for a quarterback in 2020. 

Burrow has took the 2019 collegiate season by storm, dominating as the signal caller for LSU’s new look, high octane offense. He does not have the biggest arm, but he can read the defense well and he gets rid of the ball quickly. Right now, Burrow is easily the biggest riser during the early portion of the 2019 campaign (he’s also what people think Jake Fromm can be in the NFL, but that’s a different story for a later mock draft).

17) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Projected Record: 8-8): Creed Humphrey, OG Oklahoma- This might be a little high for Humphrey when we look back on this mock a few months from now, but OL is also the biggest need for Tampa Bay. Humphrey is terrific at gaining leverage at the point of attack. He mauls opponents in the run game. Now his pass protection needs some polishing, he can get off balance at points in time. Still, Humphrey is a quality prospect.

18) San Francisco 49ers (Projected Record: 9-7): Kristian Fulton, CB LSU- Fulton is another elite level man cover corner in the 2020 NFL Draft. Unlike Okudah and Hall, Fulton has a ton of reps as a press cover corner. He’s physical at the line of scrimmage, and he has the athleticism to trail receivers in man coverage. The Niners really need a number one corner, Richard Sherman is not that guy anymore. Fulton can be that guy.

19) Baltimore Ravens (Projected Record: 9-7): CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma- Baltimore’s new look offense is scoring in bunches right now, but they still need a playmaker to complete this offense. Having just picked Hollywood Brown, why not go back to the well and pick his counterpart from Oklahoma?

Lamb is explosive, he’s dynamic with the ball, and he can make just about any play you can ask with the ball in the air. Deep ball ability? Check. High point ability? Check. 

Hollywood-CeeDee-Mark Andrews would make for an elite level offensive unit in Baltimore.

20) Philadelphia Eagles (Projected Record: 10-6): Paulson Adebo, CB Stanford- Adebo rounds out the big four corners in this draft. He shows a higher IQ than the other three, particularly with his ability in off coverage. His technique out of his backpedal is much better than the other three. After the rest of the season, Adebo could jump the other corners in this draft.

21) Buffalo Bills (Projected Record: 10-6): Laviska Shenault Jr., WR Colorado- Buffalo’s offense still needs a number one wide receiver. Shenault has big play ability, he’s the best deep threat in this draft class. And for a team with Josh Allen at the helm, the deep play ability is crucial.

22) Oakland Raiders via Chicago Bears (Bears Projected Record: 10-6): Dylan Moses, ILB Alabama- Okay, here’s the deal. Yes, Dylan Moses blew out his knee. Yes, there are other defensive options here for the Oakland Raiders. 

However, the Raiders need a captain of the defense, and a healthy Dylan Moses is a top ten player in this class. He will have plenty of time to heal from the injury, and could make a day one impact for any NFL team.

23) Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans (Texans Projected Record: 10-6): K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE LSU- In the spirit of “Miami needs just about everything,” they simply take the best player on the board, who also happens to have the most upside of anyone left.

Chaisson has elite dip and bend ability, and he’s shown the ability to long arm opposing tackles. Had Chaisson not been hurt last year, his buzz would be much higher right now.

24) Los Angeles Rams (Projected Record: 11-5): Raekwon Davis, DL Alabama- The Rams defensive line has not looked the same in 2019. Davis is quick off the snap and he has elite size and length for an interior defensive linemen. 

My big concern with him moving forward is consistency. He flashes a quality club move, he stacks and sheds, and he can long arm opposing offensive linemen. The problem is, he’s just not consistent. He does not have elite pass rushing moves and he doesn’t dissect plays as well as his counterpart from 2018, Quinnen Williams. If he becomes more consistent during the rest of this season, Davis can move up the draft board. 

25) Cleveland Browns (Projected Record: 10-6): Prince Tega Wanogho, OT Auburn- Here’s the problem with every offensive tackle in this class not named Thomas or Wirfs; the rest of the tackles have NFL size and length, but they lack the technique to excel in the NFL. Prince Tega Wanogho (ELIte level name) has big time length and quickness, but that technique is what will determine if he’s a first round talent, or a day two selection.

26) Los Angeles Chargers (Projected Record: 11-5): Travis Etienne, RB Clemson- The Chargers will be in the market for a running back after they opt to not pay Melvin Gordon this offseason. Etienne is my top running back among what is a loaded running back class. He’s an elite one cut runner with top end speed as good as anyone in the NFL right now. D’Andre Swift may be shiftier, but I’ll take Etienne’s home run ability and quality vision.

27) Green Bay Packers (Projected Record: 11-5): Tee Higgins, WR Clemson- Davante Adams is an elite wide receiver, no question about it. Opposite Davante Adams, however, is… well… nothing. Higgins is a big, physical receiver that high points the ball well and dominates in the red zone. He’s a perfect match for Aaron Rodgers.

28) Dallas Cowboys (Projected Record: 12-4): Xavier McKinney, S Alabama- Dallas does not have many weaknesses, but one of them is Xavier Woods constantly being injured. McKinney is a quality cover safety in the back end, and he’s also able to come up into the slot and play man coverage. I think his versatility is perfect for Dallas.

29) New Orleans Saints (Projected Record: 12-4): Trevon Diggs, CB Alabama- Diggs is physical in press coverage, using his length and strength to throw opposing receivers off their routes. Technically he still needs refinement, and he can get over aggressive in man-to-man situations. Despite this, his skill set matches the Saints aggressive defense, which could make this a perfect match in the back end of round one.

30) Kansas City Chiefs (Projected Record: 13-3): D’Andre Swift, RB Georgia- Imagine this; the “O Show,” which is what the Chiefs offense calls themselves (it’s also the best nickname I’ve heard this year), adds a game changing running back with elite quickness and sharp cuts. Some say the best defense is a good offense. This offense would be unreal.

31) Seattle Seahawks (Projected Record: 12-4): Lucas Niang, OT TCU- Much like Prince Tega Wanogho, Niang has elite size, length and quick feet. He also needs to clean up his technique. At times he plays high, and I think he can also play down to his competition in terms of his physicality. When he wants to, he’s got the raw power to dominate on the right side of an NFL offensive line.

32) New England Patriots (Projected Record: 14-2): Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE Penn State- I just give up on the Patriots. At this point, their dynasty will never die. After going a, projected, 14-2, and winning another, projected, Super Bowl, they luck themselves into an elite edge athlete in Gross-Matos. The rich get richer, yada yada yada.