A lot has changed since our last mock draft, as the data from the NFL Combine is now in our system, and we can no longer un-see what happened in Indianapolis.
For smart teams, it’ll mean getting great value later on because fluky results at the Combine dropped a great football player, for reactionary decision-makers, it could spell doom. For this purposes of this mock, it simply means lots of movement and a potentially elite talent dropping to your Denver Broncos.
Note: the second round is hidden if you scroll all the way below.
1) Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
If Burrow, an Ohio native, wants to go back to his home state, he’s the pick and a perfect fit in Zac Taylor’s McVay-inspired attack.
2) Washington Redskins: Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
With a new decision-maker in town in Ron Rivera, the Redskins do seem to be considering all options here, including quarterback. Young is the rare building block that could be one of the best players in the NFL. The second he steps on the field, that’s too good a value to pass up.
3) Detroit Lions: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
The Lions could also be in the quarterback market, but more realistically, they’re picking between two defensive studs who fit what they want to perfection. Rather than go the corner route, they select the do-it-all Simmons who could be a generational, positionless-chess piece.
4) New York Giants: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
The Giants have their pick of the best tackles in a phenomenal class. They go with the high-upside Becton, whose size is only exceeded by his infinite potential.
5) Miami Dolphins: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
There seems to be a real chance that this pick isn’t Tua, as the more physically gifted Herbert has aced the draft process thus far, putting himself firmly in the mix to be the second quarterback taken.
6) Los Angeles Chargers: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
The Chargers need a jolt, and while Tagovailoa might have to sit at first, he would certainly provide a spark in the long term. His medical check-up seems to be encouraging, but the top-four quarterbacks are very fluid at the moment as Jordan Love could easily crash the party.
7) Carolina Panthers: Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
The Panthers are building long term, and the value at this pick lies in one of the top-four defensive prospects. They go with Okudah over Brown as the Ohio State defensive back presents added value on third down in the pass-heavy NFC South.
8) Arizona Cardinals: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
The Cards offense is all about four-wide formations with separate coaches for inside and outside receivers. Jeudy could play either spot and be a menace with all that space in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.
9) Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
The Jaguars have lots of needs and can select the best player available. Here it’s the dominant Tigers’ lineman who could open up space for the rest of their front seven.
10) Cleveland Browns: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Browns are desperate for offensive tackle help and have an athletic-freak like Wirfs drop in their lap. Wirfs seems like an ideal fit in Kevin Stefanski’s offense.
11) New York Jets: Andrew Thomas, LT, Georgia
The Jets get a building block in the trenches with Thomas, who possesses rare length and superior agility, two traits that’ll make him a premium pick.
12) Las Vegas Raiders: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
This isn’t great news for the Broncos, as Ruggs seems to be the guy everyone mentions for them. Having both Tyreek Hill and Ruggs in the same division would test Denver’s speed on defense that much more.
13) Indianapolis Colts: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Frank Reich has already helped adapt his offense to another raw, mobile quarterback in Carson Wentz and Love, has that same type of high-end potential.
14) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jedrick Wills Jr., RT, Alabama
The Bucs are a tough team to get a read on with still lots of uncertainty at quarterback. Regardless, adding one of the top-four offensive tackles is a sound value pick.
15) Denver Broncos: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
While missing out on one of the top tackles is a bummer, Denver should be ecstatic in this scenario as having one of the top-three wideouts in this potentially historic class would be huge.
Lamb might not be the perfect Yin to Courtland Sutton’s Yang, but the two would be physically imposing and present tons of problems after the catch—add Noah Fant to that mix, and you’d have a tough bunch to match up against.
Lamb is a big play machine who can separate deep and be a threat on short to intermediate routes too, he would instantly be a dynamic weapon for the Broncos’ offense.
16) Atlanta Falcons: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
The Falcons need help defensively in several areas, tackle might not be their top priority, but the disruptive Kinlaw could take their front to another level.
17) Dallas Cowboys: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
The highly touted Henderson has inserted his name back into the top-20 mix by running a 4.39. He’d be a valuable piece in Dallas’ secondary.
18) Miami Dolphins: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
Chiasson has a ton of talent, but some injury concerns and lack of production allow him to fall a bit. He’d be a nice piece to build the defense around giving coach Brian Flores a versatile, athletic rusher to work with.
19) Las Vegas Raiders: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
The Raiders add another premier athlete from the SEC, this time on defense where Queen is still raw but could quickly be developed into a weapon to counter the Chiefs’ speed on offense.
20) Jacksonville Jaguars: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
The Jaguars can wait on a corner to replace Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, opting for one of the toughest and most athletic players in the draft. Murray is still raw, especially in coverage, but he’s a playmaker who flies around with reckless abandon.
21) Philadelphia Eagles: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
Mims is a vertical threat and acrobatic-catch savant, he’s been a big riser in the process who should be gone by round one.
22) Buffalo Bills: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Josh Allen’s big but erratic arm could benefit from a bigger receiver that can increase his margin of error, adding Jefferson would accomplish that and give the Bills a versatile wideout who can line outside or in the slot—where he played at LSU.
23) New England Patriots: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
Kmet has cemented himself as the top tight end in 2020. A strong blocker with a big frame and sneaky athleticism, he’d be a key addition for the Pats regardless of who’s playing behind center.
24) New Orleans Saints: Laviska Sheanault, WR, Colorado
Sheanault could drop another 30 spots, and it wouldn’t be surprising, but you do wonder if a coach that’s utilized similarly versatile offensive weapons like Reggie Bush, Jimmy Graham, Alvin Kamara, and Taysom Hill might find it hard to pass on the Buffs’ dynamic playmaker.
25) Minnesota Vikings: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
Coach Mike Zimmer is addicted to drafting cornerbacks and with Minnesota once again in need of high-end coverage defenders select Fulton, who has lockdown-corner type upside.
26) Miami Dolphins: Ezra Cleveland, LT, Boise State
One of the big winners of the Combine, Cleveland is an experienced starter who put on a show against the top competition he faced and then tested at elite levels. It would be surprising to see him go this high, but tackles with his talent rarely drop very far.
27) Seattle Seahawks: A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa
Epenesa might not be for everyone, but his disruptive power would fit in the Seahawks big, left-defensive end spot.
28) Baltimore Ravens: Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn
With the run on receivers, the Ravens boost their defensive line with Davidson, a disruptive interior penetrator who has been a big riser during the draft process.
29) Tennessee Titans: Austin Jackson, LT, USC
The Titans could go in several directions but settle on the high-upside tackle to replace prized free agent, Jack Conklin.
30) Green Bay Packers: Josh Jones, OT, Houston
Jones is an impressive pass protector, and while his ceiling is lower than most of the tackles that were taken before him, his present ability is a big selling point for the win-now Packers.
31) San Francisco 49ers: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
Igbinoghene is a very intriguing corner with physicality and size that would fit the Niners’ defense. A run on the position should start right around this spot.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame
Pride Jr. has had an amazing draft process showing a great competitive spirit in coverage combined with speed and quickness. A reliable man corner who can play on an island he’d fit nicely in KC.
Round two
33) Cincinnati Bengals: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
34) Indianapolis Colts: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
35) Detroit Lions: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
36) New York Giants: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
37) Los Angeles Chargers: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU
38) Carolina Panthers: Ross Blacklock, IDL, TCU
39) Miami Dolphins: D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
40) Arizona Cardinals: Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma
41) Cleveland Browns: Grant Delpit, S, LSU
42) Jacksonville Jaguars: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
43) Chicago Bears: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
44) Indianapolis Colts: Cesar Ruiz, OC, Michigan
45) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
46) Denver Broncos: Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
