It’s almost time to overreact.
Hand size. 40-yard dash. 10-yard split. Inappropriate questions. Semi-appropriate measurements. Facial symmetry tests. OK, I made that last one up. But otherwise, that’s the NFL combine, which starts on Tuesday morning.
Are. you. READY?!
This is the time of year when the NFL wants to make sure you haven’t forgotten about the U.S.’s most important game. This is the time of year when the league trots out the next generation of stars in singlets to ensure we get some headlines. So let’s look at the 2020 NFL Draft, with an eye on potential movers at the combine in Indianapolis this week.
Picks 1-8 | Picks 9-16 | Picks 17-24 | Picks 25-32
1. Cincinnati (2-14) — Joe Burrow, QB, LSU, Sr.
It’s starting to feel impossible that any other scenario happens with the top pick.
2. Washington (3-13) — Chase Young, Edge, Ohio St.
He is widely considered the best prospect, so it’s not a bad deal to get him at No. 2. He’s likely to become a double-digit sack-producer while defending the edge in the run game.
3. Detroit (3-12-1) — Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Here’s where things get interesting
I don’t know if the Lions will draft Tua, but I do think someone will take him at this spot. Detroit will likely try to send up smokescreens about their interest in him during the combine, because they want to trade back, and they need to generate the illusion that teams need to trade up to get the Alabama quarterback. But the truth is probably that the Lions would prefer Matthew Stafford over Tagovailoa for the next three years. So then there’s the question as to whether the Dolphins, Chargers, Panthers or Raiders really want Tua.
After the combine, teams are going to be clawing over the opportunity to draft him. His medicals should be fine. His interviews will be stellar. If it’s not Detroit, it’ll be one of the other QB-needy teams trading into this spot.
4. N.Y. Giants (4-12) — CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
We’re talking about Dave Gettlemen. Let’s. Get. Weird.
Not only is Lamb a complete wideout, but he’s also clearly going to win the bench press.
Lamb has 2,485 yards and 25 touchdowns over the last two seasons. His production has been obscene, and he’s likely to impress in both agility drills in the 40-yard dash. This is a high spot for a receiver. But what if that receiver wins the combine?
5. Miami (5-11) — Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Tua is gone, and the patient Dolphins are bizarrely committed to Ryan Fitzpatrick. They seem to have forgotten he doesn’t wear this to his postgame pressers anymore, right?
Oregon’s Justin Herbert is reach at this point, and Miami has proven it doesn’t want to rush to get a quarterback. Thomas is a pro-ready left tackle, and considering the Dolphins just bailed on Laremy Tunsil, they probably want to replace him.
6. L.A. Chargers (5-11) — Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
The Chargers, meanwhile, may find themselves in a rush to grab a quarterback. Philip Rivers is gone. Tom Brady is likely to be a target, but it’s hard to imagine the Patriots quarterback, who is tight with owner Robert Kraft, heading to play for the Spanos family, who are generally disliked by their players.
So Herbert, it is.
7. Carolina (5-11) — Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio St., Jr.
It would be a dream scenario for the Panthers, who badly need a cornerback and luckily land the best defensive back in the draft in Okudah. He’s a shutdown cornerback, who many suspect will go in the top five picks.
8. Arizona (5-10-1) — Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Simmons is the kind of prospect who is so versatile that teams don’t know what to do with him. He can probably play inside and outside linebacker and even safety at the NFL level.
But his truest position will likely be linebacker, and the Cardinals are likely to be seeking an upgrade inside and outside this offseason. I do wonder, however, if the combine is likely to send him closer to No. 3 overall and the Giants (as I predicted in my first 2020 mock draft). Simmons athleticism should test extremely well in Indy.
9. Jacksonville (6-10) — Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Can we get a comeback for Sacksonville?
Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is a pending free agent, and Calais Campbell is a potential cap casualty. It’s time for a talent shuffle for the Jaguars, who failed in win-now mode in 2019. Brown would help lead Jacksonville back to when they were a kind-of, sort-of an exciting team, quarterbacked by Blake Bortles.
10. Cleveland (6-10) — Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Baker Mayfield had plenty of talent at running back, receiver and tight end. He did not have much help in the way of an offensive line, however. Wills changes that, and should step in as a day-one starter at left tackle. Maybe Mayfield will start playing well again. And maybe he’ll start talking trash again. (That would make me happy.)
11. N.Y. Jets (7-9) — Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
He’s going to run the 40-yard dash and jaws are going to drop. Then he’s going to draw comparisons to Tyreek Hill, but without the legal issues. And then Ruggs will turn into one of the draft’s most desirable talents. His former teammate, receiver Jerry Jeudy, is another good option for New York.
12. Las Vegas (7-9) — Jordan Love, QB, Utah
This was my pick for the Raiders last time, too. Jon Gruden won’t settle until he gets a quarterback with Love’s physical gifts. Gruden and Mike Mayock will have to sort out the mechanical and, in turn, accuracy issues. But at least they have a quarterback who can throw to just about any spot on the field. And in a singlet with no pass rush and a single read, Love is likely to look like the best quarterback at the combine. If he interviews well, maybe — just maybe — he finds himself as the third-best QB on team’s big board (ahead of Herbert).
13. Indianapolis (7-9) — Javon Kinlaw, EDGE, South Carolina
Kinlaw is an absolute monster (6-foot-6, 310 pounds) who can contribute in every phase of the game, and he has some positional versatility to help the Colts’ defensive front. He just needs a little help with technique issues. With his unique size and athleticism, he’s likely to be a combine-favorite, just like he won over the folks at the Senior Bowl.
14. Tampa Bay (7-9) — Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Buccaneers have plenty of positions of need on defense, but they’ll need to make a commitment to whatever quarterback is starting for them next season, be it Jameis Winston or even Brady. Wirfs comes from an offensive line factory at Iowa, and will start day one at right tackle. (He’s also a MONSTER on the hang clean, which is obviously monumentally important when it comes to blocking a defensive lineman… right?)
15. Denver (7-9) — A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
It’s too bad Wirfs just went off the board, because the Broncos need a tackle. But worry not, they’ve got plenty of other problems. Let’s go back to Iowa and grab Ipensa, who has 23 sacks over the last two seasons. General manager John Elway is probably just pleased not to spend this draft worrying about a quarterback.
16. Atlanta (7-9) — K’lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
Chaisson seems like the EDGE player who will blow up at the combine. His production wasn’t out of this world in the SEC, but he might display the athleticism to draw increased attention from evaluators. He also wore No. 18, a number awarded to a Tigers player with high character. In other words: he’ll probably ace interviews, too.
17. Dallas (8-8) — Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
McKinney is the type of player who might creep up draft boards and surprise as one of the top picks of the draft. For now, he fills a need with the Cowboys, who would drop him right into a safety vacancy. But he can do much more than that — he might grow into a versatile role not unlike what Tyrann Mathieu displayed this season with the Chiefs.
18. Miami from Pittsburgh (8-8) — Mekhi Becton, OL, Louisville
Becton is one of the top talents in this draft, and he just so happened to slip this far to Miami, which already took a tackle at No. 5. But they’ll stick to their board, and cement their right and left tackle spots for years to come. It’s so crazy it might just work.
19. Las Vegas from Chicago (8-8) — Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Out goes Vontaize Burfict, a pending free agent. In comes Murray, who is a bicep-on-his-bicep short of looking like D.K. Metcalf. Murray is pretty darn good at playing inside linebacker, too.
20. Jacksonville from L.A. Rams (9-7) — C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Cornerbacks Trevon Diggs (Alabama) and Kristian Fulton (LSU) were in the limelight more often than Henderson, but he may just jump them in the draft. With one of the picks the Jaguars acquired in exchange for Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville gets a replacement for him. Also, Henderson is really fast. (Forget the fact that he took a bad angle. There’s no tackling at the combine.)
21. Philadelphia (9-7) — Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
An elite cornerback for a secondary lacking eliteness. The Eagles badly need to address their talent issues at cornerback.
22. Buffalo (10-6) — Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Jefferson is the perfect compliment to John Brown and Dawson Knox. The LSU receiver can line up anywhere in the offensive formation, and he had little problem beating up on some of the best cornerbacks in the country. He was at his best in big games. This draft is stocked at receiver, but Jefferson has No. 1 wideout potential, even if he’s fallen to the second half of the first round.
23. New England (12-4) — Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
If Brady returns. he will like this pick as much as Patriots fans do. After a pathetic season from the team’s tight ends in the wake of Rob Gronkowski’s retirement, Kmet will provide some hope. He finished with 43 catches, 515 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He was Notre Dame’s second-leading receiver in every category. For what it’s worth, the Patriots would also be a prime landing spot for Jefferson, even after New England took receiver N’Keal Harry in the first round last year.
24. New Orleans (13-3) — Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Jeudy’s film is extremely impressive, with an extensive route tree where the Alabama standout has impressive savvy and athleticism in creating separation. The Saints (and Drew Brees?) would be thrilled if Jeudy fell this far.
25. Minnesota (10-6) — Josh Jones, OT, Houston
The defense is getting old and needs a youthful injection, but Jones is too tempting as a potential starter at tackle, where the Vikings need help. Jones had a really solid Senior Bowl, and could supplant either incumbent starter at tackle in year-one.
26. Miami from Houston (10-6) — Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
Now what? A third tackle? (For those keeping score, I’ve already got the Dolphins taking two. Ridiculous, I know. But, hey, it’s a pre-combine mock draft.) No, let’s give the Dolphins a presence on the edge. Gross-Matos has the size, speed, strength and game film to project to be a three-down contributor. Coach Brian Flores, a former linebackers coach, will appreciate a blue chip defender.
27. Seattle (11-5) — Austin Jackson, OT, USC
You’d think that after four tackles, the market would be dry. But here’s a fifth coming off the board. This draft seems to have an impressive level of depth at a usually thin position. The Seahawks really need help on the edge, with Jadeveon Clowney and Ezekiel Ansah set to enter free agency. But there’s no obvious player for them at this spot with Gross-Matos off the board.
28. Baltimore (14-2) — Tee Higgins, Clemson, WR
The Ravens have their small burner in Hollwood Brown. Higgins is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. And though he’s got a thing or two to learn about getting off press coverage — a typical problem for a young wideout — he uses every inch of his frame to make acrobatic catches. This would be a scary receiver combo in Baltimore.
29. Tennessee (9-7) — Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington
Not much of a blocker, which could prove problematic for the Titans’ run-heavy scheme. But he’s a unique pass-catcher who should impress with measurables at the combine to add to an impressive season with 52 catches, 825 yards, three touchdowns (15.9 yards per attempt). That said, if Bryant’s times are slow, he might just slip into the second or third round.
30. Green Bay (13-3) — Laviska Shenault, Jr, WR, Colorado
No receiver stands to gain more at the combine than Shenault. He had a really impressive 2018 season, but suffered injuries in 2019 that have teams worried about durability. Good medicals and a good set of measurements could reaffirm that he’s worth consideration in the top half of the first round. He’s an extremely impressive athlete.
31. San Francisco (13-3) — Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Perhaps he’s such a well-known player in college football circles that he’s hit his devaluation period. Delpit was First-Team All-SEC honors in his final two seasons. He also won the 2019 Jim Thorpe award for the nation’s top defensive back. The combine could swing the hype back in Delpit’s favor.
32. Kansas City (12-4) — Solomon Kindley, OL, Georgia
There’s got to be an interior blocker who goes in this year’s first round, right? Let’s have the Chiefs, whose starter (Stefen Wisniewski) is a pending free agent, grab this SEC mauler “who lives in scrap mode, looking for fights inside a relatively small phone booth where he’s most comfortable.” per NFL.com. Who wouldn’t want that guy?
