We’re halfway through October, and both the pro and college football landscapes are starting to clear the way for the 2020 NFL draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins are locked in a tight battle for the No. 1 overall pick, while Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa may have some competition for the top spot from LSU’s Joe Burrow.
We also have blockbuster trades impacting next year’s first round, the latest of which being star cornerback Jalen Ramsey being shipped to the Los Angeles Rams, giving the Jacksonville Jaguars multiple first-round picks in each of the next two drafts.
How will all of that impact next year’s first round? Here’s my latest projection:
*draft order courtesy of Tankathon
1. Cincinnati Bengals | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama
If the Bengals end up scoring this pick, it’ll be the biggest win the franchise has had in quite some time. Andy Dalton never developed into a kind of franchise quarterback than could elevate the play of his supporting cast, but Tagovailoa has all the skills to do just that.
2. Miami Dolphins | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU
Losing out on Tagovailoa hurts, but Burrow is proving himself to be anything but a consolation prize. His 2019 tape is light years ahead of where he was a season ago, and he’s looking like the clear-cut No. 2 quarterback in this class, at worst.
3. Washington Redskins | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama
This is a tough call between Jeudy and Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young, but Washington’s priority should be building around Dwayne Haskins. That means surrounding their franchise quarterback with as many playmakers as possible, and Jeudy is the best of a deep receiver class.
4. Atlanta Falcons | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State
This is a huge scoop for the Falcons, who land arguably the best overall player in the entire draft at a position that could use an upgrade. Vic Beasley and Takkarist McKinley have been inconsistent at best, while Young has been terrorizing opposing quarterbacks consistently for two seasons.
5. New York Jets | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia
Protecting Sam Darnold has to be the Jets’ top priority next offseason. He’s got plenty of talented weapons, but needs more time in the pocket to take full advantage of them. This year’s tackle class should be loaded, and Thomas is the best of the bunch.
Picks 1-5 :: Picks 6-10 :: Picks 11-15 :: Picks 16-20 :: Picks 21-25 :: Picks 26-32
6. Jacksonville Jaguars | Jeffrey Okudah | CB | Ohio State
After trading away arguably the league’s best corner in Jalen Ramsey, the Jags obviously have a gaping hole on the roster. This scenario allows them to fill that void with the best corner prospect in the draft class, and the latest in a long line of talented shutdown artists to come out of Columbus.
7. Cleveland Browns | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa
After all the offseason hype, the Browns have struggled mightily this season. They need to give Baker Mayfield everything he needs to succeed, and that means improving things up front. Wirfs would be an instant upgrade at either tackle spot.
8. Miami Dolphins (from PIT) | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma
After landing their franchise quarterback with their first of three first-round picks, the Dolphins give Burrow a dynamic playmaker in Lamb, who excels after the catch. Lamb’s dominant performance against Texas proved how easily he can take over a game.
9. New York Giants | Grant Delpit | S | LSU
The absence of Landon Collins has been painfully evident for this defense, and they need a player with a similar skill set and presence to set the tone. Delpit is a versatile weapon who can make plays all over the field, and a valuable leader in the locker room.
10. Los Angeles Chargers | Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon
Philip Rivers is at the end of a Hall of Fame career, and it’s time for the Bolts to find his long-term replacement. Herbert could have been a high draft pick last year, but he returned to school to polish his game. He’s done just that, and should be plenty worthy of a top-10 pick.
Picks 1-5 :: Picks 6-10 :: Picks 11-15 :: Picks 16-20 :: Picks 21-25 :: Picks 26-32
11. Tennessee Titans | Isaiah Simmons | LB | Clemson
Quarterback is obviously a huge need, but I’m not sold on the remaining prospects in the top-15 range. This team needs to add pure talent and playmaking ability on either side of the ball, and Simmons’ versatile skill set would be a fantastic addition to a young and promising defense.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa
Offensive tackle is the biggest need here, but the value just isn’t there in this scenario. The best bargain is on defense, where the Bucs land a top-10 prospect in Epenesa, who can get after opposing quarterbacks with regularity, regardless of scheme or alignment.
13. Denver Broncos | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn
Another team that needs to address offensive line, the Broncos will find better value elsewhere in this situation. Brown has been just as disruptive as he was last season, but he’s a more polished, experienced prospect this time around. He’s definitely worth a top-15 pick.
14. Arizona Cardinals | Henry Ruggs III | WR | Alabama
The Cards would love to land a franchise left tackle here to protect Kyler Murray, but there’s not one worth taking this high. Instead, they add yet another explosive weapon for their young quarterback, adding the explosive Ruggs to an already promising receiving corps.
15. Dallas Cowboys | Javon Kinlaw | DL | South Carolina
An edge defender would make more sense here, but there’s more bang for the buck inside. Kinlaw isn’t the most polished prospect in this class, but his rare combination of size, athleticism, versatility and explosiveness could make him a dominant force at the next level.
Picks 1-5 :: Picks 6-10 :: Picks 11-15 :: Picks 16-20 :: Picks 21-25 :: Picks 26-32
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) | Laviska Shenault, Jr. | WR | Colorado
After replacing Jalen Ramsey with their earlier first-round pick, the Jags can use one of the picks they got in return to give their offense a much-needed No. 1 receiver. Shenault is a complete prospect with size and explosiveness who does his best work after the catch.
17. Detroit Lions | Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama
Darius Slay is one of the best shutdown corners in the entire NFL, but the No. 2 corner spot needs an upgrade in Detroit. Diggs is finally living up to his lofty potential in 2019, and could easily make himself worthy of a top-20 pick with a strong predraft process.
18. Indianapolis Colts | Raekwon Davis | DL | Alabama
Another player who could have been an early pick last year, Davis is making the most of his return to school by smoothing out the rough edges in his game and becoming a more complete player. The Colts need a young, versatile presence like Davis along the defensive front.
19. Oakland Raiders (from CHI) | Tee Higgins | WR | Clemson
The Antonio Brown debacle is in the rear-view mirror, but the Raiders still need a No. 1 receiver who can take over a game with size, athleticism and physicality. Higgins has all the tools to quickly become that player for Derek Carr.
20. Carolina Panthers | Marvin Wilson | DL | Florida State
It’s hard to point out too many glaring flaws on this roster. The Panthers have been at their best when loading up on defensive talent in the trenches, and that’s what they do here with one of the nation’s most disruptive interior defenders.
Picks 1-5 :: Picks 6-10 :: Picks 11-15 :: Picks 16-20 :: Picks 21-25 :: Picks 26-32
21. Philadelphia Eagles | CJ Henderson | CB | Florida
Injuries continue to limit a secondary with tons of youth and potential, and the Eagles should continue to stock their cupboard with talented corners. Henderson needs to improve his physicality and willingness to tackle, but as a cover man, he’s NFL ready.
22. Oakland Raiders | Kenneth Murray | LB | Oklahoma
On defense, the Raiders’ biggest hole is in the middle, where they desperately need a three-down playmaker who can set the tone for the rest of the unit. Murray is a game-changer on the field who can make big plays against both the run and pass, and a difference-maker in the locker room.
23. Baltimore Ravens | D’Andre Swift | RB | Georgia
The league’s most dynamic rushing attack has a veteran in Mark Ingram and a promising rookie in Justice Hill to go with Lamar Jackson, but that shouldn’t keep them from taking next year’s best back. It’s hard to find a flaw in Swift’s game at this point, and while many teams would shy away from spending an early pick on a running back, this offense would make it worth the investment.
24. Minnesota Vikings | Alex Leatherwood | OT | Alabama
Don’t sleep on a quarterback here, but if the Vikings want to stick it out for the final year of Kirk Cousins’ guaranteed contract, he’ll need as much help as he can get up front. Leatherwood has the versatility and experience to play either guard or tackle.
25. Miami Dolphins (from HOU) | Tyler Biadasz | OL | Wisconsin
After drafting Burrow and giving him a big-time pass-catcher, the Dolphins need to improve the offensive line, and dding one of the most polished prospects in the entire draft would be a no-brainer. Biadasz is a Day 1 starter who could anchor that unit for the next decade.
Picks 1-5 :: Picks 6-10 :: Picks 11-15 :: Picks 16-20 :: Picks 21-25 :: Picks 26-32
26. Buffalo Bills | K’Lavon Chaisson | EDGE | LSU
A defensive coach like Sean McDermott should love the opportunity to add athletic, high-ceiling players to that unit. Chaisson still needs plenty of polish and a few pounds of quality bulk, but his explosiveness, athleticism and technique are the makings of a dynamic pass rusher.
27. New Orleans Saints | Jonathan Taylor | RB | Wisconsin
The loss of Mark Ingram has had a significant impact on the Saints’ ground game, and finding a similar back should be a priority in this draft. Taylor’s powerful style is exactly what the Saints need to rediscover the balance they once had in the backfield.
28. Seattle Seahawks | Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU
The Seahawks have a type when it comes to corners, and Fulton is the perfect fit with his combination of size and physicality. He could have been a high pick in last year’s draft, but the Seahawks steal him outside the top 20 here, and get a more pro-ready version.
29. Kansas City Chiefs | Travis Etienne | RB | Clemson
The NFL’s best teams get (and stay) on top by prioritizing talent and value over pure need. The Chiefs get both here in Etienne, who is a mismatch machine on every snap, and a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Adding him to this offense would be just unfair.
30. Green Bay Packers | Creed Humphrey | OL | Oklahoma
After loading up on defensive help this offseason, the Packers need to add some help for Aaron Rodgers this time around. Humphrey is a plug-and-play starter who would be a huge addition to an offensive line that needs reinforcements in a big way.
31. San Francisco 49ers | Paulson Adebo | CB | Stanford
The 49ers have one of the league’s best veteran corners in Richard Sherman, but they need someone to groom behind him. Why not go back to Sherman’s alma mater to grab Adebo, one of the nation’s most confident and technically sound cover men.
32. New England Patriots | Dylan Moses | LB | Alabama
If not for a knee injury that ended his season before it even began, Moses was a top-10 prospect in this class. If he chooses to enter the draft instead of returning to school in 2020, Moses is still talented enough to warrant a first-round pick, especially for a team like the Pats, who can be patient with his recovery.
Picks 1-5 :: Picks 6-10 :: Picks 11-15 :: Picks 16-20 :: Picks 21-25 :: Picks 26-32
