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Hunter Felt

NFL draft 2020: Bengals take LSU's Burrow as first round goes to form – as it happened

Joe Burrow is pictured at home in a Bengals cap after Cincinnati made him the No 1 overall pick.
Joe Burrow is pictured at home in a Bengals cap after Cincinnati made him the No 1 overall pick. Photograph: AP

Complete list of first-round draft picks

Be sure to read our full report from tonight’s first round. The full list of picks so far appears below. Rounds two and three will start on Friday at 7pm ET and rounds four through seven begin at noon on Saturday.

1) Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

2) Washington – Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

3) Detroit Lions – Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

4) New York Giants – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

5) Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

6) Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

7) Carolina Panthers – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

8) Arizona Cardinals – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

9) Jacksonville Jaguars – CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

10) Cleveland Browns – Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

11) New York Jets – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

12) Las Vegas Raiders – Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

13) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Colts via 49ers) – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

14) San Francisco 49ers (from Buccaneers) – Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

15) Denver Broncos – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

16) Atlanta Falcons – AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson

17) Dallas Cowboys – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

18) Miami Dolphins (from Steelers)– Austin Jackson, OT, USC

19) Las Vegas Raiders (from Bears) – Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

20) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Rams) – K’Lavon Chaisson, OLB, LSU

21) Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU

22) Minnesota Vikings (from Bills) – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

23) Los Angeles Chargers (from Patriots) – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

24) New Orleans Saints – Cesar Ruiz, C/G, Michigan

25) San Francisco 49ers (from Vikings) – Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

26) Green Bay Packers (from Texans via Dolphins) – Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

27) Seattle Seahawks – Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech

28) Baltimore Ravens – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

29) Tennessee Titans – Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia

30) Miami Dolphins (from Packers) – Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

31) Minnesota Vikings (from 49ers) – Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

32) Kansas City Chiefs – Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

Updated

Final thoughts

So who would have thought that the key to running a NFL draft without any significant hiccups would be to hold it during a nationwide quarantine? Despite all the logistical headaches, the end result was, interestingly enough, one of the least surprising drafts that I can remember. Beyond the Packers’ surprise pick of quarterback Jordan Love, there weren’t many controversial selections and only two trades, both of them relatively minor.

Under different circumstances, maybe there would be a reason to complain, but with everything else going on right now it’s not like are particularly starved for drama. In any case, that will do it for our live coverage of the NFL draft for tonight. Thanks to everybody who followed along with us today, particularly those who contributed. Ciao!

Updated

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

And we’re here at the final pick of the first round as the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. They take the first running back of the draft and the only one in the first round.

Updated

31. Minnesota Vikings: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

The Vikings select Jeff Gladney out of Texas Christian.

Updated

30. Miami Dolphins: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

The Packers were going to be picking here but they traded up in order to create a quarterback controversy that we could all talk about. That was basically the only major surprise of the draft so far.

The Dolphins pick Auburn cornerback Noah Igbinoghene.

Noah Igbinoghene
Auburn defensive back Noah Igbinoghene runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis at the start of March. Photograph: Michael Conroy/AP

Updated

It’s weird that after all the conversation about the million ways that this draft could go wrong, it might actually end up being one of the most drama-free first rounds I can recall.

Updated

29. Tennessee Titans: Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia

The Titans, who ended Tom Brady’s New England career and came within a game of the Super Bowl last year, get a big guy for their offensive line.

Updated

28. Baltimore Ravens: Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU

Goodell is somehow getting worse at reading his scripted lines as the night goes on. The Ravens select Patrick Queen out of LSU. Interestingly, he is the first player the Ravens have ever drafted out of the Baton Rouge school in 24 drafts.

Updated

I won’t lie. I’m kind of angry at this joke.

27. Seattle Seahawks: Jordyn Brooks, ILB, Texas Tech

The Seahawks take Jordyn Brooks, a speedy inside linebacker to shore up their defense.

This still on?

So, all Love has to do is follow in the footsteps of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. No pressure.

Packers draft QB Jordan Love at No 26

26. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

The Dolphins were on the clock, but they just traded that pick to the Packers and they choose Jordan Love. That’s a surprise considering quarterback isn’t an obvious need for Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers having thrown for 51 touchdowns and six interceptions over the last two seasons. But Rodgers turns 37 in December and they appear to be earmarking his successor.

Love has a strong arm, plenty of talent, and a 20:17 touchdown-to-interception ratio last year. He’s capable of huge plays and jaw-dropping turnovers, in roughly equal amounts. He feels like the second coming of Jameis Winston, but without the troubling rap sheet.

Updated

25. San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

The 49ers trade up to get this pick, which was the Vikings’ selection. They go for a receiver, in this case Brandon Aiyuk out of Arizona State.

Updated

24. New Orleans Saints: Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan

The Saints select Cesar Ruiz. In what’s becoming a trend here, Ruiz has a sad backstory here as well as he lost his father at a young age in a tragic accident.

Updated

Honestly, this is the one draft day tradition that I’m rather glad we left behind.

Updated

23. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

This would have been the New England Patriots’ spot if they hadn’t traded down because that’s what the Patriots do. The Chargers go for one of the best defensive players on the board.

Updated

22. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

The Vikings get themselves a nifty receiver here, a big need after the departure of Stefon Diggs.

Updated

Shocker number two: the Patriots might be trading down. This really might be the most predictable NFL draft in my lifetime.

Updated

This may come as a massive shock, but the response from Eagles fans about their draft pick was not unanimously positive.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU

The Eagles, badly in need of talent on the outside (on both sides of the ball, really), go for an offensive weapon here, taking Texas Christian receiver Jalen Reagor.

Updated

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: K’Lavon Chaisson, Edge Rusher, LSU

Chaisson missed 2018 with a torn ACL but had a comeback season in 2019, where he record 6.5 sacks and racked up 60 tackles. His overall track record isn’t great – again, coming back from a serious injury did him no favors – but it’s possible that he’s only shown glimpses of his potential.

Updated

Let’s Try This Again Department:

Goodell announced that the Raiders would host the 2020 NFL draft, which they wouldn’t because that is this draft. I took to mean that he mispoke and he meant next year’s draft.

It turns out he actually meant the 2022 draft would be in Las Vegas, as 2021 is already set for Cleveland. So there we are.

Updated

19. Las Vegas Raiders: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

Las Vegas was supposed to host the draft this year, Goodell announces that they host a non-virtual draft next year. The Raiders choose Ohio State’s Damon Arnette to help shore up their defense.

Updated

It’s hard not to root for Jackson after seeing him go through a bone marrow transplant to keep his sister alive. Just a powerful segment.

Updated

18. Miami Dolphins: Austin Jackson, OT, USC

The Dolphins go for offensive tackle Austin Jackson from Southern Cal.

Updated

I am sensing a theme.

17. Dallas Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

The Cowboys might have just stumbled upon the best wide receiver in this draft. He’s coming off a year where he picked up 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. Throughout his career he’s averaged 19.0 yards per catch, so you know he’s capable of making the big play. He may not be as fast as teams want from an elite receiver, but he has sure hands.

Updated

16. Atlanta Falcons: AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson

The Falcons take Clemson’s AJ Terrell as a cornerback. And we’ve hit our first player that I didn’t have a prewritten summary for; usually it happens much earlier, but there haven’t been too many surprises so far.

Updated

15. Denver Broncos: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Jeudy’s key ability just might be his elusiveness, he’s shown an ability to escape the tackle. He has the quickness that fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb doesn’t quite have, but he also had a few drops. There’s some concern that his frame (6ft 1in, 195lbs) might leave him vulnerable in the pros. His production has been consistent, however: he had 68 catches for 14 touchdowns in 2018 and followed it up with 77 catches for 10 scores last year.

Updated

Email from D. Hamilton on Tua Tagovailoa:

Who could forget him fumbling the ball running untouched in open field in the red zone against LSU? On the first play after Trump had been introduced to the crowd.

And LSU taking that recovered possession the length of the field for a TD. And recovering a muffed 4th down snap on the next series and scoring a field goal, en route to a 33-13 half time lead and a famous win in Tuscaloosa

Trump leaves at half time. Crowd chants ‘Lock him out’.

Unforgettable.

14. San Francisco 49ers: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

The 49ers select Javon Kinlaw. The 22-year-old senior is coming off a six-sack, 35-tackle year with South Carolina. He’s a bit older than some of the other players being chosen here, but the additional experience might do him well. He’s a team captain, well-respected by his peers and has all of those intangibles that NFL teams at least claim they appreciate. More importantly, he can completely discombobulate opposing offenses. And his dad may have just stolen the show.

Updated

The details on that (rather underwhelming) trade:

Updated

Our first trade

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

The San Francisco 49ers trade picks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they choose Wirfs, who is 6ft 5in and 320lbs yet quick on his feet, a combination of size and agility that should allow for him to easily adjust to the NFL. He could potentially be the most dominant offensive lineman in the draft. His job is going to be protecting maybe the best quarterback in NFL history. Also, this ...

https://twitter.com/MaxPreps/status/1253503273484660737/

Updated

Visual evidence:

OK, Ruggs was wearing a robe while being drafted and he’s maybe my new favorite player.

Also check out his basketball moves:

Updated

12. Las Vegas Raiders: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

Yet another Alabama alumnus. Of the 98 receptions he recorded with the Crimson Tide, 24 of them went for touchdowns. He’s very quick and very dangerous, although he doesn’t seem to be much of an every-down type of player. What’s that old complaint: “All he does is catch touchdowns?”

Updated

The Raiders are on the clock, leaving me to ponder when my brain will start accepting the “Las Vegas Raiders” as an actual sports team and not the title a weird, 90’s action movie.

11. New York Jets: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Becton is 6ft 7in and 364lbs. He is coming off winning the Jacobs Blocking Trophy and received first team all-ACC honors. He has a 7ft wingspan, the kind that makes one wonder if he maybe he could try out for the NBA (assuming that this will exist in the near future). There might be some concerns that his weight could become a problem, but that’s not a major concern given his position.

Updated

If the New York Jets make a pick without their fans being able to boo it, have they really made a pick?

10. Cleveland Browns: Jedrick Wills Jr, OT, Alabama

Never mind about the production values; they just totally cut back to Roger Goodell before he was ready.

The Browns choose Jedrick Wills Jr. Unlike fourth pick Andrew Thomas, Wills has exclusively played as a right tackle so far, but he’s an absolute monster at the position. During his 2019 season for Alabama, he gave up just a single sack in 714 snaps. He’s not super-speedy, but he makes up for it with brute strength.

Updated

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

The weird thing about this draft is that it hasn’t been that weird. Everything’s basically playing out as expected so far.

Henderson is super-fast and super-talented. He also had zero interceptions last year. He might have the most talent of any cornerback in the draft but he also is coming off a somewhat down year marked by an ankle injury and some questions about his tackling. He feels like a player who is either going to be a star or a bust, with little in-between.

Updated

And now we’re getting a weird, awkward conversation via television between Goodell and Burrow. It should be noted that there have been absolutely no technical hiccups here so far, it’s been rather smooth going.

8. Arizona Cardinals: Isaiah Simmons, lots of different things, Clemson

I was about to ask whether Simmons was going to be the player to unexpectedly fall this draft, but the Cardinals are one step ahead of me. It’s impossible to summarize what exactly Isaiah Simmons is and what he could be in the NFL. His main selling point is that he doesn’t really have a position, as he skips between linebacker, safety, pash-rusher and cornerback. Maybe that will frustrate some teams, it’s nice to know exactly what you’re getting in and whether or not he will fit your needs, but in the modern NFL, there’s something to be said about a player you can shift from position-to-position based on the situation. In any case, the 100+ tackles and 8 sacks he picked up last season certainly look eye-popping no matter where he ends up playing.

7. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

The Panthers take Auburn’s Derrick Brown. I’m going to be lazy here and just quote a tweet from Pro Football Focus: “Derrick Brown didn’t miss a single tackle on 42 attempts all season and had a 90.6 pass-rushing grade.” He can also play a little nose-tackle and is difficult to block no matter where ends up. The dude is strong is what I’m getting at.

Updated

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

At 6ft 6in, he’s the kind of tall, strong-armed quarterback that would perfectly fit the role if you were casting a movie. He threw for 32 touchdowns and just six interceptions in his last season with Oregon. Herbert looks to be a solid QB in the NFL, but there are questions about whether he could be the type of player that can truly stand out at the highest level or whether he’s another Brock Osweiler.

Updated

OK, maybe I was wrong about how players dress for this stay-at-home draft.

Updated

5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

They very much do take a quarterback and possibly the steal of the draft.

Tagovailoa is one of the biggest names in this field. In another universe, Tagovailoa is the first overall draft pick. That is not this universe, as he suffered a dislocated hip back in November. During his Alabama career he boasted a ridiculous touchdown percentage, 12.7% (the best in Division I history by a lot), and he’s a dynamic rusher as well. And who could forget when he came off the bench at halftime to lead Alabama to an unforgettable comeback win over Georgia in the 2017 national championship game. The only question is: how healthy will he be and how healthy can he remain?

Tua Tagovailoa
In this still image from video provided by the NFL, Tua Tagovailoa, front center, holds up a phone during the NFL draft on Thursday. The Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick. Photograph: AP

Updated

Miami Dolphins are on the clock, the question here is whether or not they go for a quarterback here.

4. New York Giants: Andrew Thomas, OT. Georgia

While he’s not quite at Isaiah Simmons levels of versatility, Thomas has played 15 games at right tackle and 26 games at left. Thomas has been impressive at preventing pressures but needs work at being a more consistent blocker.

Updated

Not everyone is happy with the Joe Burrow/Cam Newton comparison:

Email from Nyles Glynn:

Dude, Cam Newton is currently without a team!

That is fair enough, but that has more to do with Newton’s injury history than his talent.

3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

Detroit takes Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah with the third pick.

One of those players whose talent and potential makes him look better than what the numbers might tell you (he has three career interceptions, for one thing). He’s shown a gift at excelling in man-to-man coverage and has the flat-out speed that should make him an effective starter right out of the gate. One of those players who might find himself at the professional level.

Updated

Chase Young is not just a great player but he’s not a bad singer either.

2. Washington: Chase Young, defensive end, Ohio State

Washington, as expected, take Chase Young with the second overall pick. An elite pass rusher, Young is probably the most heralded defensive player in the draft. In his last two seasons Young has 27 sacks, including a record 16.5 in 2019. He was a Heisman finalist, just the ninth defensive player to become one since 1982.

Updated

How good is Joe Burrow? Well...

“There is only one Tiger King and its Joe Burrow.” That’s some nice SEO work there.

There is absolutely no way it should have taken that long to announce that.

Bengals select QB Joe Burrow with No 1 overall pick

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

The LSU quarterback threw for seven touchdowns in the Tigers’ national semi-final win over Oklahoma. He ended up throwing for an eye-popping 60 touchdowns last year and just six interceptions. Theoretically, some of that success could partially be a product of LSU’s offense but it’s hard to see how a season this incredible could be a mirage.

Updated

The Cincinnati Bengals are on the clock and, you know, I’m going to make a wild guess and say that they will pick Joe Burrow.

And here we have Dr Fauci talking about social distancing.

And Roger Goodell pops up and encourages us all to boo him from home, to keep up the tradition of booing the commissioner.

Roger Goodell at home.
Boo! Photograph: AP

Updated

Twitter is pointing something out that I completely missed: I don’t recall there ever being a national anthem in any of the previous drafts.

Harry Connick Jr plays piano and sings a quick jazzy run through the Star-Spangled Banner. So far, the production values have been about as good as one could possibly expect under the circumstances.

Updated

Roger Goodell, working from home, starts things off with a salute to all those combating the coronavirus pandemic. And asks us to observe a moment of silence.

And we’re officially off! As a sign of this being a very special episode of the NFL Draft, they get Peyton Manning to recite some words on football and hope. It’s not entirely un-cheesy, but it’s well-done.

Here’s what our current draft order looks like. It will almost certainly change as teams decide whether they want to make a trade or not.

1. Cincinnati Bengals

2. Washington

3. Detroit Lions

4. New York Giants

5. Miami Dolphins

6. Los Angeles Chargers

7. Carolina Panthers

8. Arizona Cardinals

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

10. Cleveland Browns

11 New York Jets

12. Las Vegas Raiders

13. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis)

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

15. Denver Broncos

16. Atlanta Falcons

17. Dallas Cowboys

18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh)

19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago)

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)

21. Philadelphia Eagles

22. Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo)

23. New England Patriots

24. New Orleans Saints

25. Minnesota Vikings

26. Miami Dolphins (from Houston)

27. Seattle Seahawks

28. Baltimore Ravens

29. Tennessee Titans

30. Green Bay Packers

31. San Francisco 49ers

32. Kansas City Chiefs

Updated

Meanwhile, ESPN’s coverage paused its football talk to give Jennifer Hudson a chance to sing the late, great Bill Withers’s “Lean On Me.” It’s the first of what promises to be many references to our current situation.

Those are definitely the top two receivers in this draft class, we’ll see where they end up.

Just in case you need any more evidence that we’re all going through the same things:

This is not going to be one of the more fashionable drafts in sports history.

While you’re waiting here, you might want to read Oliver Connolly’s take on Isaiah Simmons, who almost certainly be a Top 10 pick today, and the future of NFL defenses.

Despite that, it’s very possible that this might be the most-watched NFL Draft ever since there literally hasn’t been any live sports for over a month. Last weekend, sports fans found themselves counting down the hours until ESPN aired the first two episodes of its Michael Jordan documentary series. It’s getting really rough and it will be nice to have something to watch where the outcomes aren’t predetermined.

Preamble

Just a note to start things off: this is going to be a strange one. Thanks to the worldwide pandemic we’re all dealing with, this year’s NFL Draft is being held remotely. What has traditionally been a slick, made-for-television spectacle will now be something of a chaotic jumble. The players themselves will be responsible for providing their own camerawork which, as we learned from ESPN’s Horse Tournament, could give this whole affair a DIY feel.

Considering the restrictions imposed upon them by the COVID-19 outbreak, the NFL should consider itself relieved that they have found a way to hold the draft at all. To put things mildly, we’re in unchartered waters right now. If you’d like to join the conversation today, feel free to send us an email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or Twitter (@HunterFelt), and we’ll include them in this liveblog as we go on. The 2020 NFL Draft is set to start around 8pm EST, but we’ll be back before then.

Updated

Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look at Graham Searles’ projected picks for tonight’s first round.

1) Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Joe Burrow, quarterback, LSU. The Bengals have to take Burrow. He has the potential to lead them for the next 15 years and to finally get Cincinnati that playoff win Andy Dalton failed to provide. Burrow excelled in his final year at LSU leading the Tigers to an undefeated college championship. Burrow completed 76.3% of his passes for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns and six interceptions. Free agency showed a new era may be dawning in Cincinnati and Burrow is the man to make it concrete.

2) Washington

Pick: Chase Young, edge rusher, Ohio State. Washington have a no-brainer of their own in Young. Ron Rivera can build a strong defensive identity with a player following in the footsteps of premium Ohio State edge defenders, Joey and Nick Bosa. A 6ft 5in wrecking-ball whose tremendous speed off the line allowed him to rack up 16.5 sacks, 21.5 tackles for a loss and seven forced fumbles across 12 games in 2019. Tua Tagovailoa could be an upgrade on Dwayne Haskins but the inability to assess the quarterback’s fitness up close makes Young the sensible pick.

3) Detroit Lions

Pick: Jeffrey Okudah, cornerback, Ohio State. The Lions need a replacement for Darius Slay after trading him to Philadelphia. Okudah can slip straight into Slay’s role as Detroit’s leader in the backfield and make an impact as the best shutdown corner entering the league.

4) New York Giants

Pick: Jedrick Wills, offensive tackle, Alabama. Offensive line is a must-upgrade for the Giants. Wills, Mekhi Becton and Tristan Wirfs all would do exactly that for head coach, Joe Judge, but Wills makes sense as Judge was once Nick Saban’s assistant in Alabama. Familiarity tips the scales in Wills’s favour without the ability to meet with prospects this year owing to lockdown.

5) Miami Dolphins

Pick: Justin Herbert, quarterback, Oregon. The Dolphins can pick from the best of the rest with Burrow off the board. Herbert gets the nod over Tagovailoa due to the latter’s fitness problems. His 6ft 6in frame and huge arm pass the eye test. Three rushing touchdowns against Wisconsin in Oregon’s Rose Bowl victory showed he can shift when needed too.

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