NFL decision-makers tend to be a risk-averse group. Owners often hire familiar coaches. General managers tend to draft players who are safe with a high floor. So the idea that one team — let alone all of them — would turn over their picks in the first round to a lawyer-turned-football writer such as myself would be wildly out of character. To the point that if you pitched it as a Hollywood movie, you would be laughed out of a conference room.
On the other hand …”Air Bud” made it to the silver screen. So …
Mock drafts take many forms. There is the predictive mock draft, where the writer tries to guess what happens. Then there is the what I would do mock, where the writer shows his or her cards. Here is how the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft would play out if I were calling the shots in each draft room, or in today’s parlance, in each draft Zoom meeting.
1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Do not overthink this, Cincinnati. The quarterback of your future, and a local kid at that, is staring you in the face. Sure, there are rumblings that Joe Burrow might want to play somewhere else. Yes, a team might offer you a king’s ransom to come up to the first spot for the right to take him. That should tell you something. Sit tight, draft the kid with the pocket awareness, competitive toughness and accuracy to be a great quarterback.
2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
Last summer, a tremendous debate raged in the football Twitter world. Spurred on by the folks at Pro Football Focus, the question was this: What matters more? Pass rush or coverage?
As with any football debate, battle lines were drawn, and flags were planted.
The Washington Redskins have a chance to plant a flag of their own in response to that heated debate. Provided Joe Burrow is the first player selected, then Washington and new head coach Ron Rivera can pick between pass-rush (Chase Young) or coverage (Jeff Okudah). Most observers believe Rivera will opt for the pocket crusher over the receiver eraser. Recently, some writers such as Benjamin Solak at The Draft Network and even yours truly in a previous mock draft have suggested that Okudah is the smarter pick, given the more pressing need in the secondary for Washington.
In the end, however, Rivera picks the player who forces opposing offenses into an almost-impossible choice: Whom do you focus your attention on when crafting protection schemes? Ryan Kerrigan, Montez Sweat or Young?
3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
With the loss of Darius Slay via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions now have a huge need at the cornerback position. They can address that with a scheme-diverse, fluid cornerback in Jeff Okudah out of Ohio State. He has lockdown corner potential, as demonstrated by the numbers from his final season with the Buckeyes. Last year, Okudah allowed opposing passers a passer rating of just 45.3 when he was targeted, giving up just 27 catches on 58 targets for one touchdown, with three interceptions. Matt Patricia can look to use him on an island in man coverage schemes, but he also has the versatility to play off coverage or even in zones. He is a great scheme fit for what Patricia wants to dial up defensively.
4. New York Giants: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
There seems to be a growing consensus that the New York Giants, and general manager Dave Gettleman, will select Clemson defensive standout Isaiah Simmons with this pick. It would make a ton of sense, as Simmons can contribute on all levels of the defense, fits the mold of positionless football the league is moving toward, and immediately could improve a Giants defense that — let’s face it — needs some improvement.
But if we have learned anything from the past few seasons of the NFL, the modius operandi for teams with a rookie quarterback is to give him as much help as possible. For the Giants, that means protecting Daniel Jones. New York has started to piece together a solid offensive line, with Nate Solder and Will Hernandez on the left side and Kevin Zeitler slotted in at right guard, but as of this moment there is a need at right tackle. Cameron Fleming, signed in free agency, is a prototype swing tackle but probably not the long-term answer at that position.
Enter Wills. The Alabama right tackle has been a force up front for the Crimson Tide the past few seasons, and he is explosive, powerful and agile on the edge. He is a brutal mauler as a run-blocker, and gave up just a single sack during his career at Alabama on 970 pass-blocking snaps.
That will help Jones.
5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Remember, this is a what I would do mock draft and not a what I think will happen mock draft.
Reading the tea leaves, it seems as if the former Alabama signal-caller might be starting to slide a bit in the eyes of the NFL. Rumors of failed physicals and concerns about his potential longevity have some pundits wondering if Tagovailoa will get picked in the first round at all. But this is lying season, when stories are told to influence people and manipulate opponents.
Tagovalioa, on the field, is a very clean evaluation. He has an extremely quick release, throws with accuracy to all levels, and has the athleticism to create outside of the pocket. With Ryan Fitzpatrick in place, and the additions the Dolphins have made so far in free agency, they can afford to be patient with Tagovailoa and make sure he is ready to go before inserting him into the lineup. Miami is perhaps the ideal setting for him.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
There are some common reasons players get pushed up draft boards, beyond what their overall ranking might look like in a particular draft class. A player might play at a particular position that is of dire need for a team, forcing the organization to perhaps reach for him earlier than other teams would be willing to. The player might play a position that has just a handful of solid prospects in that year’s class, and the team might fear missing out.
Or the player could be a quarterback.
In a vacuum, Justin Herbert might not be a player with a first-round grade, let alone a top-10 grade. But given the premium status of the position, QBs get pushed up boards artificially. The Los Angeles Chargers might be willing to roll with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback to start the 2020 season, but they are in a position now where they can think about a life beyond the end of the calendar year. In Herbert they get a prospect with a live arm, the athleticism to fit where the position and game are trending, and the ability to read leverage in the secondary with consistency. With Taylor in place, they can fill in the gaps around that foundation.
7. Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, Defense, Clemson
The Big 12, and specifically Big 12 defenses, present easy punching bags when it comes to viewing the schemes those teams play on Saturdays in the fall. With wide-open offenses, defenses that rely on sub packages and quarterbacks throwing to open receivers in space, it is common to hear criticism of prospects coming out of that conference. But if you dig into what NFL teams are doing on both sides of the ball, you might find that teams on Sundays are starting to borrow from what teams in the Big 12 are doing on Saturdays.
Matt Rhule, the new head coach of the Panthers, knows where the game is headed schematically. Specifically, on the defensive side of the football, you need players who can be matchup pieces. With so many offensive coaches, such as Josh McDaniels, Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, looking to create and exploit mismatches offensively, defenses will need a versatile player who can lock down a tight end in coverage on first down, a slot receiver on second down, and perhaps rush the passer as part of a blitz package on third down.
That is Isaiah Simmons. He will give Rhule and the Panthers a matchup weapon on the defensive side of the football, a player seemingly created in a laboratory to erase offensive threats at all levels of the field.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Arizona Cardinals made one of the splashiest moves this offseason, trading for DeAndre Hopkins. They add the talented wide receiver to an offense that looks to be trending in the right direction around second-year quarterback Kyler Murray.
But they do need to protect Murray, and while the Cardinals made some moves up front this offseason, such as signing left tackle D.J. Humphries to a contract extension and signing right tackle Marcus Gilbert, making sure they have the right mix of players up front to protect Murray is still a priority.
They can find a potential bookend tackle by drafting Tristan Wirfs. The powerful right tackle comes from a system at Iowa that is varied in both the running game and with its pass protection schemes. Wirfs has the size, power and lateral movement skills to protect Murray immediately. Some observers have stated that he would be a potential convert to guard, given his perceived lack of length, but turn on his film and watch his hands, feet and hips work in pass protection, and you’ll be convinced he is an NFL tackle.
9. Denver Broncos: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
VIA trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Terms of the trade: Jacksonville trades No. 9 overall pick to Denver in exchange for picks Nos. 15 and 46.
We have our first trade.
The Denver Broncos were sitting pretty just a few weeks ago with the 15th overall selection. But then circumstances changed in front of them. The Indianapolis Colts, a team perhaps eyeing a quarterback with the 13th selection, traded out of that spot with the San Francisco 49ers. The New York Jets lost Robby Anderson. Suddenly, a number of teams that might be looking to acquire a wide receiver are in front of Denver, and that includes the Las Vegas Raiders, who would love to add another wideout.
Given that the Broncos need to put another weapon in place for Drew Lock, they cannot afford to see who might fall to them at 15. So they trade up with the Jacksonville Jaguars and make sure they get their guy.
That guy? CeeDee Lamb, a well-rounded wide receiver with a tremendous catch radius and incredible route-running skills. Pairing him with Courtland Sutton, along with tight end Noah Fant working the middle of the field, gives Lock some ideal weapons to throw to over the next few seasons.
10. Cleveland Browns: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Cleveland was one of the more active teams in free agency, and one of their big acquisitions was a huge addition to the offensive line. The Browns added right tackle Jack Conklin, and in doing so made sure they have one bookend tackle in place to protect Baker Mayfield.
But they still need to lock down the other side of the line. With both Tristan Wirfs and Jedrick Wills Jr. off the board, the Browns have perhaps the top tackle in the class — and a left tackle at that — fall into their laps. Thomas allowed just a single sack last season while protecting Jake Fromm’s blind side, and on film he has the movement skills, strength and footwork needed for an NFL left tackle.
11. New York Jets: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
This offseason, the New York Jets focused on protecting Sam Darnold. They added guard Greg Van Roten, guard Josh Andrews, center Connor McGovern, and left tackle George Fant. They also signed guard Alex Lewis to a contract extension and even signed centers Jimmy Murray and Brad Lundblade to futures contracts.
But with the loss of Robby Anderson in free agency, wide receiver is a position of need. That brings them to Jerry Jeudy, the Alabama prospect who has drawn favorable comparisons to players such as Amari Cooper, Santonio Holmes and even Odell Beckham Jr. Jeudy is a full-body route-runner, skilled enough to give the Jets a full route tree as a rookie. He also has the ability to play both inside and outside. Darnold now has a new go-to target to scan for when he drops back to pass.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
The mini-run of wide receivers continues here with the Las Vegas Raiders. Jon Gruden, Mike Mayock and Co. made some interesting moves this offseason. The acquisition of linebacker Cory Littleton was a solid move, and the addition of quarterback Marcus Mariota pairs Mayock with his favorite quarterback from the 2015 draft. But they still need weapons on offense. Adding Nelson Agholor makes sense schematically, but until the former Philadelphia Eagle addresses his issues at the catch point, he remains a big question mark.
What is not a question mark? The speed Henry Ruggs brings to the table. He posted a blazing 4.27 in the 40-yard dash back in February, and he gives the Raiders a player who can turn the five-yard slant into an 80-yard house call. But Ruggs is more than a speedster. He plays fearlessly over the middle, releases cleanly off the line of scrimmage — even against press coverage — and is, as you would expect, a weapon in the jet sweep. The NFL is a copycat league, and given that Gruden and Mayock see twice a season how Andy Reid employs Tyreek Hill and his speed, now they have a comparable weapon of their own.
13. San Francisco 49ers: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Two things happened when the San Francisco 49ers executed a trade with the Indianapolis Colts to get this selection. First, they put themselves in position to grab one of the top three receivers in the draft. Second, they traded away star defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to do so.
However, with the Denver Broncos making a hypothetical move of their own to jump from No. 15 to No. 9 and grab wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, now John Lynch and Co. need to shift gears. With the depth at the wide receiver position — and another pick later in the first round — the organization can look instead to replace what they lost in Buckner.
What they get in Kinlaw is another disruptive, explosive force in the interior of their defensive line. Kinlaw has the first step, the hand technique and the competitive toughness to be a force on the inside of any defensive line. Putting him on the inside of a group that already has Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas and Nick Bosa seems almost unfair. Sometimes the NFL just is.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
With the move to sign Tom Brady and bring him south to “Tompa Bay,” the Buccaneers now need to make sure they protect their big investment. They obviously have the weapons in place, wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. But when it comes to Brady, protection is key. A dirty secret about how the veteran passer played last season is how he fared against pressure. Pro Football Focus charted the former Patriot with an adjusted completion percentage of just 59.5% last season under duress, which ranked 21st in the NFL.
(That was still a touch better than Jameis Winston, who checked in with a mark of 58.0%, but I digress).
So protecting Brady is critical. Mekhi Becton has been involved in everything from Bobby Petrino’s pro-style passing game to Scott Satterfield’s zone option and quick-passing concepts, so it would be interesting to see him adjust to Bruce Arians’ downfield aerial attack, rooted as it is in Sid Gillman’s genius and Air Coryell. He’d also be doing a lot less run-blocking than he did in 2019; under Satterfield, the Cardinals ran the ball 43.7 times per game and attempted just 23.2 passes per contest. So, when Pro Football Focus tallies just 73 true pass sets for Becton in the 2019 season, there are schematic issues to consider. Still, Becton has the athleticism to work in this offense, and Brady has had massive left tackles before — in 2018, the Patriots had 6-foot-8, 380-pound Trent Brown protecting his blind side.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
VIA trade with the Denver Broncos. Terms of the trade: Jacksonville trades No. 9 overall pick to Denver in exchange for Nos. 15 and 46.
With Josh Allen in place, and Yannick Ngakoue at least still on the roster via the franchise tag, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a pair of edge rushers that can put pressure on opposing passers. However, since the trade of Calais Campbell to the Baltimore Ravens, they lack a consistent presence in the interior. Taven Bryan, a first-round pick in 2018, has yet to materialize into that type of player.
Derrick Brown can be that kind of player in the interior. Brown has the power and hand placement to be a force at the point of attack, but he also has the quick first step and penetration skills to be that kind of one-gapping, penetrating 3-technique defender the Jaguars lack at the moment. In addition, there are moments when Brown kicks to the outside a bit and flashes the ability to beat tackles as a pass-rusher. Without that kind of player in the fold, his value and fit make too much sense for Jacksonville.
16. Atlanta Falcons: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
The Atlanta Falcons have some needs on the defensive side of the football. They could look to address interior defensive line and give Grady Jarrett a running mate, but with both Javon Kinlaw and Derrick Brown off the board, they would be smart to look elsewhere. Edge is also an option, but the acquisition of Dante Fowler in free agency makes it a bit less of a need than another position:
Cornerback.
With Desmond Trufant off to the Lions, the Falcons have a mix of question marks on the outside of their secondary. Damontae Kazee has seen time at corner, but is probably better used at safety. Players such as Isaiah Oliver, Jordan Miller and Blidi Wreh-Wilson are potential pieces, but this secondary lacks a true man-coverage corner with lockdown potential.
C.J. Henderson is that type of player. He has exceptional footwork, patience at the line of scrimmage when he is in press alignment, schematic diversity and the speed to run with any wide receiver. Henderson might get dinged in some corners for some tackling issues — even looking at times like he was making some business decisions — but corners are paid to cover. He can do that, and do it well.
17. Dallas Cowboys: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
The Dallas Cowboys need some help on the edge across from Demarcus Lawrence. Look no further than some of the moves they made recently, signing the suspended Aldon Smith to a free-agent contract. That tells you how much of a need this position is.
While edge might not be the deepest position in this draft class, there are still players with true first-round potential and talent. K’Lavon Chaisson is one of those players. He enjoyed a true breakout season last year, notching seven sacks, seven quarterback hits and 21 quarterback hurries. He can convert speed to power off the edge and handles the running game well despite being viewed as a pass-rush specialist. He also shows tremendous balance on film and the ability to get home in an SEC that paired him against some tremendous talent at offensive tackle. There are things to clean up about his game, including teaching him how to counter better off the edge, but the skills are there for him to be a productive edge-rusher in the NFL.
18. Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones, OT, Houston
The Miami Dolphins entered free agency with a ton of cap space, and a ton of draft capital. They put the vast majority of their free agency dollars to good use. Players such as Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson and Byron Jones are surely going to improve a unit that allowed a league-high 30.9 points per game.
Now they can look to the draft to shore up other areas of need. Obviously, a big part of the equation is figuring out the quarterback position, and in this scenario they hope to do that by drafting Tua Tagovailoa at No 5 and hoping the hip is clear. But offensive line is a need as well, and Josh Jones could be the ideal solution.
While most draft prognosticators view the tackle class as having a Big Four composed of Jedrick Wills Jr., Andrew Thomas, Tristan Wirfs and Mekhi Becton in some order, a Fab Five might be closer to how the NFL views this position. Jones was dominant this past season for Houston, and his pass blocking has been stellar for the past three years. Over that period of time, he allowed just 18 pressures on 1,282 pass-blocking snaps, according to charting data from Pro Football Focus. He could stand to improve on things such as hand placement and footwork, but there is a strong foundation in place.
19. Las Vegas Raiders: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
The Raiders have another position of need that they should address in the first round, outside of wide receiver. Having addressed the offensive side of the football already — adding Henry Ruggs III at No. 12 — they turn to the SEC again and address cornerback, another position of need.
Kristian Fulton has been a tremendous defender for the LSU Tigers for the past two seasons. In 2018, he was targeted 41 times in the passing game, but allowed just 17 receptions for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and a passer rating when targeted of just 65.3. Last year, those numbers slipped a tiny bit, to a still-impressive passer rating of just 74.3 when targeted. Fulton moves extremely well at the position, is patient on double moves, and is a tough player at the catch point. He would be an immediate upgrade in the Raiders’ secondary.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
Having addressed the front of their defense earlier in the draft, the Jaguars can turn to their secondary with their second first-round selection. The idea of picking A.J. Terrell — who many will remember having a tough outing in the national championship game — could be met with some skepticism, but hear me out.
Obviously, cornerback is a need for this organization following the trade of A.J. Bouye to the Denver Broncos. But among other top corners, such as Cameron Dantzler, Jeff Gladney and Trevon Diggs, what makes Terrell the pick?
Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash cut his teeth as a defensive line coach with the Seattle Seahawks under defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Why is that important? Because it leads us to the “Seattle Cover 3” system, with the secondary playing Cover 3 coverage but out of a press man alignment from the cornerbacks (for a deep dive into this system, read this piece from former NFL safety Matt Bowen).
Cornerbacks in this system need man coverage skills and length. Terrell checks those boxes. He plays with incredible length from the line of scrimmage to the catch point. He moves extremely well for a cornerback of his size. Terrell would be a fit in what Wash is building on the defensive side of the football, and that makes him a smart selection at this spot for Jacksonville.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
It is rare to see consensus build around a pick this late in the first round, but everything is pointing to Justin Jefferson being the selection for the Philadelphia Eagles at this spot. The Eagles desperately need consistency from this position. Last year, due to a mix of injuries (DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery) and struggles (Nelson Agholor, JJ Arcega-Whiteside), Carson Wentz was throwing to guys like Greg Ward Jr. down the stretch and into the playoffs. With Agholor now in Las Vegas and Jeffery perhaps on his way out of town, wideout is a huge need.
Some might question whether Jefferson is a good fit for the Eagles. After all, he saw just five snaps outside of the slot last year, and with the Eagles running so much 12 offensive personnel (483 snaps, or 54% of their offensive plays) a boundary receiver makes more sense schematically. However, I would argue two points in rebuttal. First, were the Eagles running so much 12 personnel because they wanted to, or because they had to? While maybe they still wanted to, given their tight ends, it is something to consider.
Also worth considering is the fact that Jefferson is more than just a slot receiver. In 2018, he was a boundary receiver in the LSU offense, and as I highlighted in this film dive, he handled life on the outside well enough. Is it where he can be best used? No, but he can do it.
In addition, the Eagles would get a ball-winner at the catch point and a player who made 111 receptions for 1,540 yards with 18 touchdowns in LSU’s offense last season. He is perhaps the ideal pick for Philadelphia.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
The Minnesota Vikings have two big areas of need in this draft: cornerback and wide receiver. Having lost last year’s starting cornerback tandem of Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes, and having traded Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills (in exchange for this very selection), those two positions need to be addressed — and hopefully in the first round.
Back in December, Mims might have seemed an unlikely first-round selection. But his pre-draft process has been the kind of tale that they sing about in mead halls. First, he was the arguably the best wide receiver in Mobile during Senior Bowl week, flashing his vertical ability in the passing game on rep after rep during the practices at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Then he went to Indianapolis for the combine and tore up Lucas Oil Stadium, posting a 4.38 40-yard dash, a vertical jump of 38.5 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches. He checked every single box.
That has propelled him into the first round, and into the Vikings offense. Mims is a dangerous threat on the boundary in the vertical passing game, and he displays incredible body control adjusting to back-shoulder throws and other routes off target. He can be a security blanket for Kirk Cousins along the boundary while developing a more complete route tree. With other weapons such as Adam Thielen, Irv Smith Jr. and Kyle Rudolph in place, as well as Dalvin Cook in the running game, Mims can be a vertical threat off of play-action and give Cousins that ball-winner he needs on third-down situations.
23. Indianapolis Colts: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
VIA trade with the New England Patriots. New England sends pick No. 23 overall. Indianapolis sends picks Nos. 34 and 75 and a 2021 fifth-round pick.
I am going to speak this coach/quarterback pairing into existence, or die trying.
Having signed Philip Rivers this offseason, the Indianapolis Colts can afford to pack some patience when they think about the quarterback of the future. But that does not mean they should kick the decision down the road any more than necessary. Jordan Love has flaws that he will need to sort out as he transitions to the NFL, in particular his decision-making, but he has things you cannot teach. Arm talent. Athleticism. Play-making ability outside of the pocket. He just needs a coach with a proven track record of quarterback development, and Frank Reich is one of the rare individuals in the NFL with something like that on his résumé. Reich was part of the group that coached Carson Wentz when he was drafted by the Eagles.
From New England’s perspective, the Patriots lack a second-round pick at the moment, and adding that plus another pick in the third round gives them five picks to work with on the second day of the draft. They’ll trust their scouts and hope to do some damage on Friday night.
24. New Orleans Saints: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
The New Orleans Saints entered free agency with a few needs. First, make sure to get Drew Brees back in the fold. Mission accomplished there. Second, they needed to add another receiving threat for Brees, someone to put opposite Michael Thomas. Mission accomplished in the form of Emmanuel Sanders, coming over on a free-agency deal after reaching the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers.
The next item on the to-do list is to find someone to help on the second level of the defense. They lost A.J. Klein in free agency, and adding a linebacker would be a big move for their defense. After Isaiah Simmons (if you consider him a linebacker), there are questions about who LB2 might be in this class, but from where I sit, that player is Patrick Queen. He is a modern NFL linebacker, a player who looks more like a safety but plays all over the field. He is a linebacker who can be a force in coverage but still manages to play downhill against the run. Queen is also a raw talent, with just one real season of playing experience, so there is huge growth potential.
25. Minnesota Vikings: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
Having addressed the wide receiver position a few selections earlier, the Vikings now turn to the defensive side of the football. Jeff Gladney offers speed to burn on the outside as well as a lockdown cornerback’s mentality. He plays fearlessly and aggressively on throws in front of him, but he has the burners to recover if the receiver tries to shake him in the vertical game. He is also an experienced press cornerback, with the feet to match his hands at the line of scrimmage. Down the field, Gladney was a force. On throws of more than 20 yards, he allowed just six receptions on 20 targets. Back in 2018, his best season at TCU, he allowed a passer rating of just 45.0 on 72 targets.
26. Miami Dolphins: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
It is fascinating to watch members of the Bill Belichick coaching tree branch out on their own. While Matt Patricia is adjusting to life on the hot seat and Bill O’Brien is doing … something, Brian Flores is quietly assembling the kind of defense he and his mentor built with the New England Patriots. The Dolphins added Kyle Van Noy to serve in the same role he did in New England, as an off-ball linebacker who can both attack the pocket and play in space. With the addition of Byron Jones, Flores has a tandem of cornerbacks that allow the Dolphins to play a lot of man coverage on the outside. But something that both Flores and his mentor value is versatility at the safety spot. Look at Devin McCourty for example: a college cornerback who can line up at free safety on one play and down on the boundary the next.
Xavier McKinney is that kind of player. He played in a variety of roles for Alabama last season, from free safety to box safety to slot cornerback. Flores can use him as a matchup piece on the defensive side of the football, tasking him with man coverage on tight ends or even wide receivers, or using him to provide help over the top.
27. Seattle Seahawks: Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin
A quiet area of need for the Seattle Seahawks is up front on the defensive side of the football. They did bring Bruce Irvin back in free agency, and there are hopes that they can re-sign Jadeveon Clowney as well, but even if Clowney does return, pass-rush is still a question mark.
Zack Baun was listed as a linebacker on the Wisconsin Badgers’ depth chart but is is a versatile player in the mold of Kyle Van Noy. You could see him set the edge on first down, run with a slot receiver on second down, and collapse the pocket off the edge on third down. He can give the Seahawks another pass-rushing piece, while also giving them a Swiss Army knife type of defender they can utilize in a variety of ways. As a pass-rusher, he displays an impressive set of tools, including a solid dip/rip combination, but he was also solid in coverage for the Badgers. Pete Carroll and Co. will find lots of creative ways to employ him on Sundays.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Cesar Ruiz, OL, Michigan
The Baltimore Ravens could go a number of different directions with this selection, as they have a variety of needs that must be addressed in this draft. Many believe they will look to add a linebacker in this spot, with Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray a popular selection in mock drafts. But they can afford to pass on Murray at this spot and address the position a bit later, perhaps with one of their two second-round selections (Nos. 55 and 60) and look to help their interior offensive line. Let’s not forget, the Ravens lost right guard Marshal Yanda to retirement and center Matt Skura is coming off a brutal knee injury suffered in November.
Cesar Ruiz is a tough, experienced interior offensive lineman with the ability to play both center and guard. He has the versatility to play in both a gap/power and a zone scheme, and is a stout pass protector who gave up just a single sack in the past two seasons with the Wolverines. He is also very young, set to turn 21 during the summer. Ruiz could be the heart of the Ravens’ offensive line for the next decade.
29. Tennessee Titans: Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
As we near the end of the first round, we get to some teams that can afford to be a bit more selective with their thought process, given how their rosters currently stand. The Tennessee Titans are one such team, fresh off their run to the AFC Championship Game and without an absolute glaring need to address with this pick. They could look to add a pass-rusher, and Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos is a popular selection for them in mock drafts. They could look at offensive tackle after the loss of Jack Conklin, but with each of the Fab Five off the board, they can be patient at that spot.
Another position of need is cornerback. Slot cornerback could be an issue, with Logan Ryan’s status up in the air and Malcolm Butler coming off a season shortened due to a wrist injury. Adding a corner would be a wise move, and that leads us to Cameron Dantzler, the Mississippi State product. Dantzler is a long and rangy cornerback, with experience in both man and zone coverage schemes. He plays tough and physical at the catch point and has perhaps the best press technique of any cornerback in this group. He might need to add a few pounds, and his recent virtual pro day has some questioning his 40-yard dash time (he ran a 4.64 at the combine and dropped to a sub-4.4), so he could potentially fall out of the first round. But put on the tape, and you see what you want from a cornerback. So if the Titans trust the tape, they’ll like what they see.
30. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
One of the best parts of each draft cycle is coming across a player who everyone else in the Draft Industrial Complex is raving about, and you now finally have a chance to watch him. That was my experience with Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. We often talk about speedy wide receivers like Henry Ruggs III as “home run hitters,” players who can turn a simple slant route into a huge play in the blink of an eye. Aiyuk is also that kind of player. His ability to maintain speed into and out of his cuts is among the best in this class. His game against Washington State was a thing of beauty, as he was dominant throughout the contest, catching seven passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns. The Green Bay Packers need to add another receiver across from Davante Adams, and Aiyuk is the kind of game-changer at the position they absolutely need.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
Lacking another pick until the fifth round, the San Francisco 49ers are a prime candidate to trade out of this pick. But with the chance to grab a player like this, they’ll sit tight and turn in a card.
Laviska Shenault is a wide receiver in name only. In reality, he is an offensive weapon, the yin to the yang of Isaiah Simmons. Over the past two seasons, Shenault has been used by Colorado as an outside receiver, a slot receiver, a tight end, a running back and even at quarterback. In the Pro Football Focus draft guide, lead draft analyst Mike Renner compared him to Saquon Barkley, of all people. Ask Colorado quarterback Steven Montez his favorite route to throw, and he’ll tell you it was the one Shenault was running.
But to capture his true potential, Shenault will need a creative offensive mind designing ways to utilize him on the offensive side of the football. Letting Kyle Shanahan get his hands on him seems almost unfair. With the loss of Emmanuel Sanders in free agency, wide receiver is a definite need, and Shenault is a big addition to this offense. Pairing him with Shanahan’s creative mind is something the entire league should fear.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
The defending Super Bowl champions don’t have a ton of glaring needs, and to be honest, a quarterback as good as Patrick Mahomes can mask most deficiencies. But cornerback is definitely a position they need to address. Bashaud Breeland, last year’s starter at one cornerback slot, is gone. Kendall Fuller, another big piece of their secondary, is also gone. They need corner help.
That brings us to Auburn’s Noah Igbinoghene. He is a physical, press cornerback who would be a fit in what Steve Spagnuolo calls for the Chiefs defense. Igbinoghene is also a long, explosive cornerback who posted a 4.48 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, coupled with a 37-inch vertical. He plays long, with nearly 32-inch arms, and plays physically from snap to catch point. Pro Football Focus charted him with 210 press-coverage snaps in 2019, the second-most of any cornerback in this class. He is also very young, as he will turn 21 at the end of his rookie season. Igbinoghene is almost a perfect fit in Kansas City, but if the Chiefs wait, he won’t be on the board when they pick again.
After 10 years practicing law in the Washington, D.C., area, Mark Schofield now dedicates his time to his first love: football. The former Wesleyan University quarterback’s writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Bleacher Report, SB Nation, Pro Football Weekly and the Matt Waldman Rookie Scouting Portfolio.
