Jason Bantle's 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock

Round 1 Picks 17-32

Jason Bantle Last Updated: April 23, 2020.

17. Indianapolis Colts: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
    
    
    TRADE NINE: Dallas Cowboys trade picks 17 and 123 to the Indianapolis Colts for picks 34 and 44. Dallas has two picks 17 worth 950 and 123 worth 49 points on the trade value chart making both of their picks worth 999 points. Indianapolis has two second round picks at 34 and 44. Their first pick at 34 is worth 560 points on the trade value chart with their other second round pick at 44 worth 460 points on the trade value chart making their two seconds worth 1,020 points.
    
    
    
    The Cowboys love Cesar Ruiz. - Peter King, NBC Sports. ESPN also reported that Dallas loves Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos.
    
    
    
    In order to get both, Dallas would have to trade down. and hope they can get both at the end of round 1 or early round 2. A partner that is very interesting is the Colts who have been linked to Jordan Love throughout the draft process.
    
    
    
    Most rumors have someone moving up to the very end of round 1 to grab Love but the Colts might be a little nervous that the Raiders would take him at 19 (who visited with him many times and missed out on getting Tom Brady in Free Agency). Love is a polarizing prospect as some think he is a top talent (Todd McShay) and others think he is a third/fourth round project.
    
    
    
    Click this Jordan Love Interview to hear a press conference featuring Utah State's quarterback.
    
    
    
18. Miami Dolphins: Jedrick Wills Jr., RT, Alabama
    
    
    In one of the earliest rumors of the entire season, Charlie Campbell, WalterFootball.com reported that the Dolphins like Wills quite a bit. Whomever the Dolphins take as their franchise QB, they will need help protecting him. If they take Tua instead of Herbert, this would be interesting as it would be his college tackle. Also, they are rumored to like Ezra Cleveland, just like the Browns do. Just expect this pick to be their top rated OT available.
    
    
    
    Draft Utopia posted a film cut of Alabama's offensive line VS LSU. Jedrick Wills Jr. did very good in this game showing the ability to be a four down right tackle with some snaps on special teams.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
19. Las Vegas Raiders: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
    
    
    I might be alone in this thinking but I believe that Mayock, Gruden, and the Raiders want Love at 19. They have met with him several times and their two QBs on the roster (Carr and Mariota) may not be the answer. Most would argue they go WR with the first and a defender with the second. Matt Miller claims it will be a DT. I think the value is lacking if Kinlaw is gone. CB is another need and Jaylon Johnson appears like he will be 100% by August. On the SticktoFootball Podcast, Johnson said he has "a hunch" that the Raiders will draft him.
    
    
    
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
    
    
    Matt Miller reported that he believes the Jaguars will go CB/DT or DT/CB in the first round. I have them taking Okudah in this update so the top rated DT would go here. Blacklock is the consensus third rated DT in the draft and with Okudah will help put the Jaguars defense back to the levels they were at in 2018.
    
    
    
    
    
21. Cleveland Browns: Ezra Cleveland, LT, Boise State
    
    
    Here it is. The Browns trade down and get the OT they covet at tremendous value while acquiring several extra picks. Many different reporters have all linked these two together. He should fit their scheme and help Baker Mayfield stay upright.
    
    
    
22. Minnesota Vikings: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
    
    
    The Vikings got this pick from trading away Stephen Diggs to the Bills. How poetic would it be for them to take his little brother? It is an area of need and they met with him early in the process. I think they go WR/CB in some order here although they really want help at edge rusher too.
    
    
    
    
    
23. New England Patriots: Josh Jones, LT, Houston
    
    
    You never know what Bill Belichick and the Patriots will do. I am mocking them Jones as they met with him multiple times, including a video conference with the guy. The Patriots could also go with a QB of the future or a TE to finally replace Gronk. But as I said, with the Patriots, you never know.
    
    
    
    Click this Josh Jones Interview to hear Josh Jones after day 3 of Senior Bowl practice from Mobile. If Belichick gets Josh Jones, he will eventually be the blindside for Jarrett Stidham while Isaiah Wynn moves inside to left guard once Joe Thuney leaves.
    
    
    
24. New Orleans Saints: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
    
    
    Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network reported this week that the Saints will consider the Texas Christian WR at 24. This is consistent with his report back in February that said the Saints are looking to draft multiple WRs. Yes, they added Emmanuel Sanders, but they could still be improved and get some much needed help across from Michael Thomas. The Saints do not have any huge needs anyways, so they tend to draft the best player available regardless of position. An interesting tidbit is that the favorites to land Jordan Love in Vegas are the Saints (which incidentally is another reason I have the Colts jumping so high).
    
    
    
    
    
25. Minnesota Vikings: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
    
    
    If they go with a CB at 22, WR will probably go here. It could be an edge player like Espenesa or Gross-Matos but I think they need to replace Stephon Diggs. That needs to be a priority and Mims admitted to being a Vikings fan his whole life.
    
    
    
    Click this Denzel Mims Interview to hear the longest interview I had with any player at the 2020 Senior Bowl. I managed to edit this interview last second so people would have something to listen to as Mims breaks down game speed versus track speed.
    
    
    
26. Miami Dolphins: D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
    
    
    I think there's a possibility that the Dolphins "double-dip" on OT in the first round especially if Ezra Cleveland falls this far. Like the Browns, they are linked to him. They have also been working out RBs and are linked to several throughout the last few months. Here, they get their pick of all the RBs and Swift is the consensus top ranked.
    
    
    
    Draft Utopia a film cut of DeAndre Swift versus Notre Dame. Swift is the top running back in another mock on Draft Utopia even though Jonathan Taylor ouf Wisconsin is my top running back.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
27. New York Giants: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
    
    
    TRADE TEN: Seattle Seahawks trade pick 27 to the New York Giants for picks 36 and 99. Seattle's pick at 27 is worth 680 points on the trade value chart. New York's pick at 36 is worth 540 points on the trade value chart with their pick at 99 worth 104 points. 644 points may be lower than 680, but New York is giving up their next two picks just to move up for a big target who could help Daniel Jones.
    
    
    
    The Seahawks always trade down. I believe they will do so again - it just remains to be seen who they trade with. This could be a prime spot for someone to move back into round 1 and grab a QB they want. Matt Lombardo of NJ.com posted an interesting article where the Giants trade back into the end of round 1 targeting one of the final elite WRs still on the board. I like that and it makes sense. If Seattle keeps the pick, look for them to surprise and take Jonathan Taylor who I know Russell Wilson wants them to draft, as reported by Rob Stanton, SeahawksDraftBlog.com. The Seahawks will be looking for Edge rushers and blocking up front after that.
    
    
    
28. Baltimore Ravens: Kenneth Murray, 3-4 MLB, Oklahoma
    
    
    Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic reported that the Ravens like both the draft's top rated Inside Linebackers (Queen and Murray). The Ravens never replaced CJ Mosley and have met with both players. They have met more with Murray, so that is my hunch. There is a chance that both are off the board at this pick. In that case, it is hard to say what Harbaugh does
    
    
    
    
    
29. Tennessee Titans: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
    
    
    A very tight-lipped team, the Titans are tough to read. Matt Miller reported that CB is something they likely address early. WalterFootball had Arnette to the Titans early in the process, before anyone else, and they met with him. I think CB should be the top or second biggest need for the team anyways. Arnette's stock has risen quite a bit the last few weeks.
    
    
    
30. Green Bay Packers: Patrick Queen, 3-4 MLB, LSU
    
    
    The Packers would prefer to draft a receiver or an offensive tackle in the first round according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. Walter himself speculates that this is assuming that both the top-rated ILB are off the board. In this mock, Queen is still there, so I predict that the Packers would take no time turning in their card. The Packers also need help at DT to stop the run too. OT is only a need if Ricky Wagner does not pan out so I do not have them address that need until round 7. Peter King reported last week that the Packers really like edge rusher Terrell Lewis, as well.
    
    
    
    
    
31. San Francisco 49ers: Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
    
    
    This is the 49ers pick that the team probably trades away for a team hungry to jump back into the tail-end of round 1. In this mock, I do not have that happening though. I have the 49ers keeping this pick giving them the last two picks of Thursday night. The 49ers would likely grab the WR/CB combo that they have the best grades on. They have met with Dantzler. All of the 49ers fans' sites reported they video chatted with the guy.
    
    
    
32. San Francisco 49ers: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
    
    
    As far as the WR pick goes, the Niners have been linked to many WRs and in this mock I have a record amount of WRs going round 1. So, who knows what WR would be left or what WR the Niners would prefer? Matt Maiocco wrote an article on ESPN back in February where Shenault compared himself to another Niner WR Deebo Samuel. That is my guess. For all of my seven round mock draft without writeups go to Facebook and type in Draft Utopia like the page and go to Jason Bantle's 7 round mock draft to check out the full mock draft.