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Oren Shiri's 2020 NFL Mock Draft

Oren Shiri posts his 2020 NFL Mock Draft. Find out where Isaiah Simmons, Jerry Jeudy, and Jeffrey Okudah ended up.

1. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Joe Burrow grew up in Athens, Ohio before transferring to LSU and winning the 2019 Heisman Trophy in his second season at LSU. He stays in the state of Ohio after leading LSU to a 15-0 Season where the LSU Tigers won the 2019-2020 College Football Playoff by dethroning an unbeaten Clemson team that won the 2018-2019 College Football Playoff. Burrow gives Cincinnati a face for the franchise.

2. Chase Young, RE, Ohio State

Washington is moving to a 4-3 defense under HC Ron Rivera and DC Jack Del Rio. With Chase Young at 4-3 right end facing NFC East left tackles, Ryan Kerrigan coming back on a one-year prove it deal at 4-3 left end, Jonathan Allen at 4-3 defensive tackle, Da'Ron Payne at 4-3 defensive tackle, and last years first round pick Montez Sweat as a pass rusher for depth in case Kerrigan suffers another season ending injury after getting 7 sacks in his rookie season compared to Kerrigan's 5.5 before he got placed on injured reserve, this will be quite the lethal defensive line.

3. Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

Detroit got a number one field cornerback in Free Agency in Desmond Trufant. Trufant only signed a two-year deal and he's not a long-term number one corner. Jeffery Okudah is a long-term field cornerback and he gives Detroit two number one corners which is something they need if they want to combat Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins in the NFC North Division.

4. Isaiah Simmons, 3-4 MLB, Clemson

New York goes with the best player on their board at 4 which is a typical Dave Gettleman strategy. Isaiah Simmons is no typical player as the two-time Butkus Award winner will compliment Free Agent Blake Martinez as a 3-4 middle linebacker giving New York two inside linebackers that can help improve the run defense as well as their pass defense since Simmons plays like a safety in coverage.

5. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Miami has done more homework on the quarterback position than any other team in the NFL. They looked at every quarterback in the 2020 and 2021 NFL Draft so you cannot question their thought process on whether they take a quarterback this year or wait until 2021. Initially, they showed the most interest in Tua Tagovailoa, but something tells me they will end up taking Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert here after re-examining Tua's durability concerns and Wonderlic score of 13 since Herbert was the 2020 Senior Bowl MVP, threw at the NFL Combine, and threw at his Pro Day showcasing consistency throughout the NFL Draft process.

6. Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

You can certainly argue that both Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa have more upside than Justin Herbert. The Chargers are reportedly in love with both Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert and Utah State quarterback Jordan Love after both quarterbacks impressed in Mobile. With Herbert gone, they take Love as their quarterback of the future at six even if it means developing him for a year while Tyrod Taylor starts. One thing to keep in mind is that Baker Mayfield did not play for the Browns until Taylor got injured in Cleveland.

7. Derrick Brown, NT, Auburn

Carolina cut the big cheese known as Dontari Poe. Now they get a nose tackle that makes people forget about Poe by selecting Auburn nose tackle Derrick Brown to anchor this 3-4 defensive line at nose tackle. Carolina may be in a rebuild, but Brian Burns at 3-4 right outisde linebacker and Derrick Brown at nose tackle are two building blocks that can be the chess pieces of this defense for years to come.

8. Tristan Wirfs, RT, Iowa

Arizona brought back Justin Murray and Marcus Gilbert. Both of those guys will be backup offensive tackles as Tristan Wirfs ends up starting at right tackle complimenting D.J. Humphries. The Cardinals traded for DeAndre Hopkins at wide receiver and still kept this pick so they deserve credit for getting the offensive pieces to build around last years number one pick Kyler Murray.

9. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Tua Tagovailoa entered the season as the top quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft. He falls to nine where Jacksonville takes him knowing his ceiling is higher than Gardner Minshew II who earned the starting quarterback job after being a sixth round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Tua can push Minshew for the quarterback job as early as 2020, but sitting Tua out until 2021 like the Chiefs did with Mahomes while Minshew Mania dies down is the smartest thing the Jaguars can do since they are rebuilding. If Tua manages to start at quarterback and does well, this team could emerge as a contender down the road once they get more pieces to build around Tagovailoa.

10. Mekhi Becton, LT, Louisville

Baker Mayfield needs a blindside. I repeat Baker Mayfield needs a blindside. It's that dire in Cleveland. Mekhi Becton out of Lousiville can be that guy with Free Agent signing Jack Conklin at right tackle being Becton's bookend, mentor, and someone that will push Becton for the left tackle job since Conklin played left tackle at Michigan State. Two reliable offensive tackles and competition at the left tackle spot are two things Cleveland desperately needs.

11. Jedrick Wills Jr., RT, Alabama

George Fant gave up 8 sacks as a rookie when he was the left tackle on Seattle. Chuma Edoga gave up 7 sacks as a rookie in his eight starts at right tackle after taking the right tackle job from Brandon Shell. Jedrick Wills Jr. played right tackle in High School and Alabama. He has the leadership and skill set to supplant the right tackle job from Edoga allowing Chuma to play a swing tackle role that suits him more.

12. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

This draft has two blue chip receivers with Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Raiders GM Mike Mayock is taking the Lamb to the Carr wash since quarterback Derek Carr currently has guys like Tyrell Williams, Zay Jones, Hunter Renfrow, and Nelson Agholor as wide receivers to throw to. A true number one target for Carr is needed and that is what CeeDee Lamb brings to the table after playing with three different quarterbacks in three seasons at Oklahoma.

13. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Jerry Jeudy is faster and a better route runner than Lamb. Lamb just makes plays that wow you with no turnover at quarterback while Jeudy had Hurts and Tua for his career at Alabama. San Francisco will be happy knowing they replaced Emmanuel Sanders with Jeudy upgrading their already lethal receiving core as guys like Dante Pettis and Deebo Samuel continue to compliment Jeudy. Jeudy also takes pressure off of Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle making things even easier for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

14. Andrew Thomas, RT, Georgia

Tampa Bay grabs Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas as a bookend right tackle to left tackle Donovan Smith. Tom Brady now has Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as his wide receivers, a tight end trio of Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate, and O.J. Howard, and an offensive tackle tandem featuring Smith as his blindside and a rookie good enough to push Smith for the left tackle job in Andrew Thomas. Tampa Bay is clearly now the front runner to push New Orleans for the NFC South division.

15. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

Denver grabs the fastest receiver in this draft to compliment their feature receiver Courtland Sutton and last years first round pick at tight end in Noah Fant. Second year quarterback Drew Lock who I mocked to Denver at 10 last year is happy knowing he has three deadly weapons he can rely on.

16. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

Atlanta gets Javon Kinlaw to compliment Grady Jarrett at 4-3 defensive tackle. With these two defensive tackles and Deion Jones at 4-3 middle linebacker it will be really difficult to run the ball up the middle against Atlanta when those three guys are healthy unless you have a really strong interior offensive line and a Pro Bowl caliber running back.

17. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

C.J. Henderson has better coverage and athleticism than Byron Jones had coming out of Connecticut. Better man coverage, zone coverage, press coverage, and a better 40-time if you want to go into detail. Making him stronger so he does better at stopping the run and not missing tackles are two things Henderson needs to work on.

18. Grant Delpit, SS, LSU

Miami lost their two best safeties. They chose to cut Reshad Jones and after week 2 they traded Minkah Fitzpatrick for this pick. Now they get Minkah's replacement with Grant Delpit at eighteen.

19. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

Las Vegas needs a number one field cornerback that can blanket opposing wide receivers. The Raiders got this pick from the Khalil Mack trade with the Chicago Bears and need to hit on both picks if they expect to contend in the AFC West. Kristian Fulton lined up at field cornerback facing teams best receivers. Kristian Fulton and Trayon Mullen give the Las Vegas Raiders two potential lockdown cornerbacks.

20. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

The Jaguars traded Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams for this pick. The only cornerback left on the board that comes close to replacing Ramsey is Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs.

21. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

Philadelphia kept Alshon Jeffrey despite rumors about cutting Jeffrey. Carson Wentz needs another weapon to push Jeffrey for the number one receiver job. Nelson Agholor is gone and DeSean Jackson is a slot receiver at best. LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson was a security blanket for Joe Burrow at LSU and will now be a security blanket for Carson Wentz to throw to.

22. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

Minnesota traded Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills for this pick. Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins is still on the board. Higgins faced cornerbacks like Julian Love, Trevon Diggs, Jeffrey Okudah, and Kristian Fulton when Clemson made the College Football Playoff the last two years and did well against three of those guys. Higgins makes a great number one target for quarterback Kirk Cousins.

23. Patrick Queen, 3-4 MLB, LSU

Patrick Queen can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense. Kenneth Murray played in a 4-3 defense at Oklahoma. Queen may not be the best linebacker on the board, but he's a better scheme fit for New England than Murray.

24. Kenneth Murray, MLB, Oklahoma

New Orleans grabs Kenneth Murray at 24. Murray can play all three linebacker spots in a 4-3 defense. He can push Kiko Alonso for the 4-3 middle linebacker job and he's talented enough to start at 4-3 left outside linebacker over Alex Anzalone who lost that job to A.J. Klein. Murray can play the SAM as a rookie and then move to the MIKE in 2021 when Alonso's contract is up.

25. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

Minnesota grabs their replacement cornerback here after cutting Xavier Rhodes to save cap space and losing Trae Waynes. Jeff Gladney out of TCU is the only cornerback left on the board that warrants first round consideration so Minnesota pairs Gladney up with Mike Hughes their 2018 first round pick.

26. Josh Jones, LT, Houston

Miami grabs the top left tackle in the 2020 Senior Bowl here. Josh Jones has experience in both offensive tackle roles and is a former basketball player. Josh Jones gives Justin Herbert a blindside while veterans like Julie'n Davenport and Jesse Davis compete for the right tackle job.

27. A.J. Epenesa, RE, Iowa

Initially, I was going to mock A.J. Epenesa to New England at 23. Epenesa is a better fit for a 4-3 defense and he's the one player in this draft that has the production on film to make Seahawks fans forget about Clowney.

28. Xavier McKinney, SS, Alabama

Baltimore cut strong safety Tony Jefferson. Xavier McKinney outplayed Grant Delpit in the LSU VS Alabama game this year and had 10 deflections in 2018 while doing well on tape in 2019. That's why Baltimore should take McKinney here at 28 even though there are other safeties they could consider like Kyle Dugger, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Jeremy Chinn. Baltimore can go places with Xavier McKinney at strong safety and Earl Thomas at free safety with all of their starting cornerbacks from last year back.

29. Yetur Gross-Matos, 3-4 ROLB, Penn State

Tennessee got Vic Beasley in Free Agency and brought Kamalei Correa back. Correa might move to an inside linebacker role though. Also, Yetur Gross-Matos provides more of a long-term starter since Beasley signed a 1-year prove it deal that will allow Yetur Gross-Matos a full season to develop before he pairs up with Harold Landry off the edge in 2021.

30. Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

The Packers get the one receiver in this draft who can start over Devin Funchess, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes Scantling as none of those three are reliable options next to DaVante Adams. Aaron Rodgers will have DaVante Adams and Denzel Mims to throw to with those other receivers pushing each other for the slot receiver job. If Green Bay wants to get Aaron Rodgers to another Super Bowl before he retires this is the route they need to take.

31. Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU

The San Francisco 49ers need a defensive tackle to replace DeForest Buckner. Ross Blacklock may be a reach, but he's the best defensive tackle on my board.

32. Jordyn Brooks, MLB, Texas Tech

The Kansas City Chiefs have two solid outside linebackers who can anchor this nickel defense with Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson. Jordyn Brooks can play any of the three linebacker spots as a 4-3 linebacker like Kenneth Murray. He also gives the Chiefs an ideal replacement to Reggie Ragland. Kansas City traded up for a Red Raider three years ago in Patrick Mahomes and now he's the Super Bowl MVP.

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