2020 NFL Mock Draft: Third Edition

Here is the third edition of my 2020 NFL Mock Draft.

1. Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow, Quarterback, LSU: After what was a breakout season which led to a Heisman Trophy, Burrow emerged as the favorite to go first overall in this upcoming draft. The Bengals want to move on from Andy Dalton and start fresh here with Burrow, who second year coach Zac Taylor could help develop into the franchise quarterback the team is looking for.

2. Washington Redskins- Chase Young, Defensive End, Ohio State: Young is the best player in this draft and he falls one spot due to the Bengals quarterback need. The Redskins need a lot of young talent on both ends of the ball and Young would have an immediate impact in the league chasing the likes of Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, and Daniel Jones twice a season.

3. Detroit Lions- Jeff Okudah, Cornerback, Ohio State: This is an interesting spot because this is a spot where someone could trade up for a quarterback and the Lions could get a nice haul back. The Lions are a team that's in dire need of secondary help after the trading of Darius Slay and Okudah is the best defensive back in the draft.

4. New York Giants- Mekhi Becton, Offensive Tackle, Louisville: The Giants two biggest needs are pass rush and offensive line. Here they snag the tackle to help protect second year quarterback Daniel Jones. Becton is somebody that's stock has absolutely risen and has become the consensus top offensive lineman in the draft.

 5. Miami Dolphins- Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback, Alabama: Many people thought at this time six months ago we'd be writing this selection.... except in the number one spot. Tagovailoa drops to fifth (barring the Dolphins or someone else trading up) obviously due to his hip injury he suffered in November that ended his college career. If he reaches his potential, the Dolphins get a steal here with the guy they've coveted for over a year now.

6. Los Angeles Chargers- Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Oregon: With the Philip Rivers era over, the Chargers look to the draft to draft their quarterback of the future. Herbert is someone that could have declared last season but stayed at school one more season to try to improve his stock, but I feel that he would have been a first round pick last season too.

7. Carolina Panthers- Isaiah Simmons, Linebacker/Defensive Back, Clemson: After the unexpected retirement of Luke Kuechly, the Panthers suddenly have a gaping hole in their front seven. Enter Simmons, someone who is versatile due to his ability to rush the passer and defend the pass and the Panthers do have a secondary need too, which this could help fill two needs.

8. Arizona Cardinals- Tristan Wirfs, Offensive Tackle, Iowa: With the Cardinals acquiring DeAndre Hopkins, they turn their focus on the offensive line, where they select Wirfs. He's somebody who could conceivably go as high as fourth due to his stock rising and he could play right away helping Kyler Murray stay upright.

 9. Jacksonville Jaguars- Derrick Brown, Defensive Tackle, Auburn: With all the losses the Jags suffered on their defensive line, Brown is the logical choice here. There will be people arguing quarterback here, but I have a feeling they are targeting next year for that headlined by Clemson's Trevor Lawrence.

10. Cleveland Browns- Andrew Thomas, Offensive Tackle, Georgia: Thomas was someone I had going fourth the last time I did a mock draft, but his stock has dropped quite a bit. The Browns did add Jack Conklin in free agency to solidify one tackle spot, but if they take Thomas to hold down the other spot, it's a win for Baker Mayfield and the Browns.

11. New York Jets- Jerry Jeudy, Wide Receiver. Alabama: This would be a steal here for the Jets, who would get arguably the best receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson over a decade ago. Outside of Le'Veon Bell, the Jets don't have many skill position guys and Jeudy would help Sam Darnold develop into the quarterback many people expect him to be.

12. Las Vegas Raiders- Cee Dee Lamb, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma: The Raiders have needs on both sides of the ball and here I have them snagging a great wideout prospect in Lamb. He is someone that has WR1 potential on any roster and he would make Derek Carr better and would make Hunter Renfrow and Tyrell Williams the team's WR2 and WR3 respectively.

13. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis Colts)- Jedrick Wills Jr, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: The 49ers acquired this pick in the deal that sent pass rusher DeForrest Buckner to the Colts, which they have a need there now too. But here, I have them snagging Wills, who is a plug-and-play offensive lineman that could replace the aging Joe Staley down the road.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Javon Kinlaw, Defensive Lineman, South Carolina: The Bucs go with Kinlaw here after the Niners snag Wills, who would fill a need protecting Tom Brady. The Bucs did bring back Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh, but Kinlaw is someone that provides versatility and only makes a solid front seven even better.

15. Denver Broncos- Henry Ruggs IV, Wide Receiver, Alabama: The Broncos have had an excellent offseason thus far, but a need that still needs to be filled is receiver opposite Courtland Sutton. Ruggs was the third option for Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama and imagine what he could be as a co-top option for Drew Lock in Denver?

16. Atlanta Falcons- CJ Henderson, Cornerback, Florida: With the release of Desmond Trufant, the Falcons have a major need at cornerback. Henderson is somebody that had a solid season in college this past year and he'll come in and start right away.

17. Dallas Cowboys- K'Lavon Chaisson, Defensive End, LSU: This would make a lot of sense for the Cowboys as Chaisson would replace the departed Robert Quinn. Chaisson is somebody that was a sack machine in college and could make an instant impact in the pros.

18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh Steelers)- Xavier McKinney, Safety, Alabama: With their second first round pick they received in the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, the Dolphins take the fast rising safety in McKinney. He is someone that can do a lot on the field and would really help the Dolphins secondary along with new pickup Byron Jones.

19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago Bears)- Kristian Fulton, Cornerback, LSU: The Raiders have addressed some of their needs in free agency, but missing out on Byron Jones in free agency has them left hanging. Fulton is someone that has size and athleticism and was overshadowed in LSU's secondary due to the prescience of Grant Delpit.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)- Trevon Diggs, Cornerback, Alabama: The Jaguars secondary needs to be addressed after the trading of Jalen Ramsey, so they use the pick they got in the Ramsey deal from the Rams to somewhat replace him. Diggs is someone who has shown physicality and imposing length to be a top corner on a team.

21. Philadelphia Eagles- Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver, LSU: The two biggest needs for the Eagles this offseason were cornerback and wide receiver. With Darius Slay coming in to fill the need at corner, they look to receiver and take the former LSU standout, who showed off his ability to make big plays throughout the season.

22. Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo Bills)- AJ Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson: The Vikings are a team that went from having literally zero needs to a team with a lot of needs, especially on defense due to some free agency losses and cuts. With Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander all gone, they take Terrell with the pick they got in the Stefon Diggs deal, who's big and physical and he would bring new blood to this defense.

23. New England Patriots- Jordan Love, Quarterback, Utah State: With Tom Brady off to the Buccaneers, the current quarterbacks on the Pats roster are Jarred Stidham and Brian Hoyer. Now is the time to look to the future. Love is someone that is very raw and has high upside.

24. New Orleans Saints- Tee Higgins, Wide Receiver, Clemson: The Saints did a nice job snagging Emmanuel Sanders to go with Michael Thomas, but the idea of drafting a young receiver to go with them to help Drew Brees is enticing. Higgins is someone that has the size, length, and athleticism to be a WR1 someday and has been one of Trevor Lawrence's best targets over the past two seasons.

25. Minnesota Vikings- Laviska Shenault, Wide Receiver, Colorado: With the trading of Stefon Diggs, the Vikings draft his replacement here with Shenault. He is someone that has a ton of upside and has a lot of qualities to be an impact receiver.

26. Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans)- Austin Jackson, Offensive Tackle, USC: With their third first rounder, they take Jackson to help the quarterback (whether it's Tua or someone else). Jackson is somebody that stood out this past season and could come in and start right away.

27. Seattle Seahawks- Yetur Gross-Matos, Defensive End, Penn State: Gross-Matos's stock has dropped after being projected to be in the top 15. The Seahawks have a pass rush need assuming they don't bring back Jadeveon Clowney and Gross-Matos would help.

28. Baltimore Ravens- Kenneth Murray, Inside Linebacker, Oklahoma: With a stout defensive line in front of him, Murray would be in an ideal situation here in Baltimore. The Ravens have yet to address the inside linebacker position in free agency and he would be a solid fit here.

29. Tennessee Titans- AJ Epenesa, Defensive End, Iowa: The Titans have a glaring need with their pass rush now with Jurell Casey traded away to Denver. Epenesa is someone that is great on the edge and would have a nice impact.

30. Green Bay Packers- Denzel Mims, Wide Receiver, Baylor: The Packers don't have any scary threats at wide receiver other than Davante Adams and Mims would certainly help them. He would certainly be their second best receiver if he was the choice here.

31. San Francisco 49ers- Raekwon Davis, Defensive Tackle, Alabama: The 49ers suddenly have a need in the middle of their defensive line after the trading away DeForrest Buckner. Davis is somebody that can play nose and stop the run.

32. Kansas City Chiefs- Damon Arnette, Cornerback, Ohio State: The Chiefs do have needs, especially on defense. With Kendall Fuller departed, they take Arnette here to replace him. He's someone that's stock is rising and has played on good teams in college.