Welcome back all! We are just a little over a week away from the NFL Draft and the opportunity for all of us sports nuts to have something to discuss, dissect, and debate again. This year's draft will certainly be unique and much different from any other years given the circumstances of what we all are collectively going through at the moment. For these reasons, and the added amount of uncertainty, this year's draft will be even more difficult to try and predict.
That being said, teams are still doing their due-diligence the best they can, and it should be very interesting to see where everyone goes come next Thursday evening. With that backdrop, I'm back again with my 3rd 2020 NFL Top 10 Mock Draft, and today's version has a big move right at the very top and plenty of changes from version 2.0. Let's jump into it, starting with a bang right at the top:
1) MIAMI DOLPHINS ( via TRADE W/CINCINNATI) 🔼
JOE BURROW | QB | LSU
In a surprise, block-buster move to open up the draft, the Dolphins ship all 3 of their 1st Round picks including the 5th overall pick to Cincinnati to move all the way up to #1 and secure Burrow.
While it still makes a ton of sense for Cincinnati to take Ohio native Burrow, the opportunity to land 3 first-rounders and address needs on the O-line & land an impact player on defense with projected day-1 starters is too much to pass up and Miami causes some excitement to kick off the festivities.
2) WASHINGTON REDSKINS
CHASE YOUNG | DE | OHIO STATE
The Redskins make the expected move and take edge-rushing sensation Young. With an opportunity to land the best defensive player in the draft and address a huge need along the D-line, head coach Ron Rivera has a talented piece to build his defensive front around.
There have been rumblings about Washington doing their homework on QBs - which you should do when you have the #2 overall pick regardless - but it still makes the most sense to take Young here.
3) DETROIT LIONS
ANDREW THOMAS | OT | GEORGIA
No new surprises here as the Lions elect to bolster their O-line and provide Matt Stafford added protection, and bolster a fledgling run game. I've had the Lions taking Thomas in each edition of Mock Drafts as the fit just makes sense for both parties.
The Lions will have plenty of inticing options available on the defensive side of the ball as well, but if they elect to go offense, Thomas makes perfect sense.
4) NEW YORK GIANTS
JEDRICK WILLIS JR. | OL | ALABAMA
Willis continues to be the pick for the Giants. One of the best lineman - if not the best - lineman available in this year's draft, Willis would provide the Giants with a much-needed day 1 starter that could potentially step-in and bolster their O-line for their young QB & star HB duo.
Isaiah Simmons will be tempting if they elect to go defense, but by all accounts, new head coach Joe Judge like Willis & the pairing makes a ton of sense.
5) CINCINNATI BENGALS ( via TRADE WITH MIAMI DOLPHINS) 🔽
DERRICK BROWN | DL | AUBURN
The Bengals use the first of their 1st round haul from the Dolphins to land an impact player that can step-in along the defensive front right away. Brown was a disruptive force up front for the Tigers and provides the Bengals with an opportunity to build a foundation around an exciting force along the interior D-line.
Some have even called Brown the "most exciting interior defender since Aaron Donald" - certainly a strong statement. It's the right pick after making a surprising move to draft out of the top spot.
6) LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
TUA TAGOVAILOA | QB | ALABAMA
The Chargers have been linked to Oregon QB Justin Herbert in a move I like a lot. It seems like a good fit, but there is no way the Chargers pass on Tua in this spot. It's the perfect situation for both - LA can roll with Tyrod Taylor, who has won games in this league before, and give Tua time to ease back in - especially if there are any lingering injury/recovery concerns.
I really can't see Tagovailoa sliding any farther - as much as Herbert is a perceived good fit as well, the opportunity to make a splash is too much too pass up. Surprise, surprise, Tua is a bolt.
7) CAROLINA PANTHERS
ISAIAH SIMMONS | LB | CLEMSON
I had Brown going to the Panthers in each of the first two Mock Drafts, but after the shake-up at the top in version 3.0 - this is one of the residual effects - with Brown off the board, perhaps the most athletic defender in the entire draft, Clemson's do-it-all LB Simmons falls to Carolina #7.
His play-making ability and athleticism will be a welcomed boost to a re-building defensive unit. With Simmons having played nearby at Clemson, in SC, the Panthers have had plenty of opportunities to see what he can do. It's another great fit.
8) ARIZONA CARDINALS
TRISTAN WIRFS | OT | IOWA
No changes from version 2.0 here, as Wirfs goes to the Cardinals to help bolster the O-line for young QB Kyler Murray and new all-everything WR DeAndre Hopkins. Wirfs was outstanding up front for the Hawkeyes in a tough, physical, Big TEN.
Arizona has made the moves to invest in their offense, now they make a move to help protect those assets. Again, it's a move that makes a lot of sense.
9) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
JERRY JEUDY | WR | ALABAMA
Despite QB Justin Herbert being available from Oregon, the Jaguars have already decided to see what Gardner Minshew can do after trading Nick Foles away to the Bears. The opportunity to get an elite pass-catcher with proven ability, makes the most sense.
Providing Minshew with another weapon makes a ton of sense for a Jaguars team trying to get back to relevance in the AFC South. With Philip Rivers' arrival in Indianapolis, and the Titans bringing back key players, the division got better, and the Jaguars need to as well.
10) LAS VEGAS RAIDERS ( via TRADE WITH CLEVELAND BROWNS) 🔼
JUSTIN HERBERT | QB | OREGON
With the top 3 O-lineman off the board, and both Simmons & Brown long gone, the Browns decide to swap down a couple of spots with the Raiders and gain an additional pick. The Raiders see an opportunity to land a QB, and as much as they would love to have Tua some how fall into a spot where they could potentially make a move up for him, they are more than willing to throw-in an extra pick or two to land a QB that might not be expected to be there still at #10.
Herbert is a big, physical QB, who showed off surprising mobility with his 3 TD runs against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. HC John Gruden seizes the opportunity and moves up to land a new potential franchise-QB for the move to Las Vegas.
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Special shout out to @snakesportstalkshow with Jake Silva for first floating that blockbuster trade between the Phins & Bengals to me while I was on his live show this past Saturday. Be sure to follow him and check out his show - great content!
I will be back again with plenty more draft coverage with version 4.0 soon to follow. I appreciate the support as always, and would love to get your thoughts in the comments section below. In the meantime, stay calm, safe, and positive!
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Chris Elgersma
Be sure to follow me on Instagram & YouTube!:
@sportsguychris
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