Basically, this post is dedicated to me going over each first round pick of the 2020 NFL Draft and comparing it to my final mock draft. I will be going in-depth on why I thought something would’ve/should’ve happened and why I feel I missed something. Hope everyone enjoys me making fun of myself!
1. Cincinnati Bengals;
- Real Pick; Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
- My Pick; Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
2. Washington Redskins
- Real Pick; Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
- My Pick; Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
3. Detroit Lions
- Real Pick; Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
- My Pick; Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
4. New York Giants
- Real Pick; Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
- My Pick; Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
- Ah, my first miss of the 2020 NFL Draft. Love it when I’m wrong. Well, after the Combine, reports were that Giants’ GM Dave Gettleman was “in love” with Tristan WIrfs from Iowa. Reports like that kept on going, even a week or so before the Draft. That being said, other reports, as week got to Draft week, said Georgia’s Andrew Thomas would be the first tackle off the board. I should’ve seen this coming. I did though have Andrew Thomas as the second o-tackle taken, but that doesn’t matter since it was wrong. The pick was screaming at me all week leading up to the Draft, I just ignored it for some reason. Right position, wrong player.
5. Miami Dolphins
- Real Pick; Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
- My Pick; Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
6. Los Angeles Chargers
- Real Pick; Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
- My Pick; Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
- Honestly, I don’t get my thinking here. Yes, the Chargers have a need at tackle, but a bigger one at QB. I watched Tyrod Taylor play in Buffalo. Yes, he’s solid, but he’s not a franchise guy and he’s not going to win you many games. That being said, he won’t do anything to lose you games either. I knew in my gut the Bolts were taking Herbert but I went against it, thinking they liked Jordan Love more and would attempt to trade back into the first round to get him. Now, I didn’t have that in my last mock draft because I didn’t know if they’d get it done. They did in fact trade back into the first round in real life, but with a QB already, they took my number two linebacker. This was just me being stupid. I knew this was happening, but just didn’t do it. I’m an idiot.
7. Carolina Panthers
- Real Pick; Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
- My Pick; Isaiah Simmons, DEF, Clemson
8. Arizona Cardinals
- Real Pick; Isaiah Simmons, DEF, Clemson
- My Pick; Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
- These next four picks pissed me off the most out of the entire first round, so I’m going to pair them up, but for separate reasons. I knew that each team was going to take a stud on defense, I just had it flipped around. The Panthers had another position-less linebacker in Shaq Thompson, so I thought Simmons would be nice there. I just had the Cards taking whoever the Panthers didn’t. I flipped these picks back and forth the entire day, which was stupid on my part. The Panthers had a terrible rush defense last season, Auburn had the third best rush defense in the SEC last season. I had them taking Brown in every draft (I think) except for this one. For the Cards, Simmons will fit in perfectly opposite of Chandler Jones on the defense (listed him as a OLB when they drafted him). I feel both players will fit in beautifully in their new cities. SOOOOO close to being 100% right here but close don’t cut it.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Real Pick; CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
- My Pick; CJ Henderson, CB, Florida (ATL)
10. Cleveland Browns
- Real Pick; Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
- My Pick; Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama (TB)
- Man, so close to having four picks perfect in a row, I was just stupid again. The players got picked in the EXACT place I had them, just to different teams. For both teams, I thought they’d trade back. What I should’ve thought was that Jags GM Dave Caldwell has never traded back and the Browns won’t pass on their number one OT on their board. Really stupid o my part. I just thought the NFC South pairing were going to trade up (which the Bucs did but a little later). This just makes sense. This is a prime example of overthinking something, something I am prone to do the day of the Draft.
11. New York Jets
- Real Pick; Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
- My Pick; Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
12. Las Vegas Raiders
- Real Pick; Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
- My Pick; CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
- Reports were HC Jon Gruden wanted Ruggs for his separation ability and also said that GM Mike Mayock “coveted” CeeDee Lamb. The Raiders went with the coach. I flipped back and forth between the pair and ultimately went with CeeDee Lamb because usually the GM gets the final say. I basically flipped a coin here and landed with Lamb. I’m not surprised what so ever that Ruggs was the first WR taken. I should’ve seen this coming, I even sent a fricken tweet saying Ruggs could be the first WR taken. Again, just me being stupid.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TRADE)
- Real Pick; Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
- My Pick; Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama (SF)
14. San Francisco 49ers (TRADE)
- Real Pick; Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
- My Pick; Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon (NE)
- I truly believe that if Ruggs was there the Niners would’ve taken him. The fact that he wasn’t made the Javon Kinlaw pick an almost for sure thing. Reports were San Fran “coveted” a player like Kinlaw after trading Buckner to Indy. I was flipping between Kinlaw and Ruggs for the pick here and since Ruggs was available, I went with him for San Fran.
- To the Pats. This is my dumbest pick of my mock draft. First off, Herbert was going top 10, I knew that, I just didn’t do it. Second, and I can’t stress this enough, THE PATRIOTS NEVER TRADE UP IN THE DRAFT! THEY ALWAYS TRADE BACK! Even on myself and Tyler’s Draft Show on IG Live I said the Pats would trade back. I said with Baltimore for Kenneth Murray, which again, got the player right, just wrong team. I should’ve never had Herbert falling out of the top 10 because it was not going to happen. I also should’ve never had the Pats trading up because they never do that. Also, I KNEW they’d take a QB later (because that’s what the reports were saying) than taking one in the first round. Again, this was my DUMBEST prediction of the first round. It makes me cringe just thinking about it.
15. Denver Broncos
- Real Pick; Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
- My Pick; Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
16. Atlanta Falcons
- Real Pick; AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson
- My Pick; Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina (JAX)
- I just thought the Falcons were going to trade up. I also think that if the Raiders took Lamb over Ruggs the Niners would’ve taken him to get some speed on the outside. But, like I said above, Dave Caldwell doesn’t trade back, should’ve put two and two together there.
17. Dallas Cowboys
- Real Pick; CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
- My Pick; K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
- I honestly did not see CeeDee Lamb dropping past the top 15. I did have a sneaking suspicion the Cowboys would take a wide receiver in the first round after losing Cobb to Houston but I thought it’d be more of a Jefferson type of receiver. But again, I didn’t think Lamb would fall outside the top 15. Whether the Raiders took him, the Broncos, or the Eagles trading up to get him, I just thought he’d go higher. The Cowboys couldn’t pass up on Lamb since he fell to them.
18. Miami Dolphins
- Real Pick; Austin Jackson, OT, USC
- My Pick; Austin Jackson, OT, USC
19. Las Vegas Raiders
- Real Pick; Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
- My Pick; AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson
- Mike Mayock loves to shop at Clemson. Dude drafted three players from there last year and at least one from there this year. I feel that if Terrell had dropped to 19 Vegas would’ve been all over it. Like I said above, reports were Terrell was rising up Draft boards right before the Draft, so it makes sense he went to Atlanta. To the Raiders pick, I don’t think anyone saw them drafting Arnette, with most people ranking him 8thor 9thas far as corner backs go in the Draft. This was the first real shocker of the night. Saying that, I still believe they would’ve gone Terrell if he were available, partnering him with former Clemson teammate Mullens at corner.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Real Pick; K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
- My Pick; Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
- I had Chaisson going earlier, if I didn’t have him going to the Cowboys I had him going here to Jacksonville. The Jags need to rebuild that defense. They’ve traded everyone away over the past year or so and are set to trade Yannick at some point as well. Chaisson will fit in nicely there. If he was gone (like I had him), I think they would’ve gotten a stud WR to help out Minshew. I really like the picks Jacksonville made in the first round, hopefully re-solidifying their defense.
21. Philadelphia Eagles
- Real Pick; Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
- My Pick; Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma (BAL)
- In my mock draft, I had the Ravens trading up to get OU linebacker Kenneth Murray. I knew going into the Draft the Eagles loved Reagor, but I thought they would trade back to get him. Picking him at 21 just seemed a little high to me. I still got the player and team right, just wrong pick. I also knew someone would trade up to get Kenneth Murray, I just got the wrong team.
22. Minnesota Vikings
- Real Pick; Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
- My Pick; Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
- I just didn’t think Jefferson would make it past Philly if Jacksonville didn’t take him. If he would’ve been available in my last mock I would’ve had the Vikings take him. Since he wasn’t, I gave them Jaylon Johnson. Going into this, I was stuck between Gladney and Johnson, In hindsight, I should’ve gone Gladney. Jaylon Johnson, though a first round talent, had shoulder surgery in March, which scared some teams away. I flipped Gladney and Johnson back and forth between Minnesota and Kansas City a lot before I posted the draft. If Johnson hadn’t been hurt, he would’ve been a lock first round pick. The Bears got a steal in the second round.
23. Los Angeles Chargers (TRADE)
- Real Pick; Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
- My Pick; Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
- I knew deep down the Pats would trade back, which is why I’m so pissed I had them trading up to get Herbert. I even said it in the fricken live stream which makes me even more pissed. I originally had Baltimore trading up with the Pats to get Murray but changed it because I (for some reason) had Justin Herbert falling to 14. The Chargers needed help at linebacker and need someone who can make tackles. I love the pick by the Chargers. To why I had Cleveland trading back and getting Cleveland, that is what all the reports were, that the Browns would trade back and take Ezra Cleveland. Apparently the “coveted” him. What I should’ve done is think, “would the Browns really pass on one of the four top tackles in the Draft to take Cleveland?” Looking back at that it seems pretty stupid. I KNEW THE PATS WOULD TRADE BACK! WHY DID I CHANGE IT?!
24. New Orleans Saints
- Real Pick; Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan
- My Pick; Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
- This was a shocker. I think the Saints may have been looking at Kenneth Murray to fill the hole at linebacker before the Chargers jumped them, so they had to target another position, I just didn’t think it’d be center, especially since they drafted one last year. To be fair though, I did think Ruiz would go in the first round, I just couldn’t find a spot for him so I had him dropping out. Now to my pick, I just felt the Saints needed a QB after Drew Brees, who is retiring after this year. It seems though they may have found their replacement in Jameis Winston but we will see. I thought Love would fit the Saints offense and would be the perfect replacement for Brees. They thought differently I guess.
25. San Francisco 49ers (TRADE)
- Real Pick; Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
- My Pick; Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
- I knew the Vikings would go WR/CB in this draft, just didn’t know the exact order. I also thought the Niners were going to trade back, not trade up, but it does make sense. Brandon Aiyuk fits the 49ers almost perfectly. I don’t know why I struggled between him and Mims because as prospects, Aiyuk is clearly better. Like most Baylor WRs, Mims route running is very underdeveloped. Yes he has speed and size, but teams like receivers that can run every route smoothly, that’s why Aiyuk went first. Aiyuk is a fantastic route runner who possesses great speed on the outside. He also is well versed in special teams, being the Sun Devils punt returner while in college. Everything pointed to Aiyuk being taken before Mims, I just didn’t do it. Even my main guy Daniel Jeremiah said it, I just didn’t listen and I honestly don’t know why.
26. Green Bay Packers (TRADE)
- Real Pick; Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
- My Pick; Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
- This was a surprise to a lot of people on Draft night, but if you listened to reports and draft experts, this shouldn’t have surprised you. Looking back at history, the Packers drafted Rodgers when Favre was 35-36 years old, Rodgers is 36 now. Reports were also saying the HC Matt LaFluer really wanted Love to be a Packer and would trade up to make sure they got their guy, which they did. This shouldn’t be that huge of a surprise to people. I toyed with the idea of Love dropping to GB but ended up putting him NO. I even said on the live steam that Love would go to NO or GB in the first round, it wound up being the latter. As far as the Dolphins pick, I not really all that surprised McKinney didn’t go in the first round but at the same time I am. I feel he was head and shoulders above the other safeties thanks to his versatility and the speed at which he plays the game. That being said, there wasn’t a defined market for safeties in the Draft, even Daniel Jeremiah had no safeties going in the first round in his last mock draft. I think he should’ve been a first round pick, but I can see why he wasn’t.
27. Seattle Seahawks
- Real Pick; Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
- My Pick; Patrick Queen, LB, LSU (GB)
- I was correct in my assumptions that the Packers would trade up in the draft. I just thought with Love off the board they would go after a linebacker to replace Blake Martinez. To be fair, a linebacker did go here, just not the one I thought. I did have Brooks as a border line first rounder, but decided against it just because. I was surprised that Brooks went above LSU’s Patrick Queen but I can understand why it happened. Brooks weighs 20 more pounds than Queen and Queen also only has one real year as a starter at LSU. I feel Queen will be the better linebacker out of the pair.
28. Baltimore Ravens
- Real Pick; Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
- My Pick; Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
- I knew Baltimore would take a linebacker, I just thought it’d be a trade up for Murray, but I think the Ravens are just okay with Queen. I bet their heart dropped when they saw the Seahawks take a linebacker, thankfully it wasn’t the guy they wanted. For the Eagles, I knew they’d take Reagor, I just thought they’d trade back to get him. Like I said above, 21 seemed a little high for him but hey, they got their guy regardless, I don’t think they really care what the public thinks.
29. Tennessee Titans
- Real Pick; Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
- My Pick; Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
30. Miami Dolphins (TRADE)
- Real Pick; Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
- My Pick; Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State (SEA)
- I’m not surprised that Igbinoghene went in the first round, I am surprised though that he went to Miami. I thought the Dolphins, after trading back, would taken Xavier McKinney from Bama, as he would be that versatile safety to replace Fitzpatrick. But, they went corner. It may be because Howard could be suspended for his charge in December but I honestly haven’t heard a lot about it since it first happened. It’s crazy to think about Igbinoghene played only two years of corner throughout his life, now he’s a first round draft pick. As far as the 30thpick in general, I knew the Packers would trade up, I just thought with Seattle since the Seahawks love themselves a trade back. I also thought the Seahawks need for an edge rusher was greater than their need for a linebacker, but hey, it could work out well for them.
31. Minnesota Vikings (TRADE)
- Real Pick; Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
- My Pick; Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU (SF)
- To my credit, I did have both Minnesota and San Francisco taking the positions they ended up drafting, just the wrong players. I read up like a day or two before the draft that Minnesota really liked Jeff Gladney, but also really liked Jaylon Johnson. I think that if Johnson was not coming off of a surgery, he would’ve been the Vikings pick. Instead, they took Gladney, which is not a bad pick by any stretch of the imagination. I also read up that the Vikings were looking to trade back with this pick, so I’m not terribly surprised the trade back ended up happening. I should’ve bee smarter with these two teams picks, they both make perfect sense, I just didn’t pull the trigger.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
- Real Pick; Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
- My Pick; Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
- Right before the Draft, I thought KC would go corner with either Johnson or Gladney. The Chiefs corners from last year, Fuller and Breeland, are either gone or on a one year deal, so I thought it just made sense to go CB there. That being said, I am not surprised at all that they took a running back. Now, I did think it’d be D’Andre Swift if it were a running back but CEH fits the Chiefs offense perfectly. I’m in the camp that thinks Damien Williams is extremely overrated. Dude will have 10 carries for 23 yards going into the 4thquarter and then break an 80 yard run to finish on 11 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown, so again, I’m not surprised a running back went here. I think this was a smart pick by KC.
Draft Results
- Picks I got right; nine
- Picks I was sooooo close on but still got wrong; 16
- Picks I’m pissed off at myself about; 18
- Prospects I had that didn’t go in the first round; Xavier McKinney (36th), Yetur Gross-Matos (38th), Ross Blacklock (40th), Jaylon Johnson (50th), Ezra Cleveland (58th), Denzel Mims (59th)
- Prospects that I didn’t have going in the first round; Damon Arnette (19th), Cesar Ruiz (24th), Brandon Aiyuk (25th), Jordyn Brooks (27th), Noah Igbinoghene (30th), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (32nd)
- Pick I’m most pissed off about; Justin Herbert to New England
o Close seconds; picks 9 and 10 (right players wrong teams), the LA Chargers draft
- Picks I should’ve actually picked in my Mock Draft
o Andrew Thomas to NYG
o Justin Herbert to LAC
o Derrick Brown to CAR (followed by 8, 9, and 10)
o Henry Ruggs going to Vegas
o Javon Kinlaw going to San Francisco
o Brandon Aiyuk going to San Francisco
o Jordan Love going to Green Bay
o Jeff Gladney to Minnesota
Hope everyone enjoyed! We may make this a regular thing so stay tuned!
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