2020 NFL Draft: First-round mock draft includes Jalen Hurts in the top 15

Like Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota has failed to live up to his number two overall pick potential and having been benched and with his contract expiring after this season, the Titans will likely be looking for a new QB in the 2020 NFL Draft.

I think Jalen Hurts makes a ton of sense here. Hurts has a similar style of play to Mariota but is a much better down-the-field passer. Both are very mobile with running back ability in the open field, but Hurts has a cannon for an arm and it has been on display all season long in Norman.

While Hurts will likely buck the trend of Oklahoma quarterbacks going first overall, I don’t think many viewed him as an NFL quarterback, let alone a first-round pick, when he began his career at Alabama. Now, under Lincoln Riley, Hurts has certainly entered the first-round conversation and continues to climb up draft boards with his consistent production and continuous growth as a passer.

While he still has room to improve as a pocket passer, Oklahoma has turned Hurts into a throw-first QB who is putting up staggering numbers through the air. Hurts’ processor seems to be getting quicker and better and he is throwing more accurate balls this year than ever before.

Hurts is still a dual-threat, dynamic running quarterback who can beat you a variety of ways. I would consider Hurts the Lamar Jackson of the 2020 NFL Draft. With Jackson as a blueprint, there is certainly a path for this type of QB to succeed in the league today.

I hope the Titans would be able to be creative and build their offense around Hurts’ strengths, but as I said, his game is similar enough to that of Mariota and Ryan Tannehill that they shouldn’t have to change a whole lot to put Hurts in a great position to succeed with the young weapons that this offense has already.