2020 NFL Draft first-round mock draft: Quarterback reshuffle

Andrew Thomas is an aggressive run-blocking tackle who has shown a great ability to protect the corner. His physicality and reach prevent most physical rushers from producing quality chances and can gain the edge on outside runs by squeezing defenders inside.

Thomas’ steps to the corner in pass-protection tend to be on the longer side and give rushers and opportunity to switch their rush inside once he gains momentum to the edge. Very few pass-rushers will bend around the corner on Thomas, but what they can do is take advantage of his momentum and counter to the inside with a jab-swipe or spin move.

Running back Leonard Fournette would love to have a tackle like Thomas on the outside to open the B and C gaps, as well as advance to the second level. Thomas’ pass-protection footwork will need improvement but will be coachable with foot-speed training.

Paulson Adebo is an aggressive Cover 3 corner who does a great job of breaking down on underneath routes when in off-cap coverage. At 6’1″, Adebo has the length to compete downfield and contest jump balls. His aggression and instinct to break on routes his a key part of his game and provides an opportunity for a unique physicality at the position.

Adebo is very reminiscent of Stanford alumni and current All-Pro corner Richard Sherman with his style of play and preferred coverage style. Gruden would love a player with this type of aggression on the back end, as long as he can keep himself out of bad situations.

An issue that could realistically arise at the NFL level is the use of double-moves and head fakes to create a bite, and then open up his deep zone along the boundary. Adebo is not the kind of corner to succeed in trail coverage, being the Yin to Trevon Diggs’ Yang in this draft class.

After the departure of star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, another Alabama product can be brought in to compliment budding star corner, Xavien Howard. McKinney has filled the role of a ‘money-backer’ at Alabama and has been a star doing so.

Instead of aligning as a traditional free safety, McKinney as lined up in the slot and near the line of scrimmage in a variety of man, underneath zone, and even blitzes to be a wildcard on defense and take away short options. At 6’1″, 200 lbs, McKinney possesses the physical build to be a box safety, especially with continued physical growth over the coming years.

With cover 3 becoming a more prominent coverage base in the NFL, money-backers/box-safeties/slot-corner have become an extremely valuable piece in defensive schemes. McKinney will give Brian Flores a utility piece reminiscent of Jamal Adams with the New York Jets and create a new, aggressive identity in Miami.

Terrell Lewis is a physical outside pass-rusher who has spent the vast majority of his time lining up at 3-4 outside linebacker. His run defense has been respectable, able to gain outside leverage and cut off running lanes to the outside. Lewis’ pass-rushing has been the highlight of his game, but not with the flashiest methods.

Lewis is an explosive athlete with good size that takes advantage of stunts and twists to get inside and around offensive guards. When chasing runs from the backside, Lewis has shown a high motor and closing speed on running backs.

His pass-rushing technique can sometimes be stalled by good hand placement, but his best pass-rushing production has come when building off of a bull-rush. By getting a tackle off-balance, Lewis can bring out his swim move and jab-swipe to get inside and get into a quarterbacks face.

Ryan Tannehill has impressed at quarterback, with a 4-1 record as a starter this season. Quarterback is a position to be evaluated at a later time, meanwhile, the team should build around its cost-efficient quarterback. Even if Tannehill were to leave, other possibilities such as Teddy Bridgewater are open.

Kenneth Murray is a dynamic 4-3 inside linebacker who provides sideline-to-sideline pursuit and quality underneath zone coverage. This speed and general explosiveness make Murray and occasional pass-rush weapon, but this is not his forte.

Murray has a quality sense of running plays, able to get outside and shoot running lanes. Similar to former Georgia product and current Bears linebacker Roquan Smith, Murray will be best used when surrounded by a physical front-seven who can make up for his lack of size.

Cleveland currently lacks a serious force in the middle of the defense, and the field general from Oklahoma could fill that void. Speedy, physical flyers at inside linebacker have become a more valued commodity with the popularization of cover 3, which places an emphasis on a coverage linebacker.

Murray would do great in this role with a struggling Cleveland defense. Cleveland is still searching for a defensive identity, and explosive playmakers such as Murray and current cornerback Denzel Ward could solidify the label.