2020 NFL Draft: Chargers snag new QB in first-round mock draft

With their final first-round pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Dolphins find their potential replacement for Laremy Tunsil. Since the big trade with Houston, the Dolphins have been fielding developmental tackle Julian Davenport at left and Jesse Davis at right. This less than ideal situation provides an opportunity for the likes of Alex Leatherwood to come in right away and start from Day 1.

While the hype at Alabama may be all around Wills, don’t forget that Leatherwood is still one of the better tackles in this class. His athleticism is some of the best in the class and is excellent vs the run. Leatherwood may not be Laremy Tunsil, but he’s still a massive upgrade over what they currently have.

While the Kansas City Chiefs could certainly use another corner or a linebacker, I think offensive guard should be the pick. Over the last few years, the Chiefs have been fielding guys like Andrew Wylie and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, good players but not elite talent at the position. To me, the Chiefs are line for an upgrade at the guard position. Tennessee’s Trey Smith is one of the more dominant interior offensive lineman in football and if it weren’t for injury, he’d be drafted higher.

With Duane Brown in the twilight of his career and Germain Ifedi set to become a free agent after the season, a need at tackle has presented itself for Seattle. At this point in the 2020 NFL Draft, I’d look no further than Houston’s Josh Jones.

A new riser on many boards, Jones has become one of my favorite players in the class. He moves very well, is a mauler vs the run and has the requisite size you want in a starting tackle. If Ifedi leaves after the season, then Jones could come in and be a staple part of the Seahawks offense.

In 2018, the Green Bay Packers spent three draft picks on wide receivers in an attempt to surround Aaron Rodgers with more talent outside of Davante Adams. Only one has had an impact while another is on a completely different team. The Packers are due for more stable weapons and LSU’s Justin Jefferson is as stable as they come.

Jefferson burst onto the scene this season for the Tigers, showing an ability to run clean routes with good speed and be a reliable target for Burrow. Jefferson is quickly becoming one of my favorite receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft and he could become one of Rodgers’ favorite targets.

Since Rob Gronkowski retired after the 2019 Season, the Patriots have not been able to find a suitable replacement at the tight end position.  While guys Ben Watson and Matt Lacosse have played decently, they lack the truly elite presence that Gronk brought to the team. While Brycen Hopkins isn’t quite Gronk, he’d still be a major upgrade over what they have.

Hopkins is a big tight end (6-foot-5 245 lbs) who always seems to be open for the Boilermakers. As more of an Evan Engram style of player, Hopkins is a speedy tight end with plenty of burst and great hands.  Should the Patriots opt to address tight end early, they should start with Hopkins.

Similarly, with Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees could use a few more targets outside of one elite receiver. The Saints have been feeding Michael Thomas and in some instances Jared Cook due to the lack of reliability outside of those two. Luckily for New Orleans, Colorado’s Laviska Shenault Jr. can come in day one and be a dynamic weapon for that offense.

Shenault’s appeal is that he can play anywhere short of the offensive line, making the scheming possibilities practically endless. Having said this, my favorite part of Shenault’s game is what he can do as a receiver, as his speed and concentration are very intriguing.

Despite their recent success, the 49ers still have needs on their roster, namely in the defensive secondary. Addressing positions such as free safety should be a top priority in the 2020 Draft Class. And drafting Alabama’s Xavier McKinney is a great place to start.

McKinney can be a Minkah Fitzpatrick type of player for the 49ers, lining up in the box on certain downs while playing in a more traditional free safety role on others. This type of versatility can offer San Francisco some extra potency going forward.

Since the departure of C.J. Mosely, the Baltimore Ravens have cycled through Patrick Onwuasor, Josh Bynes and L.J. Fort at inside linebacker. Admittedly, all three have played well this season but haven’t given the Ravens the level of play they had gotten from Mosely. Enter Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound athletic linebacker who plays some of the best run defense in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Murray has a great nose for the football, as he shoots gaps with great speed making big plays when it counts. While some believe his pass coverage could use some work, to me, he offers just enough to be a stable linebacker at the next level.