First-Round 2020 NFL mock draft with updated 2020 NFL Draft order

The Miami Dolphins are likely to take a quarterback early in the 2020 NFL Draft. That being said, I do not think that is a foregone conclusion. The Dolphins could certainly look to build the rest of their roster up before snagging that franchise quarterback. If they decide to pass on the position this year, they would likely still be in a position to add a quarterback in next year’s draft.

With the fifth pick of this 2020 NFL draft scenario, the Dolphins do not take a quarterback, instead opting for Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills.

Wills is an incredibly powerful offensive lineman who is dominant at the point of attack. He is an absolute mauler in the run game and does a nice job in pass protection against both power and speed. Wills is undoubtedly one of the top offensive linemen in the 2020 NFL draft class and should not be considered a reach in this range.

It would not be surprising if Philip Rivers does not end up playing another down for the Los Angeles Chargers. He is clearly not the same quarterback that he once was and the Chargers are in a position to potentially replace him through the 2020 NFL Draft. In this mock draft, Justin Herbert is available and an obvious target for the Chargers in this range.

Herbert is arguably the most physically gifted quarterback in the 2020 NFL draft class. He moves well in and out of the pocket and has a rocket for a right arm. Herbert can make any throw on the field and typically does so with good accuracy. The Chargers are in a good position to replace Rivers here, as they snag Herbert to lead them into the future.

It is difficult to know where to place Tua Tagovailoa in this mock draft. His health situation leaves plenty of unknown at the moment but in the end, I still expect Tua to be in the top 10 conversation. With Cam Newton on the roster, the Carolina Panthers feel like a strong fit for Tua. The Panthers could sit Tua for the entire 2020 season if needed and still be in a position to compete with Newton under center.

If Tua is ready to go right away, then the Panthers could look to trade Newton. If not, they still have a viable quarterback option for 2020 and could look to build around Tagovailoa in 2021 and beyond.

There was a lot to like about what we saw out of Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals this season. That being said, if they are going to make significant improvements next season, they are going to have to improve their offensive line situation.

Murray has been running for his life all season long and an improved offensive line would only help his growth as a quarterback. Tristan Wirfs is an exciting offensive tackle prospect who has an impressive combination of power and athleticism. He is a dominant run blocker and strong pass protection who should be able to come in and immediately take on a starting role at the next level.

It is going to be a tough battle between Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb in the race for WR1 in the 2020 NFL Draft. Honestly, I could see it going either way, but in this mock draft, I am going to give Jeudy the edge.

He is a smooth and explosive athlete who creates separation with ease in his routes. Once Jeudy has the ball in his hands, he does an incredible job of making defenders miss and has the speed to take it to the house from anywhere on the field. Jeudy is a well-rounded who can make an impact in the short, intermediate and deep passing games.

He is arguably the best offensive playmaker in the 2020 NFL draft class and would undoubtedly be a strong addition to the Jacksonville Jaguars offense.

Andrew Thomas is considered by many to be the top offensive tackle in the 2020 NFL draft class. In my opinion, Thomas, Wills and Wirfs are all high-level offensive tackle prospects who should all be considered possible top ten picks. Here, Thomas is the third offensive tackle off of the board, but he still goes in the top ten, landing at number 10 with the Cleveland Browns.

Offensive tackle is the obvious number one need for the Browns and Thomas being available when they go on the clock is ideal for the team. Thomas is a big and powerful left tackle who dominates at the point of attack and consistently clears out holes in the run game. He is a tremendous run blocker and strong pass protector who would be an immediate upgrade for the Browns at left tackle.

Three offensive tackles going in the top ten would not be ideal for the New York Jets. They need to improve their offensive line situation, but there simply is not a player worth taking at the position on the board. Instead, the Jets give Sam Darnold an offensive playmaker by adding wide receiver CeeDee Lamb to the mix.

Lamb is not the most explosive or athletic receiver in the draft, but he is a gifted playmaker who can make a consistent impact on the outside. Lamb shows an incredible combination of quickness, elusiveness, power and contact balance with the ball in his hands. He moves through traffic with ease and has a knack for making defenders miss in space and picking up extra yards after initial contact.

Lamb is also an impressive jump-ball receiver who shows incredible body control in the air. He is a tremendous contested-catch receiver who has soft hands and does a great job of using his body to shield defenders. Simply put, Lamb is a dynamic playmaker who would immediately help Darnold improve at the quarterback position.

This may seem like a bit of a reach for Henry Ruggs III, but once this guy puts on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine, his value is going to skyrocket. Ruggs is the fastest and most explosive player in college football. His speed on the outside is unrivaled and he gets to full speed in the blink of an eye. Ruggs is also an incredibly quick and elusive athlete who can be extremely slippery in the open field.

While his game is built on speed, Ruggs is more than just a guy who can run fast. He runs crisp routes that create consistent separation, has soft hands and knows how to create after the catch. The Las Vegas Raiders need a field stretcher on the outside and Ruggs just might be the best one in the entire 2020 NFL draft class.