2020 NFL Draft: Who goes after Burrow, Young in first-round mock draft?

Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown is an incredibly talented player who could go as high as the third pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Brown’s ability to penetrate and create pressure from the interior is unrivaled in this class and makes him an extremely appealing option for any team picking in the top ten.

The Carolina Panthers could have a lot of turnover at the defensive tackle position this offseason and if they let a few key players get away, it could quickly turn into a major position of need. Brown is an extremely gifted player who shows an incredible combination of power and quickness up front. He is a dominant run stuffer and productive pass rusher who could make an immediate impact for the Panthers.

Offensive tackle is certainly an option for the Arizona Cardinals here as they struggled to protect quarterback Kyler Murray all season long. Murray needs to be protected better, but Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury may not want to spend such a premium pick on an offensive lineman when his offense is built on getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hand quickly. Instead, I could see the Cardinals looking to get Murray another dynamic playmaker here.

Jerry Jeudy recently declared for the 2020 NFL Draft and the race for WR1 is officially on. Both Jeudy and Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb are worthy options here, but Jeudy gets the edge this time around.

Jeudy is one of the smoothest and most elusive wide receivers that I have seen. He is a fantastic route runner who can naturally create separation with his short-area quickness and immediate acceleration. Jeudy wins in the deep passing game and can also create after the catch. He is an extremely elusive player in the open field who can also turn on the jets and take it to the house from anywhere on the field.

The 2020 NFL Draft is loaded at the wide receiver position with Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb leading the way. In this mock draft, the two receivers go with back-to-back picks in the top ten as the Jacksonville Jaguars snag Lamb here at number nine.

Lamb isn’t quite as explosive and athletic as Jeudy, but he has an extremely impressive overall skill set that will make him a productive player at the next level. Lamb does not separate as well as Jeudy, but he is an extremely impressive contested-catch receiver who controls his body in the air incredibly well. Lamb has elite-level body control and has a knack for coming down with the ball in traffic.

While he does not separate particularly well, Lamb is a tremendous run after catch player. He is quick and relatively elusive in the open field and has tremendous power and contact balance for a wide receiver. The Jaguars need to find some impact offensive playmakers and Lamb certainly fits the bill.

Offensive tackle stands out as a massive need for the Cleveland Browns in the 2020 NFL Draft. There are three top-tier offensive tackles in this class and luckily for Cleveland, one of them falls to them here at number 10. When the actual 2020 NFL Draft rolls around, they might not get this lucky.

Andrew Thomas is a big and powerful offensive lineman who is dominant in the run game. He is also a solid pass protector who moves his feet well and anchors at an extremely high level. The Browns could bring in Thomas and make him their starting left tackle right away.

The board did not fall well for the New York Jets in this mock draft. They would love to add an offensive tackle here, but there is not a viable option on the board. Instead, the Jets attack the defensive side of the ball and bring in LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton.

Fulton is an extremely quick and athletic cornerback prospect who shines in man-to-man coverage. He is a smooth athlete who changes directions well and shows fantastic ball skills. Fulton would immediately be the best cornerback on the Jets and would provide a ton of long-term value.

Isaiah Simmons falling this far is perfect for the Las Vegas Raiders. Simmons is an extremely athletic linebacker prospect who can do it all on the field. He is an extremely rangy linebacker who makes plays from sideline-to-sideline. Simmons also tackles well in space and can create pressure as a blitzer.

Even more importantly, Simmons shines in coverage. This guy can take on any tight end or running back in man-to-man coverage and can even hold his own against some receivers. He is also strong in short zone coverage and has great natural ball skills at the linebacker position. In Simmons, the Raiders find themselves an ideal linebacker for the modern NFL and a guy who they can build their defense around.

The Indianapolis Colts have needs all across the defensive line and A.J. Epenesa feels like the perfect player for them up front. Epenesa is listed by most as an edge rusher, but he is a big and powerful player who has versatility across the defensive line.

He is incredibly powerful at the point of attack and shows the ability to make an impact as both a run defender and pass rusher. Epenesa is not overly explosive on the edge, but he does move relatively well. His combination of size, quickness and power gives Epenesa obvious upside at the next level. The Colts could bring Epenesa in and have him play defensive end on early downs and kick inside on obvious passing downs.