2020 NFL Draft: First-Round 2020 NFL mock draft pre-free agency
By Ian Higgins
Pick Analysis. QB. Oregon. player. Scouting Report. Justin Herbert. 6. 13
2019 Starter: Philip Rivers
My personal favorite quarterback of the 2020 NFL draft class, Justin Herbert is a prototypical big-arm quarterback with the modern mobility to be a threat on the ground. Coming out of Oregon, Herbert draws comparisons to Josh Allen coming out of Wyoming, but has been able to showcase his talent on a much bigger stage against better competition.
Concerns have arisen about his capability to play outside of Oregon’s system, but with his ability to extend the play with his legs and read the field Herbert can lead Los Angeles’ weapons to the promised land in 2021 if given time to develop.
Pick Analysis. Jeff Okudah. Scouting Report. CB. Ohio St. 7. player. 87
2019 Starters: James Bradberry, Ross Cockrell
With cornerback James Bradberry likely out the door this offseason, Carolina has a void on the outside across from Ross Cockrell. Okudah is a top-five talent in this draft and would be a must-take pick from the top seven spots.
His combination of length and range makes him the perfect candidate for man coverage and is more than capable of playing the field and reading the quarterback from a zone scheme that will be used more in Carolina. Picking Okudah gives Carolina a new defensive centerpiece for the future, and can give the option to move on from Cockrell in favor of a more man-coverage oriented corner in the future.
Ceedee Lamb. 8. player. Pick Analysis. WR. Oklahoma. 32. Scouting Report
2019 Starters: Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk, Damiere Byrd
Widely considered the new top receiver of the 2020 NFL Draft class, CeeDee Lamb has all of the measurables and game tape to show he can be a number one wideout in the NFL for a long time. His ability to make plays after the catch and high-point the football with leverage and away-from-body hand catches make him a number one receiver for the NFL.
With Larry Fitzgerald walking away from the game in the near future, a prototypical number one receiver would be the perfect complement to Kyler Murray in Kliff Kingsbury‘s air-raid offense.
52. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. DT. Auburn. player. Derrick Brown. 9
2019 Starters: Taven Bryan, Abry Jones
Easily a top-five talent in the 2020 NFL Draft, Derrick Brown experiences a similar slide to Jeff Okudah in this mock draft. If Brown is to fall down this far, the Jacksonville Jaguars can not pass on such a premier talent from this spot.
Scouting Report. OT. Alabama. Jedrick Wills Jr. player. Pick Analysis. 10. 53
2019 Starters: Greg Robinson, Chris Hubbard
Considered the number one tackle in the class pre-combine, Jedrick Wills Jr. is still the top pass-blocking offensive tackle of the 2020 NFL Draft. Becton may have a more complete skill set, but with Cleveland’s likely focus on the aerial offense with Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham and Baker Mayfield added pass protection on the edge will be their best bet. Wills is a smaller player, but as the hand-fighting skills and lateral agility to compete with the current edge rushers of the NFL.