2020 NFL Draft: First-Round 2020 NFL mock draft pre-free agency
By Ian Higgins
K'Lavon Chaisson. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. EDGE. LSU. 44. 16. player
2019 Starters: Takkarist McKinley, Vic Beasley
The fastest edge rusher of the 2020 NFL Draft, K’Lavon Chaisson showed off his speed-rush during LSU’s run to the national championship behind quarterback Joe Burrow. Chaisson does not have a polished arsenal of pass-rush moves to work from yet, but has the pure speed to get around the corner of offensive tackles and bend his hips inward.
LSU also used him on stunts and twists to the inside to utilize his speed against slow-footed guards to burst up the inside and get into the face of quarterbacks similar to what the Houston Texans did with Jadaveon Clowney.
S. Alabama. Xavier McKinney. 17. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 123
2019 Starters: Jeff Heath, Xavier Woods
A combo-coverage safety out of Alabama who can hold his own when dropping down into the box. Dallas has lacked talent on the backend outside of soon-to-be gone free agent Byron Jones, and need a piece to build around for the immediate future.
Xavier McKinney is capable of both playing centerfield in zone coverage or dropping down low to man-up against mismatch receivers in man coverage. When in the box, McKinney is strong against the run and can hold his own in open-field tackling situations.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 18. player. 59. S. LSU. Grant Delpit
2019 Starters: Steven Parker, Reshad Jones
The most physical safety of the 2020 NFL draft with the range to cover the deep middle, Grant Delpit is a dual-threat safety who can drop down as a weakside linebacker or roam deep. Cornerback Xavien Howard still needs help on the back end, and with Reshad Jones coming to the tail end of his career, Miami needs a new free safety after trading away Mikah Fitzpatrick to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
player. 28. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. CB. Kristian Fulton. LSU. 19
2019 Starters: Trayvon Mullen, Daryl Worley
One of the best man corners in the 2020 NFL Draft, Kristian Fulton uses his athleticism to prevent separation with his trail-technique. Running a 4.46 forty, Fulton is a great candidate to redefine this Raiders secondary into a suffocating man defense with the ability to match up one-on-one on the back end.
Safeties Karl Joseph and Johnathan Abrams provide a great security blanket behind and can cover up any mistakes made by the corners in such an aggressive scheme.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OT. Josh Jones. 20. Houston. player. 52
2019 Starters: Cam Robinson, Jawaan Taylor
One of the projects at tackle for the 2020 NFL Draft, Josh Jones out of Houston is a physically dominant prospect who still needs work on his hand-fighting and leverage technique. Jones has quick feet to get lateral and uses his length and strength well to outdo defenders trying to get into his chest.
The area where problems can arise is against more talented edge rushers who counter his moves and beat him to the corner by countering his attempts to get into the chest. Jacksonville lacks talent on the edge to protect Gardner Minshew, but have a chance to develop their protector.