2020 NFL Draft: First-Round 2020 NFL mock draft with counterintuitive picks throughout

The Emmanuel Sanders trade last season turned out to be a playoff-push loaner all along, as the team let Sanders leave in free agency. Now the San Francisco 49ers have traded DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Most mock drafters think this puts the 49ers in a great place to draft a true number one receiver.

With Buckner gone in free agency, the 49ers will need to replace his production on the defensive line, even after paying Arik Armstead. The way players like Armstead and Nick Bosa were able to get a combined 19 sacks in 2019 was having a strong, deep defensive line to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

By drafting Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown the 49ers effectively replace Buckner’s production on the defensive line. Except instead of paying Buckner a huge contract extension they get Brown on a rookie deal.

While having a great wide receiver on the roster would be nice, the Shanahan offense isn’t dependent on a true number one receiver. Once again the depth of the wide receiver class in the 2020 NFL Draft lets teams wait till Day two to find a starting wide receiver.

Instincts tell mock drafters that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be bringing in help for Tom Brady in the 2020 NFL Draft. Either a tight end or offensive linemen to help Brady in the first round. But the team already has an elite receiver unit that averaged the third-most points in 2019, according to NFL.com. With the signing of Joe Haeg this offseason, the team doesn’t necessarily have to bring in any more offensive line help this year either.

On defense, the team allowed an average of just 73.8 yards rushing in 2019, which was number one in the NFL. But in passing yards, the team allowed an average of 270 passing yards last year, which was thirtieth in the NFL. With Brady now older and playing more of a game manager role at quarterback, the team can’t afford to be giving up over 30 points a game, something they did in half their games in 2019.

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With cornerback Vernon Hargreaves cut last season, the team requires an elite cornerback who can shut down the opposing team’s best receiver. With C.J. Henderson from the nearby Florida Gators, the Buccaneers will be getting a solid, playmaking cornerback that can neutralize opposing wide receivers in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Henderson was injured early in 2019 and thus lost a bit of his production towards the end of the season. But if Henderson can get back to his 2018 form, the Buccaneers will have an elite, shut-down cornerback in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Looking at the Denver Broncos, one thing that becomes immediately clear is the team is lacking a deep threat wide receiver. Finding a counterintuitive need for this team is difficult since their defense is still well above-average and their offensive line is young. They brought in a good running back in Melvin Gordon and drafted a tight end in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Conventional draft logic wins this time as the team needs a wide receiver that can take the top off the defense. New offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur likes to run 11-personnel packages, where three wide receivers spread the defense around. With Courtland Sutton the team’s most reliable receiver, the Broncos need another target for second-year quarterback Drew Lock.

Henry Ruggs is by far the best option for the Broncos. He ran a 4.27 at the Combine earlier this year and is by far the fastest wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft. He had 24 touchdowns in his three seasons at Alabama and he averaged 17.5 yards per reception, according to Sports Reference.