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

With the departure of Philip Rivers from the Los Angeles Chargers, most mock drafts have a quarterback slated for the team in the first round. Most people assume the Chargers aren’t serious about riding into the 2020 season with Tyrod Taylor as the starting quarterback. Instead, Taylor is expected to be the dutiful soldier, who will help train his eventual successor. Just like 2018 in Cleveland with Baker Mayfield.

But what if it is true and the team does plan to use Taylor as the starting quarterback in 2020? What if, after Tua and Burrow, the Chargers don’t see any quarterbacks that catch their eye? Why would they draft a quarterback they don’t feel comfortable with in the top ten?

The Chargers rolled with Rivers for 16 seasons. Through the highs and lows, this team stuck with Rivers as their starter until this offseason. Last year, the Chargers brought in Taylor on a two year-$11 million contract to be the backup in LA. In 2017, Taylor brought the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, despite having a sub-par supporting cast and a head coach that did not believe in him.

With the Bills, Taylor had an offensive coordinator that believed in him. He just happens to be the head coach of the Chargers now, Anthony Lynn. The two had a good relationship in Buffalo and Lynn has indicated in the offseason he could see Taylor earning the starting role, albeit he has not out-and-out committed to Taylor leading the Chargers in 2020.

If the Chargers are serious about riding with Taylor (or any other free agent quarterbacks as of this writing) then they will need help on their offensive line. Mekhi Becton, the Louisville junior would make the Chargers offensive line instantly better.

The 6-foot-7, 365-pound tackle had an incredible Combine performance in Indianapolis, reminding scouts and NFL fans how disruptive a good left tackle can be. The 2019 season was his first season as a left tackle, yet he did just as well there as he had as a right tackle. Versatility on the offensive line is an underrated trait in the NFL but can be useful when injuries force offensive linemen to change positions.

A blocking juggernaut on the outside, watching Becton throw around 250-pound or more defensive end’s shows just how strong he is. Outside of a few defensive ends very few will be able to get past him by strength alone. He is the largest offensive tackle in the 2020 NFL Draft and it shows on film. Just check this video out.

But Becton doesn’t just bring his size and strength to the game. He has great offensive line instincts as well. He uses his hands efficiently, forcing pass-rushers away with one motion without having to grab hold of opposing pads or jerseys.

He can cut inside if pass-rushers are thinking an inside route to the quarterback is faster. His wingspan is out of this world. At the Combine, his arms measured in at nearly 36 inches, giving Becton an almost seven-foot wingspan, according to NFL.com.

The Chargers let their offensive line languish over the Rivers years, forcing the generational quarterback to go his whole career without getting to a Super Bowl. Now that they have a fresh start with Taylor, they can afford in the 2020 NFL Draft to bring in a generational tackle talent to shore up the offensive line. And if Taylor doesn’t work out this season, there are great quarterbacks in the 2021 Draft, who will benefit from an elite tackle on the roster.