First-Round 2020 NFL mock draft: “If I were the GM”

Projected Starters: Kendall Sheffield, Isaiah Oliver

After Okudah and Henderson in this draft class, there is a noticeable drop off at the cornerback position. The next in line among these prospects is Kristian Fulton out of LSU. Fulton is a trail-man technique corner with a knack for running routes better than the receivers themselves.

At 6-foot on the dot, Fulton is not the most physically imposing corner but makes up for that lack of size with his hand usage in coverage to disrupt bigger receivers (ex: matchup against D.K. Metcalf vs Ole Miss). Atlanta has an apparent need on the outside to help their safeties Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal, and Fulton would be a good need-fit who can play an aggressive style of Dan Quinn’s cover three defense.

Projected Starters: Demarcus Lawrence, Tyrone Crawford

Operating as a 4-3 defensive end in LSU’s front-seven, K’Lavon Chaisson fits more as a 3-4 outside linebacker who utilizes speed and agility to shoot gaps and beats offensive tackles to the edge. Chaisson produced in two main ways during his time at LSU, stunting to the interior and sprinting past guards before they could react, and beating tackles with pure speed and hand use to get to their outside hip and turn the corner with his incredible hip-bend.

Dallas currently has one of the best starting linebacking groups in the league with Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee, so Chaisson would be used as a versatile 4-3 defensive end across from Demarcus Lawrence. His speed will bring a new dimension to this pass rush and will meld well with the current stable of powerful rushers in the Dallas front seven.

Projected Starters: Adrian Colbert, Eric Rowe

The second of Miami’s three first-round selections is going to go back to the defensive side of the ball. After a major spending spree on their defense this past free agency period, which included cornerback Byron Jones and linebacker Kyle Van Noy, the only apparent hole left is at the safety position.

Xavier McKinney is a combo safety out of Alabama who has shown to be capable in all three facets of safety play at the NFL level, deep-zone, slot-man and run defense. Miami has lacked a star safety since the prime days of Reshad Jones and a player such as McKinney could shore up the backend for playmakers Xavien Howard and Jones to play aggressively and make plays on the ball.

Projected Starters: Maliek Collins, Johnathan Hankins

After an impressive Senior Bowl week to pair alongside an impressive season at South Carolina, Javon Kinlaw has placed himself as a clear number two behind top-ten defensive tackle prospect Derrick Brown. Kinlaw measures in at a lengthy 6-foot-5, 324 pounds, but fits that size into a slim, athletic frame that can burst off of the line of scrimmage.

Kinlaw is not a well-rounded pass rusher in his technique but possesses the athleticism and physical tools to overpower interior lineman with a combination of burst, length, and strength to get into their chest before they’re out of their stance. Las Vegas had two successful draft selections on the edge in Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby in the 2019 NFL Draft, and an addition to bring penetration on the interior in the 2020 NFL Draft would top off a sustainable pass-rush unit.

Projected Starters: Ronnie Harrison, Jarrod Wilson

After filling the void left by Jalen Ramsey with the selection of Florida corner C.J. Henderson, Jacksonville still has needs in their secondary, specifically at the safety position. Grant Delpit is a prototypical strong safety with both the range to play centerfield in a cover three defense as well as the physicality to slide down into the box and operate as a slot corner or outside linebacker in run defense.

One of the qualities that jumped out the most on tape was his ability to make open-field tackles at and around the line of scrimmage to avoid plays breaking off for chunk gains. Jacksonville has an obvious need to fill on the backend, and Delpit is a versatile safety out of a known safety-factory program that can bring a new sense of physicality to this defense.