One-and-Done NBA-style first-round 2020 NFL mock draft
By David Glancy
Tua Tagovailoa. player. 59. Scouting Report. QB. Alabama. 5. Pick Analysis
With both Burrow and Lawrence off the board, the Dolphins select one of college football’s best passers in Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa has suffered multiple injuries in his two full seasons as the Alabama quarterback but is expected to be healthy for the 2020 season. The Dolphins have been big spenders in free agency and have the luxury of easing Tagovailoa into the starting lineup behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.
QB. Justin Fields. 6. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Ohio State. player. 13
It’s clear that the Chargers are planning on taking a quarterback with their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after letting Philip Rivers leave in free agency without signing a replacement. What is unclear at this point is if Chargers are favoring Justin Herbert or Jordan Love. With the talented Justin Fields available in this version, the Chargers take the underclassman who can be phased in behind Tyrod Taylor or a free agent signing.
While Fields was used more as a runner at Georgia, the 21-year-old proved himself as a passer in Ryan Day’s Ohio State offense. As a first-year starter, Fields threw for over 3,200 yards, despite behind pulled in the early second half of most games and posted a touchdown to interception ratio of 41-3.
LB/S. 7. player. 87. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Clemson. Isaiah Simmons
The Panthers signed Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year $63 million deal with $33 million fully guaranteed indicating the Panthers will not use their first-round pick on a quarterback. While it’s likely Carolina will have an early pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and may reconsider the quarterback position, the Panthers address the retirement of Luke Kuechly with a versatile defender and the most NFL ready linebacker available in this 2020 NFL mock draft.
Xavier Thomas. player. EDGE. Clemson. 8. 32. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
The Cardinals take what is likely the boldest move in this 2020 NFL mock draft by selecting the 20-year-old defensive end out of Clemson. Thomas was a Freshman All-American on a national champion Clemson team, backing up a unit that had three defensive linemen from the same school drafted in the first round for the first time in NFL history.
Thomas started the 2019 season strong but failed to make an impact in the second half of the season after struggling with a concussion. Thomas has one of the highest ceilings in college football and finished the season strong in his playoff performances against Ohio State and LSU indicating he has the talent to be an NFL pass rusher.