The NFL campaign has concluded, and draft season is now upon us. The pick order is set in stone, which also means it’s finally time to throw a wrench in the PFF mocks. This is the first mock of the year to feature trades, and we predicted a few different moves come late April.
[Editor's note: The Senior Bowl edition of PFF's 2020 NFL Draft Guide is live! Subscribe to PFF's EDGE or ELITE subscription today to download your copy.]
1. Cincinnati Bengals — QB Joe Burrow, LSU
I’m not believing any Justin Herbert smoke here after his strong Senior Bowl performance with the Bengals' coaching staff in attendance. Burrow is on another level from the rest of the quarterback class.
2. Washington Redskins — Edge Chase Young, Ohio State
While Dwayne Haskins didn’t solidify any sort of franchise quarterback status with his performance in Year 1, we’re not going pass on a talent like Young to take another swing at the signal-caller position. Young is the best player in the draft regardless of position, and he plays a pretty valuable position in his own right.
3. Miami Dolphins (via Detroit Lions) — QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
We’ll obviously have more clarity on Tagovailoa’s injury come draft time, but assuming he’s healthy, Tagovailoa is the type of prospect you trade up for. No one has more ammunition to get a deal done than the Dolphins, who cough up a late first-rounder to secure their quarterback.
4. New York Giants — OT Jedrick Wills Jr. Alabama
Wills is the most athletic tackle in a very athletic tackle class. He is a work in progress still in pass protection, but the strides he made toward the end of 2019 — when he allowed only four pressures over Alabama’s final six games — have us encouraged.
5. Detroit Lions (via Miami Dolphins) — CB Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State
The Lions add an extra first-rounder and still get their guy. Okudah was tailor-made to play in a man-heavy defense like Matt Patricia’s. He allowed only 12 first downs and one touchdown last season.
6. Los Angeles Chargers — QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
Even with some rough tape at times this past season, Herbert can pretty much be penciled into the top-10 with his arm talent. While his Senior Bowl performance was a little overblown, his arm talent noticeably stood out among the group there. With the Chargers reportedly moving on from Philip Rivers, they’re just the team to pull the trigger.
7. Carolina Panthers — LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Simmons is just the athletic freak who can fill the big shoes left by Luke Kuechly’s retirement. In his three seasons at Clemson, Simmons had coverage grades of 76.1, 90.0, and 88.2.
8. Arizona Cardinals — OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia
Thomas has graded out as one of the best tackles in college football since his true freshman year, but he really took it to another level with a 92.4 overall grade this season. He gets protected to some degree in Georgia’s offense, but he still held up well with only six pressures allowed on 166 true pass-blocking sets in 2019.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars — DI Derrick Brown, Auburn
The Jaguars love investing in their defensive line and could use someone with Brown’s run-stopping prowess. The undersized Jacksonville linebackers get in trouble when not kept clean, and Brown holds up against double teams as well as any defensive tackle in this class.
10. Cleveland Browns — OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville
Becton played only left tackle for the first time this past season after flip-flopping from left to right based on the formation his freshman and sophomore seasons. His play took a massive step forward with an 81.3 overall grade. He’s still very raw, but you can’t coach someone to be 6-foot-7, 369 pounds and move the way he does.
11. New York Jets — WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
Jeudy is the first wideout to come off the board, and his blend of speed, route-running and after-the-catch ability is too much to pass up. His 200-plus yard game against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl showed off his full skillset — his speed from the slot is a nightmare for opposing defenses, and none of the Michigan corners came close to checking him in man coverage.
12. Oakland Raiders — WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
The Raiders should be elated come draft day if one of either Jeudy or Lamb is still on the board come pick No. 12. Both look like number-one-type wide receivers from day one, and that’s something the Raiders have noticeably lacked since dealing Amari Cooper. Even with all eyes on him in Oklahoma’s offense without Hollywood Brown this year, Lamb still finished top five nationally in yards per route.
13. Dallas Cowboys (via Indianapolis Colts) — S Xavier McKinney, Alabama
With a roster built to win now, Dallas goes up and gets an immediate impact player at safety. McKinney has the sort of all-around game that can do anything asked of him in Mike Nolan’s defense. He had grades over 79.0 in run defense, coverage and pass-rush each of the past two seasons.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — DI Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, with 34-plus inch arms, Kinlaw is a specimen at the defensive tackle position. He doesn’t even have that many pass-rushing moves yet and still put up a 90.7 pass-rushing grade last year in the SEC.
15. Denver Broncos — OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
If Denver wants to give Garrett Bolles another year to prove himself, Wirfs would be the perfect in-between lineman who can start at guard initially before eventually moving to tackle. Ronald Leary’s $9-plus million cap hit looks like a forgone conclusion to come off the books with his injury history.
16. Atlanta Falcons — CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
Fulton may not ‘wow’ with his athleticism or ball production (only two career picks), but he’s so smooth in coverage and rarely gets himself in bad positions. Atlanta could use any sort of infusion of talent into their defense that they can get.
17. Indianapolis Colts (via Dallas Cowboys) — Edge A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
Colts General Manager Chris Ballard lives to move down and accumulate more picks in the draft. Epenesa rarely flashed the on-field dominance that his immense physical tools at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds would suggest, but he was consistent against both the run and pass. His versatility would be the perfect addition to the Colts' defensive line.
18. Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh Steelers) — OT Josh Jones, Houston
Coming from a Group of 5 school like Houston doesn’t exactly scream ‘NFL-ready’ at offensive tackle, but after seeing Jones dominate with the highest win rate at the Senior Bowl, he qualifies as that. The Dolphins get Tua some much-needed pass protection.
19. Oakland Raiders (via Chicago Bears) — CB C.J. Henderson, Florida
After Jeffrey Okudah, Henderson has the best man coverage skillset of any corner in this class. He’s not the trash-talker of your normal man corner, but he quietly handles his business at a high level. Henderson has allowed only 28 first-downs on 637 coverage snaps over the past two seasons.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams) — WR Tee Higgins, Clemson
The Jaguars don’t have a wideout with true possession traits in their rotation at the moment, and no one is better in that area in this draft class than Higgins. His catch radius is massive at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds.
21. Philadelphia Eagles — WR Henry Ruggs, Alabama
Without DeSean Jackson, the Eagles' receiving corps was probably the slowest in the NFL. Now they add the fastest receiver in the draft. Ruggs averaged a ridiculous 9.0 yards after the catch for his career.
22. Detroit Lions (via Bills) — QB Jordan Love, Utah State
The Lions got the added first-rounder for the No. 3 overall pick and can stand to take some swings for the fences because of it. They come back up and jump other teams with veteran quarterbacks who could be in the mix for Love’s services. Love finished top-five in both big-time throws and turnover-worthy plays this past season. That’s the definition of a high-risk, high-reward prospect.
23. New England Patriots — S Grant Delpit, LSU
Delpit is the sort of coverage chess piece the Patriots covet. He has special man coverage ability for a 6-foot-3, 203-pound safety and has all the tools to be a tight-end eraser type at the next level. With Devin McCourty set to hit free agency, safety qualifies as a need as well.
24. New Orleans Saints — WR Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
There are few coaches in the league who are better at scheming the ball into playmakers' hands better than Sean Payton. Shenault is about as raw as it gets at the top of this wide receiver class, but he can do damage after the catch. His 29 broken tackles back in 2018 led the nation.
25. Minnesota Vikings — DI Marlon Davidson, Auburn
Davidson was one of the biggest movers with his play at the Senior Bowl a couple of weeks ago. He has prototypical 3-tech traits even though he played mostly on the edge at Auburn. Earning an 83.8 pass-rushing grade playing out of position in the SEC is pretty dang impressive.
26. Buffalo Bills (via Detroit Lions via Miami Dolphins via Houston Texans) — WR Denzel Mims, Baylor
The Bills can afford to accumulate more picks by moving back in the draft with how deep this receiving class is. Mims' highlight-reel catch ability and physicality in contested situations is something the Bills do not have currently. His 20 contested catches in 2019 were the second most in college football.
27. Seattle Seahawks — CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
The Seahawks love long corners as much as any team in the league, and Diggs is one of the longest to come out in recent memory. Length is one thing, but knowing how to use it is another. And Diggs proved he could do that this past season, as he allowed a 44.5 passer rating against.
28. Baltimore Ravens — LB Zack Baun, Wisconsin
The Ravens' defense blitzed more than any other in the league last season, and there is no better blitzing linebacker in this draft than Baun. That’s because he could legitimately play edge defender in the NFL the way he rushes the passer, but he has already stated he wants to play off-ball. Baun had a 91.0 pass-rushing grade and an 86.9 coverage grade this past season.
29. Tennessee Titans — Edge K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU
Any edge talent will do here for the Titans to pair with Harold Landry. Chaisson’s athleticism could be a weapon out of the gate for the Titans as he’s still developing his consistency as a pass-rusher. His 78.9 pass-rushing grade this past season was a career-high.
30. Green Bay Packers — LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Mike Pettine’s defense asks their middle linebacker to cover a ton of ground with how often they run dime. Few can cover as much ground in this class as Murray can. He’s also cleaned up his missed tackles to a degree with only 13 on 109 attempts this year.
31. San Francisco 49ers — OT Austin Jackson, USC
Kyle Shanahan’s system relies on having athletic offensive linemen capable of executing a diverse skillset, and Jackson certainly qualifies as such. There’s no telling how much longer 35-year-old left tackle Joe Staley will be at the top of his game, so Jackson can start inside at guard in the meantime.
32. Kansas City Chiefs — LB Patrick Queen, LSU
Even with the defense taking a massive step forward in 2019, the linebacker position is still very much an issue. Queen showed some special playmaking ability at times this past season — most notably, in the National Championship where he collected six stops on the day.
ROUND 2
33. Cincinnati Bengals – CB Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
The Bengals are dangerously thin at cornerback at the moment and may very well choose to part ways with underperforming Dre Kirkpatrick’s $11 million cap hit. Dantzler has been one of the stingiest corners in the SEC and only allowed 14 catches on 223 coverage snaps last season.
34. Indianapolis Colts (via Washington Redskins) – QB Jake Fromm, Georgia
Fromm started out the season like a house on fire before limping into the barn in SEC play. He finished with a sub-50 completion percentage in five of his last six games. Fromm’s greatest strength, though, is the ability to not put the ball in harm’s way, as he had just seven turnover-worthy plays all last season.
35. Detroit Lions – Edge Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
Okwara joins his brother on the Lions and should prove to be a quick upgrade, as well. The younger Okwara also considerably outperformed the elder for the Irish. Julian was sixth in the nation with 61 pressures in 2018 before an injury-shortened 2019 campaign.
36. New York Giants – Edge Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
Gross-Matos' physical tools are too much to pass up here. He may not be an instant impact rusher, as his hands have a long way to go, but the Giants can afford to swing for the fences with their current roster construction.
37. Los Angeles Chargers – CB Bryce Hall, Virginia
Hall led the nation in with 23 forced incompletions in 2018 before an ankle injury cut his 2019 season short. He won’t be a fit for every scheme, but the Chargers' cover 3-heavy defense is tailor-made for Hall’s strengths.
38. Carolina Panthers – DI Jordan Elliott, Missouri
After passing on Derrick Brown in Round 1, Carolina gets a fairly close impersonator in Round 2. In fact, it was Elliott and not Brown who led all interior defensive linemen in the country in overall grade this season.
39. Miami Dolphins – CB Jaylon Johnson, Utah
In each of Johnson’s three seasons with the Utes, he allowed a passer rating against under 60.0. He’s shown consistent playmaking ability and plays far bigger than his listed size. Pairing that with Xavien Howard would be a smart long-term play.
40. Arizona Cardinals – RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia
The Cardinals may very well choose to part ways with David Johnson and his inflated $14 million cap hit in 2020 (although it won’t be easy to do). Swift has similarly exceptional receiving skills after hauling in 73 catches for 666 yards in his three years at Georgia.
41. Cleveland Browns – WR Justin Jefferson, LSU
The LSU receiver pipeline to Cleveland continues. Jefferson’s contested-catch ability up the seam will fit in perfectly with the type of routes Baker Mayfield likes to throw. The junior wideout hauled in an absurd 12 of his 13 contested opportunities on the season last year.
42. Jacksonville Jaguars – S Ashtyn Davis, California
Jacksonville is desperately in need of some speed at the safety position, and Davis certainly provides that. He was a former standout for Cal’s track team and also earned an elite 89.3 coverage grade back in 2018.
43. Chicago Bears (via Las Vegas Raiders) – QB Jacob Eason, Washington
The Bears get their guy, but there's a reason why Eason fell to the second round. Similar to Drew Lock last year, Eason has all the arm talent in the world, but that never quite translated to consistent play on the field. Eason had a passing grade below 60.0 in 4 of his 9 Pac-12 games this year.
44. Indianapolis Colts – WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
Colts GM Chris Ballard loves players with length, and Aiyuk may have one of the freakiest builds the NFL has ever seen at wide receiver. Not even 6-foot tall, Aiyuk still sports an 81-inch wingspan (six feet, nine inches). That was longer than any other receivers at the Senior Bowl that included four wideouts over 6-foot-3.
45. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DI Ross Blacklock, TCU
Blacklock came back after missing all of 2018 to be one of the best run defenders in college football. He ended the season with the seventh-highest run-defense grade of any interior defensive lineman in the country (89.3)
46. Denver Broncos – WR Jalen Reagor, TCU
Back-to-back TCU products, as the Broncos get their speed receiver to complement Courtland Sutton. Reagor had a 1,000-plus-yard breakout year as a true sophomore in 2018 but then was really hampered by his QB situation this past season with the fourth-highest rate of uncatchable targets in the country.
47. Atlanta Falcons – Edge Terrell Lewis, Alabama
At 6-foot-5, 258 pounds with 34-plus-inch arms, Lewis is put together the way you’d build a modern edge defender. His production still leaves something to be desired, though, after an 85.8 pass-rushing grade in his only full season in 2019.
48. New York Jets – C Cesar Ruiz, Michigan
Ruiz has been Michigan’s starting center ever since he was a true sophomore in 2018. He’s been one of the best pass-protecting centers in the country over that span with only 19 pressures allowed on 895 pass-blocking snaps.
49. Pittsburgh Steelers – TE Hunter Bryant, Washington
At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, Bryant is definitely a tweener at the position. The good news is that he moves much more like a wide receiver than a tight end. And before you write him off as a run blocker, know that Delanie Walker – one of the better run-blocking tight ends over the past decade – was almost the identical height and weight as Bryant was coming out of college.
50. Chicago Bears – C Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU
Cushenberry took it on the chin a bit this past season, as he allowed more pressures than any other center in the country. That looked like an outlier at the Senior Bowl, where he tied for the highest win rate of any interior offensive lineman there. With guard more of a need for the Bears, Cushenberry has the size and skills to kick out there.
51. Dallas Cowboys – CB Jeff Gladney, TCU
Byron Jones looks like a pipe dream to stay in Dallas at this point leaving a gaping hole on the right side of their defense. Gladney has the speed to stay at outside corner, and he definitely enters the NFL as battle-tested. In four years at TCU, Gladney was targeted 232 times and only allowed a passer rating of 72.3.
52. Los Angeles Rams – LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, App State
The Rams may be forced to let Cory Littleton walk with their limited cap space making linebacker a massive need. Davis-Gaither has all the athleticism and explosiveness to be a plus coverage player in the NFL. At only 219 pounds, he’s on the small end but earned himself an 82.2 pass-rushing grade on 190 pass-rushing snaps last year helping to prove he knows how to play physically at that size.
53. Philadelphia Eagles – CB Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
I know Eagles fans can’t be happy with another ‘project’ at cornerback, but beggars can’t be choosers in Round 2. Igbinoghene’s stats don’t look great with 431 yards allowed on 35-of-68 targets this past season with no picks and only six pass breakups. He’s one of the most impressive athletes at the position in the draft though and flashes some impressive reps on tape.
54. Buffalo Bills – CB Darnay Holmes, UCLA
Holmes is lightning quick and won’t back down from any receiver. He’s also only 5-foot-10, 192 pounds with sub-31-inch arms and won’t be a fit on the outside for most man heavy teams. The good news is that’s not Sean McDermott’s style of defense. Holmes' instincts for the position would be well suited in Buffalo.
55. Atlanta Falcons (via New England Patriots) – DT Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
After hitting offensive line hard in last year’s draft, Atlanta attacks their defensive line this year. Gallimore can learn a thing or two from Grady Jarrett as both are similarly quick off the ball and have nose tackle/3-tech versatility. Gallimore took a big step forward with an 87.8 overall grade this past season.
56. Miami Dolphins (via New Orleans Saints) – Edge Jonathan Greenard, Florida
Greenard may not be the most toolsy edge defender in the draft, but his production is difficult to ignore after earning a 90.4 overall grade for the Gators last season. He graded out equally well against both run and pass with an 87.7 run-defense and 87.3 pass-rushing grade.
57. Houston Texans – RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Taylor put up bell-cow production in his three-years at Wisconsin to the likes of which the sport has never seen. Taylor averaged over 1,300 yards a season after contact and 2,000 total rushing. He also fumbled 17 times, though, and dropped eight of his 50 catchable passes.
58. Minnesota Vikings – G Damien Lewis, LSU
Lewis has been a block of granite for the LSU offensive line the past two seasons. He’s only allowed 22 pressures on 1,089 pass-blocking snaps over that span. Pat Elflein’s starting role is very much in question after allowing 30-plus pressures each of the past two seasons.
59. Seattle Seahawks – OT Ben Bartch, St. John’s
Bartch very much looked like he belonged at the Senior Bowl, as he won 58% of his reps in the one-on-ones throughout the week. He was easily one of the most powerful dudes in attendance and could be starting in the league sooner rather than later.
60. Baltimore Ravens – WR Michael Pittman Jr., USC
At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Pittman could be another chess piece for Greg Roman. The Ravens might be the only team in the league where I’d actually care about a receiver's run blocking, and Pittman can handle himself well in that regard. He can also pluck the ball out of the air from just about anywhere with only five career drops on 176 catchable passes.
61. Tennessee Titans – RB J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
This obviously depends on the fate of Derrick Henry’s contract negotiations, but Dobbins' vision and burst will fit in nicely with the Titans. He averaged a shade over 4.0 yards after contact per attempt on 301 attempts last season.
62. Green Bay Packers – WR K.J. Hamler, Penn State
The Packers are another receiving corps that desperately needs some speed. Hamler adds that element to the Packers' offense and can be deadly in the screen game as well. He’ll need to cut back on the drops, though, after 12 on 68 catchable last year.
63. Kansas City Chiefs (via San Francisco 49ers) – CB Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame
Pride had an up-and-down career at Notre Dame, but he made himself a good deal of money with his performance at the Senior Bowl. His 50% win rate in the one-on-ones during the week of practices was the highest of any defensive back in attendance.
64. Seattle Seahawks (via Kansas City Chiefs) – DT Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
Madubuike has plus quickness for the position but saw his grade stagnate a bit in 2019. After putting up 44 pressures in 2018, Madubuike only managed 41 this past season.
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