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This article originally appeared on NFL.com
Here's a look at my first mock of the 2020 NFL Draft, which will take place April 23-25 in Las Vegas. Remember, this mock is a projection of where I believe players will go -- not necessarily a reflection of my opinion as to where the players should go.
NOTE: The final draft order may change depending on the outcome of Super Bowl LIV.
PICK
1. Bengals
Joe Burrow - QB
School: LSU | Year: Senior (RS)
Burrow will need the scheme fit to be right, but his pinpoint accuracy and elite intangibles are hard to resist.
PICK
2. Redskins
Chase Young - Edge
School: Ohio State | Year: Junior
It's just a no-brainer here. Based upon pure talent and upside, Young is the clear front-runner in my book.
PICK
3. Lions
Jeff Okudah - CB
School: Ohio State | Year: Junior
Easy slot to fill with the Lions needing help opposite Darius Slay and Okudah possessing all the traits Matt Patricia could want.
PICK
4. Giants
Isaiah Simmons - LB
School: Clemson | Year: Junior (RS)
Rare height, weight, speed and versatility to be deployed in a variety of positions. He's only scratching the surface of his upside.
PICK
5. Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa - QB
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Obviously the medicals need to check out, but if they do -- race the card up to the podium.
PICK
6. Chargers
Justin Herbert - QB
School: Oregon | Year: Senior
Herbert certainly helped himself during Senior Bowl week, and the Chargers are in desperate need of finding their next QB1.
PICK
7. Panthers
Derrick Brown - DT
School: Auburn | Year: Senior
Brown is one of the draft's most talented players and is a need fit as well in Matt Rhule's first season as head coach.
PICK
8. Cardinals
Jedrick Wills - OT
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Tackle depth in this draft allows the Cardinals an opportunity to let their free agents at the position walk and feel safe about landing a quality OT here.
PICK
9. Jaguars
Javon Kinlaw - DT
School: South Carolina | Year: Senior
Defense must be addressed. While CB and LB make sense, Kinlaw's freakish size, strength and Chris Jones-like upside is appealing.
PICK
10. Browns
Tristan Wirfs - OT
School: Iowa | Year: Junior
It might be tempting to take a receiver here and prepare to move on from Odell Beckham Jr., but receivers can be found outside the top 10 and Wirfs helps protect Baker Mayfield.
PICK
11. Jets
Mekhi Becton - OT
School: Louisville | Year: Junior
Built like a barn and possessing jarring power, Becton needs to keep his weight in check but has the feet to stay at left tackle.
PICK
12. Raiders
Jerry Jeudy - WR
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
The Raiders have a couple of selections in the first round and one of them has to be spent on a receiver. Why not take your pick of WR1s in this spot?
PICK
13. Colts
K'Lavon Chaisson - Edge
School: LSU | Year: Sophomore (RS)
If Indy loves Jordan Love, he could be the guy here, but Chaisson fits the rush profile the Colts covet. The redshirt sophomore has exciting potential.
PICK
14. Buccaneers
Jacob Eason - QB
School: Washington | Year: Junior (RS)
Tampa might trade back, but Eason could still be the target. While I expect him to be taken later than this pick, his stature and arm strength will give Bruce Arians some Carson Palmer vibes.
PICK
15. Broncos
Andrew Thomas - OT
School: Georgia | Year: Junior
Thomas doesn't always look pretty doing it, but guys get blocked. He's an instant upgrade over Garett Bolles and is a tough competitor.
PICK
16. Falcons
Zack Baun - Edge
School: Wisconsin | Year: Senior (RS)
Baun has rare athletic skills to play 4-3 outside linebacker on early downs and rush from the edge on passing downs.
PICK
17. Cowboys
Xavier McKinney - S
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Assuming Dallas locks up pending free agent Byron Jones, McKinney would give the 'Boys a versatile, interchangeable safety who can also line up over the slot.
PICK
18. Dolphins
D'Andre Swift - RB
School: Georgia | Year: Junior
Tagovailoa might need a redshirt in Year 1, but Swift could give the Dolphins' offense an instant boost similar to what we saw with Josh Jacobs and the Raiders.
PICK
19. Raiders
Patrick Queen - LB
School: LSU | Year: Junior
The latest in a recent string of speedy linebackers from LSU, Queen helps fill a gaping hole in the Raiders' defense.
PICK
20. Jaguars
C.J. Henderson - CB
School: Florida | Year: Junior
Smooth cover corner with good size and speed to help fortify a secondary in need of another CB after Jalen Ramsey's departure.
PICK
21. Eagles
CeeDee Lamb - WR
School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior
Lamb has the ability to play inside or outside and is an instant playmaking option who should help alleviate pressure on Carson Wentz.
PICK
22. Bills
Tee Higgins - WR
School: Clemson | Year: Junior
What do you give a big-armed quarterback with spotty accuracy? I suggest a big, downfield wideout with good ball skills and an incredible catch radius.
PICK
23. Patriots
Cesar Ruiz - C
School: Michigan | Year: Junior
Intelligent and athletic with center/guard flexibility, Ruiz could take over pending free agent Joe Thuney's guard spot right away and stabilize New England's interior pass protection.
PICK
24. Saints
Henry Ruggs III - WR
School: Alabama | Year: Junior
Ruggs will come into the NFL as one of the fastest players in the game. He can take the top off defenses or hurt them on catch-and-runs.
PICK
25. Vikings
Jaylon Johnson- CB
School: Utah | Year: Junior
Johnson is a long, man-cover cornerback who could make both Xavier Rhodes (due to count $12.9 million against the cap in 2020) and Trae Waynes (pending free agent) expendable.
PICK
26. Dolphins
Josh Jones - OT
School: Houston | Year: Senior (RS)
How's this for a twist? The Dolphins draft a tackle from the University of Houston using the first-round pick they received from the Houston Texans for Laremy Tunsil.
PICK
27. Seahawks
A.J. Epenesa - Edge
School: Iowa | Year: Junior
The Seahawks must decide whether they want to be in the Jadeveon Clowney business. If not, Epenesa is way less explosive, but more skilled as a big rush end.
PICK
28. Ravens
Kenneth Murray - LB
School: Oklahoma | Year: Junior
Speedy linebacker with sideline-to-sideline range and third-down coverage ability who could challenge for a starter's role immediately.
PICK
29. Titans
Cam Dantzler - CB
School: Mississippi State | Year: Junior (RS)
Tall, thin cornerback who plays with an abundance of toughness and confidence. He allowed three catches for 21 yards vs. LSU and Alabama combined.
PICK
30. Packers
Justin Jefferson - WR
School: LSU | Year: Junior
The Packers' Aaron Rodgers window won't be open forever, so adding a talented inside/outside target with excellent ball skills makes sense.
PICK
31. Chiefs
Jonathan Taylor - RB
School: Wisconsin | Year: Junior
It almost doesn't seem fair to give the Chiefs another talented player at a skill position, but that's the way it goes in this mock.
PICK
32. 49ers
Trevon Diggs - CB
School: Alabama | Year: Senior
Diggs is a big, physical corner with outstanding ball skills who might be able to slide to free safety. Checks needed boxes for the 49ers.
Follow Lance Zierlein on Twitter @LanceZierlein.
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The phrase most associated with the late former Oakland-Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders’ owner Al Davis was “Just win baby.” One has to think Al would strongly approve of the Houston Astros. Going to the fifth inning Sunday against the Mariners the Astros were facing a 3-0 deficit and staring at the prospect of being swept out of Seattle and having their American League West division lead slashed to just two games. Now after roaring from behind with 11 unanswered runs to take the series finale in the Emerald City, and then sweeping three games from the Diamondbacks in Phoenix, the Astros stand six games up with 60 games to go. So, if the Astros play just .500 ball the rest of the way (which would have them finish with 90 victories), the Mariners have to play .600 ball to catch them. If somehow the Astros are to maintain their season long win pace to the finish line they’d close with 95 wins, and the race is already over unless someone thinks the M’s are poised to uncork a finishing kick of 41-19 or better. It’s quite a pleasing perch from which the Astros survey the standings. Coupled with the freefalling Detroit Tigers having dropped nine of their last ten games, the Astros amazingly start this homestand sporting the best record in the entire American League. On the homestand they follow four games against the team with the second-worst record in the American League (Athletics) with three versus the team with the second-worst record in the National League (Nationals). I know, I know. There is fear of the Astros playing down to the competition, but that is not the way to look at it. A bad Major League team can beat a good team in a series at any time. If it happens it happens, but it wouldn’t mean it happened only because the Astros didn’t take their opponent seriously. This isn’t the NBA.
Trade deadline looming
Of course, It hasn’t been all good news with Isaac Paredes badly injuring a hamstring Sunday. Paredes could be back in three weeks (doubtful), he could miss the rest of the season. GET WELL SOON JEREMY PENA! Lance McCullers’s latest Injured List stint could be considered addition by subtraction for the Astros’ starting rotation. Whether impacted by his blister issue, Lance was lousy in four of his last five starts. So, one week from the trade deadline, if general manager Dana Brown has the ammo to get one deal done, where does he make the upgrade? The left-handed hitter everyone knows the Astros can use regardless of Yordan Alvarez’s status is a natural priority. With the Astros’ weak farm system it would seem difficult for Brown to put forth the winning offer for the top bats that could be in play. That probably rings even truer now, since if he wasn’t already untouchable, Brice Matthews may have cemented untouchable status by darn near winning the first two games of the Diamondbacks series by himself. Matthews is going to struggle mightily to hit for a good average if he can’t make notable improvement in the contact department, but the power is obvious, as is the athleticism in the field. The 23-year-old Matthews and 22-year-old Cam Smith (though presently mired in a three for 36 slump) are the clear (and right now only) two young shining beacons for the lineup’s future.
You can't have enough pitching
While Brandon Walter has been a revelation, a starting pitcher would make sense unless the decision is to hope Spencer Arrighetti and/or Cristian Javier can contribute meaningfully upon return to the big leagues, likely sometime next month. Going after a reliever or two may make more sense in terms of availability and transaction cost. Overall the Astros’ bullpen has been excellent, but Bryan Abreu is the only trustworthy right-handed option for Joe Espada. Back to Walter. Barely two months ago no way Walter himself would have believed he’d be where he is now. Nine starts since being summoned basically out of desperation, Walter has a 3.35 earned run average, and a stunning 13 to one strikeout-to-walk ratio with his 52 strikeouts against a measly four walks allowed in 53 2/3 innings. Walter has pitched fabulously in seven of his nine starts. He only has two wins, but that’s because in five of the six Walter starts the Astros didn’t win the game they failed to score more than two runs. Walter turns 29 years old in September. His only prior big league experience was 23 innings in relief with a 6.26 ERA for the Red Sox two years ago. The Bosox released him last August, the Astros signed him basically as minor league depth. Look at him (and the Astros) now.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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