Last update: Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern. Final version.
Next update: Our 2020 NFL Mock Draft will be updated each week. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
*** 2020 NFL MOCK DRAFT (7 rounds) updated April 23. This mock draft will be updated occasionally. Check out old versions of this 2020 NFL Mock Draft in the archived mock section. Follow @walterfootball for NFL Draft updates. ***
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU 
This selection is fairly obvious by now. The only way Joe Burrow wasn’t going to be the pick happened to be if he specifically said he would refuse to play for the Bengals if they drafted him. However, Burrow stated that he’ll play for whomever drafts him, so he’s now locked in as the No. 1 overall selection.
Burrow has made quite the leap. He was actually not considered a first-round prospect back in September. Charlie Campbell reported that NFL Teams See a Day 2 Ceiling for Joe Burrow. Burrow has improved exponentially, and he’s now the no-brainer No. 1 overall selection.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
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Washington Redskins: Chase Young, DE/OLB, Ohio State 
I’ve had the Redskins trading down for the past several updates, but I’ve moved them back to the No. 2 overall pick in the wake of some news Charlie Campbell broke from the Combine. In a recent NFL Hot Press, Charlie wrote that the Redskins are unlikely to trade the No. 2 overall pick.
With that in mind, it’s obvious that the Redskins will select Chase Young. The dynamic edge rusher enjoyed a breakout season in the wake of Nick Bosa’s injury in 2018, and was very dominant this past year. He’s a very athletic edge player with great size (6-5, 265), and it will take a miracle for the Redskins to pass on him at No. 2 overall.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Trade Down – The Redskins love Young enough that they don’t want to trade down. But if some team were to offer them three first-round picks, perhaps they’d change their minds.
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Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama 
I’ve had the Dolphins trading up with the Redskins or Lions a long time ago. I since switched that over to the Chargers for a while, but I’m back on the Miami trade-up train on the day of the draft!
There’s talk that the Dolphins will trade up for a tackle, but that would be ridiculous. It would be a horrible trade, but moving up for Tua Tagovailoa makes so much more sense. The Dolphins have medically cleared Tagovailoa, so there should be no issue with selecting him third overall.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Justin Herbert, QB – The Dolphins love both of the two quarterbacks after Joe Burrow.
New York Giants: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa 
The Giants’ defense is an abomination, and they also need help on the offensive line so that Daniel Jones doesn’t keep fumbling twice every week. A No. 1 receiver can be obtained as well. However, the more I think about it, the more I believe general manager Dave Gettleman will address the offensive line.
Despite Mekhi Becton’s freaky 40 time, Tristan Wirfs was the best offensive lineman at the combine. He also posted stellar testing numbers, and he was superb in the drills. I could see Gettleman falling in love with the prospect of Wirfs’ anchoring his offensive line.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Andrew Thomas, OT – Perhaps the Giants like Thomas more than Wirfs. I’m sure some in the front office do. Either way, they’ll be taking a tackle at No. 4.
2. Trade Down – The Giants can get Thomas later, so they could opt to trade out of this pick.
Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State Armando Salguero, one of the top NFL team reporters, said that the Lions are planning as if they have the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Thus, I’m projecting a trade between Miami and Detroit.
I’ve flip flopped between Jeff Okudah, Derrick Brown and Isaiah Simmons over the past couple of weeks. I’ll be shocked if it’s Simmons at this point, but I’ve edged Okudah over Brown by inches based on some information I gathered on Wednesday evening. It’s not rock solid, but it’s at least something.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Derrick Brown, DT – This could very easily still be Brown.
2. Isaiah Simmons, LB – I’m not ready to discount Simmons from being the pick, but I have him third in the pecking order.
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon 
The Chargers have talked a lot about having Tyrod Taylor start all of 2020. Many coaches say this about a veteran, and then they select a rookie quarterback, and then they start that rookie quarterback unless he flops in the preseason.
Justin Herbert endured an up-and-down 2018 season. He was considered the top quarterback prospect for the 2019 NFL Draft before making the mistake of returning to school, where he risked injury and regression. We saw that regression from Herbert late in the 2019 campaign, but he rebounded by doing very well at the Senior Bowl and the combine. The important thing, for now, is that he’s currently healthier than Tagovailoa at the moment, and that could make the difference for the Chargers.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB – The Chargers could aim to move ahead of the Dolphins for Tagovailoa instead of Justin Herbert.
Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown, DE/DT, Auburn 
The Panthers are getting an absolute steal with this pick, as Derrick Brown has the talent to be chosen in the top five, perhaps even No. 3 overall if there are no trades. Carolina could use a long-term replacement for Gerald McCoy in the interior of its defensive line.
Brown has great size (6-5, 316) and tons of upside. He can be a great interior disruptor if he lives up to his potential. He had a chance to be a top-five pick (No. 5 overall?) in the 2019 NFL Draft before he returned to school. Brown has thrived this past season, and he was an absolute monster in the 2019 Iron Bowl.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. C.J. Henderson, CB – I believe Henderson will be the pick if Brown isn’t available.
2. Jeff Okudah, CB – Okudah could be the pick over Henderson after all.
Atlanta Falcons: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina 
Here’s a projected trade in the top 10 that doesn’t involve the Dolphins, Chargers or Lions. I believe this is likely because the Falcons are desperate for a blue-chip player, while the Cardinals really want to move into the early or mid teens.
The question is, whom would the Falcons pick after moving to No. 8? I debated Javon Kinlaw versus C.J. Henderson. I think it’s Kinlaw. Atlanta really liked Christian Wilkins last year, but just missed out on him. With Tom Brady and Drew Brees in the division, the Falcons must have as many players who can put consistent pressure on the quarterback as possible. One cornerback won’t help the matchup as much, given that both Brady and Brees love to spread the ball around. Also, the Falcons’ primary goal was to move up for Chase Young, which says that they’re eager to bolster the defensive line.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Jeff Okudah or C.J. Henderson, CBs – The Falcons could trade up for a talented cornerback after all.
2. K’Lavon Chaisson, DE – During our mock draft video, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter commented that he thinks Chaisson would be Atlanta’s pick at 16 if Henderson and Kinlaw were off the board.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida 
Jacksonville’s defense has lost countless starters since the 2019 offseason. This includes Calais Campbell, whose monstrous presence in the trenches will be missed. The Jaguars can replace him with one of the two top-10 defensive tackles in this class. However, Jacksonville lost not one, but two talented cornerbacks in the span of six months. Thus, corner could be the greater priority.
There’s a ton of hype around C.J. Henderson. There’s now talk that he could be a top-10 pick, as you can read about in Charlie Campbell’s entry in the NFL Hot Press.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Jeff Okudah, CB – There’s a slight chance Okudah will be available, but I think the Lions will draft him.
2. CeeDee Lamb, WR – I considered Lamb here because he would be a great fit in Jay Gruden’s offense.
Cleveland Browns: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson 
There’s a good chance the Browns select a tackle at No. 10. However, consider two things: First, the Browns may trade for Trent Williams. Second, they like Ezra Cleveland, so they could target him with their next selection.
Isaiah Simmons could end up going to Cleveland. The Browns are desperate for linebacker help, and while this may not mean anything, the odds of Simmons going to Cleveland in sportsbooks have risen in the past 24 hours.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Trade Down (Ezra Cleveland, OT) – The Browns will attempt to trade down. If they do so, they’ll target Cleveland.
2. Andrew Thomas, OT – Maybe I’m wrong, and the Browns end up going with Thomas after all.
New York Jets: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama The Jets need someone to help Sam Darnold, so both a No. 1 receiver (Jerry Jeudy) and a talented left tackle (Jedrick Wills) make sense. I think the front office will value protecting Darnold, and a recent Charlie Campbell report in the NFL Hot Press backed up that belief.
Jedrick Wills is a quick and athletic tackle who has the strength to open up huge running lanes. Several teams absolutely love him, so he’ll likely be chosen earlier than most expect.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Mekhi Becton or Andrew Thomas, OT – The other tackle options.
2. CeeDee Lamb, WR – In the unlikely event that the top four tackles are off the board, the Jets may decide to give Sam Darnold a new No. 1 receiver.
Las Vegas Raiders: Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama The Raiders wanted to have Antonio Brown as their top receiver in 2019, but their plans went awry. Here’s a new No. 1 receiver to replace him.
CeeDee Lamb is the popular choice, and I think he could very easily be the pick. However, Henry Ruggs is seemingly gaining steam here, so I think there’s a slightly better chance that he becomes a Raider.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. CeeDee Lamb, WR – It’s so close between Ruggs and Lamb.
2. Isaiah Simmons, LB – This is Simmons’ floor. Simmons dropped to No. 12 in our 2020 NFL Mock Draft video:
San Francisco 49ers: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma 
The 49ers acquired this pick from the Colts in the DeForest Buckner trade. They could use this selection to replace Buckner, but perhaps John Lynch will want to find a talented receiver to help his inconsistent quarterback. Emmanuel Sanders departed in free agency, so San Francisco needs a new wideout to go along with Deebo Samuel.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Henry Ruggs, WR – Ruggs will be the pick if he’s available. I can’t stress this enough. I wanted to mock Ruggs here, but I’m not sure he’ll be available.
2. Trade Down – After the first round, the 49ers don’t pick again until No. 156. They need to accumulate more selections.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia 
The Buccaneers will have a 43-year-old quarterback playing for them next year, so they need to make sure he’s very well protected. They have a solid offensive line, but right tackle is an issue because Demar Dotson’s contract expired.
Andrew Thomas has been very impressive, using his great athleticism and length. NFL personnel believe he has tremendous potential.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Trade Up – The Buccaneers need a tackle to protect Tom Brady, so they may move up to secure one of the top four players at the position.
2. Trade Down – If the Buccaneers miss out on the top four tackles, they could decide to move down and take Austin Jackson or Josh Jones.
Denver Broncos: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama The Broncos need a receiver, and they might just get the player at the position that they want at No. 15. Of course, figuring out which receiver that is happens to be the challenge, but Jerry Jeudy makes a ton of sense for the Broncos.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Henry Ruggs, WR – Courtland Sutton is a beast, but the Broncos have nothing else at receiver after moving on from Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders in consecutive seasons.
2. Justin Jefferson, WR – Ideally, Denver would trade down and obtain Jefferson as an alternative to Jeudy.
Arizona Cardinals: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma The Cardinals did a good job of addressing their offense during the free agency period. They traded for DeAndre Hopkins and re-signed their two starting offensive tackles. Thus, they could opt to fix their defense with this selection. Arizona was atrocious in coverage last year, especially when it came to defending the middle of the field. Linebacker was a major weakness that could be addressed if Kenneth Murray is available.
Murray was co-Defensive Freshman of the Year in the Big XII, thriving in coverage for the Sooners. He broke an Oklahoma record for tackles in a game with 28. Murray has excellent instincts and has great speed and athleticism for coverage.
*** OTHER 2020 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***
1. Xavier McKinney, S – The Cardinals need other help in the middle of their defense.
2. K’Lavon Chaisson, DE – Arizona needs edge-rushing help across from Chandler Jones.
Go to 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 17-32
Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.
