So I’ve watched all the tape, crunched all the numbers and dug through all the stats and analytics. OK, I didn’t do all that, but I did hop on Youtube for a couple minutes and search “2019 Highlights (Insert whatever prospects name here)” and watch the nation’s best players highlight reels until I could make a very, extremely, informed determination off of a 4 minute video. That being said, here is the first ever “The Plug Sports Connection 2020 NFL Mock Draft”:
- Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow
Even with the rumors floating out there that Burrow doesn’t want to come home and play for the Bengals, he’s nevertheless, still the pick. Dalton’s best days are behind him and the Bengals need someone to inspire some hope in Cincy and Joe’s the guy.
- Washington Redskins: Chase Young
The ‘Skins don’t overthink this one. They take Chase Young, the consensus best defensive player in the nation in 2019.
- Detroit Lions: Isiah Simmons
Here is where it gets a little tricky. With teams looking to jump up for a QB, this could be a pick on the move. But, I’ll say Patricia and company probably aren’t in position for a complete rebuild and take a nice chess piece for the defensive mastermind to play with.
- NY Giants: Andrew Thomas
This is kind of a two-fer pick. It gives Danny Dimes protection that he’s going to need if he’s going to be successful in the Big Apple. It also helps upgrade a running attack featuring the stud known as Saquon.
- Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagualovia
It’s no secret that the Fins want tuna, errr, I mean Tua. And apparently he wants them too, if recent reports are accurate. When healthy, I believe he can be a franchise altering talent at the most important position in the sport, something the Dolphins have been missing since the Marino days. Miami crosses their fingers on Tua’s health and takes their guy.
- Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert
With old man River(s) out of the picture in LA, the Chargers take the Oregon product to fill the void. Herbert is a big kid, solid arm, mobile, but just never quite lived up to the hype in Eugene. The Chargers are about to find out if the hype is real by making him the 6th overall pick in the draft.
- Carolina Panthers: Jordan Love
Panthers Owner David Tepper doesn’t seem very committed to Cam Newton being his QB going forward. Newton isn’t a kid anymore and the injuries are piling up. The Panthers pull the trigger on the Utah State product, who may be a little bit more of a project than the QB’s selected ahead of him.
- Arizona Cardinals: Jerry Jeudy
The Cardinals get offensive guru Kliff Kingsbury and Quarterback Kyler Murray another weapon to work with by selecting the very polished route runner out of Alabama. With the sure fire Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald almost certainly hanging them up after this season, the pick makes sense.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeffrey Okudah
The Jags have some defensive pieces most likely moving on via free agency. They opt to take the best defensive player on the board in Okudah for a secondary that needs an injection of life after trading Ramsey to Los Angeles.
- Cleveland Browns: Jedrick Wills Jr
Mayfield was sacked 40 times in 2019. If Baker has any chance of being the man in Cleveland moving forward, he’s going to need help up front. The Browns get him some help on the offensive line.
- New York Jets: Derrick Brown
The Jets fill the void on their defensive line by Leonard Williams, by adding Brown. He has top 5 talent and the Jets are lucky to nab him here and reinforce the trenches.
- Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb
Mark Davis makes a splashy play here, which I know, should come as a shock to many. Lamb provides a weapon for Gruden and Carr and helps alleviate the pressure on budding star running back Josh Jacobs.
- Indianapolis Colts: AJ Epenesa
The Colts defense needs a boost. The only amassed 43 pressures on the season last year, but they also struggled to stop the run. Epenesa makes sense here on both fronts, he can get after the QB as well as help fortify the run defense.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: K’Lavon Chassion
The Bucs probably need a corner here as they struggle against the pass and getting off the field on 3rd downs, but there isn’t a corner available worthy of the pick. They take a raw, but talented pass rusher who could help with the aforementioned problem.
- Denver Broncos: Mekhi Becton
If Lock is the guy at Mile High, they will certainly need to protect him. The former first round pick in 2017 Bolles isn’t getting the job done and takes way too many penalties. So Drew Lock or not, Becton will be the pick to help sure up the Broncos offensive line.
- Atlanta Falcons: Tee Higgins
Julio isn’t getting any younger and they traded away Sanu to New England. Ryan gets a weapon to help pick up the slack in a Atlanta offense that needs it desperately.
- Dallas Cowboys: Xavier McKinney
The Cowboys defense did not produce as expected this season. Although there are many reasons as to why this is, one of those reasons was a porous secondary. The Boy’s take a do it all type safety in McKinney.
- Miami Dolphins: Grant Delpit
Miami needs help all over the board. Flores is a defensive guy, and Bobby McCain is not the answer at safety. So, they take the talented Delpit who becomes a quality heir apparent to Reshad Jones.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Kristian Fulton
The Raiders need some help in the secondary. They take a guy who had an unreal National Championship game to help boost his draft stock.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Laviska Shenault
It’s been a minute since the Jags had a legitimate playmaker at the wide receiver position and that has hampered their offensive creativity and production. Shenault is a tough, do it all wideout, who is a nightmare after the catch.
- Philadelphia Eagles: C.J Henderson
The Eagles secondary is not good. Henderson has all the confidence in the world and is a long lean corner made for today’s NFL. The Eagles secondary gets a plug and play starter from day 1.
- Buffalo Bills: Brandon Aiyuk
Josh Allen has a huge arm. It only makes sense to get him a receiver that can help Josh show that arm off. Aiyuk can make plays after the catch and stretch the field. The Bills need a true number 1 to help Allen keep improving and they select the Arizona State product.
- New England Patriots: Terrell Lewis
The Belicheat, sorry, Belichick to Saban connection strikes again. The Patriots could use a young pass rusher to bolster their defense. Even though Lewis was injured early in his 2019 campaign, he has a ton of ability.
- New Orleans Saints: Henry Ruggs III
If Brees is in the Big Easy for another season, they will need to give him another weapon to take some attention away from Thomas. Ruggs would slide in nicely here.
- Minnesota Vikings: Julian Okwara
The Vikings probably need more help in the middle of their defensive line as it is getting a little long in the tooth, but Okwara has too much talent and you can never have enough pash rushers.
- Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones
They got their QB of the future, or so they believe. They need to protect him given his injury history and attempt to do so with this pick. Jones is huge and very athletic, albeit a bit of a project. His upside is undeniable and it is a position of need for the Fins, so they take their left tackle of the future.
- Seattle Seahawks: Trevon Diggs
If Clowney stays in Seattle, their front seven looks set. Adding Diggs, who has nice length would help remind the Seattle faithful of the Legion of Boom days.
- Baltimore Ravens: Yetor Gross-Matos
Baltimore has some players on the defensive side of the ball who could hit free agency. True to their identity, they take a defender who although raw, can certainly get after the pass at the next level under the tutelage of Harbaugh.
- Tennessee Titans: Patrick Queen
A standout for the Tigers flashed all over the field in the National Championship game. Vrabel is a defensive guy and surely views Queens as a force who can make plays all over the field for his defense.
- Green Bay Packers: Neville Gallimore
The Pack could choose to help out Rodgers with this pick, but there isn’t really anyone worth taking at this juncture. The packers could always use help on defense and the disruptive Gallimore would help out their defense tremendously in the trenches.
- San Francisco 49ers: Kenneth Murray
Their defense was exposed in the second half of the Superbowl. No question that Murray has a ton of talent, just needs to find a way to be a little more consistent.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Jeff Galdney
Gotta go offense if you’re the Chiefs here. Just kidding, the Chiefs take Gladney and are glad to have done so. Although the defense played better the last 3rd of the season all the way through the Superbowl, it could use work, especially with pending free agents set to leave for big money on that side of the ball.
The Plug Sports Connection 