As of April 1st, the 2020 NFL Draft is still expected to go on as scheduled on April 23rd. No foolin’. The NFL has made it clear that their plans are to go ahead with the draft despite the current Coronavirus situation. A number of other leagues and events have said similar things but eventually moved their events. For our sake, hopefully, the NFL stands stronger than those leagues.
One of the most fun parts of the NFL Draft is making your own mock draft and trying to predict where players will go. It is also a great event to bet on as well. The 2020 NFL Draft, which is still three weeks away, is the next event that we can bet on among the four major US sports. So for all of us betting fanatics that can’t wait, I’m going to include some NFL Draft betting options at the end of this article. A mock draft with draft betting picks all in one article? Take that ESPN, B/R, NFL.com, CBSSports.com and whoever else!
2020 NFL Mock Draft – First Round
My mock draft will just include the first round. I will update this article weekly leading up to the draft, which begins Thursday, April 23rd.
As of now, six teams do not have first-round picks in this year’s draft: Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, L.A. Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers.
1. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow QB – LSU
This pick is all but a lock. The Bengals will draft Burrow as they look to move on from the unsuccessful Andy Dalton era. Chase Young is the only other possible pick here but is still highly unlikely. Unless something dramatic happens in the next three weeks, you can write this one in now.
2. Washington Redskins – Justin Herbert QB – Oregon
The Redskins are going to shock the world here by passing up on the best player in the draft in Chase Young (bad move). They clearly are already looking to move on from a wasted pick on Dwayne Haskins, but nobody would bite on that joke. Not only that, but they also won’t even take Tua Tagovailoa (good move). Herbert will be better than Tua in the NFL and the Redskins will be glad they avoided that bust. However, we’ll probably look back at this pick as a missed opportunity on Young.
3. Detroit Lions – Jeff Okudah CB – Ohio State
Virtually everyone is in agreement that Okudah will be going here as the Lions look to fill the void left by Darius Slay. However, they also probably didn’t expect Chase Young to be available here either. So while I am sticking with Okudah at this point, Young could be drafted over Okudah here is the Lions decide to go best available. Also, this could be a great trade spot for the Lions to pick up additional picks.
4. New York Giants – Chase Young DE – Ohio State
Assuming the Lions don’t make a trade or take Young themselves, the Giants get the biggest break in the draft as Young mistakingly falls to number four overall. A potential franchise player to start building that defense around, the Giants could be a year away from being a real contender in the NFC again.
5. Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa QB – Alabama
This Dolphins pick has become more interesting in the past week and it should continue to keep getting more interesting up until the draft. Rumors are Tua’s health isn’t the greatest and that he has failed multiple physicals. If that is the case, Miami could end up with Herbert here if Washington passes on him. They could also trade up for Herbert. I’m leaving Tua here for now, but this is the pick most likely to change in the next week and would shake up the whole draft.
6. L.A. Chargers – Isaiah Simmons LB – Clemson
Last week I said the Chargers “hopefully” do not reach for Jordan Love here but that actually seems like a possibility. If Burrow, Herbet and Tua are all gone through five picks, there is a very real, albeit very small chance Love could sneak in here. Also, if Miami passes up on Tua, there is a chance the Chargers decide to roll the dice on him. Although I wouldn’t recommend doing so.
7. Carolina Panthers – Derrick Brown DL – Auburn
The Panthers get a smart and solid pick here in Brown. Likely the guy they have been targeting this whole time, Carolina is unphased by the early pick chaos and potential trades.
8. Arizona Cardinals – Jedrick Wills Jr. OL – Alabama
Many probably expected the Cardinals to address that terrible defense with this pick. While they probably should, I think they realize there are just too many defense holes to address at this point an instead decide to protect the future and Kyler Murray.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars – Javon Kinlaw DL – South Carolina
The offensive line is a possibility here but I think Jacksonville goes with Kinlaw instead. Calais Campbell and Marcell Dareus are gone so this will be there attempt to fill that void with a solid pick in Kinlaw.
10. Cleveland Browns – Mekhi Becton OL – Louisville
The Browns will address their most obvious issue by drafting an OL. This could be a few different linemen at this point but for now, I’m sticking with Becton. The top OL are starting to come off the board quickly.
11. New York Jets – Tristan Wirfs OL – Iowa
We could see our first wide receiver go here but the Jets won’t want to pass up on a top OL with this pick. WR is deep this year, OL not as much.
12. Las Vegas Raiders – Jerry Jeudy WR – Alabama
The Raiders luck out and get another Alabama wide receiver to be their number one. CeeDee Lamb could go here as well but I think Jeudy is the better choice right now.
13. San Francisco 49ers (From Indianapolis) – CeeDee Lamb WR – Oklahoma
As the last pick could have been Lamb, this one could be Jeudy (or Henry Ruggs III). Either way, this is a scary pick here as a team coming off of a Super Bowl appearance gets the 13th overall pick and drafts a potential rookie of the year wide receiver.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Andrew Thomas OL – Georgia
Tampa Bay landed Tom Brady, do you really think will draft anything else other than a lineman to help protect him?
15. Denver Broncos – Henry Ruggs III WR – Alabama
Ruggs’ stock has been climbing but I still don’t see any team taking him over Lamb or Jeudy. Denver gets a great receiver here to help out their future franchise quarterback Drew Lock. Lock, Melvin Gordon, Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton and Noah Fant make for a solid and young offensive core.
16. Atlanta Falcons – C.J. Henderson CB – Florida
Desmond Trufant is out, so enter C.J. Henderson, the best DB available. Not too many other picks make sense here unless Henderson is already ff the board. Still expect a DB to go here.
17. Dallas Cowboys – K’Lavon Chaisson Edge – LSU
The Cowboys will be looking for an edge rusher here and Chaisson falling to 17 is a gift for them. If Chaisson is gone, they may settle for A.J. Epenesa, whose stock has been dropping. Dallas will fill the void left by the departure of Robert Quinn.
18. Miami Dolphins (From Pittsburgh) – Austin Jackson OL – USC
Safety is a possibility here but I think the Dolphins go for protection for Tua instead. It is hard to predict offensive lineman picks after the first couple but Jackson is perhaps the best available here.
19. Las Vegas Raiders (From Chicago) – Kristian Fulton CB – LSU
While I think it would be a real badass move for the Raiders to draft two top receivers with their first two picks, that seems unlikely. Imagine Raiders’ fans, the next few years having Jeudy and Justin Jefferson lines up opposite of each other. Instead, the Raiders make the more logical pick to address the secondary.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (From L.A. Rams) – Jaylon Johnson CB – Utah
Jacksonville elects to try and replace Jalen Ramsey here with this pick. A.J. Bouye is also gone so a CB seems inevitable at this point.
21. Philadelphia Eagles – Justin Jefferson WR – LSU
The Eagles get a steal here in Justin Jefferson who could end up being a great NFL player.
22. Minnesota Vikings (From Buffalo) – A.J. Epenesa Edge – Iowa
I originally had CB Jeff Gladney from TCU in this spot. However, I think the Vikings expect Gladney to still be available in three picks and instead take a different path with this pick. This seems like a spot where A.J. Epenesa could go, even though I still feel it is a little early based on his combine performance.
23. New England Patriots – Yetur Gross-Matos Edge – Penn State
Now that the Vikings are taking Epenesa, the Patriots will look to another edge rusher and go for the next best available in Yetur Gross-Matos from Penn State. Gross-Matos is one of the best edge rushers in the draft and appears to be increasing his stock. With that stiff Patriots defense, Gross-Matos could be a great pick to add depth and talent.
24. New Orleans Saints – Kenneth Murray LB – Oklahoma
Linebacker is probably the biggest need for the Saints here. Murray will be the best available and New Orleans makes a smart and safe pick here. Patrick Queen is a possibility, especially is Murray is already off the board.
25. Minnesota Vikings – Jeff Gladney CB – TCU
Minnesota needs help at cornerback and Jeff Gladney could be a solid sneaky pick here. It may seem a bit early right now for Gladney but the word is that he is impressing and the Vikings are showing some interest in the TCU product.
26. Miami Dolphins (From Houston) – Xavier McKinney S – Alabama
The Dolphins catch a huge break with McKinney falling way too far in this draft. If Miami somehow gets Herbet over Tua with their first pick and lands McKinney and a top offensive lineman all in the first round, damn. Otherwise, Tua ruins a near-perfect first round for the Dolphins.
27. Seattle Seahawks – Grant Delpit S – LSU
If any of the above edge rushers are available at this point, they go here. The Jadeveon Clowney situation will play a big role on this pick but I think the Seahawks take the talented Delpit as he is the best defender available at this point.
28. Baltimore Ravens – Patrick Queen LB – LSU
The Ravens always find a way to find talented defensive players in the draft and this year is no different. If Queen is still available at pick 28, he won’t be around for pick 29.
29. Tennessee Titans – Joshua Jones OT – Houston
The Titans need a strong offensive line for their offensive to work. Ryan Tannehill isn’t the most mobile quarterback and Derrick Henry is the leader of this offense. WIth Jack Conklin gone, the Titans get a solid OL in Jones to help replace him.
30. Green Bay Packers – Brandon Aiyuk WR – Arizona State
Green Bay needs a top talented WR here. Yes, the draft is WR deep but when it comes to truly talented receivers, it really isn’t as deep as some may believe. I still think Laviska Shenault Jr. would be a great pick here. However, it appears the Packers are more inclined to lean toward Jalen Reagor or Brandon Aiyuk.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Raekwon Davis DT – Alabama
After landing their WR with their first pick, the 49ers decide to fill the hole left by DeForest Buckner. Another Alabama player comes off of the board in the first round as they select Davis.
32. Kansas City Chiefs – A.J. Terrell CB – Clemson
D’Andre Swift is still a possibility here but it appears the Chiefs are content on searching free agency for running back depth. Instead, the Chiefs will address their biggest need which is cornerback. If that is the case, this pick could be any number of different players. Trevon Diggs was my other choice but for now, A.J. Terrell becomes the sixth cornerback off of the board in the first round.
2020 NFL Draft Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Giants First Pick: Chase Young +1000
The Bengals are taking Burrow and the Redskins have made it clear they want to take a QB as well. Whether it is Tua or Herbert doesn’t matter. It comes down to is the Lions will take Young or Okudah. At 10/1 odds, I like the Lions to pass on Young and let him slip to the Giants.
Total Alabama Players Drafted in First Round: Over 5.5 +102
Currently, my mock draft has six Alabama players going in the first round. I could see as many as seven go in the first round.
Total LSU Players Drafted in the First Round: Over 5.5 +176
I also have six LSU players going in the first round. This one may be tougher as I may have stretched one Tiger into the first round but six players are certainly a possibility. The payout on this one is too tempting to pass up.
Total Clemson Players Drafted in the First Round: Under 2.5 -235
The payout isn’t huge but this is probably the best bet available. A.J. Terrell is the second Clemson player I have going in the first round and he may even be a bit of an early stretch.
Total Ohio State Players Drafted in The First Round: Under 2.5 -380
We will have two Buckeyes drafted in the first five picks. After that, there shouldn’t be any. The only one that could possibly sneak into the first round is Damon Arnette and that is a push. If you are thinking J.K. Dobbins could go first round, stop thinking.
Total Georgia Players Drafted In The First Round: Under 1.5 +138
This one comes down to whether or not you think De’Andrew Swift will be a first-rounder. If you do, then take the Over. If not, go with the Under.
SEC vs The Field – More First Round Picks: SEC-112
This is an interesting one. 32 picks, will they be mostly SEC players or all of the other conferences combined? Seems like the field should be the correct pick, right? Wrong. Right now, I have 16 SEC players going in the first. This might end in a push but I am rolling with the SEC to get the win. If you don’t think the SEC is the best conference in football you’re delusional.
Total Pac-12 Players Drafted in First Round: Over 2.5 +166
I have three Pac-12 players going in the first 20 picks. I think they should al land safely in the first round.
Los Angels Chargers First Pick: Defense+300
Everyone is expecting the Chargers to draft a QB with their first pick. I think they may give Tyrod Taylor a chance and draft someone like Jacob Eason in the second round. If they don’t draft a QB, they are going defense for sure. I like the +300 here that they decide to roll with Tyrod for now and draft a QB in the next round or two.
New York Giants First Pick: Defense+180
I really believe that Chase Young will fall to the Giants. If not, maybe they pass on an offensive lineman for another top defender.
Washington Redskins First Pick: Offense+350
Chase Young would be the logical pick but are the Redskins a logical team? I’m trusting that they decide to go quarterback at #2 because they know that Haskins isn’t the answer.
Player to be Drafted in Top 5 Overall Picks: Justin Herbert +150
I think Herbert goes second overall. Worst-case scenario, it appears he would go to the Dolphins at five based on the recent Tua rumors.
Justin Herbert Draft Position: Under 5.5 +150
It is the same bet as the one above, but it still needs to be included here because it is such a good plus money bet in my opinions.
Tua Tagovailoa vs Justin Herbert to be Drafted First: Justin Herbert +180
This may be the best value bet on the whole board. I think it is a given that Herbert goes first and the payout on this is only going to go down as the draft approaches. I would suggest hopping on this bet ASAP.
Image From NFLOnLocation.com