NFL mock draft 2020: Team reporters make first-round picks

Staff Writer

April 17, 2020 Updated 11 AM PT

With the NFL draft less than a week away, reporters who cover the teams on a daily basis take a crack at predicting how the first round will unfold in The All 32: The Times’ unique NFL mock draft experience. Each reporter makes a pick and gives a rationale for that selection.

This year’s live mock draft is completed. The Cincinnati Bengals have the first pick of 2020 draft, and Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer made his selection. Be sure to check out the entire first-round rundown below.

1. Cincinnati Bengals | QB Joe Burrow, Louisiana State

“This is a perfect match, and when the Bengals met with him at the combine, it pretty much reaffirmed everything they thought about him.” Tyler Dragon, Cincinnati Enquirer

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Joe Burrow

MORE: Los Angeles Times draft profile of Joe Burrow

2. Washington Redskins | DE Chase Young, Ohio State

“Chase Young just fits what Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio want to do with this defense. They could have a great pass rusher for years to come.” Les Carpenter, Washington Post

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Chase Young

READ: Los Angeles Times draft profile of Chase Young

3. Detroit Lions | CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State

“The Lions would love to trade down, or to get a shot at Chase Young. But after trading Darius Slay, they could really use a player like Okudah in their secondary.” — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Jeff Okudah

READ: Los Angeles Times draft profile of Jeff Okudah

4. New York Giants | OLB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

“The Giants have a lot of holes to fill. They would love to get Chase Young, but Simmons can get to the quarterback. He can not only make plays from sideline to sideline, but from goal line to goal line.” Tom Rock, Newsday

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Isaiah Simmons

READ: Los Angeles Times draft profile of Isaiah Simmons

5. Miami Dolphins | QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

“The Dolphins are committed to selecting a quarterback in the first round. I don’t know that they have an absolute conviction about which quarterback that’s going to be, Tua, Justin Herbert, or Jordan Love.” Omar Kelly, South Florida Sun Sentinel

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Tua Tagovailoa

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Tua Tagovailoa

6. Los Angeles Chargers | QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

“The Chargers like Jordan Love, too, but I think they would take Justin Herbert over him. The turnovers Love had at Utah State would be concerning.” Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Justin Herbert

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Justin Herbert

7. Carolina Panthers | DT Derrick Brown, Auburn

“The Panthers have a lot of holes, especially along the defensive front. Derrick Brown was a man among boys in the SEC.” Joe Person, The Athletic

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Derrick Brown

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Derrick Brown

8. Arizona Cardinals | OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa

“The Cardinals could plug him in on the right side right away, and really protect Kyler Murray.” Kent Somers, Arizona Republic

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Tristan Wirfs

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Tristan Wirfs

9. Jacksonville Jaguars | WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

“The head coach compared playmakers to chocolate chip cookies — you can never have enough of them. The Jaguars have a lot of holes to fill, and Jeudy fits what they want to do.” John Reid, Florida Times-Union

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Jerry Jeudy

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Jerry Jeudy

10. Cleveland Browns | OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia

Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas.

“The Browns are set at right tackle, having signed Jack Conklin in free agency. But they need a left tackle, and Thomas has experience on the left side.” Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland Plain Dealer

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Andrew Thomas

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Andrew Thomas

11. New York Jets | OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville

Louisville offensive lineman Mekhi Becton.

“The Jets desperately need to address the offensive line. They made a few bargain-basement deals in free agency, but they need to protect Sam Darnold.” Brian Costello, New York Post

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Mekhi Becton

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Mekhi Becton

12. Las Vegas Raiders | WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma

“If the Jets don’t select Lamb, the Raiders will race to grab him. Antonio Brown left a gaping hole the Raiders haven’t been able to fill.” Vincent Bonsignore, Las Vegas Review Journal

WATCH: What The All 32 says about CeeDee Lamb

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of CeeDee Lamb

13. San Francisco 49ers | DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina

“The 49ers would love one of the top receivers, but instead they go with a defensive tackle who could step in and replace DeForest Buckner.” Matt Barrows, The Athletic

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Javon Kinlaw

READ: Los Angeles Times profile on Javon Kinlaw

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | OT Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama

Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.

“It’s about protecting Tom Brady, and Wills fits the mold at right tackle, a position he’s played since his sophomore year. There’s about five tackles in this draft that the Bucs would be happy with.” Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times

WATCH: What The All 32 has to say about Jedrick Wills Jr.

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Jedrick Wills Jr.

15. Denver Broncos | WR Henry Ruggs III

“The Broncos have a glaring need for receiver, and Ruggs’ speed is a nice complement to Courtland Sutton’s size.” Nicki Jhabvala, The Athletic

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Henry Ruggs III

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Henry Ruggs II I

16. Atlanta Falcons | DE K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU

“Atlanta’s biggest needs are on all three levels of the defense. The Vic Beasley experiment is over, and the Falcons still don’t know what they have in Takk McKinley.” Jeff Schultz, The Athletic

WATCH: What The All 32 says about K’Lavon Chaisson

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of K’Lavon Chaisson

17. Dallas Cowboys | CB CJ Henderson, Florida

“The Cowboys lost Byron Jones to the Dolphins and haven’t replaced him. Henderson is the second-best corner in this class.” Clarence Hill, Fort Worth Star Telegram

WATCH: What The All 32 says about CJ Henderson

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of CJ Henderson

18. Miami Dolphins | C/G Cesar Ruiz, Michigan

“Most of the coveted offensive tackles are gone, so the Dolphins look to solidify the interior of their offensive line.” Omar Kelly, South Florida Sun Sentinel

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Cesar Ruiz

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Cesar Ruiz

19. Las Vegas Raiders | CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson

“I could see the Raiders trading down to the mid-20s to get a second-round pick. But they love Clemson players, and Terrell fills a pressing need.” Vincent Bonsignore, Las Vegas Review Journal

WATCH: What The All 32 says about A.J. Terrell

20. Jacksonville Jaguars | CB Kristian Fulton, LSU

“The Jaguars traded Jalen Ramsey to the Rams, then A.J. Bouye to the Broncos. Fulton has that great speed.” John Reid, Florida Times-Union

WATCH: What The All 32 has to say about Kristian Fulton

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Kristian Fulton

21. Philadelphia Eagles | WR Justin Jefferson, LSU

“Most people consider Jefferson the fourth-best receiver in this draft. There’s some concern he’s more of a slot guy than the outside player the Eagles need.” Les Bowen, Philadelphia Inquirer

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Justin Jefferson

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Justin Jefferson

22. Minnesota Vikings | OT Josh Jones, Houston

“Tackle makes a lot of sense for the Vikings. He’s raw, but he wouldn’t have to start right away if Minnesota keeps Riley Reiff on the roster.” Ben Goessling, Minnesota Star Tribune

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Josh Jones

23. New England Patriots | LB Kenneth Murray Jr., Oklahoma

“The Patriots might try to trade up for Tua. But if they stay here, Murray is a tackling machine, good blitzer, can play on the outside and inside. He’s similar to Kyle Van Noy.” Ben Volin, Boston Globe

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Kenneth Murray Jr.

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Kenneth Murray Jr.

24. New Orleans Saints | LB Patrick Queen, LSU

“Having picked up Emmanuel Sanders in free agency, the Saints are in position to take a linebacker. They have never taken an LSU Tiger in the first round.” Amie Just, NOLA.com

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Patrick Queen

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Patrick Queen

25. Minnesota Vikings | CB Jeff Gladney, TCU

TCU's Jeff Gladney, top, knocks a pass away from Texas Tech's Dylan Cantrell.

“Gladney makes a lot of sense. He can cover outside and inside, and has been a man corner, and that fits with the Vikings like to play some man within zone schemes.” Ben Goessling, Minneapolis Star Tribune

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Jeff Gladney

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Jeff Gladney

26. Miami Dolphins | S Grant Delpit, LSU

“With the top five tackles off the board, the Dolphins go with an elite athlete with great speed. Even though he’s not a striker, he can play that center field position for the Dolphins.” Omar Kelly, South Florida Sun Sentinel

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Grant Delpit

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Grant Delpit

27. Seattle Seahawks | DE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa

“If the Seahawks keep their pick — and they always seem to trade their first-rounder — I think they’ll focus on their defensive line. That was the huge weakness for this team last year, and at the moment it doesn’t look better.” Bob Condotta, Seattle Times

WATCH: What The All 32 says about A.J. Epenesa

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of A.J. Epenesa

28. Baltimore Ravens |S Xavier McKinney, Alabama

“Baltimore’s best-case scenario is either Queen or Murray to be there, so they can address their glamour position of inside linebacker. At this point, McKinney is the best player available.” Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Xavier McKinney

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Xavier McKinney

29. Tennessee Titans | CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama

“With Logan Ryan unsigned, the Titans need a slot corner. Those are hard to find in the college ranks, but Diggs has some experience there.” Paul Kuharsky, 104.5 The Zone/Paulkuharsky.com

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Trevon Diggs

30. Green Bay Packers | WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State

“Jordan Love would be tempting if no one has taken him. Aiyuk looks to be just the kind of explosive receiver the Packers want.” Pete Dougherty, Green Bay Press-Gazette

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Brandon Aiyuk

31. San Francisco 49ers | WR Denzel Mims, Baylor

“A tall, long-armed receiver who runs like a track star, Mims is really good with the ball in the air. He has a big body, yet is as elusive as a much smaller player.” Matt Barrows, The Athletic

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Denzel Mims

32. Kansas City Chiefs | LB Zack Baun, Wisconsin

“Cornerback and linebacker are Kansas City’s two biggest needs. Baun would fit their system as a three-down linebacker. Sort of thumper, but someone who has the athleticism and ball skills, too.” Nate Taylor, The Athletic

WATCH: What The All 32 says about Zack Baun

READ: Los Angeles Times profile of Zack Baun