As COVID-19 has changed everyone’s lives, the NFL decided to move on with the draft which I am very grateful for as it provides a distraction from what is going on with the world. This year’s draft is going to create a lot more uncertainty with prospects and will cause many more pisses at draft picks. It is going to be difficult to predict the picks because of all this uncertainty. But, here is my mock draft ahead of tonight’s first round kicking off:

1. Bengals: Joe Burrow – QB, LSU

The Bengals should not waste more than a minute deciding who they are going to pick. Burrow being the best QB in the class, will set up the Bengals for the future.

2. Redskins: Chase Young – DE, Ohio State

Chase Young is my second-best defensive player in the draft. The Redskins add a premier pass rusher to an already young talented D-Line and build as the 49ers did.

3. Lions: Jeff Okudah – CB, Ohio State

My top-graded corner since Jalen Ramsey should not be drafted any lower than this spot. Okudah checks all the boxes for Matt Patricia to build the secondary.

4. Giants: Isaiah Simmons – LB, Clemson

My top defensive player in the draft. A versatile defender that is positionless and is a better Jabrill Peppers who the Giants have. The Giants can have two athletic hybrids roaming around. I know the Giants are looking at a possible Offensive Tackle, but it would be a mistake passing on Simmons, who could affect the defense so positively.

5. Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa – QB, Alabama

The Dolphins go out and grab their guy. With so much money thrown into the defense the past couple years, the Dolphins can start competing in the AFC East with a top tier QB.

6. Chargers: Justin Herbert – QB, Oregon

The Phillip Rivers reign is over. I know the Chargers have said how much they like Tyrod Taylor, but he is 31, and it could not work out so build towards the future by adding a young talented QB to go with that talented defense.

7. Panthers: Derrick Brown – DT, Auburn

After signing Teddy Bridgewater and Robby Anderson, the Panthers look to have weapons on offense but need a defense to compete with the other high-powered offenses in the division. Grabbing the best interior lineman and a run stuffer will give a considerable boost.

8. Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs – OT, Iowa

After pulling off that unbelievable trade to land Hopkins, the Cardinals need to help Kyler and those weapons. Wirfs is my highest ranked lineman in the draft because of his athleticism for his position. Being very athletic will help to block for Murray.

9. Jaguars: Jerry Jeudy – WR, Alabama

Not my number one WR in the draft but is the man the Jaguars need. With DJ Chark being a deep threat, the Jags needed a technical sound route runner to help Garder Minshew. That is why I have the Jags picking Jeudy over Ruggs or Lamb.

10. Browns: Mekhi Beckton – OT, Louisville

The Browns had a very successful offseason getting even more weapons for Baker Mayfield. The only thing left is to protect him. Beckton is a big man who can flourish in this day and age.

11. Jets: Jedrick Wills – OT, Alabama

The Jets did not have the greatest free agency this year by not landing any of the big names in top positions to help the offense. Wills does the number one priority for the Jets, which is to protect Darnold. Wills does that well and can improve the run blocking for Bell, which is also something that needed improvement.

12. Raiders: CeeDee Lamb – WR, Oklahoma

The Raiders desperately need to get weapons for this offense because Tyrell Williams isn’t going to cut it as a number one. Lamb is my number one WR in this deep class as he can get the deep ball and is very elusive after the catch.

13. 49ers: Henry Ruggs III– WR, Alabama

Trading with the Colts to get this pick was smart. The 49ers need a WR after the departure of Emmanuel Sanders. Henry Ruggs is the fastest WR in the class and is similar to Tyreek Hill. Pairing him up with Deebo Samuel will be huge down the road.

14. Buccaneers: Andrew Thomas – OT, Georgia

After the colossal signing of Tom Brady and the trade to get Rob Gronkowski, the Buccs have all the weapons in the world but need to be able to protect Brady to dish the ball to the weapons. Andrew Thomas is good enough to go top 10 in most drafts, but with how good this OT class is, he falls to 14.

15. Broncos: C.J. Henderson – CB, Florida

The Broncos top two needs are a WR to pair up with Cortland Sutton and CB help after the departure of Chris Harris. The top wideouts are gone, so the Broncos get a consolation prize of the second-best corner in the draft.

16. Falcons: K’Lavon Chaisson – Edge, LSU

The Falcons need pass rushers. There was a reported attempt to move up to no. 2 to draft Chase Young, but that did not work. The second-best edge rusher in the draft is what the Falcons are going to have to settle on.

17. Cowboys: Kristain Fulton – CB, LSU

The Falcons need pass rushers. There was a reported attempt to move up to no. 2 to draft Chase Young, but that did not work. The second-best edge rusher in the draft is what the Falcons are going to have to settle on.

18. Dolphins: Xavier McKinney – S, Alabama

The Dolphins have the highest-paid cornerback duo in the league with Byron Jones and Xavien Howard. The dolphins can sure up the secondary and make it one of the best in the NFL by drafting the best safety in the draft class.

19. Raiders: A.J. Terell – CB, Clemson

The Raiders need help on the outside. One of the league’s worst secondaries can use a boost from a corner that has played in big games and a winning culture. That is why I give Terell the edge over some other corner’s still on the board.

20. Jaguars: Jeff Gladney – CB, TCU

The Raiders and Jaguars are very similar in that they both need to go WR and CB in their two first-round picks. The Jags addressed WR first, which leaves the corner position. It is a toss-up here between Gladney and Johnson, but I like the potential of Gladney more.

21. Eagles: Justin Jefferson – WR, LSU

The Eagles desperately need to give Wentz weapons to work with. Jefferson is my WR No. 4 but could easily make the most impact year one out of any of the receivers in this year’s class.

22. Vikings: Jalen Reagor – WR, TCU

The Vikings left a hole at WR by trading Diggs to the Bills for this pick, but it was necessary as Diggs made it clear he did not want to play in Minnesota. I think the Vikings make the replacement pick with the high-upside Reagor.

23. Patriots: Patrick Queen- LB, LSU

The Patriots lost a lot of pieces this year in free agency. Especially on the defensive end, Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins both left, and Hightower is near the end of his contract and aging. Patrick Queen is a versatile linebacker that could keep up with Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes in the future.

24. Saints: Kenneth Murray – LB, Oklahoma

The Saints need to add to its improving defense to keep up with the Buccs and Panthers getting better on offense. A versatile linebacker like Murray that can cover sideline to sideline will help defend the high-octane offenses in the NFC South.

25. Vikings: Jaylon Johnson – CB, Utah

The Vikings need to improve at corner with the loss of Xavier Rhodes. Johnson is a high-upside pick that can help the secondary for years to come.

26. Dolphins: Josh Jones – OT, Houston

The Dolphins need to address offensive line to help protect Tua if they draft him like I think they will. Jones is a player that will need to be developed a little to be a good starting quality lineman. Jones could also have the highest ceiling out of all the lineman if developed correctly.

27. Seahawks: Yetur Gross-Matos – Edge, Penn St

The Jadeveon Clowney situation is still yet to be resolved. I think the Seahawks don’t wait around and hope he comes back by drafting a solid edge rusher to fill that potential hole.

28. Ravens: Zach Baun – LB, Wisconsin

Matthew Judon is still yet to be traded or signed, and the Ravens need to get a linebacker to keep the momentum they had as a team last year. Baun provides a big body linebacker that can be effective in pass-rushing and run-stopping situations.

29. Titans: Javon Kinlaw – IDL, South Carolina

The Titans can add a young talented interior defensive lineman that could be drafted higher but most likely won’t due to position needs. Kinlaw can help add youth to the Titans line to make the defense even better from a season ago.

30. Packers: Denzel Mims – WR, Baylor

If the Packers want to win another championship before Rodgers retires, then they need to give him weapons outside of Aaron Jones and Davante Adams. Mims has a lot of upside and can help in the win-now mode the Packers are in.

31. 49ers: Grant Delpit – S, LSU

Adding Grant Delpit to this young and talented defense almost seems unfair. A hybrid safety that can range the field alongside Sherman and that unbelievable front seven would make this top defense a year ago even better.

32. Chiefs: D’Andre Swift – RB, Georgia

The Chiefs should add a two-way running back for Mahomes. The o-line is very good alongside the receivers, but the only position needing upgrade is running back. Swift would somehow make this offense even more dynamic, which is even scarier for the rest of the league.

By: Nic Rohloff -Sports Director