2020 NFL Draft: Complete first round mock delivers wideout to Raiders
By Evan Groat
Other than 2019 second round pick Deebo Samuel, the San Francisco 49ers are desperate for another playmaker on the outside. In CeeDee Lamb from Oklahoma, they get arguably the drafts most explosive weapon, as Lamb has ball skills for days.
The incredible playmaker has the ability to contort his body and make acrobatic catches. With the ball in his hands he is a yards after catch monster. The rich get richer with this pick, as after making it all the way to the Super Bowl last season, San Fran holds two first round picks in 2020.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went all in on six-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady and just recently convinced future Hall of Famer Rob Grownkowski out of retirement. Combine those two with offensive weapons like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Cameron Brate, O.J. Howard, and now the goal now is to keep Brady upright.
Andrew Thomas from Georgia was a 2019 First Team All-American while playing against the best of the best in the SEC. Thomas can be dominant in run game thanks to his ridiculously long arms (36 1/8), and while he will need to improve his pass pro at the next level, he projects as a long time starter in the league.
John Elway has built 2019 second round quarterback Drew Lock a nice supporting cast with the addition of running back, Melvin Gordon to go along with Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, and Phillip Lindsay. At pick No. 15, he adds to that impressive group, bringing in the fastest wide receiver in this draft class.
Henry Ruggs III takes this offense over the top, literally. Mr. 4.27 can take the top of any defense. The combination of Drew Lock’s big arm and the long speed of Ruggs will give AFC west defensive coordinators nightmares. Ruggs often draws comparisons to Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill due to his explosiveness, but he is a far more developed prospect than Hill was at this point.
There’s been talk leading up to the draft that the Atlanta Falcons are looking to move up to select cornerback, C.J. Henderson, as they have a desperate need in the defensive backfield. Obviously, there are no trades in this mock draft, so instead, the Falcons will have to stay put and draft a pass rush specialist.
LSU star edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson isn’t the biggest guy so holding up against the run could be an issue, but there is no denying his ability to get after the quarterback. He played his best ball of the season down the stretch during LSU’s title run, and he will fill the void left after Vic Beasley was not brought back for the 2020 campaign.