2020 NFL Draft: Complete first round mock delivers wideout to Raiders

The Philadelphia Eagles suffered badly last season with injuries on offense.  The unit badly needs an influx of talent, especially at the wide receiver spot, and Justin Jefferson from LSU provides that for Carson Wentz. Jefferson played primarily in the slot in Steve Ensminger’s high-octane offense and was Joe Burrow’s go to guy setting a school record with 111 catches.

Jefferson does not drop balls, he is as reliable as a pass catcher as there is.  To the surprise of many scouts he blazed in the forty at the combine with a time of 4.43, answering any questions about his long speed. He is the top wideout Wentz needs in 2020.

The Minnesota Vikings could look to address the void left by the Stefon Diggs trade but with another first round pick at 25 they can address that need later. At pick No. 22, the selection they got from the Bills, their guy is cornerback Kristian Fulton.  The Vikings had a mass exodus in the secondary during free agency making this selection an imperative one.

The grades on Fulton are all over the board.  I’ve seen some analysts project him as a round one pick and some as a day two pick.  Bottom line, Fulton is a smooth athlete, is very good in press man, and recorded 25 pass breakups in two seasons as a starter.

If trades were allowed in this draft, I would have had the New England Patriots looking to move up and snag quarterback Jordan Love, as he was tumbling down the board. Instead, Bill Belichick grabs an edge rusher who is raw but has all the tools you look for at the position.

It’s a perfect landing spot for Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos, who will need a year or two to fill out physically and get coached up by the best to ever do it. While Tom Brady is gone, the Patriots are not going to just roll over and die this season, and Gross-Matos has the motor to be a solid edge guy for this team in 2020.

The New Orleans Saints brought in some help at wide receiver by signing Emmanuel Sanders in free agency, so that is not as big a pressing need heading into Thursday’s first round.  They could still look to solidify the position by adding another in the later rounds of the draft but with this pick they address the defense.

The Saints reportedly had interest in linebackers Jamie Collins and Cory Littleton in free agency, but missing out on both, they address the position here. Although he was used primarily off the edge at Wisconsin, Zack Baun has shown the ability to do a little bit of everything.  I expect him to find his way early in his career as an off-the-ball linebacker, and New Orleans is a soft landing spot.