NFL mock draft 2020: Raiders take Tua Tagovailoa at No. 1; Bengals, Lions grab QBs, too

Bill Bender

NFL mock draft 2020: Raiders take Tua Tagovailoa at No. 1; Bengals, Lions grab QBs, too image

 Now that the 2019 NFL Draft is in the books, it's never too early to talk about 2020.

The 2020 NFL Draft will be stronger on quarterbacks than this year, especially if Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and Georgia's Jake Fromm decide to forego their senior seasons, as expected, and join Oregon's Justin Herbert at the top of the draft.  

The draft order was determined based on teams' Vegas odds to win the Super Bowl with some shuffling based on possible playoff positioning and SN projections. We know a lot can change between now and next April, but we're still going to mock this out anyway.  You can check out our 2020 Top 50 big board here, too.  

MORE: Tua and the top 10 QBs in 2020 draft class, ranked

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NFL mock draft 2020  

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama 

The Raiders need a bold move before the move to Las Vegas, and Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock go with the accurate passer from Alabama. The Raiders have their franchise quarterback. Ken Stabler would approve. 

2. New York Giants: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama  

The Giants add Jeudy to an offense that already features Saquon Barkley, and that erases the sting of the Odell Beckham, Jr. trade a year later. It should. Jeudy is the most-talented playmaker on the board.  

3. Miami Dolphins: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

Miami cannot pass up Brown, a 6-5, 325-pound defensive tackle who fortifies a position of need. Brown becomes the most-coveted defensive lineman after a monster senior season with the Tigers. 

4. Washington Redskins: Andrew Thomas, T, Georgia  

The Redskins need help at other places, but Thomas impresses at the Combine and prompts Washington to prepare for life after Trent Williams, who will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021.  

5. Cincinnati Bengals: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

The Bengals start over at quarterback with Herbert, a high-upside pick who fits in Zac Taylor's system and offers a fresh start at the position. 

6. Arizona Cardinals: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa  

A year after passing on Nick Bosa, the Cardinals bring in another Big Ten defensive end in Epenesa, who doesn't have the same name recognition but has a similar skill-set off the edge.  

7. Buffalo Bills: Grant Delpit, S, LSU  

Delpit had five interceptions and five sacks last season. He fills a need for another play-maker in the secondary for the Bills.  

8. Detroit Lions: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia 

Detroit begins the process of moving on from Matthew Stafford, and the fact Fromm went to the same school will draw some groans. Fromm, however, is more than capable of being a franchise quarterback in the future. 

9. Tennessee Titans: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State  

The Titans get a steal at No. 8 in Young, who adds even more to the pass rush for coach Mike Vrabel. Young might not fall this far if he has a double-digit sack season as a junior for the Buckeyes.  

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Walker Little, T, Stanford  

The Bucs could go for a quarterback here, too, but they opt to stick with Jameis Winston and they give him one of the best offensive linemen on the board. 

11. New York Jets: Mekhi Becton, T, Louisville

The Jets take the third premier tackle off the board and get another long-term solution to protect franchise quarterback Sam Darnold. Becton is worth reaching up for at that point. 

12. Denver Broncos: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson  

The Broncos pick up Simmons, a versatile linebacker who chose to stay in school for one more season. Simmons finished with 88 tackles and nine tackles for loss in 2018. He shores up the secondary.  

13. Carolina Panthers: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson  

Cam Newton is at his best with a receiver who can stretch the field, and Higgins will pile on with Trevor Lawrence in his junior season.  

14. Houston Texans: Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson  

The Clemson first-round run continues. There is a boom-or-bust factor at work, but Etienne's prolific TD rate on a reasonable workload is too much too pass up. Etienne shares a backfield with Deshaun Watson. That will be fun.  

15. Seattle Seahawks: Shaq Quarterman, LB, Miami  

The Seahawks reach here, but Quarterman is one of the more complete linebackers in the FBS, and he'll get better with the Hurricanes with another year under Manny Diaz.   

16. Baltimore Ravens: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama  

Ozzie Newsome is gone, but the Ravens' affinity for Alabama players continues with Moses, a linebacker who will be ready to play right away.  

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trey Adams, T, Washington  

The fourth tackle off the board is Adams, who has struggled with injuries but still has top-10 potential when healthy.  

18. Atlanta Falcons: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

Taylor falls this far, and the Falcons can't pass this up. They go for the prolific Wisconsin running back who might have another 2,000-yard season under his belt. 

19. San Francisco 49ers: Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado  

The 49ers missed out on some big-time receivers this year, but Shenault is one who could develop into a full-fledged star at the next level.  

20: Minnesota Vikings: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri  

Kyle Rudolph is in the final year of his contract, so the Vikings get a replacement with the best tight end on the board.  

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21. Pittsburgh Steelers: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida 

The Steelers get another cornerback to work with in the AFC North, and Henderson finds a mentor in Joe Haden. 

22. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Biadasz, G, Wisconsin  

It's not a splash pick, but the Packers get some help on the interior line from the nearby school that does a fantastic job of producing that talent.  

23. Los Angeles Chargers: Collin Johnson, WR, Texas  

Johnson becomes the fourth receiver taken in the first round and gives Philip Rivers a big target that will remind him the good-ole days with Vincent Jackson.  

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Paddy Fisher, LB, Northwestern  

Fisher is an all-around stud for the Wildcats, and if he chooses to come out early he would be a good fit in Jim Schwartz's defense in Philadelphia.  

25. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago): Nick Coe, DE/DT, Auburn  

The Raiders have another first-round pick from the Bears, and they use it on another defensive tackle to help stop the run.  

26. Cleveland Browns: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah  

The Browns could go offensive line here and probably will, but Johnson falls too far and general manager John Dorsey can't resist the best player on the board. That adds depth behind Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams. Johnson can play in the nickel right away. 

27. Dallas Cowboys: Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State  

The Cowboys go back to the Boise State well for an underrated edge rusher who should shoot up the draft boards. 

28. Indianapolis Colts: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU  

Fulton must show he's recovered from last season's ankle injury, and if he does then he will be one of the top defensive backs in the FBS.  

29. New Orleans Saints: Raekwon Davis, DE, Alabama  

Davis slips lower than expected, but he finds a home in New Orleans. Davis is the fourth first-round pick from Alabama in this mock.  

30. Kansas City Chiefs: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma  

The Chiefs can't help themselves. They go get another home-run hitter for Patrick Mahomes to throw to, and the Oklahoma connection doesn't hurt.  

31. L.A. Rams: Trey Smith, T, Tennessee

Andrew Whitworth will be an unrestricted free agent in 2020, and the Rams go with the Tennessee tackle. Health is a concern with Smith, who has been dealing with blood clots and availability for 2019 is uncertain. Still, he's a top-10 caliber player when on the field. 

32. New England Patriots: Kenny Willekes, DE, Michigan State 

Willekes isn't a flashy pick, but he has evolved into one of the best defensive linemen in the Big Ten. Epenesa and Young will get more headlines, but Willekes fits into what the Patriots want out of their defensive ends. 

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.