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2020 NFL mock draft: Round one
From left: Quarterbacks Justin Herbert (Oregon), Joe Burrow (LSU) and Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama). USA TODAY Sports: John David Mercer | Stephen Lew | Troy Wayrynen

2020 NFL mock draft: Round one

With 12 weeks of the NFL season and nearly all of the college football season in the books, the 2020 NFL draft is becoming slightly easier to project. Here's a look at our latest 2020 NFL mock draft, as of Nov. 25, 2019. Order based on current NFL standings.

 
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1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Justin Ford / USA Today Sports Images

2019 has been the year of Joe Burrow, who is the current favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and become the first overall pick in the draft. He's shown drastic improvement in his senior season at LSU, completing nearly 79 percent of his passes and also showing above-average scrambling ability. The only major knock on Burrow is that he's old for a first-round prospect, set to turn 24 in December 2020. That said, 2019 fourth-round pick Ryan Finley hasn't shown anything that should make the Bengals bypass this opportunity.

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

New York Giants: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Jeff Blake / USA Today Sports Images

The Giants have struggled to move the ball down the field at times after trading Odell Beckham Jr. last offseason, but Jeudy is a potential answer. He had 933 yards and nine scores so far this season and ranks right alongside Julio Jones and Amari Cooper as one of the most talented wideouts to come out of Alabama in recent memory.

 
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3. Miami Dolphins: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Miami Dolphins: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Troy Wayrynen / USA Today Sports Images

Miami might have played itself out of the first overall pick by starting Ryan Fitzpatrick ahead of Josh Rosen, for better or worse. But it's clear a quarterback is in the Dolphins' draft future, and Herbert looks like the second "safest" on the board following Tua Tagovailoa's injuries. Herbert has optimal NFL size and completed nearly 70 percent of his passes this season.

 
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4. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

Washington Redskins: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
Joseph Maiorana / USA Today Sports Images

Young is the best all-around prospect in the 2020 draft. While Washington has invested heavily on the defensive line in recent drafts, the opportunity to take Young would be too good to pass on. He has 16.5 sacks so far this season.

 
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5. Denver Broncos: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Denver Broncos: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

Tagovailoa was the consensus No. 1 overall draft choice entering the year, but ankle and hip injuries have given him the "injury-prone" label. Before his season-ending injury earlier this season, Tagovailoa completed more than 71 percent of his passes with 33 touchdowns in nine games, albeit with elite receiving weapons in Alabama. It's early, but 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock doesn't appear to be the answer in Denver. The upside of Tagovailoa should be enticing if he drops this far.

 
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6. Atlanta Falcons: Derrick Brown, DE, Auburn

Atlanta Falcons: Derrick Brown, DE, Auburn
Nelson Chenault / USA Today Sports Images

Atlanta continues to work itself out of top-pick territory, going 2-1 following the bye, but the defensive front remains a clear need in next year's draft, regardless. Brown has moved into top 10 draft consideration again with a great year, recording 42 tackles and four sacks through 10 games.

 
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7. Detroit Lions: Grant Delpit, S, LSU

Detroit Lions: Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Chuck Cook / USA Today Sports Images

Detroit shocked the football world when it traded safety Quandre Diggs this year and could use a talented safety to shore up the secondary. Delpit is the clear top safety in the draft, with 50 tackles and one pick through 10 games this season.

 
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8. Arizona Cardinals: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

Arizona Cardinals: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
Kevin Jairaj / USA Today Sports Images

Arizona went heavy at wideout in this year's draft, but the opportunity to add Lamb, a former teammate of Kyler Murray at Oklahoma, could be too attractive to pass up. Lamb has been nothing but productive in college and is well on pace to have his best season, with 44 receptions for 999 yards and 14 touchdowns through 10 games.

 
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9. Jacksonville Jaguars: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

Jacksonville Jaguars: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

After trading Jalen Ramsey, cornerback is a clear need for the Jags. Henderson hasn't been challenged much in the Florida secondary this year, but he has 26 tackles and 10 passes defensed through eight games.

 
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10. New York Jets: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

New York Jets: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Matt Stamey / USA Today Sports Images

The Jets offensive line has been perhaps their biggest of several weaknesses this season. Thomas is the best offensive lineman on the board, standing at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds as an immediate solution at left tackle.

 
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11. Los Angeles Chargers: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

Los Angeles Chargers: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports Images

Simmons is an extremely versatile defender who has potential at either linebacker or safety. The 6-foot-4 senior has 74 tackles and six sacks through 11 games this season. 

 
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12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Joseph Maiorana / USA Today Sports Images

Tampa Bay's release of former first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves is systematic of how much the Bucs have struggled in the secondary this year. Okudah is working himself up to being the top corner in the 2020 class. He is a shutdown corner with three picks in his first 10 games this season.

 
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13. Philadelphia Eagles: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford

Philadelphia Eagles: Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
Darren Yamashita / USA Today Sports Images

Cornerback play has been a problem for Philly in consecutive years, so it's a safe bet the team will address the secondary in the upcoming offseason. Adebo is a willing tackler with good ball skills, already recording four picks and 33 tackles through nine games.

 
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14. Las Vegas Raiders (via Bears): Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

Las Vegas Raiders (via Bears): Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

Wide receiver has been an issue for the Raiders all year, with their Antonio Brown plans going up in smoke before the season started. Ruggs hasn't been as productive as teammate Jerry Jeudy, but he still has superstar potential. He has 620 yards and six scores through 10 games.

 
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15. Cleveland Browns: Tristian Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Cleveland Browns: Tristian Wirfs, OT, Iowa
Jeffrey Becker / USA Today Sports Images

The offensive line is one area Cleveland failed to adequately address last offseason, and it should be a top priority in the offseason. Wirfs can step in immediately at tackle.

 
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16. Carolina Panthers: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington

Carolina Panthers: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
Casey Sapio / USA Today Sports Images

It's looking increasingly less likely that Kyle Allen is the answer at quarterback in Carolina, and the team seems likely to move on from Cam Newton in the offseason. If third-round pick Will Grier doesn't appear to be the long-term replacement, Carolina could dip into the draft pool again with Eason. The strong-armed quarterback has some accuracy issues, but he has big upside with 21 touchdowns this season and over 2,600 yards passing.

 
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17. Las Vegas Raiders: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

Las Vegas Raiders: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

The Raiders improved their defensive line in this year's draft but still have more work to do. Kinlaw has increased his stock with 31 tackles and six sacks through 11 games this season.

 
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18. Indianapolis Colts: Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama

Indianapolis Colts: Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Improving the pass rush will likely continue to be a priority for the Colts, and Davis has big upside for the bottom half of the first round. He had 8.5 sacks in 2017, and while he's struggled to repeat that production, the 6-foot-7 lineman can plug up the middle and be a major factor in the pass rush.

 
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19. Tennessee Titans: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia

Tennessee Titans: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Fromm's leadership qualities are certainly first-round level, but does he have top-tier starter talent?  His production has been more pedestrian in his third season as Georgia's starter, with only 7.5 yards per pass attempt and 17 touchdown passes in 11 games. His profile does seem like a fit for Mike Vrabel and the Titans if they're not sold on Ryan Tannehill by the end of this season.

 
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20. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams): Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado

Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams): Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

D.J. Chark appears to be a keeper, but the rest of Jacksonville's wide receiver corps has been a bit of a disappointment this season. Shenault is excellent with the ball in his hands, though his production has fallen off from last season. He had 721 receiving yards and six total touchdowns through 10 games this year.

 
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21. Dallas Cowboys: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

Dallas Cowboys: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sports Images

Dallas has a strong, young secondary but could still use more reinforcements with Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis entering their fourth years in 2020. Fulton has been a shutdown corner lately at LSU.

 
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22. Miami Dolphins (via Steelers): A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

Miami Dolphins (via Steelers): A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Miami should be in the business of taking the best player available after their 2019 fire sale. Epenesa has been highly productive again this year, with 31 tackles and seven sacks through 11 games in his junior season.

 
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23. Buffalo Bills: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State

Buffalo Bills: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
Jonathan Jones / USA Today Sports Images

Although the Bills drafted Ed Oliver in the first round this year, their defensive line is still getting long in the tooth. Gross-Matos has excellent size and speed and has been productive for the Nittany Lions over the last two seasons, recording eight sacks in 2018 and eight sacks through 10 games this year.

 
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24. Minnesota Vikings: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

Minnesota Vikings: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Adam Hagy / USA Today Sports Images

Stefon Diggs and the Vikings are back on good terms, but the wideout's future in Minnesota remains to be seen. Higgins would be a viable replacement. The 6-foot-4 deep threat has averaged 20 yards per reception for the second time in three years.

 
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25. Miami Dolphins (via Texans): D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

Miami Dolphins (via Texans): D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
Matt Stamey / USA Today Sports Images

Running back isn't a building block position anymore, but Miami desperately needs help at that spot. Swift is a speedy game changer who needed only 10 games to gain 1,000 rushing yards this season and is also a threat as a receiver.

 
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26. Green Bay Packers: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

Green Bay Packers: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Justin Ford / USA Today Sports Images

Green Bay went heavy adding receivers last year, but the results of that effort haven't been great. Marquez Valdes-Scantling hasn't been much more than a deep threat this year, and tight end Jimmy Graham's best days are clearly behind him. Jefferson has earned first-round consideration with his great year, already putting up 75 receptions for 1,037 yards and 12 scores through only 11 games.

 
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27. Kansas City Chiefs: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

Kansas City Chiefs: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

The Chiefs have quietly shown great improvement in the secondary this season, but linebacker has been a work in progress. Murray could complement veteran Anthony Hitchens' ability as a tackling machine. Murray had 155 tackles last season, and he has 79 tackles and three sacks through 11 games this year.

 
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28. Seattle Seahawks: K'Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU

Seattle Seahawks: K'Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU
Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sports Images

While the addition of Jadeveon Clowney has really helped the Seahawks, their overall defensive line play has still been lacking compared to last season. Chaisson has struggled through injuries this year but has huge upside as an edge rusher.

 
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29. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Biadasz, OL, Wisconsin

Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Biadasz, OL, Wisconsin
Jeff Hanisch / USA Today Sports Images

The offensive line has been and should continue to be one of Baltimore's top priorities as a run-heavy team led by Lamar Jackson. Biadasz can step in on the interior immediately, and would give the team insurance should the 35-year-old Marshal Yanda decide to hang up his cleats.

 
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30. New Orleans Saints: Alex Leatherwood, OL, Alabama

New Orleans Saints: Alex Leatherwood, OL, Alabama
Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images

New Orleans has used significant draft capital on the offensive line in recent years, most recently taking center Erik McCoy in the second round this year. It's still an area where the Saints could use more depth, and Leatherwood shows the potential versatility to help immediately.

 
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31. New England Patriots: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

New England Patriots: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

The brother of Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs, Trevon remains a solid first-round prospect. New England's cornerback play has been elite this year, led by Stephon Gilmore, but the team has one of the older secondaries in the game.

 
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32. San Francisco 49ers: Austin Jackson, OT, USC

San Francisco 49ers: Austin Jackson, OT, USC
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

The end could be near for left tackle Joe Staley, who has missed time to injuries this season. San Francisco took fellow tackle Mike McGlinchey in the first round last year, but Jackson could shore up the opposite side for the 49ers.

Seth Trachtman

Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications

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