The 2020 NFL Draft is just over a week away, and that means we’re getting into the meatiest of mock drafts. After months of one round mocks, we’re starting to seeing the multi-round, with bigger names going for the whole enchilada.
The latest seven-round mock draft comes courtesy of The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. It does not feature any trades, but does attempt to devine each pick based on a combination of team needs, player fit, and things like draft trends, visits and workouts, and that sort of thing. There’s even more limited information this year with team meetings reduced to video calls, but we still know a little bit.
Any mock draft is guess-work, and a seven round mock draft with or without trades is that much more given how much we don’t know about how things will shake out. But, a mock gives us a chance to see where we can start to project at least what teams might consider from a position perspective.
This is particularly notable at the quarterback position. There are some general managers who hold a philosophy of regularly drafting a quarterback, even if it is late on day three. Other teams are settled in and comfortable wading through undrafted free agency.
In his mock, Brugler has 11 quarterbacks selected, with three in the first round. He acknowledges specifically with Jordan Love that a trade could move him higher than he projects. Trades are the big x-factor in any mock draft, and in this year’s QB class, it could shake up the first round in a big way. The Detroit Lions at No. 3 are viewed as a strong candidate to trade down, and teams outside the top ten are likely willing to move up or down depending on their quarterback need.
Here is a look at Brugler’s quarterbacks, and what it might all mean.
1 (1). Cincinnati Bengals — Joe Burrow
This is the duh choice.
1 (5). Miami Dolphins — Justin Herbert
1 (6). Los Angeles Chargers — Tua Tagovailoa
Miami and LA are both expected to eye a quarterback with their first round picks. The Dolphins hold three picks, but unless they are eyeing Jordan Love at No. 18, they likely will spend their top pick on the QB position. The bigger question is what Detroit does. A team willing to pay up could easily move ahead of Miami and LA and shake up the top of the draft.
2 (34). Indianapolis Colts — Jordan Love
I would be surprised if Love slipped into the second round. Once we get past the top nine picks, there are a host of teams likely willing to move back if someone will pay up to land Love. The San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots both lack a second round pick, and the 49ers lack third and fourth round picks. The 49ers have two first round picks and seem all but certain to move back with one of them. If such a deal happens, that could be what gets Love into the first round.
3 (76). Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jacob Eason
3 (78). Atlanta Falcons — Jake Fromm
3 (80). Las Vegas Raiders — Jalen Hurts
A late day two or early day three run on mid-level quarterbacks makes sense. If it were these three teams it would not be surprising. The Bucs signed Tom Brady, but will need to figure out their long term future. The Falcons have Matt Ryan, but also need to figure out their future. The Raiders have Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota, but neither seems like a long-term answer.
5 (166). Detroit Lions — Anthony Gordon
6 (191). New York Jets — James Morgan
6 (204). New England Patriots — Jake Luton
7 (229). Washington — Cole McDonald
Once you get into day three, it’s basically a dart board. We’ll hear plenty about how Tom Brady went from late day three to GOAT, but he’s the exception to the rule. One or more of these quarterbacks could turn into something, but odds are better than decent they are never more than backups.