J Dawg presents: The Gossip, BS, Lies and Rumors edition of the 2020 NFL Mock Draft

1. Cincinnati Bengals – QB Joe Burrow, LSU

Any franchise who rolls with Andy Dalton at quarterback for NINE YEARS does not deserve nice things. But Joe Burrow is one of the nicest QB prospects in years and should succeed, even with the Bengals.

Joe Burrow grew up in Athens, Ohio.

2. Washington Redskins – QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

Let me start with this: I always love the thing that nobody is talking about. Nobody is talking about Tua to Washington, but why? Dwayne Haskins was an underwhelming rookie in 2019 as he went 2-7 as a starter. Tua is the first or second best player in this draft. And he’s a QB. He’s going top two.

3. Detroit Lions – DE Chase Young, Ohio State

You can argue Chase Young took plays, and sometimes games, off at Ohio State. He didn’t record a sack in either of their final two games of the season. But he recorded 16.5 sacks in the previous 9 games. He will instantly become the Lions best defensive player.

4. New York Giants – OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa

Giants GM Dave Gettleman is a dope. The list of why is long from hating on analytics, embracing the running back position and trading away star players. A generational defensive talent remains on the board, but he goes with the best run-blocking offensive tackle in the draft to open holes for Saquon Barkley.

5. Miami Dolphins – LB Isiah Simmons, Clemson

Simmons is a 6’4, 238-pound playmaker who ran a 4.39 40 at the combine. He’s a physical freak who can and will play defensive back and linebacker in the NFL. With Burrow and Tua off the board early, the Dolphins stick to their board and will wait until later in the night to address QB.

6. Los Angeles Chargers – QB Jordan Love, Utah State

Phillip Rivers spent 16 years throwing interceptions for the Chargers. His gunslinging mentality will remain in L.A. in the form of Jordan Love. Many scouts say Love reminds of them Patrick Mahomes. What a sight the AFC West will be if that is true.

7. Carolina Panthers – CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State

The Panthers are the team best equipped for best player available at the top of the draft. They have no major holes and will jump at the chance for Okudah to make plays on the outside, while competing in a division with Julio Jones, Mike Thomas and Mike Evans.

8. Arizona Cardinals – OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville

The NFL world still can’t believe the heist pulled off when the Cardinals acquired star WR DeAndre Hopkins for a second-round pick. Hopkins will make QB Kyler Murray instantly better and so will Louisville Cardinal Mekhi Becton, who at 6’7, 364 pounds will make sure Murray has time to find Hopkins often.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars – WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

We don’t know what to make of this franchise. Nearly every starter from their 2018 AFC Championship team is now gone. QB Gardner Minshew showed jorts and promise in 2019. A consistent route runner like Jeudy will give this pathetic front office a better look to determine if Minshew is the future, or just another Bortles.

10. Cleveland Browns – OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia

Baker Mayfield was sacked 40 times last season. 2.5 sacks allowed each game doesn’t cut it in the NFL. Love him or hate him, we still don’t know if Mayfield is any good. And we won’t know until he has a decent offensive line in front of him.

11. New York Jets – DT Derrick Brown, Auburn

Adam Gase and the Jets would love to add to their offense here. There is concern in New York QB Sam Darnold isn’t the guy. But the top WR and 3 OTs are off the board leaving a game-changing defensive tackle for Adam Gase to make crazy eyes at.

Jets Head Coach Adam Gase is known for his crazy eyes.

12. Las Vegas Raiders – DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina

That’s right, there’s an NFL team in Vegas. The Raiders will play home games just off the Strip, behind Mandalay Bay. I’m much more excited for NFL in Vegas than their two first-round picks. Anyway, Kinlaw’s potential is off the charts and will start instantly for Las Vegas.

13. San Francisco 49ers – WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama

San Francisco acquired this pick from the Colts last month for stud DT DeForest Buckner. The 49ers D is right where it needs to be but QB Jimmy G needs help if they are to match up with the Chiefs in another Super Bowl. Ruggs is the fastest WR in the draft and brings instant credibility to the offense.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – OT Jedrick Wills, Alabama

You don’t sign Tom Brady with any desire to win a championship without protecting him. It’s been sad to see Old Man Tom going down in the face of pressure in recent years. The Bucs O Line is not impressive, but Wills is the best RT available and will start on Day 1 of the Brady era.

15. Denver Broncos – WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma

I’ve been a critic of John Elway and the Broncos the last few years. I don’t know their plan and I’m not sure they do either. Drew Lock isn’t the guy at QB and they spent free agent money on…running back. Instant red flag. I’m giving them Lamb, a dynamic WR, as Elway wants to be proven right on Lock. Spoiler alert: he won’t be.

16. Atlanta Falcons – LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma

New uniforms won’t save the Falcons from giving up 25 points a game like they did in 2019. Murray is wowing coaches with his mind in pre-draft zoom interviews and is the type of smart middle linebacker that can turn around a poor defense.

17. Dallas Cowboys – Edge K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU

The Cowboys have options this year. I almost went with secondary help here and that could still happen. But Chaisson will flash right away rushing the passer and should help get the Dallas D off the field on 3rd down more often.

18. Miami Dolphins – QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

This one hurts. As a long-suffering Fins Fan, I’ve been subjected to mediocre QB play since Dan Marino retired in 2000. It doesn’t look much better with Herbert, who lacks the leadership skills desired at the position and reminds this Dolphins lifer of the athletic, inaccurate Ryan Tannehill. Hope I’m wrong with this pick.

19. Oakland Raiders – LB Patrick Queen, LSU

Sources tell me Bill Belichick badly wants Queen. But it’s more likely the Patriots trade back instead of trading up. Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden realize their defense is a liability and add 2 starters with their first 2 picks.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars – CB C.J. Henderson, Florida

This pick should belong to the Rams but the Jags acquired it for loudmouth CB Jalen Ramsey. Henderson is the perfect pick to replace Ramsey as a standalone corner. And he’ll get to continue living as a Florida Man.

21. Philadelphia Eagles – WR Justin Jefferson, LSU

Jefferson wowed us in 2019, hauling in 1,500 yards and 18 TDs from Joe Burrow. Can you name the Eagles starting WRs? … After senior citizens Alshon Jeffrey and DeSean Jackson, Greg Ward and JJ Arcega-Whiteside are next in line. There is no doubt the Eagles go WR here.

22. Minnesota Vikings – S Xavier McKinney, Alabama

McKinney is a poor man’s Isiah Simmons. He makes plays throughout the secondary. The Vikings D has lost a lot of talent in recent years. They were league average in passing defense last year but that will change in 2020.

23. New England Patriots – Edge Yeter Gross-Matos, Penn State

It’s hard to believe the Patriots are in rebuild mode, but 2020 has been unbelievable. A bad Patriots team could bring hope to a struggling nation. Bill Belichick knows you build at 3 core positions – QB, LT, Edge. There’s no QB or LT to reach for here so edge rusher is the pick.

24. New Orleans Saints – CB Kristian Fulton, LSU

We have 1-2 years left of the Drew Brees era as the Saints run reaches a perilous state. After years of playoff heartbreak, they can never have enough corners to help get the ball back to Brees in crunch time.

25. Minnesota Vikings – DE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa

The Vikings again? Ok. Many will expect a WR with one of these picks to replace Stefon Diggs but it’s a deep class with starters available in rounds 2-4. They plug another hole on D with Epenesa.

26. Miami Dolphins – OT Josh Jones, Houston

The Fins invested a lot on their defense in free agency but barely touched the offensive line. That changes throughout the draft and begins here with Jones, who wowed scouts throughout Senior Bowl Week and should be a cornerstone left tackle in Miami.

27. Seattle Seahawks – CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama

The Legion of Boom is more like Boom Goes the Dynamite lately. The days of Sherman and Chancellor hitting hard are long gone. Seattle was 26th in yards allowed last season! You can’t win a title for Russell Wilson with that nonsense. A solid CB will stop some of the chunk plays the Seahawks have been giving up.

28. Baltimore Ravens – Edge Terrell Lewis, Alabama

The 7th member of Nick Saban’s team to go in Round 1. I had a dream a pass-rushing Terrell could terrorize the AFC North. With young QBs in Cleveland, Cincinnati and soon to be Pittsburgh, it’s a great time to hunt the quarterback.

29. Tennessee Titans – CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson

The Titans surprisingly have several holes on their AFC Championship team. One is at QB but we won’t address that terrible contract here. Terrell is a technically-sound corner and will allow Vrabel to use his front 7 for exotic blitzes with confidence.

30. Green Bay Packers – WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado

Aaron Rodgers has always been at his best with two top receiving options. But since Jordy Nelson’s decline and departure, A-Rod has struggled as the Packers have done more damage on the ground. Enter Shenault who will get single coverage with Davante Adams on the other side. Look for the Packers offense to make a Lambeau Leap forward in 2020.

31. San Francisco 49ers – CB Jeff Gladney, TCU

The 49ers went offense earlier in the night so here, they go defense. Richard Sherman is just decent at 32 years old. The 49ers are making moves to beat the Chiefs in the future and you will need all of the cornerbacks to do that.

32. Kansas City Chiefs – RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia

It’s a scary thought for the rest of the NFL that Andy Reid could increase the amount of weapons for legend Patrick Mahomes. Swift is the best RB in the draft and does damage as a runner and receiver. An offense of Mahomes, Hill, Kelce, Watkins…and Swift would be one of, if not the best in NFL history.

Want more NFL Draft coverage? Subscribe to The Sports Hangover podcast for the latest gossip, BS, lies and rumors prior to draft night and the winners and losers after it’s done.