Sports
The 1 Prospect Every NFL Team Needs to Grab in the 2020 Draft
0 of 32John Bazemore/Associated PressEvery NFL team has an ideal draft scenario. Some matches between prospect and situation make too much sense.Front offices sit down before the draft and work their way through numerous scenarios to be prepared for any instance. But there’s always someone the general manager, the player personnel department and the coaching…
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John Bazemore/Associated Press
Every NFL team has an ideal draft scenario. Some matches between prospect and situation make too much sense.
Front offices sit down before the draft and work their way through numerous scenarios to be prepared for any instance. But there's always someone the general manager, the player personnel department and the coaching staff fall in love with along the way.
It's not always the same prospect. That's the beauty of the draft. Every situation is different. Perceptions can vary greatly within the same organization. Even so, there's always one prospect who best fits exactly what the team needs and its culture while simultaneously being perceived as a good value at its respective draft slot.
The picture will become much clearer once hundreds of prospects stroll into Indianapolis to be tested physically and mentally at the NFL combine in the country's most grueling job interview.
Until then, the following matches between team and specific talent are tentative, based on a player's on-field performance (the most important part of any evaluation) and where the franchise currently stands (free agency occurs before the draft). Draft assessments never stop.
Who does your favorite team need most? Keep reading to find out which prospect it needs to grab in the 2020 NFL draft.
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John Raoux/Associated Press
The Arizona Cardinals achieved the first step of team-building when the organization chose quarterback Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. The obvious next step is protecting the new face of the franchise since opponents sacked him a league-high 48 times.
Adding parts to the offensive line is doubly important since both of the team's projected starting offensive tackles for the 2019 campaign—D.J. Humphries and Marcus Gilbert—are unrestricted free agents.
Really, the Cardinals could (and should) invest in both sides of the front. Thus, the right versus left tackle argument is moot (and basically negligible in today's game anyhow).
Alabama's Jedrick Wills Jr. is arguably the best pure pass-blocker in this year's class with a smooth and sound pass set. The first-team All-SEC performer is also a physical run-blocker to help in Kliff Kingsbury's surprising ground-based attack.
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The Atlanta Falcons shouldn't be wary of another first-round edge-rusher just because the Vic Beasley Jr. and Takkarist McKinley selections haven't exactly worked out in the team's favor.
The search continues.
Last season's 28 sacks tied for second-worst, behind only the Miami Dolphins' 23.
As the owner of the 16th overall pick, Atlanta must wait and see which edge-rusher becomes available. Ohio State's Chase Young and Iowa's A.J. Epenesa could very well be off the board—especially Young, who is a top-two talent.
LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson is a little different.
At 6'4″ and 250 pounds, he's not a traditional defensive end. The Tigers listed him as an outside linebacker, but he primarily played on the edge. His bend and burst as a pass-rusher are exceptional, though. He's also much stouter at the point of attack than his size indicates.
Young may be the most complete pass-rusher in the class, but Chaisson isn't far behind.
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Vasha Hunt/Associated Press
Last year, the Baltimore Ravens started to rebuild their wide receiver corps by adding exceptional speed. Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin created threats down the field to stress opposing defenses since their first, second and third thoughts involved stopping quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' run game.
But Baltimore's wide receiver corps is far from complete.
Three of the team's top-five targets played tight end. Brown led the wide receivers with 46 receptions for 584 yards. No other wide receiver managed more than 339 yards.
LSU's Justin Jefferson brings a varied skill set and high-end production. Last season, the SEC standout led major college football with 18 touchdown receptions from the slot, per Pro Football Focus. Overall, he finished tied for first with 111 catches and third with 1,540 receiving yards.
Jefferson is a fantastic blocker on the edge, too, which would certainly help the Ravens' already impressive ground game.
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Mike McCarn/Associated Press
Like the Ravens, the Buffalo Bills revamped their wide receiver corps last year, albeit with a little more success, at least from a production standpoint.
Both Cole Beasley and John Brown proved vital components to the Bills' success in reaching the playoffs. The latter eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards, while the former became a security blanket for Josh Allen.
The duo lacks size, though. Considering Allen's penchant for poorly targeted throws, another wide receiver with a larger catch radius would certainly help in the quarterback's maturation.
Clemson's Tee Higgins is exactly the type of target who could complete the Bills' passing attack. The 6'4″, 215-pound wide receiver not only has the requisite catch radius, but he also displays outstanding hands and often makes the difficult appear routine.
Furthermore, Higgins' size to work over smaller defensive backs would provide another vertical threat for the big-armed Allen.
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Michael Woods/Associated Press
The Carolina Panthers require a facelift along their defensive front.
Gerald McCoy, Vernon Butler and Kyle Love are free agents. Dontari Poe enters the last year of his deal, and the Panthers could save $9.8 million upon his release if the new coaching staff wants to go in another direction. Finally, Kawann Short turns 31 years old in early February.
Carolina isn't exactly at square one, but it's not far from reaching that point.
Auburn's Derrick Brown is an absolute load along the defensive interior. The 6'5″, 318-pound defender explodes off the snap and through blockers. He can often be seen driving 300-plus-pound linemen into the backfield. His upfield burst is something to behold.
“A guy that big should not be running that fast,” Florida linebacker Jonathan Greenard said, per AL.com's Giana Han. And when told Brown was trying to lose some weight, too, he responded, “Man, that's going to be scary.”
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Mark Humphrey/Associated Press
The Chicago Bears aren't going to move on from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Stop thinking they are.
Protecting Trubisky could be an issue, especially after Kyle Long's unexpected retirement. Long became a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his shortened career. At the same time, he dealt with numerous injuries over the past four seasons and never played in more than 10 games during any of those campaigns.
His replacements this past year—Rashaad Coward and Ted Larsen—didn't play well. A fortification of the front is necessary to strengthen the entire Bears offense.
At 6'2″ and 229 pounds with awesome power at the point of attack, LSU's Damien Lewis is a tailor-made NFL guard. He should be able to start from Day 1 after dominating in the trenches at the collegiate level. And the Bears require an instant impact even though the franchise lacks a first-round pick thanks to the Khalil Mack trade.
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John Amis/Associated Press
Some things are just meant to be.
A year ago, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was barely considered a draftable prospect after a mediocre season with the Tigers. The program hired Joe Brady as passing game coordinator, and something clicked to the point that Burrow put together the best season by a quarterback in college football history.
Burrow showed a level of pocket presence, ball placement and anticipation unlike any other prospect in recent memory. He shattered the FBS record with 60 touchdown passes, nearly broke the single-season completion percentage (76.3) record, won a national championship and claimed the 2019 Heisman Trophy. He's fearless throwing into tight windows and a good athlete with excellent mobility.
He's also a southern Ohio native.
The Cincinnati Bengals are looking for a fresh start and a franchise quarterback. The Andy Dalton era is over, which makes Burrow and the Bengals a perfect match.
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Justin Hayworth/Associated Press
Any position other than offensive tackle would be a colossal upset for the Cleveland Browns.
Left tackle Greg Robinson is a free agent and almost certainly won't be retained after a disappointing season. Right tackle Chris Hubbard hasn't lived up to his contract, and the organization can save $4.9 million by releasing him this offseason.
As a result, the Browns might not have a single starting-caliber tackle on the roster as new head coach Kevin Stefanski readies the eventual implementation of his offensive scheme.
The system is important because Stefanski is expected to run the same zone-stretch system he employed last year with the Minnesota Vikings. That, in turn, is crucial because Iowa's Tristan Wirfs has played in that same blocking scheme his entire collegiate career. Not only is Wirfs an exceptional physical talent, but he's also the best possible fit for what the Browns want to do.
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Mark Humphrey/Associated Press
Some Cowboys fans might reel upon the insinuation that an LSU cornerback is Dallas' best draft fit. Previous memories of Morris Claiborne should be forgotten because Dallas must once again address its secondary after placing itself in a corner.
The Cowboys simply had too many contracts to extend this past year.
DeMarcus Lawrence, Jaylon Smith, La'el Collins and Ezekiel Elliott are done. Dak Prescott now takes priority. That leaves both Amari Cooper and Byron Jones waiting. Jones appears to be the odd man out, especially after defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and secondary coach Kris Richard left.
As such, the unit lacks a solid outside option opposite Chidobe Awuzie.
According to Pro Football Focus, LSU's Kristian Fulton allowed only a 41.3 completion percentage with a 92.3 coverage grade throughout his career in SEC play.
Once Ohio State's Jeff Okudah is drafted, Fulton is arguably the class' next-best cornerback for Dallas to target.
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Vasha Hunt/Associated Press
The Denver Broncos are well on their way to building an exciting young offense despite this season's less-than-desirable numbers.
First, the organization signed Phillip Lindsay as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2018 season. Courtland Sutton came into his own this season with a 1,112-yard campaign and Pro Bowl berth. The front office invested a first-round pick in tight end Noah Fant. Most importantly, Drew Lock looked like a future franchise quarterback during the final month of the regular season.
The unit still requires a few pieces, though. A vertical threat opposite Sutton to go with Lock's outstanding deep passing would be ideal.
Alabama's Henry Ruggs III is arguably college football's fastest player. His acceleration simply blew others away, though he never served as the Crimson Tide's primary target. He wouldn't serve as the Broncos' top option, either, but defenses would be forced to account for his presence on every snap or risk giving up a big play.
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Paul Sancya/Associated Press
The Detroit Lions finished 32nd overall in pass defense a year ago, while Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah is generally considered a top-five prospect. Massive need meets elite talent.
Yes, the Lions already made significant investments in the cornerback position. But the unit lacks a true bookend to Darius Slay at outside corner, which Okudah could certainly fill.
The unanimous first-team All-American displays every trait a team wants in a potential shutdown corner. Okudah has size (6'1″, 200 lbs), length, speed, fluid hips, balls skills (12 defended passes) and the ability to play relatively well against the run. According to Pro Football Focus, he didn't allow 50 or more yards to a single wide receiver during last year's regular season.
The only real question about the third overall pick has nothing to do with Okudah. Will the Lions swap selections with a quarterback-needy team trying to get in front of the Miami Dolphins?
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Richard W. Rodriguez/Associated Press
The Green Bay Packers' never-ending search for a secondary option in the passing game continues.
Davante Adams led the team with 17 receptions for 298 yards during the team's playoff run. No other target caught more than seven passes, provided more than 108 yards or even scored a touchdown.
Two parties must solve this problem.
First, general manager Brian Gutekunst needs to identify a legitimate option and draft that receiver. Second, quarterback Aaron Rodgers should find a way to build a rapport with and trust the young target.
TCU's Jalen Reagor provides something entirely different because of his exceptional speed. But the TCU product isn't a typical speed merchant. Though he can blow the top off any defense, he's more than a straight-line track star. Reagor is exceptional after the catch and does a fantastic job high-pointing the ball, even as a 5'11” target.
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Rick Scuteri/Associated Press
Houston Texans ownership officially announced Bill O'Brien's status as the organization's general manager on Tuesday, even though he served as the de facto general manager for the entire 2019 campaign.
Now, the head coach will go into his first draft cycle as the primary decision-maker. He'll do so without first- or third-round picks thanks to trades he made during the regular season.
The team is left with a second-round pick to find an immediate contributor at one of multiple problem areas.
Houston's defense took a step back this season and finished among the bottom five in the league. The unit that once featured multiple elite talents to rush the passer tied for 26th overall with 31 sacks.
Utah's Bradlee Anae is a polished pass-rusher with 29.5 career sacks and 40 tackles for loss. One has to wonder if his outstanding Senior Bowl performance will push him out of Houston's range, though.
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Butch Dill/Associated Press
The current iteration of the Indianapolis Colts will continue to improve through the trenches.
Yes, Jacoby Brissett is a significant concern at quarterback. Colts brass must decide whether he's the organization's future at the position.
Until that decision is made, the Colts can concentrate on other areas since Brissett remains under contract.
Currently, Indianapolis' offensive line is its greatest asset. The Colts can control games by imposing their will on opponents. The same approach should be attempted on the other side of the ball.
South Carolina's Javon Kinlaw is an explosive upfield penetrator and the best interior pass-rusher in this year's class. The 6'5″, 315-pound defensive tackle can play either 1- or 3-technique. This is important since Denico Autry, Margus Hunt and Grover Stewart are all entering the final year of their current deals.
A combination of Autry and Kinlaw collapsing the pocket could be devastating.
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Vasha Hunt/Associated Press
The Jacksonville Jaguars might not have an answer at quarterback between Nick Foles and Gardner Minshew II, but the front office can do everything in its power to build a complete cockpit for either signal-caller.
In order to do so, the team must veer away from the run-first mentality established under previous executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin and make the passing game far more potent.
DJ Chark Jr. emerged this past season with 1,008 receiving yards. Chris Conley provided a solid, albeit unspectacular, first season in Jacksonville. Neither is a truly dynamic threat to consistently threaten opposing defenses.
Alabama's Jerry Jeudy is the top-rated wide receiver in this year's class. His route-running is nothing short of breathtaking, which creates ample opportunities due to the separation he generates. The 2018 Biletnikoff Award winner can play outside or work out of the slot. He's also excellent after the catch and when making contested grabs.
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Jeff Roberson/Associated Press
The rebuilt Kansas City Chiefs secondary will need to be rebuilt once again after its Super Bowl LIV appearance.
Bashaud Breeland, Kendall Fuller, Morris Claiborne and Keith Reaser will all become free agents once the regular season ends. Charvarius Ward and Rashad Fenton will be the two cornerbacks left standing.
Obviously, the Chiefs can possibly re-sign one or more of those defensive backs before they test the market. Or, the team can proceed with Ward and Fenton as the primary building blocks found within the cornerback room.
Either way, the Chiefs could use some secondary help.
Florida's CJ Henderson is a true cover corner with a fantastic pedigree. However, his tackling and overall physicality will come into question. Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham isn't worried.
“He's the best player that I've coached, college or pro,” Grantham told reporters. “He's a guy that has improved his tackling from Game 1 to now.”
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Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press
Antonio Brown as a member of the Oakland Raiders organization and head coach Jon Gruden hoping to establish the game's best wide receiver corps seems so long ago.
As a result, tight end Darren Waller emerged as the Raiders' top receiving threat and managed a team-leading 1,145 yards. Tyrell Williams finished as the unit's most productive wide receiver with 651 receiving yards, though he missed two games with a foot injury.
If the Raiders receivers are ever going to reach Gruden's standard for the position, the newly minted Las Vegas franchise needs to add some glitter and glamour.
Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb can step in from day one and be any offense's No. 1 receiving threat. The 20-year-old target creates significant separation on a consistent basis. Even when he doesn't, his ability to create after the catch and force missed tackles is second to none. Lamb broke 25 tackles during his final season on campus, per Pro Football Focus.
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Kyusung Gong/Associated Press
A new era of Chargers football is coming
Not only is the organization moving into the new SoFi Stadium this fall, alongside the Rams, but the Chargers are doing so without an established quarterback. Fox Sports' Jay Glazer (h/t Sports Illustrated‘s Jason B. Hirschhorn) reported the Chargers have “moved on from Philip Rivers.”
Neither Tyrod Taylor nor Easton Stick should be viewed as long-term starting options.
Oregon's Justin Herbert has everything a team wants in a top quarterback prospect. The 6'6″, 227-pound signal-caller showed everyone at the Senior Bowl he's an elite talent. He throws with tremendous velocity and above-average ball placement. He's also an outstanding athlete. Questions about his demeanor and leadership qualities seemed to diminish throughout the week.
The only question is whether the Chargers can land the William V. Campbell Trophy (academic Heisman) winner with the sixth overall pick or if they'll be forced to trade up for his services.
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Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
The idea of the Los Angeles Rams organization investing its top draft pick in another Auburn left tackle might be cringe-worthy to some after the previous failed attempt with 2014 second overall pick Greg Robinson.
Auburn's Prince Tega Wanogho is similar to Robinson in one regard: He's far from a finished product.
The Nigeria native is still learning the game after picking it up during his final year of high school. Despite his late introduction to the game, the 6'5″, 307-pound blocker played like a first-round talent during his final season on campus.
However, some teams may be wary of where he stands from a developmental point of view.
As such, the Rams can take advantage by drafting a top talent in the second round since they don't own a selection in the opening frame. Wanogho is needed, too, since left tackle Andrew Whitworth is 38 years old and a free agent.
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Vasha Hunt/Associated Press
The Miami Dolphins might pull off the perfect rebuilding plan.
Despite all the discussion regarding the franchise's supposed tank job, the Dolphins managed five wins. They did so after gaining valuable draft assets by trading Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Kenyan Drake.
Even with more wins than expected, the Dolphins are still in an excellent position to land a franchise quarterback with the fifth overall draft pick. They also have ammunition to trade up a bit and make sure that happens. Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa is the obvious target.
Miami's supposed interest in the left-handed gunslinger dates back to a year ago when the Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson reported owner Stephen Ross “really, really likes” Tagovailoa. He should. The 2018 SEC Offensive Player of the Year is an efficient passer and highly accurate thrower with a lighting release.
Tagovailoa's hip injury only made it more likely that he'll be available since his stock might drop ever so slightly.
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Vasha Hunt/Associated Press
What happened to Xavier Rhodes?
Forget for a moment that the veteran Minnesota Vikings cornerback made the Pro Bowl this year because he didn't play anywhere near the level he did when he made his previous trip in 2017. In fact, Rhodes' performance declined each of the last two seasons.
On top of that, Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes are free agents.
So, the Vikings' once-loaded secondary is now a point of contention.
Alabama's Trevon Diggs fits the mold of a Mike Zimmer cornerback. He's big (6'2″, 207 lbs), physical and tenacious. He's also a fantastic cover corner with solid ball skills (14 defended passes this season, including three interceptions). According to Pro Football Focus, the second-team All-SEC performer allowed a measly 44.5 passer rating when targeted.
The Vikings have drafted a first- or second-round corner in four of the last seven drafts. It's time for another.
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Gerald Herbert/Associated Press
Tom Brady's free-agent status will dominate headlines until the 42-year-old quarterback decides where he wants to play during the 2020 campaign.
The New England Patriots remain the favorite to retain Brady's services, but the organization shouldn't stop there. With or without Brady, a succession plan must be implemented.
Landing a top signal-caller might be difficult with the 23rd overall pick, though.
Utah State's Jordan Love is the perfect project to develop after a disappointing final season on campus.
“It's like an NBA evaluator looking at upside,” an anonymous scout told Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel. “The body of work this year wasn't great. But he had a great [redshirt] sophomore year. It's like the NBA looking at an underclassman. You see the body and the great arm strength.”
A re-signed Brady coupled with Love's acquisition would provide the Patriots with a short-term solution and a long-term plan.
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The New Orleans Saints' Demario Davis is great. The rest of the team's linebackers? Not so much.
A.J. Klein, Stephone Anthony and Manti Te'o are free agents. Kiko Alonso is productive, but he also suffered an ACL injury during this year's postseason.
The Saints defense needs far more speed and athleticism along its second line. Enter LSU's Patrick Queen. The selection isn't just home-cooking, either.
As the game evolves, more athletic sideline-to-sideline linebackers become necessary. The ability to play in space is more important than being a downhill presence.
Queen is a missile when he quickly identifies screens and crossing patterns. He can match up against running backs and tight ends out of the backfield. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed 165 total yards on 355 coverage snaps this past season.
His overall aggressiveness does lead to missed tackles, but the incoming class doesn't have a better pure linebacker with more range.
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Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Don't think of Clemson's Isaiah Simmons as a linebacker or defensive back. Think of him as a defensive weapon.
Simmons is unlike any other prospect in this year's class and compares favorably to the Los Angeles Chargers' Derwin James.
Like James, he can be used in a variety of manners. Last season, the unanimous first-team All-American played over 200 snaps at linebacker, safety and over the slot, according to ESPN's Field Yates. He also rushed the passer 71 times, which resulted in seven sacks.
There's very little Simmons can't do, thus his overall value ranks among the class' elite.
The New York Giants own the fourth overall pick. General manager Dave Gettleman already showed he doesn't care what anyone else thinks about value when he makes a top-10 selection, and that's actually a positive in this case.
Instead of concentrating on a position considered more valuable overall, he can draft the best football player once Joe Burrow and Chase Young are off the board.
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John Amis/Associated Press
Protect Sam Darnold at all costs.
That mantra should be repeated throughout the New York Jets' building since the team's offensive line was one of the league's worst pass-blocking units.
On top of that, New York's two starting tackles to open the season, Kelvin Beachum and Brandon Shell, are both free agents. The Jets groomed Chuma Edoga to start at right tackle. Now, they need a reliable blindside protector.
Georgia's Andrew Thomas is arguably the best offensive tackle prospect in the class, but he has stiff competition. He could very well slide slightly as a result.
Thomas' performance through three years became a constant, though. As a true freshman, the 6'5″, 320-pound blocker earned Freshman All-American recognition. He became a second-team All-American the following season and a unanimous All-American as a junior.
The dominant left tackle allowed 37 quarterback pressures in 1,075 career pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
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The Philadelphia Eagles played with three active wide receivers—a couple of them even came from the practice squad—through the toughest portion of the team's season. Somehow, Philadelphia still won the NFC East.
The franchise can't, in any way, repeat what happened during its latest playoff push.
Yes, DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery should be healthy and ready to play this fall. At the same time, the Eagles must consider their long-term options since Nelson Agholor is a free agent and Jackson and Jeffery likely have only one more year in Philadelphia before the organization can be rid of their contracts.
Colorado's Laviska Shenault Jr. would provide a complementary skill set.
At times, he's more running back than wide receiver with his ability to create after the catch. Shenault could replace Agholor as the offense's top slot option while simultaneously creating more flexibility within Doug Pederson's schemes via jet sweeps, smoke screens and more.
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Butch Dill/Associated Press
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in somewhat of a bind.
The organization desperately needs to address the quarterback position since it will continue to rely on the soon-to-be 38-year-old Ben Roethlisberger, who is coming off a season-ending elbow injury to his throwing arm, with no long-term plan in place.
But the franchise lacks a first-round pick thanks to the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade.
So, the front office could wait and see if a quality quarterback falls or address another position of need. The latter seems most likely.
The tight end class lacks a top-flight prospect this season. However, Dayton's Adam Trautman might have worked his way into being TE1 with a fantastic performance at the Senior Bowl. The small-school product showed he isn't just a valuable vertical threat in the passing game; he's also a relentless blocker.
Trautman's presence could change the entire Steelers offense since Vance McDonald has been a bit of a disappointment.
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Michael Conroy/Associated Press
As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for Super Bowl LIV, very few holes can be found throughout their roster. General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan put together the league's best roster from top to bottom.
Free agency won't take much of a toll, except for one position. The league's best defensive front might lose a little bit of its pop and Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk might consider a different destination, but free safety might take the biggest blow.
Everything finally came together for Jimmie Ward in 2019 after years of disappointing play. Is it a coincidence he broke through during a contract year?
If he decides to go elsewhere, Minnesota's Antoine Winfield Jr. would be an ideal replacement. He's a ball hawk along the back line with no fear of flying up in support. His seven interceptions ranked fourth overall at the FBS level, and he also led the Gophers with 83 total tackles.
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Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
More is asked of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson than any other player in the NFL. Part of the problem stems from a poorly constructed offensive front.
The O-line remains an issue (allowed the ninth-most sacks in 2019), and the problem will likely grow as the offseason progresses since Mike Iupati, Germain Ifedi and George Fant are free agents. Also, left tackle Duane Brown isn't getting any younger; he'll be 35 years old before the start of the 2020 campaign.
Wilson's protection should be at the heart of everything Seattle does.
Statistically, Houston's Josh Jones was college football's best pass protector. According to Pro Football Focus, he led all offensive tackle prospects in win-rate above expectation in true pass sets (excluding screen, rollouts and play-action passes).
The 6'5⅜”, 311-pound blocker is exceptionally smooth and has the potential to play either tackle spot. That could land him even higher than the Seahawks' 27th overall selection.
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Joe Robbins/Getty Images
A new quarterback remains a legitimate possibility for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the organization's approach to Jameis Winston's pending free agency is not yet known.
Furthermore, the Buccaneers don't appear to be in a position to land a top-tier quarterback with the 14th overall pick.
Instead, the front office can concentrate on improving the rest of the roster, starting with its offensive line. Winston made plenty of mental mistakes, but he also faced a lot of pressure last season (47 sacks, 54 hits, 60 hurries).
Left tackle Donovan Smith is signed through the 2021 campaign, whereas 34-year-old right tackle Demar Dotson is a free agent. The width of the pocket is vital in Bruce Arians' dropback passing scheme.
As such, the addition of the 6'7″, 369-pound Mekhi Becton would be a logical move. And his size belies his movement skills. The Louisville product, who's played both sides, displays a smooth pass set and can mirror much smaller edge-rushers.
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Vasha Hunt/Associated Press
The Tennessee Titans surprised many with their impressive run to the AFC Championship Game. They did so through a combination of great coaching, disciplined play and a physical brand of football.
Now, the organization has multiple decisions to make this offseason. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Derrick Henry, right tackle Jack Conklin and cornerback Logan Ryan are free agents. The Titans' direction on draft day could change based on their ability to re-sign them.
Until those situations are sorted out, the approach should remain the same: Continue to build a talented, physical and sound football squad. Currently, Tennessee lacks an every-down edge defender opposite Harold Landry.
Alabama's Terrell Lewis is what a team wants in a 3-4 outside linebacker. His Willie McGinest-like build (6'5⅜”, 258 lbs) allows him to set the edge, play with his hand in the dirt and occasionally drop into space. His addition would give Tennessee arguably the league's best set of linebackers.
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The 2020 draft starts with the third overall pick, because quarterback Joe Burrow and defensive end Chase Young at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, are about as close as you can get to locks.
For Washington, selecting Young isn't about an underwhelming unit—the defense finished 10th overall with 46 sacks. Sometimes, a talent is too good for an organization to consider anyone else. That's where Washington stands if the Bengals do the smart thing by selecting their franchise quarterback with the first overall pick.
The 2019 Bronko Nagurski award winner is everything a team wants in an edge-rusher. His talent ceiling is similar to those of former No. 1 overall picks Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett. He's a potential game-wrecker after leading the FBS with 16.5 sacks despite missing two contests because of a suspension.
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