The NFL continues to control the North American sporting world while its on hiatus amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
While they’re in the busiest part of their offseason, free agency and some blockbuster trades have at least taken plenty of minds off the harsh realities of today — even if it’s for a moment.
The market and subsequent rumor mill have slowed since a frenetic start last week, but the 2020 NFL Draft scheduled is now poised to take over.
We’re less than one month out from the draft in Las Vegas, which will come without the fanfare or sideshows that have become customary.
Instead, we’ll be transported back to the days when the NFL was humble and its draft headquarters were modest.
Sure, it might be quiet, but a deep draft class coupled with some puzzling offseason moves makes this year’s draft one of the more intriguing in recent memory — at least after the first pick, which we all figure to be Joe Burrow of LSU heading to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here is how we think the first round of the draft will play out:
amNewYork Metro 2020 1st-Round NFL Mock Draft
- Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
- Washington Redskins- Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
- Detroit Lions- Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
- New York Giants- Jedrick Wills, OL, Alabama
- Miami Dolphins- Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
- Los Angeles Chargers- Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
- Carolina Panthers- Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
- Arizona Cardinals- Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa
- Jacksonville Jaguars- Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
- Cleveland Browns- Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
- New York Jets- Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
- Oakland Raiders- CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
- San Francisco 49ers (via Colts)- Mekhi Becton, OL, Louisville
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Andrew Thomas, OL, Georgia
- Denver Broncos- Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
- Atlanta Falcons- CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
- Dallas Cowboys- K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
- Miami Dolphins (via Steelers)- Grant Delpit, S, LSU
- Oakland Raiders (via Bears)- Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
- Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams)- AJ Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
- Philadelphia Eagles- Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
- Minnesota Vikings (via Bills)- Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
- New England Patriots- Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
- New Orleans Saints- Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
- Minnesota Vikings- Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
- Miami Dolphins (via Texans)- D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
- Seattle Seahawks- Josh Jones, OT, Houston
- Baltimore Ravens- Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
- Tennessee Titans- Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
- Green Bay Packers- Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
- San Francisco 49ers- Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
- Kansas City Chiefs- AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson