Kevin Hanson's 2020 NFL Mock Draft
- Updated: Thursday, May 16th| The Huddle Report tracks NFL Mock Draft Accuracy and EDSFootball's Kevin Hanson ranks 1st in accuracy among experts tracked over the past five years. |
Continuing our way-too-early 2020 NFL Mock Draft, here are picks 17-32:
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (Draft History): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide
In the previous iteration of my mock draft, I had Trevon joining his brother Stefon in Minnesota, but he doesn't make it that far in this version. Not only did the Steelers sign Steven Nelson to a three-year deal in free agency, they selected Justin Layne in the third round of this year's draft. Given that both Joe Haden and Artie Burns, a disappointing first-round selection, will be free agents after the 2019 season, adding more depth and a potential starter in Diggs makes sense.
18. Houston Texans (Draft History): Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin Badgers
The 2018 Doak Walker Award winner, Taylor rushed for 2,194 yards (7.1 YPC) and 16 touchdowns last season. Through two seasons, Taylor has a massive 606 carries and 4,171 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. Taylor was credited with more than 1,300 yards after contact in both seasons (1,354 in 2017 and 1,307 in 2018). In addition, Lamar Miller will be a free agent in 2020.
19. Dallas Cowboys (Draft History): Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri Tigers
With 17 scores over the past two seasons, Okwuegbunam could be the first tight end off the board in 2020 and he fills a need for the Cowboys. Dallas got a few productive games from Blake Jarwin and lured Jason Witten out of retirement to return on a one-year deal (2019) to help mentor the team's young tight ends, but the position group would get a significant upgrade with Albert O.
20. Minnesota Vikings (Draft History): Trey Smith, OT, Tennessee Volunteers
Per coach Jeremy Pruitt, "Trey plans on playing football one day again" and he's "probably in the best shape of his life." Then again, it's "yet to be determined" if he'll play this fall.
The former five-star recruit earned Freshman All-American honors in 2017, but blood clots in his lungs sidelined him twice in 2018 -- for six months in the offseason program and then again in October. Health should be priority number one but based on talent and provided his health cooperates, Smith could be selected much earlier than this.
21. Seattle Seahawks (Draft History): Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State Nittany Lions
After trading away Frank Clark, the Seahawks used a first-round pick on edge rusher L.J. Collier and could go back to the well in 2020. Gross-Matos had 20 tackles for loss including eight sacks in 2018 and the Nittany Lions coaching staff thinks that he could take "a significant step" forward in 2019 based on how he has looked this spring.
22. Cleveland Browns (Draft History): Trey Adams, OT, Washington Huskies
The Browns re-signed Greg Robinson to be their left tackle for 2019, but the two sides agreed to only a one-year deal. Perhaps John Dorsey and the former No. 2 overall pick agree to another extension, but the Browns would be wise to find a long-term replacement on a post-Joe Thomas offensive line.
Significant injuries in consecutive seasons (ACL and back) have led Adams to return to Washington for a redshirt senior season. The importance of staying healthy and teams being comfortable with his medical evaluations can't be understated, but Adams has the size, athleticism and technique to move his way back into the Round 1 conversation.
23. Atlanta Falcons (Draft History): Nick Coe, DE, Auburn Tigers
Per PFF, all three of Atlanta's edge defenders with 200-plus snaps played from 2018 graded out as the 50th-best edge defender or worse -- Adrian Clayborn (50th), Takkarist McKinley (70th) and Vic Beasley Jr. (103rd). Both Clayborn and Beasley will be unrestricted free agents in 2020. As a sophomore, Coe had seven sacks in nine games.
24. Green Bay Packers (Draft History): Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide
Ruggs is fast. (How fast is he?) Per Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Ruggs ran the 40-yard dash "in the 4.25 range" at Alabama's junior Pro Day. As a sophomore, Ruggs finished 2018 with 46 catches for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns.
25. Las Vegas Raiders (Draft History): Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin Badgers
Center Rodney Hudson will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2019 season and Biadasz is the top center prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. Perhaps he won't last until the 25th pick, but he makes a ton of sense here if he does.
26. Philadelphia Eagles (Draft History): Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn Tigers
Had Brown declared for the 2019 draft, he would have been a first-round pick and he could be long gone by this point in 2020. Facing Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley in a quarter of their regular-season games, adding a talented player like Brown to their defensive line rotation would be smart.
27. Indianapolis Colts (Draft History): Collin Johnson, WR, Texas Longhorns
The Colts signed Devin Funchess to a one-year deal and could look to add a big receiver in the 2020 draft. Johnson would fit the bill. As a junior, Johnson (6-6, 220) had 68 catches for 985 yards and seven touchdowns including an 8/177/1 performance in the Big 12 Championship Game.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (Draft History): Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson Tigers
Perhaps Etienne won't last this long and perhaps the Chiefs use this pick on a position with a greater potential impact, but Carlos Hyde and Damien Williams will be free agents after the 2019 and 2020 seasons, respectively. The ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Etienne rushed for 1,658 yards (8.1 YPC) and 24 touchdowns for the national champs as a sophomore.
29. Los Angeles Chargers (Draft History): Jacob Eason, QB, Washington Huskies
The Chargers drafted Easton Stick, who can dribble a football, but the fifth-rounder shouldn't prevent L.A. from drafting Philip Rivers' heir apparent in next year's draft. The former five-star recruit and Georgia Bulldog has one of the strongest arms amongst next year's draft-eligible quarterbacks.
30. Los Angeles Rams (Draft History): Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville Cardinals
The Rams used a third- and fifth-round pick on tackles Bobby Evans and David Edwards, respectively, but Becton has excellent movement skills for a man his size (6-7, 355). Not only will he turn 38 in December, but left tackle Andrew Whitworth will be an unrestricted free agent in 2020.
31. New Orleans Saints (Draft History): Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU Tigers
You can never have too many cornerbacks and the Saints have five them scheduled for unrestricted free agency next spring -- Ken Crawley, Eli Apple, P.J. Williams, Marcus Sherels and Justin Hardee.
32. New England Patriots (Draft History): Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama Crimson Tide
Deciding to return to school after a disappointing season compared to his All-SEC 2017 campaign, Davis should hear his name called on Day 1 with a bounce-back season this year.
> Go back to picks 1-16 in our 2020 NFL Mock Draft
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