Although major sports are currently at a halt, the NFL draft will still occur on April 24-25 with teams and prospects completing the draft remotely. For most sports fans, this is the most sports content they will get in the near future so there is a significant amount of anticipation. Last week, we did a mock draft for the top-10 picks in the draft. This week, we are following up with picks 11 through 20.
With the 11th pick in the draft, the New York Jets will select Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III. Many offensive coordinators have sought out Ruggs because of his speed. Ruggs is often the fastest man on the field and is successful in the deep game along with short scoring routes. Ruggs is also known for his exceptional hands, as he only had one dropped ball in the entirety of the 2019 season.
With the 12th pick in the draft, the Oakland Raiders will select Florida State cornerback C.J. Henderson, who is known for his size and speed. Henderson has mirrored the best of receivers throughout college football and has performed well in a shutdown role. With the Raiders in need of some weapons in the secondary, this could be a good fit.
With the 13th pick in the draft, the San Francisco 49ers will select Oklahoma State wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb. Lamb sees his most success at the point of attack, out-muscling defenders on jump balls and consistently winning his routes. He routinely has many yards after-catch as he constantly breaks tackles. The 49ers have many high-speed wide receivers but lack a strength receiver to complement their offense.
With the 14th pick in the NFL draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will select Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy is potentially the best route runner in his draft class and can turn on the speed very quickly, making him a hazard to cover.
With the 15th pick in the draft, the Denver Broncos will select cornerback Trevon Diggs. Diggs has size and speed, giving him the ability to lock down some of the receivers he faces. Just like his brother, Stefon Diggs, he is a clutch playmaker with plenty of athleticism and quickness.
With the 16th pick in the draft, the Atlanta Falcons will select South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw. Kinlaw’s speed, despite his large build, makes him an exceptional pass rusher, additionally enabling him to rotate between rushing the quarterback on the outside to stuffing the run up the middle. The Falcons’ defensive line struggled last season to attack the quarterback and stop the run. If Atlanta drafts Kinlaw, they can groom him to play wherever they need him most on the line.
With the 17th pick in the draft, the Dallas Cowboys will select Louisiana State University edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. Chaisson has a lot of speed and power, making him elite around the edge. Chaisson was a large part of LSU’s monster defense, which helped lead them to a championship, and has proven to play well in clutch moments.
With the 18th pick in the draft, the Miami Dolphins will select University of Houston offensive lineman Josh Jones. Jones is very athletic for his size and can size up against fast edge rushers. He has proven to help the run game, which Miami has struggled with for years.
With the 19th pick in the draft, the Oakland Raiders will select LSU linebacker Patrick Queen. Queen has displayed athleticism and instincts most comparable to Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower. He’s an immediate plug and play in Jon Gruden’s defense and is likely to be a starter for years to come.
With the 20th pick in the draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars will shock everyone and take Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. Love has the arm to complete any pass and throws an excellent deep ball. His speed and athleticism make him a dual-threat that opens up the offense. Although the Jaguars say they are rolling with Gardner Minshew, he may not be the best long-term choice, and having Love compete against him for a year or two would be beneficial.
The draft is now less than three weeks out and fans are eager to see some action in professional sports. Stay tuned as we predict the rest of the first round next week.