2020 NFL Mock Draft: Chargers trade up for Justin Herbert, Cardinals go O-line after adding DeAndre Hopkins

At a time like this, when almost nothing is certain, it’s nice to know that we can rely on the Bengals drafting Joe Burrow.

I toyed with the idea of having the Redskins make a trade or take a QB here, but I just don’t see it happening. Young is the safest player in this draft from a floor perspective, and he could have the highest ceiling as well.

The Lions are still an absolute wild card at this spot, as anything could happen here. They will receive a lot of phone calls, but in this mock nothing entices them to risk passing up on Simmons.

The Chargers don’t want to risk missing out on their guy, so they trade up with the Giants to take the Oregon quarterback. Herbert is a Rorschach test QB. You’re going to see whatever you want to see when you look at him.

Maybe Miami wanted Herbert and just got him stolen from them, or maybe they wanted Tua the whole time. Either way, I won’t be surprised if Miami takes a QB here at No. 5 or moves up to do so.

The Giants drop a couple spots, pick up a few extra picks and take the guy they hope protects Daniel Jones for the next decade. It might not be Becton, but the Giants should take the first OT off the board.

Considering the Panthers are entering a rebuild, it would not be a surprise to see them trade down here to pick up extra picks. The problem is, given how my mock has gone, I don’t know who is trading up to this spot right now. So the Panthers take a player who could prove to be the best corner in the NFL soon enough.

Well, thanks to Houston’s incredible generosity, I don’t think the Cardinals will feel the need to take a WR here anymore. That allows them to draft a tackle to protect their franchise QB and allow him the time to throw to DeAndre Hopkins.

The first “surprise” pick of my mock, as receiver isn’t Jacksonville’s biggest need, but it is a need. Lamb will help make Gardner Minshew, or whoever is playing QB, look a lot better next season.

Picking up Jack Conklin to play right tackle is a good start, but it doesn’t fix the Browns offensive line. Wirfs could turn a weakness into a strength almost immediately.

The Jets make Andrew Thomas the fourth OT to go off the board in the first 11 picks as they look for a way to protect Sam Darnold.

The Raiders traded their No. 1 WR from Alabama two seasons ago and now use their first selection to take another No. 1 WR from Alabama. It’s the circle of life.

While it’s not yet official, the 49ers traded DeForest Buckner to the Colts for this pick on Monday. Now the Niners use the pick to pick up Buckner’s replacement, and at a far lower cap hit!

I love Kinlaw’s burst off the snap and his overall power. He’s a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line, and would be an excellent start to revitalizing the Tampa defense.

Courtland Sutton can get deep and has great size to make plays down the field, but he doesn’t take the top off a defense like Ruggs can. Pairing Ruggs and Sutton with Drew Lock in the thin Denver air could lead to some gonzo touchdown passes.

Chaisson is far from a perfect prospect as he’s not the most refined pass-rusher in the world, but he’s got so much talent that his ceiling is sky high should he truly figure out the art of it.

Henderson strikes me as a perfect Dallas Cowboy. He has tremendous athleticism and good ball skills. He’s also willing to take risks to make the big play. Sometimes it blows up in his face, but sometimes it pays off handsomely.

I had Gross-Matos going in the top 10 of my first mock this year, which is an indication of how high I’ve been on him from the start. Admittedly, that was too high, but the rest of the world seems to be coming around on my opinion of him. This would be great value for the Dolphins.

Fulton is not perfect, but he has the speed and athleticism that helps him overcome mistakes. Put him in the right scheme and he could be a solid NFL starter for years to come with the potential for a lot more.

I believe Murray has the ability to be a three-down linebacker in the NFL. He can sometimes overplay the ball, and it can get him in trouble, but that can be seen as a byproduct of the range that allows him to cover sideline to sideline in the first place.

Jefferson seems like a natural fit for what the Eagles offense needs. He’d stretch the field vertically, opening up more room for everybody.

Buffalo could go any number of directions here. There are durability concerns about Lewis, but if he can stay healthy, he has the potential to be truly special. The Bills take a chance on him to do just that here.

The Patriots are going to have to find a replacement for Tom Brady at some point. Love has Mahomes-esque arm talent as well as the ability to throw from all different arm slots, but the decision-making needs to improve.

I’ve had this pick happening in so many mocks that I wonder if I’m trying to will it into existence. It’s a perfect fit in my mind.

Johnson might not have the ideal size that the Vikings are hoping for, but he’s not afraid to mix it up in run defense. He’s physical and can jam opposing receivers, all while having the necessary athleticism to cover.

Running backs in the first round are a rarity these days, but if there’s ever a team that can afford to do it, it’s the team with three first-round picks.

I’ve had Gallimore going to the Titans in previous mocks, but he makes a lot of sense for the Seahawks too. He’s a disruptive player in the middle of the defensive line.

Great sideline-to-sideline speed and range, but there’s more projection than production at this point. Showed plenty of flashes at LSU, but consistency is an issue. That said, when he errs, he does so on the side of aggression. You’ll take that.

You know who A.J. Epenesa reminds me of a little bit? The coach drafting him in this mock draft. Though I’m not sure how many touchdowns he’ll catch.

Reagor would give the Packers receiving core some high-end speed. He’s not the most refined route runner, but I don’t think that’s Reagor as much as the offense he played in at TCU. He could be a big-play machine for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

Trading for the Colts’ first-round pick makes me believe the 49ers are even more likely to trade this pick than they were before, but if they don’t, and Delpit is still on the board, it would make a lot of sense.

Diggs is an intriguing prospect with terrific ball skills. While he’s the last corner being taken in the first round of this draft, it’s not insane to imagine he could end up being the best.