Reader 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 17-32

This is an opportunity for you, the readers, to vote on the picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. All you need to do is vote for each selection. Look for updates on Twitter @walterfootball.

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Reader 2020 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-16

Dallas Cowboys: K’Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU
K’Lavon Chaisson: 57.8%
Xavier McKinney: 25.2%
Justin Jefferson: 6.8%
A.J. Epenesa: 4.8%
Ross Blacklock: 2.0%
Denzel Mims: 2.0%
Yetur Gross-Matos: 1.4%
Total votes: 147

Mary G: Interesting list here for Dallas.. McKinney’s athletic profile doesn’t match a first round pick for the free safety many profile him to be. Gross-Matos and Epenesa might be picked in the first because of their premium position, but I think both are truly second round prospects. Dallas could surprise at receiver, but they overpaid for Amari so I think they wait for a later round to get a receiver in this deep wideout class. I personally don’t get the love for Blacklock, but maybe Dallas likes him? Regardless, with Chaisson still on the board I’m not sure the Cowboys go any other way. I don’t know where Aldon Smith will play for Dallas, but I doubt the team will let that signing affect their early draft plans.

Victor G: If this scenario happens then the Cowboys will be forced to draft a CB in rd 2 since there is a dropoff of starting caliber players at the position after the 2nd rd. They might have to trade up to make sure they get one on late 1st/early 2nd.
Miami Dolphins: Josh Jones, OT, Houston
Josh Jones: 29.3%
Xavier McKinney: 22.4%
D’Andre Swift: 16.4%
Austin Jackson: 16.4%
A.J. Epenesa: 6.0%
Yetur Gross-Matos: 3.5%
Jonathan Taylor: 0.9%
Total votes: 116

David S: Offensive tackle may get the most votes here, but I really like the idea of A.J. Epenesa the most. He’s a versatile chess piece a team can use all over the defensive line with the exception of nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. In a 4-3 defense, the idea of lining him at end on run downs and then kicking him inside to rush the passer on 3rd and long would be a solid one. Xavier McKinney isn’t a bad plan either if they want to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick, but I think they can get a Jeremy Chinn, Kyle Dugger, Antoine Winfield or Grant Delpit later. The running backs are probably the best players available in the poll, but there should be options in Round 2 such as J.K. Dobbins, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Cam Akers. Maybe even Swift and Taylor are still around at Pick 39.
Las Vegas Raiders: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Kenneth Murray: 40.8%
Xavier McKinney: 19.4%
Patrick Queen: 16.4%
Damon Arnette: 9.0%
A.J. Epenesa: 7.5%
Ross Blacklock: 4.0%
Yetur Gross-Matos: 3.0%
Total votes: 201

Thomas W: I was ready to go CB for the Raiders, but not Arnette. They signed the coverage king Littleton, but Murray complements him well.

Mary G: I think the Raiders might like to trade back here. If they can’t and the board falls like this, I think they take a linebacker. I voted for Kenneth Murray; a combination of good player and high character guy that Mike Mayock seems to like.

Jared J: If the Raiders stay at 19 and Kenneth Murray is still available, he’ll likely be the pick. I have a feeling that the Raiders will want to trade down though, especially since they don’t have a second round pick and they need a lot of help in the secondary.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
Xavier McKinney: 21.7%
Patrick Queen: 18.1%
A.J. Epenesa: 15.8%
Justin Jefferson: 14.2%
Damon Arnette: 9.5%
Yetur Gross-Matos: 9.5%
Austin Jackson: 8.7%
Denzel Mims: 2.8%
Total votes: 254

Dennis C: I think this might be the closest vote yet. I picked Queen, but they have so many needs on defense that I could see Epenesa, McKinney or Gross-Matos as well. It probably depends on who they think will be availble at 42.

Mary G: I chose Patrick Queen for Jacksonville. I think Xavier McKinney is going to slip; he’s a jack-of-all-trades without elite athleticism. I think receiver might be the pick, but I couldn’t decide so I went with the upside of Queen.

Jeff D: Jacksonville is in the rare, in some ways enviable, position of knowing that they will likely be drafting high next year and looking for a QB. They would be wise to use this time to find some weapons and/or fortify their O-line, especially with 2 first round picks to spend. OT could be an underrated need as Cam Robinson has been low-key awful and is entering the last year of his rookie deal, but with Josh Jones taken, I like the idea of aiming high in this loaded pool of WR talent and trying to find a true number one. I went with Jefferson.
Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Justin Jefferson: 62.9%
Denzel Mims: 9.1%
Patrick Queen: 7.5%
Laviska Shenault: 7.0%
Damon Arnette: 3.8%
Grant Delpit: 3.8%
Yetur Gross-Matos: 3.8%
A.J. Epenesa: 2.2%
Total votes: 186

Nathan T: While we’d expect them to go WR, their weakest position group after free agency is linebacker. They need one, and this draft is deep with WRs in R2-4… They should wait on WR and take an elite Linebacker like Patrick Queen now.

Minnesota Vikings: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
Trevon Diggs: 18.9%
Damon Arnette: 18.2%
Austin Jackson: 3.8%
Denzel Mims: 12.4%
A.J. Epenesa: 9.7%
Yetur Gross-Matos: 8.7%
Ross Blacklock: 4.0%
Laviska Shenault: 3.2%
Total votes: 402

Thomas W: They can’t take another Diggs, people! This is actually a somewhat disappoining selection for them; certainly no value picks. I voted for the OT Jackson.

Andrew D: It has to be Jackson here. Cousins is an above average qb when given time which he doesnt when reiff is starting LT, draft Jackson bump reiff inside. And grab best corner at pick 25

Dennis C: I voted for Jackson as well. They really need to rebuild the offensive line. Cousins isn’t exactly super mobile. He needs time for receivers to get open.
New England Patriots: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Jordan Love: 32.6%
Patrick Queen: 20.2%
A.J. Epenesa: 17.1%
Yetur Gross-Matos: 16.3%
Jacob Eason: 5.8%
Tee Higgins: 5.4%
Denzel Mims: 1.6%
Ross Blacklock: 0.8%
Damon Arnette: 0.4%
Total votes: 258

Doug O: Although I do like the idea of NE taking a QB here, I just don’t see it happening. For one I am not convinced that King Crumudgeon Bill Belichick would be sold on the new very athletic QBs, such as Love. Secondly NE likes to make more meat n potatoes type picks over the flashy this exemplifies. I’d say one of the D-Linemen or LB Patrick Queen myself.

Marek S: Pats are going defense. They really like Stidham so in this mock i think they go DL or LB. BB is close to Ferentz from Iowa so Epenesa looks like the right choice.

Peter H: I think Zack Baun is actually the best fit for the Patriots here. He could take on a role similar to Kyle Van Noy. I would bet money on the Pats not taking a QB here, as I really don’t think Love or any others available will be better than Stidham this year. Queen is not big enough to stick his nose in against the run and that is so important to Belichick. Once the chaff is removed, it is the edge rushers verses the receivers. I’m hesitant to go receiver here as I think adding more youth to that position is not ideal given the complexity of the offense. Epenesa could be the guy as he seems to have some Trey Flowers in his game but I think the upside of gross-matos is the better okay.

Kyle B: Serious question to people who are voting for Jordan Love. Have you ever watched him play? He’s not a good quarterback. Mims is an intriguing option but not sure it would be wise to draft another receiver in ye first round when they already have Sanu, Edelman, Harry and Meyers (who has tremendous chemistry with Stidham already). If they can’t trade back and pick up a second rounder I would advocate for Gross-Matos here

New Orleans Saints: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Patrick Queen: 63.8%
Tee Higgins: 10.2%
Zack Baun: 5.5%
Laviska Shenault: 5.5%
Denzel Mims: 4.7%
Ross Blacklock: 3.2%
A.J. Terrell: 3.2%
Brandon Aiyuk: 2.4%
Damon Arnette: 1.6%
Total votes: 127
Minnesota Vikings: Austin Jackson, OT, USC
Austin Jackson: 23.5%
Tee Higgins: 19.0%
A.J. Epenesa: 15.4%
Yetur Gross-Matos: 15.4%
Denzel Mims: 14.6%
Ross Blacklock: 4.9%
Brandon Aiyuk: 4.5%
Laviska Shenault: 2.8%
Total votes: 247

Dennis C: Tough choice for me between Higgins and Mims. I went with Higgins, as taller WRs tend to get pushed up a bit.

Miami Dolphins: D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
D’Andre Swift: 39.6%
Grant Delpit: 13.0%
Denzel Mims: 11.9%
A.J. Epenesa: 9.0%
Jonathan Taylor: 9.0%
Yetur Gross-Matos: 6.8%
Antoine Winfield: 6.2%
Damn Arnette: 3.4%
A.J. Terrell: 1.1%
Total votes: 177

David S: I will go a little off the radar with a name not listed here: Jeremy Chinn. Safety prospect with great size, speed, athletic ability and versatility (can play strong safety, saw time at corner at the Senior Bowl and can play a little linebacker as well). He’s basically the small school Isaiah Simmons. I’ve heard he’s going to be a first round pick. Miami would make a lot of sense given Brian Flores’ New England background. But yeah, running back is certainly the obvious choice.
Seattle Seahawks: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
Yetur Gross-Matos: 37.5%
A.J. Epenesa: 16.7%
Cesar Ruiz: 9.5%
Grant Delpit: 8.9%
Jeremy Chinn: 6.6%
Ezra Cleveland: 6.0%
Antoine Winfield: 6.0%
Josh Uche: 4.8%
Ross Blacklock: 2.4%
Shane Lemieux: 1.8%
Total votes: 170

Thomas W: This is one year SEA maybe shouldn’t trade down. Last year they added pass rushers in trade, FA and 1st round, and now they still need one. Nonetheless, I’d shift to OL: Ruiz for me.

David S: Yetur Gross-Matos would make a lot of sense if the Seahawks don’t bring Jadeveon Clowney back nor sign someone like Everson Griffen. A running back would make sense as well since theirs are banged up and they can’t be 100 percent sure of how the recoveries are going. Jonathan Taylor or Cam Akers would make the most sense, maybe Akers moreso since the Seahawks like to surprise recently with their first picks. Trading down is an obvious option since they do it all the time, but obviously can’t project that here.

Dennis C: I voted for Epenesa, since you didn’t include any OTs. It would have been too high anyway, and the chances of Seattle actually picking here is not high. A lot of this depends on Clowney. We don’t know if they think he will re-sign.

Jonathon R: I was very tempted to select Jeremy Chinn (who is almost always comp’d to Kam Chancellor) for the Seahawks’ pick but there’s a good chance he’d still be on the board by the 2nd round.With that said, I think they go for Yetur Gross-Matos here. Seattle needs an edge rusher and contract talks with Clowney seems to be up in the air. Seattle’s defense relies on a solid pass rush and Gross-Matos fits their scheme well.
Baltimore Ravens: Zack Baun, DE/OLB, Wisconsin
Zack Baun: 28.1%
A.J. Epenesa: 20.4%
Cesar Ruiz: 15.3%
Tee Higgins: 8.5%
Jonathan Taylor: 8.1%
Denzel Mims: 6.8%
Shane Lemieux: 5.5%
Ross Blacklock: 3.0%
Laviska Shenault: 2.6%
Brandon Aiyuk: 1.7%
Total votes: 235

Mike S: To me its simple. Marshal Yanda was one of the best interior lineman the league had recently. He is a potential future hall of famer, but is now retired. For the sake of the type of offense the ravens will run with Jackson the line is a huge priority. Hence the pick of the best interior lineman available here in Ruiz. Linebacker also a need but this team is not like the old ravens. Its success will evolve around the protection of Jackson.

Andrew M: Shenault’s special with the ball in his hands and the thought of him with Lamar, Hollywood Brown, Mark Andrews and the ground attack should give Defenses fits. Also, having re-watched the Titans game, it’s clear that the receiving corps outside of Brown and Andrews is lackluster at best. They completely let Jackson down. With the board like that they should absolutely trade down though. Most of those players would be available at the 2nd they trade down to.

Jay B: Trade up for Murray or trade out of the first round. There’s always a team looking to come back in and grab their QB of the future.
Tennessee Titans: A.J. Epenesa, DE/OLB, Iowa
A.J. Epenesa: 30.0%
Ezra Cleveland: 17.9%
Ross Blacklock: 15.7%
Jeff Gladney: 10.7%
A.J. Terrell: 6.4%
Cesar Ruiz: 5.0%
Damon Arnette: 4.3%
Tee Higgins: 4.3%
Denzel Mims: 2.9%
Laviska Shenault: 2.9%
Total votes: 140

Thomas W: I think the Titans shuld take Gladney as a replacement for Logan Ryan. They do need an RT and I’d be curious if Isaiah Wilson might do better in the poll.

David F: I’m curious what you think of Antoine Winfield Jr.’s fit in the slot. I love the way he plays… seems like a perfect fit for a smart, physical style of defense played by Tennessee (plenty of zone coverage too). The Titans are set at safety, but based on his versatility and ability to blitz, it seems like he could be a nice young replacement for Logan Ryan.

A.J. Y: I know it isn’t a sexy pick, but we haven’t seen a first round go without drafting an interior OL in 20 years. I can’t imagine Ruiz falls this far, if he drops out of top 20 someone will snag him instantly.
Green Bay Packers: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Tee Higgins: 29.9%
Denzel Mims: 22.9%
Jalen Reagor: 19.4%
Ross Blacklock: 8.3%
Ezra Cleveland: 6.9%
Laviska Shenault: 6.3%
Cesar Ruiz: 4.9%
Shane Lemieux: 1.4%
Total votes: 144

Dennis C: For the 10th consecutive year, the Packers are looking for weapons for Rodgers. 🙂 The window for him is starting to close. I realize that there are good WRs in the 2nd round, and probably a few good ones in the 3rd as well, but none are as good as Reagor. I think he’d be a dynamic weapon in their offense.

Zach C: Ideally, with the high number of quality receivers in the draft, I would love my Packers to grab an athletic linebacker (i.e. Queen) or even a tackle prospect that falls. However, there are no quality tackles or linebackers at this point worth taking. If the Packers stay put — if the draft plays out like this, they shouldnt — they should go for Reager. He’s just so explosive and would compliment Adams well. Denzel Mims worries me as a first rounder.
San Francisco 49ers: Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan
Cesar Ruiz: 27.5%
Ross Blacklock: 14.7%
A.J. Terrell: 14.7%
Ezra Cleveland: 10.8%
Grant Delpit: 9.8%
Damon Arnette: 7.8%
Jeff Gladney: 5.9%
Antoine Winfield: 5.9%
Jonathan Taylor: 2.9%
Total votes: 102
Kansas City Chiefs:
Vote for whom you think the Chiefs will take No. 32 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft (assuming no trades) and post in the comment board below. If it’s a landslide, I may end the voting early and post the next pick. Follow @walterfootball to stay updated.