On our path to the NFL draft, here’s the final mock draft from Atlanta Journal-Constitution Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter. The draft is set for Thursday through Saturday.
In the final 2020 mock draft, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is following the 2011 plan.
In 2011, he tried to move up to No. 4 with the Bengals and the Falcons could have selected wide receiver A.J. Green, but the price was too high. He ended up moving from 27 to six and selecting Julio Jones.
Both Green and Jones have gone on to have spectacular careers.
The Lions hold the third pick in the draft, but don’t want to go back to 16 and miss out on an impact player.
The Lions could trade with quarterback-starved Miami or the Chargers and go back to five or six and still get an impact player.
The Giants hold the fourth pick, but we are projecting that it’s going to cost too much (800 points on the trade value chart) for the Falcons to move up to four with their sights set on top cornerback Jeff Okudah.
They’d have to part with the 16th pick, second (430 points), third (195) and fourth (56) to make up the difference. That would leave the Falcons with only a fourth and a seventh round pick.
To land cornerback C.J. Henderson in the final mock, Dimitroff needs to get in front of Las Vegas (12th overall) and Denver (15th overall), who both are in the market for a cornerback.
Therefore, we have the Falcons trading up with Jacksonville to land the Florida standout.
The Jaguars’ pick is worth 1,350 points on the trade-value chart. The Falcons’ pick is worth 1,000 points, so there is a 350-point gap.
The Falcons already traded one of their second-round picks to the Ravens. That 55th pick was worth exactly 350 points.
The Falcons’ remaining second-round pick (47th) is worth 430 points, but they need to keep that one to get the guard/center.
Perhaps Caldwell will take a third and next year’s second.
The Jaguars call fall back to 16 and still get one of the top four tackles after there is a run on wide receivers.
The Falcons believe Henderson, who’s 6-foot and 204 pounds, would be a good replacement for Trufant. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the scouting combine.
He played under former Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham at Florida and thrived in a man and zone coverage.
Here’s how the first round will shake out:
1. Cincinnati Bengals (2-14) – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU: He led the Tigers to the national championship with a spectacular season.
2. Washington Redskins (3-13) – Chase Young, DE, Ohio State: He's the top pass rusher in the draft.
3. Detroit Lions (3-12-1) – Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State: Esteemed Detroit Free Press Lions beat writer David Birkett was asking about Okudah, Derrick Brown and Isaiah Simmons this week on conference calls. Tempted to switch to Brown here.
4. New York Giants (4-12) – Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama: The Giants have to address their offensive line and get some protection for quarterback Daniel Jones. Wills has moved ahead of Tristan Wirfs and Andrew Thomas at tackle.
5. Miami Dolphins (5-11) – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama: Teams know that Tagovailoa can play, but must determine if he can stay healthy. The Miami Herald confirmed a report of hidden broken-wrist injury.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11) – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon: The Chargers said goodbye to Philip Rivers and want a mobile quarterback. Herbert showed that he's mobile enough in Oregon's bowl game and at the Senior Bowl.
7. Carolina Panthers (5-11) – Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson: New Panthers coach Matt Rhule, who hung out with the media at the Senior Bowl and is an all-around cool guy, has been taking about position-less players a lot lately.
8. Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1) – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn: If Brown drops to here, the Cardinals will take the Lanier High product.
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9. PROJECTED TRADE: Falcons (7-9) – C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: The Falcons must replace Trufant and will hope that tighter pass coverage will help the pass rush.
10. Cleveland Browns (6-10) – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa: The Browns are looking for help for the line.
11. New York Jets (7-9) – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama: He averaged 19 yards a reception over his career. The Jets start a run on wide receivers.
12. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9) – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma: The Raiders pick the big playmaking receiver.
13. San Francisco 49ers (from 7-9 Indianapolis Colts) – Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina: Kinlaw, who's 6-foot-6 and 309 pounds, can play all spots along the defensive line. He will replace DeForest Buckner, who was traded to the Colts.
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14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville: Becton was the talk of the combine with his fast 40-yard dash time. At 364 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 5.1 seconds.
15. Denver Broncos (7-9) – Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama: The Broncos need to add some weapons on offense.
16. PROJECTED TRADE: Jacksonville (6-10) - Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia: He was the winner of the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy, UGA's first recipient of the award in 21 years.
17. Dallas Cowboys (8-8) – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama: The Cowboys must revamp their secondary in this draft and selecting McKinney would kick things off nicely. The former Roswell High standout was named second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, Sporting News and Walter Camp.
18. Miami Dolphins (from 8-8 Pittsburgh) – D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia: Swift became the fifth running back in UGA history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. He left school with 2,885 yards rushing and 666 yards receiving. He ranks seventh on Georgia's all-time rushing list, just behind Lars Tate (3,017) and just ahead of Knowshon Moreno (2,734).
» ALSO: Swift has competition for "top back" in the draft
19. Las Vegas Raiders (from 8-8 Chicago) – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma: The Raiders get some defensive help.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from 9-7 Rams) – K'Lavon Chaisson, LB/DE, LSU: Chaisson measured at 6-3 and weighed 253 pounds at the combine.
21. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU: The Eagles are desperate at wide receiver. He caught 111 passes for the Tigers last season.
22. Minnesota Vikings (from 10-6 Buffalo) – Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson: The Vikings must replace Stefon Diggs.
23. New England Patriots (12-4) – Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: With Love still on the board, the Patriots take a shot at getting Tom Brady's replacement.
24. New Orleans Saints (13-3) - Patrick Queen, LB, LSU: The Saints can add to their already stout defense.
25. Minnesota Vikings (10-6) – A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa: The Vikings must replace Everson Griffen. Epenesa is stout against the run.
» REVIEW: All of Thomas Dimitroff's Falcons draft picks
26. Miami Dolphins (from 10-6 Houston) – Joshua Jones, OT, Houston: After trading Laremy Tunsil last season, the Dolphins must restock the tackle position.
27. Seattle Seahawks (11-5) – Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State: Like the Falcons, the Seahawks are looking for pass-rush help.
28. Baltimore Ravens (14-2) – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin: The highly productive running back ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the combine.
29. Tennessee Titans (9-7) – Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor: At 6-3 and 207 pounds, Mims ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds.
30. Green Bay Packers (13-3) – Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State: After going to junior college, he played two seasons for the Sun Devils and finished with 98 catches for 1,666 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's excellent at getting yards after the catch and turning short passes into long-gainers.
31. San Francisco 49ers (13-3) – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU: Slight reach. He is the son of Montae Reagor, a former NFL defensive tackle from 1999-2007. He played in 99 games and made 46 starts. Jalen Reagor is a dynamic game-breaking wide receiver, who amassed 148 catches for 2,248 yards and 22 touchdowns in three seasons.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) – Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama: He was second-team all-SEC last season. He is the brother of Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
AJC’s 2020 POSITION BY POSITION DRAFT SERIES
Quarterbacks: Joe Burrow leads class | Top 10
Running backs: Cam Akers' life lesson | Top 10
Tight ends: Harrison Bryant top prospect | Top 10
Guards/Centers: Solomon Kindley a late-rounder | Top 10
Offensive tackles: Austin Jackson's life lesson | Top 10
Wide receivers: Jeudy or Lamb | Top 10
Defensive tackles: Brown, Kinlaw stand out | Top 10
Defensive ends: A 'generational' talent | Top 10
Linebackers: Simmons a position-less LB | Top 10
Safeties: Loaded with Georgia talent | Top 10
Special teams: Georgia's kick-centered | Return with flash | Top 10
Cornerbacks: Jeff Okudah a lockdown CB | Top 10
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