1. Cincinnati: Hard to see the Bengals not selecting LSU QB Joe Burrow with the #1 pick overall despite the fact that he has been lukewarm at best about playing in Cincinnati. Of course, the Bengals could also trade the big – and we have heard that Miami and Carolina – both are very interested in moving up to the top spot to take Burrow themselves for the right price. However, that appears to be a long shot.
Bengals short list: LSU QB Joe Burrow
Projected pick: LSU QB Joe Burrow
Other Bengals picks: #33
2. Washington: That was the easy part. Now the hard stuff begins. On paper, it looks like Ohio State DE Chase Young should be a no-brainer for the Redskins. But .. there are palpable rumblings out of Washington that the new coaching staff is less than enamored with QB Dwayne Haskins and is seriously considering taking Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa with the second pick. Of course, that could just be some smoke and mirrors from the Redskins trying to gin up interest in a trade for the pick, but … Fact is that QB is such an important position and if the team doesn’t feel that Haskins is a potential franchise guy and you have a shot at a guy you think just maybe is then maybe you go that way.
Redskins short list: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa; Ohio State DE Chase Young
Projected pick: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
Other Redskins picks: #33
3. Detroit: No team appears to be sitting prettier heading into the opening round of the 2020 draft than the Lions, although they’ll likely have to wait on Washington to know exactly what are their options. If the Redskins take DE Chase Young leaving Tua Tagovailoa on the board, then the Lions will be in prime position to trade the pick to a QB needy team like Miami, the La Chargers or Carolina, who pick 5th through 7th. That’s of course, if the Lions didn’t opt to take Tagovailoa for themselves as a long-term replacement for incumbent starter Matt Stafford, who’s been banged up the last couple of years, although that appears to be unlikely. On the other hand, if the Redskins go with the QB, then the Lions race to the podium with Young’s name on the card.
Lions short list: Ohio State DE Chase Young; Auburn DT Derrick Brown; Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons; Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah
Projected pick: Ohio State DE Chase Young
Other Lions picks: #
4. New York Giants: Assuming Young and the two QBs go in the first three picks, the Giants should also be sitting pretty with the 4th pick overall. Only problem for the Giants is that OT could be the team’s top priority, but the top prospects in the second tier appear to be all defensive players including Simmons, Brown, and Okudah. GM Dave Gettleman is already on record indicating the Giants would like to trade down a few spot, where it would appear an OT like Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs or Mehki Becton of Louisville would make a little more sense, although its not clear there’s enough value in the next-level QBs like Justin Herbert of Oregon or Utah State’s Jordan Love to entice anybody to trade up for them. In the end, if the Giants do stay at #4
