ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay released his 2020 Mock Draft 1.0 yesterday. With LSU quarterback Joe Burrow locking up the Heisman in a landslide Saturday night and the 1-13 Bengals currently slotted to own the top-pick in April, it comes as no surprise that McShay has Cincinnati selecting Burrow with the first-overall pick. The Bengals are the worst team in the league and last made the playoffs in 2015. After nearly a decade as the starter, Andy Dalton is now in his thirties and the franchise is clearly in-need of an heir apparent at quarterback as they attempt to rebuild. For what it’s worth, there’s also the connection between Burrow and the state of Ohio. Burrow starred at Athens High School in The Plains, Ohio, which is less than a three-hour drive from Cincinnati. Burrow also spent two seasons at Ohio State before transferring to LSU. Simply put, the pick just makes sense.
Now, let’s get to the real reason you’re reading this. The Atlanta Falcons and the Tennessee Titans, Chattanooga’s two regional NFL franchises.
Obviously, the draft order for the 2020 NFL Draft won’t be determined until the conclusion of the season, but McShay is able to get pretty close given the current records of each team.
Let’s start with the Falcons. McShay has Florida cornerback CJ Henderson going to Atlanta with the 13th pick of the first-round. McShay adds, “It’s too early to reach for an edge rusher — this isn’t a deep class of first-round pass-rushers — so let’s check off another box: cornerback. Henderson’s speed makes him a strong man-coverage defender, and he would be welcomed into a defense that allows 253.7 passing yards per game.”
Most likely, corner Desmond Trufant will return in 2020. Isaiah Oliver has shown improvement and 2014 fourth-round pick Kendall Sheffield has looked good while filling in for Trufant. McShay’s prediction of CJ Henderson at No.13 smells like depth. First-round depth picks make sense for teams on the verge of making deep playoff and Super Bowl runs, not teams that are 5-9 through 15 weeks. Free agency could certainly change McShay’s opinion of what the Falcons should do with their first-round pick.
On to the Titans. McShay has the Titans picking 21st and taking Georgia running-back D’Andre Swift. The pick is certainly more-exciting than the Falcons potential selection of Henderson or another corner, and makes far more sense. Swift has great speed, vision and cutting ability, and is arguably the best running-back prospect in the 2020 draft class. Think about a Derrick Henry, D’Andre Swift one-two-punch. Swift would add another dimension to a Tennessee offense that has improved in 2019 under quarterback Ryan Tannehill, but one that is still in need of big-play threats.
Some will say Henry has a lock on the running-back position and that the Titan’s first-round pick would be better spent elsewhere. They might be right, but the possibility of Swift in Nashville is intriguing.