Can you even imagine what it must feel like to be a coach or general manager on draft day? You have spent months and months away from friends and family, studying tape and talking to prospects — all so that the next 72 hours of unpredictability might lengthen your stay at whatever franchise you’re currently with.
And to know that so much of your success is dependent on the performance of your peers picking ahead or behind you, not to mention future luck surrounding injuries, playing time situations and a thousand other things.
And yet, there you are, sitting in front of your draft board trying to make sense of it all. I mean, it must be insane, right?
Well, with the draft just around the corner, I put myself into the general manager’s chair — entering into a mock draft simulation while wearing the shoes of Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden. This isn’t a “try-it-over-and-over-again-until-it-falls-the-way-you-want” scenario — we fired it up once and played it as it lay. We’re allowing for trades — but staying within reason here, having to make tough decisions whenever and wherever possible.
For the first round, I’ll walk you through the pick-by-pick, and beyond that I’ll just add some thinking about each pick. But enough with the pleasantries, let’s dive in.
1. Joe Burrow
2. Tua Tagovailoa
3. Chase Young
4. Jeffrey Okudah
5. Justin Herbert
6. Tristan Wirfs
7. Isaiah Simmons
8. Jedrick Wills Jr.
9. Mekhi Becton
10. CeeDee Lamb
11. CJ Henderson
What a fascinating start to the draft, with Tua going No. 2 (unlikely, but the draft always throws us curveballs) and Lamb/Henderson coming off the board just before us. Now, we’re up.
On the board are still a bunch of names I really like — Derrick Brown, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and Javon Kinlaw among them — not to mention one of the top tackles in case someone wants to trade up.
Speaking of, Tampa Bay (14), Atlanta (16) and Jacksonville (20) all call. All three are offering their first rounder and their second rounder in exchange for No. 12 and my fourth rounder. It’s tempting.
If I trade back to 14, I’m guaranteed one of my top receivers. 16 would be a bit more dicey, as I’d risk losing out on the three guys I like most here (Brown, Jeudy, Ruggs) — and while Jacksonville has the best second-rounder of the three, dropping down to No. 20 feels a bit too far for me.
As much as I’d like to stockpile some picks, the temptation is too great — I’m making the pick.
With the 12th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Derrick Brown, Defensive Tackle from Auburn.
Many folks are going to be clamoring for a receiver here — but with the depth at the position I can find in the third, I couldn’t pass on a guy I think is one of the five best players in the draft. Yes, defensive tackle isn’t at the top of my list of needs, but Brown is going to make everyone around him better on defense and gives us a strong core of young defensive linemen moving forward.
13. Henry Ruggs III
14. Jerry Jeudy
15. Andrew Thomas
16. Kristian Fulton
17. K’Lavon Chaisson
18. Josh Jones
Back on the clock. Kinlaw is still there — but would I really draft another interior defensive lineman? This is where “best player available” kind of falls apart. Other names that jump out at me: Justin Jefferson is the No. 4 receiver and would be an immediate difference maker on offense. Jordan Love? Is the QB love real? But wait…the phone rings!
Minnesota (22), New Orleans (24), Green Bay (30) and Cincinatti (34) all call. I start with the Vikings and offer them No. 19 for No. 22 and No. 58. They say they need a bit more, and so I throw in No. 159 to sweeten the deal. DONE. Apparently they needed some help inside and scoop up Kinlaw.
19. Javon Kinlaw
20. Jordan Love
21. Justin Jefferson
Here’s the risk of moving back: now my No. 4 receiver is off the board. The top guys available are Xavier McKinney, the safety from Alabama, along with Denzel Mims, Trevon Diggs and A.J. Terrell. This time the phones are silent, I’m going to make this pick.
With the 22nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Jaylon Johnson, cornerback, University of Utah.
Wow! The first surprise of the draft from the Raiders! Johnson was dominant at Utah, and that didn’t escape the notice of Mike Mayock. But….can someone check on Jon Gruden please. Two first round picks and two defensive players?
Don’t worry coach, I promise you’re going to be happy with Day 2, alright!
The cornerback market is about to dry up and we needed some real help there, so we add an instant impact starter by reaching (slightly) for Johnson.
23. AJ Epenesa
24. Kenneth Murray
25. Tee Higgins
26. Xavier McKinney
27. AJ Terrell
28. Patrick Queen
29. Yetur Gross-Matos
30. Denzel Mims
31. Brandon Aiyuk
32. Ross Blacklock
That does it for the first day of the draft — but the Raiders have added a second round pick, giving them four picks on Day 2.
Okay, we’re back on the clock at No. 58. Jon Gruden will be happy with this pick.
With the 58th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Michael Pittman Jr., wide receiver, University of Southern California.
Pittman would probably be a first rounder most years, but because of depth he slips. This is a great value pick.
Next up is pick 80, but we got another offer we couldn’t refuse in hopes of re-stocking our draft pool. Pittsburgh liked Jalen Hurts a lot, and so they offered us No. 102, 124 and 135 in exchange for No. 80.
But we’re right back up at No. 81…
With the 81st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Jordyn Brooks, linebacker, Texas Tech
Jon Gruden is pulling his hair out — another defensive player!?!? But he won’t hate this pick for long, as Brooks rounds out the revamped linebacking core and adds a third athletic freak to the bunch.
With the 91st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Van Jefferson, wide receiver, Florida
Jefferson is one of my favorites, and while Gruden didn’t get one of the top receivers he craved, he gets not one but two difference makers on Day 2. Jefferson and Pittman are perfect fits alongside the group the Raiders already have in the building.
With the 102nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Terrell Burgess, safety, University of Utah
Another Ute for Mayock and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther. Safety isn’t a pressing need for this year, but Burgess gives them a long term answer there and was too good a player to pass up here.
Yes, Jon, we promise, more offensive players are coming.
With the 121st pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select AJ Dillon, running back, Boston College.
This guy is a hoss and is a great compliment to Josh Jacobs. Gruden wants to play old school football, well this is a guy who is going to wear defenses down and earn you the tough yards inside.
Two picks left…
With the 124th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Nick Harris, guard, University of Washington
Harris offers us a long-term solution if we decide to move on from Gabe Jackson after this season.
With the 135th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Reggie Robinson, cornerback, Tulsa
We already dipped into the cornerbacks in Round 1, but why not take another flier late in the draft? Robinson looks the part when it comes to the type of corners Guenther likes, and with 4.44 speed to match, this is a bet on upside and development.
And with that, we’re out of picks. From here we’ll sit out the later rounds and wait until free agency to scoop up the remaining guys on our list.
Overall, I’m thrilled with the haul here. Yes, we missed on the top flight of receivers, but we got better at positions of great need. We not only added one of the top five players in the draft, but we added a starting corner, two impact (albeit not projected Pro Bowlers) wide receivers and immediate rotation guys at linebacker and safety.
Total haul:
Derrick Brown, DT
Jaylon Johnson, CB
Michael Pittman Jr., WR
Jordyn Brooks, LB
Van Jefferson, WR
Terrell Burgess, S
AJ Dillon, RB
Nick Harris, G
Reggie Robinson II, CB
Trade recap:
Traded No. 19, 159 for No. 22, 58 (Johnson, Pittman)
Traded No. 80 for No. 102, 124 and 135 (Burgess, Dillon, Robinson)
