The 2020 NFL Draft slated to begin on Thursday will be completely virtual for the first time ever as the COVID-19 has canceled the regularly scheduled event which was to take place in Las Vegas.
NFL teams will be operating from home with Commissioner Roger Goodell slated to announce picks from his home in New York.
This year’s draft starts on Thursday, April 23, and runs through Saturday, April 25 with the following schedule (Eastern Time):
Thursday, April 23: Round 1 (8 p.m.)
Friday, April 24: Rounds 2-3 (7 p.m.)
Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7 (12 p.m.)
Locally all eyes will be on the Carolina Panthers who are looking to rebuild under new coach Matt Rhule, and patience is going to be a virtue. All predictions have the Panthers choosing monster defensive tackle Derrick Brown of Auburn with the No. 7 overall pick in the 1st round.
But Carolina has a lot of holes to fill including the loss of quarterback Cam Newton, linebacker Luke Kuechly , and tight end Greg Olsen. Let that truly sink in. Almost hard to imagine those three former Pro Bowlers would not be suiting up for the Panthers. The Panthers have eight picks total so the opportunities to choose some young impact talent is there.
Also of local interest will be the selection of the Dallas Cowboys. Of course there are a ton of Cowboys fans here and you either love ‘em or hate ‘em, but the real fascination for area sports fans will the return of Siler City native George Edwards to Dallas.
The Cowboys have seven picks beginning with the 17th pick overall in the first round. Dallas under first year head coach Mike McCarthy, a quarterback whiz, offensive guru, and former Super Bowl coach of the Green Bay Packers, will likely elect to go defense first with the need of help primarily in the secondary.
Edwards will coach the linebackers and is the Senior Defensive Assistant for the Cowboys. The former Jordan-Matthews star has also served as Defensive Coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, the Washington Redskins, and most recently, the Minnesota Vikings the past six seasons.
Here are our predictions at the NFL Draft in the opening round barring trades.
The Chatham News + Record 2020 Mock NFL Draft 1st Round
1. Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow (LSU) - QB
2. Washington Redskins - Chase Young (Ohio State) - Edge Rusher
3. Detroit Lions - Jeff Okudah (Ohio State) - CB
4. New York Giants - Isaiah Simmons (Clemson) - SS/LB
5. Miami Dolphins - Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) - QB
6. Los Angles Rams - Justin Herbert (Oregon) - QB
7. Carolina Panthers - Derrick Brown (Auburn) - DT
8. Arizona Cardinals - Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) - OT
9. Jacksonville Jaguars - C.J. Henderson (Florida) - CB
10. Cleveland Browns - Jedrick Wills (Alabama) - OT
11. New York Jets - CeeCee Lamb (Oklahoma) - WR
12. Las Vegas Raiders - Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) - WR
13. San Francisco 49ers - Henry Ruggs III (Alabama) - WR
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mekhi Becton (Louisville) - OT
15. Denver Broncos - Justin Jefferson (LSU) - WR
16. Atlanta Falcons - Javon Kinlaw (SC) - DL
17. Dallas Cowboys - Xavier McKinney (Alabama) - FS
18. Miami Dolphins - K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU) - Edge Rusher
19. Las Vegas Raiders - A.J. Terrell (Clemson) - CB
20. Jacksonville Jaguars - Andrew Thomas (Georgia) - OT
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State) - WR
22. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Jones (Houston) - OT
23. New England Patriots - Zack Braun (Wisconsin) - LB
24. New Orleans Saints - Kristan Fulton (LSU) - CB
25. Minnesota Vikings - Trevon Diggs (Alabama) - CB
26. Miami Dolphins - Tee Higgins (Clemson) - WR
27. Seattle Seahawks - Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State) - DE
28. Baltimore Ravens - Kenneth Murray (Oklahoma) - LB
29. Tennessee Titans - Marlon Davidson (Auburn) - DE
30. Green Bay Packers - Denzel Mims (Baylor) - WR
31. San Francisco 49ers - Patrick Queen (LSU) - LB
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Jeff Gladney (TCU) - CB