A look at instant reactions from The Denver Post staff on the first-round picks in the 2020 NFL draft.
No. 1. Cincinnati: QB Joe Burrow, LSU.
The Bengals spent millions in free agency to rebuild their defense and going with Burrow first overall gives them a new face of their offense.
No. 2. Washington: DL Chase Young, Ohio State.
The Redskins keep it simple and select arguably the best overall player in the draft. Young had 27 sacks in his final two college seasons.
No. 3. Detroit: CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State.
Nobody was willing to pay the required price to move up to the Lions’ spot so they go with Okudah, who started only one year for the Buckeyes, but was first-team All-America.
No. 4. N.Y. Giants: OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia.
The Giants had their choice of offensive tackles and obviously preferred Thomas’ left tackle experience (26 games) instead of Jedrick Wills or Tristan Wirfs.
No. 5. Miami: QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama.
The Dolphins get Tua after all and they didn’t even need to tank. If his hip and ankles hold up, he can be elite. And that’s a gigantic, “If …”
No. 6. L.A. Chargers: QB Justin Hebert, Oregon.
As it turns out, the Chargers didn’t need to move up to get Hebert, who started 42 games for the Ducks. He may watch veteran Tyrod Taylor to begin the season.
No. 7. Carolina: DT Derrick Brown, Auburn.
New Panthers coach Matt Rhule goes for the big man (Brown is 6-foot-5/326 pounds) who can anchor a team’s rush defense instead of the ultra-versatile Isaiah Simmons.
No. 8. Arizona: LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson.
Is he a safety? Or a cornerback? Or a linebacker? It will be up to Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to find ways to best use Simmons, who had 107 tackles last year.
No. 9. Jacksonville: CB C.J. Henderson, Florida.
The Jaguars traded cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey to the Rams last October and A.J. Bouye to the Broncos last month so this was a need. Henderson had no interceptions in 2019.
No. 10. Cleveland: OT Jedrick Wills, Alabama.
The Browns were connected through the draft process with Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton partly because Wills wasn’t expected to be available. He can play left tackle opposite recent free agent signing Jack Conklin on the right side. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 11. N.Y. Jets: OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville.
The Jets need receiver help, but opted to wait on that so they could add Becton, who is listed at 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds. He started 21 games at left tackle and 12 at right tackle in college. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 12. Las Vegas: WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama.
The first receiver off the board is also the fastest. Ruggs ran the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds at the combine. He had 24 touchdown catches in 41 games for the Crimson Tide. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 13. Tampa Bay (from San Francisco): OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa.
Our first trade of the night. The 49ers, who entered without second-, third- or fourth-round picks, moves down one spot and the Buccaneers get an athletic player who could be a tackle or a guard in the NFL. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 14. San Francisco (from Tampa Bay): DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina.
The 49ers opted to add a replacement for DeForest Buckner instead of one for receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Kinlaw was first-team All-America last year despite making only 35 tackles. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 15. Denver: WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
The Broncos need to score more points, period, so general manager John Elway wasted little time adding Jeudy to a young skill-position core that is led by receiver Courtland Sutton and tight end Noah Fant. Quarterback Drew Lock should be happy. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 16. Atlanta: CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson
The Falcons could not pass on Terrell’s complete body of work, which included six interceptions in 44 career games (30 starts) over three seasons with the Tigers. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 17. Dallas: WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
The Cowboys get perhaps the most versatile pass catcher in the draft in Lamb, a 6-foot-2 and 198-pound Oklahoma product who is a true home run threat. — Matt Schubert
No. 18. Miami: OT Austin Jackson, USC
Well, so much for the Broncos making a play into the late 20s for Jackson, who won’t turn 21 until August. He started 25 games at left tackle for the Trojans. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 19. Las Vegas: CB Damon Arnette, Ohio State.
OK, this is a surprise considering most forecasters pegged Arnette as a Day 2 pick. But the Raiders will have him play opposite 2019 second-round pick Trayvon Mullen. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 20. Jacksonville: OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU.
Listed at 254 pounds, Chaisson could be a base-down linebacker and a sub-package weak-side defensive end. Chaisson played in only 26 college games (92 tackles and 9 1/2 sacks). — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 21. Philadelphia: WR Jalen Reagor, TCU.
The Eagles needed receiver help big-time and they go with Reagor instead of LSU’s Justin Jefferson. Reagor had 1,061 yards receiving in 2018, but only 611 as a junior. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 22. Minnesota: WR Justin Jefferson, LSU.
A terrific pick by the Vikings, who traded Stefon Diggs to Buffalo last month and needed a replacement to join Adam Thielen. Jefferson led FBS last year with 111 catches. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 23. L.A. Chargers: LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma.
The Chargers traded back into the first round with New England to acquire the draft’s best inside linebacker. Murray would have been a great fit for the Broncos. Instead, he’ll face them twice a year in the AFC West.
No. 24. New Orleans: C Cesar Ruiz, Michigan.
The first center off the board goes to the Saints. Ruiz, who got the nod over LSU’s Lloyd Cushenberry, started 26 games at center for the Wolverines.
No. 25. San Francisco: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State.
The 49ers move from 31 to 25 in a trade with Minnesota. A starter for only year, he caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns.
No. 26. Green Bay: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State.
Fifteen years after the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers 24th overall, they trade up with Miami to select his heir apparent. Love’s interception total increased from six in 2018 to 17 last year.
No. 27. Seattle: LB Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech.
The surprise is the Seahawks didn’t trade down like normal, but that speaks to their regard for Brooks, who had 367 tackles in 47 games for the Red Raiders.
No. 28. Baltimore: LB Patrick Queen, LSU.
Having already added veteran defensive lineman Derek Wolfe and Calais Campbell, the Ravens should feel confident they added an ascending player in Queen. He wasn’t a regular starter until early in 2019, but finished with 85 tackles.
No. 29. Tennessee: OT Isaiah Wilson, Georgia.
The sixth offensive tackle selected, Wilson entered the draft after his redshirt sophomore year. He started 24 games at right tackle for the Bulldogs. He will replace Jack Conklin, who signed with Cleveland.
No. 30. Miami: CB Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn.
The Dolphins’ busy night wrapped up with Igbinoghene, who will join big-money free agent cornerback Byron Jones. He had only one interception in 40 college games.
No. 31. Minnesota: CB Jeff Gladney, TCU.
The Vikings’ second first-round pick addresses a need after they moved on from veterans Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander in free agency. Gladney had 30 pass break-ups and five interceptions his final two years at TCU.
No. 32. Kansas City: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU.
The first and only running back drafted in the first round. Listed at 5-foot-7 and 207 pounds, he had 1,414 yards rushing (16 touchdowns) and 55 catches (for 453 yards) last year.
