Miami Dolphins surprise picks with latest two round 2020 NFL Mock Draft

Pick #5  Miami Dolphins:  Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

I can ‘feel’ the outrage that will come with this selection.  Tua fans are screaming that I passed on him while the rest of you are saying “We traded away Tunsil to then select a tackle in the top 5?!”  Both camps make a valid point but stay with me here.

The ‘lovefest’ that the media has portrayed around the Dolphins and Tua is blown way out of proportion.  Everybody in the Dolphins organization, from owner Stephen Ross to GM Chris Grier, have said they are uncomfortable with Tua’s injury history so it stands to reason they aren’t willing to risk a top five pick on a potential RGIII situation.

At 6’7″ and 364 pounds, Becton opened alot of eyes at the combine by running a 5.10 second 40-yard dash.  Courtesy of NFL.com.  For those that don’t follow the combine, that is an unheard of time for a man that size.

The Dolphins will come away with a quarterback in this draft but, if it can’t be Burrow, they will select someone to can protect that QB for the next 10-15 years.

Pick #6  Los Angeles Chargers:  Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

With great news regarding his rehab coming out of Indianapolis, Tua moves way up in this newest mock draft.  The Chargers parted ways with QB Phillip Rivers because they wanted someone more mobile in the backfield to run head coach Anthony Lynn‘s offense.

Tua could potentially sit for the entire year behind QB Tyrod Taylor; or whoever the Chargers sign to start in 2019.

Pick #7  Carolina Panthers:  Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

While a quarterback like Justin Herbert will be very tempting, Carolina will probably give QB Cam Newton more time to get healthy.  Meanwhile, their defensive line is on the older side and has two starters coming off major injuries while starting nose tackle Dontari Poe may become a salary cap casualty.

What does Brown bring to the Panthers?  He has been a dominant force on the interior for Auburn for three straight seasons.  He is stout against the run and has plenty of burst to pressure the quarterback.

Pick #8  Arizona Cardinals:  Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

A popular trend happening in mock drafts lately is reuniting QB Kyler Murray with his top target from college by drafting Oklahoma WR Ceedee Lamb.  If the Cardinals decide to go in that direction, it would be hard to criticize the move, however, the team gave up 50 sacks last season and that was with a super mobile QB in the backfield.

Wirfs may be able to eventually move to left tackle in the pros but right now the Cardinals would be best served by plugging him in at right tackle; where he excelled at Iowa.

Pick #9  Jacksonville Jaguars:  Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

Over the last 12 months, the Jaguars have held a ‘fire sale’ on defensive players; particularly in the secondary.  Last year, they traded away S Jalen Ramsey and several sports outlets are reporting that starting cornerback A.J. Bouye is headed to Denver when the new league year begins.

McKinney is capable of roaming the Jaguars secondary and making game-changing plays.  The team probably shouldn’t ask him to cover wide receivers one-on-one but McKinney held his own covering tight ends when asked.

Pick #10  Cleveland Browns:  Jedrick Willis, OT, Alabama

The Browns are pretty well stocked at the skill positions on both sides of the ball.  Was there underwhelming season due to coaching, the QB or both?  Adding Willis will help answer eliminate some excuses for Baker Mayfield.

Willis may move well enough to play either tackle spot but, worse case, the Browns have a stout right tackle that will help both the run game and should improve upon the 41 sacks they allowed last season.  Stat courtesy of NFL.com