Previewing the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft

With opening night of the 2020 NFL Draft just a little more than 24 hours away, I thought we’d go ahead and preview the potential circumstances that could cause the Chargers to go in several different directions with the sixth-overall pick.

Everyone and their mother are 99% sure that the Bengals will stay at number and draft LSU’s Joe Burrow. Recent news has bubbled to the surface that Washington is potentially open to trading out of the #2 spot with a team looking to either grab Ohio State’s Chase Young. However, Young is still the favorite to be off the board at #2.

Worst-Case Scenario: Herbert or Offensive Tackle at #6

Depending who the other three players are in the top-5 aside from Burrow and Young, the Chargers 2020 season could take several different routes. Personally, I think the worst-case scenario for the Chargers are to see Burrow, Young, Tua Tagovailoa, Jeff Okudah, and Isaiah Simmons all get taken prior to #6. If that’s the case, the Bolts will be forced into taking Justin Herbert or one of the top offensive tackles in Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills, or Mekhi Becton. I wouldn’t mind the selection of Herbert but it honestly doesn’t move the needle for me. I think there’s the top-2 QBs and then it drops off quite a bit. I love Wirfs and believe he’s the top offensive lineman in this class. Wills and Becton would also be ideal given the need at tackle.

Tua Tagovailoa at #6

What’s unfortunate about that worst-case scenario is that may be the most-likely barring the Chargers trading up into the top-5. I do not think Tua will naturally make to six, which brings us to that scenario. Were the Chargers to trade up to #3 with the Lions, the deal would likely include swapping first-round pick and hopefully just a second rounder or a player. Cornerback Desmond King has been named before as a guy who could get moved in this situation. The move would solidify the quarterback position for the foreseeable future and the Chargers would avoid a potentially large contract when King’s current deal is up after the 2020 season. This is probably my favorite scenario outside of Tua falling to #6.

Isaiah Simmons at #6

In the case of the Chargers staying put and one of the top offensive tackles going in the top-5, that could leave Isaiah Simmons available at #6. If Simmons is there and Tua is not, I would snag Simmons in a heartbeat. That’s must-watch football when the defense takes the field and you can sign me up for that goodness.

Surprise Picks: Derrick Brown, Jordan Love, or other

This scenario goes along with the original top-5 that were selected in our original hypothetical. The top two quarterbacks are off the board alongside Young, Okudah, and Simmons. Herbert or a tackle would be expected but what if they chucked a curveball at us and went with a Derrick Brown or, God forbid, Jordan Love with the sixth-overall pick.

(shudders violently)

It always makes for good television when other teams make insanely crazy moves within the top-10 as the rest of the NFL gets to sit back and mock their decisions. However, if the Chargers were to end up the brunt of the jokes from day one, I would be HEATED.

Trade Back

The Atlanta Falcons, among other teams, are looking to potentially trade up into the top-10 to snag a player they just can’t live without. Recent reports have come out about the Falcons being madly in love with Florida’s CJ Henderson, arguably the second-best cornerback in the draft. The 49ers, who currently sit with both the 13th and 31st pick in the first round, could feel compelled to package both picks in an attempt to move up and grab their favorite of the top-3 wide receivers, may it be Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, or either of Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III.

The Falcons hold the 16th pick, and that might be too far back for the Chargers. They need a QB or an OT aside from the blue chip defensive studs and they could all be gone by then. The 13th would likely only make sense if they are comfortable in potentially taking the last top tackle available, which should be Becton or Georgia’s Andrew Thomas at that point. After all, SI’s Peter King mentioned in his latest mock that the Chargers “love” Thomas which is why King had the Bolts grabbing him with the sixth-overall pick. I don’t think that would ever happen, but it could in this trade-back scenario.

These are all the most-likely scenarios that I could come up with ahead of Thursday night. While anything can happen, I see things panning out in one of these manners barring anything incomprehensibly crazy.