The 2020 NFL Draft is right around the corner. Mock drafts are abundant on the internet, and all of them usually start the same way. Typically, the first pick is Joe Burrow to the Bengals. Then, the second pick is Chase Young to the Redskins. After that, the picks can vary.
Burrow and Young are expected to be top-two picks, and if they are not, it would be a shocking turn of events. But what would that shocking turn of events look like, and how could it benefit the New York Giants?
A Team Trades For Tua
For Chase Young to end up with the Giants, the Redskins have to pass on drafting him. Now, there are plenty of positions of need for the Washington Redskins. It would not hurt to draft a new left tackle or even a wide receiver. However, Chase Young is the best player in the draft and cannot be passed up for any other prospect.
But, the Redskins might consider passing on Young for a haul of multiple prospects. Let’s assume the Bengals draft Joe Burrow at number one overall. This means the draft’s top quarterback is off the board. But still, there are at least three other teams that might want to draft a quarterback: the Dolphins, the Chargers, and the Panthers. So what will happen to those teams?
It is possible that a bidding war forms for the draft’s next best quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. A team like the Miami Dolphins might want to trade up to the second overall pick to ensure that no one else trades ahead of them and steals Tua. The Redskins would easily be able to get two (maybe even three) first-round picks in exchange for the number two overall pick.
So, to play devil’s advocate in this scenario, let’s assume the Redskins are blown away by a trade offer for the number two overall pick by a quarterback-needy team. They trade down and receive a haul of draft picks while a team moves up and selects Tua Tagovailoa. This leaves Chase Young still on the board for the Lions with the third overall pick.
Three Quarterbacks In A Row?
There are two quarterback prospects in this class that are considered “elite.” That would be Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterbacks that, in this scenario, were just drafted first and second overall. But sometimes, teams draft for positional need and subsequently reach on quarterback prospects.
Enter Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. The former-Duck is not considered to be nearly the same prospect as Burrow or Tagovailoa, but he still projects as an NFL starting quarterback. One of those three teams mentioned above that did not land one of the top two quarterbacks might settle on the draft’s third-best quarterback.Â
The Lions are another team with multiple positions of need, not just one gaping hole in their roster. They could draft a linebacker, a cornerback, or Chase Young. But what if they too decide to trade down? A big haul of draft picks might entice them to pass on Chase Young.
This scenario sees quarterbacks get drafted with each of the first three overall picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. Burrow to the Bengals is a lock. However, trades would need to occur for picks two and three to be spent on a signal-caller. If they are, though, that would lead to a draft-day fall for the best player in the draft class.
Chase Young would be passed on for two quarterbacks and fall right into the lap of the New York Giants. With the fourth overall pick in this scenario, the New York Giants select edge rusher Chase Young. Chase Young racked up 16.5 sacks in 2019 en route to being a Heisman Trophy finalist. The top-tier pass-rusher would change the Giants’ defense and give opposing quarterbacks a reason to be afraid. This scenario is a long shot. But, it is the scenario for which Giants fans should be hoping.