The 2020 NFL Draft received a lot of hype — and with good reason. That’s pretty much all anyone talked about as the draft approached.
The 2020 draft took place in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the event looked much different than it usually did.
Rather than being held on location, the event was instead held in Commissioner Roger Goodell’s basement. Naturally, no prospects were invited to share that intimate setting with Goodell, but cameras were stationed at the homes of prospects across the country. That allowed fans an inside look at what was going on with Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and many more.
Quarterbacks were the story of the 2020 NFL Draft class. Three were taken in the top six picks — Burrow, Tagoaviloa, and Justin Herbert — while Jordan Love made it four chosen in the first round.
All four of those passers, along with second-round stud Jalen Hurts, have enjoyed plenty of early success throughout their professional careers. That has led many to believe that the 2020 quarterback class could be among the best in NFL history, provided that these trends hold up.
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However, the topic at hand is the order in which these signal-callers would be selected if the 2020 NFL Draft was held today? The Sporting News is diving into that debate with an entire re-mock of the first 32 selections.
2020 NFL Draft re-draft
Note: All trades that occurred in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft have been left intact. So, the draft order of this re-draft will mimic that of the actual draft.
1. Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-draft pick: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
- Actual pick: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
The Bengals made the right choice atop the 2020 NFL Draft. Burrow started his career with a rocky 2-10 season, but since then, he has posted a 27-15 record while completing 68.7 percent of his passes and averaging 4,612 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions per 17 games played.
Burrow has led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance and two AFC championship game appearances all while endearing himself to the Bengals’ fan base. He has Cincinnati set up to be a perennial playoff contender as long as he can stay healthy, so the Bengals have to be happy with their No. 1 pick.
2. Washington Commanders
- Re-draft pick: Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
- Actual pick: Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
Going with Chase Young seemed like the safe pick for the Commanders, as many believed he would develop into a defensive cornerstone. However, he was shipped out of Washington ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline after he failed to progress following a solid rookie season.
With that in mind, the Commanders would almost certainly take a quarterback if given a do-over. The team reportedly liked Tua Tagovailoa ahead of the draft, and Justin Herbert has posted the best stats among the remaining quarterbacks. However, Hurts seems like the best option for the team at this point.
Hurts has a unique combination of deep passing accuracy and mobility that no other passer can rival. He led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance in 2023 but endured some injury issues the following season.
Still, Hurts has been in the MVP race for a couple of seasons and has 101 total touchdowns in just 51 starts. His playmaking ability — plus the ability to poach him from the Eagles — makes Hurts the top option with the No. 2 overall pick, even if the race for the second-best quarterback behind Burrow is close.
3. Detroit Lions
- Re-draft pick: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
- Actual pick: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
The Lions are perfectly positioned in this re-draft to select the top non-quarterback. That would be Jefferson, who has logged at least 1,074 receiving yards per season in each of his four years with the Vikings and was a first-team All-Pro after recording a league-high 128 receptions for 1,809 yards in 2022.
It’s fun to imagine what Jefferson could do if partnered with another Pro Bowl-caliber talent in Amon-Ra St. Brown.
4. New York Giants
- Re-draft pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
- Actual pick: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Thomas has turned into a strong starting tackle for the Giants, but it took him a while to get there. Wirfs was a plug-and-play starter who immediately starred as a rookie. He has shown an ability to play both the right and left side for the Buccaneers, so the Giants would probably prefer to get the more polished and versatile player with their top overall selection.
Wirfs has played in 63 career games, all starts, and made the All-Pro first team in 2021. He was a second-teamer in ’22 and won a Super Bowl blocking for Tom Brady during his rookie season.
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5. Miami Dolphins
- Re-draft pick: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
- Actual pick: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
The Dolphins faced an agonizing choice in their 2020 NFL Draft when choosing between Tagovailoa and Herbert. Now, they are facing a similarly difficult choice in the re-draft.
While Tagovailoa has posted a 32-19 record as Miami’s starter and became an MVP candidate after Mike McDaniel arrived in South Beach, Herbert looks like the better option.
Herbert has showcased high-end passing ability in all four of his seasons despite playing for three different offensive coordinators. Pairing him with McDaniel could unlock his downfield passing even more and allow him to improve upon his already prolific numbers.
The margin between Herbert and Tagovailoa is thin, and over the past couple of seasons, the Dolphins quarterback has actually outplayed the Chargers signal-caller. That has caused their career numbers to nearly mirror one another.
| Stat | Tua Tagovailoa | Justin Herbert |
| Record | 32-19 | 30-32 |
| Comp. % | 66.9 | 66.6 |
| Passing yards | 12,639 | 17,223 |
| Passing TDs | 81 | 114 |
| INTs | 37 | 42 |
| Yards/attempt | 7.7 | 7.1 |
| Passer rating | 97.1 | 95.7 |
However, when considering that Herbert has been in a more unstable coaching environment (by a wide margin), he looks like the better of the two prospects. That could convince Miami to take a mulligan here and try to mold Herbert into an MVP candidate.
6. Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-draft pick: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
- Actual pick: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
The Chargers are in the same situation for this re-draft that they were in for the 2020 NFL Draft. They can take whomever the Dolphins don’t take to serve as their successor to Philip Rivers.
Tagovailoa has developed great accuracy during his NFL career. He may be a bit more turnover-prone than Herbert, but he still would find success in Los Angeles’ offense throwing the ball to Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The only question is whether he would hold up behind a shakier Chargers offensive line.
7. Carolina Panthers
- Re-draft pick: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
- Actual pick: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Love is on the rise after his first season as a starter, experiencing the highest highs along with some valleys, but his torrid stretch to close the season and playoff win over the Cowboys showcased his high-end arm talent and ability to succeed within a vertical passing game.
The Panthers had Teddy Bridgewater set to start at quarterback for them in 2020. Matt Rhule might have been happy to roll with the veteran, but drafting Love to develop behind Bridgewater could have given Carolina a better succession plan for Cam Newton. It also would have prevented them from trading up for Bryce Young, in all likelihood, so this move would be a welcome change to the team’s history.
Love completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in his first full season as a starter in 2023. He has a bright future considering that he is still just 25.
8. Arizona Cardinals
- Re-draft pick: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
- Actual pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
The Cardinals selected Josh Jones in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft in the hopes of turning him into a bookend for D.J. Humphries. Drafting Thomas at this point would be a far better solution for the team in front of Kyler Murray.
Thomas has been graded as a top-20 tackle by Pro Football Focus in each of the past three seasons following a disappointing rookie campaign. He has been the Giants’ best lineman in that psan and would likely have operated in a similar role for the Cardinals.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-draft pick: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
- Actual pick: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida
The Jaguars had a need at cornerback entering the 2020 draft, so it’s no surprise that they spent the No. 9 pick on one. However, C.J. Henderson turned out to be a bust, and the team dealt him to Carolina less than two years after selecting him.
Johnson would have been a much better selection. The 24-year-old was PFF’s top-graded cornerback for 2023 and has notched 41 pass breakups and five interceptions during his career. Four of his picks came last season, but even without the high volume of turnovers, he has still been a highly effective starting quarterback at the NFL level.
10. Cleveland Browns
- Re-draft pick: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
- Actual pick: Jedrick Willis, OT, Alabama
The Browns are probably bummed that neither Wirfs nor Thomas made it to this selection. They were hoping to land a left tackle here, and Jedrick Wills hasn’t been the high-level player that they had hoped.
With the top tackles gone, the Browns can take the best player available who fills a need. That would be Lamb, who would have eventually emerged as the team’s No. 1 receiver and had chemistry with Baker Mayfield from their time together at Oklahoma.
Lamb is coming off a 2023 season that saw him post a league-best 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was named an All-Pro first-teamer for his efforts, so he would give the Browns the true No. 1 receiver that they lacked when Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry were their top-two wideouts.
11. New York Jets
- Re-draft pick: AJ Terrell, CB, Clemson
- Actual pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
The Jets had one of the worst rosters in the NFL entering the 2020 draft. They had needs at receiver, offensive tackle, edge rusher — you name it.
That said, the team’s situation at cornerback was dire, as Pierre Desir, Brian Poole, and Arthur Maulet were the team’s top three players there entering the season. Terrell has been a high-end starting cornerback who has posted numbers similar to Johnson with 43 career pass breakups and four interceptions over four seasons. Terrell’s presence would have accelerated the growth of New York’s defense without a doubt.
12. Las Vegas Raiders
- Re-draft pick: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
- Actual pick: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
The Raiders surprised many by making Ruggs the first receiver off the board, and the pick didn’t pan out at all. He lasted just a season and a half before he was released following a DUI incident that led to the death of Tina Tintor and her dog, Max.
Higgins, meanwhile, has been a consistent weapon for the Bengals, using his 6-4 frame to average 75 catches, 1,080 yards, and seven touchdowns per 17 games played during his four seasons in Cincinnati. He may not be as fast as Ruggs, but his reliability and size could have been assets to the Raiders.
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13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Re-draft pick: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
- Actual pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Buccaneers already lost one of their All-Pro talents from this draft in Wirfs. They won’t risk letting the same thing happen to Winfield.
Winfield was a second-round pick in the 2020 draft but has become one of the league’s best playmaking safeties in recent seasons. He set career highs in tackles (122), sacks (six), force fumbles (a league-high six), interceptions (three), and pass defenses (12) during the 2023 season.
Winfield’s do-it-all skill set played a part in Tampa Bay winning a Super Bowl in Tom Brady’s first season as well. So, while spending the 13th pick on him may not look like a great value, it’s an opportunity on which Tampa Bay simply cannot pass up.
14. San Francisco 49ers
- Re-draft pick: Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
- Actual pick: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
There were several right-position, wrong-player picks throughout the first round of the 2020 draft. This was one of them, as Kinlaw never developed into the dominant interior threat that the 49ers hoped he would become.
Madubuike, on the other hand, enjoyed a breakout year in 2023. He recorded a whopping 13 sacks with the Ravens and was named an All-Pro second-teamer for his efforts. Having his pass-rushing skill set (21.5 sacks over four seasons) would provide the 49ers with an upgraded interior push and make their already high-end defense even scarier.
15. Denver Broncos
- Re-draft pick: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
- Actual pick: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Jeudy has flashed at times during his NFL career, but he hasn’t been consistent. While Aiyuk was in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse at various points during his career, he has improved upon his yardage totals in each of his four NFL seasons. He has largely been consistent and has the skills needed to be a playmaker with the ball in his hands.
Aiyuk’s combination of route-running savvy, speed, and elusiveness would have provided them with a rock-solid partner for Courtland Sutton. Perhaps with more consistent play at receiver, Denver’s offense would have played a bit better in the seasons during which it just missed out on the wild-card race.
16. Atlanta Falcons
- Re-draft pick: Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
- Actual pick: A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Falcons had a strong-looking offense back in 2020. What they were missing was playmakers on defense. They needed some help in the secondary and on the line, as their pass rush had been a disappointment since Vic Beasley’s rapid regression.
Young has a sky-high ceiling and would be the No. 1 edge rusher on the Falcons. He hasn’t stayed healthy or played consistently in all facets of the game since his rookie season, but his burst off the edge is enough for Atlanta to take him here. Perhaps Dan Quinn and Raheem Morris would have made better use of him than Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio did in Washington.
Young has 16.5 sacks over 43 games during his NFL career. That includes 7.5 during his Defensive Rookie of the Year-winning season and 7.5 during his 16 games with the 49ers and Commanders in 2023.
17. Dallas Cowboys
- Re-draft pick: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
- Actual pick: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
The Cowboys landed a steal with the 17th pick when Lamb slipped to them. They don’t get quite as lucky this time, but they nab a falling defensive lineman to make up for it.
Brown was the No. 7 pick in the original draft, but the Auburn product simply hasn’t been as much of a sack artist as the Panthers had hoped when they selected him. That said, he logged a ridiculous 103 tackles and six pass defenses in 2023 thanks to his ability to quickly get into backfields.
So, while Brown may not be a big-time sack artist, he does everything else well. He would have been a great heir apparent to Dontari Poe and would have fixed Dallas’ years-long weakness against the run.
18. Miami Dolphins
- Re-draft pick: Mike Onwenu, OL, Michigan
- Actual pick: Austin Jackson, OT, USC
Jackson has become a solid starting right tackle, but Onwenu has shown a higher ceiling with the Patriots. The 350-pounder has been a road-grader in the run game and has also held up well in pass protection on the right side of the line. Add in his versatility, as he has played guard and tackle, and he would be a true star for the right side of Miami’s line.
19. Las Vegas Raiders
- Re-draft pick: L’Jarius Sneed, CB, Louisiana Tech
- Actual pick: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
Arnette was another major bust for the Raiders. He was cut just a week after Ruggs’ arrest after a video surfaced of him brandishing firearms and making death threats.
The Raiders did need a quarterback, but Sneed and Trevon Diggs were the safer options with this pick. While Diggs is the flashier playmaker, Sneed has been more consistent in recent seasons in his No. 1 cornerback role with the Chiefs. He has recorded 303 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 40 pass defenses, and 10 interceptions during his four seasons in Kansas City since being a fourth-round pick.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-draft pick: Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Charlotte
- Actual pick: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
Chaisson looked like a potential steal for the Jaguars, but he has never developed into a consistent pass rusher. Highsmith has, logging 29.5 sacks in his first four seasons and 27.5 since becoming a full-time starter in 2021.
Highsmith has benefitted from playing across T.J. Watt, but the Charlotte product’s speed off the edge has become an asset for Pittsburgh’s defense. Pairing him with Travon Walker and Josh Allen would give the Jaguars a fierce trio of pass rushers that would help create at least one strength on their porous defense.
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21. Philadelphia Eagles
- Re-draft pick: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
- Actual pick: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
This pick will go down in infamy as the one that the Eagles used on Reagor instead of Justin Jefferson. The LSU product might have gotten the Eagles over the hump in their quest to win Super Bowl 57. At the very least, the idea of pairing him with DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown is beyond intriguing.
That said, with Jefferson off the board, Pittman is a nice consolation prize. The Colts wideout has posted. at least 925 receiving yards in each of the past three seasons, and he would give the Eagles a threatening third receiver, something that they lacked during their Super Bowl run in 2023. His smooth route running and speed combination would fit well within Nick Sirianni’s offense.
22. Minnesota Vikings
- Re-draft pick: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
- Actual pick: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
OK, admit it. It would be funny if the Vikings traded away Stefon Diggs only to draft his brother. It’s realistic, too, as the Vikings needed a cornerback during the 2020 NFL Draft and Diggs is the top player left on the board.
Diggs has been one of the NFL’s best ballhawks during his career, posting a whopping 11 interceptions during his All-Pro season in 2021. He has 18 total picks in 47 career games (46 starts). Those playmaking skills would make Diggs the Vikings’ true No. 1 cornerback. That could have done a lot to solidify their defense as they shuffled through young talent at that position.
23. Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-draft pick: Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
- Actual pick: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Murray has functioned as a hard-nosed, downhill run-stopper for the Chargers, but his missed tackles and deficiencies in coverage have relegated him to a role off the bench on occasion. The same wouldn’t be true of Queen, who has been rock-solid in all facets of the game. He would have fit the three-down linebacker role that the Chargers were searching to fill better than the Oklahoma product without a doubt.
24. New Orleans Saints
- Re-draft pick: Jonah Jackson, G, Ohio State
- Actual pick: Cesar Ruiz, G/C, Michigan
Ruiz has been a decent starter for the Saints, but he hasn’t been spectacular. Jackson, on the other hand, was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and has been an above-average starter for an excellent Lions line. Had the Saints drafted Jackson, he could have emerged as the plug-and-play option they hoped Ruiz would turn into. The only disadvantage Jackson has compared to Ruiz is that he isn’t as versatile, as he doesn’t play center.
25. San Francisco 49ers
- Re-draft pick: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
- Actual pick: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
This is a luxury pick for the 49ers. They already had a relatively loaded roster in 2020. They needed a true No. 2 receiver, but adding a workhorse back like Taylor will also improve the offense in big ways.
Taylor has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, but in 2021, he led the NFL in carries (332), rushing yards (1,811), and rushing touchdowns while also posting a league-high 2,170 scrimmage yards. He did that running behind a strong Colts offensive line, but the 49ers’ unit is just as good as that one, if not better. So, if Taylor fit well into Kyle Shanahan’s system, he could have emerged as a major talent in the mold of Christian McCaffrey.
26. Green Bay Packers
- Re-draft pick: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
- Actual pick: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
The Packers don’t get Love in this re-draft, but they do get a chance to upgrade their skill-position weapons, which is something they should have considered doing in this spot anyway. The top receivers are off the board, but Kmet would provide the Packers with a big upgrade at tight end over the Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis duo.
Kmet has been a steady contributor during his career despite playing in some inefficient, Matt Nagy-coached offenses. Under Luke Getsy, who used to be with the Packers, Kmet averaged 62 catches, 632 yards, and six touchdowns per 17 games played. Maybe he would have done a bit less during his younger years, but his 6-5 frame and catch radius would have provided Aaron Rodgers with a reliable red-zone weapon.
That could have put Green Bay over the top during its many deep playoff runs.
27. Seattle Seahawks
- Re-draft pick: Damien Lewis, G, LSU
- Actual pick: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
The Seahawks were always in need of help on the offensive line during the Russell Wilson era. Biadasz was a fourth-round pick, but he has become a strong starter for the Cowboys and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022.
Seattle eventually selected Lewis in the fourth round of the draft, but they would have to take him earlier in this redraft. He has become a strong starting guard for them, so the Seahawks probably wouldn’t pass on him here.
28. Baltimore Ravens
- Re-draft pick: Jeremy Chinn, LB/S, Southern Illinois
- Actual pick: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
The Ravens selected Queen here, but with him off the board, the team may turn their attention to another player who can help the middle of the defense.
Chinn was originally a second-round pick by the Panthers and developed into a high-quality weapon at linebacker, finishing second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Then, he moved to safety, where he endured some growing pains but has largely been a solid starter.
Chinn could have replaced Queen as a top linebacker in Baltimore next to CJ Mosley, or he could have played at safety to serve as an upgrade over the duo of DeShon Elliott and Chuck Clark. Either way, his tackling and ball-hawking skills would have been an asset for Baltimore’s defense. It’s also possible that some coaching continuity would prove beneficial to the young playmaker.
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29. Tennessee Titans
- Re-draft pick: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
- Actual pick: Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
Since becoming a starter for the Seahawks, Brooks has averaged a whopping 158 tackles per season. He has a nose for the ball and is also a good pass rusher, totaling 6.5 sacks from his linebacker spot during his career.
The Titans had a strong defensive line in 2020, but they needed some help in the middle of their defense. Brooks would have prevented their linebacker corps from becoming as big of an issue as it did.
30. Miami Dolphins
- Re-draft pick: Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne
- Actual pick: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
The Dolphins spent this pick on a high-upside cornerback in Igbinoghene. He didn’t pan out. Dugger had similarly high upside, but he has found success, albeit at a different position.
Dugger has been a do-it-all hybrid safety in New England’s defense. Brian Flores would have figured out how to use Dugger just as well as Bill Belichick did, so it’s easy to envision Dugger panning out just as well with the Dolphins. In drafting him, Miami would stick to the offense-offense-defense strategy it employed with its first three picks in the actual 2020 NFL Draft.
31. Minnesota Vikings
- Re-draft pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
- Actual pick: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
The Vikings had some offensive line issues ahead of the 2020 NFL season. Their interior offensive line had its share of issues, but left tackle Riley Reiff was aging, as well. Wills was a top-10 pick in the actual draft, so getting him at this point to hold down the left tackle spot while kicking Reiff inside to guard would have been a smart move.
Wills has started 53 games during his NFL career and has been a solid part of a strong blocking unit in Cleveland. He would bring the same skill set to Minnesota and perhaps allow Kirk Cousins’ true breakout to happen a bit earlier.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-draft pick: Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin
- Actual pick: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
The Chiefs were starting Austin Reiter at center during the 2020 season. The team’s offensive line was one of the main reasons that they failed to win Super Bowl 55 against the Buccaneers, so adding a solid interior player like Biadasz here is more appealing than chasing a high-upside receiver like Jerry Jeudy.
Biadasz developed into a Pro Bowler for the Cowboys after being a fourth-round pick. His presence wouldn’t prevent the Chiefs from adding players like Creed Humphrey, Joe Thuney, and Trey Smith to their roster in subsequent years, but it would give the team a bit more flexibility with its blocking options.