NFL mock draft: Jeudy, Lamb gone before Raiders get on the clock

By Mike Grimala (contact), Case Keefer (contact)

Tuesday, April 14, 2020 | 2 a.m.

Most mock drafts prognosticate either Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb becoming the first selection of the Las Vegas Raiders with the 12^th pick in next week’s NFL Draft.

But neither Alabama’s Jeudy nor Oklahoma’s Lamb, the consensus top two receivers in the draft, are available when the Raiders pick in the Las Vegas Sun’s first mock. Las Vegas winds up with a receiver anyway and later adds a cornerback to its first-round haul in a dueling draft between Case Keefer and Mike Grimala.

Check below for our full first-round mock draft and come back leading up to the virtual NFL Draft next Thursday for more coverage.

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

This is the free square. The Heisman Trophy winner earned the right to become the top overall pick with a historic season leading LSU to a national championship and is poised to cash in on it. -CK

2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

With 27 sacks over the last two seasons, Young has established himself as the best pass-rushing prospect in this draft. Barring a trade, this should be an easy call for Washington. -MG

3. Detroit Lions: Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

There’s a lot of trade talk here, and scooping a couple extra high picks would probably yield the most value for the Lions. If Detroit decides against taking any of the offers surely coming its way, the consensus best defensive back in the draft isn’t a bad fallback option. -CK

4. New York Giants: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

Offensive line may be the consensus position of need for Big Blue, but Simmons represents an opportunity to completely rebuild, reenergize and reimagine the defense. -MG

5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

The whispers indicating the Dolphins were smitten with Tagovailoa have been running rampant for almost an entire year. It’s hard to imagine them going in any other direction if he’s available. -CK

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

It’s time to find out how much the Chargers love Oregon’s Justin Herbert. If they’re not completely sold on him as a franchise QB, a trade down is possible. In this scenario, they upgrade the offensive line for the next quarterback, whoever that ends up being. -MG

7. Carolina Panthers: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

A large part of new Carolina quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s success last year came because he was playing behind New Orleans’ first-rate offensive line. The Panthers must upgrade in that department if they expect Bridgewater to pick up where he left off, and luckily for them, they would have a chance to snag a potential future All-Pro here. -CK

8. Arizona Cardinals: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Bad news for the Raiders, who were hoping Jeudy would be available with the No. 12 pick. Instead the Cardinals pass on an offensive tackle in order to give Kyler Murray an elite, elite receiver prospect. Jeudy can learn from Larry Fitzgerald — not that he requires mentoring — and then dominate with Murray for the next half-decade. -MG

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

The Jaguars should be thrilled if Brown falls to them here. He was an absolute terror at Auburn and seemed to impact every play, even when teams helplessly threw double-teams at him. -CK

10. Cleveland Browns: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

The Browns are thirsty for offensive line help, and while Becton isn’t the most polished prospect, he should still be able to play right away. -MG

11. New York Jets: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

The Raiders take another hit if their plan is to get Derek Carr — Marcus Mariota? — a weapon with the No. 12 pick. Meanwhile, the Jets are inadvertently absolved from having to answer the tricky, “Jeudy or Lamb,” question. -CK

12. Las Vegas Raiders: Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama

If this exercise has taught us anything, it’s that Las Vegas may need to trade up if Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden are determined to get the first receiver off the board. Ruggs is no consolation prize, however, as his speed and explosiveness could transform the Raiders offense. Over the last two years, 21.6 percent of his offensive touches have gone for touchdowns. -MG

13. San Francisco 49ers: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama

This is a luxury pick for the 49ers, which still have a loaded and well-rounded roster even after trading DeForest Buckner to the Colts for this selection, so expect them to go with the best player on the board. The vast majority of scouting services rate Wills as the top talent remaining, and he would make sense in San Francisco as an immediate right tackle and potential, eventual replacement for future Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Staley. -CK

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: K’lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU

Offensive line is a possibility here, but new quarterback Tom Brady is basically his own offensive line with how quickly he can diagnose the defense and deliver the ball. Chaisson is a high-upside pass rusher who should create a little chaos in opposing backfields. -MG

15. Denver Broncos: Josh Jones, OT, Houston

The previous run on receivers might end up helping the Broncos, which have more pressing needs despite being linked to the Jeudy/Lamb/Ruggs triumvirate. Their pass protection is poor and should be more of an early priority. -CK

16. Atlanta Falcons: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

There may be higher rated cornerbacks on the board, but Diggs should be able to start immediately in Dan Quinn’s zone-heavy scheme. -MG

17. Dallas Cowboys: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

Secondary help is the Cowboys’ only glaring need, and the heady, fast Henderson is such a natural fit that they might be tempted to trade up and take him earlier. Dallas may only need seconds to submit its pick if he’s still there this late. -CK

18. Miami Dolphins: Austin Jackson, OT, USC

After trading away left tackle Laremy Tunsil, it’s time to lock down that position again with Jackson, an athletic pass protector who should keep getting better with experience. He’s not a blindside protector, technically, as Tua Tagovailoa is a lefty, but you get the idea. -MG

19. Las Vegas Raiders: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

The Raiders’ purported plans were foiled with their first pick, but things couldn’t have worked out better for their second selection. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther values physicality and versatility above all else for his cornerbacks, and Fulton brings both. He’s got prototypical NFL size at 6-foot, 200 pounds and excelled in press coverage as well as any defensive back in the nation the last two years. The Raiders badly need to hit on a secondary selection, and Fulton looks pretty close to can’t-miss. -CK

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

Even in a very deep draft for cornerbacks Igbinoghene stands out as perhaps the best athlete at the position. He can step in as the Jags’ Jalen Ramsey replacement. -MG

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

Philadelphia needs wide receiver and cornerback help, but there’s plenty of talent in those areas later in the draft. This might be the last chance to get an all-important game-changer on the defensive front.-CK

22. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

How do you replace Stefon Diggs? By drafting a receiver who caught 111 balls for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. -MG

23. New England Patriots: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

Imagine the grumbling if New England lands a passer that some think is talented enough to go in the top five. It’s unlikely Herbert falls this far, but also not impossible -CK

24. New Orleans: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

Jordan Love would be an intriguing successor to Drew Brees, but the Saints are firmly in win-now mode. Queen stays on the bayou. -MG

25. Minnesota Vikings: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota

Yes, this might be a sentimental selection with the younger Winfield following in his father’s footsteps, but why not? The Vikings are looking to upgrade their secondary, and Winfield stands squarely in the next tier of options. -CK

26. Miami Dolphins: Brandon Ayiuk, WR, Arizona State

So far in this mock the Dolphins have gotten their quarterback of the future and a cornerstone offensive tackle. Now they give Tua an elite YAC receiver to act as his security blanket. -MG

27. Seattle Seahawks: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

The Seahawks’ once-formidable pass rush has been regressing every year, and from a purely football standpoint, Epenesa might be the second-best edge rusher in the draft. He had a mediocre combine, but that could be to the Seahawks’ benefit if he drops too far. -CK

28. Baltimore Ravens: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

The Ravens are now in the business of maximizing their window with Lamar Jackson, and that means surrounding him with weapons. Mims can play opposite Hollywood Brown and give Baltimore one of the fastest wideout duos in the league. -MG

29. Tennessee Titans: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia

If the Titans are to be the AFC title contenders they fancy themselves to be, they’re going to have to bolster their pass defense. This is a high-variance pick given Hall’s injury history, but Tennessee should welcome the risk hoping to uncover a shutdown corner. -CK

30. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

A wide receiver is probably more likely here, but let’s get Love into the first round to better reflect the overall reality of the draft. And hey, Aaron Rodgers is heading into his age 37 season, which officially makes him an old quarterback. -MG

31. San Francisco 49ers: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

For their second straight pick, the 49ers employ a “best player remaining” strategy. That also means they wind up with Alabama products on each side of the ball. -CK

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Grant Delpit, S, LSU

As much fun as it would be for the champs to add another offensive weapon, Kansas City will be very happy to come away with perhaps the best all-around safety in the draft. -MG