2020 NFL Draft order: Top 20 set; Redskins secure second pick
This is a look at the first-round order for the 2020 NFL Draft, along with the top three needs for each team. The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker (click here to see a full list of the draft-order tiebreakers). The draft order for playoff teams (21-32 in the order) is determined by the results of postseason play.
The order for the first 20 selections in the 2020
NFL Draft is set. Strength-of-schedule totals will change based on the outcome of Sunday night's 49ers-
Seahawks game, but the order for the first 20 picks will not be affected. The
Washington Redskins locked up the second overall pick on Sunday with their loss to the
Dallas Cowboys (who ended up with the 17th pick), but the party will get started with the
Cincinnati Bengals, who secured the top pick a week ago. Just 116 days until Cincy is officially on the clock in Las Vegas!
Keep in mind that the needs for each team listed below offer just a snapshot of the areas that project to require the most attention as of today. Draft needs for NFL teams don't crystallize until the spring, after free agency plugs some holes and creates others, but we are firm believers that it's not too soon to see what might be coming around the corner.
Arrows indicate how far up or down a team has moved relative to last week.
PICK
1
Bengals
Record: 2-14 (.553 strength of schedule)
Previous week: No. 1
Biggest needs: QB, OL, LB
While there are needs aplenty here, Heisman winner Joe Burrow appears determined to make the
Bengals' decision at No. 1 an easy one as he continues his assault of college defenses.
PICK
2
Redskins
Record: 3-13 (.500)
Previous week: No. 2
Biggest needs: OL, pass catcher, defensive playmaker
This offensive line could look a lot different next season with three starters due to reach free agency this offseason (that doesn't even include
Trent Williams, who has said he will
never play for Washington again). Of course, this squad must also be targeting a complement for
Terry McLaurin and help for a bottom-10 defense.
PICK
3
Lions
Record: 3-12-1 (.506)
Previous week: No. 3
Biggest needs: CB, edge rusher, OL
BDPA -- draft the best defensive player available. That should be Detroit's strategy in Round 1 after its D was routinely throttled in 2019.
PICK
4
Giants
Record: 4-12 (.473)
Previous week: No. 4
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, DB, OT
The G-Men ranked near the bottom of the league in both pass rush and coverage, per Pro Football Focus. This pass defense has to improve for the
Giants to break their streak of drafting in the top 10, which is now up to three consecutive years.
PICK
5
Dolphins
Record: 5-11 (.484)
Previous week: No. 5
Biggest needs: QB, OL, edge rusher
Don't get me wrong, I
love the 37-year-old FitzMagic as a placeholder QB, but this team -- which went a remarkable 5-4 from November on (beating two division champs along the way!) despite being stripped down to the studs -- needs to find a longer-term answer under center. Fortunately, it's brimming with draft capital (including three first-rounders in 2020).
PICK
6
Chargers
1
Record: 5-11 (.514)
Previous week: No. 7
Biggest needs: OL, QB, CB
The
Chargers' O-line woes have been well-documented. The same goes for the looming decision on pending free agent
Philip Rivers. Lower on the to-do list, this squad could use help at corner opposite
Casey Hayward, and keep an eye on free-agent-to-be
Hunter Henry, as well.
PICK
7
Panthers
1
Record: 5-11 (.549)
Previous week: No. 8
Biggest needs: DB, DL, OL
Until the
Panthers decide
Cam Newton is no longer their guy, we're keeping QB off the needs list (although
Kyle Allen and
Will Grier have made it abundantly clear that they are NOT the answer). Does Carolina want to start over at QB in an offseason when it also has eight defensive starters scheduled for free agency?
PICK
8
Cardinals
1
Record: 5-10-1 (.530)
Previous week: No. 9
Biggest needs: Defensive playmaker, OL, pass catcher
Finding a front-seven playmaker to complement
Chandler Jones is a must. The rest of the needs outlook depends largely on what happens with their own top pending free agents --
Larry Fitzgerald,
Kenyan Drake,
D.J. Humphries and
A.Q. Shipley.
PICK
9
Jaguars
3
Record: 6-10 (.484)
Previous week: No. 6
Biggest needs: Front-seven playmaker, CB, OL
There are needs as far as the eye can see for the Jags, so this list is tough to narrow. Jacksonville will have two first-round picks in each of the next two drafts to try to build it back up.
PICK
10
Browns
2
Record: 6-10 (.533)
Previous week: No. 12
Biggest needs: OL, S, LB
After an ugly finish to a disappointing season, John Dorsey has a few starters headed for free agency: left tackle
Greg Robinson, S
Damarious Randall and LB
Joe Schobert. But protecting the former No. 1 overall pick has to be at the forefront of his mind.
PICK
11
Jets
1
Record: 7-9 (.473)
Previous week: No. 10
Biggest needs: OL, edge rusher, CB
It would be malpractice to continue sending
Sam Darnold out behind one of the league's worst offensive lines, so we expect first-year GM Joe Douglas to make that area a focus. WR and RB, while not listed here, could end up as needs, depending on whether the
Jets want to keep
Le'Veon Bell and pending free agent
Robby Anderson.
PICK
12
Raiders
2
Record: 7-9 (.482)
Previous week: No. 14
Biggest needs: WR, CB, edge rusher
A punchless offense played a big role in the
Raiders' second-half fade, and the team's deficiencies at wide receiver were a major culprit. Jon Gruden badly needs a WR1.
PICK
13
Colts
4
Record: 7-9 (.492)
Previous week: No. 17
Biggest needs: QB, DL, pass catcher
It would not be stunning to see Indy go all-in on a quarterback in next year's draft given
Jacoby Brissett's performance in the second half of the season. However, left tackle rises to the top of the needs list if the
Colts don't re-sign pending free agent
Anthony Castonzo.
PICK
14
Buccaneers
4
Record: 7-9 (.500)
Previous week: No. 18
Biggest needs: OL, DL, QB
Quarterback will remain on the needs list until the Bucs make a decision on
Jameis Winston, who dazzles
and confounds almost every week. He just completed the first 30 TD-30 INT season in NFL history by throwing a
game-ending pick-six in OT, which is maybe the most fitting thing ever. The QB question lingers over everything else, but Tampa Bay might have voids to fill on both the O- and D-lines. RT
Demar Dotson, DT
Ndamukong Suh and edge rushers
Jason Pierre-Paul and
Carl Nassib are pending free agents, as is
Shaquil Barrett, but Bruce Arians says
he won't let him walk.
PICK
15
Broncos
4
Record: 7-9 (.510)
Previous week: No. 11
Biggest needs: OL, interior D-line, DB
Getting more help for a young QB is never a bad idea, and an O-line that is devoid of long-term answers outside of rookie
Dalton Risner should be Priority No. 1. There likely will be holes to fill on defense with
Justin Simmons,
Chris Harris Jr.,
Shelby Harris and
Derek Wolfe ticketed for free agency.
PICK
16
Falcons
3
Record: 7-9 (.545)
Previous week: No. 13
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, DB, OL
Fitting that the
Falcons' lone QB hit in Week 17 -- a sack against
Jameis Winston -- came from an interior D-lineman (Grady Jarrett). A team that has long needed more help off the edge despite making significant investments in the position, Atlanta might have to spend a first-round pick on an edge rusher for the third time in six years. And they'll be in the market for a tight end if they don't strike a new deal with
Austin Hooper.
PICK
17
Cowboys
2
Record: 8-8 (.479)
Previous week: No. 15
Biggest needs: DB, pass catcher, DL
Question marks abound. You figure
Dak Prescott is not going anywhere. Beyond the QB1,
Amari Cooper and
Byron Jones are the team's most notable pending free agents, but that
list for Dallas is LONG.
PICK
18
Dolphins (via Steelers)
1
Steelers' record: 8-8 (.502)
Previous week: No. 19
The
Dolphins acquired this pick in the
Minkah Fitzpatrick trade. See No. 5 for the
Dolphins' needs and the bottom section of this file for analysis of the
Steelers' needs.
PICK
19
Raiders (via Bears)
3
Bears' record: 8-8 (.508)
Previous week: No. 16
The
Raiders acquired this pick in the
Khalil Mack trade. See No. 12 for the
Raiders' needs and the bottom section of this file for analysis of the
Bears' needs.
PICK
20
Jaguars (via Rams)
Rams' record: 9-7 (.536)
Previous week: No. 20
The
Jaguars acquired this pick in the
Jalen Ramsey trade. See No. 9 for the
Jaguars' needs and the bottom section of this file for analysis of the
Rams' needs.
PICK
PL
Eagles
Record: 9-7 (.457)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: DB, WR, edge rusher
With
Ronald Darby,
Rodney McLeod and
Jalen Mills in a contract year, Philly could be eyeing young talent at corner and safety. Adding more weaponry for
Carson Wentz has to be high on the to-do list, as well (
Nelson Agholor also has an expiring deal).
PICK
PL
Titans
Record: 9-7 (.488)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: OL, edge rusher, RB
QB is not listed here because we're expecting
Ryan Tannehill to return as the
Titans' QB1. Rushing champion
Derrick Henry's future seems a bit murkier. Even less certain is what 2020 holds for Tennessee's other pending free agents, including
Jack Conklin,
Logan Ryan and
Tramaine Brock.
PICK
PL
Bills
Record: 10-6 (.461)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: WR, DE, OL
Accuracy is not
Josh Allen's strong suit, which is why finding a go-up-and-get-it guy certainly wouldn't hurt. Beefing up the pass rush would make sense, too, especially if
Shaq Lawson departs.
PICK
PL
Vikings
Record: 10-6 (.478)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: DB, OL, DL
The secondary figures to be the chief concern for Minnesota heading into the offseason, with
Trae Waynes,
Anthony Harris,
Mackensie Alexander,
Andrew Sendejo and
Jayron Kearse playing on contracts that will expire in 2020 (not to mention,
Xavier Rhodes' horrid 2019 campaign).
PICK
PL
Dolphins (via Texans)
Texans' record: 10-6 (.520)
Previous week: Playoffs
The
Dolphins acquired this pick in the
Laremy Tunsil trade. See No. 5 for the
Dolphins' needs and the bottom section of this file for analysis of the
Texans' needs.
PICK
PL
Seahawks
Record: 11-4 (.528)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: DL, OL, DB
It's all about the trenches for Seattle this offseason. They need to avoid a mass exodus up front. Have a look at this list of pending free agents:
Jadeveon Clowney,
Mike Iupati,
Quinton Jefferson,
Germain Ifedi,
Jarran Reed,
Al Woods,
Ezekiel Ansah,
George Fant.
PICK
PL
Patriots
Record: 12-4 (.469)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: OL, TE, S
Obviously, QB rises to the top of the list if the GOAT doesn't return. For now, the focus should be up front on O -- the team's best offensive linemen (Joe Thuney) is a pending free agent -- and at tight end, where Gronk was never really replaced. Safety and linebacker could end up being high priorities, too.
PICK
PL
Chiefs
Record: 12-4 (.510)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: Front-seven playmaker, CB, OG
While the
Chiefs' D has played great ball down the stretch, there's clearly room to improve at linebacker, and the team's strategy for the D-line also bears watching with
Pro Bowl DT
Chris Jones and DE
Emmanuel Ogbah due to become free agents in 2020.
PICK
PL
49ers
Record: 12-3 (.508)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: DB, OL, WR
Jimmie Ward is due to become a free agent in 2020, and it's time to think about the future at offensive tackle with
Joe Staley set to turn 36 before next season. With
Emmanuel Sanders in the final year of his contract and
Dante Pettis taking a step back in Year 2, WR has to be on the radar here.
PICK
PL
Packers
Record: 13-3 (.451)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: Pass catcher, OT, ILB
Brian Gutekunst needs to go back to the well at wide receiver with no one emerging as a consistent complement to
Davante Adams. However, the biggest need of all might be offensive tackle if free-agent-to-be
Bryan Bulaga exits.
PICK
PL
Saints
Record: 13-3 (.486)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: WR, DB, interior OL
Outside of finding a complement at wide receiver for
Michael Thomas (an endeavor that led the team to give
Antonio Brown, among other free-agent WRs,
a look last week), the
Saints might have a hole or two to fill in the secondary with
Vonn Bell,
Eli Apple,
P.J. Williams and
D.J. Swearinger playing on deals that will expire in 2020. Will pending free agent OG
Andrus Peat, a former first-round pick, be re-signed?
PICK
PL
Ravens
Record: 14-2 (.494)
Previous week: Playoffs
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, ILB, interior OL
Eric DeCosta was able to keep
Marcus Peters from testing the free-agent waters in 2020. Will he be able to do the same with his top edge rusher,
Matt Judon?
TEAMS WITHOUT A FIRST-ROUND PICK
Chicago Bears (8-8)
Biggest needs: QB, OL, DB
First things first: Find someone who can step in as a competent QB1 if
Mitchell Trubisky's struggles continue into 2020. Then the
Bears can look to upgrade an offensive line that was ranked second to last
by Football Outsiders, and potentially replace free-agent-to-be
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
Houston Texans (10-6)
Biggest needs: OL, CB, edge rusher
As is the case for most teams, the needs here will largely be dictated by the decisions made in free agency. The
Texans re-upped with Whitney Mercilus on Saturday to keep him from hitting the market this offseason, but they could still use more off the edge, especially with
J.J. Watt's history of missing time due to injury. Top corners
Bradley Roby and
Johnathan Joseph are in a contract year, as is
D.J. Reader, one of the league's best interior D-linemen in 2019, and leading rusher
Carlos Hyde.
Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
Biggest needs: OL, edge rusher, DB
Andrew Whitworth, a 38-year-old pending free agent, says he intends to continue playing in 2020. He remains the team's top O-lineman, but the
Rams still have to be searching for a long-term answer on
Jared Goff's blindside. L.A.'s front five was a disaster in 2019, and lead edge rusher
Dante Fowler, who's in a walk year, may have priced himself out of the team's range with his performance this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, QB, OL
The
Steelers' front seven could take a huge hit if
Bud Dupree and
Javon Hargrave, both ticketed for free agency, don't return. I don't think this team wants to go through another season with
Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges backing up
Ben Roethlisberger, and it's time to add more young pieces to a veteran O-line that is a year away from LT
Alejandro Villanueva and LG
Ramon Foster reaching the market.