NFL Draft: Final 2020 Round 1 mock draft with trades and explanations

2020 NFL Draft: Final Round 1 mock draft with trades and explanations

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers reacts to a touchdown against Clemson Tigers during the third quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

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Andrew Thomas, Georgia Bulldogs (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

11. player. 814. . Tackle. Bulldogs . Andrew Thomas

Both receiver and tackle make sense here as needed upgrades to build around New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, and both positions are deep at the draft.

But it’s much easier to find Week 1 upgrades at receiver later on (Deebo Samuel, D.K. Metcalf and Terry McLaurin last year alone come to mind) so I have a feeling the Jets will go for Georgia’s Andrew Thomas as a reliable protector.

Thomas is the top tackle on my board and is a safe pick to be a reliable blindside protector. He excelled in the role at Georgia, and in my view would be a massive steal if he was to be the third (or even fourth) tackle off the board in the NFL Draft.

With the New England Patriots in a new era, the Jets need to do all they can to compete with the Buffalo Bills in 2020.

Improved blocking on the blindside would go a long way towards achieving this.