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Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst
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2020 NFL Draft Week - Monday Rumors

Updated April 20, 2020
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

The 2020 NFL Draft is just three days away! Here are some rumors that I have heard from sources with the draft quickly approaching.

There has been some talk lately of Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah having the possibility to slide from the top half to the bottom half of the top 10. That definitely is possible because the Detroit Lions are the only landing spot for Okudah to potentially go as a top-five pick. If the Lions pass on him or trade down, Okudah will go a little later than expected.

A rough combine performance dinged Okudah's draft stock, plus he showed some stiffness that did not sit well with teams. Still, they all like his tape, so the combine was not a huge negative. Some defensive back coaches and teams like Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson more, feeling he is a more fluid athlete with a rare combination of size and speed to run the route and prevent separation.

Henderson's personality, however, is not helping him, as he is known to be very quiet and not an engaging teammate. Thus, one would think that Okudah would have an edge in the makeup consideration, but team sources say there is not a big difference in that regard. Some teams have some minor maturity concerns with Okudah as well. But just to be clear, sources said they are very minor. Okudah is a lock for the top 10, but the odds of him going in the top five are not as strong as the consensus thought was a few weeks ago.

There has been a lot of media speculation that the Lions could take Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. As we reported at the combine, Detroit was unlikely to do that and was looking to build around Matthew Stafford to try and make a run at the playoffs next season. That being said, don't be surprised if Detroit drafts a quarterback on Day 2 or in the mid-rounds to upgrade their backup talent. Sources say the Lions have a player in mind, and during the free agency trade market, the team was saying it wasn't interested in trading for a veteran because the organization had someone in mind already.

If that prospect gets to the right spot in the 2020 NFL Draft, Detroit could pull the trigger on a draftee. They view this player as not only giving them a better backup in case Stafford gets injured again, but also a player with the potential to be starter. Some quarterbacks who sound like they are in play include Washington's Jacob Eason, Georgia's Jake Fromm, Florida International's James Morgan and Oregon State's Jake Luton.

Speaking of Luton, he has enjoyed a late rise with teams over the past few weeks. Once coaches got involved and started watching the tape, Luton became a player who has gotten hot around the league. Multiple team sources have told me that Luton is a sleeper quarterback who they are considering on the third day of the 2020 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-6, 224-pounder has good size and produced an impressive senior year, completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,714 yards with 28 touchdowns and three interceptions. Luton has a lot of fans on coaching staffs around the league, so he may even end up being a mid-round pick.

One last rumor that is not a rumor but a fact: the Panthers are not trading up for a quarterback in the first round. Some have speculated that Carolina could look to jump Miami and the Chargers to get a franchise quarterback, but that won't happen, according to sources. The Panthers are committed to Teddy Bridgewater for 2020. The only way Carolina might change that plan would be if Cincinnati passes on taking Joe Burrow. Then the Panthers might give up the farm to move up for Burrow and reunite him with Joe Brady. Barring that, the Panthers won't be moving up for a quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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