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2020 NFL Draft Week - Tuesday Rumors

Updated April 21, 2020
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

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

There has been a lot of talk in Tampa Bay about the Buccaneers trading up for an offensive tackle. The Buccaneers have the 14th-overall pick and a large hole at right tackle. Landing a starting right tackle to keep pressure out of the face of Tom Brady is a critical need, and the Bucs know there is a very real possibility that the top-four offensive tackle prospects will all be off the board by the time they are on the clock. Thus, general manger Jason Licht will have to move up to ensure he gets one of Georgia's Andrew Thomas, Iowa's Tristan Wirfs, Alabama's Jedrick Wills or Louisville's Mekhi Becton. There is a lot of talk that the Buccaneers do not want to give up their second-round pick, and would prefer the trade pieces to include their third-round pick and veteran tight end O.J. Howard. However, in speaking to sources from a couple of teams picking in the back half of the top 10, they said that would not be enough to get them to move down.

"If we were to drop out of the top 10 all the way to 14, we would have to get a second-round pick and more," said one team executive whose team is picking in the No. 6-10 range. "If O.J. [Howard] was that good, they wouldn't be looking to deal him. Howard and a [third-round choice] would not be enough for us."

The consensus is that the Bucs want to hold onto their second-round pick to land a running back, but if they want to ensure that they get one of the offensive tackles, they have to be willing to part with the second-round pick and hope to have a running back who they like available in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Picking one spot ahead of Tampa Bay are the San Francisco 49ers, and the consensus is the reigning NFC champions will target a wide receiver with the 13th-overall pick. In speaking to sources, the 49ers like both Alabama's Jerry Jeudy and Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb. It sounds like San Francisco's preference is go with one of those two wide receivers, but the organiization is keeping its options open and considering other positions.

Sources say the 49ers are shopping pick No. 31 in the first round. San Francisco does not have a pick in the second, third or fourth rounds, so it makes sense as to why the team would like to move down and add more selections. At No. 31, that could be a prime pick for a franchise looking to trade back into the first round to get a quarterback like Utah State's Jordan Love. That also is an intriguing position for teams with a high second-round picks, as moving up a few spots to No. 31 provides them with a fifth-year option on the rookie contract.

Another NFC team picking late in the first round that also has a need at wide receiver is the Green Bay Packers. Sources say the Packers' preference is to draft either a wide out or offensive tackle in the first round. Inside linebacker could be a consideration, but teams think that the value won't be there with Oklahoma's Kenneth Murray and LSU's Patrick Queen being off the board by that point. It sounds like some of the prospects in play for Green Bay could be Arizona State wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, USC left tackle Austin Jackson, Houston left tackle Josh Jones, Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins, LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson and TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor. Either route would provide some help to Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's quest to win another Lombardi Trophy before the end of Rodgers' career.

There has been a lot of speculation about the Cleveland Browns trading down in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In speaking with sources, they say offensive tackle is the most likely position the Browns will draft in Round 1 They said the dark horse other direction they might go would be with a wide receiver. Considering the Odell Beckham Jr. saga in Cleveland, one could see where the Browns would consider reuniting Baker Mayfield with former Oklahoma teammate CeeDee Lamb as Mayfield's long-term No. 1 wide receiver and trading Beckham for picks. While that sounds less likely, it is a possibility according to sources. But taking an offensive tackle is the most likely direction the Browns will go with their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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