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Mock Draft Tracker 14.0: Latest expert predictions

On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell informed all 32 clubs that the 2020 NFL Draft would proceed in a fully virtual format. The draft, originally scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, will still run from April 23-25.

Below is the memo:

"In response to developing conditions and the advice of medical and public health experts, authorities at all levels of government have expanded the scope and extended the duration of orders requiring residents to shelter-in-place ("stay at home" orders) and closing non-essential businesses. These orders now cover the vast majority of residents and include every NFL home community. In some locations, these orders extend as far as June, and we should expect that this trend will continue.

"As you know, our offices have been closed since March 13 and all Club facilities have been closed since March 26. These steps were taken to protect our players and staffs, to model appropriate behavior, and to ensure competitive equity among all 32 clubs. Given current and expected conditions, and to ensure that we operate responsibly and in full compliance with current regulations, both League and Club facilities will remain closed indefinitely. We will reopen facilities when it is safe to do so based on medical and public health advice, and in compliance with government mandates.

"Because of these circumstances, Clubs have been advised to prepare to conduct the 2020 Draft entirely outside of their facilities and in a fully virtual format, with club personnel in separate locations and able to communicate with one another and Draft headquarters by phone or internet. We have reviewed this matter in the past few days with both the Competition Committee and CEC, and this will confirm that Clubs will conduct their Draft operations remotely, with club personnel separately located in their homes.

"We have made this decision for several reasons. All Clubs will not have access to their facilities, which is contrary to the fundamental equity principle that all clubs operate in a consistent and fair way. Moreover, we want all NFL personnel to comply with government directives and to model safe and appropriate health practices. Our staff will carry out its responsibilities in the same way, operating in separate locations outside of our offices. And after consulting with medical advisors, we cannot identify an alternative that is preferable from a medical or public health perspective, given the varying needs of clubs, the need properly to screen participants, and the unique risk factors that individual club employees may face.

"Accordingly, all clubs should dedicate their personnel and technology resources toward preparing for a fully virtual Draft, with personnel in separate locations. Our staff in Events, Football Operations, Information Technology and the Management Council will be in contact with each Club and remains fully available to answer questions or assist in your preparations. Our understanding is that many clubs are already well advanced in preparing for a virtual Draft and we are confident that all clubs can take the necessary steps to make the 2020 Draft a successful event.

"I have spoken to many of you in the past several days and recognize the challenges facing all of us. We are operating in an environment unlike anything we have experienced before, one that requires flexibility, patience, and cooperation. As we work through those challenges together, we should not lose sight of the magnitude of this global health crisis, of the extraordinary work of first responders, healthcare workers, and so many others, of the growing number of Americans in need of assistance, and of those who have lost family or friends to this virus."

With that in mind, below is a look at the latest mock drafts for the team at No. 4.

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson

Analysis: "This is another spot to watch for a trade. If the Lions stay put and take (Ohio State CB Jeff) Okudah, could a team jump in front of the Dolphins to snag (Alabama QB Tua) Tagovailoa? Because I can't project trades here, I'll mock Simmons to the Giants. He's a phenomenal athlete who ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at 238 pounds, but he has great film from the past two seasons, too. He and free-agent addition Blake Martinez would really strengthen the G-Men's linebacker unit. General manager Dave Gettleman has to think about an offensive tackle here, too, with Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs or Jedrick Wills Jr. as possibilities."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson

Analysis: "New York has three options in my mind here at No. 4: The Giants can trade out of it, they can look at one of the excellent offensive tackles on the board or they can draft Simmons as a do-it-all linebacker. General manager Dave Gettleman will hear some interesting offers, but because I'm not doing the same with this mock, I'm going with Simmons. Remember, the Giants allowed 28.2 points per game last season, third worst in the NFL."

Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Analysis: "Lots of good options here, but protecting QB Daniel Jones is the priority."

Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Analysis: "The Giants must upgrade the offensive line to give Daniel Jones an opportunity to make a major leap in his development as a second-year starter."

Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Analysis: "Dave Gettleman's never traded his first selection in an NFL draft. If things shake out the way they do here, he'll be able to pick any of the top four offensive linemen in this year's class. Joe Judge has a history with Alabama's Nick Saban, who has spoken positively of Wills to coaches around the league. Multiple coaches have told me Wills is the guy who goes first."

Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Analysis: "Becton is a rare prospect with his impressive blend of size, strength and athletic traits."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "Isaiah Simmons isn't like anything we've seen before. At 6'4", 238 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash faster than most wide receivers at 4.39 seconds. Clemson utilized Simmons at virtually every position on defense, often lining him up at safety, linebacker, nickel linebacker, edge-rusher and even in man coverage at cornerback against LSU. He isn't a conventional football player you assign a position to but rather a positionless weapon defensive coordinators can deploy based on the matchup. Simmons is an eraser, and for that, he's worthy of a top-five selection."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "It would make sense if the Giants decide to draft one of the top offensive tackles here, but they're in great need of help on defense, and Simmons is the most versatile defender in the draft."

Pick: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama

Analysis: "Wills was dominant last season for Alabama and he'll solidify the right side of the Giants' O-line, which is great news for Daniel Jones."

Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Analysis: "Massive and athletic are descriptors we don't often see used in the same sentence, but the Louisville left tackle is that guy. The Giants could go with Isaiah Simmons or Jedrick Wills in this spot, as well."

Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Analysis: "Size and speed have been tenets of Dave Gettleman's team-building strategy in his tenure as general manager. No one has more of the former in this draft than Becton, and after running a 5.1 in the 40-yard dash, he's got some of the latter as well."

Pick: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

Analysis: "Jeudy is a better prospect than every offensive tackle in this class. Rookies, especially rookie offensive linemen, don't fill pressing needs. Over the past five NFL seasons, only nine rookie offensive tackles have played 400-plus snaps and earned overall grades above 70.0. None have earned an overall grade above 82.0. Don't address pressing needs in the draft; just draft the best players available."

Pick: Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State

Analysis: "This is a great scenario for the Giants, who get the best pass-rusher in the draft in Young and fill an immediate position of need. The Giants really need playmakers all over the defense, and Young's 96.1 overall grade last season is the best we've seen since we started grading in 2014. He had a ridiculous 56 pressures (18 sacks, seven quarterback hits, 31 hurries) on just 320 rushes last season."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "Putting Simmons into perspective in this class is difficult, as his versatility makes him a player without peer. Giants GM Dave Gettleman ultimately will have to decide how the defensive shapeshifter measures up against the first tier of offensive tackles."

Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Analysis: "The Giants got what they hope is a No. 1 CB in James Bradberry, two linebackers and a defensive lineman. Perhaps the lack of offensive line help for Daniel Jones is a tell of the direction they're going in the draft."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "Simmons is possibly the most intriguing defensive player in the draft class because of his versatility. The Clemson product lined up as a pass-rusher, linebacker and safety during the 2019 campaign and was a force in every defensive statistical category. Simmons could still be a valuable asset to the Giants defense because he can line up in a few different positions."

Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Analysis: "A two-year starter at right tackle for the Tide, Wills is dominant as a run blocker with outstanding movement skills that should allow him to play either tackle spot."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "Protecting Daniel Jones is paramount, but Dave Gettleman elects to draft the best player left on the board at a position that still should be seen as a need."

Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Analysis: "Jedrick Wills fits Gettleman's MO as a physical mauler up front. Wills can also be a plug and play starter on either side."

Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Analysis: "Tristan Wirfs is the best offensive tackle in this draft class and should be a lock to the Giants, who have been trying to figure out their offensive line for a couple of years. Wirfs is an athletic tackle who moves well enough to make an impact in the running game as well as the play-action passing game."

Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Analysis: "The G-Men need to protect second-year signal-caller Daniel Jones, though I won't be surprised if Alabama OT Jedrick Wills is the pick instead."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

View photos from the college career of Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons

Pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama

Analysis: "The New York Giants should also be a candidate to trade down, as they have their young quarterback in Daniel Jones. If they do not move from No. 4, though, the goal should be to grab a player who can help Jones. The question for New York is which talented offensive tackle prospect to take. Alabama's Jedrick Wills Jr. appears ready to be a Day 1 starter, which is good for the Giants."

Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Analysis: "Dave Gettleman loves his hog mollies and Becton might be the hoggiest molly to ever hog molly."

Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Analysis: "Wirfs has two years of stellar tape and is a freaky athlete. This has to be the pick for New York."

Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Analysis: "New York bypasses an urge to select Isaiah Simmons and instead chooses to address the right tackle position."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "The Giants signed Blake Martinez and hope Ryan Connelly can be healthy enough to show his rookie promise, but they still need another impact playmaker for Patrick Graham's linebacker corps. Simmons (6-3, 238 pounds) seemed to be all over the field at all times in college with great speed and range. He gets everywhere in a hurry, from rushing the passer to moving laterally to get in ideal coverage positions."

Pick: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

Analysis: "Thomas played both left and right tackle at Georgia. He will help fix Big Blue's O-line issues."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "Dave Gettleman loves prototypical size and explosiveness."

Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Analysis: "Dave Gettleman has always liked to build in the trenches. Tristan Wirfs checks that box."

View photos from the college career of Alabama tackle Jedrick Wills.

Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Analysis: "Now that they've applied the franchise tag to Leonard Williams, the Giants need to focus on the offensive line with this pick. Wirfs' athleticism and toughness will endear him to general manager Dave Gettleman."

Pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

Analysis: "This pick remains the same from Mock 1.0 in part because of the value of Wirfs' right tackle production projection, and also because the team's signing of free-agent corner James Bradberry helps address a big need on the defensive side of the ball. Further, bolstering the O-line very slightly edges out the potential value Isaiah Simmons could bring to the Giants' defense. (The addition of linebacker Blake Martinez in free agency also drives more value to increasing the O-line impact.)"

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

Analysis: "The New York Giants pass on a thick top tier of tackles for potentially the next great linebacker who will finally bring some coverage ability to their second level."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "Good luck trying to run your fancy pace and space offenses — looking at you Philadelphia and Dallas — with Isaiah Simmons patrolling the field."

Pick: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

Analysis: "They have to get better up front and Thomas might be the safest of all the tackles in this draft. Personnel people like him a lot more than the draftniks do."

Pick: Jedrick Willis, OT, Alabama

Analysis: The Giants need an offensive tackle to protect Daniel Jones. Dave Gettleman takes the best lineman available in Wills.

Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Analysis: "GM Dave Gettleman has openly communicated that this spot is for sale, but it won't be easy to peddle if Tagovailoa is gone. And given the need to protect second-year QB Daniel Jones while giving RB Saquon Barkley more room to run, the 6-7, 364-pound Becton seems like a suitable option anyway."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "Yes, the Giants need tackle help even after adding Cameron Fleming, but they can address the position at the top of the second round. There's no other prospect available like Simmons, who can be a versatile playmaker for the defense."

Pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

Analysis: "Considering the Giants just paid James Bradberry and drafted Deandre Baker in Round 1 a year ago, another corner feels like an overload. Becton could come in immediately and start at right tackle. The Giants might be wise to get the Dolphins or Chargers, two QB-needy teams, to flip them a pick to move down a slot or two. If that happens it would be Dave Gettleman's first trade down as a GM."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Analysis: "Offensive tackle also makes a lot of sense here, but Isaiah Simmons is a versatile chess piece who can change the entire New York Giants defense."

Pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

Previous Mock Drafts

View photos from the college career of Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs

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