Matchmaker: Finding the perfect prospect fit for every NFL team
The 2020 NFL Draft is merely days away. While every team brings a different strategy to the table, landing the best player available while also plugging a roster hole is the perfect scenario. Let's play matchmaker for all 32 teams and identify one ideal pick for each club.
Bears
Damon Arnette - CB, Ohio State
The Bears don't own a first-round pick this year, but they have two second-rounders to address needs on both sides of the ball. One of their positions of need is cornerback, where Arnette is an ideal Day 2 target who can immediately compete for a starting spot opposite Kyle Fuller. The Ohio State product has experience playing in a number of defensive schemes and possesses the coverage skills to aid a stout front seven.
Bengals
Kenneth Murray - LB, Oklahoma
Cincinnati has a glaring need at linebacker, and the beginning of the second round is right about where Murray should be coming off the board. The Oklahoma star would bring limitless range and leadership to the middle of the Bengals' defense.
Bills
Julian Okwara - EDGE, Notre Dame
The Bills don't have many needs to address, but finding a speed-rusher to complement the rest of a stout defensive front should be among their top priorities. Okwara can do just that from the outset, and there's the upside for much more as he gets stronger.
Broncos
Henry Ruggs III - WR, Alabama
What better way to help quarterback Drew Lock break out in his second campaign than to add the fastest receiver in the 2020 class. Not only would Ruggs mesh well with Lock's strong arm and aggressive playstyle, but his speed and home-run ability is the perfect complement to Courtland Sutton's size. Similar to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, Denver could employ a pick-your-poison offense this season and beyond with Ruggs in tow.
Browns
Andrew Thomas - OT, Georgia
It's no secret the Browns are in desperate need of an upgrade at left tackle. New head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry can't afford to have Baker Mayfield regress in his third year under center, and protecting his blind side is the most crucial step in preventing that. Stefanski runs an outside zone-heavy offensive scheme, so his tackles must be athletic enough to block on the move. Luckily for Cleveland, Thomas is an ideal target at No. 10 overall and fits the club's new offense to a tee.
Buccaneers
Clyde Edwards-Helaire - RB, LSU
There isn't a better fit for the Bucs' offense in this year's class than Edwards-Helaire. As the most polished receiver out of the backfield among his peers, he can provide an outlet option for Tom Brady when top targets Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are blanketed in coverage. With the ball in his hands, the former Tiger can create chunk yards after contact - similar to Brady's old pal James White in New England. Edwards-Helaire is everything Tampa Bay wanted Ronald Jones to be and would diversify the team's scoring unit.
Cardinals
Tristan Wirfs - OL, Iowa
Whether it's at guard or tackle, the Cardinals need to make some major upgrades to their offensive line. The good news is that Wirfs could be a high-level starter at either spot, and his athleticism makes him a nice fit for Kliff Kingsbury's offense.
Chargers
Jalen Hurts - QB, Oklahoma
Nobody would be surprised to see the Chargers go with a quarterback in the first round, but it's far from a lock. If they're not sold at their options at that spot, scooping up one of this year's uber-talented offensive tackles and then targeting Hurts in the second round makes plenty of sense. The Oklahoma quarterback is coming into his own as a passer, he's known as a phenomenal leader, and with Tyrod Taylor and Easton Stick already in the quarterback room, it's fair to assume Anthony Lynn has his sights set on athletes at the quarterback position. Los Angeles could build an offense around Hurts' ability as a ball carrier.
Chiefs
Cam Akers - RB, Florida State
The reigning Super Bowl champions should address a few minor weaknesses on defense, but forgive us for being excited about a stud running back potentially rounding out Kansas City's lethal offense. Akers made the most of a poor blocking situation at Florida State and would thrive sharing a backfield with Patrick Mahomes. The explosive rusher makes for an ideal Day 2 target for the Chiefs to pair with pass-catching back Damien Williams while giving Kansas City yet another player for opponents to defend.
Colts
Tee Higgins - WR, Clemson
With T.Y. Hilton winning downfield and Parris Campbell running underneath, the Colts will likely target a big X receiver to dominate on the perimeter and in the red zone for Philip Rivers. No longer owning a first-round pick, Indianapolis would be wise to target Higgins early in the second frame. The Clemson product is the type of wideout Rivers formed a strong rapport with during his time with the Chargers, and he would add a new wrinkle to Frank Reich's offense. While not among the top-tier prospects in a historic receiver class, Higgins offers the natural size, ball skills, and body control most of his peers lack.
Cowboys
A.J. Terrell - CB, Clemson
The Cowboys have yet to replace Byron Jones - who signed with the Miami Dolphins this offseason - so they're likely to target an outside cornerback in the 2020 draft. Terrell may not be the athlete that Jones is, but his speed, length, and technique will likely make him an instant contributor in the pros. Dallas addressed its front seven in free agency, and Terrell represents an ideal first-round target to round out a stout stop unit.
Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa - QB, Alabama
We don't have access to the same medical information that teams get, so there's no way to know if Tua's health really is a concern. Assuming positive evaluations, though, the Dolphins can't overthink this one. He's the reason their tanking efforts began in the first place, and he's the kind of superstar talent that can lead them back to contention.
Eagles
Denzel Mims - WR, Baylor
Barring a trade up into the early teens, the Eagles likely won't be able to get one of the draft's top three receivers. Mims is the perfect alternative, as his combination of size and athleticism, including his freakish short-area quickness, provides similarly enticing upside, and perhaps even more value.
Falcons
Bryce Hall - CB, Virginia
Atlanta is reportedly interested in moving into the top 10 to select a top-tier defensive prospect, but there are some quality Day 2 defensive options if the club is unable to find a trade partner. Regardless, Hall is exactly the type of cornerback Dan Quinn covets for his defense. Tall, long, physical, and instinctive in zone coverage, the Virginia product fills the Falcons' biggest need. Atlanta could even trade up to select Isaiah Simmons and nab Hall later in the draft.
49ers
Javon Kinlaw - DT, South Carolina
Kinlaw would make Niners fans forget about DeForest Buckner fairly quickly - he has that much potential. San Francisco dealt Buckner to the Colts for the 13th overall pick and would be wise to use the selection on his replacement. Kinlaw possesses the burst, length, and raw power to thrive as a space-eating interior rusher while the likes of Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and Arik Armstead dominate on the edge. That's smart business for John Lynch.
Giants
Isaiah Simmons - LB/S, Clemson
New York needs talent all over the defense. Why not start with a player who can play all over the defense. Simmons is the perfect defensive chess piece for today's game, with his best fit perhaps being an early-down safety who plays the role of a dime linebacker to exploit certain matchups on passing downs. Either way, he's the kind of difference-maker the Giants may not be able to pass up.
Jaguars
CJ Henderson - CB, Florida
It feels like Jacksonville has endless needs to address on its roster, but cornerback may be the most crucial. The Jaguars unsurprisingly struggled in pass defense after trading Jalen Ramsey, so adding his long-term replacement seems like a good place to start when rebuilding their defense. Henderson is not only a scheme fit in Todd Wash's secondary, but he offers All-Pro potential as a man-cover corner who can shadow opponents' No. 1 receivers.
Jets
CeeDee Lamb - WR, Oklahoma
Joe Douglas and Adam Gase will look to improve the Jets' blocking unit via the draft, but adding a legitimate weapon for Sam Darnold - something he's never had - is more important as he enters his third NFL campaign. Arguably the premier prospect in a historic receiver class, Lamb would pair perfectly with Darnold's aggressive mentality. New York shouldn't overthink its first-round selection - Lamb is simply too talented to let him slip away.
Lions
Jeff Okudah - CB, Ohio State
One of the easier fits to envision ahead of Thursday's draft, Okudah is exactly the type of defensive prospect Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia covet in their secondary. With man-cover skills and the ability to play the ball throughout the entire catch process, the All-American defender is the best possible replacement for Darius Slay and addresses the Lions' biggest roster weakness. A consensus top-five prospect, Okudah's addition is a win-win scenario for Detroit.
Packers
Jalen Reagor - WR, TCU
Green Bay desperately needs to add speed and playmaking ability to its receiving corps as Aaron Rodgers enters the final stages of his career. Reagor can both stretch the field vertically and use his quickness to create separation underneath. Adding his skill set opposite Davante Adams would take the Packers' offense to the next level.
Panthers
Derrick Brown - DT, Auburn
With Luke Kuechly retired and new head coach Matt Rhule leading the squad, Carolina is in need of a new defensive identity. Enter Brown. The powerful defensive tackle would fill a major hole in the middle of the Panthers' stop unit next to Kawann Short and can immediately contribute against the run and pass. Rhule will likely opt for a slow rebuild in Carolina, and Brown is the ideal blue-chip prospect to see it through.
Patriots
K'Lavon Chaisson - EDGE, LSU
Chaisson is much more than a speed-rusher off of the edge - the LSU product already has an extensive arsenal of pass-rush moves, he plays the run well, and he's effective dropping into coverage. Partial to front-seven players who can do a bit of everything, and looking for Kyle Van Noy's replacement, the Patriots would have to be thrilled to have Chaisson fall to them in the first.
Raiders
Jerry Jeudy - WR, Alabama
Not only is Jeudy one of the best route-runners to make the transition to the NFL in years, but he also has the athleticism to stretch a defense and make plays after the catch. That skill set is exactly what Jon Gruden should be looking for as his search for a No. 1 receiver continues.
Rams
Malik Harrison - LB, Ohio State
The Rams find themselves with a glaring hole in the middle of the defense after losing Cory Littleton to free agency. Harrison is the ideal candidate to fill that void in the middle rounds, and he'll make an immediate impact with his ability in the run game.
Ravens
Yetur Gross-Matos - EDGE, Penn State
Baltimore's defense might be an edge upgrade away from elite status. Gross-Matos is an outstanding athlete who's begun to show signs of an expanded pass-rusher repertoire, and the Ravens can help him take that development to the next level. He's also got plenty of size with room to add more, so there would be no concerns about him being an every-down player.
Redskins
Brycen Hopkins - TE, Purdue
Chase Young is the slam-dunk pick at No. 2 overall, but the Redskins have a number of other roster holes to address. One of these positions is tight end, where Jeremy Sprinkle currently sits atop the team's depth chart after Jordan Reed's release. Hopkins isn't an elite prospect, but he offers the speed and route-running skills to develop into a reliable weapon for Dwayne Haskins.
Saints
Patrick Queen - LB, LSU
Queen is an explosive linebacker talent who has the well-rounded skill set to be equally impactful against both the run and pass. That three-down ability makes him a strong fit for today's NFL, and it's something the Saints could use as they seek a long-term upgrade for the middle of their defense.
Seahawks
Jabari Zuniga - EDGE, Florida
The Seahawks appear unlikely to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney, so a replacement on the edge is much-needed to boost their pass rush. Zuniga is exactly the type of defensive end head coach Pete Carroll would target across from 2019 first-rounder L.J. Collier. The former Gator is quick, athletic, and explosive - we have a difficult time finding a better match for him than Seattle.
Steelers
Lucas Niang - OT, TCU
Right tackle is the most obvious need on an otherwise strong Steelers offense. Unlike the other tackles projected to come off the board on Day 2, Niang is no project. The TCU standout is an athletic, scheme-versatile lineman who is ready to contribute right away, which should go a long way toward making the most of Ben Roethlisberger's last years under center.
Texans
Josh Uche - EDGE, Michigan
Houston still hasn't filled the pass-rush void left behind by Clowney. Uche doesn't have the size to be an every-down defender on the edge, but he can be moved all over the front seven on early downs before getting after the quarterback in passing situations. The Texans should covet Uche's versatility.
Titans
Terrell Lewis - EDGE, Alabama
Adding Vic Beasley on a one-year deal does little to address a major need on the defensive edge. Tennessee could make the most of Lewis' explosiveness and heavy hands in developing him as a long-term partner for Harold Landry up front.
Vikings
Justin Jefferson - WR, LSU
Heading into Thursday's draft, Minnesota must address some key roster spots - including receiver, cornerback, and defensive end. With two first-round selections, general manager Rick Spielman would do well to add Jefferson. Able to thrive in the slot and pitch in on the perimeter, the former LSU star profiles as an ideal long-term replacement for the departed Stefon Diggs. A reliable target for Kirk Cousins will prevent the Vikings' offense from regressing in 2020.