2020 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Next Year's Top Prospects

Once the 2019 NFL draft comes to a conclusion Saturday, the scouting departments of the 32 NFL teams will begin their preparations for the 2020 draft. 

Although next April seems way off at the moment, the initial scouting reports on the top prospects will be developed ahead of the college football season. 

Of course, plenty can change by the time the college and NFL seasons end, but we have an idea of who the top prospects will be once the 2020 draft cycle kicks up in earnest. 

Quarterbacks always seem to dominate the predraft buildup, and that will not change once the 2020 draft comes more into focus. 

2020 NFL 1st-Round Mock Draft

1. Miami Dolphins: Walker Little, OT, Stanford 

2. New York Giants: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

3. Arizona Cardinals: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

4. Cincinnati Bengals: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia

6. Oakland Raiders: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

7. Buffalo Bills: Grant Delpit, S, LSU

8. New York Jets: Trey Smith, OT, Tennessee

9. Washington Redskins: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

10. Detroit Lions: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

11. San Francisco 49ers: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson 

12. Carolina Panthers: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

13. Denver Broncos: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State

14. Tennessee Titans: Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State

15. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington 

16. Seattle Seahawks: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State

17. Houston Texans: Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama

18. Baltimore Ravens: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

19. Pittsburgh Steelers: Isaiah Simmons, S, Clemson

20. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Biadasz, C, Washington

21. Green Bay Packers: Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado 

22. Cleveland Browns: Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State

23. Atlanta Falcons: Nick Coe, DE, Auburn

24. Minnesota Vikings: Anfernee Jennings, DE, Alabama

25. Philadelphia Eagles: Trey Adams, OT, Washington

26. Chicago Bears: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

27. Los Angeles Chargers: Collin Johnson, WR, Texas

28. Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

29. Los Angeles Rams: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia

30. New England Patriots: Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami

31. New Orleans Saints: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama

Draft order based off projected 2019 records. 

Quarterbacks Once Again in Demand

It wouldn't be an NFL draft without first-round quarterback speculation.

With Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa headlining the 2020 draft class, we will once again spend the months leading up to the draft projecting which teams will land signal-callers. 

Arizona, Washington, Denver and the New York Giants are most likely out of the quarterback picture after taking players at that position in the first and second rounds this year. 

There are also 15-20 teams who should feel more than comfortable with their franchise quarterbacks going into the next offseason. 

Cincinnati, Oakland and Tampa Bay seem like the best landing spots for quarterbacks a year from now because of the recent play of Andy Dalton, Derek Carr and Jameis Winston, respectively.

All three could be in line to be replaced by top young prospects, including Tagovailoa, Oregon's Justin Herbert and Georgia's Jake Fromm.

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Herbert could have been available for the 2019 draft, but he opted to stay one more season at Oregon, while Fromm and Tagovailoa will be eligible for the first time as juniors in 2020.

Washington's Jacob Eason is another name to watch out for during the 2019 college football season. Before he transferred, Eason was beat out by Fromm in Georgia's quarterback competition.

After sitting out a year from his transfer, Eason has an opportunity to impress NFL personnel and also land a spot in the first round. 

More Clemson Products on Way to NFL 

Clemson had four players taken in the first 40 picks this year, with three of them in the first round.

More NFL prospects are expected to come out of the program for the 2020 draft, but not all of them will be defensive studs. 

Wide receiver Tee Higgins is one of many talented targets that quarterback Trevor Lawrence will rely on, and Higgins' draft stock should receive a boost because of his connection with the sophomore.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Running back Travis Etienne also has an opportunity to work his way into the first-round conversation if he puts together another solid year in the Clemson backfield. 

The defensive focus on the Tigers from the NFL perspective should come in the secondary, where Isaiah Simmons and A.J. Terrell could be first-round picks. They could follow Trayvon Mullen, who was selected by Oakland with the No. 40 pick Friday. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.