And now, we wait on Tom Brady.
During Super Bowl LIV, Brady, a three-time NFL MVP, used a Hulu commercial to announce that "he's not going anywhere." That may be true in the sense that he plans to play a 21st NFL season, but he's a little over a month away from becoming a free agent for the first time in his illustrious career. So he may be going somewhere.
Brady's decision, which will almost certainly come before the NFL Draft - which begins on April 23 - with have a ripple effect on this year's quarterback class, and the first round as a whole.
With that in mind, here's RADIO.COM's latest NFL Mock Draft, done with the understanding that we don't yet know where Brady - and a bunch of accomplished quarterbacks - will be playing next season:
Burrow, Tagovailoa Selected in Top 5
Joe Burrow is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow - Quarterback, LSU
2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young - Defensive End, Ohio State
3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah - Cornerback, Ohio State
4. New York Giants: Andrew Thomas - Left Tackle, Georgia
5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa - Quarterback, Alabama
The top five selections from our previous mock have held steady. However, while the Dolphins appear to be the most likely team to select former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, they may ultimately need to move up a pick or two to land him. It would be malpractice for the Redskins to trade out of the No. 2 pick and miss out on the chance to select former Ohio State defensive end Chase Young, who is probably the best overall player in this class. The Lions and Giants, though, may be incentivized to move down a few picks if they are able to secure the right trade package.
Chargers Don't Select Quarterback
Isaiah Simmons was a captain at Clemson.(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)6. Los Angeles Chargers: Jedrick Wills Jr. - Offensive Tackle, Alabama
7. Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons - Linebacker, Clemson
8. Arizona Cardinals: Jerry Jeudy - Wide Receiver, Alabama
9. Jacksonville Jaguars - Derrick Brown - Defensive Tackle, Auburn
10. Cleveland Browns -Tristan Wirfs - Offensive Tackle, Iowa
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport suggested in a recent report that Tom Brady would not only want to be compensated handsomely to return to New England, but he would have to feel confident that the Patriots are going to invest in weapons around him. So why wouldn't he hold any potential suitors in free agency to that standard? This mock operates under the assumption that Brady is most likely to play in Los Angeles in 2020. Even with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, from here, the idea of seriously considering drafting Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb to compete in a division that features the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs isn't crazy. However, left tackle Russell Okung is 31 and entering the final season of his deal. As ESPN's Todd McShay noted, there are other options for Jedrick Wills Jr. to play in the meantime, making the Chargers a more appealing team for anyone - including Brady - to play quarterback for.
Colts Get Their Long-Term Quarterback
Justin Herbert is expected to be the third quarterback off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft.(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)11. New York Jets: Mekhi Becton - Offensive Tackle, Louisville
12. Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb - Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
13. Indianapolis Colts: Justin Herbert - Quarterback, Oregon
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Grant Delpit - Safety, LSU
15. Denver Broncos: Henry Ruggs III - Wide Receiver, Alabama
Jacoby Brissett is under contract for 2020 with an affordable $21.4 million cap hit, meaning he's likely to be the team's starting quarterback at least to begin the season. There does appear to be a ceiling with the 27-year-old, though which would make the idea of drafting Herbert intriguing if he falls this far. As Jacob Infante of Draft Wire said, Herbert "still has some fine-tuning to do to his game." When Frank Reich and the Colts determine he's ready, he would be stepping into a roster that's ready to compete for the playoffs, whether that's in 2020 or 2021.
Dan Quinn's Defense Gains Potential Star Edge Rusher
A.J. Epenesa is one of the top edge rushers in the NFL Draft.(Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)16. Atlanta Falcons: A.J. Epenesa - Defensive End, Iowa
17. Dallas Cowboys: C.J. Henderson - Cornerback, Florida
18. Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh Steelers): K'Lavon Chaisson - Outside Linebacker, LSU
19. Las Vegas Raiders (via Chicago Bears): Javon Kinlaw - Defensive Tackle, South Carolina
20. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Los Angeles Rams): Kristian Fulton - Cornerback, LSU
The Pittsburgh Steelers had nearly double the amount of sacks than what the Falcons defense produced in 2019. 2020 will be a crucial year for head coach Dan Quinn - who has a defensive background - but the Falcons don't have the type of cap space necessary to sign an impact edge rusher. That makes finding someone like Epenesa, who had 30.5 sacks in his final two seasons at Iowa, crucial to the future of the Quinn regime.
Eagles, Bills Add Wideouts
Laviska Shenault Jr. would upgrade the Eagles' wide receiving corps.(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)21. Philadelphia Eagles: Laviska Shenault Jr. - Wide Receiver, Colorado
22. Buffalo Bills: Tee Higgins - Wide Receiver, Clemson
23. New England Patriots: Xavier McKinney - Safety, Alabama
24. New Orleans Saints: Kenneth Murray - Linebacker, Oklahoma
25. Minnesota Vikings: Ross Blacklock - Defensive Tackle, TCU
Though they may hope that 33-year-old DeSean Jackson is able to stay healthy in 2020, the Eagles offensive weapons around Carson Wentz got old, ineffective and often slow (relative to other teams) relatively quickly. Jordan Reid of The Draft Network called Shenault "a big play waiting to happen," making him an ideal fit to add into an offense that the Eagles hope will include Jackson, Miles Sanders, Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. Meanwhile, with the Eagles selection of Shenault, Higgins, who hauled in 25 touchdown passes over his final two seasons at Clemson, falls right to the Bills. Josh Allen could explode in year three with Higgins, Devin Singletary, Cole Beasley and John Brown at his disposal.
Dolphins, Chiefs Find Potential Star Running Backs
D'Andre Swift is one of the top running back prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft.(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)26. Miami Dolphins (via Houston Texans): D'Andre Swift - Running Back, Georgia
27. Seattle Seahawks: Zack Baun - Outside Linebacker, LSU
28. Baltimore Ravens: Patrick Queen - Inside Linebacker, LSU
29. Tennessee Titans: Yetur Gross-Matos - Defensive End, Penn State
30. Green Bay Packers: Justin Jefferson - Wide Receiver, LSU
31. San Francisco 49ers: KJ Hamler - Wide Receiver, Penn State
32. Kansas City Chiefs: J.K. Dobbins - Running Back, Ohio State
The Dolphins and Chiefs organizations are at polar opposite ends of their respective organizational processes, but both could stand to add a running back. At pick 26, the Dolphins use a selection they acquired in the Laremy Tunsil trade to draft a D'Andre Swift, a running back they can pair with Tua Tagovailoa. Meanwhile, the Chiefs land former Ohio State star running back J.K. Dobbins, who will pair with Super Bowl hero Damien Williams to improve an already lethal Chiefs offense.
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