The Mock Draft: 1.0

March 3, 2020

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning,

So much madness in the first weekend of March that the sports world needed a breather on Monday. Good thing we’ve got some tasty leftovers, including a post-combine NFL mock draft and our first Olympic underdog story of 2020.

Letter Rip!

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NFL

Sportsletter Mock Draft 1.0

60 Days From the 2020 NFL Draft

Projections and hearsay aren’t really our thing with The Sportsletter, but my research tells me nearly 40% of you would call American football your favorite sport. On a slow Tuesday after attending the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, and 60 days away from the 2020 NFL Draft, it’s time for The Sportsletter’s first mock draft. Let’s do it.

Top-10 Picks
1. Bengals: QB Joe Burrow (LSU)
2. Redskins: DE Chase Young (Ohio State)
3. Lions: CB Jeff Okudah (Ohio State)
4. Giants: LB Isaiah Simmons (Clemson)
5. Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama)
6. Chargers: QB Justin Herbert (Oregon)
7. Panthers: DL Derrick Brown (Auburn)
8. Cardinals: OL Mekhi Becton (Louisville)
9. Jaguars: WR Jerry Jeudy (Alabama)
10. Browns: OT Tristan Wirfs (Iowa)

Picks 11-21
11. Jets: OT Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama)
12. Raiders: WR CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma)
13. Colts: QB Jordan Love (Utah State)
14. Bucs: RB D’Andre Swift (Georgia)
15. Broncos: WR Henry Ruggs II (Alabama)
16. Falcons: LB K’Lavon Chaisson (LSU)
17. Cowboys: S Xavier McKinney (Alabama)
18. Dolphins: OT Andrew Thomas (Georgia)
19. Raiders: DE Javon Kinlaw (South Carolina)
20. Jaguars: DL Marlon Davidson (Auburn)
21. Eagles: WR Tee Higgins (Clemson)

Picks 22-32
22. Bills: WR Justin Jefferson (LSU)
23. Patriots: DE Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State)
24. Saints: WR Brandon Aiyuk (Arizona State)
25. Vikings: OT Josh Jones (Houston)
26. Dolphins: CB C.J. Henderson (Florida)
27. Seahawks: DT Ross Blacklock (TCU)
28. Ravens: LB Patrick Queen (LSU)
29. Titans: CB Trevon Diggs (Alabama)
30. Packers: RB Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin)
31. 49ers: S Grant Delpit (LSU)
32. Chiefs: CB A.J. Terrell (Clemson)

*The Sportsletter’s Mock Draft is a projection based on a collection of other mock drafts, reports, combine workouts, and NFL team needs.

Additional Mock Drafts
CBS Sports Mock Draft (Ryan Wilson)
NFL Mock Draft (Daniel Jeremiah)
ESPN Mock Draft (Todd McShay)

Have thoughts on your teams picks? Reply to today’s email and let’s chat about it.

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NHL

Points De Leon

After 4-Goal Performance, Oilers C Leon Draisaitl is Nearing NHL History

Only a pair of games hit the ice last night, but Leon Draisaitl scored enough goals for everyone. The Oilers forward lit the lamp four times in an 8-3 punishment against the Predators. He also added an assist for a five-point night, and a spot in NHL points history could soon be within reach.

Draisaitl has 107 points this season, including a league-leading 64 assists. He also ranks fourth in the NHL in goals scored (43). His 107 season points is 13 more than teammate and MVP candidate Connor McDavid (94) who ranks second in the league.

Draisaitl is averaging 1.62 points per game in 66 games. If he continues that pace, he’ll finish the year with 130-plus points and pass Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov’s record (128 points, 2018-19) for the most in single-season since 2000.

*Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux combined for 13 seasons of 160 points or more.

Watch: Draisaitl’s 4-Goal Game (NHL.com)

Stanley Cup Playoff Races

Last Night: The Best of the West?
One day after the Blues (88 points) won their seventh straight game to reclaim the top spot in the Western Conference, the Avalanche (87 points) secured a seventh straight victory of their own last night.

Tonight: The Best of the East?
The Tampa Bay Lightning (41-19-5) host the Boston Bruins (41-13-12) tonight in a battle of the Eastern Conference’s top two teams. (7:30 pm ET, NBCSN)

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NCAAB

All Eyes on Kansas 👀

Jayhawks Earns First Unanimous No. 1 Overall

When five more Top-10 teams lost over the weekend, No. 1 Kansas did nothing but solidify its hold of the top spot. The Jayhawks were the first unanimous No. 1 overall this season in the second-to-last AP Poll of the college basketball season.

Other Notes: Kentucky has now won eight straight to make a resurgence into the conversation for No. 1 seeds. No. 3 Dayton reached its highest ranking in school history. In the women’s game, the top-3 remain unmovable down the stretch.

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Men’s Top-10
1. Kansas (26-3)
2. Gonzaga (29-2)
3. Dayton (27-2)
4. Baylor (25-3)
5. SDSU (28-1)
6. Kentucky (24-5)
7. Florida State (24-5)
8. Seton Hall (21-7)
9. Maryland (23-6)
10. Louisville (24-6)

Full AP Top 25 (AP News)

Women’s Top-10
1. S. Carolina (29-1)
2. Baylor (27-1)
3. Oregon (28-2)
4. Louisville (27-3)
5. UConn (25-3)
6. Maryland (25-4)
7. Stanford (25-5)
8. UCLA (25-4)
9. Miss. State (25-5)
10. NC State (25-4)

Full AP Top 25 (ESPN)

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THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏀 NBA: Heat Catch Fire
Miami surprised the NBA on Monday with a 16-point win over the Bucks in a picturesque shooting performance. The potential Eastern Conference playoff matchup saw the Heat halt Giannis Antetokounmpo (13 points) and rain 18 triples. (NBA)

⚾️ MLB: Mic’d Up Cubbies
The Cubs and Angels met for the first time this spring in a reunion of Joe Madden and David Ross as opposing managers. Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant were mic’d up for some entertaining in-game commentary. (MLB)

⚽️ SOCCER: Arsenal Owns England
The Gunners took down Portsmouth (2-0) to advance to the FA Cup Quarterfinals on Monday, and they still haven’t lost to an English opponent in the year 2020 (6-0-4). (ESPN FC)

🏀 NCAAB: The Duke Dunks
Duke got revenge on NC State (88-69) for the devastating 22-point upset they suffered a few weeks back, and Cassius Stanley had a pair of rim-assaulting alley-oop throwdowns. (ACCN)

🏀 NCAAW: Huskies Make History
UConn demolished South Florida (80-39) on Monday night to complete its seventh consecutive undefeated season in the American Athletic Conference. They’re 136-0 in that span. (ESPN)

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 📰 THE HEADLINES

NBA Sends Memo to Plan for Growing Coronavirus Concern
(ESPN)

Patriots Considering QB Andy Dalton if Tom Brady Leaves in Free Agency
(CBS Sports)

Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer Nears Deal to Purchase Forum From MSG Group
(Sports Illustrated)

Latest Free Agency Rumors Have QB Jameis Winston Leaving the Bucs
(Bleacher Report)

Chipper Jones Joins ESPN as Baseball Analyst
(Yahoo! Sports)

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