2020 NFL Draft: Complete Results, Trades, and Team Grades

Introduction

No private workouts. No team facility visits. No handshake on stage. The 2020 NFL Draft arrived during a global lockdown, forcing all 32 teams to pick from home offices with medical files full of question marks. The uncertainty could have wrecked multiple franchise futures. Instead, it produced a legendary quarterback class, a string of draft-day shockers, and a model for virtual operations that the league never abandoned. This guide unpacks every pick, every trade, and every final grade so you can see exactly who built a winner.

The Unprecedented Virtual 2020 NFL Draft

Roger Goodell announced selections from his basement. General managers sat behind laptops rather than sitting together in packed war rooms. The 2020 NFL Draft unfolded entirely remotely, a first in league history. Technical glitches, homemade prospect celebrations, and quiet tension replaced the usual fanfare in Las Vegas.

That virtual setting changed how teams processed information. With no in-person medical checks after the Combine, clubs leaned harder on tape evaluation and interview calls made through video conferencing. Some front offices mastered the chaos. Others froze. The altered environment created a lasting shift in draft logistics. Since then, teams permanently integrated virtual meetings into their evaluation process, and more scouts now trust film-first assessments without needing constant on-campus visits.

Round 1 Results: Every Pick from the 2020 NFL Draft

The first round delivered immediate starters, long-term projects, and selections that still provoke debate. Below is the complete Round 1 board from the 2020 NFL Draft.

Joe Burrow Goes No. 1: Bengals Land Their Franchise Quarterback

The Cincinnati Bengals held the top pick and never hid their intention. They selected LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, the Heisman Trophy winner who produced the greatest single season in college football history. Burrow threw 60 touchdown passes and completed 76.3% of his throws during the 2019 national title run.

Burrow immediately changed the Bengals’ trajectory. He led the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance in his second full season and established himself as one of the NFL’s highest-paid signal-callers. A wrist injury ended his 2023 season early, but his place as the centerpiece of the organization remains unquestioned. The pick gave Cincinnati a rare reset, and the payoff arrived faster than most analysts predicted.

Tua Tagovailoa’s Slide and the Dolphins’ Gamble

A dislocated hip suffered in November 2019 dominated every discussion about Tua Tagovailoa. The Alabama star entered the pre-draft process as a potential top pick, yet medical red flags pushed teams away. The Miami Dolphins, holding the fifth selection after a deliberate roster tear-down, chose to bet on the recovery.

Head coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier waited through months of speculation before turning in the card. Tagovailoa’s early career featured benchings, trade rumors, and repeated concussion concerns. Then the arrival of head coach Mike McDaniel unlocked a precision passing attack. Tagovailoa led the league in passing yards in 2023 and signed a market-resetting contract extension. The gamble that frightened other teams became the foundation of a high-octane offense.

Justin Herbert to the Chargers: A Surprise That Paid Off

Few expected the Los Angeles Chargers to draft a quarterback with the sixth overall pick. Veteran Tyrod Taylor appeared set to start. The front office saw something different. Oregon’s Justin Herbert possessed elite arm strength, underrated mobility, and a calm disposition that reminded the scouting staff of veteran pros.

Herbert took over in Week 2 after a medical mishap and never gave the job back. He shattered rookie passing records and earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Multiple Pro Bowl selections followed. The decision seemed conservative during draft night broadcasts. Four years later, it stands as the ultimate high-value move from the 2020 NFL Draft, delivering a true franchise pillar without trading up.

Blockbuster Trades That Shook the 2020 NFL Draft

Front offices moved aggressively throughout the event, reshaping rosters with picks and proven players.

• DeForest Buckner to the Colts for the 13th pick: The 49ers sent the All-Pro defensive tackle to Indianapolis. San Francisco used the acquired selection on Javon Kinlaw.
• Trent Williams joins the 49ers: Washington dealt the disgruntled left tackle for a fifth-round pick and a 2021 third-rounder. Williams returned to Pro Bowl form immediately.
• Stefon Diggs heads to Buffalo: The Bills sent a first, fifth, and sixth-round pick plus a future fourth to the Vikings. Diggs led the NFL in receptions and yards in 2020 and helped Josh Allen reach MVP-caliber play.
• Packers trade up for Jordan Love: Green Bay moved from 30 to 26, sending a fourth-round pick to Miami. The selection of a quarterback in the first round stunned Aaron Rodgers and the entire fanbase.

Each deal altered the competitive balance, with the Diggs trade arguably shaping the AFC East for years.

Biggest Steals of the 2020 NFL Draft

• Justin Jefferson (Pick 22, Vikings): Five teams took receivers before Jefferson. He promptly broke the rookie receiving yard record and earned Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022. Pro Football Focus graded him as the class’s most valuable asset almost immediately.
• Tristan Wirfs (Pick 13, Buccaneers): Wirfs started at right tackle from day one and played a crucial role in Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV victory. He became an All-Pro and earned a record-breaking contract.
• Antoine Winfield Jr. (Pick 45, Buccaneers): The second-round safety impacted the same championship run. He forced a critical Super Bowl interception and later became the highest-paid defensive back in league history.
• Jonathan Taylor (Pick 41, Colts): Taylor led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2021. The Colts traded up to get him, and the move paid immediate dividends.

Most Questionable Reaches and Head-Scratching Picks

• Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson (Eagles, Pick 21): Philadelphia desperately needed a deep threat. The team chose Reagor, leaving Jefferson for the Vikings. Reagor caught 64 passes in two seasons before a trade. The miss still haunts the franchise’s rebuild.
• Jordan Love (Packers, Pick 26): The logic of selecting a successor for Aaron Rodgers had merit. The timing burned a contention window. Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs while Love sat. The Packers eventually moved on, but the immediate return never arrived during the 2020 season.
• Isaiah Wilson (Titans, Pick 29): Georgia’s massive tackle appeared in one game as a rookie and accumulated multiple off-field incidents and arrests. Tennessee traded him away for a negligible pick swap after a single season. The selection ranks among the worst first-round busts in modern draft history.
• Damon Arnette (Raiders, Pick 19): Las Vegas reached for the Ohio State cornerback. Arnette started seven games, struggled in coverage, and later faced off-field legal trouble before his release. The pick fit no consensus board and delivered zero return.

Day 2 and Day 3 Gems Who Emerged as Stars

Day one grabs headlines. Championships get built on days two and three. The 2020 NFL Draft produced a long list of late-blooming talents.

• Trevon Diggs (Pick 51, Cowboys): The Alabama cornerback led the NFL in interceptions in 2021 and earned All-Pro honors.
• Jeremy Chinn (Pick 64, Panthers): A hybrid defender who scored two defensive touchdowns as a rookie and piled up over 100 tackles.
• Michael Onwenu (Pick 182, Patriots): A sixth-round offensive lineman who became a reliable starter at both guard and tackle.
• Darnell Mooney (Pick 173, Bears): A fifth-round receiver who eclipsed 1,000 yards in his second season.
• Kamren Curl (Pick 216, Commanders): A seventh-round safety who started immediately and earned a long-term extension.

2020 NFL Draft Team Grades: Who Aced the Class?

NFL media analysts like Daniel Jeremiah and long-time evaluator Mel Kiper Jr. released detailed report cards. Combining their assessments with actual career production reveals clear winners.

How the 2020 NFL Draft Shaped the NFL Landscape Years Later

Four seasons of data confirm that the 2020 NFL Draft fundamentally altered the league’s power structure. Burrow, Herbert, and Tagovailoa became centerpieces of three AFC playoff contenders. Jefferson, Lamb, and Aiyuk developed into premium receiver talent that earns top-of-market contracts. Defensive players like Young, Queen, and Winfield collected Pro Bowl nods and enormous paydays.

Teams that stumbled in the first round—Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and Tennessee—paid a steep price. The Titans burned a first-round pick and saw a contention window narrow. Reagor’s loss pushed Philadelphia to make a trade for A.J. Brown two years later, a costly correction. Those mistakes remind every front office that one bad Friday night echoes for seasons.

Key Takeaways and Lessons from the 2020 NFL Draft

• Trust the tape over the medical anxiety. Tagovailoa and Wirfs carried injury questions yet outperformed many “clean” prospects.
• Positional value matters, but so does specific fit. Herbert matched the Chargers’ offensive philosophy immediately; Jordan Love sat for three years, and the benefit arrived only after Rodgers departed.
• Wide receiver evaluation created a massive divide. The Vikings, Cowboys, and 49ers identified elite talent. The Eagles missed badly, proving that speed profiles alone fool evaluators.
• Day-three picks build sustained rosters. Onwenu, Curl, and Mooney prove that championship-caliber depth emerges when teams trust regional scouts and resist combine-hype traps.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who picked first in the 2020 NFL Draft?

The Cincinnati Bengals held the first overall pick and selected quarterback Joe Burrow out of LSU.

2. How many quarterbacks went in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft?

Four quarterbacks heard their names called: Joe Burrow (1st), Tua Tagovailoa (5th), Justin Herbert (6th), and Jordan Love (26th).

3. Which player from the 2020 NFL Draft became a record-breaker fastest?

Justin Jefferson set the NFL rookie receiving yards record with 1,400 yards in 2020 and later earned the Offensive Player of the Year award.

4. What made the 2020 NFL Draft format unique?

The entire 2020 NFL Draft took place virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. General managers, coaches, and commissioner Roger Goodell operated from home setups without a traditional stage event.

5. Which team earned the highest overall grade immediately after the 2020 NFL Draft?

The Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings received some of the highest post-draft grades from analysts like Mel Kiper Jr. for landing CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson, respectively.

6. How did the Diggs trade affect the 2020 NFL Draft?

The Buffalo Bills traded a package including a first-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for Stefon Diggs. Minnesota used that pick to select Justin Jefferson, while Diggs led the NFL in receiving and helped Buffalo reach the AFC Championship Game.

Your Turn to Grade the 2020 NFL Draft

Time proves every draft analyst right or wrong. The quarterback trio of Burrow, Herbert, and Tagovailoa changed the conference balance. A handful of wide receiver selections created perennial All-Pros or front-office regret. Review your team’s picks. Did your club find a cornerstone or carry dead cap for a mistake? Drop your personal grade in the comments, and share the one pick you still can’t believe happened.

Sources referenced include NFL.com draft tracker, Mel Kiper Jr.’s annual draft grades (ESPN), Pro Football Focus post-draft analysis, and team transaction logs.