2020 NFL Draft: The Complete Guide to Every Pick, Trade, and Storyline

Remember scrolling through your phone in April 2020, stuck at home, waiting for the next pick to drop? The 2020 NFL Draft gave sports fans something to hold onto during a strange, uncertain spring. Teams built rosters from basements and home offices. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced picks from his living room. This guide breaks down every round, every trade, and every player who mattered.

What Was the 2020 NFL Draft?

The 2020 NFL Draft marked the 85th annual player selection event held by the National Football League. Teams used the three-day event to add 255 new players to their rosters ahead of the season. Cincinnati kicked things off by selecting LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick.

This event stands apart from every other draft in league history. It happened entirely online. No stage, no green room, no draft-day crowd. Just video calls, home studios, and nervous prospects waiting by their phones.

When and Where Did the 2020 NFL Draft Happen?

The league originally planned to hold this draft in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a massive outdoor stage near the Bellagio fountains. Those plans changed fast once COVID-19 spread across the country.

Here’s the actual schedule the league followed:

• Round 1: April 23, 2020
• Rounds 2–3: April 24, 2020
• Rounds 4–7: April 25, 2020

Instead of Las Vegas, coaches and general managers joined the draft through video calls. Goodell announced the first three rounds from his home in Bronxville, New York. League executive Dave Gardi handled the remaining rounds.

How COVID-19 Reshaped the 2020 NFL Draft

The pandemic forced the league to rebuild its entire draft process in a matter of weeks. Team facilities closed. Scouts couldn’t travel. Pro days got canceled mid-season, leaving some prospects without a final chance to showcase their skills in person.

Despite the chaos, the broadcast succeeded. ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network combined for record viewership numbers. Fans stuck at home tuned in by the millions, turning a logistical nightmare into one of the most-watched drafts in league history.

The remote format also gave viewers something new: an intimate look inside players’ living rooms as they celebrated with family. That personal touch became a signature moment fans still bring up today.

2020 NFL Draft First Round Results

Here’s the full breakdown of every first-round selection from that year’s class:

Note: picks 15–32 rounded out a first round that ESPN and NCAA.com later called one of the deepest quarterback classes in years.

Joe Burrow and the Top Five Picks, Explained

Cincinnati didn’t overthink its decision. Burrow had just finished a Heisman-winning season at LSU, and the Bengals needed a franchise quarterback. That pick set the tone for an entire draft built around rebuilding through the trenches and the quarterback position.

Washington followed with Chase Young, a pass rusher many analysts considered the safest non-quarterback prospect in the class. Detroit added secondary help with Jeffrey Okudah. The Giants prioritized protecting their young core by taking offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.

Miami’s pick of Tua Tagovailoa at five sparked debate for years afterward, given his injury history at Alabama. That gamble became one of the more talked-about storylines of the entire class.

Quarterback Class Breakdown: Five QBs, One Historic Round

Few drafts in NFL history have produced a quarterback class this deep. Five signal-callers heard their names called in the first round alone:

• Joe Burrow (Cincinnati, Pick 1)
• Tua Tagovailoa (Miami, Pick 5)
• Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers, Pick 6)
• Jordan Love (Green Bay, Pick 26, after a trade up)

Green Bay’s decision to trade up for Jordan Love surprised almost everyone watching. The Packers already had Aaron Rodgers coming off an MVP-caliber season, yet they still spent a first-round pick on his eventual successor. That move became one of the boldest bets of the entire night.

Biggest Trades During the 2020 NFL Draft

Trades shaped this draft as much as the picks themselves. Teams moved up, moved back, and reshuffled their draft boards constantly across all three days.

Some of the most notable trades included:

• Buffalo sent multiple picks to Minnesota to move up for wide receiver help earlier in the process, part of the broader Stefon Diggs trade fallout.
• San Francisco flipped its 13th overall pick to Tampa Bay, netting extra draft capital while the Buccaneers landed offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs.
• Green Bay traded up into the back of round one to secure Jordan Love, giving up multiple future assets.

These trades show how aggressively front offices treated the event as a chance to reset their rosters heading into an uncertain season.

Best Value Picks From This Draft Class

Every draft class produces a few players who outperform their draft slot. This class was no different. Justin Jefferson, taken by Minnesota in round one, quickly became one of the best wide receivers in the league relative to his draft position. Chase Claypool and Michael Pittman Jr. also emerged as reliable contributors after going in the second round.

On the defensive side, Baltimore’s selection of Patrick Queen at linebacker gave the Ravens immediate speed and range at the position. Green Bay found a steady contributor in the middle rounds as well, adding depth that paid off for years.

Which College Produced the Most Picks That Year?

LSU had one of the strongest showings of any school in recent draft memory. The Tigers sent five players into the first round alone, a record for a single conference in one round when combined with other SEC programs. LSU’s group included Burrow, K’Lavon Chaisson, Justin Jefferson, Patrick Queen, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Alabama wasn’t far behind, contributing four first-round picks, while Ohio State added three. The SEC as a whole set a new record with 15 players selected in round one, a number that still gets referenced when analysts compare conference strength across draft classes.

2020 NFL Draft: Rounds 2 Through 7 Overview

The later rounds delivered plenty of value for teams willing to dig deeper into the board. Running backs, offensive linemen, and defensive backs filled out most of the middle rounds, while several late-round picks turned into everyday starters.

A few patterns stood out:

• Running backs went earlier than usual, reflecting a deep group at the position.
• Offensive tackles remained in high demand through round three.
• Several small-school prospects outperformed expectations, proving depth existed well beyond the first two days.

The draft wrapped with linebacker Tae Crowder from Georgia, selected with the very last pick, earning him the traditional “Mr. Irrelevant” title.

How This Draft Class Performed in Their Careers

Several years removed from draft night, this class has already produced multiple Pro Bowl players, an MVP-caliber quarterback, and a handful of foundational pieces for playoff teams. Burrow led Cincinnati to a Super Bowl appearance. Herbert developed into one of the most productive young passers in the league. Jefferson became a perennial All-Pro receiver.

Not every pick worked out, and that’s normal for any draft class. But the overall talent level from this group continues to influence rosters across the league today.

Lessons Teams Learned From That Draft Cycle

The remote format proved something valuable to front offices: draft-day success depends more on preparation than atmosphere. Teams that had done their homework months in advance adjusted smoothly, while teams caught off guard by canceled pro days and workouts struggled to finalize their boards.

That lesson stuck. Several teams have since built more flexible scouting processes that don’t rely as heavily on in-person visits, a shift that traces directly back to how organizations handled that spring under pandemic conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2020 NFL Draft

Who was the first pick that year?
The Cincinnati Bengals selected LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick. Burrow had just won the Heisman Trophy and led LSU to a national championship the same season.

Where was this draft held?
The league originally planned an outdoor event in Las Vegas, but COVID-19 forced a fully remote format instead. Team executives and prospects joined via video call from their homes.

How many quarterbacks went in the first round?
Four quarterbacks came off the board in round one: Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jordan Love, giving this class one of the deepest quarterback groups in recent draft history.

How many total players were selected that year?
Teams selected 255 players across seven rounds, ending with Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder, who earned the “Mr. Irrelevant” title as the final pick.

Which team had the best draft class that year?
Minnesota’s selection of Justin Jefferson stands out as one of the best individual picks in the entire class, though several teams, including Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Chargers, found long-term starters throughout their draft classes.

Why is the 2020 NFL Draft considered historic?
Beyond the deep quarterback class, the 2020 NFL Draft became the first fully virtual draft in league history, forcing teams to adapt their entire evaluation process during a global pandemic while still producing one of the most talented classes in years.

Final Thoughts on the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft proved that great talent evaluation doesn’t need a stage, a crowd, or a green room. It just needs preparation. From Joe Burrow’s rise to Justin Jefferson’s breakout, this class left a mark on the league that still shows up on Sundays. Which pick do you think worked out best? Drop your take in the comments and share this guide with a fellow football fan who still argues about draft grades.