NFL general managers, coaches and personnel executives will get a first-hand look at the 2020 draft prospects at next week's Scouting Combine, but there has already been enough information to change opinions in mock drafts.
That is the case with Mock 3 2.0 Pre-Combine.
It's the second attempt to predict who the Detroit Lions will take with the third pick overall.
There has been enough speculation, including projections of a major trade, to make significant changes at the top of the draft.
Regardless of what happens, the Lions have a number of good options with the third pick overall.
Suffice to say, fate smiles on the Lions in this projection for Mock 3 2.0.
1. Cincinnati Bengals (2-14)
The skinny: Quarterback is an obvious need, and the obvious choice is Joe Burrow, an Ohio kid who led LSU to the national championship.
Bengals pick: QB Joe Burrow, LSU. It makes sense. He's healthy. He's good. He fills a need. Book it, but that doesn't mean there won't be chatter.
View photos of Detroit Lions players and legends building robots with the help of the Robot Garage alongside students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) and Detroit Lions fullback Nick Bawden (46) watch their robots battle with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) and Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions fullback Nick Bawden (46) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions fullback Nick Bawden (46) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions fullback Nick Bawden (46) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend George Jamison builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) and Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions fullback Nick Bawden (46) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions fullback Nick Bawden (46) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Joique Bell builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions linebacker Jahlani Tavai (51) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Alex Lewis builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Luther Bradley builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Joique Bell builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) and Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) build robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions fullback Nick Bawden (46) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Joique Bell builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions linebacker Jahlani Tavai (51) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions linebacker Jahlani Tavai (51) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions fullback Nick Bawden (46) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Alex Lewis and Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) build robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Alex Lewis builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Alex Lewis builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Alex Lewis builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions linebacker Jahlani Tavai (51) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions Legend Luther Bradley builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) builds robots with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) and Detroit Lions fullback Nick Bawden (46) watch their robots battle with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
Detroit Lions safety Tavon Wilson (32) and his son watch the robots that they built with students at Detroit Lions Academy Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Detroit.
2. Washington Redskins (3-13)
The skinny: The trade market should be wide open.
The Redskins are in control of the board with Burrow in Cincinnati.
Any team that wants to guarantee getting edge defender Chase Young of Ohio State or quarterback Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama has to deal with the Redskins.
Let the bidding begin.
The Dolphins at No. 5 are the logical candidate to move up because of their combination of needs (quarterback No. 1) and trade assets they can offer to make a deal. They have three first-round draft picks.
If there's no deal and the Redskins stand pat at No. 2, the choice is Young or Tagovailoa. Young would give defensive-minded head coach Ron Rivera an elite talent on which to build his defense.
Taking Tagovailoa would be an admission that the previous regime made a mistake in drafting Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins in the first round last year.
Prediction: Trade. Dolphins move up in a deal that gives the Redskins the fifth and 18th picks in the first round, plus a combination of picks this year and next.
Dolphins pick: QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama.
3. Detroit Lions (3-12-1)
The skinny: This is an opportunity to make a significant impact on the roster, and no player in this year's draft class would make a bigger impact than Young, who will be there for the taking based on the projection in this mock draft of Miami trading up to No. 2 to take Tagovailoa.
There are other options if the Redskins take Young. Among them are the following, assuming Young is off the board:
Trade down: Make the deal with the Dolphins to get the fifth pick and extra picks in later rounds this year and next. The Lions still can get cornerback Jeff Okudah of Ohio State at No. 5 and use later picks to draft a wide receiver, running back, or even a quarterback.
This is the second best realistic option for the Lions in this draft. No. 1 is having Young on the board at No. 3.
Stay put, take Tagovailoa: It provides immediate backup depth behind Matthew Stafford and development for the future – either as Stafford's eventual replacement, or as a high-value trade chip if Stafford remains healthy and productive.
Stafford was dialed into Darrell Bevell's offense at a high level at the time he went out for the season last year.
The downside is that it does not help the defense, which is a priority.
View photos of NFL.com's top edge prospects attending the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.
Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson (3) lines up for a play against Samford during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa (94) works against Southern California offensive tackle Austin Jackson (73) during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)
LSU linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (18) tackles Auburn quarterback Bo Nix in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. LSU won 23-20. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Ohio State defensive end Chase Young (2) during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri).
Alabama linebacker Terrell Lewis (24) sets up on the edge against Tennessee during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Utah defensive end Bradlee Anae (6) celebrates after sacking Colorado quarterback Steven Montez in the second half during an NCAA college football game, in Salt Lake City. Anae was selected to The Associated Press All-Pac 12 Conference team, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Stay put, draft for defense: Okudah has been the pick in most mock drafts if the Lions stay at No. 3 and Young is off the board. It doesn't add much sizzle to draft night, but it's an upgrade for the secondary.
Other options on defense in this spot are defensive tackle Derrick Brown of Auburn and linebacker Isaiah Simmons of Clemson, but Okudah tops them as a value pick.
Lions pick: Edge rusher Chase Young, Ohio State.
The Lions catch a break with the Dolphins trading up to take Tagovailoa at No. 2. Young adds an elite pass rusher to a defense that ranked 31st overall last year, last against the pass, tied for last with seven interceptions and tied for 30th with 26 sacks.
