2020 NFL Draft: Full Results and Round-by-Round Picks

2020 NFL Draft: Full Results and Round-by-Round Picks

The 2020 NFL Draft changed the league forever, and not just because of the players it produced. Held during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, this draft forced the NFL to abandon its glitzy Las Vegas stage and go fully remote for the first time in its history. Coaches picked players from their living rooms. General managers wore pajama pants under dress shirts. And somehow, the event still delivered one of the most talent-rich quarterback classes in modern football.

If you want the complete picture of the 2020 NFL Draft — every first-round selection, the standout prospects, the surprising trades, and how each pick turned out — this guide covers it all in one place.

What Made the 2020 NFL Draft So Unique

Every draft has a storyline. This one had two: a global pandemic and a quarterback class for the ages.

The NFL had originally planned to hold the event on the Las Vegas Strip, complete with a stage on the water in front of the Bellagio fountains. Those plans collapsed once COVID-19 shut down public gatherings across the country.

Instead, the league pulled off something nobody expected. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the first three rounds from his basement in Bronxville, New York, while all 32 teams connected through video calls to make their selections.<cite index=”3-1″>NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the picks for rounds 1–3 from his home, with the rest of the rounds being announced by Dave Gardi.</cite> No draft room. No draft party. Just teams, webcams, and a lot of home Wi-Fi anxiety.

Despite the chaos, the draft ran smoothly and set a new bar for how sports leagues could operate during a crisis.

2020 NFL Draft Dates and Location

The event unfolded over three days in April 2020:

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

<cite index=”3-1″>The 2020 NFL draft was the 85th annual meeting of NFL franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2020 NFL season, and it was originally planned to take place live in Paradise, Nevada, before being moved to a virtual format because of the pandemic.</cite> The league later announced that Las Vegas would host the event in a future year once conditions allowed for a live crowd.

Draft Order and the Cincinnati Bengals’ No. 1 Pick

The Cincinnati Bengals held the top pick after finishing the previous season with the league’s worst record. Nobody was surprised by their choice.

They selected LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, fresh off a Heisman Trophy season and a national championship run that many analysts called one of the greatest college football seasons ever played.

The rest of the top ten picks focused heavily on quarterbacks, offensive tackles, and pass rushers — a trend that shaped how the entire first round played out.

Complete 2020 NFL Draft First Round Results

Here is the full breakdown of every first-round selection, including trades that moved teams up and down the board.

This table gives you a quick reference point, but the story behind several of these picks is worth exploring further.

The Historic Quarterback Class of the 2020 NFL Draft

No draft class in recent memory produced this many franchise quarterbacks from a single first round.

<cite index=”3-1″>The draft is noteworthy for producing five playoff starters at the quarterback position: Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, and Jalen Hurts.</cite> That kind of hit rate at football’s most important position almost never happens.

Burrow went first overall and quickly became the face of the Bengals’ rebuild. Tagovailoa and Herbert went back-to-back at picks five and six, giving the AFC two long-term starters in a single night. Love sat behind Aaron Rodgers for three seasons before taking over in Green Bay, while Hurts, picked in the second round, became a Super Bowl starter in Philadelphia.

Few drafts age this well at quarterback. Fewer still produce this much value outside the top five picks.

Biggest Steals of the 2020 NFL Draft

Every draft has players who outperform their draft slot by a wide margin. This class delivered several.

• Justin Jefferson (Pick 22): Selected after four other wide receivers, Jefferson quickly became one of the most productive pass catchers in the league.
• Jalen Hurts (Round 2): Passed over by every team in round one, Hurts developed into a franchise quarterback and Super Bowl starter.
• Antoine Winfield Jr. (Round 2): A steady, versatile safety who became a key piece of a Super Bowl-winning defense.
• Kenneth Murray and Isaiah Simmons: Both linebackers carried first-round hype but took longer than expected to find consistent roles.

These outcomes show why draft grades issued on draft night rarely tell the full story. Player development takes years to play out.

Notable Trades During Draft Weekend

Trade activity shaped the board just as much as talent evaluation did.

The Minnesota Vikings moved back from pick 22 after trading star receiver Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills earlier that offseason, then used the return package to select Justin Jefferson. That single trade became one of the most lopsided outcomes in recent draft history.

The San Francisco 49ers also stayed active, trading their own first-round pick along with veteran pass rusher DeForest Buckner in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts, then trading up again to select Brandon Aiyuk at pick 25.

Green Bay’s move up to draft Jordan Love at pick 26, while Aaron Rodgers was still playing at an MVP level, remains one of the most debated decisions of the entire event.

Standout Rookie Performances From the 2020 Class

Several rookies made an immediate impact during their debut seasons.

Justin Herbert took over as the Chargers’ starter after an injury to the incumbent quarterback and went on to set rookie passing records. Chase Young earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after a dominant first season rushing the passer for Washington. Clyde Edwards-Helaire stepped into a featured role for the Kansas City Chiefs almost immediately.

These fast starts added extra weight to an already loaded quarterback and skill-position class.

Team-by-Team Draft Grades: Winners of the Class

Looking back, a handful of teams clearly won this draft class based on long-term production.

• Minnesota Vikings: Landed Justin Jefferson at pick 22, one of the best value picks of the decade.
• Kansas City Chiefs: Added Clyde Edwards-Helaire and depth pieces that supported a championship roster.
• Baltimore Ravens: Selected Patrick Queen and added multiple starters on both lines.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Traded up for Tristan Wirfs, who developed into an elite offensive tackle.

Teams That Struggled With Their 2020 Draft Class

Not every team found the same success.

The Las Vegas Raiders used two first-round picks on Henry Ruggs III and Damon Arnette, and neither player developed into a long-term contributor for the franchise. The Tennessee Titans also saw their first-round tackle, Isaiah Wilson, struggle to translate his talent into playing time.

Hindsight makes draft evaluation look easy. In the moment, these picks made sense based on measurable traits and college production.

How This Draft Changed Team Building Strategy

The success of quarterbacks selected outside the top five, along with players like Jalen Hurts falling to round two, pushed more front offices toward deeper quarterback evaluation processes.

Teams also leaned harder into pro-day workouts and virtual interviews after this draft proved that team building could still happen effectively without in-person visits. That shift carried into future draft cycles, especially for medical evaluations and character interviews.

2020 NFL Draft by the Numbers

A quick statistical snapshot of the event:

Where the Top Picks Are Now

Several first-round picks from this class have already reached All-Pro or Pro Bowl status, including Joe Burrow, Chase Young in his early seasons, Justin Herbert, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb. Others, like Isaiah Simmons and Jeff Okudah, changed teams after their rookie contracts ended, showing how differently careers can unfold from the same draft class.

This mix of hits and misses is exactly why NFL front offices treat draft grades as early estimates rather than final verdicts.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2020 NFL Draft

Who was picked first in the 2020 NFL Draft? The Cincinnati Bengals selected LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick.

How many quarterbacks were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft first round? Three quarterbacks went in the first round: Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert. Jordan Love was also selected in round one at pick 26.

Why was the 2020 NFL Draft held virtually? The COVID-19 pandemic forced the NFL to cancel its planned live event in Las Vegas. Teams instead connected through video calls, and Commissioner Roger Goodell announced picks from his home.

Which pick is considered the biggest steal of the 2020 NFL Draft? Justin Jefferson, selected 22nd overall by the Minnesota Vikings, is widely viewed as the best value pick of the class based on his production relative to his draft position.

How many total picks were made in the 2020 NFL Draft? Teams made 255 selections across seven rounds.

Which team is considered the biggest winner of the 2020 NFL Draft? The Minnesota Vikings are frequently cited as the biggest winner after landing Justin Jefferson at pick 22 following their trade of Stefon Diggs.

Final Thoughts on the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft will be remembered for two things: how it happened and who it produced. A global pandemic forced the league into an unprecedented virtual format, and the class that emerged from it delivered one of the strongest quarterback groups in modern NFL history.

From Joe Burrow’s rise in Cincinnati to Justin Jefferson’s breakout in Minnesota, this draft class continues to shape playoff races years later. Bookmark this page and check back as more of these careers develop, or share it with a fellow football fan who wants the full picture of how this legendary draft class came together.