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Mel Kiper's way-too-early 2019 position rankings

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D-line dominates top NFL prospects for 2019 (0:59)

Take a look at the top prospects for next year's NFL draft, led by dominant defensive lineman like Clemson's Clelin Ferrell and Ohio State's Nick Bosa. (0:59)

You have the Big Board, but this is a chance to go deeper position by position as we look way ahead to the 2019 NFL draft class.

Once we get to late in the college football season, you'll see this list below as the best players at every position ranked regardless of class. Redshirt sophomores, juniors and seniors are all grouped together. But as I do every year in this early look, I break it out into underclassmen and seniors. The reason is simple: The seniors are at least guaranteed to be in the draft process based on eligibility, so I want to separate that group. The underclassmen could obviously choose to return and play more college football.

So here's an early look. Again, I have a lot of work to do on this class this summer and beyond, so expect to see many changes next time around.

Note: Asterisk denotes a third-year sophomore.


Quarterbacks

Seniors

1. Drew Lock, Missouri
2. Will Grier, West Virginia
3. Ryan Finley, NC State
4. Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
5. Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State

Underclassmen

1. Justin Herbert, Oregon
2. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
3. Shea Patterson, Michigan
4. Nathan Stanley, Iowa
5. Jake Bentley, South Carolina

Lock and Herbert are currently the two names here who would have first-round grades if they told us to hold the draft tomorrow. All of the seniors have at least first-round upside, and Stidham and Patterson will be particularly interesting to watch. Some evaluators think Stidham has a really high ceiling.

Running backs

Seniors

1. Bryce Love, Stanford
2. Damien Harris, Alabama
3. Ty Johnson, Maryland
4. LJ Scott, Michigan State
5. Myles Gaskin, Washington

Underclassmen

1. Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma
2. David Montgomery, Iowa State
3. Justice Hill, Oklahoma State
4. Devin Singletary, Florida Atlantic
5. Alexander Mattison, Boise State

If Love is able to put together another monster season and stay healthy, the first-round potential is there. I also have Anderson as a potential first-round pick. Hill could be in line for a monster season in Stillwater.

Fullbacks

Seniors

1. Winston Dimel
2. Alec Ingold, Wisconsin
3. Kendrick Jackson, Arkansas
4. Johnathan Vickers, Florida State
5. George Aston, Pitt

Underclassmen

1. Cameron Green, Northwestern
2. Brady Ross, Iowa
3. Ray Marten, Boston College
4. Adam Prentice, Colorado State
5. Isaac Lessard, San Diego State

Dimel is currently without a team for the 2018 season, but he'll make a transfer decision soon after leaving Kansas State.

Wide receivers

Seniors

1. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
2. Parris Campbell, Ohio State
3. Anthony Johnson, Buffalo
4. Stanley Morgan Jr., Nebraska
5. David Sills V, West Virginia

Underclassmen

1. A.J. Brown, Mississippi
2. N'Keal Harry, Arizona State
3. Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
4. Collin Johnson, Texas
5. Tyrie Cleveland, Florida

A.J. Brown and Harry are both considered first-round picks on my early Big Board. Campbell is easily one of the most dangerous players in college football in 2018, as he can turn any touch into a big play with his elite speed.

Tight ends

Seniors

1. C.J. Conrad, Kentucky
2. Tyler Petite, Southern California
3. Tommy Sweeney, Boston College
4. Foster Moreau, LSU
5. Matt Sokol, Michigan State

Underclassmen

1. Noah Fant, Iowa
2. Kaden Smith, Stanford*
3. Caleb Wilson, UCLA
4. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri*
5. Alize Mack, Notre Dame

Fant is on the early Big Board, but others from this group could emerge. Smith is one to watch as Stanford has churned out tight end prospects during the David Shaw era.

Offensive tackles

Seniors

1. Trey Adams, Washington
2. Dalton Risner, Kansas State
3. Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
4. Isaiah Prince, Ohio State
5. Max Scharping, Northern Illinois

Underclassmen

1. Greg Little, Mississippi
2. Jonah Williams, Alabama
3. David Edwards, Wisconsin
4. Bobby Evans, Oklahoma
5. Jawaan Taylor, Florida

The tackle class was a big question mark in April's draft, but the 2019 group looks better. Where the depth will emerge behind Little, Williams, Edwards and Adams remains uncertain. Evans is one to watch as he takes on a bigger role.

Guards

Seniors

1. Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin
2. Alex Bars, Notre Dame
3. Michael Deiter, Wisconsin
4. Garrett Brumfield, LSU
5. Ben Powers, Oklahoma

Underclassmen

1. Michael Jordan, Ohio State
2. Nate Herbig, Stanford
3. Ben Bredeson, Michigan
4. Parker Braun, Georgia Tech
5. Marcus Keyes, Oklahoma State

There is no obvious first-rounder in this group, but someone is certain to emerge. Quenton Nelson went No. 6 overall as a true guard in the 2018 class.

Centers

Seniors

1. Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
2. Sam Mustipher, Notre Dame
3. Toa Lobendahn, Southern California
4. Jesse Burkett, Stanford
5. Alec Eberle, Florida State

Underclassmen

1. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin*
2. Connor McGovern, Penn State
3. Adam Holtorf, Kansas State
4. Jordan Johnson, Central Florida
5. Jake Hanson, Oregon

All Biadasz did in 2017 was emerge from a redshirt season in 2016 to start 14 games and play at an All-American level. If he puts together a similar campaign in 2018, the first round isn't out of the question.

Defensive ends

Seniors

1. Zach Allen, Boston College
2. Jalen Jelks, Oregon
3. Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
4. Austin Bryant, Clemson
5. Chase Winovich, Michigan

Underclassmen

1. Nick Bosa, Ohio State
2. Rashan Gary, Michigan
3. Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
4. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
5. Joe Jackson, Miami (Fla.)

The junior class here is absolutely loaded. Bosa, Gary, Ferrell and Davis could all be early first-round picks if they build on 2017. Allen, Jelks and Sweat are also first-rounders if the draft were held tomorrow. This is a deep group.

Defensive tackles

Seniors

1. Christian Wilkins, Clemson
2. Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
3. Olive Sagapolu, Wisconsin
4. Greg Gaines, Washington
5. Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri

Underclassmen

1. Ed Oliver, Houston
2. Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
3. Derrick Brown, Auburn
4. Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
5. Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State

With defensive end Clelin Ferrell among the top 10 prospects in the class early on, Clemson could have a terrifying defensive line if everyone is healthy. Oliver has the potential to be the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2019 draft.

Insider linebackers

Seniors

1. T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin
2. Cameron Smith, Southern California
3. Bobby Okereke, Stanford
4. Joe Dineen Jr., Kansas
5. Kendall Joseph, Clemson

Underclassmen

1. Devin Bush, Michigan
2. Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (Fla.)
3. Mack Wilson, Alabama
4. Joe Giles-Harris, Duke
5. Troy Dye, Oregon

This is a quietly deep group, but without a clear first-round lock. Bush doesn't just clean up, but has the ability to consistently make plays at and behind the line of scrimmage.

Outside linebackers

Seniors

1. Josh Allen, Kentucky
2. Ben Banogu, TCU
3. Te'von Coney, Notre Dame
4. Porter Gustin Southern California
5. D'Andre Walker, Georgia

Underclassmen

1. Devin White, LSU
2. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
3. Brian Burns, Florida State
4. Michael Pinckney, Miami (Fla.)
5. Terrell Lewis, Alabama

I currently have White and Jennings as likely first-round picks if they build on 2017 form. Allen didn't get a lot of run in 2017, but he could also factor into the first-round mix.

Cornerbacks

Seniors

1. Deandre Baker, Georgia
2. Michael Jackson, Miami (Fla.)
3. Amani Oruwariye, Penn State
4. Nate Meadors, UCLA
5. Rashad Robinson, James Madison

Underclassmen

1. Andraez Williams, LSU
2. Mark Gilbert, Duke
3. Julian Love, Notre Dame
4. Lavert Hill, Michigan
5. Jamel Dean, Auburn

There are obvious first-round talents in both groups here. Baker was one of the true shutdown corners in college football in 2017, and Williams is a long, aggressive talent with ball skills that fit the "Greedy" nickname.

Safeties

Seniors

1. Jaquan Johnson, Miami (Fla.)
2. Lukas Denis, Boston College
3. Marvell Tell III, Southern California
4. Andrew Wingard, Wyoming
5. Juan Thornhill, Virginia

Underclassmen

1. Chauncey Gardner Jr., Florida
2. Khaleke Hudson, Michigan
3. J.R. Reed, Georgia
4. Jordan Fuller, Ohio State
5. Jalen Thompson, Washington State

This is another group where it's a question who will emerge to become an obvious first-round pick. Nobody cracked my initial Big Board, but there is plenty of talent and multiyear starting experience among the underclassmen.

Kickers and punters

Seniors

1. Jake Bailey, Stanford (P)
2. Matt Gay, Utah (PK)
3. Corliss Waitman, South Alabama (P)
4. Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah (P)
5. Stefan Flintoft, UCLA (P)

Underclassmen

1. Drue Chrisman, Ohio State (P)
2. Quinn Nordin, Michigan (PK)*
3. Blake Gillikin, Penn State (P)
4. Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse (P)
5. Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia (PK)

Bailey is listed as a punter, but he's also a touchback machine kicking off, so he'll bring some added value there as a guy who can pound it through the endzone or lob it up high for coaches trying to pin the opposition. Punting is just the start of Chrisman's skill set.