Last week I rolled out my preseason top 32 -- the top 2019 NFL prospects overall. For this file, we're going deeper across position groups so you can get a better sense of depth throughout the potential draft class. Again, the emphasis is on potential, because there's no certainty that underclassmen will jump into this draft class.
That said, here's the early look. The season will bring plenty of change. Note: I've looked closer at some positions than others at this early stage. That means I don't yet have 10 tight ends or safeties among my graded players, and I'm combining offensive linemen, too. Don't worry -- they'll emerge in time.
Note: Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.
Quarterbacks
1. Ryan Finley, NC State
2. *Nate Stanley, Iowa
3. *Jake Bentley, South Carolina
4. Drew Lock, Missouri
5. *Justin Herbert, Oregon
6. *Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
7. Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
8. *Shea Patterson, Michigan
9. Will Grier, West Virginia
10. Nick Fitzgerald, Miss. State
Expect movement. The questions throughout are who can back up the performances that got them on this list. Can Finley take the next step and put up more production? Can Stanley follow up a breakthrough season and get more accurate? Can Lock follow up a huge statistical season? Can Herbert stay healthy? This group could shift significantly.
Running backs
1. Bryce Love, Stanford
2. Damien Harris, Alabama
3. *Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma
4. *Travis Homer, Miami (FL)
5. *Alex Mattison, Boise State
6. *David Montgomery, Iowa State
7. *Devin Singletary, FAU
8. *Benny Snell Jr., Kentucky
9. Myles Gaskin, Washington
10. *Justice Hill, Oklahoma State
Last season Love had a whopping 2,118 yards rushing in just 13 games, but caught only six passes. Will Stanford find new ways to get him the ball in space? It's certainly something scouts will be looking to watch, simply for their own information-gathering. His key, above all, is to stay healthy. Harris could have a huge year behind a Bama line with its share of NFL talent.
Wide receivers
1. *N'Keal Harry, Arizona State
2. *A.J. Brown, Mississippi
3. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
4. *Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
5. *Juwan Johnson, Penn State
6. *J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford
7. Parris Campbell, Ohio State
8. *Kelvin Harmon, North Carolina State
9. *Ahmmon Richards, Miami
10. Noonie Murray, Florida State
Herm Edwards has a good one in Harry, who can win on contested catches. Last year he caught an impressive 82 passes; shoot for 100 in 2018? Samuel will be one to watch this year, because he's an "All-Satellite Team" shoo-in ... IF he can stay healthy. The guy is flat-out electric in space.
Tight ends
1. *Noah Fant, Iowa
2. *Caleb Wilson, UCLA
3. *Kaden Smith, Stanford
4. Alize Mack, Notre Dame
5. Foster Moreau, LSU
Noah Fant is not your classic Iowa tight end. He can stretch the field up the seam and gives Nate Stanley a big target. Would love to see Stanford share the ball a little more with Smith, who caught 23 passes last season but has a great frame. They've produced some good tight ends.
Offensive linemen
1. *Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
2. *Jonah Williams, OT Alabama
3. Trey Adams, OT, Washington
4. *David Edwards, OT, Wisconsin
5. Elgton Jenkins, C, Miss. State
6. *Nate Herbig, OG, Stanford
7. Isaiah Prince, OT Ohio State
8. Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington
9. Michael Deiter, C, Wisconsin
10. Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State
Welcome back, offensive tackles! Hey, last year wasn't the best draft class at this position, but there's more at the top and bottom of this list, with a good mix of traits and experience. Right now I have tackles and interior linemen mixed together until we flesh out more evals. Suffice to say, with the tackles you're looking at four first-rounders here if the draft was tomorrow.
Defensive ends
1. *Nick Bosa, Ohio State
2. *Rashan Gary, Michigan
3. *Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
4. Zach Allen, Boston College
5. Montez Sweat, Miss. State
6. Jalen Jelks, Oregon
7. Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
8. *Brian Burns, Florida State
9. Austin Bryant, Clemson
10. Carl Granderson, Wyoming
Don't be fooled by the fact that Nick Bosa had "only" 8.5 sacks last season. The Buckeyes rotated their D-linemen a lot, so he wasn't getting a ton of reps. They might do more of that, but on a per-play basis, the guy was dominant. This is a loaded group. Five guys here are first-round locks on my board if the draft was tomorrow. We'll see if more emerge.
Defensive tackles
1. *Ed Oliver, Houston
2. *Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
3. Christian Wilkins, Clemson
4. *Raekwon Davis, Alabama
5. *Derrick Brown, Auburn
6. Isaiah Buggs, Alabama
7. *Jeffery Simmons, Miss. State
8. *Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State
9. Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
10. Demarcus Christmas, Florida State
Ed Oliver is the most dominant college defensive tackle since Aaron Donald, and I think it's fair to say Donald has worked out just fine at the next level. Teams won't let Oliver fall like Donald did, however. He's in the mix for 1-1. Lawrence and Wilkins are half of a four-man group with NFL pedigree at Clemson. Scary group. Davis is intimidating getting off the bus, and he backs it up.
Inside linebackers
1. *Devin White, LSU
2. T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin
3. Natrez Patrick, Georgia
4. Dakota Allen, Texas Tech
5. Kendall Joseph, Clemson
6. Ryan Connelly, Wisconsin
7. Te'von Coney, Notre Dame
8. Joe Dineen Jr., Kansas
9. Cameron Smith, USC
10. Khalil Hodge, Buffalo
White has instincts and is a true sideline-to-sideline type, the kind coaches love in the modern NFL when "base" defense is really nickel and linebackers who can run and cover are coveted. Wisconsin has produced some good linebackers over the last handful of seasons, but like their O-line situation, it just seems like the two-deep is always flush with talent.
Outside linebackers
1. Josh Allen, Kentucky
2. D'Andre Walker, Georgia
3. Landis Durham, Texas A&M
4. *Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
5. *Devin Bush, Michigan
6. *Troy Dye, Oregon
7. Bobby Okereke, Stanford
8. Cece Jefferson, Florida
9. Porter Gustin, USC
10. Ben Banogu, TCU
Jennings is a name to watch here, because the 6-foot-3, 262-pound edge defender will be thrust into a bigger role, and I'd expect the production to follow. He found his way onto the field with a talented defense as a redshirt freshman, and has continued to develop. Bush could have a huge season in the middle of potentially the best statistical defense in the country.
Safeties
1. John Abram, Miss. State
2. Marvell Tell III, USC
3. Chauncey Gardner, Florida
4. Lukas Denis, Boston College
5. Jaquan Johnson, Miami (FL)
Abram and Tell are the two I currently have first-round grades on, but I have a lot of work to do on this class. Taylor Rapp from Washington could be in the mix for the top spot -- I get to see him vs. Auburn in a couple weeks. Abram was at one point the best JC safety in the country, and he's now arguably the best safety in the SEC. Great development.
Cornerbacks
1. *Greedy Williams, LSU
2. DeAndre Baker, Georgia
3. Jamal Peters, Miss. State
4. Blace Brown, Troy
5. *Lavert Hill, Michigan
6. Blessuan Austin, Rutgers
7. Lonnie Johnson, Kentucky
8. Amani Oruwariye, Penn State
9. *Julian Love, Notre Dame
10. Kris Boyd, Texas
So far, Williams and Baker are the two I'd have in the early mix as first-rounders, but again, this group will shift a great deal. Like the safety class, Washington could have some names here soon.