The 2019 NFL draft is still more than five months away, but it's never too early to make updates to the Big Board.
I also have a brand-new batch of positional rankings for the draft -- my top 10 prospects at every position -- in addition to my top 25 rankings overall below. Nick Bosa is still No. 1, but there is some movement down the list.
Underclassmen have until Jan. 14 to declare for the draft, so these rankings could look much different in a month.
A few notes before I get started, same as always:
These aren't detailed scouting reports. I still have a lot of work to do on these prospects.
Height and weight are based on what we have from schools. We don't get official numbers until the NFL scouting combine in February.
Note: One asterisk denotes the player is a junior, and two asterisks denote the player is a redshirt sophomore in 2018.
Jump to the positional rankings
1. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State*
Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 263 pounds | Previously: 1
I don't expect the core muscle injury that ended Bosa's Ohio State career to affect his draft stock. He could go wire-to-wire as my top-ranked prospect. The last guy to do that? All the way back to ... 2017, when pass-rusher Myles Garrett ended up going No. 1 overall. Bosa is an elite pass-rusher who is advanced for his age in his technique -- you can probably thank his brother, Joey, and dad, John, both former first-round picks. He'll finish his Buckeyes career with 17.5 sacks in two-plus seasons, most of which were in a loaded line rotation.
2. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama**
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 289 | Previously: 2
Williams was one of college football's best players -- not just defenders -- this season. He dominated LSU with 2.5 sacks and 10 total tackles, and he finished the season with eight sacks and 18 total tackles for loss. When I wrote about Williams after the LSU game, I mentioned his ability to use his hands to disengage from blockers. He is so good at destroying double-teams. And remember, Williams hasn't played much football -- he has room to grow. I'm excited to see Williams & Co. try to shut down Kyler Murray and that Oklahoma offense.
3. Devin White, LB, LSU*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 240 | Previously: 3
White is one of my favorite prospects in this class, and I noted in our draft primer that he's a perfect fit for today's NFL. During a spectacular breakout 2017 season, he had 133 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and an interception. White has dominated this season, too, with 115 tackles, including 12 for loss. I love his read-and-react ability. White is not a true pass-rusher, but he could play outside or inside linebacker at the next level. He has some versatility and is extremely athletic.
4. Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 230 | Previously: 4
I pegged Allen before the season as a potential Day 2 pick, as he broke out in 2017 with seven sacks, 66 tackles and an interception. He has been underrated in this class, and now he has a chance to be a top-10 pick. Allen is disruptive, and he has the length that NFL teams love as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He had 14 sacks this season, including a three-sack game against South Carolina, and has forced five fumbles.
5. Andraez "Greedy" Williams, CB, LSU**
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 184 | Previously: 5
Williams burst onto the scene in 2017, picking off six passes as a redshirt freshman and emerging as one of the best defensive backs in college football. He has two more picks this season. Williams has great ball skills and a long, lean frame, and he sticks to wide receivers. The third-year sophomore is the best lockdown corner in this class, a top-five talent if he leaves school early.
6. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon*
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 233 | Previously: 6
Herbert is The Guy in this class ... if he enters the draft. He's the superstar quarterback whom teams dream about taking early. But he's a junior, and the rumblings that he could return to school for his senior season are very real. If he doesn't enter the draft, he'll join a loaded 2020 class. Herbert had an up-and-down regular season, but the traits he flashed and the throws he can make are what make NFL scouts drool. He did miss some throws -- I'd like to see more consistency. But this is a flawed quarterback class, and he's clearly the No. 1 prospect. Herbert injured his shoulder in the win over Oregon State; let's hope he's OK for the Ducks' bowl game.
Deondre Francois sacked by Clelin Ferrell for a loss of 11 yards to the Clem 37
7. Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State**
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220 | Previously: 11
When Todd McShay and I wrote about Haskins and Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa early in the season, it was about the 2020 draft class. Tagovailoa, of course, is a true sophomore. But Haskins is eligible for this draft because he's a third-year sophomore, and there's some buzz that he could leave school after just one season as the starter. There's a lot to like about him as a prospect: he has a big arm, shows great anticipation on his throws, takes care of the ball and has solid athleticism (though he's not a great runner). The high ceiling is there, and that's what NFL teams want. With 46 touchdown passes and just eight picks -- plus an utter domination of one of college football's best defenses in Michigan -- Haskins has first-round potential, and he is right behind Herbert on my board.
8. Devin Bush, LB, Michigan*
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 233 | Previously: 7
Bush, who hurt his hip in the Wolverines' loss at Ohio State, is a playmaker. He lines up all over the field and is always around the ball. He caught my eye early last season as a sophomore when he had 102 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, and an interception. He had 79 tackles and five sacks in 2018. I scouted his dad, Devin Bush Sr., a first-round pick out of Florida State in 1995 who had a 41-inch vertical. Bush and White are similar sideline-to-sideline, three-down players who will vie to be the first linebacker off the board.
9. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston*
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 292 | Previously: 8
Oliver is still a potential top pick, but people I've talked to believe he's closer to 275 pounds than the 290-plus at which he's listed, and he hasn't developed consistent pass-rush moves. That's why I have always said the comparison to Aaron Donald was unfair. Now, Oliver is still a game-wrecker and a great player -- just play the East Carolina tape when he had five tackles for loss. And his first step is one of the fastest I've seen from a defensive tackle. The pre-draft process will be big for him.
10. Rashan Gary, DT, Michigan*
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 283 | Previously: 9
Gary was one of the first underclassmen to declare for the draft, so there's no mystery around his status. Now he needs to have a strong combine and interview circuit. He dominates when he's at his best; he just manhandles offensive linemen. Gary has a high ceiling. The problem? Consistency. A defender this big and this talented should create more pressure and disruptions. The former No. 1 overall recruit disappears too often for my liking. Gary could play end in a 3-4 defense or three-technique in a 4-3.
11. Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 185 | Previously: 10
Quarterbacks who go after Baker don't have much luck. He broke up nine passes and had three interceptions last season, and he had nine pass breakups and two picks in 2018. Even after Georgia lost Roquan Smith, there is still a ton of talent on defense, and it starts with Baker, who has developed into an elite corner. Georgia gets Texas in the Sugar Bowl, and the Longhorns line up some tall and athletic receivers on the outside. Let's see how Baker fares.
12. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 301 | Previously: 12
It's not easy to start for Nick Saban as a freshman, and that's exactly what Williams did when he lined up as the right tackle in Week 1 in 2016. Now he has started more than 30 games over the past three seasons, playing on the left side in 2017 and 2018. Williams could move inside to guard at the next level, and I compared him to Washington's Brandon Scherff in our preview of the class.
13. Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State*
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 300 | Previously: 13
One thing that really impressed me in Mississippi State's loss to LSU earlier this season was Simmons' hand usage. He knows how to disengage blockers and find the football. He had two touchdowns last season. In one game. He blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone, then took a fumble 90 yards to the house in a rout of Louisiana Tech. The big man can move. Simmons, a disruptive player on the interior who could play in a 4-3 or 3-4 front, also chipped in five sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 2017. He had 14.5 tackles for loss this season. Simmons will have to answer to NFL teams about his 2016 arrest on a charge of simple assault.
14. Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 340 | Previously: 19
As I wrote in my way-too-early Big Board, big-bodied guys who move like Lawrence and can eat gaps don't last long in the draft. And Lawrence has shown that he is more than a plugger -- he had nine sacks in his first two seasons. Turn on the tape, and you'll see Lawrence take on blockers and throw them aside. He's also 1-for-1 on turning carries into touchdowns.
15. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 325 | Previously: 23
It's tough to miss Brown on the 2017 Auburn tape. He bullied offensive linemen during a breakout season in which he had nine tackles for loss and 56 total tackles. He's still raw and developing pass-rushing moves, but the size and athleticism are there to be a top-10 pick. He had 9.5 tackles for loss this season, including a dominant performance against Tennessee. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss in Auburn's win over Texas A&M.
16. Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss*
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 325 | Previously: 16
Little, who just announced he's entering the draft, is a true left tackle. He won't have to move to the right side in the NFL. He's light on his feet and can get to the second level to take on linebackers, and he consistently overpowers SEC edge defenders at the point of attack. The former five-star high school prospect protected the blind side of Oklahoma's Kyler Murray in high school.
17. Jachai Polite, OLB, Florida*
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 242 | Previously: 14
Polite is an edge rusher who keeps rising, like Kentucky's Josh Allen, and he was the Gators' best player this season. He had 11 sacks and 16 total tackles for loss. Polite plays with a ton of energy. He's aggressive. This is his first season as a full-time starter because he hurt his shoulder in the middle of the 2017 season. He plays with his hand in the dirt as a defensive end, but I think he's probably a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.
18. Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma*
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 168 | Previously: 15
I wrote in September about why I like Brown so much -- he's a big-play threat on every route. He has game-changing speed and is dynamic after the catch. Brown has 14 catches of 50-plus yards over the past two seasons, which leads the country. He can play in the slot or outside, creating easy separation with that speed. And he's not one-dimensional; he runs every route that NFL teams want to see. The question is size -- at 5-foot-9, he doesn't look like a No. 1 wide receiver. But the NFL is changing: Speed is everything. He can be a deep threat at the next level, in the mold of John Ross, who went in the top 10 in the 2017 draft. Brown should be in the discussion for Round 1, especially after he works out at the combine.
19. Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 269 | Previously: 17
Ferguson is a prototypical 4-3 end with a big frame. He's still growing into it. You can see some of that raw talent when he pushes around Conference USA offensive tackles. Ferguson had 15 sacks this season, and he's up to a whopping 42.5 in his college career. The fifth-year senior is going to put his hand in the dirt and get up field. NFL teams always need edge-rushers, and Ferguson is going to be in the mix in Round 1.
20. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 265 | Previously: 18
I thought Ferrell could have been a first-round pick in the 2018 draft as a third-year sophomore. He's that good. He had 9.5 sacks last season and added another 10.5 this season. He terrorized Texas A&M and Georgia Southern with two sacks apiece and multiple pressures. Clemson has one of the most talented defensive lines I've ever seen in college football, and the Tigers could have three first-rounders in 2019.
21. Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 310 | Previously: 20
Like Ferrell, Wilkins skipped the 2018 draft and decided to return for another season at Clemson. And like Ferrell, Wilkins could have gone on Day 1 this past April. Last season, I compared Wilkins to former Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, because he's scheme-versatile and could play end or tackle in the NFL. Wilkins had 13.5 tackles for loss this season, and he'll lead the Tigers against a strong Notre Dame offensive line in the College Football Playoff.
22. Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama**
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 194 | Previously: 21
Nick Saban and Alabama consistently produce NFL-ready defensive backs, and Thompson could be the next in line. After playing in the rotation most of the past two seasons, Thompson stepped in to start two games at the end of 2017. He didn't look out of place. He was spectacular as a full-time starter this season, racking up 70 tackles and two interceptions. Thompson has great range and is a natural playmaker. The third-year sophomore has emerged as one of college football's best all-around defensive backs.
23. Brian Burns, OLB/DE, Florida State*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 235 | Previously: 22
Burns, who had 10 sacks this season, can bend the edge as well as any other pass-rusher in this class. He has a lean frame, but he's quick off the ball and can use his speed to get to quarterbacks before offensive tackles have a chance to move. Burns had 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season, after 9.5 sacks as a freshman in 2016. He needs more time in the weight room, but he could grow into a 4-3 end in time. There's a chance he rises even higher after the combine.
24. Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 328 | Previously: NR
Taylor is a mauler on the edge. He has played both left and right tackle for the Gators, and his technique is still raw, but he has the potential to be the first offensive lineman off the board. Some teams might like him at guard, too, and the versatility is a plus.
25. Daniel Jones, QB, Duke*
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220 | Previously: 25
I wrote about Jones' rise last month. As I noted, the most impressive trait I've seen from Jones this season is his ability to buy time in the pocket and use his feet to get square and make a throw. Jones has thrown 27 interceptions in his three seasons as the starter, and he forces passes at times, but he has mostly cut down on the poor throws this season (he has seven interceptions). We also have to mention his coach, David Cutcliffe, who groomed Peyton Manning and is seen as a quarterback whisperer. I like what Jones has shown in 2018, and I expect him to be in the mix as a first- or second-round pick in April, competing to be the top signal-caller off the board.
Top 10 prospects by position
Quarterbacks
1. *Justin Herbert, Oregon
2. **Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
3. *Daniel Jones, Duke
4. Drew Lock, Missouri
5. Will Grier, West Virginia
6. Ryan Finley, NC State
7. *Nate Stanley, Iowa
8. **K.J. Costello, Stanford
9. Gardner Minshew, Washington State
10. *Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Even more than previous years, this top 10 is up in the air based on which underclassmen actually enter the draft. Grier, Finley, Stidham and Minshew have each accepted invites to attend January's Senior Bowl, and so we'll get to see them against each other in Mobile, Alabama.
Running backs
1. Damien Harris, Alabama
2. Bryce Love, Stanford
3. *Darrell Henderson, Memphis
4. *David Montgomery, Iowa State
5. *Rodney Anderson, Oklahoma
6. *Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
7. Dexter Williams, Notre Dame
8. Karan Higdon, Michigan
9. *Miles Sanders, Penn State
10. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
There's no first-round running back in this class. Love has not been himself in 2018. Henderson might end up being the top guy picked -- he was fantastic at Memphis and showed some ability in the receiving game with 43 catches over the past two seasons.
Fullbacks/H-backs
1. Alec Ingold, Wisconsin
2. Chandler Cox, Auburn
3. Winston Dimel, UTEP
4. *Cameron Green, Northwestern
5. Joe Protheroe, Cal Poly
6. George Aston, Pitt
7. *Isaac Lessard, San Diego State
8. *Ray Marten, Boston College
9. *Brady Ross, Iowa
10. *Garrett Williams, Clemson
No changes here from my previous position rankings. These guys are going to need to test well in workouts to get drafted.
Wide receivers
1. *Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
2. Parris Campbell, Ohio State
3. *N'Keal Harry, Arizona State
4. **D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi
5. *A.J. Brown, Mississippi
6. Anthony Johnson, Buffalo
7. Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
8. *Collin Johnson, Texas
9. *Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Texas
10. Keelan Doss, Cal-Davis
Metcalf injured his neck and missed most of the season, but he's extremely talented. Johnson is a small-school guy to watch who could be in the mix on Day 2.
Tight ends
1. *Noah Fant, Iowa
2. *Irv Smith Jr., Alabama
3. **Kaden Smith, Stanford
4. *Caleb Wilson, UCLA
5. **T.J. Hockenson, Iowa
6. **Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
7. *Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
8. C.J. Conrad, Kentucky
9. *Alize Mack, Notre Dame
10. Tommy Sweeney, Boston College
Yes, that's two Iowa tight ends in the top five here. Hockenson could still come back to school. Like quarterbacks, this is a young group that could look different after the Jan. 14 deadline for underclassmen to declare passes.
Offensive tackles
1. *Jonah Williams, Alabama
2. *Greg Little, Mississippi
3. *Jawaan Taylor, Florida
4. Trey Adams, Washington
5. Max Scharping, Northern Illinois
6. Kaleb McGary, Washington
7. *Bobby Evans, Oklahoma
8. Yodny Cajuste, West Virginia
9. *David Edwards, Wisconsin
10. Andre Dillard, Washington State
Little has already declared for the draft, and he's my top true left tackle. Adams, who returned late in the season after a neck injury, could get another year for the Huskies.
Guards
1. *Connor McGovern, Penn State
2. Beau Benzschawel, Wisconsin
3. *Cody Ford, Oklahoma
4. *Ben Bredeson, Michigan
5. Dalton Risner, Kansas State
6. Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
7. Alex Bars, Notre Dame
8. *Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon
9. Bunchy Stallings, Kentucky
10. Dru Samia, Oklahoma
Todd McShay has been all over Ford, who plays tackle for the Sooners but is likely to move inside at the next level. He's a nasty, physical player.
Centers
1. Elgton Jenkins, Mississippi State
2. Michael Deiter, Wisconsin
3. *Michael Jordan, Ohio State
4. **Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
5. Garrett Bradbury, NC State
6. Lamont Gaillard, Georgia
7. Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama
8. *Cohl Cabral, Arizona State
9. *Erik McCoy, Texas A&M
10. Keegan Render, Iowa
Deiter has played center, guard and tackle for the Badgers. He could be a Day 1 starter at center in the NFL.
Defensive ends
1. *Nick Bosa, Ohio State
2. *Rashan Gary, Michigan
3. Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
4. *Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
5. Montez Sweat, Mississippi State
6. *Joe Jackson, Miami (Fla.)
7. Zach Allen, Boston College
8. *Raekwon Davis, Alabama
9. *Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
10. *Anthony Nelson, Iowa
Davis has dropped, but he could still impress at the combine and jump back into the Round 1 mix. Allen could kick inside to tackle to get after quarterbacks.
Memphis running back Darrell Henderson scores his third touchdown on an 82-yard run.
Defensive tackles
1. **Quinnen Williams, Alabama
2. *Ed Oliver, Houston
3. *Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State
4. *Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
5. *Derrick Brown, Auburn
6. Christian Wilkins, Clemson
7. Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
8. Gerald Willis III, Miami (Fla.)
9. *Dre'Mont Jones, Ohio State
10. Isaiah Buggs, Alabama
This is a very good defensive tackle class, one of the best I can remember. NFL teams want to find interior pass-rushers, and Williams, Simmons and Brown are upper-tier penetrators.
Inside linebackers
1. *Devin White, LSU
2. *Devin Bush, Michigan
3. *Mack Wilson, Alabama
4. *Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (Fla.)
5. Te'von Coney, Notre Dame
6. *Vosean Joseph, Florida
7. Khalil Hodge, Buffalo
8. Ryan Connelly, Wisconsin
9. *Tre Lamar, Clemson
10. T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin
There's a clear fall off after Bush here. He and White could go in the top 10.
Outside linebackers
1. Josh Allen, Kentucky
2. *Jachai Polite, Florida
3. *Brian Burns, Florida State
4. Oshane Ximines, Old Dominion
5. Chase Winovich, Michigan
6. Gary Johnson, Texas
7. Chase Hansen, Utah
8. *Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
9. Ben Banogu, TCU
10. Christian Miller, Alabama
Ximines and Winovich are right on the fringes of my top 25. Johnson is more of a weakside linebacker in a 4-3 -- he can fly.
Cornerbacks
1. **Andraez "Greedy" Williams, LSU
2. Deandre Baker, Georgia
3. **Byron Murphy, Washington
4. Julian Love, Notre Dame
5. *Trayvon Mullen, Clemson
6. Amani Oruwariye, Penn State
7. *Bryce Hall, Virginia
8. *David Long, Michigan
9. *Lavert Hill, Michigan
10. Iman Marshall, USC
Murphy is only a third-year sophomore, but he could end up among the top 15 picks. Marshall is a former five-star high school prospect who played a ton for the Trojans but didn't have an interception the past two seasons.
Safeties
1. *Deionte Thompson, Alabama
2. Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
3. *Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
4. Juan Thornhill, Virginia
5. *Taylor Rapp, Washington
6. Mike Edwards, Kentucky
7. Marvell Tell III, USC
8. *Brandon Jones, Texas
9. Darnell Savage Jr., Maryland
10. Jaquan Johnson, Miami (Fla.)
The combine will be big here -- we need timed 40s on the top guys. Jones is an intriguing guy who could rise.
Kickers and punters
1. John Baron II, San Diego State (K)
2. *Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia (K)
3. Matt Gay, Utah (K)
4. Jake Bailey, Stanford (P)
5. **Drue Chrisman, Ohio State (P)
6. *Braden Mann, Texas A&M (P)
7. Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse (P)
8. *Tommy Townsend, Florida (P)
9. Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah (P)
10. Stefan Flintoft, UCLA (P)