Kiper & McShay rank the top five quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL draft

Week 7 in college football was defined by interesting quarterback performances. Some were stellar -- we're looking at you, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence. Others were ... not great (sorry, Jake Fromm and Khalil Tate).

So we asked ESPN NFL draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay to rank their top five quarterbacks for the 2020 NFL draft as it stands right now. The weird thing? Their lists are identical so far. That didn't stop them from debating and discussing their top five, though.

Jump below for their picks for biggest risers and under-the-radar prospects to watch.

Ranking the top five quarterbacks in 2020

Here's how Kiper and McShay rate the class now:

1. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

Stats in Week 7 at Texas A&M: 21-of-34 passing (61.8%) for 293 yards with four TDs and an INT; 91.8 QBR

Kiper: We're in agreement that Tagovailoa is the clear No. 1 quarterback in this class, right?

McShay: Absolutely. His deep-ball accuracy is a unique trait, and I love his natural instincts. And he is doing a better job of going through his progressions and full-field reads this season. His 96.1 Total QBR leads college football and he has a crazy 27:1 TD-INT ratio. He remains not only at the top of my QB rankings, but No. 1 overall on my board. What separates Tagovailoa from Justin Herbert for you, Mel?

Kiper: Consistency is the biggest thing, but Tagovailoa is a more accurate passer at all levels of the field. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound signal-caller has elite accuracy -- he tore up the Aggies with pinpoint throws. Tagovailoa is also a better anticipatory thrower than Herbert, who needs some more polish.

McShay: Tagovailoa is the favorite to go No. 1 overall, and the Dolphins are a good match. They likely will have that top pick -- ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) gives them an 89% chance at No. 1 overall -- especially after Sunday's loss to Washington dropped them to 0-5.

2. Justin Herbert, Oregon

Stats in Week 7 vs. Colorado: 18-of-32 passing (56.3%) for 261 yards with two TDs; 64.7 QBR

McShay: Where Herbert trumps Tagovailoa is in size and arm strength -- the 6-6, 237-pound Herbert has a unique combination of frame, velocity and mobility. He has all the tools to be a great player at the next level. And like Tagovailoa, he has a great mental makeup.

Kiper: These two are on another tier at the top. And it's all about upside with Herbert. When you watch him make throws like this one, you see why he's in contention to be the No. 1 overall pick, and why he'll look great in workouts for teams and at the combine. He has improved as a senior, completing 69.1% of his passes and throwing just one interception.

McShay: Yeah, the big question coming into this season was his decision-making. He has gotten better in that area, and I've seen more consistency in his mechanics. I want to see it the rest of the way -- Herbert and the Ducks have a big game coming up at Washington. OK, Mel, is the No. 3 quarterback where we finally disagree?

3. Joe Burrow, LSU

Stats in Week 7 vs. Florida: 21-of-24 passing (87.5%) for 293 yards with three TDs; 98.1 QBR

Kiper: I'm moving Burrow up after he torched the Gators. He's for real. He doesn't look like the same guy from last season. He already has 25 touchdown passes in six games, the third most in a full season in LSU history.

McShay: I'm doing the same -- Burrow is the surprise of the year. He is playing with tremendous confidence in Year 2 as a starter, completing 79.6% of his passes and posting a 93.3 Total QBR. He lit up Texas in September and he was surgical against a Florida defense that has smothered other opponents. He was 4 of 5 on throws 15-plus yards downfield against the Gators and a perfect 11 of 11 for 147 yards and a touchdown from sets with four or more wide receivers, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Kiper: Burrow is playing as well as any quarterback in the country. He's an accurate thrower with an easy release. At 6-3 and 215 pounds, he can maneuver the pocket and throw on the run. And he's a leader -- the coaches rave about his toughness. The quarterback Burrow reminds me of most? It's Tony Romo, and not just because they both wear No. 9. Both have outstanding footwork and underrated arms.

McShay: I think new LSU passing coordinator Joe Brady has helped bring out the best in him. Burrow is making quicker decisions and extending plays. He's a better athlete than people give him credit for -- just look at that tight-window second-quarter touchdown throw he made on Saturday night to Justin Jefferson while rolling right. Burrow has gone from Day 3 prospect to potential first-rounder in six games.

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Jefferson stays in for 7-yard TD

Joe Burrow connects with Justin Jefferson for an LSU touchdown.

Kiper: I agree, Todd. Burrow looks like a first-rounder. When we discussed his hot start in early September, I mentioned LSU's tough schedule, and those games against Auburn and at Alabama loom large. But if Burrow keeps playing like this, he's going to be on the stage for the Heisman Trophy presentation in December. And the Tigers might be in the College Football Playoff.

4. Jacob Eason, Washington

Stats in Week 7 at Arizona: 15-of-22 passing (68.2%) for 243 yards with two TDs; 77.7 QBR

McShay: Eason doesn't have a ton of recent game experience -- he started 13 games for Georgia in 2016, but he attempted only seven passes in 2017 before going down with an injury, then sat out 2018 after transferring -- but he has shown growth in seven starts this season. He has a huge 6-6, 227-pound frame, a live arm and good athleticism. And I've already seen improvement in his timing and anticipation from September to now.

Kiper: Are we really agreeing again here? Eason is my fourth-ranked quarterback, with a caveat: He really could use another year in college. He could be a top-five pick in the 2021 draft. Now, we see quarterbacks get drafted in Round 1 on potential all the time. Eason absolutely could go in the top 32 picks in April. But he's the most raw out of this group, and I'd really like to see him get more live reps for the Huskies.

McShay: Yeah, he certainly has the talent and can make some ridiculous throws, but the inexperience shows itself at times. Against a complex Stanford defense two weeks ago, he completed just 44.4% of his passes and averaged only 5.7 yards per attempt. Eason has a big opportunity to show he belongs in this discussion on Saturday against Herbert and the Ducks.

Kiper: Eason has the "wow" factor. He's super impressive at times but also maddeningly underwhelming in other situations. He really needs to improve his ball placement and work on going through full-field progressions. But you can't teach his arm strength -- I put this throw in my most recent Big Board rankings, but it's worth watching that rocket again.

5. Jake Fromm, Georgia

Stats in Week 7 vs. South Carolina: 28-of-51 passing (54.9%) for 295 yards with one TD and three INTs; 91.8 QBR

Kiper: Fromm had a miserable Saturday. He hadn't thrown a pick all season until he faced the Gamecocks. This throw is just a really poor decision. But that was really his first bad game in his Georgia career, and it came in his 34th start. I think he's going to bounce back in a big way. Are we underrating him, Todd?

McShay: It was probably the worst we've seen him play in his career -- only one of his career-high 51 attempts went for 20-plus yards -- but there is plenty of tape to show what he can do. He has outstanding timing, touch and overall accuracy on his throws, and he does a really good job protecting the football.

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Fromm's first interception turns into pick-six

Jake Fromm slings one under pressure to the sideline, where South Carolina's Israel Mukuamu snags it for a pick-six before the half.

Kiper: When we discussed Fromm's future last month, I mentioned that the Bulldogs lost their top four receivers and top tight end from last season. That really showed up Saturday. It's another reason I've compared Fromm to Andy Dalton, who has excelled for the Bengals when he has a good supporting cast around him. Fromm isn't going to "wow" you like Herbert or Eason, and he doesn't have an elite arm or size (6-2, 220). But like you said, Todd, he is an accurate thrower who anticipates and has touch.

McShay: He places the ball as well as any quarterback in the draft class, and the speed at which he processes the play stands out for me. The arm strength and his just-average mobility limit him to an extent, but he is gifted at reading the defense and knowing when to take a shot downfield to give his receiver a chance on a 50-50 ball.

Kiper: The last thing to mention here is that Fromm is a true junior. He could return to Georgia for another season and enter the 2021 draft. And we know the Bulldogs have a ton of young talent to compete for another College Football Playoff spot. Was Fromm your clear No. 5 quarterback, Todd?

McShay: If Fromm is 5A, Utah State's Jordan Love is 5B. Yes, the same Love who has 44.0 Total QBR, six touchdown passes and eight interceptions -- and just imploded with three picks against LSU. But you have to look at the full picture, and he just doesn't have the weapons with the Aggies that other QBs in the class have at their disposal. Love, a fourth-year junior, is still learning to process as a pocket passer, but he has a 6-4, 225-pound frame, a good arm and the ability to extend plays with his feet. He will just need more time to adjust to the NFL game and develop.

Prospects on the rise

These are the 2020 NFL draft prospects moving up boards:

Anfernee Jennings, OLB/DE, Alabama

I don't quite know what to call Jennings, who plays a combo position for the Crimson Tide. He has his hands in the dirt on the edge at times, but the 6--3, 260-pound defender also stands up and drops into the coverage. He could be a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end in the NFL. What I do know is that Jennings just makes plays. He had eight tackles, a sack and a pass breakup in Bama's blowout of Texas A&M on Saturday, and he has shown steady improvement since he took over as a starter in 2017. Jennings isn't an elite pass-rusher, but it's his versatility that NFL teams will love. I wouldn't be shocked if he landed in the first round in April, depending on how he tests at the combine. -- Kiper

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Lawrence throws dime to Higgins to grab lead

Trevor Lawrence finds Tee Higgins with an absolute dime as Clemson grabs the lead in the fourth quarter.

Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

Higgins was No. 21 on my most recent board, but he's starting to make a strong case as the No. 2 receiver in the class behind Jerry Jeudy. He managed just two catches in a blowout of Florida State, but he dialed it up for six catches, 129 yards and a touchdown in the UNC scare two weeks ago. At 6-4 and 215 pounds, Higgins is a smooth athlete who excels at coming down with 50-50 balls and adjusting to back-shoulder throws. And he will make guys miss with his terrific strength. He's going to be the next first-round receiving talent out of Clemson, following Mike Williams, Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins. -- McShay

Under-the-radar prospects to know

Keep an eye on these potential Day 2 or Day 3 picks:

Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue

Hopkins was impressive in Purdue's rout of Maryland, catching 10 passes for 140 yards, giving him 345 yards on the season for a 14.4 yards-per-catch average. He is a bit undersized for an F tight end (6-5, 245) but plucks the ball in stride, flashes the ability to make the first defender miss and is a tough open-field runner with some speed. Hopkins poses potential matchup problems in the passing game but is unlikely to develop into an every-down NFL tight end and projects right now as a Day 3 pick. -- McShay

McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas

NFL teams love interior defensive linemen who can get after quarterbacks, and the 6-2, 300-pound Agim has flashed that ability. He's still inconsistent, but he locates the ball well and is a force against the run. Agim showed again in the Razorbacks' loss to Kentucky on Saturday that he can penetrate if he uses his hands properly; he had a sack and five total tackles. I have him graded as an early Day 3 pick right now, but Agim could rise if he keeps up this level of play. -- Kiper