Kiper's 2020 NFL draft Big Board rankings: How high could Joe Burrow go?

Time for another update of my Big Board rankings for the 2020 NFL draft. These are my top 25 prospects as it stands right now, taking into account the first seven weeks of the college football season and projecting forward. I have a few risers who make their debuts, a new No. 1 overall prospect, and a quarterback who has gone from Day 3 pick to first-round consideration.

A few notes before we dig in:

• These aren't detailed scouting reports just yet. I still have a lot of work to do on these players, and what they do this season really matters.

• I've included asterisks next to the names of the underclassmen, who could still return to school for at least one more season.

• Height and weight are based on what we have from schools. We don't get official numbers until the 2020 combine next March.

Update: I've also included my position-by-position rankings below my top 25 overall. You can jump to those rankings here.

1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama*

HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 218 | Previously: 2

Tagovailoa is my new top prospect, but he has had the same grade as the next two guys over the past few months. It's really tight at the top. The lefty is completing 73.6% of his passes -- up from 69% -- with 27 touchdowns and only one interception this season. He's averaging 11 yards per attempt, and his 96.1 Total QBR ranks first in FBS. He has been tremendous and even more efficient than his stellar 2018. Tagovailoa has elite accuracy and great footwork, and his arm strength looks improved in his second season as the full-time starter. I'm already circling Nov. 9 on my calendar -- that's LSU at Bama. Can't wait to see Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow on the same field.

2. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State*

HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 265 | Previously: 3

Sometimes we hype up prospects before the season, and then they're slow to make an impact. Not Young. He has 8.5 sacks in six games, and those numbers don't show his full dominance. Just watch the tape from Ohio State's big win over Miami (Ohio), in which he had two strip sacks, and the Redhawks' offensive tackles had no chance to stop him. The NFL loves twitchy edge rushers who can get after quarterbacks, and that's Young. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go off the board first in April. He caught my eye as a true freshman in 2017, and he really came on last season, picking up the production with Nick Bosa sidelined. Young finished with 9.5 sacks and 14.5 total tackles for loss in 2018.

3. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama*

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 192 | Previously: 1

Jeudy was No. 1 on my past two Big Boards, and he has lived up to his ranking, catching 42 passes for 538 yards with six touchdowns this season. He hasn't scored the past two games, but he has 14 catches. He's unguardable at the college level, and he should immediately become a No. 1 NFL receiver after he gets drafted. I said in May that he's the most talented receiver to enter the NFL since the duo of Julio Jones and A.J. Green went in Round 1 in 2011. Jeudy can run every route and has elite ball skills, and he runs by SEC defensive backs every week. He's the best wideout in what could be a special 2020 class.

4. Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State*

HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 200 | Previously: 4

Credit Todd McShay here -- he had Okudah at No. 4 overall in his preseason rankings. When I went back through the 2018 tape, I saw why Todd was so fired up. This is a potential top-5 pick with a high ceiling based on talent alone. The problem? Okudah hadn't picked off a single pass in his two seasons for the Buckeyes. He has three interceptions over his past three games this season, including two picks in the blowout of Nebraska. Okudah broke up eight passes last season, and he has three so far in 2019.

play

Okudah hauls in second interception on his back

Adrian Martinez's overthrow is tipped, and Jeff Okudah makes the catch from the turf.

5. Grant Delpit, S, LSU*

HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 203 | Previously: 5

Going through the 2018 LSU tape again, it's easy to see why NFL scouts raved about Delpit. He made plays everywhere for this defense, picking up 74 tackles, 5 interceptions and 5 sacks. Delpit is a complete safety in the mold of former LSU star Jamal Adams. Both can stick running backs in the hole on one play, cover the slot receiver on the next and play the deep middle of the field on the same drive. I really like watching Delpit play. He has 27 tackles, an interception and three pass breakups so far this season.

6. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 237 | Previously: 6

As I wrote in May, Herbert just looks like a potential No. 1 overall pick -- great size, a powerful arm to make every throw, limited interceptions, good athleticism. Yet he took a step back in consistency in 2018, and that's why I thought he made a good decision to return to Oregon for his senior season. What I wanted to see this season was improved accuracy, better decision-making and him going through his reads to find open passers. So far, so good for Herbert, who has completed 69.1% of his passes with 17 touchdowns and one interception. Herbert was good, not great, in the season-opening loss to Auburn, but he has bounced back well. He made some tremendous throws in the Ducks' blowout of Colorado.

7. Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson*

HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 225 | Previously: 9

A converted safety who had 89 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss last season, Simmons is exactly what NFL teams look for in three-down linebackers in today's game. He has the size and speed to run sideline to sideline to chase down tailbacks, and he has the athletic ability to cover tight ends in the slot. He could even flip his hips and play some safety. Simmons is a combo player in the mold of Keanu Neal. He has 51 tackles, 4 sacks and 8 total tackles for loss this season.

8. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama*

HT: 6-foot | WT: 190 | Previously: 7

As Tagovailoa's other favorite target, Ruggs' game is all about speed, though he improved as a route runner last season, when he had 46 catches for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns. He looks great so far in 2019, catching 18 passes for 394 yards and five TDs. He is, though, dealing with an hip injury. Check out this route on a 74-yard TD catch on which he almost outruns the throw. Ruggs is the early favorite to be the fastest prospect in the 2020 class, and he's perfect for today's NFL.

9. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma*

HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 191 | Previously: 18

Lamb showed how special he can be in the Sooners' win over Texas, catching 10 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. But you should really just watch the highlights because the overall numbers don't quite capture his dominance. He couldn't be tackled. Lamb had 65 catches for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, and that was as the Sooners' No. 2 target. With Marquise Brown off to the NFL, he has become the top target for Jalen Hurts. He is an advanced route runner, has outstanding hands and can get open against any defender. He doesn't have elite speed, but he'll test well athletically. I'm high on Lamb's potential.

10. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 318 | Previously: 11

I wrote about Brown last month, when he had two sacks and a forced fumble in the Tigers' win at Texas A&M. He had another sack and forced fumble -- plus two fumble recoveries -- in Auburn's loss at Florida. Brown is starting to come on and show production -- that's what he needed to do this season. NFL teams want interior disruptors who can knock down quarterbacks, and Brown hasn't shown that he can consistently do that. Yet. He's still raw, but he has top-five talent in a massive frame.

11. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia*

HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 320 | Previously: 10

There haven't been many top-tier offensive tackle talents lately -- the last time a tackle was picked in the top 5 was 2015 (Brandon Scherff). Could 2020 be the year of the tackle resurgence? I'm not going to go that far just yet, but there are some talented big men to watch, such as Tristan Wirfs and Thomas. I wouldn't be shocked to see a couple of them in the top 10. Thomas, who started at right tackle as a true freshman in 2017, switched to the left side last season, has long arms and good feet. He's a steady player who doesn't make mistakes.

12. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson*

HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 205 | Previously: 16

It's the size that sticks out with Higgins -- he has a huge frame to create mismatches. But he's also a better-than-expected route runner, and he can stretch the field for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He can box out smaller cornerbacks in the red zone, and he can high-point the ball on sideline throws. Check out this catch-and-run from last season. Higgins was a touchdown machine in 2018, scoring 12 times on 59 catches, and he's averaging 22.9 yards per catch on his 18 receptions this season, with three TDs.

13. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin*

HT: 5-foot-11 | WT: 220 | Previously: 13

This is an interesting running back class, and there's no first-round lock. Combine workouts are going to be extremely important for all of these guys to show true top-end speed. Taylor, though, is making his case and moving up draft boards. After rushing for 4,171 yards and 29 touchdowns the past two seasons -- seriously, those are ridiculous numbers -- Taylor is the Badgers' workhorse back, averaging 6.4 yards per carry with 18 total touchdowns. He has the size, athleticism and ability to be the first back off the board in April. Wisconsin has gotten him involved in the receiving game a little this season, too -- he has 15 catches for 136 yards.

14. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 215 | Previously: NR

I'm moving Burrow way up after his hot start. McShay and I wrote about him extensively earlier this week -- he has been so improved. He doesn't look like the same guy from last season. With a great release, much better accuracy at all levels of the field and enough athleticism to maneuver the pocket to evade rushers, Burrow reminds me of Tony Romo. Coaches rave about his leadership and toughness, too. Burrow is playing like a top-15 pick.

play

Burrow makes the Heisman chase look easy

LSU QB Joe Burrow is interested in time travel, and his efficient game against Florida makes it seem like he might have mastered it.

15. D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia*

HT: 5-foot-9 | WT: 215 | Previously: 17

Just watch Swift on this 48-yard screen against Arkansas State. He runs through and by defenders, showing off what has scouts so excited about his potential. It starts with speed, as Swift is one of the fastest running backs in the country. But he also has a physical side, and he makes tacklers miss. After running for 1,049 yards as part of a rotation last season, Swift is the Bulldogs' clear No. 1 back. He's averaging 6.4 yards per carry with six total touchdowns. He caught 32 passes last season, so he is already a third-down threat. That versatility will be important for his future.

16. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State*

HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 262 | Previously: 23

When I rewatched the Penn State defensive line to get a feel for 2019 draft pick Shareef Miller's season, I kept coming back to Gross-Matos, who was the most productive player from the group. He had eight sacks and 20 total tackles for loss. Gross-Matos is a pure pass-rusher with a big frame -- he wears size 17 shoes -- and he still has room to grow. He's raw, but he has a high ceiling. He has 5.5 sacks and 8.5 total tackles for loss so far this season.

17. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 207 | Previously: 22

A broken foot limited Diggs to six games last season, but he was great in those games, breaking up six passes and adding an interception. And he looks fully recovered from his foot injury, picking off two passes so far this season. Diggs, whose brother Stefon is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, is a versatile defensive back who can excel in man-to-man coverage, and he's a decent tackler. This projection will come down to whether Diggs can show that he's at full strength for the entire season. So far, so good.

18. CJ Henderson, CB, Florida*

HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 202 | Previously: 15

Henderson has dealt with an ankle injury this season, and he sat out a few games. He returned for the past two tough matchups with Auburn and LSU, and he had three pass breakups in each of those matchups. Henderson is a lockdown cover corner who needs to improve on the little things to make his all-around game better. With six interceptions from 2017-18, Henderson has tremendous ball skills, and he has the athletic traits to be a No. 1 corner in the NFL.

19. Jacob Eason, QB, Washington*

HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 225 | Previously: 25

I love the upside here. I mentioned him before the season as a potential riser, as he was getting some buzz. He has a huge 6-foot-6 frame and the arm to match it, but he has, frankly, looked a little rusty this season. Eason, if you recall, started 12 games for Georgia in 2016 and showed some flashes. There were a few throws that made me inch closer to the screen. But he was injured in 2017, lost his job to Fromm, then transferred back to his home state and has waited two years to be able to start again. McShay and I hit on Eason's season earlier this week, and I think he could use another year at Washington in 2020. He needs more time, but he has the "wow" factor.

play

Eason zips pass to Fuller for the Huskies TD

Washington's Jacob Eason throws a dart to WR Aaron Fuller for the 17-yard touchdown.

20. Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama*

HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 310 | Previously: 12

After starting at guard as a sophomore in 2018, Leatherwood replaced first-round pick Jonah Williams as Bama's left tackle this season. Through four games, he has been a rock. With a massive frame and great athleticism for the position, Leatherwood also packs a punch in the run game. He's rising quickly.

21. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 310 | Previously: NR

With a massive frame and great athleticism for his size, Kinlaw is physically gifted. And we know that NFL teams are looking for interior pass-rushers, which is what Kinlaw can bring. After putting up 4.5 sacks all of last season, he already has five in 2019. And he's getting to quarterbacks with quickness and power. Kinlaw moves really well for his size, and he can eat up blockers in the run game.

22. Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama*

HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 250 | Previously: NR

I had Lewis in my way-too-early Big Board back in May, and I noted that it was all about projection because Lewis hadn't gotten to play much in his career. After hurting his elbow in 2017 and playing in only four games, he tore his ACL before the 2018 season and missed the entire year. Lewis, though, has come back strong, showing upside as an edge rusher. He has four sacks and six total QB hurries this season. After Chase Young, there's no clear-cut No. 2 edge rusher in this class. Lewis has a chance to rise.

23. Marvin Wilson, DT, Florida State*

HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 311 | Previously: 14

A five-star prospect in the 2017 class, Wilson took some time to come into his own. He was good as a sophomore last season, but he had a phenomenal start to 2019, dominating Louisville in September with two sacks and recovering a fumble. He's quick off the ball, stellar against the run and has shown the ability to penetrate past guards and centers. Wilson doesn't have a sack in his past two games, but he's playing well. And he has stepped up as a leader this season.

24. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado*

HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 220 | Previously: 21

Shenault is such a fun prospect. He plays wide receiver like a running back, as he's phenomenal after the catch, and the Colorado staff has been smart in moving him up all over the field to get the ball in his hands, even playing him as a Wildcat quarterback at times. Shenault had 86 catches for 1,011 yards and 11 total touchdowns (five rushing) in 2018, and he has two receiving TDs and one rushing score this season. Although he isn't as developed of a route runner as the other receivers in my top 25, that should come with more reps. He has the versatility and traits that will have NFL teams interested.

25. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State*

HT: 5-foot-10 | WT: 215 | Previously: NR

Dobbins is a home run hitter. He looked like a future first-rounder as a freshman in 2017 before taking a step back last season. He looks much quicker and more explosive this season, as he ranks second in FBS with 826 yards while averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He also has seven total touchdowns. The 40-yard dash will be extremely important for Dobbins if he enters the 2020 draft, but he has a shot to be the top back off the board.

Top 10 prospects at each position

An asterisk denotes that the prospect is an underclassman:

Quarterbacks

1. *Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
2. Justin Herbert, Oregon
3. Joe Burrow, LSU
4. *Jacob Eason, Washington
5. *Jake Fromm, Georgia
6. *Jordan Love, Utah State
7. *Sam Ehlinger, Texas
8. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
9. Steven Montez, Colorado
10. Nate Stanley, Iowa

Running backs

1. *Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
2. *D'Andre Swift, Georgia
3. *J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
4. *Travis Etienne, Clemson
5. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
6. Darius Anderson, TCU
7. Zack Moss, Utah
8. *Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
9. Lamical Perine, Florida
10. Rico Dowdle, South Carolina

Wide receivers

1. *Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
2. *Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
3. *CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
4. *Tee Higgins, Clemson
5. *Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
6. *DeVonta Smith, Alabama
7. *Jalen Reagor, TCU
8. *Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky
9. *Justin Jefferson, LSU
10. Michael Pittman Jr., USC

Tight ends

1. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
2. *Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
3. Adam Trautman, Dayton
4. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
5. *Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
6. *Colby Parkinson, Stanford
7. Stephen Sullivan, LSU
8. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
9. *Hunter Bryant, Washington
10. C.J. O'Grady, Arkansas
Note: Oregon's Jacob Breeland, who would have been on this list, is out for the season after suffering a leg injury.

Offensive tackles

1. *Andrew Thomas, Georgia
2. *Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
3. Matt Peart, Connecticut
4. Josh Jones, Houston
5. Trey Adams, Washington
6. Lucas Niang, TCU
7. *Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
8. *Samuel Cosmi, Texas
9. *Saahdiq Charles, LSU
10. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn
Note: Stanford's Walker Little, who would have been on this list, is out for the season with a knee injury.

Guards

1. Ben Bredeson, Michigan
2. *Netane Muti, Fresno State
3. John Simpson, Clemson
4. Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
5. Robert Hunt, Louisiana-Lafayette
6. *Jack Anderson, Texas Tech
7. Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson
8. *Solomon Kindley, Georgia
9. Gage Cervenka, Clemson
10. Daishawn Dixon, San Diego State

Centers

1. *Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
2. *Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
3. *Keith Ismael, San Diego State
4. Nick Harris, Washington
5. *Matt Hennessy, Temple
6. *Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU
7. Cohl Cabral, Arizona State
8. Darryl Williams, Mississippi State
9. Frederick Mauigoa, Washington State
10. Luke Juriga, Western Michigan

Defensive ends

1. *Chase Young, Ohio State
2. *Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
3. *A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
4. Carlos "Boogie" Basham, Wake Forest
5. *James Lynch, Baylor
6. D.J. Wonnum, South Carolina
7. Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame
8. Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina
9. Jabari Zuniga, Florida
10. Marlon Davidson, Auburn

Defensive tackles

1. Derrick Brown, Auburn
2. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
3. *Marvin Wilson, Florida State
4. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
5. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
6. *Jordan Elliott, Missouri
7. Leki Fotu, Utah
8. Raequan Williams, Michigan State
9. Darrion Daniels, Nebraska
10. Davon Hamilton, Ohio State

Inside linebackers

1. Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
2. *Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
3. Kamal Martin, Minnesota
4. Evan Weaver, California
5. Shaq Quarterman, Miami (Fla)
6. Shaun Bradley, Temple
7. Troy Dye, Oregon
8. Malik Harrison, Ohio State
9. Logan Wilson, Wyoming
10. Joe Bachie, Michigan State
Note: Alabama's Dylan Moses, who would be on this list, suffered a knee injury and is out for the season.

Outside linebackers

1. *Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
2. *Terrell Lewis, Alabama
3. Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
4. *Curtis Weaver, Boise State
5. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
6. *K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU
7. Josh Uche, Michigan
8. Justin Strnad, Wake Forest
9. Zack Baun, Wisconsin
10. Jonathan Greenard, Florida