With Monday night's 42-25 victory for LSU in the College Football Playoff national title game, the season is officially over. With its conclusion, the 2020 NFL draft picture becomes clearer, and many players who took the field during bowl season appear on my board, including seven from the championship matchup.
But let's not forget about the three-plus months of showcase events, pro days and combine workouts ahead of the draft's opening night in Las Vegas this April. There's still a lot of time for prospects to rise and fall.
Here is my evaluation of the top 32 players right now, updated from my Dec. 12 edition. Rankings will continue to be updated right through draft time.
Note: Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk, and grades are from Scouts Inc.
1. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State*
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 265 pounds
Grade: 96 | Previous rank: 1
Despite missing two games, Young led the nation in sacks with 16.5, tied for fourth in tackles for loss (21.0) and ranked second in forced fumbles (six). Let those numbers sink in for a minute. He has quickness and above-average bend, and he flashes the ability to convert speed to power, though he still has room for a little improvement getting off blocks. And I currently have a higher grade on Young than I had on former Buckeyes pass-rushers Joey and Nick Bosa. He best fits as a 4-3 defensive end, but he has experience dropping into coverage and could end up converting to a 3-4 outside linebacker role. He is head and shoulders above the rest of the edge rushers in the class.
2. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 216
Grade: 93 | Previous rank: 2
Burrow appeared to be a fringe NFL prospect in August but is now perhaps the No. 1 overall pick. He made quicker decisions with the football in his senior season, displaying complete control of the LSU offense and extending plays. And he has elite anticipatory accuracy throwing into tight windows, as evidenced by an FBS-best 76.3% completion percentage. His pocket presence and toughness really stand out to me. He moves around the pocket like a pro, sensing pressure and protecting the football all while keeping his eyes downfield. And when he takes a hit, he pops right back up. Burrow finished the 2019 season No. 1 in the nation in passing yards (5,671), passing touchdowns (60) and Total QBR (94.9).
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 192
Grade: 93 | Previous rank: 3