With the debut of my Mock Draft 1.0 for the 2020 NFL draft, it's time to update my rankings. Below, I have a new Big Board -- my top 25 prospects overall as it stands right now -- plus my list of the top 10 prospects at every position.
It's still early, of course, and NFL teams just got the full list of underclassmen entering the draft, which means this pool for the class is now set. And, as we creep closer to the start of Round 1 in April, the top 30 picks also have been finalized, with only Super Bowl LIV up in the air for the final two spots of the first round.
Keep in mind that the NFL combine, which starts next month, is an important evaluation tool for teams, which means these rankings could change a lot by March. Let's dig into the Big Board:
Jump to:
Position rankings
1. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 265 | Previously: 1
Young, who finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, is a dominant pass-rusher whose 16.5 sacks broke the Buckeyes' single-season record. He had a phenomenal season and is the clear top prospect in the class. Now, does that mean he'll go No. 1? No, because we know how much teams value quarterbacks, and LSU's Joe Burrow is the favorite to go to the Bengals. The NFL loves twitchy edge rushers who can get after quarterbacks, though, and that's Young. He caught my eye as a true freshman in 2017, and he really came on in 2018, picking up the production with Nick Bosa sidelined; Young finished with 9.5 sacks and 14.5 total tackles for loss that season.
2. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 215 | Previously: 2
Burrow's final line in his Heisman-winning season: 60 touchdown passes with just six interceptions while completing 76.3% of his passes. Those are unreal numbers. Oh, and he led 15-0 LSU to a national title. I don't think there's any doubt now that Burrow has cemented his spot as the top quarterback in this draft. His improvement was been one of the greatest stories of the season after he started 2019 as a fringe NFL prospect. 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. The Ohio native should look good in orange and black.
3. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 218 | Previously: 3
Tagovailoa, who dislocated his right hip and suffered a posterior wall fracture in November, will reportedly be ready to throw for teams before the draft. That's excellent news. But I'll stick to what I have said since his season-ending injury: He is the biggest wild card of this class. Tagovailoa's injury history -- he has dealt with ankle and knee injuries the past two seasons -- will complicate how teams evaluate him, and they're going to want to see his medical reports before committing to him. As a player, Tagovailoa is a top-five talent with elite accuracy and all the physical and mental tools teams look for in a starter. I don't think he's a lock to be the second quarterback off the board, however.
4. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 200 | Previously: 5
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-five pick with a high ceiling based on talent alone. The problem? Okudah hadn't picked off a single pass in his first two seasons for the Buckeyes. He had three interceptions in 2019, though, including two picks in a blowout of Nebraska. While Young got all of the publicity for the Ohio State defense, Okudah is a true shutdown corner in the secondary.
5. Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson
HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 225 | Previously: 6
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 had 104 tackles, seven sacks, three interception and 16 total tackles for loss this season, and he was one of the best players on the field in the loss to LSU.
6. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 318 | Previously: 8
I wrote about Brown early in the season, when he had two sacks and a forced fumble in the Tigers' win at Texas A&M. He had another sack and a forced fumble -- plus two fumble recoveries -- in Auburn's loss at Florida. Brown took a leap this season, turning his traits into production, and that's what he needed to show. NFL teams want interior disruptors who can knock down quarterbacks, and Brown hasn't shown he can do that consistently just yet. He's still raw, but he has top-five talent in a massive frame.
7. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 192 | Previously: 4
Jeudy is a special talent, a true No. 1 receiver the minute he gets drafted. Just watch him run past the Arkansas secondary for one of his two touchdowns in that game. He's unguardable at the college level. He finished the season with 77 catches for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns. 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. The Biletnikoff Award winner can run every route and has elite ball skills, and he ran by SEC defensive backs every week.
8. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 191 | Previously: 11
Lamb showed how special he can be in the Sooners' win over Texas in October, catching 10 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. But you should really watch the highlights because the overall numbers don't quite capture his dominance. He had 65 catches for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns this past season, and that was as the Sooners' No. 2 target. With Marquise Brown off to the NFL, he was the top target for Jalen Hurts this season, averaging 21.4 yards per catch with 14 touchdowns. He is an advanced route runner, has outstanding hands and can get open against any defender. He doesn't have elite speed, but I expect him to test well at the combine.
9. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 320 | Previously: 9
There haven't been many top-tier offensive tackle talents lately -- the last time a tackle was picked in the top five 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, like Thomas, who is my top-ranked tackle in the class. The left tackle, who started on the right side as a true freshman in 2017, is great in pass protection, showing off tremendous footwork, strong hands and excellent technique.
10. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 237 | Previously: 7
Herbert is a maddening evaluation, though overall he showed improved accuracy and better decision-making this season. He can have games in which he looks rattled (he threw two fourth-quarter interceptions in the Ducks' loss to Arizona State), but he can also take over games through his talent. As I wrote in May, he just looks like a potential No. 1 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. Herbert had 32 touchdown passes and five interceptions in 2019, and he showed off his athleticism with three touchdown runs in the Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin. Because of his physical tools, there will be teams that love him. But there also will be teams that stay away from him because of his inconsistent play.
11. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 310 | Previously: 17
With a massive frame and great athleticism for his size, Kinlaw is physically gifted. And we know NFL teams are looking for interior pass-rushers, which is what Kinlaw can provide. After putting up 4.5 sacks in 2018, he had six this season. 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 running game. He has been really good at the Senior Bowl.
12. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
HT: 6-foot-7 | WT: 370 | Previously: NR
Unfamiliar with Becton? You can't miss him on the field. With long arms and a 6-foot-7 frame, Becton sticks out. And he dominates at the point of attack, pushing aside pass-rushers but also showing tremendous feet for his size. He is rising after the end of the season, once teams got a closer look at his junior season tape. He could end up being the No. 1 tackle off the board in April.
13. Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 320 | Previously: NR
I had Crimson Tide left tackle Alex Leatherwood ranked higher than Wills throughout the season, but Leatherwood is headed back to school, while Wills declared for the draft. And the right tackle is another rising lineman, as Wills is blessed with a great set of physical tools. He's a physical run-blocker who can shut down edge rushers or interior pressure in pass protection. Wills is another possibility as the top tackle off the board, and I pegged him to the Jets at No. 11 in my Mock Draft 1.0.
14. Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 200 | Previously: NR
I have a new No. 1 safety in the 2020 class, and it's McKinney, who was on my preseason Big Board after he outplayed fourth-round pick Deionte Thompson over the second half of 2018. I dropped him out of the top 25 early in the season, but after taking a closer look at his 2019 film, I had to move him back up. He's a gifted all-around safety who can cover the deep half of the field and also stick his nose in the backfield to get a tackle for loss. He finished the season with 95 tackles, three interceptions, three sacks and four forced fumbles. I'm interested in seeing McKinney work out at the combine -- how fast will he run the 40-yard dash?
Alabama's Xavier McKinney hauls in the interception and goes 80 yards to the house for a touchdown.
15. A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 280 | Previously: 15
Epenesa ended the season on a high note, which included Iowa's win over Minnesota in which he dominated with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. After a slow start this season, he finished with 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. As a sophomore in 2018, he led Iowa in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (16.5) despite playing only 30 snaps per game. As Epenesa has taken on a bigger role, there has been an adjustment period, but he has shown that he can bring inside and outside pressure. With a massive frame, Epenesa could play tackle in a 4-3 defense or end in a 3-4.
16. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 322 | Previously: 20
Left tackle, right tackle -- it really doesn't matter anymore. NFL teams aren't differentiating between the value of the two positions. Just look at the $36.75 million guaranteed the Raiders gave Trent Brown, who moved back to right tackle this season. Teams just want good tackles, period. Wirfs, a former high school wrestling champion, plays right tackle for the Hawkeyes -- though he has had a few series on the left side -- and he just mauls defenders. Dominates them. He has incredible strength and power -- check out this video -- and he can also move his feet. Wirfs is a rare talent who could keep moving up.
17. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
HT: 6-foot | WT: 190 | Previously: 13
As the Crimson Tide's No. 2 receiver, 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 averaged 18.6 yards per catch this season, and he had seven touchdowns, though he didn't get much target volume in a stacked Bama offense. 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.
18. D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
HT: 5-foot-9 | WT: 215 | Previously: 16
Just watch Swift on this 48-yard screen. 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 in 2018, Swift was the Bulldogs' clear No. 1 back this season. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry with eight total touchdowns. He caught 32 passes in 2018, so he is already a third-down threat. That versatility will be important for his future.
19. Kenneth Murray, ILB, Oklahoma
HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 240 | Previously: NR
I said on the podcast last week that I really wanted to move up Murray into my top 25, and he's my new No. 1 inside linebacker. Murray is a chiseled specimen with great athleticism for his size. He can be a little stiff in coverage, but he has excellent diagnostic ability and he flies to the football. I think he'll improve in space with more reps -- he was asked to be a tackling machine for the Sooners, who didn't have a ton of other defensive studs. Murray also showed that he can blitz, as he had 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons. He could be a linebacker in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.
20. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
HT: 5-foot-10 | WT: 207 | Previously: NR
I couldn't quite find a fit for Dobbins at the end of my Mock Draft 1.0, but he had an excellent bounce-back season. I thought he looked less explosive in 2018; he averaged just 4.6 yards per carry, down from 7.2 when he was a true freshman. He was back to his explosive self in 2019, rushing for 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns. And with 71 career catches, Dobbins also has some juice in the passing game. If Dobbins has a good combine in a few weeks, it's not out of the question that he's the first running back taken.
21. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 220 | Previously: 12
Shenault is such a fun prospect; just check out this tremendous touchdown catch to see some of his athleticism. He plays wide receiver like a running back and is stellar after the catch. The Colorado staff was smart about moving him 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 had four receiving TDs and two rushing scores this past season while dealing with inconsistent quarterback play. 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.
22. Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 250 | Previously: NR
As I mentioned in my Mock Draft 1.0 explanation, I removed Kmet from my rankings in November because I thought he was going to enter the 2021 draft. But he's my top-ranked tight end in this class, because no one really separated himself during the season. Kmet is still raw, but he showed his athleticism with a 43-catch, six-touchdown season, and he's not afraid to get his hands dirty against big defenders in the running game.
23. CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 202 | Previously: 18
Henderson dealt with an ankle injury this past season, and he sat out a few games. He returned for the two tough matchups with Auburn and LSU, and he had three pass breakups in each of those games. Henderson is a lockdown cover corner who needs to improve on the little things to make his all-around game better. With six interceptions combined in 2017 and 2018, Henderson has tremendous ball skills, and he has the athletic traits to be a No. 1 corner in the NFL.
24. K'Lavon Chaisson, OLB, LSU
HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 250 | Previously: NR
Every year, teams covet edge rushers with projectable traits, even if they don't always produce huge numbers. That's Chaisson, who had just 6.5 sacks this past season, only 3.5 of which came in the regular season. Those high-ceiling edge rushers don't always go in the first round, of course, but you can see on tape why a team might love Chaisson's potential. He starred in the Tigers' win over Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff, picking up two sacks. It's fair to say there is risk involved -- Chaisson missed most of the 2018 season with a knee injury, and he finished his LSU career with just 9.5 sacks. Again, though, this is all about upside, and I'm betting his stock keeps rising through the pre-draft process.
Ian Book finds Cole Kmet jogging into the end zone for a 7-yard score.
25. Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 227 | Previously: NR
The more I watched LSU's defense this season, the more I liked Queen. He just constantly showed up on the film, making sure tackles and penetrating into the backfield. And he was great in the Tigers' two CFP games, with four tackles for loss and 16 total tackles. Queen is a run-and-hit middle linebacker who has some coverage skills, though he can still improve there. He'll be an instant starter as a rookie.
Top 10 prospects at each position
Quarterbacks
1. Joe Burrow, LSU
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
3. Justin Herbert, Oregon
4. Jordan Love, Utah State
5. Jacob Eason, Washington
6. Jake Fromm, Georgia
7. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
8. Steven Montez, Colorado
9. James Morgan, Florida International
10. Anthony Gordon, Washington State
Running backs
1. D'Andre Swift, Georgia
2. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
3. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
5. Zack Moss, Utah
6. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
7. Cam Akers, Florida State
8. Lamical Perine, Florida
9. Anthony McFarland, Maryland
10. Salvon Ahmed, Washington
Wide receivers
1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
2. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
3. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
4. Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
5. Tee Higgins, Clemson
6. KJ Hamler, Penn State
7. Justin Jefferson, LSU
8. Michael Pittman Jr., USC
9. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
10. Jalen Reagor, TCU
Tight ends
1. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
2. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
3. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
4. Thaddeus Moss, LSU
5. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
6. Hunter Bryant, Washington
7. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
8. Adam Trautman, Dayton
9. Colby Parkinson, Stanford
10. Jacob Breeland, Oregon
Justin Fields' interception to Isaiah Simmons in the third quarter marks the first turnover of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.
Offensive tackles
1. Andrew Thomas, Georgia
2. Mekhi Becton, Louisville
3. Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
4. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
5. Josh Jones, Houston
6. Matt Peart, Connecticut
7. Saahdiq Charles, LSU
8. Austin Jackson, USC
9. Lucas Niang, TCU
10. Trey Adams, Washington
Guards
1. Ben Bredeson, Michigan
2. Netane Muti, Fresno State
3. Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
4. Solomon Kindley, Georgia
5. John Simpson, Clemson
6. Shane Lemieux, Oregon
7. Robert Hunt, Louisiana-Lafayette
8. Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson
9. Daishawn Dixon, San Diego State
10. Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon
Centers
1. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
2. Matt Hennessy, Temple
3. Nick Harris, Washington
4. Cesar Ruiz, Michigan
5. Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU
6. Keith Ismael, San Diego State
7. Darryl Williams, Mississippi State
8. Trystan Colon-Castillo, Missouri
9. Jake Hanson, Oregon
10. Cohl Cabral, Arizona State
Defensive ends
1. Chase Young, Ohio State
2. A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
3. Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
4. Marlon Davidson, Auburn
5. Bradlee Anae, Utah
6. Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame
7. Jonathan Greenard, Florida
8. Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina
9. Alton Robinson, Syracuse
10. Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
Defensive tackles
1. Derrick Brown, Auburn
2. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
3. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
4. Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
5. James Lynch, Baylor
6. Jordan Elliott, Missouri
7. Ross Blacklock, TCU
8. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
9. Davon Hamilton, Ohio State
10. Leki Fotu, Utah
Inside linebackers
1. Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
2. Patrick Queen, LSU
3. Troy Dye, Oregon
4. Logan Wilson, Wyoming
5. Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
6. Evan Weaver, California
7. Kamal Martin, Minnesota
8. Malik Harrison, Ohio State
9. Jacob Phillips, LSU
10. Francis Bernard, Utah
Outside linebackers
1. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
2. K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU
3. Zack Baun, Wisconsin
4. Terrell Lewis, Alabama
5. Curtis Weaver, Boise State
6. Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
7. Josh Uche, Michigan
8. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
9. Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State
10. Alex Highsmith, Charlotte
Dan Orlovsky and Domonique Foxworth debate whether NFL teams would prefer Joe Burrow or Tua Tagovailoa, if Tua's injuries were not a concern.
Cornerbacks
1. Jeff Okudah, Ohio State
2. CJ Henderson, Florida
3. Kristian Fulton, LSU
4. Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
5. Trevon Diggs, Alabama
6. Bryce Hall, Virginia
7. Jeff Gladney, TCU
8. Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
9. Jaylon Johnson, Utah
10. A.J. Terrell, Clemson
Safeties
1. Xavier McKinney, Alabama
2. Grant Delpit, LSU
3. Ashtyn Davis, California
4. Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
5. Julian Blackmon, Utah
6. Brandon Jones, Texas
7. Davion Taylor, Colorado
8. Josh Metellus, Michigan
9. Terrell Burgess, Utah
10. Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
Kickers and punters
1. Braden Mann, Texas A&M (P)
2. Alex Pechin, Bucknell (P)
3. Michael Turk, Arizona State (P)
4. Joseph Charlton, South Carolina (P)
5. Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse (P)
6. Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia (K)
7. Austin Parker, Duke (P)
8. Tommy Townsend, Florida (P)
9. Arryn Siposs, Auburn (P)
10. Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern (K)
Long-snappers
1. Blake Ferguson, LSU
2. Steve Wirtel, Iowa State
3. Rex Sunahara, West Virginia
4. A.J. Carty, Washington
5. Matt Beardall, Marshall
6. Geron Eatherly, Tulane