It's NFL combine week, and drills kick off Thursday with the quarterbacks throwing passes to the tight ends and receivers. Below is my pre-combine Big Board for the 2020 NFL draft -- my top 25 prospects overall as it stands right now -- plus my list of the top 10 prospects at every position.
There have been quite a few changes since my last update, including several new prospects who have moved into the Big Board. I'll update my rankings again after the combine, and by that time we'll have seen all of the testing numbers and gotten a great feel for the class. Then we'll hit free agency, which will sort out the needs for all 32 teams.
Let's dig into another 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 he 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 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. And I'm not worried about his hand size.
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, won't throw at the combine but now says he plans to throw for scouts at his pro day in early April. That's great news. But I'll stick to what I have said for the past few months: he's the biggest wild card of this class. Tagovailoa's injury history -- he has dealt with ankle and knee injuries over 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 is a lock to be the second quarterback off the board, however.
4. Jeff 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-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: 5
A converted safety who had 89 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2018, 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. Simmons had 104 tackles, seven sacks, three interceptions and 16 total tackles for loss this past season, and he was one of the best players on the field in the loss to LSU in the national championship game.
6. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 318 | Previously: 6
I wrote about Brown early last 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 in 2019, 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 is still raw, but he has top-five talent in a massive frame.
Xavier McKinney is a versatile defensive back who was a staple of Nick Saban's Alabama defense and is a top prospect in the 2020 NFL draft.
7. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 192 | Previously: 7
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 is 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 is 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 blazed by SEC defensive backs every week.
8. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 191 | Previously: 8
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 in 2018, and that was as the Sooners' No. 2 target. With Marquise Brown off to the NFL, Lamb was the top target for Jalen Hurts last season, averaging 21.4 yards per catch with 14 touchdowns. Lamb 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. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 237 | Previously: 10
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 also can 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.
10. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 310 | Previously: 11
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 last season. And he is 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 was really good at the Senior Bowl a few weeks ago, and he should perform well at the combine.
11. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
HT: 6-foot-7 | WT: 370 | Previously: 12
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.
12. 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 is 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.
13. Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 200 | Previously: 14
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 McKinney 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 is 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?
See why former Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III was the first ever draft pick by the Las Vegas Raiders.
14. 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.
15. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 322 | Previously: 16
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 also can move his feet. Wirfs is a rare talent who could keep moving up.
16. D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
HT: 5-foot-9 | WT: 215 | Previously: 18
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 past 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.
17. Patrick Queen, ILB, LSU
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 227 | Previously: 25
The more I watched LSU's defense last 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 College Football Playoff 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.
18. CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 202 | Previously: 23
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.
19. Kenneth Murray, ILB, Oklahoma
HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 240 | Previously: 19
I said on the podcast recently that I really wanted to move up Murray into my top 25, and he has now made it into both of my early mock drafts. He is a chiseled specimen with great athleticism for his size. Murray can be a little stiff in coverage, but he has excellent diagnostic ability, and he flies to the football. I think he will 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. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
HT: 6-foot | WT: 190 | Previously: 17
As the Crimson Tide's No. 2 receiver, Ruggs' game is all about speed, though he improved as a route runner in 2018, when he had 46 catches for 741 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 18.6 yards per catch last 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 is perfect for today's NFL.
Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins loves the challenge of being hit and not being the one to fall.
21. K'Lavon Chaisson, OLB, LSU
HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 250 | Previously: 24
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.
22. Josh Jones, OT, Houston
HT: 6-foot-7 | WT: 310 | Previously: NR
I mentioned Jones leading up the Senior Bowl as an under-the-radar prospect who could turn heads. He didn't disappoint, dominating defenders from Power 5 schools in practice and looking like one of the best players in attendance. A four-year starter, Jones has great athleticism to move his feet in pass sets, and he can move edge rushers off the line of scrimmage in the running game. In a deep top tier of offensive tackles, Jones has a chance to be a top-15 pick.
23. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 215 | Previously: NR
It's the size that sticks out with Higgins: He has a huge frame to create mismatches. But he also is a better-than-expected route runner, and he helped 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 two seasons ago. Higgins was a touchdown machine in 2018, scoring 12 times on 59 catches. And he averaged 19.8 yards per catch on his 59 receptions last season, with 13 TDs, including three apiece against Wake Forest and in the ACC title game against Virginia.
24. Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan
HT: 6-foot-4| WT: 319| Previously: NR
As I mentioned in my Mock Draft 2.0, I really like Ruiz's 2019 film, and I have a higher grade on him now than I did last year on Garrett Bradbury, the 2019 draft class' top center. Ruiz can play guard -- he started five games there for the Wolverines -- and that's why his value is so high. NFL teams love versatile interior linemen, and I could see a team drafting him to play guard. He is strong in the running game and outstanding as a pass-blocker. I'm intrigued to see his athletic traits at the combine this week.
25. Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
HT: 6-foot-3| WT: 304 | Previously: NR
Madubuike, who also made his debut in my latest Mock Draft 2.0, had 11 sacks and 22 total tackles for loss in 2018 and 2019. He flashes all over the Aggies' film from two seasons ago, when he had three forced fumbles. And he was even better last season, though his numbers weren't as good -- but he did add an interception. Madubuike can be an under tackle in a 4-3 defense, using his physical tools to penetrate past offensive linemen. He isn't a finished product yet, but there is a lot of potential here.
Top 10 prospects at each position
An asterisk denotes the prospect is an underclassman:
Quarterbacks
1. Joe Burrow, LSU
2. *Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
3. Justin Herbert, Oregon
4. *Jacob Eason, Washington
5. *Jordan Love, Utah State
6. *Jake Fromm, Georgia
7. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
8. Steven Montez, Colorado
9. James Morgan, Florida International
10. Nate Stanley, Iowa
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 Jr., Maryland
10. *Salvon Ahmed, Washington
Ohio State's Jeff Okudah can cover, catch, hit and tackle and is being called the most complete cornerback in the 2020 NFL draft.
Wide receivers
1. *Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
2. *CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
3. *Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
4. *Tee Higgins, Clemson
5. *Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
6. *Justin Jefferson, LSU
7. Michael Pittman Jr., USC
8. *KJ Hamler, Penn State
9. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
10. *Jalen Reagor, TCU
Tight ends
1. *Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
2. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
3. Adam Trautman, Dayton
4. *Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
5. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
6. *Hunter Bryant, Washington
7. *Devin Asiasi, UCLA
8. *Thaddeus Moss, LSU
9. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
10. *Colby Parkinson, Stanford
Offensive tackles
1. *Mekhi Becton, Louisville
2. *Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
3. *Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
4. Josh Jones, Houston
5. *Andrew Thomas, Georgia
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. Robert Hunt, Louisiana-Lafayette
3. Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
4. Jonah Jackson, Ohio State
5. Damien Lewis, LSU
6. *Netane Muti, Fresno State
7. *Solomon Kindley, Georgia
8. John Simpson, Clemson
9. Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson
10. Daishawn Dixon, San Diego State
Centers
1. *Cesar Ruiz, Michigan
2. *Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
3. *Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU
4. *Matt Hennessy, Temple
5. Nick Harris, Washington
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. Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina
7. Jonathan Greenard, Florida
8. Khalid Kareem, Notre Dame
9. Alton Robinson, Syracuse
10. Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
Defensive tackles
1. Derrick Brown, Auburn
2. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
3. *Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
4. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
5. *James Lynch, Baylor
6. *Ross Blacklock, TCU
7. Davon Hamilton, Ohio State
8. *Jordan Elliott, Missouri
9. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
10. Robert Windsor, Penn State
Inside linebackers
1. *Patrick Queen, LSU
2. *Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
3. Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
4. *Jacob Phillips, LSU
5. Troy Dye, Oregon
6. Malik Harrison, Ohio State
7. Logan Wilson, Wyoming
8. Evan Weaver, California
9. Kamal Martin, Minnesota
10. Francis Bernard, Utah
Outside linebackers
1. *Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
2. *K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU
3. Zack Baun, Wisconsin
4. *Terrell Lewis, Alabama
5. Josh Uche, Michigan
6. Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
7. *Curtis Weaver, Boise State
8. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
9. *Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State
10. Alex Highsmith, Charlotte
Cornerbacks
1. *Jeff Okudah, Ohio State
2. *CJ Henderson, Florida
3. *Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
4. *Jaylon Johnson, Utah
5. Kristian Fulton, LSU
6. Trevon Diggs, Alabama
7. Jeff Gladney, TCU
8. *Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
9. Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame
10. *A.J. Terrell, Clemson
Safeties
1. *Xavier McKinney, Alabama
2. *Grant Delpit, LSU
3. *Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
4. Ashtyn Davis, California
5. Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
6. Julian Blackmon, Utah
7. Jeremy Chinn, So. Illinois
8. Brandon Jones, Texas
9. Josh Metellus, Michigan
10. Terrell Burgess, Utah
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. Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern (K)
6. Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse (P)
7. Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia (K)
8. Austin Parker, Duke (P)
9. Tommy Townsend, Florida (P)
10. *Arryn Siposs, Auburn (P)
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