We're less than a week away from the 2020 NFL draft, which means it's time to unveil my annual list of favorite prospects at every position.
This isn't a list of the best overall prospects in the class -- though, how could I not pick Joe Burrow? -- nor is it a list of the guys I consider the best at each position. These are the prospects whom I've:
Often rated higher than other evaluators within the draft media or than team evaluators with whom I discuss prospects, or ...
Ranked higher in close debates within position groups, or ...
Just liked the way they play the game.
Let's get to the 2020 class, with projections on the round in which each will be drafted. On deep positions, I also picked out a few extra Day 3 prospects I liked:
Quarterback
Joe Burrow, LSU
Yes, this is an obvious pick, but you really can't overstate Burrow's amazing 2019 season. I've been grading NFL prospects for 42 years, and I've never seen a quarterback go an entire season without putting a string of bad plays on tape. I mean, 60 touchdown passes and 5,671 passing yards? Completed 76.3% of his passes? Burrow, whom I thought was a fifth- or sixth-round pick before the season, had an unbelievable year for the national champs. Coaches and teammates rave about his leadership, too, so it's not just about what he does on the field. Burrow is the total package, and I can't wait to see him at the next level.
Projection: He's the favorite to go to the Bengals with the No. 1 overall pick.
Day 3 guy I like: James Morgan, Florida International. The 6-foot-4 Morgan didn't put up big numbers in college, but I love the way he competes. He was one of the standouts at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Running back
J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
I just love the way Dobbins runs. He's ferocious. He hits holes hard, and he has some breakaway ability. Dobbins, my second-ranked back in this class, ran for 2,003 yards last season, breaking the Ohio State single-season record. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry. He looked much more explosive than he did in 2018, when he averaged 4.6 yards per carry in a disappointing sophomore season.
Dobbins didn't work out at the NFL scouting combine because of an ankle injury suffered in the College Football Playoff, and he wasn't able to have a pro day in front of scouts. That means we don't have official testing numbers on him, which hurts him in his quest to be the top back off the board. Still, he could be a second-round steal.
Projection: I expect Dobbins to come off the board in the first half of Round 2.
Day 3 guy I like: J.J. Taylor, Arizona. He's only 5-foot-5, but Taylor is a diminutive dynamo. All he does is produce.
Wide receiver
Michael Pittman Jr., USC
One of the biggest wideouts in this class, Pittman surprised me -- and a few others in the league -- with a 4.52 40-yard dash at the combine. That's a great time for the 6-foot-4 pass-catcher. Pittman had a monster 2019 season, catching 101 passes for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns. And he's so smooth in and out of his breaks. I'm also partial to Pittman because his dad, Michael, ended up being a fourth-round steal in the 1998 draft, playing 11 NFL seasons at running back.
Projection: In any other year, Pittman might be a shoo-in for Round 1, but he'll be a second-round pick this year.
Day 3 guy I like: James Proche, SMU. He just makes plays. He has some spectacular catches on tape. Proche is only 5-foot-10 and didn't get to run at the combine, which means he's likely to go late.
Tight end
Adam Trautman, Dayton
A high school quarterback and cornerback in Michigan, Trautman moved to tight end in 2016 and turned into Dayton's all-time leader in receptions (178) and receiving yards (2,295). What a cool story. I had my eye on the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Trautman before the season began, even highlighting him in September among the under-the-radar prospects to know. He's a good athlete who high-points the ball, and he's a hands catcher. And he has some versatility to line up all over the field. Trautman ran a disappointing 4.80 40 at the combine, but the tape doesn't lie -- he's a good player.
Projection: Trautman could be a late second-round pick, but he's more likely to land in Round 3.
Check out highlights from former Dayton tight end Adam Trautman.
Offensive tackle
Ben Bartch, St. John's (Minnesota)
A former tight end, Bartch dominated at left tackle for the Johnnies over the past two seasons. Of course, it was the Division III level, but he moves really well for his size (6-foot-6, 309 pounds). Bartch, who is just outside my ranking of the top 10 tackles, also looked good at Senior Bowl practices, holding his own against the best of the best. I called Bartch a potential Day 3 flier in November, but he has a chance to be drafted higher next week. He'll need some time to get adjusted to the NFL level.
Projection: Bartch should be off the board in the third or fourth round.
Guard
Robert Hunt, Louisiana
There's a reason I wanted Hunt on my 2020 superteam. He's so physical in the run game -- he just destroys defenders at the point of attack. Hunt, who was a four-year starter though missed some time last season because of a groin injury, has some versatility, as he played left guard, left tackle and right tackle. He's a guard in the NFL, though, and the team that picks him is getting a run-game dominator.
Projection: Hunt is my second-ranked guard and is likely to be drafted in Round 2.
Center
Cesar Ruiz, Michigan
Ruiz is the top-ranked center in this class, and it's really not close. It's not a deep class. But I like his versatility -- he started 26 games at center and five at right guard for the Wolverines -- and he's a complete lineman. He can move his feet to get to the next level in the run game, and he can pass-protect and hold his own against big defensive tackles.
Projection: I had Ruiz at the end of Round 1 in my most recent 2020 Mock Draft, and I don't think he'll make it to the second round.
Defensive end
Chase Young, Ohio State
OK, this is another obvious pick, but Young has been No. 1 overall on my Big Board since September. He's the best prospect in this class. And among the defensive ends, there's a big drop-off after Young, who is one of the most NFL-ready pass-rushers I have graded in the past decade. He could get double-digit sacks as a rookie.
Young was a strip-sack menace last season, forcing six fumbles on his way to 16.5 sacks, setting the single-season record for the Buckeyes. At 6-foot-4, 264 pounds, Young could play end in a 4-3 defense or outside linebacker in a 3-4. He's elite, plain and simple.
Projection: Young won't make it out of the top two picks.
Day 3 guy I like: Alex Highsmith, Charlotte. The former walk-on had 14 sacks last season, and he tested well at the combine. And he has some room to grow into his 6-foot-3 frame. He could end up being a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.
Defensive tackle
Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
The top two defensive tackles in this class (Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw) have gotten all the first-round buzz, but I wouldn't be surprised if a team in the 20s fell in love with Madubuike's upside as an interior pass-rusher. At 6-foot-2, 293 pounds, Madubuike plays low and gets after quarterbacks. He led the Aggies in sacks (5.5), pressures (34) and tackles for loss (18) last season.
Projection: Madubuike is likely to be off the board in the top 50 picks.
Day 3 guy I like: McTelvin Agim, Arkansas. He's underrated right now. He has some advanced pass-rushing moves, including a rip and swim. Agim is an intriguing pick for a team looking for a tackle with a high ceiling.
Inside linebacker
Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
There's a wide range of opinions on Brooks across the NFL, but I love his film. He's a tackling machine (367 in his career) and sideline-to-sideline linebacker who showed good speed at the combine, running a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at 240 pounds. He was far and away the best defender on the Red Raiders' roster. He could be a 10-year starter at middle linebacker in the NFL, and he has the athleticism to stay on the field on third down.
Projection: Brooks has a second-round grade from me, but he could slide to Round 3.
Outside linebacker
Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Like I mentioned with the defensive ends, this isn't a great edge-rushing class overall. Simmons isn't an edge rusher, of course, but he's the best off-ball linebacker in this class, and he has some pass-rush ability; he had eight sacks last season. But what I love about him is the versatility. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, he played at least 120 snaps at inside linebacker, outside linebacker, slot cornerback and safety last season, and he even lined up at perimeter cornerback on 17 snaps. He's a rare athlete -- he ran a blazing 4.39 40 at the combine -- in a 6-foot-3 frame.
Projection: Simmons is a top-10 lock, and he could go as high as No. 4 to the Giants.
Safety
Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
Though my affection for Winfield's game got me in trouble with Alabama's Xavier McKinney, I'm not backing down. The 5-foot-9 Winfield is so fun to watch, a ball hawk who can play deep safety or play in the box and stick a running back at the line of scrimmage. He has rare playmaking upside on the defensive side of the ball -- last year, Winfield became one of six defensive backs in the past 15 seasons to intercept seven passes and also have three sacks. He could also play some slot corner. If I was a general manager running a team, I'd want Winfield on my team.
Projection: There is a lot of first-round buzz around Winfield, and I don't expect him to get out of Round 1.
Cornerback
Damon Arnette, Ohio State
Arnette doesn't have the athletic traits of his teammate Jeff Okudah, the top corner in this class, but he's a solid player who doesn't make mistakes. He just sticks to wide receivers, even without elite speed. At 6-foot, 195 pounds, he has decent size, but his 4.56 40 at the combine is going to push him down some teams' boards. Arnette is my ninth-ranked corner. The team that picks him on Day 2 could find an instant starter, though.
Projection: Arnette is likely a second-round pick.
Kicker
Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern
Bass has an NFL leg. It's as simple as that. He made only 79.4% of his field goals in his career, but NFL teams will draft him because of that leg. He's my top-ranked kicker.
Projection: Bass will be a Day 3 pick.
Punter
Alex Pechin, Bucknell
I thought about Arizona State's Michael Turk, who put on a show at the combine, but Pechin is my guy. He can boom it -- he averaged 47.3 yards per punt last season, which led the FCS.
Projection: Pechin is likely a late-round pick, but he could be a priority undrafted free agent.