As teams put together their final draft board rankings for the 2020 NFL draft, each prospect's scouting report will feature evaluations of specific traits. But who is truly the best in the class at each individual skill?
Which quarterback reads the defense better than the rest? Which wide receiver runs the best routes? Who is the best run-stopper or ball hawk on defense?
To get a sense of who stands out in each particular area, I put together my best at everything, the skill superlatives of this year's draft class, for 38 different categories. And to top it off, I picked out three prospects in the class I am especially high on, along with three late-round sleepers with a lot of upside.
Jump to:
QB | WR | RB | TE | OL
DE | DT | LB | DB
My guys | Sleepers
Most accurate QB: Joe Burrow, LSU
Burrow completed 76.3% of his passes in LSU's pro-style route tree last season with incredible ball placement. He can hit the mark as a dropback passer and on second-reaction throws, and that kind of high-level accuracy translates to the NFL passing game. His throws were off target only 7.7% of the time in 2019 -- third best in the country -- per ESPN Stats & Information.
QB with biggest arm: Jacob Eason, Washington
Eason has the profile of a classic pocket thrower, with a 6-foot-6 frame and rocket arm to attack all three levels of the field. He fits best in an NFL system that utilizes the play-action passing game to scheme up vertical throws over the top of the secondary. Iowa's cannon-armed Nate Stanley can join the discussion here too.
Best second-reaction thrower: Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
I could easily put Burrow or Utah State's Jordan Love here, but give me Hurts instead because of his athletic traits. They allow the Oklahoma product to escape pressure and make second-reaction throws outside the pocket. He posted an 89.1 QBR outside the pocket in 2019.
Best QB at reading the defense: Joe Burrow, LSU
LSU did use formation alignment and pre-snap movement to give Burrow more defined reads in the passing game, but don't sleep on his ability to process the field and diagnose coverage rotations after the snap.
QB with the best release: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
With a compact and twitchy release, Tua can get the ball out with speed on quick-game throws, RPO and play-action as a ball distributor from the pocket.
Best playmaking QB: Jordan Love, Utah State
Love needs a strong coaching staff at the NFL level to develop all of his natural tools at the position. But what you can't really coach are those playmaking skills that mesh with Love's aggressive throwing style and his ability to make off-schedule throws.
QB with the best physical attributes/traits: Justin Herbert, Oregon
Herbert is going to check the boxes as a top-10 prospect: a 6-foot-6 frame, the arm talent to push the ball to all three levels and the athleticism necessary for movement passes and designed runs. Yes, Hebert has to throw with more anticipation in the pro game, but the traits and upside jump out with the Oregon signal-caller.
Best WR route runner: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
Jeudy is my No. 1 wide receiver because he gets open. He's a smooth route runner with high-level separation speed and the sudden stop-start ability to set up man coverage. And Jeudy can win at all three levels of the passing game.
Best red zone WR: Denzel Mims, Baylor
I look at the physical traits with Mims as a prime red zone target in the NFL. He can go up and high-point the ball with his 6-foot-3 frame, and he will make contested catches on tight-window throws. Mims had seven touchdowns in the red zone in 2019. He also has an upper-tier athletic profile as a boundary target with 4.38 speed.
Former Baylor WR Denzel Mims' highlights show a terrific athlete who is a dangerous deep threat.
Best slot WR: Justin Jefferson, LSU
With a 6-foot-1 frame, Jefferson is an angular route runner who fits as a volume target in the slot. Jefferson has the top-end ball skills, and his route tree from LSU will carry over into the pro game. Expect an NFL offense to look his way on crossers, seams, slot fades and Hi-Lo concepts. Jefferson caught 100 passes out of the slot (No. 2 in the FBS) and 17 touchdowns (No. 1).
Best playmaking WR: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
Lamb's open-field vision will create explosive play opportunities after the catch in the NFL on underneath throws and wide receiver screens. And I think he can develop into a big slot target in the pros. But Lamb's playmaking traits extend down the field as well, where he showcases the body control and ball-tracking ability to finish on vertical throws. He had 26 catches go for 20-plus yards in 2019, the second most in the nation.
Fastest WR: Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
Ruggs' 4.27 40-yard dash time pops -- and it also matches what we see on tape. He's an absolute burner. But don't sleep on Ruggs as a route runner either. There is detail to his game, as the Alabama product can attack vertically or turn a three-step slant into a house call. He has explosive traits.
WR with the best hands: Van Jefferson, Florida
Jefferson is one of the top route runners in this class, with pro-ready traits in that department. But he also showcases strong hands at the point of attack, allowing him to snag the ball in tight windows. His strong week at the Senior Bowl had evaluators buzzing, but a Jones fracture in his right foot kept him out of the combine workouts.
WR with best contested-catch ability: Tee Higgins, Clemson
Higgins lacks dynamic athletic traits, but he is a highly productive receiver from a championship program who excels at the catch point. That's where Higgins displays his ability to adjust on back-shoulder balls or finish on 50/50 throws. He has a wide catch radius that shows up consistently on his college film.
Best WR working the middle of the field: Michael Pittman Jr., USC
Pittman has vertical ability, but I love his fit in an NFL offense on deep in-breakers. That's where Pittman can utilize his route-running traits and physical style at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds to win when it gets a little crowded in the middle of the field.
Best contact-balance RB: J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
Dobbins has some twitch in zone schemes, but I look at the contact balance here as his best trait when projecting his running style to the NFL game. With a 5-foot-9, 209-pound frame, Dobbins can stay on the track while absorbing contact in the hole. He is one of four running backs in the FBS to record more than 1,000 rushing yards after first contact in 2019.
Best zone-scheme RB: D'Andre Swift, Georgia
With sudden-move traits and the vision to find running lanes, Swift reminds me of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook in zone-based schemes. He plays with juice and can get downhill in a hurry when he sees a slice of daylight.
Most patient RB: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Taylor dropped a 4.39 time in the 40-yard dash at the combine, but I don't see him playing at that speed consistently on tape. However, when you focus on the patience Taylor displays -- especially in gap schemes -- the Wisconsin tailback has the traits to excel as a downhill power runner with some home run ability.
Best pass-pro RB: Cam Akers, Florida State
Every rookie running back will go through some transition as a blocker in pro protection schemes. It's a big jump. But Akers has the physical traits and willingness to develop quickly here as a running back with three-down potential. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he allowed zero sacks and pressure on just 1.8% of his 165 pass-blocking snaps in 2019.
Best pass-catching RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
At LSU, Edwards-Helaire released from a backfield alignment and flexed outside of the formation with angles, flats and sail concepts. He's a sudden mover with the upper-tier lateral change-of-direction ability to shake coverage underneath and then produce after the catch. He's an ideal fit for today's running back route tree in the NFL. His 453 receiving yards were No. 4 in the FBS among running backs, and he had just two drops on 65 targets.
Best RB at breaking tackles: Zack Moss, Utah
A short strider with a 5-foot-9, 223-pound frame, Moss is a downhill bruiser who can run through arm tackles and force defenders to square up in the open field. Moss has some wiggle to his game too. His 4.1 yards after contact per rush ranked ninth in the country last season.
Fastest RB: Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
Evans posted a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, and that sure matches his play speed on tape. He can roll in the open field and brings explosive play ability as both a runner and receiver.
Best pass-catching TE: Adam Trautman, Dayton
With a 6-foot-5 frame and route-running chops, Trautman stands out on film versus FCS competition. This past season at Dayton, Trautman caught 70 passes for 916 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has soft hands, run-after-the-catch traits and the formation flexibility to align as a backside X receiver in 3x1 sets.
Best run-blocking TE: Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
Kmet has room to grow as a blocker, but he can hold his own at the point of attack as an in-line tight end in a pro scheme. And with a 6-foot-6, 262-pound frame and 4.7 speed, Kmet can also run the seams, crossers and sticks. The physical makeup is here for Kmet to play a long time in the NFL.
Best finishing OL: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
At 6-foot-7 and 364 pounds, Becton has a massive frame, and the footwork is there to run defenders into the ground.
Best pass-blocking OL: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
With athletic feet, Wills can mirror athletic pass-rushers, and the hand usage is there to counter on the edge. According to ESPN Stats & Information data, he gave up zero sacks on 422 pass-blocking snaps last season. Only 28 other linemen with as many such snaps achieved that in the nation, and none of those 28 did so while regularly dealing with the dominant pass-rushers of the SEC.
Best zone-blocking OL: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
With a rare athletic profile at 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, Wirfs has the traits to excel in a zone-based run scheme. The Iowa product displays the footwork, functional power and agility to drive blockers off the ball or climb to win in space. His explosiveness showed up at the combine with a position-leading 36.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-1 broad jump.
Check out some highlights from former Iowa offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs as he dominates in the trenches for the Hawkeyes.
Best edge rusher: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
Young has the high-end athletic traits to develop into a game-wrecking edge rusher. Those include twitch, bend, short-area burst and explosive power to disrupt the pocket at 6-foot-5, 264 pounds. He led the country with 16.5 sacks last season.
Best pass-rush technique: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
Epenesa isn't a twitchy edge rusher, but he plays with pro-ready technique. Just look at the hand usage on tape. And at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds with 34.5-inch arms, Epenesa fits in multiple defensive fronts.
Best interior pass-rusher: Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Kinlaw has the frame, length and power to push the pocket as an interior rusher with disruptive upside. If Kinlaw can develop his technique to pair with his rare physical traits, look out.
Best run-stopper: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
With a 6-foot-5, 326-pound frame, first-step quicks and the power to handle two-gap duties, Brown is an interior disruptor with top-10 traits.
Most rangy LB: Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Murray has 4.52 speed and second-level range to track the ball. He fits as a three-down linebacker in the NFL with sub-package versatility, and the former safety has the ability to play sideline-to-sideline in a pro scheme.
Most versatile defender: Isaiah Simmons, S/LB, Clemson
He's listed as an outside linebacker, but I see Simmons as a safety in the NFL, with a physical makeup similar to that of Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James. At 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds with 4.39 speed, Simmons has an elite athletic profile to play safety in your base defense, with multipositional value as an impact defender in nickel or dime sets.
Best ball-hawking DB: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
With seven interceptions in 2019 and the natural ball skills to finish, Winfield is an easy fit for multiple coverage schemes given his ability to find the ball and diagnose route combinations.
Most instinctive DB: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
McKinney reminds me of New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins -- a versatile defensive back with post ability, strong coverage skills and the physicality to play in the box. He can find the ball and get a jump on the passing game.
Best man-coverage CB: Jeff Okudah, Ohio State
Okudah has top-tier coverage traits as a man defender. Just look at the footwork, the fluid hips and the short-area speed he uses to close on the ball. Plus, with a 6-foot-1 frame, Okudah has the length to finish on the ball.
CB with the best recovery speed: CJ Henderson, Florida
Henderson is in the top tier of this cornerback class with Okudah because of his man-coverage ability. But I also want to focus on his speed, which allows Henderson to get back in phase with wide receivers down the field. And that puts him in a position to play the ball. He scorched with a 4.39 in the 40 at the combine.
Best slot CB: Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech
At 5-foot-8 and 187 pounds, Robertson projects as a slot corner in the NFL -- and I like that fit. He has aggressive coverage traits, and his competitive play style shows up versus the run game.
MY THREE FAVORITE PROSPECTS
1. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
Ultra-competitive with man-coverage traits and on-the-ball production, Gladney reminds me of Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander. You want to coach guys like that.
2. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
I just love the tape and playing style. Brown is one of the best football players in this class, and I believe he will create more disruption as a pass-rusher than most believe right now.
3. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
Pittman is a pro-ready wide receiver. He is a prime fit for today's NFL offenses that use quick-game throws, play-action/RPO and schemed verticals. He can win on in-breakers and track the ball down the field with a 6-foot-4 frame and 4.52 speed.
MY THREE FAVORITE SLEEPERS
1. Geno Stone, S, Iowa
Yeah, Stone ran a 4.62 at the combine, but just watch the tape. His game speed is a lot faster, as he plays with a sense of urgency to get to the ball. Stone projects best in a Quarters-based scheme with impact ability as a coverage man on special teams.
2. Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin
Cephus has the physical skills and strong hands to make catches in tight windows, and he understands how to use his frame to body up defensive backs to create leverage back to the ball.
3. Julian Blackmon, S, Utah
Blackmon suffered a knee injury in the Pac-12 title game, but I really like the tape on the Utah product. He's a former cornerback with range, run-fill ability in the alley and on-the-ball production.