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Ranking the best prospects at each position in the 2020 NFL Draft

Andre Simone Avatar
April 22, 2020
USATSI 10785228 168383315 lowres

After ranking the top-200 prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft with our final big board, we’re also unveiling our position rankings.

You’ll also find the grades for each position to assess which is the strongest group in 2020, for even more draft coverage check out the DNVR 2020 NFL Draft Guide.

Let’s dig in.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

Grade: B

This is, surprisingly, a pretty deep class with 14 draftable prospects and three first-round grades that really carry the class. The day-two talents are a bit lacking but the depth is nice with some valuable Taysom Hill types as well.

1. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

2. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

3. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

4. Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

5. Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma

6. Jacob Eason, QB, Washington

7. Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State

8. Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia

9. Cole McDonald, QB, Hawaii

10. Steven Montez, QB, Colorado

Others with a draftable grade:

Khalil Tate, QB, Arizona

Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa

James Morgan, QB, Florida Int

Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah

RUNNING BACKS

Grade: B+

With nine projected future starters and 18 draft-worthy prospects, this running back class is pretty stacked even if there’s only one prospect in the top 40. The top six of the class present nice value in the passing game and then there’s a good amount of speed and playmaking in the Day 3 range.

1. D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

3. Cam Akers, RB, Florida State

4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

5. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State

6. Antonio Gibson, RB/WR, Memphis

7. Anthony McFarland, RB, Maryland

8. Darius Anderson, RB, TCU

9. Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State

10. Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA

Others with a draftable grade:

Zack Moss, RB, Utah

Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt

J.J. Taylor, RB, Arizona

Lamical Perine, RB, Florida

Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State

Javon Leake, RB, Maryland

AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College

JaMycal Hasty, RB, Baylor

WIDE RECEIVERS

Grade: A+++

This is a rare, special group with 11 prospects in the top-50, 20 more in the top-100 who project as future starters and 33 draftable receivers in all.

We’ve seen cornerback classes with close to this much depth in the recent past but those groups weren’t as front-loaded as this group is with five first-round graded prospects and another five found in the very next tier.

1. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

2. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

3. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

4. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

5. Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

6. Laviska Sheanault, WR, Colorado

7. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

8. Michael Pittman Jr, WR, USC

9. Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

10. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

Others with a draftable grade:

Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU

Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina

KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State

Antonio Gibson, RB/WR, Memphis

Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan

K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State

Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty

Van Jefferson, WR, Florida

Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF

Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin

Lynn Bowden Jr., WR/PR, Kentucky

Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee

Juwan Johnson, WR, Oregon

Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota

James Proche, WR, SMU

John Hightower, WR, Boise State

Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas

Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss

Binjimen Victor, WR, Ohio State

Collin Johnson, WR, Texas

Quartney Davis, WR, Texas A&M

Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami

Tony Brown, WR, Colorado

Fred Swain, WR, Florida

TIGHT ENDS

Grade: D+

This isn’t too unusual for tight end classes. Some years the depth just isn’t there and this season, with only two prospects grading out as future starters, there’s a lack of high-end talent at the top of the class.

However, with 12 draft-worthy players, there are several useful roster pieces as second-tight ends who bring a special skill; added blocking, receiving game value, or just big targets in the red zone.

1. Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame

2. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri

3. Jacob Breeland, TE, Oregon

4. Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington 

5. Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt

6. Bryce Hopkins, TE, Purdue

7. Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton

8. Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU

9. Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic

10. Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford

Others with a draftable grade:

Sean McKeon, TE, Michigan

Charlie Taumoepeau, TE, Portland State

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

Grade: A-

With 13 prospects in the top-100, grading out as future starters at one of the three-most important positions in all of football and at least half of those 13 potentially being able to stick on the left side, the 2020 OT class is one of the best we’ve seen in years.

With all that high-end talent the only drawback is that the depth isn’t great, with 16 draftable prospects in all who could realistically survive a few games at tackle in the NFL.

1. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

2. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

3. Andrew Thomas, LT, Georgia

4. Jedrick Wills Jr., RT, Alabama

5. Ezra Cleveland, LT, Boise State

6 Josh Jones, LT, Houston

7. Austin Jackson, LT, USC

8. Lucas Niang, RT, TCU

9. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn

10. Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU

Others with a draftable grade:

Isaiah Wilson, RT, Georgia

Ben Bartch, OT, St. John’s

Matthew Peart, OT, Connecticut

Jack Driscoll, OT, Auburn

Trey Adams, OT, Washington*

Alex Taylor, OT, South Carolina State

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

Grade: B-

With 10 prospects projecting as future starters, most as about average starters, this is a good interior line class but also not an extraordinary group. That’s not to say the class isn’t deep or that the top doesn’t have some really solid future pros.

But it’s all relative and with only two top-50 prospects, compared to other classes this is an only slightly above average group.

1. Cesar Ruiz, OC, Michigan

2. Lloyd Cushenberry III, OC, LSU

3. Tyler Biadasz, OC, Wisconsin

4. Netane Muti, OL, Fresno State

5. Matt Hennessy, OC, Temple

6. Hakeem Adeniji, OL, Kansas

7. Shane Lemieux, OG, Oregon

8. Ben Bredeson, OG, Michigan

9. Robert Hunt, OL, Louisiana-Lafayette

10. Jonah Jackson, OG, Ohio State

Others with a draftable grade:

Nick Harris, OC, Washington

Jon Runyan, OL, Michigan

Jake Hanson, OC, Oregon

Calvin Throckmorton, OL, Oregon

Damien Lewis, OG, LSU

Keith Ismael, OL, San Diego State

Darryl Williams, OL, Mississippi State

Logan Stenberg, OG, Kentucky

Tremayne Anchrum, OL, Clemson

John Simpson, OG, Clemson

DEFENSE

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

Grade: B+

This class doesn’t get its due since after the top-two there’s a bit of a drop off in talent and the early day-two candidates aren’t household names. However, there is depth and high-end talent here with 11 projected future starters and six top-50 guys with real upside.

The remaining draftable grades are a pretty intriguing group as well with lots of developmental interior pass rushers who could pay off long term.

1. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

2. Javon Kinlaw, IDL, South Carolina

3. A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa

4. Ross Blacklock, IDL, TCU

5. Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn

6. Neville Gallimore, IDL, Oklahoma

7. Justin Madubuike, IDL, Texas A&M

8. Leki Fotu, DT, Utah

9. Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama

10. Rashard Lawrence, DT, LSU

Others with a draftable grade:

DaVon Hamilton, NT, Ohio State

Khalil Davis, DT, Nebraska

Jordan Elliott, IDL, Missouri

Christian Rector, DL, USC

Jason Strowbridge, DL, North Carolina

McTelvin Agim, DL, Arkansas

Tyler Clark, DT, Georgia

Raequan Williams, DT, Michigan State

James Lynch, DT, Baylor

EDGE RUSHERS

Grade: B

This is another underrated group as the depth at the top isn’t immense with only one first-round grade but after that, there are plenty of nice rotational pieces who, with some grooming, could be average or better starters at a premium position.

After Young, one of the most complete prospects you’ll ever see, the rest of the group is a very niche bunch who won’t do everything well but could be valuable if put in the right position. Fit is particuarly important for this group.

1. Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State

2. Josh Uche, OLB, Michigan

3. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU

4. Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin

5. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State 

6. Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama

7. Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame

8. Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah

9. Jabari Zuniga, DE, Florida

10. Curtis Weaver, DE, Boise State

Others with a draftable grade:

Kenny Willekes, EDGE, Michigan State

Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Florida

Alton Robinson, EDGE, Syracuse

Khalid Kareem, EDGE, Notre Dame

Anfernee Jennings, OLB, Alabama

Darrell Taylor, EDGE, Tennessee

Carter Coughlin, OLB, Minnesota

D.J. Wonnum, EDGE, South Carolina

Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Charlotte

Trevon Hill, EDGE, Miami

Bryce Sterk, EDGE, Montana State

OFF-BALL LINEBACKERS

Grade: B-

This is a nice group with the top-nine guys really standing out with the talent to be every-down starters at the next level. The other nine draftable prospects have much more obvious limitations but have the skills to stick to NFL rosters and be bottom-half contributors.

1. Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

2. Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

3. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

4. Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State

5. Troy Dye, ILB, Oregon

6. Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue

7. Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming

8. Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State

9. Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State

10. Francis Bernard, LB, Utah

Others with a draftable grade:

Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech

Khaleke Hudson, S/LB, Michigan

Evan Weaver, ILB, California

Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU

Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado

Joe Bachie Jr., LB, Michigan State

Dante Olson, LB, Montana

Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota

CORNERBACKS

Grade: A-

After receiver and offensive tackle, the 2020 cornerback class really stands out with 12 top-100 prospects and 23 draftable grades

1. Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

2. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

3. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

4. Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

5. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

6. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

7. Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia

8. A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

9. Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

10. Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State

Others with a draftable grade:

Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame 

Michael Ojemudia, DB, Iowa

Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA

Javaris Davis, CB, Auburn

Stanford Samuels, CB, Florida State

Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech

Kindle Vidor, CB, Georgia Southern

A.J. Green, CB, Oklahoma State

Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh

Parnell Motley, CB, Oklahoma

Levonta Taylor, DB, Florida State

Lavert Hill, CB, Michigan

SAFETIES

Grade: B+

Not the deepest with 16 draftable prospects but this safety has some star power with a top-10 talent and 12 projected future starters. The top-six should be prized picks and go very high.

1. Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

2. Xavier McKinney, DB, Alabama

3. Antoine Winfield Jr., DB, Minnesota

4. Grant Delpit, FS, LSU

5. Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois

6. Terrell Burgess, DB, Utah

7. Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir Rhyne

8. Ashtyn Davis, S, California

9. K’Von Wallace, DB, Clemson

10. Julian Blackmon, DB, Utah

Others with a draftable grade:

Tanner Muse, S, Clemson

Josh Metellus, S, Michigan

Alohi Gilman, S, Notre Dame

Geno Stone, S, Iowa

Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland

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