Ranking the top-200 prospects of the 2020 NFL Draft in our final big board

As is tradition at DNVR, we’re releasing our annual top-200 NFL Draft prospects of 2020, with our graded tiers as a guide for where the best value lies for the Denver Broncos in this class.

Enjoy!

Note: for more in-depth breakdowns of all the top prospects and much more check out the DNVR 2020 NFL Draft Guide.

TIER 1: ELITE PROSPECTS (TOP FIVE IN MOST DRAFTS  — FRANCHISE CORNERSTONES)

Chase Young is the sixth player to receive an elite grade on our scale, joining Quinnen Williams, Joey Bosa, Jalen Ramsey, Myles Garrett and Malik Hooker. Young might be better than all of them. He’s incredibly well rounded and simply overwhelmed opponents last season as he broke Ohio State’s sack record with 16.5—despite serving a two-game suspension.

He’s a special talent who’s immaculate profile and projectability win him this rare distinction.

1. Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State

TIER 2: TOP-10 TALENTS

This tier is still made up of blue-chip prospects, the types of players who project to be top-10 talents at their respective positions. These are your Pro Bowl regulars and Franchise-Tag candidates.

This year the tier is made up of two fantastic quarterbacks with great accuracy and the ability to make plays off-script, joined by three game-changing defenders. All are just a notch below the elite grade for one specific reason; Burrow and Simmons benefited greatly from the systems they were in, Tua obviously has the injuries, while Brown and Okudah are great just not at that superior, elite level that Young is at. But still, these are all projected to be core pieces to a franchise.

2. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

3. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

4. Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson

5. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

6. Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

TIER 3: FIRST ROUNDERS (HIGH-LEVEL STARTERS)

With 23 first-round grades in all, 2020 has more round-one worthy players than either 2019 (19) or 2018 (16) did on our scale.

These are all fairly clean prospects who profile to be, at the very least, high-end starters. These prospects check off a lot of boxes; from pro measurables to high-level production,  and the upside to profile as immediate contributors that can be long-time starters.

7. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

8. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

9. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

10. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

11. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

12. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

13. D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia

14. Jedrick Wills Jr., OL, Alabama

15. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

16. Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina

17. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

18. A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa

19. Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State

20. Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

21. Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

22. Josh Jones, OT, Houston

23. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU

TIER 4: LATE FIST AND EARLY SECOND-ROUND TALENTS (PROJECTED STARTERS WITH THE UPSIDE FOR MORE)

This is typically the best part of the draft, every prospect in this tier has one glaring hole in their game or a medical-characther red flag. What that really means is these are much riskier prospects but they carry similar high-end upside to the first-round graded players.

If a team comes away with multiple players from these top-four tiers they’ve done quite well for themselves—in 2019, the Broncos had three such prospects.

24. Laviska Sheanault, WR, Colorado

25. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

26. Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU

27. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

28. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson

29. Josh Uche, OLB, Michigan

30. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU

31. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC

32. Austin Jackson, LT, USC

33. Xavier McKinney, DB, Alabama

34. Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

35. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota

36. Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn

37. Grant Delpit, FS, LSU

38. Lucas Niang, RT, TCU

39. Marlon Davidson, DL, Auburn

40. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

TIER 5: SECOND ROUNDERS (IMMEDIATE CONTRIBUTORS, EXPECTED STARTERS WITHIN THE FIRST TWO SEASONS)

Things change a bit here, with most of the super-upside freaks gone, so while there are still very steady players who can be long-term starters, we’ve lost a bit of star power. That said, there are still some great prospects and the few high-upside guys remaining in this tier like Gallimore, Gross-Matos and Wilson present that much more risk.

41. Cesar Ruiz, OC, Michigan

42. Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU

43. Lloyd Cushenberry III, OC, LSU

44. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

45. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

46. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

47. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn

48. Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia

49. Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

50. Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame

51. Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina

52. Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois

53. Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State

54. Cam Akers, RB, Florida State

55. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU

56. Zack Baun, OLB, Wisconsin

57. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State 

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

59. KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State

60. Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU

61. Tyler Biadasz, OC, Wisconsin

62. Neville Gallimore, NT, Oklahoma

63. Justin Madubuike, DL, Texas A&M

64. Troy Dye, LB, Oregon

65. Isaiah Wilson, RT, Georgia

66. Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma

TIER 6: THIRD-ROUND TALENTS (SHOULD BE STARTERS WITHIN THE FIRST THREE SEASONS)

There are 114 prospects who project as future NFL starters within the first four years of their rookie contracts, according to our rankings.

That should be music to the ears of a team like the Broncos who still have three third rounders and could feast on this deep but still rough around the edges tier. There is a lot of value at premium defensive positions like edge rushers and cornerbacks here but also wide receiver, running back and linebacker.

67. Terrell Lewis, OLB, Alabama

68. Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame

69. A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

70. Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

71. Antonio Gibson, RB/WR, Memphis

72. Netane Muti, OL, Fresno State

73. Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State

74. Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah

75. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan

76. Ben Bartch, OT, St. John’s

77. K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State

78. Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue

79. Terrell Burgess, DB, Utah

80. Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty

81. Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming

82. Jabari Zuniga, DE, Florida

83. Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State

84. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

85. Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir Rhyne

86. Ashtyn Davis, S, California

87. Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State

88. Matthew Peart, OT, Connecticut

89. Van Jefferson, WR, Florida

90. Kenny Willekes, EDGE, Michigan State

91. Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF

92. K’Von Wallace, DB, Clemson

93. Matt Hennessy, OC, Temple

94. Anthony McFarland, RB, Maryland

95. Darius Anderson, RB, TCU

96. Troy Pride Jr., CB, Notre Dame

97. Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Florida

98. Leki Fotu, DT, Utah

99. Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State

100. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri

101. Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin

102. Julian Blackmon, DB, Utah

103. Tanner Muse, S, Clemson

104. Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State

105. Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama

106. Rashard Lawrence, DT, LSU

107. DaVon Hamilton, NT, Ohio State

108. Alton Robinson, EDGE, Syracuse

109. Hakeem Adeniji, OL, Kansas

110. Shane Lemieux, OG, Oregon

111. Ben Bredeson, OG, Michigan

112. Robert Hunt, OG, Louisiana-Lafayette

113. Jonah Jackson, OG, Ohio State

114. Michael Ojemudia, DB, Iowa

TIER 7: DAY-THREE GEMS 

Most of these players are projects; long-term projects or specialty players who are perfect in specific personnel packages.

This is also where you’ll see some special teams value but make no mistake there’s still tons of talent here.

115. Lynn Bowden Jr., WR/PR, Kentucky

116. Darnay Holmes, CB, UCLA

117. Khalid Kareem, EDGE, Notre Dame

118. Anfernee Jennings, OLB, Alabama

119. Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA

120. Jacob Eason, QB, Washington

121. Jacob Breeland, TE, Oregon

122. Zack Moss, RB, Utah

123. Hunter Bryant, TE, Washington 

124. Khalil Davis, DT, Nebraska

125. Jordan Elliott, DL, Missouri

126. Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt

127. Bryce Hopkins, TE, Purdue

128. Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton

129. Francis Bernard, LB, Utah

130. Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State

131. Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia

132. Christian Rector, DL, USC

133. Jason Strowbridge, DL, North Carolina

134. Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee

135. Juwan Johnson, WR, Oregon

136. Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech

137. Nick Harris, OC, Washington

138. Khaleke Hudson, S/LB, Michigan

139. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt

140. Evan Weaver, ILB, California

141. Jon Runyan, OL, Michigan

142. Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU

143. Cole McDonald, QB, Hawaii

144. Jake Hanson, OC, Oregon

145. Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota

146. Davion Taylor, OLB, Colorado

147. Josh Metellus, S, Michigan

148. Alohi Gilman, S, Notre Dame

149. Geno Stone, S, Iowa

150. James Proche, WR, SMU

151. Calvin Throckmorton, OL, Oregon

152. Javaris Davis, CB, Auburn

153. John Hightower, WR, Boise State

154. Stanford Samuels, CB, Florida State

155. Bryce Hopkins, TE, Purdue

156. Jack Driscoll, OT, Auburn

157. Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas

158. Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss

159. J.J. Taylor, RB, Arizona

160. Joe Bachie Jr., LB, Michigan State

161. Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech

162. Darrell Taylor, EDGE, Tennessee

163. Carter Coughlin, OLB, Minnesota

164. D.J. Wonnum, EDGE, South Carolina

165. Binjimen Victor, WR, Ohio State

166. Collin Johnson, WR, Texas

167. Damien Lewis, OG, LSU

168. McTelvin Agim, DL, Arkansas

169. Quartney Davis, WR, Texas A&M

170. Kindle Vidor, CB, Georgia Southern

TIER 8: SIXTH AND SEVENTH-ROUND TALENTS (PURE DEPTH PIECES)

The 2020 class has 209 draftable players, a very strong, deep group.

Here you really have your core special teamers and backups, who as we know will be forced into starting roles at times in their careers due to injuries. The best value in this tier is at defensive back, quarterback, and along the offensive line, all spots where Denver could add some depth late.

171. Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami

172. Tony Brown, WR, Colorado

173. Fred Swain, WR, Florida

174. Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU

175. Trey Adams, OT, Washington

176. Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic

177. Lamical Perine, RB, Florida

178. Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State

179. Colby Parkinson, TE, Stanford

180. Tyler Clark, DT, Georgia

181. Keith Ismael, OG, San Diego State

182. Raequan Williams, DT, Michigan State

183. Steven Montez, QB, Colorado

184. Alex Highsmith, EDGE, Charlotte

185. Trevon Hill, DE, Miami

186. Bryce Sterk, DE, Montana State

187. Javon Leake, RB, Maryland

188. Khalil Tate, QB, Arizona

189. James Lynch, DT, Baylor

190. Darryl Williams, OL, Mississippi State

191. Alex Taylor, OT, South Carolina State

192. AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College

193. Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland

194. A.J. Green, CB, Oklahoma State

195. Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh

196. Parnell Motley, CB, Oklahoma

197. Levonta Taylor, DB, Florida State

198. Lavert Hill, CB, Michigan

199. Dante Olson, LB, Montana

200. Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota

201. Logan Stenberg, OG, Kentucky

202. JaMycal Hasty, RB, Baylor

203. Tremayne Anchrum, OL, Clemson

204. John Simpson, OG, Clemson

205. Sean McKeon, TE, Michigan

206. Charlie Taumoepeau, TE, Portland State

207. Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa

208. James Morgan, QB, Florida Int

209. Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah