2020 NFL Draft: Preseason top 40 prospects big board
The 2019 college football season is nearly upon us, which means the 2020 NFL Draft evaluating period is also nearly upon us. Here are 40 players to watch.
The 2020 NFL Draft evaluation period is certainly still in the early stages, and so much can change between now and next April.
With that said, there’s nothing wrong with putting together a preliminary list of players to watch for, even if some of these guys won’t even declare for next year’s draft or possibly be on this list by season’s end.
The way these guys play on the field obviously dictates their standing on a ‘big board’ but the 2020 class has the potential to be one of the most talented at the top we have seen in some time.
Who are the top guys we’re looking at to start the 2019 season? Here’s our early list of the top 40 draft-eligible players to watch for 2020.
1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Despite the nit-picking happening regarding Tua’s game, he’s one of the best young quarterbacks I’ve seen in a while. Hopefully he gets to play a fully healthy season, as he won the National Championship coming off the bench, then played hurt some of last season.
The tools are all there for this young superstar.
2. AJ Epenesa, DE, Iowa
This list is somewhat weighted for the importance of the QB position, but Epenesa has a chance to be the most dominant pure DE to come along in some time.
3. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Herbert has great size and all the arm talent in the world. He probably would have been the top pick in 2019 had he declared a year early.
4. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Jeudy is a big play every time he touches the football. He has averaged 19.3 yards per catch at ‘Bama and had 14 touchdown grabs a season ago.
5. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Three-year starter for the Bulldogs at OT (2017 at RT, 2018-present at LT), Thomas was a first-team All-American last year and first-team All-SEC selection last year.
6. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
Young is an extremely talented athlete off the edge who broke out last year with 14.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.
7. Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Shenault is a magician with the ball in his hands, and Colorado finds every way to get it to him. Some have compared him to Cordarrelle Patterson coming out of Tennessee.
8. Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Fourth-year player who has been a master in the middle of Auburn’s defense. Probably one of the most NFL-ready guys in the class.
9. Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Physically, Fromm may not be as gifted as Tagovailoa and Herbert, but he’s got franchise QB potential and showed the stage is never too big for him, making the National Championship as a freshman.
10. Grant Delpit, S, LSU
Delpit was all over the field for LSU last year, racking up 74 tackles, five tackles for loss, five interceptions, and nine pass breakups.
11. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
This is perhaps a little high for the man known as “Albert O.” but he’s a dynamic prospect at the position with excellent receiving skills. He has 17 touchdowns in his first two college seasons.
12. Walker Little, OT, Stanford
Freshman All-American in 2017 and a first-team All-Pac 12 selection as a sophomore, Little is a 6-foot-7, 313-pound tackle who looks like an instant starter and staple on the left side in the NFL.
13. Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Speed, speed, and more speed. Jalen Reagor is the NFL’s new prototype for a receiver you want to scheme to get in space.
14. Trey Smith, OT, Tennessee
Started 19 consecutive games to open up his career as a Volunteer, but Smith suffered blood clots last year and was forced to sit out. That will be something to monitor but he’s an elite prospect at tackle when healthy.
15. Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
One of the best senior defensive backs in the country, Bryce Hall plays all over the field and had two interceptions last year to go along with an insane 21 pass breakups.
16. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
Etienne is a phenomenal athlete who is explosive, fast, and productive. He’s averaging nearly eight yards per carry through two seasons with Clemson, and has 37 rushing touchdowns.
17. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
One of the strongest players to ever come through the Iowa program, Wirfs is a monster at the right tackle spot who can absolutely dominate in the running game.
18. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
He caught passes from Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and now he will catch from Jalen Hurts. Lamb is a big-play threat and one of the most dynamic receivers in the country.
19. Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama
The Crimson Tide are hoping Davis returns to his 2017 form, when he had a whopping 10 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks from his defensive end position. He reminds of the Oregon Ducks duo Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner at 6-foot-7, 312 pounds.
20. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Taylor has averaged over 2,000 yards rushing in his first two years at Wisconsin, a sure sign of his ability to make people miss and break tackles in the open field. He’s quick, elusive, and powerful when he needs to be.
21. Trey Adams, OT, Washington
Injuries have kept Adams in Washington for now, but scouts still believe he is a first-round left tackle prospect and a starter at the NFL level.
22. CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
With six interceptions in his first two seasons at Florida, the pressure is on Henderson to lead the Gators’ secondary as a junior and continue his ball-hawking ways. He’s physical, too. He had five tackles for loss and three sacks last season, as well as two forced fumbles.
23. Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt
Pinkney is the best senior tight end in the country and an athletic mismatch in the passing game. He is also a phenomenal blocker. One of the safest prospects in the class who has been consistently productive.
24. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
A 6-foot-4 receiver with great speed, body control, and an insane catch radius, Higgins is the next in a long line of great receivers to come out of Clemson.
25. D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
Swift has been one of the most anticipated prospects at the RB position for Georgia in recent years, even stealing a bunch of carries in 2017 when Sony Michel and Nick Chubb were still on the team. He’s a Heisman candidate and a big-play back.
26. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Ruggs might be the fastest wide receiver eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft, and that’s saying something.
27. Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
Alabama is always seemingly cranking out a starting NFL ILB in their defense, and this year looks like Moses’ turn for the spotlight. He had 86 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks last year.
28. Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina
Kinlaw is somewhat raw, but he has incredible talent at the interior defensive line positions and unreal quickness off the ball. If he can turn things on consistently, he’s going to rise up this list rather quickly.
29. Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame
Okwara has some serious juice off the edge. He might not have the all-around game of some of the other edge players in this class, but he’s an edge bender and could be an NFL sack artist.
30. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
Former five-star prospect with all the talent in the world has been expected to take the next step for a few years now. He has all of the skills to be a top cornerback prospect, and if he puts some things together consistently, he could be CB1 by season’s end.
31. Nick Coe, DL, Auburn
Fascinating, athletic defensive end prospect who has size, length, and playmaking ability. He finished last season with 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
32. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
Still very raw, but some of the best all-around talent at the cornerback position in this class. He was all over the field in the Rose Bowl and could be the next great DB from DBU.
33. Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
An injury limited him last year, but Trevon Diggs is one of the most talented corners in all of college football. He has great length and athleticism and is rarely ever out of a play.
34. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
Sat out last season with an injury, but he’s an explosive edge player with big-time speed and the ability to wreck games in the pass rush department.
35. Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
One of the many studs off the edge in the Big Ten, Gross-Matos had a breakout sophomore campaign with 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
36. Tyler Biadasz, OL, Wisconsin
Steady interior lineman for the Badgers who could end up being a first-round pick the way we’ve seen teams value the center position in recent years. He’s ready to start in the NFL now, probably.
37. Anfernee Jennings, EDGE, Alabama
Jennings is still waiting for that breakout season statistically, but he’s been impressive as an all-around player for the tide against the run, as a rusher, and in coverage.
38. Alaric Jackson, OT, Iowa
One of two very talented bookend tackles for the Hawkeyes, Jackson is a stud as a run blocker and looks like he could have a future as a franchise LT in the NFL. He should take a big leap forward in 2019.
39. JK Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
Just an unbelievable athlete with speed and explosiveness, Dobbins is a great receiver out of the backfield in addition to being an explosive featured back.
40. Grant Calcaterra, TE, Oklahoma
Another great athlete at the tight end position for the Sooners, Calcaterra had a breakout year in 2018 with six touchdowns. He has great athletic ability and catches everything, but he’s undersized right now.