The 2020 NFL Draft features dozens of talented players, but these 13 blue-chip prospects stand head and shoulders above the rest.
The way things stand, the 2020 NFL Draft should set a high standard for college prospects later in the decade. This incredible class boats superb depth at the wide receiver, offensive tackle, and defensive tackle positions. Assuming experts’ projections hold true, it could be five years before we see another draft class like this one.
Every draft class possesses layers or points where the level of talent begins to drop off. The top layer contains what scouts refer to as blue-chip players. They stand out atop red-chip prospects, who make up most of the upper to middle rounds of the draft. Every draft generally contains ten to fifteen blue-chip prospects.
Not all blue-chip prospects turn into first round picks. For instance, NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks tagged Washington safety Taylor Rapp as one of his top prospects in 2019. Rapp didn’t hear his name called until the second round. However, Brooks also highlighted Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins as one of his top players. Not all blue-chip prospects turn into stars. The labeling system is prone to producing busts, just like any other draft big board.
By my count, the 2020 NFL Draft contains 13 blue-chip prospects. We’ll get to those players in a minute, but I wanted to begin by acknowledging some honorable mentions.
Georgia’s Andrew Thomas played a significant role in D’Andre Swift‘s success. He should hear his name called in the top 15 selections. Safeties Grant Delpit and Xavier McKinney also almost cracked the blue-chip level. Regardless of concerns about either player, the top two safeties in the draft could become Pro Bowlers within their first three years in the NFL.
But they aren’t the focus today. Instead, we’re looking at the 13 blue-chip prospects available in the 2020 NFL Draft and what they bring to the table.
13. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
While his punches sometimes throw him off balance and can miss their mark, Mekhi Becton possesses the size and length to dominate in the NFL from Day 1. Minor concerns about his weight, tendency to lose leverage, and slow responses in small spaces drop him to the third offensive lineman position in the top 13.
However, scouts love Becton’s incredible power and build. He dominated in college, standing out as a man amongst boys. His foot speed and lateral quickness combine with his roughly seven-foot wingspan to give him extra room for error. He would be ranked higher if not for some concerns about his technique and immediate stability at the pro level.
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Becton relied too much on his sheer size and strength at Louisville sometimes. He sacrificed proper technique for comfortably picking on smaller players. That won’t fly in the NFL.
With the NFL sorely needing an infusion of left tackles, Becton should hear his name called in the top 12 selections.
12. D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
With the way the NFL is trending, it would hardly be surprising if no running backs went in the first round of the upcoming draft. However, that’s hardly representative of this year’s talented runners, among whom D’Andre Swift reigns supreme.
In three seasons at Georgia, Swift averaged 6.6 yards per carry while amassing 2,885 yards and 20 touchdowns. He didn’t play a large role in the passing game, but analysts believe he’s a dual-threat running back capable of running multiple routes and making difficult catches.
While Swift is a Day 1 starter, he lacks high-end trucking ability and doesn’t possess the speed to finish long runs. He could experience a lack of big plays at the NFL level because of these limitations, but his average runs should be high quality. His cutting ability and vision will still ensure success.
Swift doesn’t excel in pass protection, but he’s not a liability either. That solidifies him as a first-round talent, even if it seems more and more likely that he won’t hear his name until Day 2.
I don’t believe Swift will match Josh Jacobs’ rookie numbers from last season, but he could reach a Pro Bowl level by his second or third year in the league. Either way, Swift can start for a team for the better part of the next decade.
11. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Arguably the best route runner in the draft, Jerry Jeudy put up two years of consistently great tape at Alabama. Considering this draft’s depth at wide receiver, Jeudy might fall outside of the top ten picks, whereas he could go in the top five in drafts with fewer pass-catchers.
Jeudy did suffer from some drops at Alabama, mostly because he looked away too soon. Admittedly, those mistakes were surprising for a player with his attention to detail on routes and overall awareness. If Jeudy can eliminate the simple mental errors, he’ll already possess a complete game.
Perhaps Jeudy’s most underrated and surprising aspect is his ability to run after the catch. At 193 pounds, he’s not running anybody over, but Jeudy is incredibly slippery in space. Sometimes defenders struggle to even lay a hand on him. Analysts credit good footwork and hip movement along with his deceptive burst for this extra playmaking ability.
10. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein compared CeeDee Lamb to former All-Pro receiver Chad Johnson (OchoCinco). A unique receiver capable of lining up wherever his team needs him, Lamb can make plays at all levels of the defense. If Jeudy is the best route runner in the 2020 draft class, Lamb represents the best all-around receiver.
When Lamb gets the ball in his hands, it’s all over for defenses. He doesn’t possess top-end speed, but Lamb is shifty and can run defenders over. I don’t see him winning many foot races against NFL defensive backs, but he will dominate one-on-one confrontations with them.
Lamb does need to refine his route running and movement into and out of breaks, but his soft hands and ability to win contested catches make up for his shortcomings. His control and awareness in the air are breathtaking.
During his three seasons at Oklahoma, Lamb produced 173 receptions, 3,292 yards, and 32 touchdowns. NFL teams know who he is. He’s the best receiver in the draft.
9. Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa
Where will Tristan Wirfs line up in the NFL? At Iowa, he finished his collegiate career as a right tackle, but also played left tackle a little. Wirfs also spent a significant amount of time playing guard, and some analysts believe his physical abilities and technique are more suited for interior play. Either way, Wirfs is built like a tank and should go in the top 12 selections.
At the combine, the 6-5, 320-pound lineman ran a 4.85-second 40-yard dash, which far outpaced the other top offensive linemen in this class. For instance, Jedrick Wills Jr. ran the 40 in 5.05 seconds. Danny Pinter finished second in the event among offensive linemen, running a 4.91.
Impressive combine numbers aside, Wirfs’ success does rely on how his future team plans to use him. There could be some growing pains in Wirfs’ rookie year if he remains at tackle, or he could kick inside to guard and forgo some potential issues. Either way, by his third year, Wirfs will be one of the better offensive linemen in the league.
8. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
If he turned in a healthy junior season at Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa could easily be a top-five prospect in the upcoming draft. People quickly forget how incredible he was during his time under Nick Saban. In 2018, Tagovailoa finished second in the Heisman race, completing 69.0 percent of his pass attempts for 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
In 2018, Tagovailoa got off to an even better start. He completed 71.4 percent of his pass attempts for 2,840 yards (315 yards per game), 33 touchdowns, and three interceptions. If Tagovailoa kept his pace and played in all 15 games the Crimson Tide could have possibly made, he would’ve finished the year with 55 passing touchdowns.
Tagovailoa’s stature, accuracy, anticipation, and decision making earn him comparisons to Drew Brees. If not for his high ankle sprains and a dislocated hip, Tagovailoa would challenge Joe Burrow for the top pick in the draft.
7. Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
Jedrick Wills Jr. played right tackle at Alabama, but some teams are wondering if he’d consider the transition to left tackle. For those wondering why he would make the transition, left tackles command larger paydays in free agency, and their brands are more recognizable than right tackles. So, money could give Wills a reason to try the left side.
That’s not to say Wills needs to switch. He could start at right tackle from Day 1 and be one of the better players at that position in the NFL. Wills flashed elite foot quickness, hand usage, and hip movement at Alabama. He’s lethal at the point of attack as well. However, Wills sometimes overextended himself, getting out of position as he tried to manhandle the defender in front of him.
Except for the occasional lack of discipline, Wills presents a fairly polished product. Some analysts raise questions about Wills’ size (6-4, 312 pounds.), but concerns about him possessing the ability to clash with NFL defenders are misplaced. Wills should be the first lineman taken in the draft.
6. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
Javon Kinlaw showed up at the Senior Bowl and bullied some of the best offensive linemen in the country. He cemented himself as a top-ten caliber player at that point. Arguably, he could be taken higher in the draft than Auburn’s Derrick Brown.
Standing at 6-5 and weighing 324 pounds, Kinlaw possesses lower and upper body power that make him a force to be reckoned with. Based on his college production, Kinlaw should experience mixed success as a pass rusher and run defender in the NFL. Ultimately, it depends on how his future team utilizes him.
Kinlaw needs some help developing technically. His physical gifts alone make him a top 15 selection in the draft, but Kinlaw could become a perennial Pro Bowler with more refinement. For starters, his pad level is too high on plays, and this costs him the leverage battle. His feet and hands can end up all over the place as well since he relies more on brute force than control at times.
5. Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
While his anticipation and reaction time to routes and run blocking schemes requires some work, Jeffrey Okudah is by far the best defensive back in the 2020 NFL Draft. No other cornerback even comes close to matching his potential as a shutdown corner.
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein compared Okudah to Arizona’s Patrick Peterson. Any prospect drawing comparisons to a future Hall of Famer deserves a second and maybe even a third look. Okudah does need to improve his anticipation on routes, but his physical gifts give him a larger range for error. Even if he misdiagnoses a play, Okudah possesses the speed and size to cover his own mistakes.
Despite a few shortcomings, Okudah flashes the best footwork, man coverage, press coverage, and perhaps the best ball skills of any defensive back in the draft. He should be a top-five pick.
4. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
Over his final three seasons at Auburn, Derrick Brown tallied 159 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He possesses the ability to overwhelm and manhandle blockers at the point of attack, creating opportunities for his teammates. Of course, Brown can also make plays himself. At Auburn, the 6-5, 326-pound defensive tackle was unblockable one-on-one.
Unlike some linemen in the later rounds, Brown’s motor never stops running. He finishes plays, often at the expense of his opponents. His punches are already fine-tuned, and he swiftly responds to offensive linemen, easily making counters and generating space.
As a pass rusher, Brown flashes a combination of surprising abilities and noticeable weaknesses. He often receives comparisons to Ndamukong Suh, the best defensive tackle prospect in recent history. He might not match Suh’s early career sack production, but Brown will ruin any team’s running game.
3. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Isaiah Simmons is the most athletic, versatile player in the whole draft. Some scouts believe wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. fills that role, but they’re wrong. The linebacker/safety hybrid from Clemson scored a 7.08 on NFL.com’s 8.0 prospect grading scale and earned a comparison to Darius Leonard.
In the past, hybrid first-round picks like Mark Barron and Deone Bucannon never lived up to expectations. However, if the team that drafts Simmons plugs him in as a linebacker from Day 1, then he’ll thrive. Some analysts toy with the idea of playing Simmons at safety, but his 6-4, 238-pound frame is much better suited to playing linebacker full-time.
In his final year at Clemson, Simmons posted 104 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three interceptions, and eight passes defensed. He still needs to sharpen his instincts at the point of attack and physically fill out a little, but Simmons already possesses Pro Bowl potential.
2. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
The 2019 Heisman Trophy winner, Joe Burrow set the FBS single-season record with 60 passing touchdowns this past year. In the two-game College Football Playoff, Burrow accounted for a record 956 passing yards and 1,035 total yards of offense. His 5,671 passing yards rank first all-time among SEC players in a single-season. Those represent only a few of the quarterback’s more memorable accomplishments from his senior season.
Burrow is the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. The national championship quarterback is more than ready for the NFL. His foot movement is impeccable, he moves defensive backs with his eyes, and Burrow throws wide receivers open. The future first overall pick showed a level of escapability, especially against Clemson, that has people comparing him to Patrick Mahomes.
In comparison, Burrow lacks Mahomes’ insane arm strength, but he’s a more polished passer than the Texas Tech product. Burrow’s football IQ and anticipation also play a role in balancing out his few deficiencies. Teams expect Burrow to enter the NFL playing at a Pro Bowl level.
1. Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
Chase Young is supposed to be the next great generational pass rusher in the NFL. His former college teammate, Nick Bosa, received a 7.00 grade out of 8.0 in NFL.com’s draft profile, which qualified Bosa as a Pro Bowl talent. Lance Zierlein compared Bosa to former Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett.
In comparison, Young received a 7.37 grade, setting himself apart as a projected “Perennial All-Pro“. Zierlein’s NFL comparison for Young was Julius Peppers, the same comparison Myles Garrett received when he entered the league. Unfortunately, we can’t compare how Young grades out to players like Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney because NFL.com used a 10-point system and only recently switched to the current eight-point system.
Considering some of the names I’ve thrown out in the last two paragraphs, you probably understand the elite company Young sits in. However, teams still want Young to develop a more diverse set of moves as a pass rusher and want him to rely more on developed skills than his raw athleticism. Teams can fix these issues once they get Young in the door.
A freakish run defender and developing pass rusher, Young stands alone as the top prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft by far. However, he’ll wait a few spots before hearing his name called because of the usual blitz on quarterbacks toward the top of the draft.