NFL Draft Position Rankings

Ohio State's Chase Young (2) (JP Waldron/CSM/Shutterstock)

With the NFL combine in the rearview mirror, attention now turns to Pro Days and parsing through all of the gossip and disinformation that will be put out by NFL teams in the coming weeks.

Everyone has their own set of rankings heading into April's NFL Draft, so I figured why not throw my hat into the ring?

What follows is a top 10 at each position, along with a round grade. I am not a full-time NFL scout and as such don't delve into all of the minutiae that is done by folks much more qualified than I am. But I do believe that production means something, especially when it comes against top competition. So while I may not delve into the fluidity of Jeff Okudah's hip turn or the knee bend of Andrew Thomas, I know enough to be able to put together a ranking. These rankings are how I believe the players will be long-term, not necessary in the 2020 season. I will have a Mock Draft closer to the actual NFL Draft. Also, if I don't list a player you like it means one of two things -- they may be good but the position is very deep, or I hate them with a passion.

NOTE: Only players of whom I have seen sufficient tape will be ranked, which is why there may be some smaller school names missing.

BIG BOARD (TOP 50 PLAYERS) 
1 Chase Young/EDGE Ohio State
2 Isaiah Simmons/LB Clemson
3 Jerry Jeudy/WR Alabama
4 Derrick Brown/IDL Auburn
5 Jeff Okudah/CB Ohio State
6 Henry Ruggs Jr/ WR Alabama
7 Andrew Thomas/OT Georgia
8 Joe Burrow/QB LSU
9 Jedrick Wills/OT Alabama
10 CeeDee Lamb/WR Oklahoma
11 Tristan Wirfs/OT Iowa
12 Javon Kinlaw/IDL South Carolina
13 Jeff Gladney/CB TCU
14 Tua Tagovailoa/QB Alabama
15 Patrick Queen/LB LSU
16 Mekhi Becton/ OT Louisville
17 Justin Herbert/QB Oregon
18 Jonathan Taylor/RB Wisconsin
19 Xavier McKinney/S Alabama
20 AJ Epenesa/EDGE Iowa
21 CJ Henderson/CB Florida
22 Zach Baun/EDGE Wisconsin
23 JK Dobbins/RB Ohio State
24 D'Andre Swift/ RB Georgia
25 Kenneth Murray/LB Oklahoma
26 Grant Delpit/S LSU
27 Denzel Mims/WR Baylor
28 Jaylon Johnson/CB Utah
29 Neville Gallimore/IDL Oklahoma
30 Curtis Weaver/EDGE Boise State
31 Yetur Gross-Matos/EDGE Penn State
32 Cesar Ruiz/IOL Michigan
33 David Woodward/LB Utah State
34 Marlon Davidson/IDL Auburn
35 Clyde Edwards-Helaire/RB LSU
36 Justin Jefferson/WR LSU
37 Antoine Winfield Jr/S Minnesota
38 Laviska Shenault Jr/WR Colorado
38 Zack Moss/RB Utah
39 K'Lavon Chaisson/EDGE LSU
40 Josh Jones/OT Houston
41 Kristian Fulton/CB LSU
42 Justin Madubuike/IDL Texas A&M
43 Jake Fromm/QB Georgia
44 Bryce Hall/CB Virginia
45 Jalen Reagor/WR TCU
46 Alohi Gilman/S Notre Dame
47 Jordan Love/QB Utah State
48 Brandon Ayiuk/WR Arizona State
49 Malik Harrison/LB Ohio State
50 Nick Harris/IDL Washington
 
QUARTERBACK
1 Joe Burrow/LSU (1)
2 Tua Tagovailoa/Alabama (1)
3 Justin Herbert/Oregon (1)
4 Jake Fromm/Georgia (2)
5 Jordan Love/Utah State (2)
6 Jalen Hurts/Oklahoma (3)
7 Jacob Eason/Washington (3-4)
8 Tyler Huntley/Utah (4)
9 Anthony Gordon/Washington State (4-5)
10 James Morgan/FIU (5)

RUNNING BACK
1 Jonathan Taylor/Wisconsin (1)
2 JK Dobbins/Ohio State (1)
3 D'Andre Swift/Georgia (1-2)
4 Clyde Edwards-Helaire/LSU (2)
5 Zack Moss/Utah (2)
6 Cam Akers/Florida State (2-3)
7 Anthony McFarland/Maryland (3)
8 Antonio Gibson/Memphis (3-4)
9 Eno Benjamin/Arizona State (4)
10 Darrynton Evans/Appalachian State (4-5)

WIDE RECEIVER
1 Jerry Jeudy/Alabama (1)
2 Henry Ruggs III/Alabama (1)
3 CeeDee Lamb/Oklahoma (1)
4 Denzel Mims/Baylor (1-2)
5 Justin Jefferson/LSU (2)
6 Laviska Shenault Jr/Colorado (2)
7 Jalen Reagor/TCU (2)
8 Brandon Ayiuk/Arizona State (2)
9 KJ Hamler/Penn State (2-3)
10 Van Jefferson/Florida (2-3)

TIGHT END
1 Hunter Bryant/Washington (2)
2 Harrison Bryant/FAU (3)
3 Brycen Hopkins/Purdue (3)
4 Jared Pinckney/Vanderbilt (3-4)
5 Cole Kmet/Notre Dame (4)
6 Thaddeus Moss/LSU (4)
7 Josiah Deguara/Cincinnati (4-5)
8 Jacob Breeland/Oregon (5)
9 Cheyenne O'Grady/Arkansas (5-6)
10 Colby Parkinson/Stanford (6)

OFFENSIVE TACKLE
1 Andrew Thomas/Georgia (1)
2 Jedrick Wills/Alabama (1)
3 Tristan Wirfs/Iowa (1)
4 Mekhi Becton/Louisville (1)
5 Josh Jones/Houston (2)
6 Austin Jackson/USC (2)
7 Prince Tega-Wanogho/Auburn (2-3)
8 Lucas Niang/TCU (2-3)
9 Trey Adams/Washington (3)
10 Saahdiq Charles/LSU (3)

INTERIOR OL
1 Cesar Ruiz/Michigan (1-2)
2 Nick Harris/Washington (2)
3 Lloyd Cushenberry III/LSU (2)
4 Jonah Jackson/Ohio State (3)
5 Tyler Biadasz/Wisconsin (3-4)
6 Darryl Williams/Mississippi State (4)
7 Ben Bredeson/Michigan (4)
8 Matt Hennessy/Temple (4-5)
9 Netane Muti/Fresno State (5)
10 Robert Hunt/Louisiana (6)

EDGE
1 Chase Young/Ohio State (1)
2 AJ Epenesa/Iowa (1)
3 Zach Baun/Wisconsin (1)
4 Curtis Weaver/Boise State (1-2)
5 Yetur Gross-Matos/Penn State (1-2)
6 K'Lavon Chaisson/LSU (2)
7 Alex Highsmith/Charlotte (3)
8 Julian Okwara/Notre Dame (3-4)
9 Jonathan Greenard/Florida (4)
10 Josh Uche/Michigan (4)

INTERIOR DL
1 Derrick Brown/Auburn (1)
2 Javon Kinlaw/South Carolina (1)
3 Neville Gallimore/Oklahoma (1-2)
4 Marlon Davidson/Auburn (2)
5 Justin Madubuike/Texas A&M (2)
6 Raekwon Davis/Alabama (2)
7 Ross Blacklock/TCU (2-3)
8 Leki Fotu/Utah (2-3)
9 Rashard Lawrence/LSU (3)
10 DaVon Hamilton/Ohio State (3)

LINEBACKER
1 Isaiah Simmons/Clemson (1)
2 Patrick Queen/LSU (1)
3 Kenneth Murray/Oklahoma (1-2)
4 David Woodward/Utah State (2)
5 Malik Harrison/Ohio State (2)
6 Troy Dye/Oregon (2)
7 Evan Weaver/California (2-3)
8 Logan Wilson/Wyoming (2-3)
9 Jordyn Brooks/Texas Tech (2-3)
10 Akeem Davis-Gaither/App State (3)

CORNERBACK
1 Jeff Okudah/Ohio State (1)
2 Jeff Gladney/TCU (1)
3 CJ Henderson/Florida (1)
4 Jaylon Johnson/Utah (1-2)
5 Kristian Fulton/LSU (2)
6 Bryce Hall/Virginia (2)
7 Cam Dantzler/Mississippi State (2-3)
8 Damon Arnette/Ohio State (2-3)
9 AJ Terrell/Clemson (3)
10 Trevon Diggs/Alabama (3)

SAFETY
1 Xavier McKinney/Alabama (1)
2 Grant Delpit/LSU (1-2)
3 Antoine Winfield Jr/Minnesota (2)
4 Alohi Gilman/Notre Dame (2)
5 Ashtyn Davis/California (2-3)
6 Terrell Burgess/Utah (2-3)
7 K'von Wallace/Clemson (2-3)
8 Brandon Jones/Texas (3)
9 Geno Stone/Iowa (3-4)
10 Julian Blackmon/Utah (4)

Wildcats Looking To Continue Momentum

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops (Randy Sartin/imagn)

Most people don’t think about football success when thinking about the Kentucky Wildcats, but returning a majority of talent from last year’s eight-win squad could alter that mindset. Season-ending wins over Louisville and Virginia Tech could provide a springboard to a bigger 2020, and spring is when it begins for UK head coach Mark Stoops.

“I feel good about the overall depth,” Stoops said on the eve of the first practice. “We have 111 guys here going through spring. We’ve never had that and that goes to last year, what did we have – what did end up playing, seniors maybe nine, nine guys and we brought in 11 at mid-year so our team is full, which is good. We still have 10 guys coming in, so we have great depth in the spring. That excites me because sometimes in the spring things get watered down and it’s hard to really compete physically how you want to all the time but we have a lot of good bodies in there and got a lot of guys from experience and as you mentioned, some inexperienced, but that’s every year. We’ll see how it goes, but I hope some guys elevate.” 

Quarterback Terry Wilson won’t be participating this spring as he is still recovering from a knee injury suffered early in the 2019 campaign. Nik Scalzo is also out, but Sawyer Smith returns, and he got a lot of experience in relief of Wilson last year – at least until electric Lynn Bowden Jr took over signal-calling duties in the last portion of the season. There may need to be some creativity with how the quarterbacks are used this spring, but that excites Stoops.

Something else that brings a smile to the coach’s face is the depth at linebacker. Senior Kash Daniel exhausted his eligibility, but DeAndre Square, Chris Oats, Boogie Watson and Jamin Davis all return, and all four were among UK’s top 10 tacklers in 2019. Freshman Xavier Peters played in four games last season and flashed potential, but also had issues that affected his playing time. If the Florida State transfer gets his head on straight he could be squarely in the rotation.

  

“I’m really excited about that group,” Stoops said. “Boogie coming back, I believe he leads the most experienced (players) as far as coming back in sacks in the SEC with six and a half. We have high expectation for Boogie. He did some very good things a year ago.  I think a year ago, maybe, there was some frustration with him early. He kind of just settled in and listened to Coach (Brad) White, put his head down, went back to fundamentals and playing the game and enjoying it  I think he was putting a little pressure on himself early.  Boogie is a guy that has a lot of experience, played a lot of football for us, he’s one of our leaders. We’re really excited about having him back for his senior year.

“Xavier, that’s up to him, as I mentioned before, I don’t want to get into specifics or try to throw him under the bus, but we have expectations here. We’re going to do things a certain way, we’re going to do things right. That goes for him or anybody else. When you reach those expectations and play to our standard and do the things to our standard, as far as going to school and tutors and workouts and you can handle your business, then you’ll have an opportunity to do it on the field. Until then, there won’t be any. Again, I’m talking in general.  You can read between the lines or however you want to do it.  He’s doing some good

things, he’s doing better.”

Stoops appears to have the Wildcats trending the right direction, but it might be just a tad early to say the program has truly arrived.

There is still some tweaking of the culture going on, and Stoops know it will take sustained success to complete that task.

“It’s always a work in progress and we’re constantly trying to evolve and do better things, do the best we can,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt it’s just like the recruiting process. The guys we’re recruiting are juniors in high school right now, and sophomores, and freshmen. They don’t know anything about Kentucky other than going to the bowl games and winning the last two and playing exciting football, so that helps us. Climate is easy to change, culture is different. Culture is in our community that goes back 100 years, but I don’t want to hear any of that anymore.

“We’re going forward and we want to continue to push forward and just say I do appreciate the support. I want to see it go to another level. I really do. I ask the fans to continue to support us, to continue to buy season tickets, to make that investment. When I say it takes all of us, please don’t take it as a BS cliché. It’s true, it takes a great investment by a lot of people to be consistently successful in the SEC and that’s what we want to do. We need the fans, we need the people in the upper decks, we need the stadiums full and we’ll continue to take it to another level. I promise our coaches and our players are working that way and we’re proud of the work we’ve done. We know that there’s a lot more to do and we’re excited about that challenge but I also challenge other people to continue to invest in it because we need it.”

Kentucky opens spring drills March 3, and finishes up with the Spring Game on April 11 at Kroger Field.

Buckeyes Excited To Open Spring Practice

Ohio State coach Ryan Day (Yahoo Sports)

It may seem like a long time to the average fan, but for the Ohio State football team the loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal is strill fresh. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day knows that there wasn't much separating Ohio State and the Tigers on that December evening, so the work to change things begins now.

"Getting to that game and not winning, that leaves an unbelievable taste in our mouth, Day said after the first day of practice concluded. "It’s motivating us more.”

He sees things as much easier this time around because the newness has faded. Year two may as well be year 10.

“The focus is just a little bit different. Every day was kind of new last year," he said. "Now It’s more focused on the product itself, where are we going with this thing. We have the vision set." 

Day has some definite goals for the Buckeyes this spring.

“It’s really for the younger guys, but some of the older guys have to learn to become leaders," he said. "It’s really for the development of the individual player. 

“I look at it like, you have 15 practices in the spring, and your first practice in August is practice 16. It’s an extension of the offseasons. We don’t really install day one of preseason, it’s already installed. Now it’s time to pick up where we left off from practice 15."

It's just as important for the veterans to get reps as it is for the new faces to get acclimated to the system, and one luxury Day feels the Buckeyes have at certain spots is the ability to get a bit more intricate.

Last year everything was new for quarterback Justin Fields, yet he put up numbers that were good enough to get him invited to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Day feels that with a full season under his belt, Fields can be even better this year, and believes that everyone on the team should end up improved from day one to day 15.

"The idea of spring practice is to have each guy get better and each unit get better. When we get into preseason it becomes a little bit more about the scheme, about the unit in terms of their identity. Every position has their own story. Where are the leaders and where is everybody else? Because you have some many young guys on this team, there are a lot of guys who don’t have reps under their belts. Are you going to step up and be a starter? That’s what you want to see.

“Every year is a new journey. College football you have a new coaching staff, new leaders, a new dynamic. I think we have a good feeling for that two months into the offseason program.”

Ohio State's receiving corps is ridiculously talented, and not only welcomes back Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson but touted freshmen Jaxson Smith-Ngaba, Julian Fleming, Gee Scott and Mookie Cooper. Day believes all four have a chance to play and make an impact, and bring different strengths to the offense. There won't be much of a dropoff in production when a starter goes out for a series, that's for sure.

The offensive line must find a couple of new pieces, but has outstanding building blocks in center Josh Myers, right guard Wyatt Davis and left tackle Thayer Munford. Talented sophomore Harry Miller has a chance to be the next star up front for Ohio State, and he'll get first crack at the left guard position. That leaves right tackle as a battle between Nicholas Petit-Frere and freshman Paris Johnson.

Day isn't worried about youth, only ability.

“We’re trying to find the best five guys to play," he said. "We have to find four and five, and certainly don’t want to put guys into roles but not have the best five. Whatever that is we’ll do. We’re going to try Harry at guard, he would be four. Then we need to figure out who plays right tackle.”

There are certain things Day wants to see from his trench warriors.

“You have to be strong in the run game, have to be able to move guys, create some movement," Day said.

"You have to know what you’re doing, that’s a big part of it. It helps to have guys around you who have been around. You have to be able to hold up in the pass game as well, especially inside. You can’t get knocked into the lap of the quarterback. The inside protections are a point of emphasis for us this year. Harry is a high-functioning football player, has a good IQ. He played at center, which helps a lot because you have to make calls and figure things out quickly.”

The secondary is also a unit in transition, but at least has some guys with tangible reps. Corner Shaun Wade moves outside from the slot and should be one of the best cover men in America, while Cam Brown and Sevyn Banks got some game reps last season.

Day recently signed a three-year extension that takes him through the 2026 season, and he said it wasn't the money or the years that gave him the biggest thrill, but the stability.

“The people who were most excited were my kids, because they knew they wouldn’t be the new kids in school for a long, long time," Day said. "To be in this position is a big deal. We get to be in Columbus for the next 7-10 years, hopefully 20 years. We love it here, the kids love the school system, they have a set of friends. That’s what’s most exciting.”

 NOTES

* Some of the players who were limited included CB Shaun Wade, LB Baron Browning, DE Jonathan Cooper, DT Taron Vincent and CB Cam Brown. Among the unavailable players were RB Marcus Crowley, WR Kamryn Babb and safety Josh Proctor. Day said that none of the players were out long term, that he expects all to be ready for the season.

 * A few position switches of note include Cade Stover moving from linebacker to tight end and tight end Cormontae Hamilton switching over to defensive line. DeMario McCall is currently listed as a wide receiver but Day said he would have the flexibility to play in the backfield and provide another speed component for the Buckeyes.