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2020 Colts.com NFL Draft Positional Big Board 3.0: The Final Rankings

The 2020 NFL Draft is just two days away. After months of research, who are the top players in the draft, by position?

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The analysis from those producing content on Colts.com does not necessarily represent the thoughts of the Indianapolis Colts organization. Any conjecture, analysis or opinions formed by Colts.com content creators is not based on inside knowledge gained from team officials, players or staff.

INDIANAPOLIS — A year of studying has come down to this: the final rankings of the best players in the 2020 NFL Draft.

With the majority of pro days, personal workouts and in-facility visits canceled, this draft more than any in recent memory will be unpredictable and based primarily on film study.

Of course, film isn't the only determining factor in a player's ranking; medical history, physical measurements, scheme fits, and both football and off-field character all weigh-in as well.

With the first round of the draft kicking off in about 48 hours, here's our final Colts.com list of the 15 best players at each position group in this year's class.

QUARTERBACK

  1. Joe Burrow, LSU
  2. Justin Herbert, Oregon
  3. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
  4. Jordan Love, Utah State
  5. Jacob Eason, Washington
  6. Jalen Hurts, Alabama
  7. Steven Montez, Colorado
  8. Anthony Gordon, Washington State
  9. Jake Fromm, Georgia
  10. Brian Lewerke, Michigan State
  11. Nathan Rourke, Ohio
  12. James Morgan, Florida International
  13. Cole McDonald, Hawaii
  14. Tyler Huntley, Utah
  15. Nathan Stanley, Iowa

This quarterback draft class may lack some of the high-powered prospects we're used to seeing, but it's a quality one nonetheless. After Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, there's a bunch of questions. Tua Tagovailoa is another first-round lock, but concerns about his once-injured hip will have some teams nervous. Jordan Love will go somewhere in the top 50 picks, but no one is quite sure where. Jacob Eason, Jalen Hurts and Jake Fromm round out the group of quarterbacks that people consider high-upside, potentially early starters and will be off the board by the end of Day 2.

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RUNNING BACK

  1. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
  2. D'Andre Swift, Georgia
  3. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
  4. Zack Moss, Utah
  5. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
  6. Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
  7. Anthony McFarland Jr., Maryland
  8. Cam Akers, Florida State
  9. A.J. Dillon, Boston College
  10. Lamical Perine, Florida
  11. Darius "Jet" Anderson, TCU
  12. Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
  13. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
  14. Joshua Kelley, UCLA
  15. JaMycal Hasty, Baylor

We may be without a first-round running back this year, but that doesn't mean it's not a solid class. Jonathan Taylor is one of the most accomplished running backs in recent memory, and D'Andre Swift and J.K. Dobbins have had people waiting for them to hit the NFL for a couple years.You can find quality backs throughout the draft, including a couple of sleepers like Darrynton Evans and Anthony McFarland who could be studs in the NFL.

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WIDE RECEIVER

  1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
  2. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
  3. Denzel Mims, Baylor
  4. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
  5. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State
  6. Justin Jefferson, LSU
  7. Tee Higgins, Clemson
  8. K.J. Hill, Ohio State
  9. Jalen Reagor, TCU
  10. Michael Pittman Jr., USC
  11. Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty
  12. Chase Claypool, Notre Dame
  13. Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
  14. K.J. Hamler, Penn State
  15. Tyler Johnson, Minnesota

As far as I can tell, this class of receivers is as good as advertised. Guys like Alabama teammates Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III as well as Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb are all likely to go in the top 20, while Denzel Mims, Brandon Aiyuk, Justin Jefferson and Jalen Reagor each have an argument for finding their way in the first round as well. Day 2 should be chock-full of receivers as well, as this class offers a ton of size and speed. What will be particularly interesting is where the top guys who lack size (Reagor and K.J. Hamler) and the guys who have some great traits but lack prime athleticism (Tee Higgins and K.J. Hill) land.

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TIGHT END

  1. Hunter Bryant, Washington
  2. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
  3. Adam Trautman, Dayton
  4. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
  5. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
  6. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
  7. Devin Asiasi, UCLA
  8. Thaddeus Moss, LSU
  9. Joey Magnifico, Memphis
  10. Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati
  11. Jake Breeland, Oregon
  12. C.J. O'Grady, Arkansas
  13. Dalton Keene, Virginia Tech
  14. Sean McKeon, Michigan
  15. Mitchell Wilcox, USF

Although there are quality tight ends to be found in the draft, this class takes a little bit of a nose dive after the top 6-8 players, and it's already a group of tight ends that's not likely to hear many names called before Day 3. If you want guys who are both quality blockers and pass-catchers, or matchup problems who can stretch the field, they are available, but they may go fast due to the scarce supply.

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OFFENSIVE TACKLE

  1. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
  2. Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
  3. Josh Jones, Houston
  4. Andrew Thomas, Georgia
  5. Mekhi Becton, Louisville
  6. Austin Jackson, USC
  7. Robert Hunt, UL-Lafayette
  8. Matt Peart, UConn
  9. Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas
  10. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn
  11. Lucas Niang, TCU
  12. Isaiah Wilson, Georgia
  13. Ezra Cleveland, Boise State
  14. Ben Bartch, Saint John's
  15. Trey Adams, Washington

This class features quite a few really good tackle prospects. While the group of immediate starters may not be deep, the amount of guys who can develop into really solid tackles early in their career might go into Day 3. About seven or eight of these guys have generated some sort of first-round buzz.

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INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

  1. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
  2. Jonah Jackson, Ohio State
  3. Kevin Dotson, UL-Lafayette
  4. Ben Bredeson, Michigan
  5. Cesar Ruiz, Michigan
  6. Nick Harris, Washington
  7. Matt Hennessy, Temple
  8. Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU
  9. Darryl Williams, Mississippi State
  10. John Simpson, Clemson
  11. Logan Stenberg, Kentucky
  12. Tyre Phillips, Mississippi State
  13. Jake Hanson, Oregon
  14. Calvin Throckmorton, Oregon
  15. Simon Stepaniak, Indiana

This isn't the flashiest group of interior offensive linemen, but there are some studs to be found early on. There are several quality centers, especially, and the Big Ten reigns supreme once more when it comes to offensive line play.

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EDGE DEFENDER

  1. Chase Young, Ohio State
  2. K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU
  3. Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
  4. Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
  5. Terrell Lewis, Alabama
  6. Jonathan Greenard, Florida
  7. Josh Uche, Michigan
  8. Jabari Zuniga, Florida
  9. A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
  10. Curtis Weaver, Boise State
  11. Kenny Willekes, Michigan State
  12. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
  13. Bradlee Anae, Utah
  14. Alton Robinson, Syracuse
  15. Oluwole Betiku Jr., Illinois

This class of edge defenders is headlined by an unanimous top choice in Chase Young, but after that is where variety begins to come into play. It's not the most top-heavy group, but there are nice players to find likely in each round. There is a variety of lengthy, flexible pass rushers with explosiveness, strong-side run stoppers and guys that can do a little bit of everything.

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INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

  1. Derrick Brown, Auburn
  2. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
  3. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
  4. Ross Blacklock, TCU
  5. Marlon Davidson, Auburn
  6. Jordan Elliott, Missouri
  7. Bravvion Roy, Baylor
  8. Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M
  9. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
  10. James Lynch, Baylor
  11. Larrell Murchison, NC State
  12. Jason Strowbridge, UNC
  13. Rob Windsor, Penn State
  14. DaVon Hamilton, Ohio State
  15. Rashard Lawrence, LSU

This year is a bit of a refreshing change, as the top defensive tackles aren't just enormous, space-eating run stoppers. Guys like Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw are currently strong run-stoppers, yes, but they show a lot of potential as interior pass rushers as well. Meanwhile, guys like Neville Gallimore and Marlon Davidson are quality pass-rushers who move very well for 300-pounders, but they have room to grow as run-stoppers. If these guys reach their potential, this will have been a quality class of interior defenders near the top.

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LINEBACKER

  1. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
  2. Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
  3. Patrick Queen, LSU
  4. Khaleke Hudson, Michigan
  5. Zack Baun, Wisconsin
  6. Malik Harrison, Ohio State
  7. Logan Wilson, Wyoming
  8. Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
  9. Jacob Phillips, LSU
  10. Troy Dye, Oregon
  11. Shaquille Quarterman, Miami
  12. Davion Taylor, Colorado
  13. Evan Weaver, California
  14. Markus Bailey, Purdue
  15. Shaun Bradley, Temple

The top three linebackers in this class are pretty uniform for most people in Swiss Army Knife Isaiah Simmons, Kenneth Murray and Patrick Queen. However, after that it's a hodgepodge. Overall, the above group features a lot of length, speed and instincts that you look for in attacking-style linebackers. The modern NFL linebacker is changing, and this year's draft is full of those smaller, more athletic types.

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CORNERBACK

  1. Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State
  2. Trevon Diggs, Alabama
  3. Jeff Gladney, TCU
  4. C.J. Henderson, Florida
  5. Damon Arnette, Ohio State
  6. Kristian Fulton, LSU
  7. A.J. Terrell, Clemson
  8. Jaylon Johnson, Utah
  9. Bryce Hall, Virginia
  10. Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech
  11. Troy Pride Jr., Notre Dame
  12. Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn
  13. Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
  14. Parnell Motley, Oklahoma
  15. Michael Ojemudia, Iowa

Cornerback is sort of like edge defender this year where there's one clear-cut player for most people, and then everything changes from there. If you want bigger, smothering types then Jeffrey Okudah, C.J. Henderson, Trevon Diggs, A.J. Terrell, Jaylon Johnson and Bryce Hall are what you're looking for. Meanwhile, what Jeff Gladney, Damon Arnette and Kristian Fulton lack in elite size, they make up for in athleticism and playmaking ability.

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SAFETY

  1. Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois
  2. Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
  3. Xavier McKinney, Alabama
  4. Grant Delpit, LSU
  5. Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
  6. Alohi Gilman, Notre Dame
  7. Ashtyn Davis, California
  8. Brandon Jones, Texas
  9. Julian Blackmon, Utah
  10. Terrell Burgess, Utah
  11. K'Von Wallace, Clemson
  12. J.R. Reed, Georgia
  13. Antoine Brooks Jr., Maryland
  14. Josh Metellus, Michigan
  15. Jordan Fuller, Ohio State

Two of the best safeties in this class are big question marks. Jeremy Chinn and Kyle Dugger have outstanding athleticism, but are from programs that most casual fans either rarely hear from. Two high-profile prospects from the SEC are near the top as well, as Xavier McKinney and Grant Delpit have been making plays in front of national audiences for awhile now. This is an instinctive group that gets aggressive against the ball and has a knack for making big plays.

2020 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT PROFILES

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