In what could be the deepest draft in decades, let?s take a look closer look at the top players available and what their most likely draft position will be.
2020 NFL Draft Player Projections
Jerry Jeudy first wide receiver drafted+115
Any other wide receiver drafted first -145
The former Alabama standout is almost universally regarded as the first wide receiver that will be taken in this year?s draft one year after he hauled in 77 passes for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.
CeeDee Lamb first wide receiver drafted +140
Any other wide receiver drafted first -170
While some mock drafts are predicting that Alabama?s Henry Ruggs will be the second wide receiver taken in the draft, I like former Oklahoma star CeeDee Lamb after he put up 62 catches for 1,327 yards and 14 scores a year ago.
Henry Ruggs III draft position over 14? -130
Henry Ruggs III draft position under 14? +100
While Ruggs is definitely talented, he also never caught more than 46 passes for more than 746 yards in three seasons at Alabama. While many NFL draft analysts are predicting that Ruggs could go to Oakland at No. 12, my best guess is that the Raiders take Lamb, leaving Ruggs to fall to Denver at No. 15.
D?Andre Swift first running back drafted -150
Any other running back drafted first +120
D. Swift drafted in first round +130
D. Swift not drafted in first round -170
I love the speedy Swift who put up 1,218 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns for Georgia last season. The fleet-footed Swift is most often compared to veteran LeSean McCoy or Alvin Kamara and that makes him the perfect fit for Bruce Arians, Tom Brady and the new-look Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 14 or possibly Atlanta at No. 16 or Miami at either No. 18 or 26.
J. Taylor drafted in first round +175
J. Taylor not drafted in first round -245
Personally, I think former Wisconsin star running back Johnathan Taylor is the best running back in this class and a player that has undeniable superstar potential after becoming the first running back in FBS history to reach 6,000 rushing yards after three seasons. A 4.39, 40 at 226 pounds shows that Taylor has the size, power and speed that makes him closer to Saquon Barkley than any other back in recent memory, although he?ll have to improve his pass-catching skills moving forward. I?d take Taylor as the first running back in this year?s draft, but hey, that?s just me. Expect some running back needy teams like the Chargers, Falcons, Jaguars, Bears to give him a shot to become their featured back at some point in the near future. Taylor is expected to go in the early or middle portion of the second round, but if I?m Miami, I don?t let him make it out of the first round.
Jalen Hurts drafted in first round +1200
Jalen Hurts drafted in any other round -2250
You?ve probably heard of quarterback Jalen Hurts after he took Alabama to the national championship game before losing his starting job in that contest to Tua Tagovailoa. No matter, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma where he lit it up to the tune of 3,851 passing yards and 32 TD passes. While guys like Justin Herbert, Jordan Love and Jake From are likely to go ahead of Hurts, the only quarterback I?d take over him is Alabama?s Tua Tagovailoa. Hurts has a skill set that is perfect for today?s NFL, not to mention the fact that he?s a proven winner, with tons of big-game experience. Tampa Bay could use Hurts as well as teams like
Indianapolis or possibly Detroit. Still, Hurts almost assuredly won?t go in the first round.
