With the 2020 NFL Draft fast approaching, it is time to start finalizing draft boards. Not just for NFL teams, but for the team here at Touchdown Wire. Here is Touchdown Wire’s list of the top 25 offensive prospects in the 2020 draft class.
1. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
The list begins with the player expected to be the first pick off the board when the 2020 NFL Draft begins. Joe Burrow led LSU to a national championship last season and rewrote record books along the way. But the reasons he is the top offensive player — in addition to positional value — are the traits he brings to the table as a prospect.
Competitive toughness. Accuracy. Pocket management. Plus the ability to do all the little things that matter at the position, such as manipulating defenders with his eyes and throwing with anticipation. The Cincinnati Bengals are this close to finally having their quarterback … unless a team breaks the bank to trade up to the first spot.
2. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
In a talented and deep wide receiver class, the players clustered near the top might just be a matter of personal preference. Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III are all potential game-changers at WR. Lamb edges out the rest due to his combination of explosiveness, catch radius, route-running and ability after the catch. Some might knock him for a lack of elite speed, but with his route-running, ability after the catch and how he sets up defenders on his cuts and breaks, the little things he has mastered make up for the lack of 4.4 speed.
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Football is a game of angles. Listen to Bill Belichick talk about angles in the blocking part of the game, and you will understand. That also matters for a wide receiver, how you set up and then break away from cornerbacks, how you exploit their leverage advantages, and how you attack their alignment off the line. Jeudy is a master at that part of playing wide receiver. He also brings great deep speed, elite hands and an ability to turn any play into a touchdown regardless of route. He was used predominantly as a slot receiver last season, but he has the short-area quickness and explosiveness to beat press when he transitions to the NFL.
4. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Obviously the medical picture might cloud Tagovailoa’s outlook in the draft, but based on what he can do on the field, the Alabama passer has to be considered one of the top offensive players in the draft. He possesses a lightning-quick release with a compact throwing motion, drawing comparisons to Jimmy Garoppolo in that regard. He also has the athleticism to extend plays outside of the pocket and keep a defense honest with what he can do as a runner. Tagovailoa is an accurate passer in the short and intermediate areas of the field, ideal for most NFL offenses. There are things he needs to clean up, such as his vision in the post-snap phase of the play, but if the medicals check out, he is a solid prospect at the game’s most important position.
5. Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
Similar to the wide receiver position, the offensive tackle group has great talent at the top, so ranking the “Big Four” tackles might come down to a matter of scheme fit or team needs. We can start with Wills, the Alabama right tackle who has been a mainstay on their offensive line the past two seasons. He gave up a single sack and just five quarterback hits during his career with the Crimson Tide. Wills is also a dominant player in the run game, and he has the power to handle gap/man assignments but also the footwork and agility to function well in a zone blocking scheme. What might hurt him in the eyes of some is that he has spent his career at right tackle, and teams looking for a LT might look at someone with more experience at that spot.
6. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
If an NFL team is looking for that “plug and play” starter at left tackle, Thomas is likely their man. He was a focal part of the Bulldogs’ offensive line for the past three seasons and made the switch to left tackle prior to the 2018 campaign. Last year, his second at LT, he gave up just one sack and eight quarterback hurries, and did not allow a single QB hit. Thomas is also a force in the ground game. The Georgia offense did give him help, running a lot of play-action, and he often worked with a tight end aligned around him, but his traits and execution translate well to the pro game.
7. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
“Speed kills.” “You can’t teach speed.” Whatever your favorite sports cliche about speed is, dust it off and bring it to your evaluation of Ruggs. The Alabama wideout has speed to burn and showed that both on film and at the Scouting Combine, where he posted a blazing 4.24 40-yard dash. Ruggs has more than just the jets in his toolkit; he is a solid route-runner, tracks the ball well in the vertical game and is unafraid to work over the middle. But when you have the potential to take a simple slant route to the house on any given snap, you’re going to be coveted in the NFL.
8. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
The Iowa product is another dominant force at right tackle. Wirfs turned heads at the combine when he posted a 4.85 40-yard dash after weighing in at 6-5 and 320 pounds. For reference, that is a faster 40-yard dash than quarterback Jake Fromm, who ran a 5.01 40. Wirfs is another plug-and-play type of offensive lineman, coming from an offense at Iowa that ran a variety of rushing concepts and tasked him with a lot from a pass protection standpoint. He also has the chance to play both right and left tackle, having seen 161 snaps at LT last season. With his athleticism and strength, Wirfs could be a mainstay at tackle for the next 10 years for the team that drafts him.
9. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Becton is another highly athletic tackle prospect in this draft. He is a protoypical “finisher” who puts dominant blocks on tape in both pass protection and at the point of attack in the running game. He was the largest player in Indianapolis for the combine, measuring in at 6-7 and 364 pounds, but did not move like that, as both his film and his 5.1 40-yard dash attest. The scheme component might be a bit tricky with him, as the Louisville offense was a quick-strike passing game that tasked him with only 73 true pass-blocking sets last season, according to charting from Pro Football Focus. But for many, his power and potential is enough to make him an enticing option.
10. Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
Imagine a player with the power and contact balance of Saquon Barkley, but one that lines up outside and has the long speed to be a threat in the deep-passing game. That is what the team that drafts Shenault is going to get. Shenault lined up everywhere for Colorado a season ago and is a threat after the catch thanks to his blend of power and quickness. A groin injury hampered him at the combine, so there are injury concerns, but when healthy he is a true matchup nightmare who will keep defensive coordinators awake at night.
11. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
A stellar performance at the combine has propelled Jefferson into the first-round discussion, but the truth is that based on film alone, the LSU wideout should have already been in that mix. Jefferson moved to the slot last season in Joe Brady’s passing game and was a threat at all levels of the field. He is also a beast at the catch point, and his rate in contested-catch situations is among the best in the class. But he is not solely a slot receiver. LSU used him on the boundary in 2018, and he showed the ability to beat press coverage on the outside as well. That, coupled with his size and speed, makes him a versatile threat at the next level.
12. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Higgins might be the next example of people overthinking the draft process. The Clemson wideout was considered to be at the top of the second tier of receivers when the college season ended. But he did not participate in drills at the combine, and his pro day results, including a 4.54 40-yard dash and a 31-inch vertical, have some questioning his athleticism and explosiveness. But turn on the tape and you will see a prototypical NFL “X” receiver who can be a threat in the downfield passing game and who can win at the catch point. Higgins also shows more athleticism and ability after the catch on film, so the team that trusts the tape will be happy they do when drafting him.
13. Josh Jones, OT, Houston
Yes, there is a “Big Four” at the offensive tackle position, but with each passing day the odds of it becoming more of a “Big Five” are growing. Jones looks to be the player to crash that party, and the big offensive tackle has the film and the measurables to be a solid tackle at the next level. According to charting from Pro Football Focus, Jones allowed just 18 quarterback pressures on 1,282 pass-blocking snaps over the past three seasons. Over that time he has surrendered just five sacks. He has also shown great strides as a run blocker, and when you put all the pieces together, you have an offensive tackle who seems primed to take a huge step forward in the NFL.
14. Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
A player enjoying a tremendous pre-draft process is Mims, the Baylor wide receiver. Building off a strong performance at the Senior Bowl, Mims brought his track background to the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium, posting elite numbers like a 4.38 40-yard dash and a broad jump of 10 feet, 11 inches. He is a true force in the vertical passing game, with the speed to run away from defenders but the savvy to stack cornerbacks on his back and shield them from the football. Mims also adjusts extremely well to the ball in flight, making him a factor in the back shoulder game. He did not run the most diverse route tree, so the team that drafts him will need to keep that in mind, but as far as vertical threats go, he’s one of the best in the class.
15. Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
In contrast to the downfield, vertical threats like Denzel Mims and Tee Higgins, Reagor is the more prototypical West Coast receiver. He has great footwork off the line of scrimmage and against press coverage, and his burst on cuts, as well as after the catch, makes him a very explosive and dangerous receiving threat. His footwork enables him to get over the top of defenses, particularly on double-move routes. He has struggled with drops at times, so that will be something to watch as he transitions to the NFL, but teams running West Coast systems will covet what he brings to the table.
16. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Positional value likely propels Herbert closer to the top of the draft board, but there are a number of reasons why Herbert might be perhaps the second quarterback selected in the draft. He has an absolute cannon for an arm, with the ability to spray throws to all levels of the field on an absolute line. Herbert also shows an advanced understanding of leverage, and when he pairs that with his talented arm he can make splash throws into tighter windows even deep down the field. The Oregon offense did not ask him to do a ton, as many throws were near the line of scrimmage or outside the numbers, so the adjustment to NFL life might take some time. But his arm, and athleticism, make him an intriguing prospect.
17. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
In a sign of just how solid this wide receiver group is, Aiyuk is not the last receiver on this list. He is another home run hitter at the WR spot, with the ability to take simple slant routes to the house in the blink of an eye. He is also a tough, strong route-runner, as he displayed on a post route touchdown against Washington State, running through contact both before and after the catch. He has a great feel for getting into the blind spot of the nearest defender, and with his speed and burst he can be a factor in the screen game as well.
18. Michael Pittman, WR, USC
Pittman is a receiver who might be flying under the draft radar right now but perhaps not for much longer. He got the benefit of playing is pass-heavy offense, but the traits he displays as a WR are going to turn heads in scouting departments. He attacks the football at the high point, adjusts very well to the ball in flight and makes almost violent cuts on his routes, particularly on curls, comebacks and hitches. He also tracks the ball extremely well in flight, making him a threat in the vertical passing game. Pittman is not the biggest threat after the catch, and was used almost exclusively on the left side of the offense which might make for a big of an adjustment, but he has solid tools that translate well to the pro game.
19. Cesar Ruiz, OL, Michigan
Our first interior offensive lineman is Ruiz, the center/guard from the Michigan. Ruiz broke into the Wolverines’ lineup as a true freshman and become the starting right guard near the end of the season. As a sophomore in 2018, he slid inside to center, where he has been a starter ever since. Ruiz has a combination of pass-blocking and run-blocking skills that are coveted at the next level, and plays with a great pad level and power in his hands. He might be best suited for a team that relies on more gap/power blocking designs than zone blocking designs, but with the ability to play all three interior line positions, he will certainly be sought after.
20. Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Running backs face contact. A lot of it, in fact, making the ability to make defenders miss, or even run through contact, a huge part of playing the position. Moss has that part of the game down pat. He might not have the top end speed of other RBs in this class like Jonathan Taylor or D’Andre Swift, but he makes up for that with a running style reminiscent of Roger Craig, with the powerful knees driving defenders off of his body. He is also a solid back in the pass protection part of the game, making him a true three-down back at the next level. He is an older prospect, already 22 years old, and his lack of pure speed might cause some teams to shy away. But in today’s NFL, where running backs are somewhat undervalued, Moss is a solid bet.
21. Josh Jackson, OL, Ohio State
A versatile interior offensive lineman, Jackson began his career at Rutgers, where he was a starter at both center and then right guard. He transferred to Ohio State as a graduate prior to last season, and was slotted in as the Buckeyes’ starter at left guard. Over three seasons and spanning three different positions, Jackson allowed a total of one sack and 24 quarterback hurries. That is all. He shows tremendous contact balance for an interior offensive lineman and fights to maintain his block and balance even when stunned at the snap. He is also pro-ready, with nearly 400 true pass sets over his collegiate career, according to charting from Pro Football Focus.
22. Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
We are not done with wide receivers just yet. Johnson might be a bit of a surprising selection given his rather “interesting” pre-draft process. First he bowed out of the East-West Shrine Bowl, then chose not to participate in workouts at the combine, betting on his pro day — which has been postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis. But on film, Johnson is one of the best route runners in this class. He understands leverage very well, knowing just how to threaten a defensive back’s alignment and then break off of that stance. He can be a true threat in the red zone, on almost any kind of route, and plays through contact very well. His pre-draft process, coupled with his drops and some whispers of off-the-field concerns, might hurt his stock, but what he shows on film is worthy of an early selection.
23. K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
Teams that miss out on Laviska Shenault could look to Hamler as an appealing Plan B. The Penn State wideout is another offensive weapon who lines up at a variety of spots and excels at getting separation from his nearest defender. The Nittany Lions loved to use him underneath on slants and shallow crossers, aiming to get him the football in space and let him work after the catch. He is well-versed at running option routes, and given that he projects best to a slot receiver in the NFL, that skill will certainly help him make the transition to the league. Drops, as well as his size (5-9, 178 pounds), might raise some eyebrows, but his ability to get space from defenders reminds them that they can’t hit what they can’t catch.
24. Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
Love might be one of the more polarizing prospects in this entire draft class, on either side of the football. Proponents of the Utah State quarterback will point to his blend of athleticism, arm strength and potential, and make the case that with NFL coaching and NFL talent around him, he can reach his impressive ceiling as a prospect. Detractors will point to his 17 interceptions a season ago, even more head-scratching decisions that he made back in 2018, and wonder if he could possibly develop into an NFL passer. Ultimately, teams might look at the transition that Josh Allen, also from the Mountain West, made to the league. Allen, relying on his athleticism and arm strength, is growing into a pro quarterback. Perhaps Love can follow suit.
25. Ben Bartch, OT, St. John’s (Minn.)
Sports fans love an underdog story, and Bartch might be that prospect in this year’s draft class. A tight end coming out of high school, Bartch enrolled at Division III St. John’s (Minn.) hoping to lock down a spot in their offense. But with a deep tight end room, he added 70 pounds — thanks to a rather unappealing weight-gain shake he concocted — and slid inside to left tackle. He was dominant at the Division III level, but showed at the Senior Bowl that he could hang with elite talent. At times he looked like the best offensive tackle down in Mobile. Bartch combines strong and powerful hands at the strike point with an anchored and explosive lower body, and has the nasty streak on the field you want in a left tackle.
