With the 2020 NFL Draft now only three days away, team personnel and media alike are finalizing their big boards ahead of this week’s proceedings. The Jacksonville Jaguars are in a unique position this year, as they own two first-round picks for the first time since the 1995 expansion draft.
The Jaguars’ abundance of picks doesn’t end on Night 1, with the team currently in possession of 12 picks throughout the weekend. As always around this time of the year, social media is ablaze with fan theories and mock simulators as fans desperately try and fix their team with their favorite college players.
Given that the team owns seven of the first 140 picks of this year’s draft, Jacksonville fans can be forgiven for diving a little deeper into this crop of prospects. Whilst most fans are aware of the top stars, things begin to get a little murky when the Jaguars come back on the clock at 49 and beyond.
To make things easier, we have stockpiled a list of the top-100 players of this year’s draft:
Top-15
1. Chase Young, EDGE, Ohio State
Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young tallied 16.5 sacks this year whilst also forcing six fumbles. His display of play-making ability sets him in a class of his own as the premier edge defender of this year’s group of prospects.
2. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
As the second Ohio State prospect at the top of our big board, Jeff Okudah has the ideal size, length and speed to excel as a shutdown corner at the next level. The Buckeyes have had a string of first-round defensive backs in recent years, however, Okudah surpasses them. In fact, he’s arguably the best cornerback prospect of the draft process since former Jaguar Jalen Ramsey.
3. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
During his time at Clemson, Isaiah Simmons lined up at middle and off-ball linebacker, safety, nickel corner and blitzed off the edge on multiple occasions. There’s only two issues you have with Simmons’ tape: Figuring out where to put him and trying to find a comparison. The term ‘unicorn’ has become known in the NBA for a big man who can do a little bit of everything. At 6-foot-4, 238-pounds, and blazing speed (ran a 4.39 40-yard dash) Simmons might be the NFL’s first.
4. Joe Burrow, QB, Louisiana State
Joe Burrow is the first quarterback on this list and one of only two in the top-25 for good reason. His 2019 season will go down as one of the best in college football history. Over 5,600 passing yards, 60 touchdowns and only six interceptions is impressive enough, but Burrow is also leaving LSU as a Heisman winner and national champion. As far as quarterback credentials go, they don’t get much better than that.
5. Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Many will be expecting Alabama’s quarterback to be the first Crimson Tide player on a big board, given the consistent hype surrounding Tua Tagovailoa. However, Jedrick Wills is the No. 1 ranked player out of Tuscaloosa. The only knock on Wills is that he spent his college career at right tackle. However, despite his limited experience on the left side, he still enters the draft as the most pro-ready offensive lineman.
6. Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
Derrick Brown would be a top five player in 90% of draft classes, and could potentially be a Top-5 pick come Thursday night. The former Auburn Tiger has ideal size at 6-foot-5, 326-pounds, ridiculous strength, and the ability to provide some interior pass-rush.
7. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Unfortunately, throughout his college career Tagovailoa has had no less than four serious injuries, a knee sprain, a substantial injury to both ankles and of course the fractured hip. Without these injury concerns he could make a legitimate case for being the top quarterback in this class. His accuracy, timing, and arm talent are all elite traits. All concerns are health-based, of which there are plenty.
8. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
Whereas some players can skyrocket into first-round and top-10 status for having a good pre-draft process, Jerry Jeudy has somewhat become a victim of being over-scouted. Due to being on the NFL’s radar for so long, he’s been picked apart by some until he’s no longer the consensus WR1. Even with Henry Ruggs’ elite speed, the polish on Jeudy’s route tree coupled with his ability to get open off the line and extent plays after the catch makes him the best receiver of this class.
9. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
Tristan Wirfs has proven to be the most dynamic offensive lineman in the 2020 NFL Draft class and he lit up the combine with an incredible display of athleticism. Not only does Wirfs possess great speed for his size, but he jumped better than Jerry Jeudy (35-inches) at the combine registering a 36.5-inch vertical. I promise I’m not making that up.
It’s been reported that some teams view the Iowa product as a guard, but given his experience at either tackle spot, he can provide help on the interior or as a bookend on the outside.
10. Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina
Javon Kinlaw’s draft stock began to rise after he dominated all week at the Senior Bowl. Whilst Brown is the more proficient run defender, Kinlaw’s ability to generate pressure up the middle will entice teams early in this year’s draft. It might be difficult to find a place for him in the top-10 on Thursday night. That being said, whoever does take him will be getting a bonafide star on the defensive line.
11. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
The second receiver on the board and one of three top-15 locks. Despite not being the fastest receiver (ran a 4.5 flat in Indianapolis), Lamb has shown that he has good game speed and the capability to cause problems after the catch. With 800+ yards as a freshman, the former Sooner has put up excellent levels of production during all three seasons in college, leaving for the NFL with 33 touchdowns in three seasons. He can come in and provide a legitimate WR1 option for multiple teams.
12. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, Louisiana State
Predominately a traits-based prospect, K’Lavon Chaisson benefits from a lack of elite edge talent in this year’s draft class. He hasn’t lit up the stat sheet during his time at LSU with only 9.5 sacks during his college career. Still, he has a variety of raw but impressive pass-rush tools with the most notable being his spin move. Chaisson’s play has been as streaky as the stats suggest but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t found success. In this year’s game against Alabama, he gave Alex Leatherwood such a hard time that elected not to enter the draft.
13. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Even with a ridiculous 4.27 combine time, Henry Ruggs is much more than just a gadget speedster. Yes, he’s a threat to take the ball to the house every time he touches it, but his route tree goes beyond streaks and screens. Not only will Ruggs get guaranteed touches, but the fact he will constantly require safety help will allow fellow receivers to find mismatches and get open.
14. C.J Henderson, CB, Florida
Long, sticky, and extremely fast, C.J Henderson is everything you want in an outside corner. Whilst he isn’t as polished as Okudah, the Florida Gator has risen up draft boards throughout this process to the point where he is now being viewed as a potential top-10 pick. Henderson spent a lot of his time at Florida trying to test the boundaries of his own game, often times trying to bait quarterbacks into throwing his way so he could test his elite closing speed. He’s a legitimate outside corner who can shutdown one side of the field, or a team’s primary target.
15. DeAndre Swift, RB, Georgia
Don’t expect a running back to go this early on Thursday night, but DeAndre Swift is a top-15 player in this class. He has the tools to be a true three-down back in the NFL and has elite field-vision and patience for developing blocks. Whilst consistent home-run speed is lacking, the former Bulldog has great burst which can buy him yards in tight situations. Teams will be able to depend on Swift early and often and he could legitimately change the dynamic of an NFL offense.