The is arguably the deepest position in the 2020 draft. But there’s no doubt that it’s the most interesting — and divisive. Go ahead and look at a few other Top 10 lists and you’ll find analysts that label my No. 3 guy as a second-rounder, and other lists that leave my No. 4 off entirely.
This class is made up of a few well-rounded players at the top and others who will have to adapt if they want to make it in the NFL. A player like Denzel Mims probably wasn’t able to show his full skillset in Baylor’s offense, and Alabama Henry Ruggs hasn’t proven he’s more than a complementary piece … because when you play for the Crimson Tide, even the complementary pieces are insanely talented future first-round picks.
1. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
It’s hard to find legitimate weaknesses in Lamb’s game. OK, so maybe he didn’t deal with a lot of press coverage in the Big 12, but, when he did, he had no problem beating it. And maybe he doesn’t have great long speed, but he turns it on when the ball is in the air. His strengths jump off the film: He’s a beast in 50-50 situations, he’s a sharp route runner and he’s a terror after the catch. He’s also the most competitive receiver in this class, which really shows up when it’s time to block. As an added benefit, Lamb can line up in the slot and he was used on jet sweeps. He’s a do-it-all receiver who profiles as a legit No. 1 option.
Grade: Early 1st Round
2. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
The only real weakness is a suspect pair of hands. Jeudy has everything else you’d want, even if he didn’t put up the kind of jaw-dropping Combine results we’ve come to expect from top receiver prospects. You wouldn’t know it from watching his film. He looks like the best athlete on the field at all times. And he’s more than a great athlete. He’s a crafty route runner who can create separation on even the most basic of routes. Jeudy can line up all over the field, too, giving him a chance to develop into the centerpiece of a receiving corps. He’s not a contested-catch guy, which might limit his ceiling as a top-end No. 1 receiver, but he’ll earn targets like a No. 1.
Grade: Early 1st Round
3. Tee Higgins, Clemson
He’s a big receiver, but doesn’t move like it. Especially off the line, where he can put ankle-breaking moves on corners. He beat LSU’s two future NFL corners on several occasions in the national title game. Higgins can win early and late in the route, which is what you want from a top receiving prospect. And while Higgins isn’t a downfield burner, he doesn’t need to be with that catch radius. On top of all that, Higgins has a long track record of production at the college level. Barring injury, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which the Clemson star isn’t a productive NFL receiver. He has a low floor and a high ceiling … exactly what you’re looking for in a first-rounder.
Grade: Mid 1st Round
4. Michael Pittman Jr., USC
I got to Pittman late in the draft process, but it didn’t take long for him to make me a believer. The first thing that stands out is his size. Pittman is massive, and he takes advantage of that size when the ball is in the air. And unlike your typical contested-catch prospects, this one knows how to run a route. There will be more to his game than this, but Pittman will be a cheat code in the red zone, and not just because of his size and contested-catch ability. He has the ability to create separation on shorter timing routes. Pittman checked all of the boxes at the combine, too. He’s got good speed at that size and will be a threat downfield at the next level. He’ll be the kind of player who forces defenses to play a safety over the top in certain situations.
Grade: Mid 1st Round
5. Denzel Mims, Baylor
The Mims hype started to grow after a dominant showing in Indy, but he’s more than a workout warrior. He ran a limited route tree at Baylor, but he can start and stop well for a man his size. And when he was given an opportunity to run more complex routes, he proved he was up to the task. Even if Mims isn’t the best separator, he has long arms and superb body control that gives him a large catch radius and helps him dominate in contested situations. He also knows how to use his body to box out corners, which will come in handy in the red zone. He’ll be a perimeter receiver but could also be used to run seam routes as a big slot. Beating press isn’t an issue for him but he has plenty of room to grow as a route runner. He doesn’t really drop his hips when coming out of his breaks and can round off routes at times.
Grade: Mid 1st Round
Five more prospects to keep an eye on…
6. Henry Ruggs, Alabama
7. Tyler Johnson, Minnesota
8. Justin Jefferson, LSU
9. Van Jefferson, Florida
10. Jalen Reagor, TCU