11. Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama — Lane Johnson
Wills is probably going in the top 10, and if you’re surprised by that, you may want to catch up with the realities of the NFL as it stands. The most important offensive lineman for the Chiefs in their Super Bowl run was right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, who pitched a near-perfect postseason and played at an MVP level against the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. Wills doesn’t need to switch sides to be of franchise-level importance. Like Johnson, who has been an outstanding and highly valuable right tackle since the Eagles took him in the first round of the 2013 draft, Wills is a natural blocker with the ability to dominate in run sets and improve in his pass protection.
12. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama — Tyreek Hill
There are two numbers you need to know when Ruggs is mentioned — the 4.27 40-yard dash he ran at the scouting combine, and the 17.5 yards per catch he averaged for Alabama over three seasons. But Ruggs isn’t just a speed guy — he has a better handle on route concepts than people might think, and in the right offense, he has the potential to take the top off any defense in the same way Tyreek Hill has for the Chiefs.
13. C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida — Bradley Roby
There are apparently some in the NFL who believe that Henderson is on the same level as Joff Okudah as an NFL prospect. From a coverage standpoint, there are similarities, and though I like Okudah’s natural aggressiveness more as a top-tier asset, Henderson is a smooth a coverage defender as you’ll see in this class. That’s why he reminds me of Roby, who the Broncos took out of Ohio State with the 31st pick in the 2014 draft. Roby has been a plus-level cornerback outside and in the slot, and Henderson has the traits to do the same.
14. Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn — Cameron Heyward
Last season, Brown played at a highly effective level all over the defensive line — from over the center to outside the tackle. He even had some off-ball snaps, and showed shocking agility for a 6-foot-5, 326-pound player. In his positional versatility and power to and through the pocket, Brown is very reminiscent of Heyward, who has been one of the NFL’s best multi-gap linemen over the last few seasons.
15. Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama — Minkah Fitzpatrick
Both Fitzpatrick and McKinney played multiple defensive positions in Nick Saban’s defense — from safety to slot cornerback to blitzing at the line. The Dolphins took Fitzpatrick with the 11th overall pick in 2018 and extended his versatility to the NFL. But when the Steelers traded for Fitzpatrick early in the 2019 season, they immediately turned him into one of the league’s best pure deep safeties. McKinney has all the tools to be a versatile hybrid player at the next level, but he could also patrol the deep third exclusively.
16. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa — Isaiah Wynn
In college, Wynn was a plus athlete with great play strength who projected well at tackle or guard. Wirfs has a similar athletic demeanor, though Wynn was a bit more fluid and exact on the move. Wherever Wirfs does line up, his NFL team will get a strength freak and weight-lifting monster with the attitude and wrestling background some offensive line coaches just can’t get enough of.
17. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah — William Jackson III
Johnson was a bit hidden at Utah — had he played in the SEC, we’d be talking about him as what he is, one of the best defensive players in this class. With great athleticism, outstanding instincts, and the ability to take his film study to the field, he’s on par with Jackson, who the Bengals selected in the first round of the 2016 draft, and who has become one of the better and more underrated inside/outside cornerbacks in the league.
18. Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville — Bryant McKinnie
One does not expect a 6-foot-7, 364-pound man to move with Becton’s agility and foot speed as a pass-blocker, and the Louisville alum can throw edge-rushers and run defenders around to a comical degree. The 6-foot-8, 360-pound McKinnie was selected seventh overall in the 2002 draft by the Vikings, and played at a very high level for Minnesota and Baltimore over a 12-year career. Becton profiles similarly in his combination of unusual size and traits for the left tackle position.
19. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU — Thomas Davis
A hybrid linebacker/safety in college back when such players were considered “tweeners” and most NFL teams didn’t know what to do with them, Davis has overcome multiple knee injuries to become one of the NFL’s modern linebacker prototypes with his intelligence and pure athleticism. Queen, who became a standout in 2019 on LSU’s championship defense, profiles similarly as an attack defender who can stop plays all over the field.
20. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado — Sammy Watkins
Shenault may need work on his route complexity, but when you’re 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds and can drag cornerbacks all over the field as an after-the-catch weapon, we’re betting some enterprising NFL team will see his attributes and work on the rough stuff. Watkins raised similar concerns during his time at Clemson, but the physical tools were overwhelming, and the Bills took him with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft. Watkins hasn’t been as productive as expected (only one 1,000-yard season), but he’s capable of splash plays at any time, as he proved in the Chiefs’ 2019 postseason. Shenault has the same potential.