The work is never done. It just isn’t. Draft pundits are scrambling to watch the footage, write up their scouting reports, formulate draft strategies, and grade players accordingly. Every Big Board is fluid, meaning that nothing remains constant.
Every time you watch the tape for an individual player, your opinion changes, sometimes significantly. But that’s what makes this time of year so fun for the scouts. We love the constant action and the difference a single day can make.
As of today, here is how I view prospects leading into the NFL’s Combine in just a short couple of weeks. Remember, this is a working Top-100 Big Board, and plenty will change before the Combine, and even more after.
1. Chase Young – EDGE, Ohio St – Young is the most complete EDGE prospect in years, which is saying something considering the impact his former teammate Nick Bosa made just this past season.
Young plays with outstanding leverage, has a tremendous burst at the snap, uses his hands well, and has a wide range of counters to get after the quarterback. He seems to be a virtual lock to go No. 2 in the draft, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have him as my top graded prospect overall.
2. Joe Burrow – QB, LSU – Burrow is the most pro-ready QB prospect I have scouted in years. His accuracy at all levels of the defense is unparalleled. While he doesn’t have the strongest arm in the draft, he’s plenty capable of making every throw at the NFL level. He’s mobile, he’s smart, tough, and he seems to always make the most difficult plays look routine.
3. Derrick Brown – DT, Auburn – Brown is everything you’d want in an interior presence on your defensive line. I like him best as a 3-technique penetrator, but he can play the nose or kick out to 5-technique in a 3-4 alignment. Either way, his combination of strength, burst, technique, and agility will make him a star, and quickly.
4. Isaiah Simmons – LB, Clemson – Simmons is the Swiss Army Knife for any defense. He’s going to be a linebacker, by trade, but fits in anywhere depending on what you need. He can drop as a safety, he can rush the passer, he can cover the slot, TEs or RBs, or can play out on the perimeter. This particular player is a fit for any defense due to his size, speed, and defensive awareness.
5. Jeffrey Okudah – CB, Ohio St – Okudah is an excellent cover corner with the size to match up with just about anyone. He possesses unbelievably quick feet, fluid hips, and the speed to match up on an island. He’s also not a diva, has played well within the scheme of the defense, and isn’t afraid to stick his nose into the play in run support.
6. Tua Tagovailoa – QB, Alabama – Tua may not have the ideal size for the QB position, but he always seems to make the right play. He’s deadly accurate while not being afraid to fit throws downfield. The hip injury is a significant concern, but he should be able to recover and resume his professional career.
If he does, his leadership, his toughness, his passion, and his overall ability would fit just about any offensive scheme. His mechanics are not ideal, but his quick trigger and ball placement are not questioned. Heading into the 2019 season, he was the odds-on favorite to be the top pick.
With the rise of Joe Burrow and his injuries, a team will find a steal and a true face of the franchise a few picks later than originally expected.
7. CeeDee Lamb – WR, Oklahoma – Lamb is an excellent prospect on the perimeter. He can win all over the field, possesses plenty of speed to get deep, but runs fluid routes. Once the ball is in his hands, he’s a threat to score as he simply has a knack to make defenders miss in the open field.
Lamb’s route running is pristine, and his body control is simply mesmerizing. He could quickly find himself being labeled as one of the best receivers in football.
8. Jedrick Wills – OT, Alabama – Wills benefits from the fact that NFL teams now covet elite players on both ends of their offensive line. He’s a true right tackle prospect, but an elite one at that. He’s unbelievably strong, and that is on display in both the run game and in pass protection.
Whoever drafts Willis may attempt to move him over to the blindside, but I don’t think it’s worth it as just about every defense in the league can rush from all over the field. Wills is a plug and play starter from day 1, with a ceiling as an All-Pro.
9. Jerry Jeudy – WR, Alabama – Jeudy has everything you’d want in a #1 WR. How does he win? Well, I just haven’t seen any defenders that can stay with him. He’s ultra-crisp in and out of his breaks, and the defense simply never seems to know where he’s going at the top of his routes.
Jeudy should run in the 4.45-range, which is plenty fast given his quickness, agility, and ball skills. He can fit any offense as a player that can win off the line, understands where to settle against zone defenses, and has the big-play ability to score from anywhere on the field. Good luck to NFL defenses.
10. Tristan Wirfs – OT, Iowa – I’ve seen a lot of scouts that think Wirfs will be best suited inside at guard, but, like Wills, I think he’s a right tackle. He’s another strong, strong man that dominates in the run game, but also possesses the ability to get out in front in a zone-based scheme.
Wirfs has natural movement skills allowing him to get to the second level and create massive lanes. He may struggle with speed rushers initially, but he’s smart and creates proper angles to shield rushers around the QB.
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