The top five guys at each position is how I view the player and not how/where I think they will be drafted.
Quarterback
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
2. Trey Lance, NDSU
3. Justin Fields, Ohio State
4. Zach Wilson, BYU
5. Mac Jones, Alabama
Five quarterbacks will go in the first round, making it one of the strongest classes in recent history. But history tells us at least one of these guys will bust – may the odds be in your favor.
Running Back
1. Najee Harris, Alabama
2. Travis Etienne, Clemson
3. Javonte Williams, North Carolina
4. Michael Carter, North Carolina
5. Trey Sermon, Ohio State
When Harris and Etienne returned for their senior year it looked like we were going to have a deep running back class. That wasn’t the case. Kenny Gainwell and Chuba Hubbard have drastically fallen down the board and there may only be three running backs in this class I like.
Receiver
1. Ja’Marr Chase, LSU
2. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
3. Devonta Smith, Alabama
4. Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
5. Kadarius Toney, Florida
Chase seems to be in a class/tier all to himself. With Smith weighing in at 166 pounds and Jaylen Waddle’s speed, the tie goes to Waddle. I like what both receivers bring but I’m more confident in Waddle longterm. Bateman and Toney are relatively the same size and speed despite Bateman being listed much bigger at Minnesota and Toney being rumored to be much faster. I give Bateman the edge for his ability to play bigger than he is.
Tight End
1. Kyle Pitts, Florida
2. Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
3. Hunter Long, Boston College
4. Brevin Jordan, Miami
5. Tommy Tremble, Notre Dame
Kyle Pitts has elevated the position but don’t sleep on Freiermuth and Long as great, productive NFL tight ends. All three tight ends could be drafted in the top two rounds.
Offensive Tackles
1. Penei Sewell, Oregon
2. Rashawn Slater, Northwestern
3. Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
4. Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
5. Sam Cosmi, Texas
Sewell is my top tackle and No. 2 overall player. Sewell is young but has been dominate in the run game and has the athletic ability that projects as a great pass protector. Slater put himself on the map with a stellar game against Chase Young in 2019 and is one of the only opt-out players to rise up the board. Tier Two guys (Darrisaw, Jenkins, Cosmi) all have great upside and Darrisaw and Jenkins will most likely be top 20 picks while Cosmi may see himself outside of the first round if the Colts or Chiefs go in a different direction.
Interior Offensive Line
1. Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC
2. Wyatt Davis, Ohio State
3. Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
4. Trey Smith, Tennessee
5. Ben Cleveland, Georgia
Vera-Tucker and Leatherwood bring great versatility as the can play guard and tackle. I’ll list them both at iOL but wouldn’t be surprised to see them at tackle in the NFL. Davis, Smith and Cleveland are going to be big maulers in the NFL and great value on day two.
Center
1. Landon Dickerson, Alabama
2. Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
3. Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater
4. Josh Meyers, Ohio State
5. Trey Hill, Georgia
A lot of these guys could see time at guard but I love this center class so they’re getting their own position ranking. Dickerson has some serious injury concerns that may keep him out of the first round but when he is on the field he is a huge difference maker. Humphrey, Mienerz and Myers could be day one starters that are drafted on day two.
Edge
1. Joseph Ossai, Texas
2. Azeez Ojulari, Georgia
3. Jaelan Phillips, Miami
4. Kwity Paye, Michigan
5. Joe Tryon, Washington
Edge is one of the deepest and most disagreed on positions in this draft. Usually we start to settle into a consensus at every position but not this one. I view all five of my guys as projects but the upside is remarkable.
Interior Defensive Line
1. Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
2. Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest
3. Christian Barmore, Alabama
4. Daviyon Nixon, Iowa
5. Alim McNeill, NC State
Maybe one of the weakest positions in the draft and I wouldn’t be surprised if the first round finishes with all of these guys still on the board.
Linebacker
1. Micah Parsons, Penn State
2. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
3. Jamin Davis, Kentucky
4. Nick Bolton, Missouri
5. Jabril Cox, LSU
Sneaky depth at linebacker could push the second tier (Davis, Bolton, Cox) to later on day two but there is no denying Parsons and JOK’s athletic ability. Both linebackers project in the top 20 and bring versatility that every team is looking for.
Corner
1. Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
2. Jaycee Horn, South Carolina
3. Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech
4. Greg Newsome, Northwestern
5. Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State
Corner is one of my favorite positions in the class after initially thinking it might be a down year at the position. I value all five of these corners in the first round and think Surtain and Horn could both be gone by pick 12.
Safety
1. Trevon Moehrig, TCU
2. Jevon Holland, Oregon
3. Richie Grant, UCF
4. Andre Cisco, Syracuse
5. Caden Sterns, Texas
If Moehrig goes round one he will be the only safety drafted in the first round. Holland and Grant could be round two guys but for some reason the NFL does not value the safety position and this class doesn’t seem to have the top tier talent.