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Gxd333
2019 NFL Big Board Prospects 1-16
Published at 4/8/2020
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My big boards are based on individual prospect ratings and positional rankings. For example if prospect x and y have a similar overall ranking but one plays quarterback and one plays defensive tackle, then the QB with have a higher position on the big board.

Prospect rankings are based more on production than potential. I am not a huge fan of this guys has limited production but he could be amazing if he puts it all together. Why hasn't he put it together to some degree already? Producing in a big conference earns more value than a small conference and multiple years of solid production is better than one great year.

Positional value goes like this for me: QB, pass coverage, pass protection, playmakers, pass rush. These are general areas but if a position allows a play to excel in one of these areas then that helps them.

Prospects 1-16

1. Joe Burrow QB LSU - Burrow is the clear cut number 1 prospect. He had the most impressive QB season in college football history. He absolutely dominated every opponent he faced with obscene numbers leading his team to an undefeated season and a national championship. Burrow looks like a franchise QB for sure. My only slight concerns with him is one amazing season. He had an average junior year and lost the QB battle at Ohio State and transferred. The other being he doesn't have a "cannon" for an arm. I am not too worried about these concerns as Burrow clearly grew as a player from year to year and some guys are "late bloomers" and his accuracy is insane which negates the rocket arm issue because a perfected placed ball is better than being able to throw it 60 yards down field to no one versus hitting a player in stride that can run 60 yards down the field. Burrow has good size at 6'4" 215lbs. While Burrow is taller than Dre Brees, I see Burrow in that model as a super accurate QB that excels at throwing teammates open.

2. Chase Young Edge Ohio State - Young lead the nation in QB pressures according to PFF as a sophomore to go along with 9.5 sacks. He then broke the OSU sack record with 16.5 sacks even though he missed 2 games as a junior. He has great size at 6'5" and 265 lbs. He has a relentless motor and looks like the next great edge rusher to come out of OSU. If Joe Burrows didn't have the greatest QB season ever than Young would be the clear #1 prospect. Young looks like the next Bosa brother.

3. Isaiah Simmons LB/S Clemson - This is were some will start to disagree with me which is okay. Simmons is an athletic freak at 6'4" 238 lbs and running a 4.38 forty yard dash. Not only does he have the measurables but he has great on the field production. Simmons makes plays all over the field. He will be able to cover any TE or RB in the NFL, even some WR's, make plays in the run game and blitz off the edge. Simmons is a better prospect than Okudah because not only does he impact the pass coverage he also impacts the pass rush. I see Simmons as an even better version of Derwin James who was a Pro Bowl and 1st Team All NFL as a rookie.

4. Jeff Okudah CB Ohio State - Okudah is a stud man cover corner. He stands at 6'1" and weighs 205lbs, he has 9 1/8 in hands and 32 5/8 in arms which is insane. That long wingspan helps him defend passes, he also ran a 4.48 forty yard dash as well as benching 11 reps of 225lbs. Okudah was solid 2 years ago and absolutely dominant this past year. He will excel in man coverage and should be able to mirror the opposing teams best pass catcher from day one. To me he is the next Revis Island.

5. Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama - Tua is lower on my overall big board even though he plays QB which is the most important position because of injury concerns. Tua has had ankle surgery each of the past 2 seasons that cost him games as well as the hip issue this past year. While all the reports are that he is doing well it's hard with the crazy world we are living right now to get a real good look at him. As a QB Tua can do everything, he is accurate, he can make any throw and he can run the ball. He stands 6'0" which is a tad short for the prototypical QB but that has been lost in today's NFL as many short QB's have had success (Murray, Wilson, Brees). If Tua was injury free than he would be #1 on my big board as he lead arguably the best college football team to multiple playoffs and helped them win many games. If he can stay healthy than Tua reminds me of Russell Wilson, great muscle frame even though he is a tad short that can win a game for you with his arms and legs. With Wilson Seattle will always be in the game and Super Bowl contention and I think a healthy Tua can do that as well.

6. Andrew Thomas OT Georgia - Again, many will disagree but pass protection is more important than playmakers. Look at Ryan Tannehill. He had a great offensive line that game him all day to throw and he had a record setting kind of season even though he is considered to be just an average QB by most. Also, the opposite is true. If you have terrible pass protection it doesn't matter how many playmakers you have because the QB can't give them the ball. Just look at the Cleveland Browns of 2019. Thomas has been a starting OT in the SEC for 3 straight seasons. As a freshman at RT and LT for the past 2 years. He has stood up against some of the best pass rushers over the years. He also has great size at 6'5" and 315 lbs. He is dominate blocker in the ground game and above average in pass protection. He hasn't been injured and he has improved his PFF grades in each of his 3 years. If I want a rookie to come in and start at LT then it's Thomas.

7. Tristan Wirfs OT Iowa - Wirfs has been starting at RT since his freshman season at Iowa. A school that has produced multiple NFL caliber OT's. Wirfs has great size at 6'5" and 320 lbs. He also has 10 1/8 in hands and 34 in arms which are great for a tackle to keep edge rushers off their pads. He has 3 years of above average starting experience in a power 5 conference and he exploded at the combine with the best athleticism of any OT in this class. While I don't always give credit to combine explosions, Wirfs already had great production to go along with it. Wirfs will and an elite RT which in today's NFL is more important than ever. Some believe that he could be a LT, I am not sure on that and I wouldn't draft him for that role.

8. Jerry Juedy WR Alabama - Juedy has absolutely dominated power 5 teams for the past 2 years. His numbers weren't elite this past season as other WR's from Alabama stepped up and Tua was able to spread the ball around but Juedy is the best route runner in this class by a long shot. He also had great measurables at 6'1" 195 lbs, 32 1/8 in arms to go along with 9 1/8 in hands. Juedy also had a 4.4 forty yard dash and a 35 in vertical leap. Having elite playmakers is important for your success and Juedy is a #1 WR from day one.

9. CeeDee Lamb WR Oklahoma - Lamb has put together 2 very good years for a top 10 program. He has shown the ability to break off big runs and to be a dangerous after the catch guy. He is 6'2" 198 lbs with 32 1/4 in arms and 9 1/4 in hands. He ran a 4.5 forty yard dash and had a 34.5 in vertical leap. Lamb has the necessary speed and catch radius to make him a #1 WR in the NFL. Lamb is not the route runner that Juedy is but he is still a serious playmaker.

10. Jedrick Wills OT Alabama - Wills has been the starting RT for Alabama for the past 2 years. Wills being on the right side is like other teams LT as Tua is left-handed so the right side is his blindside. Wills has been an above average rush and pass blocker as well as having great size. He is 6'4" and 315 lbs with 34+ in arms and 10 in hands. Wills can unquestionably be a dominate RT and more than Wirfs probably move to the LT position.

11. Mekhi Becton OT Louisville - Becton is a massive man standing 6'7" weighing 365 lbs with 35 5/8 in arms and 10 3/4 in hands. Becton is not just huge he is mobile for even a small OT. Becton also has insane power, he is built like and ox having the best hand punches of any offensive lineman, not as accurate as delivering the hand blows as Thomas but powerful. He can also move with pass rushers and is insane length keeps them off of him. He should be an absolute beast in the run game and with good coaching continue to develop as a pass blocker. Becton is lower than the other OT's because of lesser competition and he is the most "raw" of the top 4 OT's.

12. Henry Ruggs WR Alabama - Ruggs had a very solid year as a WR in Alabama's dynamic aerial attack. He put up 40+ catches, 700+ yards and 7+ TDs over the past 2 seasons. He would have put up much better numbers if he was the lead WR at another school like Lamb. Ruggs has solid production from a power 5 school as well as elite measurables. Ruggs is 5'11", 188 lbs, 10 1/8 in hands, 4.27 forty yard dash, 42 in vertical leap and a 131 in broad jump. Ruggs has shown he has the ability to be a great playmaker in the NFL and day one starting ability.

13. Derrick Brown DT Auburn - Brown has put together multiple productive seasons at a power 5 school as well as possessing great size and mobility for a defensive tackle. The reason Brown is lower on my big board than everyone else is because he plays the lowest value position in the NFL right now. Other than Aaron Darnold is there a defensive tackle making a significant impact on games? Look at the defensive tackles drafted in the 1st round last year, how much of an impact did they make in the win/loss column? Brown is a beast and based on prospect ratings he deserves to be in the top 5 but his positional value drops him much lower. Unless he is going to have 15-20 sacks a year like Darnold than he isn't worth a top 10 pick.

14. CJ Henderson CB Florida - Henderson has elite cover grades for the past few years at a power 5 conference. He has shown the ability to stay with some of the best WR's in college football. Henderson has average interception and passes defended numbers but teams didn't target him that much. It is well documented that he isn't the greatest of tacklers but he has the size and strength to do so. Besides, elite corners don't get paid to tackle they get paid to cover which Henderson does well. Henderson has great physical treats as well with 6'1' frame weighing 201lbs to go along with 31 5/8 in arms and 9 in hands. He also ran a 4.39 forty yard dash to go along with a 37.5 in vertical and 20 reps of the 225 lbs bench press. He is the 2nd best CB in this class and pass coverage is the 2nd most important thing to building a successful team. 

15. Justin Herbert QB Oregon - Herbert has been the starting QB for a power 5 school for 4 years with 43 starts under his belt. His overall record is 21 wins and 6 losses over the past 2 years. Herbert has great tools, he has a good arm and the ability to run. He is definitely an above average QB but is he a franchise QB? Did he ever really carry his team or did his team carry him? It isn't clear like the other two QB's at the top of this list. Herbert is 6'6' and 238 lbs with a great arm and above average mobility. In the right system he should be an average to above average starter. Since QB is the most important position you have to be willing to take a shot at a guy that has shown the potential that he has. I just don't think he is a top of the line QB worth taking in the top 10 picks.

16. Justin Jefferson WR LSU - Jefferson had a monster season with 111 catches for 1540 yards and 18 touchdowns. Certainly had help playing with the best college QB but he had solid production last year as well with 54 catches 875 yards and 6 TD's. Jefferson is 6'1' weighting 202 lbs with 33 in arms and 9 1/8 in hands. He ran a 4.4 forty yard dash and had a 37.5 in vertical leap. Jefferson has both on the field production and physical ability to be an above average starting WR in the NFL.  Jefferson will do his best work out of the slot.



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