[Dynasty] 2020 NFL Draft Class (5 Viewers)

Ohio State junior RB J.K. Dobbins received a first-round grade from Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline.

In a draft class loaded with running back talent, it's hard to envision Dobbins (5'10/217) actually being selected in the first-round right now unless he shows more top speed than he had last season. Dobbins, however, does offer a potential three-down workload as a back who can run between the tackles and catch passes, so, worst case, Dobbins becomes a capable pass-catching back in the NFL. For now, consider Dobbins a Day 2 prospect with some upside.

SOURCE: Draft Analyst

Jul 19, 2019, 7:39 PM ET

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Faust said:

2020 NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers

TOP-15 2020 NFL DRAFT WR RANKINGS

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Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline wrote that he believes Wisconsin junior RB Jonathan Taylor has "limitations" at the next level.

"He’s a strong downhill ball carrier but lacks the speed and quickness to have any impact around the perimeter. I struggle to see Taylor as a feature runner in the NFL," Pauline wrote in his analysis of Taylor (5'11/219), who he projects as a second round pick. The junior running back was college football's best in 2018, as he won the Doak Walker Award and was also a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Walker Camp POY awards. But the NFL is a different beast, with more teams taking a "committee" approach to the running back position as opposed to counting on one feature back. And while Taylor did rush for 2,194 yards and 16 touchdowns last season he wasn't much of a factor in the passing game, catching eight passes for 60 yards. Getting better in that regard would positively impact his draft prospects.

SOURCE: Draft Analyst

Jul 23, 2019, 4:32 PM ET

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Oregon senior QB Justin Herbert said of his decision to return to school for the 2019 season, "There was way more pulling me back than leading me out."

"It’s a year that I’ll never be able to get back, and something that I really wanted to cherish," Herbert explained while taking part in Pac-12 Media Days. The 6-foot-6, 237-pound senior would have been vying to be the first or second quarterback off the board had he declared last winter. The reality is that the talented gunslinger probably needed another year in school. His sometime inconsistencies last season were puzzling and frustrating, and those would have been nitpicked to death during the evaluating process. If Herbert can turn in a complete campaign, he'll be on very solid footing for a top-10 selection.

SOURCE: Rob Moseley on Twitter

Jul 24, 2019, 1:00 PM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler writes that Clemson junior WR Tee Higgins' "ability to use his length to expand his catch radius is uncanny."

"He not only has the body malleability and leaping skills to make catches over defenders," Brugler writes of the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Higgins, "but he also displays impressive concentration and judgment skills to turn contested jump-balls into big plays." While the analyst loves the junior's contested-catch work, he would like to see Higgins maybe not have to fight for so many balls -- and that would come about if Higgy can improve on his subtleties in the route-running game. Notes Brugler, "Higgins is a big play creator, but has work to do if he wants to be a consistent NFL target." A Day 1 selection will very much be in play should the wideout declare after the season.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 24, 2019, 12:40 PM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler ranks Oklahoma junior WR CeeDee Lamb second among wideouts in the 2020 draft class coming into the 2019 season.

Brugler notes that Lamb's top trait is his "catch point skills,' and he notes that Lamb is arguably the best pass-catcher in all of college football. Pretty high praise, that. Brugler also writes that Lamb shows some above-average traits in his route-running, but his consistency isn't there yet, particularly at the stem. "An explosive talent, Lamb needs to do a better job making each route look the same to keep coverage defenders guessing," Brugler writes in his outlook, "but the athletic traits, ball skills and competitive drive are all there for Lamb to be a star in the NFL."

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 24, 2019, 11:09 AM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler compares Colorado junior WR Laviska Shenault to Kansas City Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins.

Well, sorta. "A not-as-fast, but more-physical version of Sammy Watkins," Brugler writes when talking about his first impressions of Shenault, and an NFL scout confirmed these thoughts. He ranks the 6-foot-2, 224-pound wideout tops among the wide receiver group this summer, and cites his playmaking-ability as the biggest strength. Anyone who watched Colorado play while he was healthy would agree, but it's worth noting he missed several games with a toe injury, and durability is listed as his biggest weakness by Brugler. He's already talked about joining the 2020 draft, and assuming he goes (he's going), he should be one of the first players at this position -- and any position -- off the board. Assuming he does stay healthy, of course.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 24, 2019, 10:40 AM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler writes that Alabama junior WR Henry Ruggs "us[es] his long-speed to destroy pursuit angles and out-race the defense."

While Brugler loves Ruggs' speed -- we all love Ruggs' speed -- he would like to see the wideout continue to hone his technique on routes. The analyst notes that the 6-foot, 183-pound junior "lacks polish" and "must use better synchronization from his feet to his hips and his head to drive defenders off the route or snap off patterns." Ruggs is not outside the realm of possibility for a Day 1 selection, but he is far more athlete than wideout when compared to a technician like Jerry Jeudy. If Ruggs can show consistent improvements in some of the more subtle aspects of the game this fall, look out. He possesses intriguing upside.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 24, 2019, 4:56 PM ET

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Per Pro Football Focus, Louisiana redshirt junior RB Trey Ragas posted 852 rushing yards after contact last season.

According to the outlet's metrics, Ragas (5'11/227) forced 55 missed tackles with 37 runs of 10 or more yards during the 2018 campaign. He posted the top overall grade among all returning Sun Belt running backs. Putting the above awesome "after contact" numbers in context, the redshirt junior rushed for 1,181 yards during the fall campaign. He is capable of simply making defenders look silly.

SOURCE: PFF College on Twitter

Jul 24, 2019, 3:46 PM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler is impressed with TCU junior WR Jalen Reagor's "ability to shift gears in order to leverage routes to open passing windows."

"His varying bursts of speed creates little wasted motion in his breaks and allows him to uncover," Brugler writes of the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Reagor. The analyst sees the junior's size as what will most be nitpicked during the evaluating process, but believes that Reagor can make up for this at least by degrees with improvements in his play finishes, noting that he posted a drop-rate of 6.8% last season -- not horrendous, but little tweaks in concentration could go a long ways. Reagor is an athletic dynamo capable of a sub-4.30-second 40-yard dash and a 380-pound bench press. Beyond the athleticism, what impresses us most is that he somehow managed to post a 72-1061-9 receiving line in TCU's dreadful passing offense last season. Reagor is just that good.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 24, 2019, 1:43 PM ET

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Pro Football Focus' Connor Mellor passes along that Oklahoma State junior WR Tylan Wallace logged 708 yards on targets of 20-plus yards last season.

That blows the next closest receiver -- Jerry Jeudy, with 570 deep yards -- off the map by a healthy margin. Wallace (6'0/185) averaged 17.3 yards per reception for the 2018 season while posting an 86-1491-12 receiving line. Couple that deep skill with his ability to come down with the contested catch (he logged 23 to lead the FBS last season, per PFF) and you have a lethal wide receiver. He has been taking in all kinds of preseason plaudits this summer, including first-team All-American recognition from both Athlon Sports and the Sporting News, among others. Wallace will have a shot at a Day 1 selection next spring with a declaration, assuming health and a clean evaluating process.

SOURCE: Cam Mellor on Twitter

Jul 26, 2019, 11:23 AM ET

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Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline called Clemson junior RB Travis Etienne a "much tougher version of former Tiger C.J. Spiller."

"He is an explosive runner with incredible quickness and speed and a second gear in his game. He shows burst through the hole, beats defenders into the open field and can run to daylight," Pauline writes of the 5-foot-10, 215-pound Etienne, who has a chance to be the first running back drafted next spring with a declaration after the season. The raw athleticism is all there in spades when it comes to the junior. Now it's a matter of making little adjustments. For instance, The Athletic's Dane Brugler would like to see Etienne develop a better feel for pacing and tempo. His pass-catching is also an area of deficiency which he must hone, though we will note that Pauline actually likes his pure ability catching the ball. Etienne has admitted to feeling "nervous" when the ball comes his way through the air, though, which obviously limits his upside in that side of the game, at least as things stand right now.

SOURCE: Draft Analyst

Jul 26, 2019, 10:58 AM ET

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NFL.com's Lance Zierlein writes that Georgia junior QB Jake Fromm's "demeanor and poise [are] up there near or at the top of the QBs [he has] studied this summer."

Fromm (6'2/220) might not have the physical upside of Justin Herbert or the Terminator-esque efficiency of Tua Tagovailoa, but he appeals as a steady, accurate signal-caller who falls into the "high floor if lower ceiling" draft phylum. And that profile has its appeal, even if we aren't necessarily talking sex appeal. Any talk of a top-10 pick would be too rich for our blood, but a later Day 1 or early Day 2 selection would not feel out of place.

SOURCE: Lance Zierlein on Twitter

Jul 26, 2019, 3:52 PM ET

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Utah senior RB Zack Moss said, "The knee is fine; I can do anything and everything I want to now. It’s a lot better than it was before."

Moss (5'10/215) has a worrisome injury history -- one that will be heavily analyzed for the next nine months -- but Moss is a "terrific talent" when he's at full speed. His offensive coordinator believes he'll be back to normal in 2019, even mentioning Moss as a 23 to 27 carries per game candidate this season. That won't happen, but he could be in the 15-20 range. Regardless, Moss should be plenty productive before he enters the pre-draft process. The senior running back reportedly will run in the 4.4s at over 210 pounds, making Moss a quality Day 2 prospect if his knee checks out.

SOURCE: The Salt Lake Tribune

Jul 27, 2019, 3:49 PM ET

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Texas senior WR Collin Johnson is The Athletic's Dane Brugler's highest-ranked senior receiver.

Johnson (6'6/221) is in the Vincent Jackson mold as a big-body with decent weight-adjusted speed when he works downfield. Brugler believes Johnson's skillset is enough to warrant a second- or third-round grade at this point in the process. Last year, Johnson was fantastic on deep routes largely because of his high-end contested catch rate. If Johnson has a 1,000-yard campaign and runs well, Johnson could end up being a top-64 selection.

SOURCE: Dane Brugler on Twitter

Jul 27, 2019, 3:15 PM ET

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Per Pro Football Focus, Tulane redshirt senior QB Justin McMillan averaged the most yards per attempt on play-action last season among returning AAC quarterbacks.

McMillan averaged a whopping 12.1 yards per attempt on play-action, a significant amount more than the next closest players; Memphis QB Brady White (9.6), UCF QB Mckenzie Milton (9.3), and D'Eriq King (9.2). McMillan may have performed well on play-action but he was pretty brutal in terms of completion rate (51.3 percent). He led the Green Wave to a 5-1 record once he took over as a starter and was recently stamped with a seventh-round grade by Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline. If McMillan can prove to be a bit more accurate he should be in for a big season.

SOURCE: Pro Football Focus on Twitter

Jul 27, 2019, 2:33 PM ET

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Per Pro Football Focus, North Texas senior QB Mason Fine posted a grade of 88.7 on third and fourth downs last season.

That was the top mark among returning CUSA quarterbacks. Overall, Fine logged a grade of 90.8 last season while turning in the top adjusted completion percentage among conference returnees. Traditionally, the senior gunslinger passed for 3,793 yards while posting a 27/5 TD/INT ratio. A lack of size and a lack of a big arm is probably going to prevent him from seeing serious draft interest until the later rounds next spring, but it is not completely beyond the pale that Fine might sneak in on Day 3 with a strong evaluating process.

SOURCE: PFF College on Twitter

Jul 30, 2019, 3:37 PM ET

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49% of Tennessee junior RB Ty Chandler's 630 rushing yards came on eight carries.

How. Is. This. Possible? Chandler had eight huge plays and averaged 3.2 yards on his 104 other carries, per the Rocky Top Insider. This shows how explosive Chandler can be -- this applies to his receiving ability too -- but how much work he and his offensive line have to do for the Volunteers' rushing production to be more consistent.

SOURCE: Rocky Top Insider

Jul 29, 2019, 10:18 PM ET

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Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy expects FAU senior TE Harrison Bryant to be "a name everyone knows by next April."

Bryant (6'5/240) is likely to end up as a prospect with a thumbs-up grade from both scouting and analytics communities. The senior was PFF's top-ranked tight end last year among returning FBS tight ends, thanks to a 45-662-4 receiving line and nice blocking grades. With another nice season and a clean pre-draft process, Bryant could sneak into Day 2 next draft. He's one of the better senior tight end prospects.

SOURCE: Jim Nagy on Twitter

Jul 31, 2019, 1:15 PM ET

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Bleacher Report's Matt Miller lists Ohio State senior WR Binjimen Victor as a 2020 NFL Draft prospect.

Victor (6'4/205) could be the next low-volume receiver prospect to come out of Ohio State. The senior only has caught 9, 23, and 21 passes in his first three seasons, but it's obviously much harder to climb the Buckeyes' receiver depth chart. Still, Victor will either have to approach the 40-catch mark or test really, really well to earn a Day 3 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. As of now, Victor is teetering on the Day 3/UDFA borderline.

SOURCE: Matt Miller on Twitter

Jul 31, 2019, 1:11 PM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler included Tennessee senior TE Dominick Wood-Anderson in his 2020 NFL Draft tight end breakdown.

Wood-Anderson (6'4/257) was a limited player last year, catching 17 passes for a minimal 140 yards (8.2 YPR) and two touchdowns. There's optimism that Wood-Anderson will take on a bigger role next season, however. New OC Jim Chaney "likes to incorporate [tight ends] in the passing game." Consider Wood-Anderson a UDFA prospect with potential to sneak into Day 3 if he shows well in 2019 and tests well during the pre-draft process.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 31, 2019, 12:56 PM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler included Oklahoma State redshirt sophomore TE Jelani Woods in his 2020 tight end breakdown.

Woods (6'6/265) is a monster physically. He has breakout potential in 2019 with his role expected to expand. Last year, Woods was limited to just six games, in which he caught just seven passes. Receiver Tylan Wallace and running back Chuba Hubbard are going to demand a lot of touches, so Woods will need a nice season from quarterback Spencer Sanders to truly breakout.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 31, 2019, 12:10 PM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler believes Vanderbilt senior TE Jared Pinkney has the best chance of becoming a first-round pick among teammates RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn and WR Kalija Lipscomb.

Pinkney (6'4/255) arguably is the top tight end in this 2020 draft class given his athleticism and production. The senior "enough speed to get vertical" and has the body type to win contested balls. Last year, Pinkney had the most receiving yards (770), the second-most receiving touchdowns (7), and the third-most receptions (50) in 2018 among returning FBS tight ends. Expect another big season before receiving a Senior Bowl and Combine invite.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 31, 2019, 11:14 AM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler called Oklahoma junior TE Grant Calcaterra "a hybrid receiver/tight end with intriguing receiving skills and unproven blocking ability."

Calcaterra (6'4/231) doesn't have traditional NFL tight end size or blocking ability, but he is an athletic pass-catcher who had a 26-396-6 receiving line as a sophomore. Some NFL teams will not think highly of Calcaterra. Others will love him. In the NFL, Calcaterra can line up in the slot and work the middle of the field as a receiving-first tight end. His one-dimensional skillset will likely keep him out of Round 1, but he's on track for a Day 2 selection.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jul 31, 2019, 11:05 AM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler writes that South Florida redshirt senior TE Mitchell Wilcox's "natural feel for the position is why he has NFL starting potential."

"A good-sized athlete, he is a mature route-runner for his age, shifting his gears and transitioning really well out of his breaks," Brugler writes of the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Wilcox. The evaluator loves the redshirt senior's "large, strong" hands as well. More critically, he believes that Wilcox must continue to work on his blocking, particularly sustaining his blocks. Brugler sees Wilcox as a potential Day 2 selection if he can show improvement in the finer aspects of his craft this fall.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Aug 1, 2019, 9:25 PM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler called Missouri redshirt senior TE Albert Okwuegbunam a "very fluid athlete for his size."

Brugler notes that this fluidity "allows [Okwuegbunam] to adjust mid-air, easily transition from pass-catcher to ball carrier and get upfield." The analyst would like to see Albert O. work to tighten up his routes this coming season, as he saw some of the 6-foot-5, 255-pounder's breaks as "sluggish" during his film review. We will add one more concern on top of Brugler's, that being health. The redshirt senior missed the final month of the 2018 campaign dealing with a shoulder injury and was a limited participant in spring camp.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Aug 1, 2019, 6:09 PM ET

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The Athletic's Dane Brugler writes that Stanford junior TE Colby Parkinson's "expansive catch radius is the key to his success."

"While his blocking is a work in progress, Parkinson is a large-framed athlete with blossoming receiving skills," Brugler notes of the 6-foot-7, 240-pound junior. On the blocking front, the evaluator explains that Parkinson "needs to improve his technique and balance once engaged to improve as a drive blocker." Brugler has spotted issues with pad level and leverage in his film studies, here. Parkinson has upside toward early on Day 2 or late on Day 1 for next spring, should he declare this winter.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Aug 1, 2019, 5:07 PM ET

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Colorado junior WR Laviska Shenault (toe) is healthy for the start of preseason camp.

Shenault (6'2/224) did not take part in spring practice to any serious due to offseason toe surgery, but he is good to go for camp. A potential top-15 selection for next spring's draft, the junior is coming off an 86-1011-6 receiving line -- and that was recorded even despite his missing time with the toe issue. If Shenault can maintain his health this coming season, he has a good chance to better those marks.

SOURCE: Brian Howell on Twitter

Aug 1, 2019, 4:05 PM ET

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NFL Media's Chad Reuter believes Florida International redshirt senior QB James Morgan is "toolsy enough to get on scouts' radars."

Morgan (6'4/213) is one of the better Group of 5 quarterbacks in 2019, but he'll need a really big 2019 season to end up as a Day 3 selection. Last year, Morgan led the Conference USA in passer rating in a clean pocket and walked away with an impressive 8.4 YPA. Morgan will have the Golden Panthers in bowl contention and should be a nice UDFA prospect.

SOURCE: Chad Reuter on Twitter

Aug 3, 2019, 7:30 PM ET

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Arkansas redshirt senior TE C.J. O'Grady received a 78.3 PFF grade.

O'Grady (6'4/251) is a fine, not elite NFL prospect. His offensive coordinator believes O'Grady can make in the league "if he can get it right up here" as he pointed to his head. That's a pretty telling comment, but O'Grady does have time to figure things out. O'Grady posted a 30-400-6 receiving line with below-average quarterback play last year.

SOURCE: PFF College on Twitter

Aug 3, 2019, 7:19 PM ET

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Colorado junior WR Laviska Shenault said he plans on running the 40-yard dash in the 4.3s or 4.4s.

Shenault (6'2/224) sat down with NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks to chat about his future in the NFL. The first-round prospect mentioned he plans on growing his route tree in 2019 and believes he'll impress at the Combine, which is what everyone expects. Shenault said he crafts his game after Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald, and even Antonio Brown, despite major differences in size and style of play. If Shenault's foot can hold up, he'll be one of the most productive players in the country before heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

SOURCE: Move The Sticks Podcast

Aug 3, 2019, 3:40 PM ET

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