2018 NFL Draft Big Board: Matt Miller's Pre-Combine Rankings
As the NFL draft process roles on, there is one major date left on the calendar—the NFL Scouting Combine.
That one week in Indianapolis will change much of what you see below, but it's always a good idea to do some housekeeping before the workouts, medicals and interviews take place. That means updating my top 400 big board and breaking it down into positional groups that you see here.
Now that a complete list of players eligible for the draft is set and the Senior Bowl is in the rearview mirror, this is a look at how the top 50 overall and each position group are shaking out. Of course, this list will change as more time allows for film study and as workout results come in. Those numbers and the interview process allow evaluators to break ties at positions—like the four quarterbacks all grouped together in that ranking below.
Top 50 Overall Players
1 of 14
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | RB Saquon Barkley | Penn State |
| 2 | OG Quenton Nelson | Notre Dame |
| 3 | S Minkah Fitzpatrick | Alabama |
| 4 | EDGE Bradley Chubb | NC State |
| 5 | QB Sam Darnold | USC |
| 6 | QB Josh Rosen | UCLA |
| 7 | QB Josh Allen | Wyoming |
| 8 | CB Denzel Ward | Ohio State |
| 9 | S Derwin James | FSU |
| 10 | LB Tremaine Edmunds | Virginia Tech |
| 11 | LB Roquan Smith | Georgia |
| 12 | QB Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma |
| 13 | OT Connor Williams | Texas |
| 14 | CB Josh Jackson | Iowa |
| 15 | WR Calvin Ridley | Alabama |
| 16 | RB Derrius Guice | LSU |
| 17 | RB Ronald Jones | USC |
| 18 | EDGE Harold Landry | Boston College |
| 19 | LB Rashaan Evans | Alabama |
| 20 | C Billy Price | Ohio State |
| 21 | LB Leighton Vander Esch | Boise State |
| 22 | RB Sony Michel | Georgia |
| 23 | EDGE Marcus Davenport | UT-San Antonio |
| 24 | OT Mike McGlinchey | Notre Dame |
| 25 | C James Daniels | Iowa |
| 26 | OG Isaiah Wynn | Georgia |
| 27 | DL Vita Vea | Washington |
| 28 | DL Maurice Hurst | Michigan |
| 29 | CB Isaiah Oliver | Colorado |
| 30 | DL Da'Ron Payne | Alabama |
| 31 | EDGE Arden Key | LSU |
| 32 | WR Courtland Sutton | SMU |
| 33 | LB Malik Jefferson | Texas |
| 34 | S Ronnie Harrison | Alabama |
| 35 | EDGE Sam Hubbard | Ohio State |
| 36 | CB Mike Hughes | Central Florida |
| 37 | TE Dallas Goedert | South Dakota St. |
| 38 | CB Jaire Alexander | Louisville |
| 39 | DL Harrison Phillips | Stanford |
| 40 | DL Derrick Nnadi | FSU |
| 41 | WR Christian Kirk | Texas A&M |
| 42 | WR D.J. Moore | Maryland |
| 43 | S Justin Reid | Stanford |
| 44 | OG Will Hernandez | UTEP |
| 45 | OT Jamarco Jones | Ohio State |
| 46 | CB Carlton Davis | Auburn |
| 47 | CB Donte Jackson | LSU |
| 48 | WR James Washington | Oklahoma St. |
| 49 | OT Kolton Miller | UCLA |
| 50 | DL Taven Bryan | Florida |
Top 10 Quarterbacks
2 of 14
Biggest Riser: Kyle Lauletta, Richmond
Biggest Faller: Tanner Lee, Nebraska
Most NFL-Ready: Josh Rosen, UCLA
Best Arm: Josh Allen, Wyoming
Best Runner: Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Best Potential: Allen
Biggest Question Mark: Allen
Biggest Sleeper: Mike White, Western Kentucky
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Sam Darnold | UCLA |
| 2 | Josh Rosen | USC |
| 3 | Josh Allen | Wyoming |
| 4 | Baker Mayfield | Oklahoma |
| 5 | Lamar Jackson | Louisville |
| 6 | Mason Rudolph | Oklahoma State |
| 7 | Luke Falk | Washington State |
| 8 | Kyle Lauletta | Richmond |
| 9 | Kurt Benkert | Virginia |
| 10 | Mike White | Western Kentucky |
Top 10 Running Backs
3 of 14
Biggest Riser: Nick Chubb, Georgia
Biggest Faller: Josh Adams, Notre Dame
Most NFL-Ready: Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Best Third-Down Back: Barkley
Best Speed: Ronald Jones II, USC
Best Power: Derrius Guice, LSU
Best Potential: Barkley
Biggest Question Mark: Nick Chubb, Georgia (injury history)
Biggest Sleeper: Mark Walton, Miami (Fla.)
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Saquon Barkley | Penn State |
| 2 | Derrius Guice | LSU |
| 3 | Ronald Jones | USC |
| 4 | Sony Michel | Georgia |
| 5 | Kerryon Johnson | Auburn |
| 6 | Mark Walton | Miami |
| 7 | Rashaad Penny | SDSU |
| 8 | Nick Chubb | Georgia |
| 9 | Nyheim Hines | NC State |
| 10 | Akrum Wadley | Iowa |
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Top 5 Fullbacks
4 of 14
Most NFL-Ready: Dimitri Flowers, Oklahoma
Best Pass-Blocker: Nick Bawden, SDSU
Best Receiver: Flowers
Best Power: Khalid Hill, Michigan
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Dimitri Flowers | Oklahoma |
| 2 | Nick Bawden | SDSU |
| 3 | Donnie Ernsberger | Western Michigan |
| 4 | Khalid Hill | Michigan |
| 5 | Austin Ramesh | Wisconsin |
Top 10 Wide Receivers
5 of 14
Biggest Riser: James Washington, Oklahoma State
Biggest Faller: Deon Cain, Clemson
Most NFL-Ready: Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Best Boundary Receiver: Courtland Sutton, SMU
Best Slot Receiver: Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Best Hands: Ridley
Best Route-Runner: Ridley
Best Potential: Sutton
Biggest Question Mark: Cain
Biggest Sleeper: Korey Robertson, Southern Miss
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Calvin Ridley | Alabama |
| 2 | Courtland Sutton | SMU |
| 3 | Christian Kirk | Texas A&M |
| 4 | D.J. Moore | Maryland |
| 5 | James Washington | Oklahoma State |
| 6 | Deon Cain | Clemson |
| 7 | Simmie Cobbs | Indiana |
| 8 | D.J. Chark | LSU |
| 9 | Dante Pettis | Washington |
| 10 | Michael Gallup | Colorado State |
Top 10 Tight Ends
6 of 14
Biggest Riser: Mike Gesicki, Penn State
Biggest Faller: Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
Most NFL-Ready: Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
Best Slot Tight End: Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
Best Hands: Gesicki
Best Route-Runner: Gesicki
Best Blocker: Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
Best Power: Hurst
Biggest Question Mark: Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
Biggest Sleeper: Christopher Herndon, Miami
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Dallas Goedert | South Dakota State |
| 2 | Mike Gesicki | Penn State |
| 3 | Hayden Hurst | South Carolina |
| 4 | Mark Andrews | Oklahoma |
| 5 | Ryan Izzo | FSU |
| 6 | Jaylen Samuels | NC State |
| 7 | Ian Thomas | Indiana |
| 8 | Chris Herndon | Miami (Fla.) |
| 9 | Will Dissly | Washington |
| 10 | Troy Fumagalli | Wisconsin |
Top 10 Offensive Tackles
7 of 14
Biggest Riser: Jamarco Jones, Ohio State
Biggest Faller: Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
Most NFL-Ready: Connor Williams, Texas
Best Run-Blocker: Jones
Best Pass-Blocker: Williams
Best Potential: Williams
Biggest Question Mark: Desmond Harrison, West Georgia
Biggest Sleeper: Joseph Noteboom, TCU
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Connor Williams | Texas |
| 2 | Mike McGlinchey | Notre Dame |
| 3 | Jamarco Jones | Ohio State |
| 4 | Kolton Miller | UCLA |
| 5 | Orlando Brown | Oklahoma |
| 6 | Chukwuma Okorafor | Western Michigan |
| 7 | Desmond Harrison | West Georgia |
| 8 | Joseph Noteboom | TCU |
| 9 | Brian O'Neill | Pittsburgh |
| 10 | Tyrell Crosby | Oregon |
Top 10 Offensive Guards
8 of 14
Biggest Riser: Braden Smith, Auburn
Biggest Faller: None
Most NFL-Ready: Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
Best Run-Blocker: Nelson
Best Pass-Blocker: Nelson
Best Potential: Nelson
Biggest Question Mark: Isaiah Wynn, Georgia
Biggest Sleeper: Skyler Phillips, Idaho State
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Quenton Nelson | Notre Dame |
| 2 | Isaiah Wynn | Georgia |
| 3 | Will Hernandez | UTEP |
| 4 | Braden Smith | Auburn |
| 5 | Austin Corbett | Nevada |
| 6 | Sam Jones | Arizona State |
| 7 | Sean Welsh | Iowa |
| 8 | Taylor Hearn | Clemson |
| 9 | Skyler Phillips | Idaho State |
| 10 | Wyatt Teller | Virginia Tech |
Top 10 Centers
9 of 14
Biggest Riser: James Daniels, Iowa
Biggest Faller: Mason Cole, Michigan
Most NFL-Ready: Billy Price, Ohio State
Best Run-Blocker: Daniels
Best Pass-Blocker: Price
Best Potential: Price
Biggest Question Mark: Frank Ragnow, Arkansas (injury)
Biggest Sleeper: Will Clapp, LSU
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Billy Price | Ohio State |
| 2 | James Daniels | Iowa |
| 3 | Frank Ragnow | Arkansas |
| 4 | Will Clapp | LSU |
| 5 | Mason Cole | Michigan |
| 6 | Bradley Bozeman | Alabama |
| 7 | Scott Quessenberry | UCLA |
| 8 | Coleman Shelton | Washington |
| 9 | Brian Allen | Michigan State |
| 10 | Jake Bennett | Colorado State |
Top 10 Defensive Linemen
10 of 14
Biggest Riser: Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
Biggest Faller: none
Most NFL-Ready: Vita Vea, Washington
Best Run-Stopper: Vea
Best Pass-Rusher: Maurice Hurst, Michigan
Best Potential: Payne
Biggest Question Mark: R.J. McIntosh, Miami
Biggest Sleeper: Tim Settle, Virginia Tech
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Vita Vea | Washington |
| 2 | Maurice Hurst | Michigan |
| 3 | Da'Ron Payne | Alabama |
| 4 | Harrison Phillips | Stanford |
| 5 | Derrick Nnadi | FSU |
| 6 | Taven Bryan | Florida |
| 7 | Tim Settle | Virginia Tech |
| 8 | Rasheem Green | USC |
| 9 | Da'Shawn Hand | Alabama |
| 10 | R.J. McIntosh | Miami (Fla.) |
Top 10 Edge-Rushers
11 of 14
Biggest Riser: Marcus Davenport, UTSA
Biggest Faller: Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State
Most NFL-Ready: Bradley Chubb, NC State
Best Run-Stopper: Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
Best Pass-Rusher: Arden Key, LSU
Best Potential: Chubb
Biggest Question Mark: Key
Biggest Sleeper: Dorance Armstrong Jr., Kansas
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Bradley Chubb | NC State |
| 2 | Harold Landry | Boston College |
| 3 | Marcus Davenport | UTSA |
| 4 | Arden Key | LSU |
| 5 | Sam Hubbard | Ohio State |
| 6 | Dorance Armstrong | Kansas |
| 7 | Uchenna Nwosu | USC |
| 8 | Chad Thomas | Miami (Fla.) |
| 9 | Tyquan Lewis | Ohio State |
| 10 | Jeff Holland | Auburn |
Top 10 Linebackers
12 of 14
Biggest Riser: Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
Biggest Faller: None
Most NFL-Ready: Edmunds
Best Run-Stopper: Rashaan Evans, Alabama
Best Pass Coverage: Edmunds
Best Pass-Rusher: Malik Jefferson, Texas
Best Potential: Edmunds
Biggest Question Mark: Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama (injuries)
Biggest Sleeper: Josey Jewell, Iowa
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Tremaine Edmunds | Va. Tech |
| 2 | Roquan Smith | Georgia |
| 3 | Rashaan Evans | Alabama |
| 4 | Leighton Vander Esch | Boise State |
| 5 | Malik Jefferson | Texas |
| 6 | Jerome Baker | Ohio State |
| 7 | Josey Jewell | Iowa |
| 8 | Marquis Haynes | Ole Miss |
| 9 | Lorenzo Carter | Georgia |
| 10 | Davin Bellamy | Georgia |
Top 10 Cornerbacks
13 of 14
Biggest Riser: Mike Hughes, Central Florida
Biggest Faller: Tarvarus McFadden, FSU
Most NFL-Ready: Denzel Ward, Ohio State
Best Slot Cornerback: Jaire Alexander, Louisville
Best Man Coverage: Ward
Best Zone Coverage: Anthony Averett, Alabama
Best Potential: Hughes
Biggest Question Mark: Holton Hill, Texas (suspended for violating team rules)
Biggest Sleeper: Anthony Averett, Alabama
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Denzel Ward | Ohio State |
| 2 | Josh Jackson | Iowa |
| 3 | Isaiah Oliver | Colorado |
| 4 | Mike Hughes | Central Florida |
| 5 | Jaire Alexander | Louisville |
| 6 | Carlton Davis | Auburn |
| 7 | Donte Jackson | LSU |
| 8 | M.J. Stewart | North Carolina |
| 9 | Tarvarus McFadden | FSU |
| 10 | Anthony Averett | Alabama |
Top 10 Safeties
14 of 14
Biggest Riser: Justin Reid, Stanford
Biggest Faller: Jordan Whitehead, Pitt
Most NFL-Ready: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
Best Coverage: Fitzpatrick
Best Strong Safety: Derwin James, FSU
Best Free Safety: Fitzpatrick
Best Hybrid Defender: James
Best Run-Stopper: Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
Best Potential: James
Biggest Question Mark: DeShon Elliott, Texas
Biggest Sleeper: Jessie Bates, Wake Forest
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Alabama |
| 2 | Derwin James | FSU |
| 3 | Ronnie Harrison | Alabama |
| 4 | Justin Reid | Stanford |
| 5 | Kyzir White | West Virginia |
| 6 | Jessie Bates | Wake Forest |
| 7 | Marcus Allen | Penn State |
| 8 | Terrell Edmunds | Virginia Tech |
| 9 | Quin Blanding | Virginia |
| 10 | DeShon Elliott | Texas |
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