Matt Miller 2020 Big Board: Quarterback Order Starting to Take Shape

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What happened to the hype surrounding the 2020 quarterback class? 

It's easy to get caught up in the weekly madness of the sport. One big game by a player can propel them to the national spotlight; hell, one good play can do it. Similarly, one bad week can have analysts and fans wondering out loud if a player is as talented as they were led to believe.

This microwave society isn't good for player evaluation. Hype is often fleeting, and the basis of evaluation is a continued study over time. The 2020 quarterback class is a case study in evaluation over time versus highlights.

Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa is the picture of consistency, but that's boring and easy to discount because of the talent around him. And yet a player who has thrown 27 touchdowns to just two interceptions this year doesn't get as much hype as other quarterbacks because it's what we've come to expect. Tagovailoa doesn't trend on Twitter with jaw-dropping runs or dazzling plays; he just wins and plays smart, consistent football. That's why he's not moving off his No. 1 spot in the position group.

Behind him, there hasn't been a ton of movement over the course of the season—and again, that's how evaluation should be—because overhyped players have crashed back to earth while consistent quarterbacks have continued to play well.

Joe Burrow can be considered a rising star but only by those who refuse to acknowledge how well he played to end the 2018 season. Burrow was red-hot and showing weekly signs of improvement as last year ended. He's only picked up where he left off while continuing to develop his own tools and building better chemistry with those around him.

Outside of the two dominant SEC quarterbacks, the 2020 class has question marks. Justin Herbert was anointed a franchise quarterback when he won the starting job at Oregon; and while his stats are impressive, his play can leave you wanting more. It's the same for trait-based players such as Jacob Eason (Washington) and Jordan Love (Utah State), who look the part from a height-weight-skills standpoint but haven't put together consistent performances. Each has talent and could work his way higher up the board, but their play must improve.

And then there is Jake Fromm. The Georgia quarterback is a picture of consistency but lacks the physical tools of those listed ahead of him. Quarterbacks with great minds and accuracy but limited athleticism have won in the NFL—there's that guy in New England, after all—but Fromm has his lovers and haters among NFL scouts.

Put it all together, and the 2020 quarterback class is good but not great. NFL teams in need at the position have time to figure out where they stand on this group, but those who value consistency will love what they get from the SEC.

How does the rest of the draft class shake out? Here's a look at my big board and position-by-position rankings.

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1. Chase Young, Edge, Ohio State
2. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
3. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
4. Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
5. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
6. Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
7. Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn
8. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
9. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
10. Grant Delpit, S, LSU
11. CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
12. A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa
13. D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
14. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
15. K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU
16. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
17. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
18. Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
19. Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina
20. Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama
21. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
22. Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford
23. Marvin Wilson, DL, Florida State
24. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
25. Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
26. Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
27. Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
28. Tyler Biadasz, OL, Wisconsin
29. Terrell Lewis, Edge, Alabama
30. Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
31. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
32. Austin Jackson, OT, USC

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Best Accuracy: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
Best Arm Strength: Jacob Eason, Washington
Best Mobility: Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
Best Day 1 Starter: Tagovailoa
Biggest Riser: Joe Burrow, LSU

1. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
2. Joe Burrow, LSU
3. Justin Herbert, Oregon
4. Jake Fromm, Georgia
5. Jordan Love, Utah State
6. Jacob Eason, Washington
7. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
8. Nate Stanley, Iowa
9. Steven Montez, Colorado
10. K.J. Costello, Stanford

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Best Speed: Tavien Feaster, South Carolina
Best Vision: Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Best Power: AJ Dillon, Boston College
Best Hands: D'Andre Swift, Georgia
Best Day 1 Starter: Swift
Biggest Riser: J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State

1. D'Andre Swift, Georgia
2. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
3. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
4. Travis Etienne, Clemson
5. Najee Harris, Alabama
6. Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
7. Cam Akers, Florida State
8. Zack Moss, Utah
9. AJ Dillon, Boston College
10. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt

Vasha Hunt/Associated Press

Best Hands: CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
Best Routes: Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
Best Speed: Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
Best Day 1 Starter: Jeudy
Biggest Riser: Michael Pittman Jr., USC

1. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
2. Henry Ruggs III, Alabama
3. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
4. Tee Higgins, Clemson
5. Laviska Shenault Jr., Colorado
6. Michael Pittman Jr., USC
7. KJ Hamler, Penn State
8. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan
9. Sage Surratt, Wake Forest
10. Charleston Rambo, Oklahoma

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Best Blocker: Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
Best Route-Runner: Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
Best Hands: Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
Most Versatile: Hunter Bryant, Washington
Best Day 1 Starter: Hopkins
Biggest Riser: Hopkins

1. Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
2. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
3. Hunter Bryant, Washington
4. Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt
5. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
6. Colby Parkinson, Stanford
7. Grant Calcaterra, Oklahoma
8. Adam Trautman, Dayton
9. Mitchell Wilcox, South Florida
10. Jacob Breeland, Oregon

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Best Run-Blocker: Andrew Thomas, Georgia
Best Pass-Blocker: Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
Best Day 1 Starter: Wirfs
Biggest Riser: Austin Jackson, USC

1. Andrew Thomas, Georgia
2. Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
3. Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
4. Austin Jackson, USC
5. Trey Adams, Washington
6. Matt Peart, UConn
7. Alaric Jackson, Iowa
8. Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn
9. Jedrick Wills Jr., Alabama
10. Walker Little, Stanford

Mark Lomoglio/Associated Press

Best Run-Blocker: Trey Smith, Tennessee
Best Pass-Blocker: Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
Best Day 1 Starter: Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
Biggest Riser: Smith


1. Tyler Biadasz, Wisconsin
2. Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
3. Trey Smith, Tennessee
4. Darryl Williams, Mississippi State
5. Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame
6. Mekhi Becton, Louisville
7. Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU
8. Ben Bredeson, Michigan
9. Jake Hanson, Oregon
10. Nick Harris, Washington

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Best Nose Tackle: Marvin Wilson, Florida State
Best 3-4 End: Raekwon Davis, Alabama
Best 4-3 Tackle: Derrick Brown, Auburn
Best Pass-Rusher: Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
Best Day 1 Starter: Brown
Biggest Riser: Kinlaw

1. Derrick Brown, Auburn
2. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
3. Raekwon Davis, Alabama
4. Marvin Wilson, Florida State
5. Ross Blacklock, TCU
6. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma
7. Leki Fotu, Utah
8. Rashard Lawrence, LSU
9. LaBryan Ray, Alabama
10. Raequan Williams, Michigan State

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Best 4-3 End: Chase Young, Ohio State
Best 3-4 Linebacker: Terrell Lewis, Alabama
Best Speed: Young
Best Power: A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
Best Day 1 Starter: Young
Biggest Riser: Zack Baun, Wisconsin

1. Chase Young, Ohio State
2. A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
3. K'Lavon Chaisson, LSU
4. Terrell Lewis, Alabama
5. Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
6. Curtis Weaver, Boise State
7. Julian Okwara, Notre Dame
8. Zack Baun, Wisconsin
9. Alton Robinson, Syracuse
10. Kenny Willekes, Michigan State

Richard Shiro/Associated Press

Best in Coverage: Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Best Middle Linebacker: Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Best Outside Linebacker: Simmons
Best Day 1 Starter: Simmons
Biggest Riser: Murray

1. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
2. Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
3. Dylan Moses, Alabama
4. Monty Rice, Georgia
5. Jacob Phillips, LSU
6. Markus Bailey, Purdue
7. Malik Harrison, Ohio State
8. Evan Weaver, California
9. Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
10. Troy Dye, Oregon

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Best in Coverage: Jeff Okudah, Ohio State
Best Speed: Trevon Diggs, Alabama
Best Day 1 Starter: Okudah
Biggest Riser: Paulson Adebo, Stanford

1. Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State
2. CJ Henderson, Florida
3. Paulson Adebo, Stanford
4. Kristian Fulton, LSU
5. Trevon Diggs, Alabama
6. A.J. Terrell, Clemson
7. Jeff Gladney, TCU
8. Shaun Wade, Ohio State
9. Jaylon Johnson, Utah
10. Bryce Hall, Virginia

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Best in Coverage: Xavier McKinney, Alabama
Best Speed: Richard Lecounte, Georgia
Best Tackler: Brandon Jones, Texas
Best Day 1 Starter: Grant Delpit, LSU
Biggest Riser: K'Von Wallace, Clemson

1. Grant Delpit, LSU
2. Xavier McKinney, Alabama
3. Richard Lecounte, Georgia
4. Brandon Jones, Texas
5. K'Von Wallace, Clemson
6. Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
7. Jordan Fuller, Ohio State
8. Antoine Brooks Jr., Maryland
9. Reggie Floyd, Virginia Tech
10. J.R. Reed, Georgia