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Todd McShay 2020 NFL Draft Big Board: Final Rankings Released Before Round 1
April 23, 2020
Ohio State defensive end Chase Young took the top spot on the final big board from ESPN's Todd McShay before the 2020 NFL draft, which kicks off with the first round Thursday night.
Young received a grade of 95 from McShay, who listed 300 players on his board. Here's a look at the top 10:
- Chase Young (DE, Ohio State, 95)
- Joe Burrow (QB, LSU, 94)
- Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn, 94)
- Isaiah Simmons (OLB, Clemson, 94)
- Jeff Okudah (CB, Ohio State, 94)
- Jerry Jeudy (WR, Alabama, 94)
- Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama, 93)
- Jedrick Wills Jr. (OT, Alabama, 93)
- Javon Kinlaw (DT, South Carolina, 92)
- CeeDee Lamb (WR, Oklahoma, 92)
Young has been adamant about his status atop the 2020 draft class in recent months.
"I definitely think I'm the best player in the draft," he told reporters at the combine in February. "I think I showed it on my tape. Every game, I think I showed it. I definitely think I put my best foot forward this year. I grinded hard. Two of my biggest things are hard work and dedication, and I'm going to bring those two to the NFL with me."
He echoed those thoughts to ESPN's Maria Taylor in mid-April: "Yes, definitely. I know I'm the best, definitely."
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller agrees, ranking the OSU standout as the No. 1 player in the class and giving him a 99 overall grade, three points higher than any other prospect.
Young was a dominant force across three years with the Buckeyes, registering 30.5 sacks in 34 games to go along with 98 total tackles, including 40.5 for a loss, nine forced fumbles and eight passes defended.
The 21-year-old Maryland native won't be the first overall pick, though. That honor will go to LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, barring the biggest draft-night shocker in history.
Burrow said on the PFTPM podcast Monday (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk) he expects to become the newest member of the Cincinnati Bengals but noted it hasn't been guaranteed to him.
"I have been watching the draft enough years that I know crazy things have happened, and I have watched people on camera slip and then the camera stays in their face and all that stuff, so I am keeping everything on the table," he said. "I expect to be No. 1, but you know I am not positive about it."
Burrow should come off the board first, and Young will likely follow to the Washington Redskins with the second choice.
There are plenty of question marks beyond that duo, however, especially as quarterback-needy teams jockey for position to land the class' other top signal-callers like Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert.