2020 NFL draft: Ranking top 10 prospects at each position pre-Combine

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is right around the corner.

With drills only a day away and teams, prospects and media alike already settled down in Indianapolis, one of the offseason’s biggest events is just starting to heat up.

The Combine serves as an opportunity for all types of draft prospects to showcase their skills to NFL organizations. From national championship winners to unheralded small-school talents, the melting pot of talent that the event brings together serves as a representation of the prospects that a majority of the league views as draftable.

Rankings will change as certain players put together impressive or disappointing workouts, but the tape is ultimately more important. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the top 10 prospects at each position in this year’s class.

We’ll start with the 50 best overall prospects on my board:

EDIT: Tyler Biadasz has dropped down my board upon learning about his shoulder surgery that will cause him to miss the Combine and his Pro Day.

The 2020 quarterback class is a talented one for sure. Joe Burrow will likely be the first overall pick, while players like Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love could all be gone by the time the first 15 picks have concluded. Anthony Gordon and Cole McDonald stand out as intriguing sleeper picks on the third day of the draft if the Bears want to draft a long-term backup.

While this year’s class doesn’t have premium, top-end talent at running back, it does feature a handful of potential starters. The top three backs could all be selected by the time the second round ends, while players like Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Cam Akers have starting potential, too. Of the running backs on this list, keep an eye out for local product Reggie Corbin for the Bears, who brings plenty of speed to the table.

Of these 10 receivers, four of them are in their top 15, and nine of them are placed in my top 50, and Denzel Mims isn’t too far behind. There are legitimately more than 20 receivers who could carry Day 2 grades on my board by the time things are said and done. While receiver isn’t a big need for Chicago, a Jalen Reagor or a K.J. Hamler could give a dynamic edge to their offense and could be the best player available in Round 2.

The 2020 draft has no shortage of starting-caliber talent at the tight end position. From dynamic ‘U’ tight ends like Brycen Hopkins, Harrison Bryant and Hunter Bryant to physical ‘Y’ tight ends like Cole Kmet and Thaddeus Moss, this class has a good blend of skill sets that offer quite a bit of everything. As for players the Bears can target? Just about any of them would fit the bill.

The offensive tackles in the 2020 class are one of the draft’s deepest position groups. Each of the top five tackles stand out as potential first-round talents, while the rest of the group is rounded out by prospects with palpable upside. Day 2 targets like Prince Tega Wanogho, Lucas Niang and Saahdiq Charles could be worth looks for the Bears if they want to draft an eventual replacement for Bobby Massie.

While not a stacked group of interior blockers, the 2020 draft does have some solid talent in the trenches, especially at center. Tyler Biadasz is an instant starter at center, while prospects like Cesar Ruiz, Matt Hennessy, Nick Harris and Lloyd Cushenberry could all be solid starting players at the position. As far as guards go, look for someone like Robert Hunt or Solomon Kindley to be targets for the Bears.

Speaking of trenches, the opposite side of the interior features plenty of starting defenders. Derrick Brown is a blue-chipper on the defensive line, while the remaining top five should be selected within the first two rounds at the very least. Some athletic sleepers include James Lynch and McTelvin Agim, but the Bears likely won’t target any defensive lineman early in this draft.

Chase Young grabs all of the highlights, but this year’s group of edge rushers is certainly a deep one. Of my top 50 prospects, eight of them are edge rushers, and three of them are in my top 20. The Bears could realistically see any of the defenders outside of the top three fall into the second round, with Julian Okwara, Josh Uche and Zack Baun standing out as potential fits in a Leonard Floyd-like role.

This year’s linebacker class isn’t all that deep, but there are a handful of impact players, headlined by the dynamic Isaiah Simmons. The Bears could look for a late-round linebacker to replace some of their potential free agents, and a player like Davion Taylor or Logan Wilson could fit that bill.

If you’re looking starters at the cornerback position, you’ll find plenty of them in this year’s class. There’s a massive gap between Jeff Okudah and the rest of this class, but the next tier down holds plenty of quality Day 2 starters. With the signing of Tre Roberson, it’s likely the Bears will go with a cheap option to start alongside Kyle Fuller, but someone like Bryce Hall or Noah Igbinoghene could still be worth a look in the second round.

Another relatively weak group in this year’s class, the 2020 draft’s safeties aren’t all that deep, but they make up for it with top-tier talent. Grant Delpit is still a first-round talent despite tackling concerns, Xavier McKinney is a well-rounded difference maker, Antoine Winfield Jr. is a ballhawking machine, while Kyle Dugger is a small-school prospect with prototypical size and athleticism. For a mid-round target, look for a guy like Antoine Brooks Jr. or Reggie Floyd to fit that box strong safety mold.