These rankings are based fully on how I view each player’s likelihood of NFL success. They are not at all impacted by fantasy football or in what order I believe these players will be drafted. They are at least partly driven by the order in which I believe they should be drafted, albeit without any team context.
For my Top 10 RBs, click here.
- Joe Burrow, LSU
6’4/221. Lost out to Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State, then transferred to LSU. Pedestrian first season before record-shattering redshirt senior year. Wound up 25-3 in 28 starts. Plus athlete rushed for 12 TDs, 767 yards at LSU. Per PFF College’s Mike Renner, “easily the most accurate college QB we’ve ever scouted.” Passing style relies on timing, touch, ball placement, and ability to throw on the run over elite arm strength. Highly aggressive attacking downfield. Turns 24 in December. Comparison: Tony Romo.
- Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
6’0/217. Career 10.9 YPA, 87:11 TD-to-INT ratio. 9 rushing TDs. 22-2 record. Surgeries to hip, both ankles over last two years. When healthy, twitchy and sudden athlete with dual-threat traits. Quick release, ability to reset and change platforms stands out. Masterful on RPO, play-action fakes. Some tendency to play frenetically when pressured. Alabama supporting cast was chock full of future first-round picks.
- Justin Herbert, Oregon
6’6/236. 4.68, 92nd-percentile athlete. 13 career rushing TDs. 29-13 record as 42-game starter. Took every college snap from shotgun. Arguably top blend of arm strength, size, athleticism in 2020’s QB class. Failed to consistently parlay those traits into on-field production. Didn’t aggressively attack downfield at Oregon. Did have subpar supporting cast. Short to intermediate ball location comes and goes.
- Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
6’1/222. 4.59, 96th-percentile athlete. Scattershot. Tendency to drop eyes versus pressure. But natural-born playmaker with 38-4 career record, 43 rushing TDs. 9.1 YPA. 80:20 TD-to-INT ratio. 5.3 yards per carry. 2019 Heisman runner-up. High floor and ceiling; At worst, exciting backup. Franchise-changing QB is within range of potential outcomes. Requires full organizational buy-in.
- Jordan Love, Utah State
6’4/224. 4.74 forty but only nine college rushing TDs, and none in ’19. Final-year tape revealed lack of accuracy, anticipation, and tendency to force. Elite arm talent. Plus athlete. Horrific college supporting cast. High ceiling but low floor. Coaching, environment likely paramount to Love’s chances of success.
- Jake Fromm, Georgia
6’2/219. 5.01 forty, 22nd-percentile athlete. Career 8.4 YPA, 78:18 TD-to-INT ratio. Zero rushing TDs last two years. 35-7 career win-loss record. “Winner” short on physical traits. Likely long-term backup on Chase Daniel–Andy Dalton spectrum.
- Jacob Eason, Washington
6’6/231. Strapping pocket passer with power arm but come-and-go touch and ball location. Fastball pitcher. Slow processor.
- Jake Luton, Oregon State
6’6/224. Tall pocket passer with quick, compact delivery but average arm and athleticism. Poor man’s Jared Goff could surpass expectations in play-action-heavy offense with Luton as “system” QB.
- Anthony Gordon, Washington State
6’2/205. One-year starter finished second in nation behind Joe Burrow in passing TDs and yards. 14 career starts, zero rushing TDs. Smallish touch passer lacks dynamic rushing and passing talent.
- James Morgan, Florida International
6’4/229, 29th-percentile athlete. 37 college starts; 13 at Bowling Green, 24 in FIU’s pro-style attack. Negative career rushing yards. Aggressive with big arm but lacks location and touch. Was not a dominant college player.
Others: Steven Montez, Colorado, Bryce Perkins, Virginia; Cole McDonald, Hawaii; Nate Stanley, Iowa; Josh Love, San Jose State; Brian Lewerke, Michigan State
