VIDEO: Mel Kiper Explains Why He Put Jerry Jeudy Higher Than Tua Tagovailoa in NFL Draft Rankings

Preparation for the 2020 NFL Draft is already in full swing, and big boards are sprouting up like weeds all across the football landscape. Most preseason rankings are topped by either the best quarterback prospect in the country (in this case, Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon's Justin Herbert) or a generational talent at a position like defensive end or offensive tackle. ESPN draft sage Mel Kiper surprised everyone when he ranked a wide receiver, Alabama's Jerry Jeudy, No. 1 on his Big Board, and had a pretty stern response when challenged about it.

“Same as late May, you have to ask who is the best overall player and I think Jerry Jeudy is,” Kiper said. “Jeudy averaged over 19 yards a catch with 14 touchdowns (last season). He had 22 more catches than his next closest teammate and they are loaded with talent at that spot.

All it takes is one close look at Alabama tape to see that Jeudy is a man amongst boys. The 2018 Biletnikoff Award winner caught 68 passes last year for 1,316 yards and 14 touchdowns. Right now, Jeudy is a top-10 route runner in the NFL.

Of course Tua was setting records last season. On half of his passing plays, Jeudy was wide open deep downfield after blazing by some poor DB.

Despite an uncommonly deep year for wide receivers that includes fellow crimson Tide speedster Henry Ruggs, Clemson's Tee Higgins, and Colorado's Laviska Shenault, Jeudy stands head and shoulders above the rest at his position.

The last wide receiver to go No. 1 overall was Keyshawn Johnson in 1996. There's a chance that record could fall this coming year.