2024 NFL Draft Big Board - Version 2 (December)
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Below is the second iteration of my 2024 non-quarterback Top 50 Big Board. Quarterback is such a unique position that it is difficult to decide exactly where many of them fall alongside the other prospects. Plus, this method allows a few extra non-quarterbacks to get the respect they deserve.
Top 50 Big Board
1. Marvin Harrison Jr. – Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Marvin Harrison Jr. is easily the top non-quarterback in this draft class. He is an athletic monster with incredible movement skills, refinement, nuance at the position, and has just about everything you can ask for from a prospect. He may have rightfully earned that "generational" tag as debatably the best wide receiver prospect since Calvin Johnson came out in 2007. It is very difficult to see him falling out of the top five picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
2. Olumuyiwa Fashanu
Elite athleticism, balance, and hand quickness in combination with his size and sturdy build is a deadly combination. Olu may not be a mauler in the run game, but he has room to grow as a 21-year-old come draft day. He would likely have been a top ten pick if he had declared for the draft last year, and is looking at a potential top five spot in this upcoming draft as well.
3. Brock Bowers
Bowers could have an entire offense run through him. He is easily the most well-rounded tight end to come out of the draft in at least the last decade. Despite only coming in at 6'4 240lbs, his run blocking is excellent. He is often asked to take on defensive ends one on one, and his refined technique and pure effort allow him to cleanly win many of those reps. His understanding of the game and ability to create yardage after the catch are beyond impressive. He is a truly unique prospect who deserves a spot in the top three on this board despite his position.
4.
Alt allowed half as many pressures (5) on the season as Fashanu with only one turning into a sack. His stock has only increased throughout this season, and he is rightfully in the conversation of being the top offensive tackle in this draft class. He is built for the position, and has elite reps in both the run and pass game throughout his tape. With his build and steady improvement over the last two years, he could genuinely become one of the best left tackles in the league.
5. Malik Nabers
Nabers has really solidified his stock this season, improving vastly from 2022. His separation at all levels of the field is unparalleled, and his effective route tree is phenomenal. He is a smart player whose refinement from last year speaks volumes to his work ethic, and he may very well end up as a top five NFL draft pick.
6. Taliese Fuaga – Right Tackle, Oregon State (+2)
Despite a less consistent finish to the season, Fuaga is deserved of a top ten pick in this upcoming draft. His flexibility, footwork, and athleticism at his size are almost as impressive as his anchor, balance, and core strength. While he could still improve his hand and foot synchronization in pass protection, his ability to efficiently get inside positioning on zone runs and create gaps is the best in this draft class.
7. Jared Verse – Defensive End, Florida State (+4)
Jared Verse had a rather disappointing start to 2023, but he managed to turn it around and then some. While his weight gained slowed his get-off significantly early on, he came back even stronger and more explosive at the end of this season than he had shown in any previous tape. He is a monster run defender with an every down skill set, and reminded everyone why he would likely have been a top ten draft pick had he declared last year.
8. Laiatu Latu – Defensive End, UCLA (+1)
Laiatu Latu is easily the most polished defensive end in the class. After retiring from football due to a neck injury, he came back last season and lit the world on fire. This season, he has only improved. While he doesn't necessarily have the best tools or build in this class, Latu in the definition of "NFL-ready."
9. Rome Odunze
Odunze is a fluid athlete with crisp movements and a scary size-speed combination. His route refinement and dominance at the catch point can only have come through hard work and physical maturity. He has improved leaps and bounds since last season, and is firmly a top three wide receiver in this draft class before a significant positional tier drop.
10. Kool-Aid McKinstry – Cornerback, Alabama (-4)
McKinstry is the definition of smooth. He may not be the fastest or most physical at the line of scrimmage, but he is otherwise the complete package. His stop-start ability cannot be taught, and his hips are as fluid as they come. He can perform full rotations in stride without altering the depths of his hips, and blanket receivers who vary their route speeds. The only reason he dropped four spots since Version 1 is because of vast improvements from other players; not from any direct fault of his.
11. Demeioun "Chop" Robinson – Edge, Penn State (-8)
Chop has elite explosiveness at 250lbs unlike anything seen in recent years from the edge position. He is strong, highly athletic, and should blow up the combine. This is why he was initially top three on the big board. Unfortunately, he has a very limited pass rush arsenal. Chop really has no go-to moves. If he does not win with his first step, then he is likely out of the rep. His potential is limitless, but he has a long ways to go.
12. Quinyon Mitchell – Cornerback, Toledo (NR)
This may seem oddly high for Mitchell, but he could truly become an elite NFL cornerback. While he has not faced the same level of competition as many other top prospects, he has delivered as well as he could have in his situation. His production is out of this world, he is muscled up from head to toe, and his open field movement skills are right up there with the best cornerbacks in the NFL. His hip flips are lightning quick, and it may just pay off to bet on his tools and what he has shown on the field over the last two seasons at Toledo.
13. Dallas Turner – Edge, Alabama
Turner is explosive, toolsy, and has nearly unparalleled open field movement skills for his size. He went from being listed at 242lbs last season to 251lbs this season, and is only 20-years-old. His movements have not suffered in the slightest with his increase in presumably pure muscle, and he is steadily improving as a pass rusher. He still does not have the every down impact of Verse and Latu or the freaky outlier-ish burst of Chop, but could easily end up as the top edge rusher in this class.
14. JC Latham
Latham has game-changing high-end reps, clearing gaps single-handedly on the goal line and what not, but is not immune to the occasional mistake. His physical profile is up there with the best in class, but he is not 100% reliable against some of the better speed rushers. He has the makings of a franchise right tackle, but the 20-year-old still has room to make improvements.
15. Johnny Newton
Newton is one strong dude. His balance, anchor, two-gapping, block shedding, and zone block penetration make him the clear best defensive tackle in class. He can play anywhere from shade nose to 5-tech, despite weighing 295lbs, and find success with absurd strength and a motor to match. There are some slight concerns regarding arm length and how he will handle stronger NFL interior offensive linemen, but he should still be a first round lock.
16. Kamari Lassiter
Lassiter may have dropped from the second to the third ranked corner on this board, but his draft grade has only improved. He is easily the best Cover 3 corner in this class with an exceptional ability to click and close without allowing easy receptions underneath. He stays low and is disciplined in his movements, allowing him to accelerate quickly in any direction. There are some concerns about his playstyle and decisions against vertical routes, and he is certainly no ball hawk, but Lassiter could become a lockdown corner who can fit into any scheme and thrive in off-man coverage.
17. Graham Barton
Barton may have played exclusively left tackle throughout college, but he is absolutely built to play guard. Everyone has been saying it, but it is very apparent when you turn on the tape. His primary deficiencies of blocking out on the perimeter and whiffing on rushers performing quick edge moves are mostly mitigated on the inside. His overall run game prowess, ability to finish reps, and footwork efficiency when pulling should make him a plug and play left guard. He is athletic for the position, and his pass blocking reliability in a phone booth along with his high-end run game reps leave him with a first round grade despite not taking reps on the interior since playing center in 2020.
18. Amarius Mims
Mims may have suffered an unfortunate injury leading to ankle surgery, but he came back as strong as ever. The monstrous 6'7 340lbs right tackle plays with great body angles when pass blocking and surprising quickness for his size when mirroring. His biggest deficiency is experience with under 1000 career reps, but his tools and the tape he has put up when on the field are indicative of a future star. He may not be the best run blocker on an every play basis, but has shown more than enough in his limited reps to give confidence to any team who drafts him this highly.
19. Terrion Arnold
Arnold may have played across from McKinstry, but was certainly not overshadowed. Arnold was riddled with targets, which allowed him to consistently showcase his ball skills and stickiness in press coverage. He is a flashy corner with interceptions and PBUs to spare, but it is telling that he allowed more receptions than his counterpart saw targets on the season. Although he is young and an elite press-man corner, he allows too many easy receptions underneath and has some room to grow in zone.
20. Brian Thomas Jr.
Heisman winner Jayden Daniels and superstar Malik Nabers may have been focal points of the LSU offense, but Thomas had a great year as well. With over 1000 yards, the 6'4 prototypical X was a force at all levels of the field. He has a diverse release package, understands how to win deep, and displays excellent movement skills for his size. Despite not being the best receiver on his own team, the young receiver should thrive on the outside in an NFL offense.
21. Kamren Kinchens
Kinchens is a well-rounded safety prospect who can make impact plays in both the run and pass game. He is easily the top pure safety prospect in class, and still has room to grow a bit in every aspect of his game. Despite a few bone-headed plays this last season when trying to attack the ball, Kinchens has shown everything needed over the last two years to easily be the top free safety in this draft.
22. Denzel Burke
Burke is much more physical than most of the other top cornerbacks in this class. He may not be the fastest and can get too handsy at times, but his physicality at the line and throughout the duration of routes is very valuable to the teams running more press coverage in the NFL. He has made great strides since his sophomore season in both press-man and off-man coverage, and should be able to fit well into any scheme at the next level.
23. Cooper DeJean
Is there a big-bodied receiver on the outside? Stick DeJean on him and he won't catch a pass. DeJean's ability to dominate bigger and comparatively slower receivers as an outside cornerback is astonishing for his size. His mirroring footwork and ball skills are highly impressive, but he realistically will not be playing full time outside corner in the NFL. He is a smart player who can thrive at nickel, play solid run defense, and be used as a ballhawk who had five interceptions in 2022. He may also convert to strong safety and become an all-around defensive weapon. Creative utilization of his unique skill set will be pivotal to his NFL success.
24. Jordan Morgan
The Arizona left tackle is another player who will probably perform better on the inside in the NFL, but could also continue to play tackle in certain schemes. He has impressive hand strength, active arms, and is an aggressive downfield blocker. These are all traits needed by interior offensive linemen, and he tends to move more like a guard as it is. His balance on outside counters is questionable, and he is prone to losing reps against legitimate pass rush moves on the edge. His comfort getting out in space, strong hands, and tendency to finish blocks should make him a great starting guard in the NFL.
25. Nate Wiggins
While Wiggins has jumped significantly up this draft board with a strong finish to the season, he is still graded lower than consensus. He has great size for the position, but there are concerns surrounding how his game will translate to the NFL. His hip flips are often high and choppy, and downfield threats occasionally pull away from him in man coverage. Wiggins has impressive ball and movement skills for his size, but is not completely lockdown like some of the other top corners in this class.
26. Leonard Taylor III
27. Bralen Trice – Defensive End, Washington (-15)
Trice was ranked 12th on this board back in October, but has fallen considerably since. Despite accumulating an absurd 70 pressures through 13 games, he is simply too one dimensional to be considered much higher than this. He is a bull in a china shop with great acceleration and speed to power for his size, and was my third ranked edge in summer scouting behind only Jared Verse and Dallas Turner. While he has improved since last year, he is more limited in his pass rush profile than the tier one edge prospects. Trice could still be selected in the first round, but is more likely an early day two player.
28. Emeka Egbuka – Wide Receiver, Ohio State (-18)
Egbuka has had a down year. His yards per route run dropped from 3.01 in 2022 to 1.97 in 2023, and has only scored four times after putting up double digit touchdowns in 2022. That said, a lot of it had to do with quarterback play. Egbuka may be limited to the slot at the next level, but he finds the soft spot in zone as well as anybody. While not the flashiest out on the field, he could tremendously help any NFL quarterback with his playstyle and ability to find open space.
29. Patrick Paul – Right Tackle, Houston (-1)
Paul has played out of his mind this season with a 99.3 EFF and no sacks allowed, but is still not necessarily a plug and play starter. His length, pass blocking technique, and overall traits are highly impressive, but he occasionally struggles with power rushers. This deficiency also translates to the run game where he fails to reliably finish blocks and create gaps. He is a high ceiling prospect, but must gain some strength, improve as a run blocker, and learn to anchor against stronger opponents.
30. Troy Franklin
Troy Franklin has great acceleration, hip fluidity, and suddenness at 6'3. He also has an extensive route tree, wins at every level of the field, and has an advanced release package for the collegiate level. His hands are not the best with nine drops and only a 36.8% contested catch rate, but should still be an excellent deep threat at the next level. He may not be the bonafede number one that the October board thought he could become, but he is still a very good receiver who should get first round consideration.
31. Byron Murphy II
Murphy is easily the best interior pass rusher in the draft. He consistently wins one-on-one reps with guards in pass rush situations regardless of the caliber of his opponent. He plays with great technique, quickness, and power, and would be much higher up in these rankings if he contributed even a small amount in the run game. He may have been in a favorable situation at Texas, but his pass rushing skill set should translate well to the next level.
32. Caelen Carson
The raw aggression and foot speed Carson brings to the table are very enticing attributes. He is a physical tone setter who can stick with anyone in man coverage due to innate talent alone. Carson may lack refinement in his footwork and seem a bit lost at times in zone coverage, but he has loads of potential if connected with the right coach who can bring out the best of what he offers. He may be a bit of a boom or bust prospect, but the boom potential is worth the shot in the right scheme.
33. Chris Braswell
The weight-room monster has been skyrocketing up draft boards due to his play on the field, but his off field metrics are even more impressive. A 38.5" vertical while squatting 705lbs, bench pressing 405lbs, hang cleaning 405lbs, and hitting nearly 22mph on the GPS at 21-years-old is simply unreal. On the field, he has excellent burst and some strong run game reps as well, but does not have much pass rush technique. He appears to play a bit reserved at time, but has plenty of room to grow after only starting for one season. Not starting full time in 2022 is no concern since the players taking snaps ahead of him that year were Will Anderson and Dallas Turner.
34. Xavier Legette
Legette has had a breakout season for the ages in his fifth year at South Carolina. His is bigger, faster, and stronger than his opponents, and went for 1255 yards after never having over 167 in any season prior. Statistically speaking, the breakout age is concerning for his outlook. He wins exclusively with physicality and has a very small route tree. That said, he hit nearly 23mph with the ball in his hands while weighing 227lbs at 6'3, and clearly progressed in every area of his game over the last year. He may not become the number one receiver he physically appears he could be, but should make an excellent number two who can play big slot or on the outside and provide value in the red zone.
35. Kalen King
This season did not quite go as planned for King. After a dominant 2022, he was a top 15-20 player on many preseason draft boards. This year, he allowed the inside track too easily, and some issues with squat coverage on the outside were revealed. While he played primarily as an outside corner at Penn State, his build, eagerness in the run game, movement skills, and anticipation would make him an excellent slot corner. King will likely be a valuable inside/outside corner in the NFL, but is not a true lockdown first round outside cornerback talent.
36. T'Vondre Sweat
This behemoth can rarely be stopped by a single offensive linemen. The 6'4, 362lbs nose tackle not only takes up an immense amount of space over the middle, but also has the highest PFF grade of any defensive tackle in all of college football. He ragdolls offensive linemen in one on ones, fills both A-gaps without really trying, and can absolutely tank double-teams. His pass rush arsenal is surprisingly diverse at his size, and the strength differential at the next level should not affect him as much as it does most other defensive tackles. While he likely will not see over 50% of snaps at his weight, Sweat has an every down skill set. His mere presence should allow for leaner pass rushing defensive linemen to feast while he takes on two offensive linemen each and every play.
37. Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
While watching Kris Abrams-Draine, it is difficult not to notice the physical lock down corner playing across from him. Rakestraw has been the biggest surprise in this class, making the top 40 without previously being on the radar. He has tremendous balance, plays physically, and has some of the most impressive stop-start ability in this deep cornerback class. He may not be the most refined prospect just yet, but he plays with a rare type of balance that allows him to consistently stay with nearly any receiver through any route. There may be some growing pains, but his skill set should translate well to the NFL.
38. Jackson Powers-Johnson
The best center in college football allowed one pressure on 497 pass rush snaps, and that singular pressure came in week 2. He is a dominant zone run blocker, and always finishes his reps. He may not be the best out in space, but Powers-Johnson could be an elite center in the right scheme. With experience at both guard and center, expect him to rise up draft boards significantly in the months leading up to the draft.
39. Josh Newton
Josh Newton is comfortable an press, zone, and off-man coverage. He is not immune to getting burned by speedsters, but is an experienced fifth year corner who can start immediately as a number two in any scheme. The only reason he has dropped so much since October is because there is more film of him lacking the recovery speed required to match some of the faster deep threats when they cross his hips early in the rep.
40. Ladd McConkey
McConkey is quietly one of the most refined receivers in the draft. If the primary objective of a wide receiver is to separate and catch the ball, then he must be a very good wide receiver. He is not the flashiest or most physically gifted, but now has multiple years of tape demonstrating his ability to separate and find open space from the slot.
41. Brandon Dorlus
Dorlus plays everywhere along the line. This versatile type of defensive lineman can fit into any scheme and competently perform just about any task asked of him. He would probably be a superb strongside 4-3 end if he lost 10lbs or so, but has an excellent release as it is while carrying over 290lbs. Dorlus must learn to anchor more effectively if he is to play 3-tech full time, but he is a solid interior pass rusher and every down end who coaches will love to move around throughout each game.
42. Troy Fautanu
The Washington left tackle will likely play guard at the next level, but may even convert to center. He has some major balance issues on the outside, and allowed a whopping 19 pressures this season. With great foot quickness and athleticism, Fautanu should be a much better performer on the interior.
43. Keon Coleman
Coleman being this low may be shocking, but he has some glaring deficiencies in his game that are often overlooked. His breaks are not crisp, often allowing corners in zone and off coverage to close the distance a step sooner. He has not shown the ability to consistently win in contested catch situations, hauling in only 10 of his 30 contested catch opportunities despite that supposedly being a big part of his game. Keon Coleman has reliable hands with no drops on the season before the ACC Championship, but is not the bona fide number one receiver that many make him out to be.
44. Jonah Elliss
Elliss is a refined pass rusher who may be more physically limited when he reaches the NFL. He is not much of a run defender, but does have variety of effective pass rush moves. The angles on his bull rush and long arm are impressive, and he easily has the cleanest inside spin in class. While his ceiling may seem capped, he has room to gain some strength and become a successful rotational pass rusher.
45. Payton Wilson
Wilson is the top linebacker in this class despite being a fifth year player with an extensive injury history. His tape is just too good to ignore, and he managed to stay healthy throughout this entire season. There are few weaknesses to his game with great vision, tackling, coverage, and pursuit. He has the speed to run down receivers from behind, the instincts to disrupt passing lanes in zone, and the stature and technique to wrap up the most powerful ball carriers in space. If it were not for multiple knee injuries and surgery on both shoulders, then he would firmly be in the first round conversation.
46. Adonai Mitchell
The tenth wide receiver in this top fifty was initially much lower in the rankings, but had some reps towards the end of the season that would suggest that his skill set may translate well to the NFL if used properly. His mid-route linear acceleration, especially on double moves, is wild for his size. He has the hands, speed, and athletic profile to be a great deep threat at the next level, with the tools to become something more. His down to down consistency as it stands is alarming, but his flashes are undeniable.
47. JT Tuimoloau
Tuimoloau is consistently the first player off the line of scrimmage with an efficient release and no unnecessary steps. Beyond that, he has not been too impressive on an every down basis. He has special flashes, most notably his winning reps against Olu Fashanu, but he often stays locked up with offensive tackles once they get their hands on him. Tuimoloau will still be 20-years-old come draft day, and a bit more strength and physical development will go a long way for his power rush.
48. Edgerrin Cooper
Cooper, like Payton Wilson, has surpassed Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in this linebacker class. The heat seeking missile is physically gifted and does most of the difficult stuff well. He can play man coverage against tight ends, defeat blockers when rushing the passer, and navigate through contact to the ball carrier from obscure angles. His deficiencies appear more in areas that can be taught, such as open field footwork and tackling technique. He is a big play linebacker with high-end potential who truly had an unbelievable breakout campaign this past season.
49. TJ Tampa
This high-waisted corner will probably not stay inside the top 50 come April with a rather poor finish to the season, but he is surprisingly smooth at 6'2, 200lbs. His footwork in press could use some work, but his open field footwork is still impressive at times. There are concerns surrounding how he will handle NFL speed, but he could certainly be effective as a scheme-dependent C1/C3 boundary corner who will add considerable value in the red zone.
50. Shemar Turner
Turner is easily the most surprising name in this top fifty, currently ranked 188th overall on the Mock Draft Database consensus big board. His insane aggression, power, linear release, and contact angles at 6'4 290lbs while only 20-years-old is astonishing. He may lack pass rush technique, but has all of the tools needed to be a scary power end in the NFL. His arrest, temper, and ejection against Ole Miss may deter teams from drafting him too highly, but his explosiveness, strength, and leg drive warrant a much earlier selection than the general draft community seems to think.
Just Missed the Cut
51. Zach Frazier
Frazier had an unfortunate leg injury in the final drive of the regular season to keep him out of the bowl game, but it should not hurt his draft stock too much. Frazier deserves a shoutout despite being held out of the top fifty because he very well may climb his way up boards this draft season. His 159-2 wrestling record will be enticing to offensive line coaches everywhere, and he moves out in space better than any college center in the country. If he can recover quickly and participate in the combine, then he may end up getting drafted higher than many analysts currently project.
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