It’s time to unveil the big board!
After weeks of tinkering and some late binging on game film to round out the evaluations of several players, my grading of the top 200 prospects of the 2024 NFL draft is now ready. These are my rankings, not representing anyone else here at Draft Wire.
A few notes about the rankings:
–The players here are ranked in general. They are not specific to any one team, and I would rank players differently for each team if I had the time.
–These are not projections of expected draft order. That’s what mock drafts are for…
–In general, injuries negatively impact my personal rankings more than most evaluators
–Positional value is a tie-breaker
–Grades are based on NFL potential, not college football
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The complete package of a prospect, Harrison ranks in the top 10 overall prospects in my 20 years of evaluating players.
2. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Alt offers power, length, agility and technical prowess that blend together incredibly well, and he’s only getting better.
3. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Labeling the dynamic Bowers as “just” a tight end is a disservice to his high-end receiving and YAC abilities. Nightmarish matchup dictator in the right offense.
4. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Heisman winner grew his game, not to mention his body mass, with a stellar 2023 doing what NFL offenses want more from their quarterbacks than typical college offenses.
5. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
A big target with great route-running skills and the ability to make outrageously difficult catches, Odunze would be the top wideout prospect in most recent draft classes.
6. Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
The man formerly known as Jer’Zhan is my highest-graded defensive player. Newton is a skilled wrecking ball on the defensive interior.
7. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
It’s like Mitchell was built in a lab specifically to play man coverage as an outside cornerback, and he’s got the skills and swagger to make the jump from the MAC to the NFL.
8. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Nabers is a big play waiting to happen at receiver, and he’s got the precision and hands to make it happen. The ludicrous open-field speed is a nice bonus.
9. Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu played left tackle at Washington and showed enough to be first-round worthy at that spot. But projecting him inside to guard and he becomes near-elite with his technical strength and short-area movement skills.
10. Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Williams has the highest ceiling of any player at an impactful position in this draft. He’s proven capable of the spectacular. If he masters the mundane, which he’s struggled with at both USC and Oklahoma before that, he’ll make this No. 10 ranking look stupid.
11-20 overall
11. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama: Smart, speedy and strong in man coverage
12. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama: Betting on the freakish athletic upside
13. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA: Master technician who has overcome serious health hurdles
14. Graham Barton, OL, Duke: Played LT and C at high levels, I like him best at LG
15. Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa: High-end athlete with positional versatility and playmaking panache
16. Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon: Top C prospect is a great fit for power-oriented schemes
17. Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State: Excellent finisher with length and a high football IQ
18. Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State: Elite blocking skills packaged in an odd but athletic body
19. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan: Savvy passer and leader from a pro-ready offensive system
20. Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State: Street brawler of an RT/RG with excellent pass pro technique
21-30 overall
21. Brian Thomas, WR, LSU: Graded higher than WR1 in 2023
22. Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
23. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
24. Byron Murphy, DT, Texas
25. Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina: YAC master has the game style of where the NFL is trending
26. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama: The final grade that quantifies as a first-round mark
27. JC Latham, OL, Alabama
28. Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
29. Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
30. Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona: Should stay at tackle until proven otherwise
31-50 overall
31. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
32. Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
33. Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
34. Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
35. Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
36. Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
37. Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri: I like him better inside than outside
38. Cole Bishop, S, Utah
39. Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
40. Christian Mahogany, IOL, Boston College
41. Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
42. Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
43. T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State
44. Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
45. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia: The inexperience and injuries diminish the high-end potential
46. Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri
47. Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
48. Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
49. Zack Frazier, IOL, West Virginia: Better at center than guard
50. Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
51-75 overall
51. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
52. Michael Penix Jr., QB Washington: If he were 22 and didn’t have 4 separate season-ending injuries, he’d be a top-20 player
53. Ricky Piersall, WR, Florida
54. Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
55. Michael Hall, DL, Ohio State
56. Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri
57. Patrick Paul, OT, Houston: Upside to be a great starter but he’s got some work to do
58. Jonah Elliss, EDGE, Utah
59. Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
60. Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon: Tough to project a vertical threat from an offense that didn’t throw vertically
61. Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
62. Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
63. Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
64. Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky: Great blend of speed changes and balance through contact, a la Kareem Hunt
65. Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami FL
66. Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
67. Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
68. Zac Zinter, IOL, Michigan
69. Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
70. Jarvis Brownlee, CB, Louisville
71. Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
72. Gabriel Murphy, EDGE, UCLA
73. Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
74. Isaiah Adams, IOL, Illinois: Rising guard-only prospect in the NFL despite playing OT at Illinois in 2023
75. Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
76-100 overall
76. Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington: Really good football player, questionable athlete
77. Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU
78. Malik Washington, WR, Virginia: Added value as a major return specialist threat
79. Adisa Isaac, EDGE, Penn State
80. Christian Jones, OT, Texas
81. Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
82. Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, IOL, Georgia
83. Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
84. Calen Bullock, S, USC
85. Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
86. Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas
87. Christian Haynes, IOL, UConn
88. Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice: Impressive routes and hands for someone new to the position
89. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech
90. Renardo Green, CB, Florida State
91. Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
92. Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
93. Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame
94. Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami FL
95. Beaux Limmer, IOL, Arkansas
96. Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State: Top 25 player if he had a clean injury history
97. Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville
98. Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
99. Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas
100. Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
101-125 overall
101. Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State
102. Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
103. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
104. T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
105. Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
106. Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
107. Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
108. Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame: Great size and strength but carries injury concerns
109. Mason McCormick, IOL, South Dakota State
110. Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
111. Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon
112. Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
113. Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
114. McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
115. Jamari Thrash, WR, Louisville: Smooth, slick outside receiver was always open on tape
116. Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
117. Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
118. Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
119. Dewayne Carter, DT, Duke
120. Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
121. Trey Taylor, S, Air Force: Big-time hitter is a high-end box safety prospect
122. Javon Foster, OT, Missouri
123. Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
124. D.J. James, CB, Auburn
125. Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M
126-150 overall
126. JD Bertrand, LB, Notre Dame
127. Delmar Glaze, OT, Maryland
128. Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State: Plucky slot corner with excellent run defense
129. Javon Baker, WR, UCF
130. Matt Goncalves, OL, Pittsburgh
131. Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
132. Gabe Hall, DL, Baylor
133. Jarius Monroe, CB, Tulane
134. Josh Proctor, S, Ohio State
135. Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
136. Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
137. Jaylin Simpson, DB, Auburn
138. Jha’Quan Jackson, WR, Tulane
139. Beau Brade, S, Maryland
140. Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
141. Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire: FCS standout has outstanding receiving and return skills
142. Javon Solomon, EDGE, Troy
143. Josh Newton, CB, TCU
144. Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
145. Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy: Short-not-small production machine between the tackles
146. Grayson Murphy, EDGE, UCLA
147. Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
148. Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State:
149. Chau Smith-Wade, CB, Washington State
150. Mar’Shawn Lloyd, RB, USC
151-200 overall
151. Joshua Karty, K, Stanford
152. Nathan Thomas, OT, Louisiana
153. Zion Tupuola-Fetui, EDGE, Washington
154. James Williams, S/LB, Miami FL: Athletic positional tweener with high special teams upside
155. Jahdae Barron, S, Texas
*Barron returned to college
156. Nelson Ceasar, EDGE, Houston
157. Rasheen Ali, RB, Marshall
158. Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest: Rocked-up box safety
159. Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
160. Jaylen Harrell, EDGE, Michigan
161. Tanor Bortolini, IOL, Wisconsin
162. Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU: Sturdy NT with just enough pass-rushing juice
163. Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon
164. Zakhari Franklin, WR, Ole Miss
165. Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
166. Jawhar Jordan, RB, Louisville
167. Dylan McMahon, IOL, North Carolina State
168. Brenden Rice, WR, USC: Jerry’s son brings a big man’s style to playing outside
169. Maason Smith, DT, LSU
170. Sione Vaki, S/RB, Utah: Better RB and RS prospect even with S as his primary position
171. Jalen Coker, WR, Holy Cross
172. Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
173. Cedric Johnson, EDGE, Ole Miss
174. Jaheim Bell, TE, Florida State
175. Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP: Hustle and flow off-ball LB with exceptional tackling production
176. Ryan Flournoy, WR, Southeast Missouri State
177. Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU
178. Myles Cole, DL, Texas Tech
179. Matt Lee, IOL, Miami FL
180. Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona: Flyweight wideout with great hands and productivity
181. Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
182. Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri
183. Dallin Holker, TE, Colorado State
184. Brennan Jackson, EDGE, Washington State
185. Kalen King, CB, Penn State: The 2022 version was a top-50 player, but the 2023 was undraftable
186. Layden Robinson, IOL, Texas A&M
187. Dillon Johnson, RB, Washington
188. Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
189. Willie Drew, CB, Virginia State: Athletic D-II standout has the skills to make the jump
190. Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State
191. MJ Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
192. A.J. Barner, TE, Michigan: Big target who improved his blocking every year
193. Frank Crum, OT, Wyoming
194. Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State
195. Will Reichard, K, Alabama: Hyper-accurate mid-range kicker with clutch ability
196. Mark Perry, S, TCU
197. Jeremiah Trotter, LB, Clemson
198. Evan Anderson, DT, FAU
199. Erick All, TE, Iowa
200. Hunter Nourzad, IOL, Penn State