2024 NFL Draft Big Board: The 50 best prospects, No. 1-25

There wasn’t much Daniels didn’t do last season at an absurdly high level, and that has planted him in most minds as a high first-round prospect. The tape doesn’t lie, and the tape agrees. Daniels should be seen right up there with (or above) Caleb Williams and Drake Maye (or anybody else) as a true franchise quarterback prospect.

PLUSES

— Responsible for 103 explosive plays last season. There isn’t really a book on how to stop him at this point.

— The best deep fade thrower in this class by a mile.

— Took major steps forward as a pure passer in 2023.

— Full-field reader who can go from touchdown to checkdown and vice versa

— Most of his 17 explosive runs last season were by design; he’s not just scrambling and bailing back there.

MINUSES

— There is a Wile E. Coyote aspect to his predilection to take cartoonishly bad hits in the open field. He needs Tua’s ju-jitsu guy.

— Occasional delays in processing will have him making inaccurate throws on easy stuff, especially in quick game.

— Has an extra hitch at times when he’s indecisive that allows coverage to converge. Could throw his receivers open more consistently.

Easy first-pick grade here. This is all subjective, but I can’t think of a 2024 prospect I’d want more in my facility were I a QB coach.

A five-star recruit out of Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C., Williams was the No. 2 prospect in the nation in 2021 (behind Quinn Ewers), and chose Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners over just about every major program in the nation. He entered the transfer portal a month after Riley left Oklahoma for USC, and chose the Trojans over still more major offers.

In 2023, his second season with the Trojans after one season as a starter at Oklahoma, Williams completed 268 of 394 passes for 30 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 117.4. On throws of 20 or more air yards, Williams completed 34 of 66 passes for 1,342 yards, 15 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 124.1. Under pressure, Williams completed 48 of 102 passes for 739 yards, eight touchdowns, four interceptions, and a passer rating of 81.3. Williams had an absolutely preposterous passer rating of 130.1 when kept clean, so he’ll not only need good pass protection at the next level, but he’ll also need to avoid running himself into less than ideal situations.

As a runner, Williams gained 356 yards and scored 11 touchdowns on 50 carries. He also ran about 50 miles last season in and out of the pocket before he threw the ball last season. As much as we all love active and mobile quarterbacks these days, there are things Williams will have to cultivate and improve upon before all that stuff works hand-in-hand with his abilities as a pure passer.

But if you blitz him? Watch the heck out. Williams completed 93 of 145 passes for 1,394 yards, 15 touchdowns, and two interceptions when opponents brought more than the usual allotment of pass-rushers. Compare that with his 175 completions in 249 attempts for 2,253 yards, 15 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 113.4 when not blitzed, and there’s some of the upside with Williams’ mobile (and occasionally frenetic) style.

PLUSES

— Can make any throw when his upper and lower body are aligned, whether in the pocket or on the move.

— Will work through to his second and third reads even with chaos around him

— Can make all kinds of ridiculous off-platform throws, which both helps and hurts him

— Blitzing him is a bad idea; he had a higher passer rating when blitzed than when not

MINUSES

— Deep-ball accuracy is a mixed bag; he sails a lot of stuff with incomplete mechanics

–Trick-shot stuff is cool, but he needs to refine his throwing base and re-set when on the move.

— Can be a late thrower in the progression; needs to work to take a profit

— Needs to substitute pocket movement for pocket freneticism; this will improve his consistency

Williams will need a good NFL offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach he trusts to shave off the randomness. If that happens, it could get a bit Mahomes-ish out there.

A four-star recruit out of Southside High School in Youngsville, Louisiana, Nabers was a football, basketball, and track star in high school, and chose Mississippi State over Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Penn State and Texas A&M before changing his mind and committing to the Tigers. Nabers made Freshman All-SEC in 2021, but the ceiling really rose in 2022, when he caught 72 passes on 100 targets for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns.

Nabers absolutely torched the field in his third season with the Tigers, catching 89 balls on 128 targets for 1,568 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023. On passes of 20 or more air yards from Jayden Daniels, who may have been the NCAA’s best deep thrower in the 2023 season, Nabers had 19 catches on 29 targets for 624 yards and nine touchdowns, and his NFL team could give him even more deep-ball volume, depending on the offense. Nabers primarily ran go, seam, and hitch routes in 2023, but he’s got enough tape doing other things to point to route versatility, which will be of paramount importance for any receiver with his explosive profile.

If you’re looking for the next great speed receiver in the Tyreek Hill mold, you might have to wait in line for this guy.

PLUSES

— Legit home run speed to any area of the field; can just as easily run by a cornerback for 60 yards as he can turn a hitch or stop route into a 50-yard touchdown.

— Leans into his route stems subtly and professionally and doesn’t lose a lot of speed when doing so.

— Unafraid to catch the ball in traffic; he’ll get the grimy yards after the catch.

— Changes the geometry of the defense; your safeties are playing back nervously.

MINUSES

— Not a blocker of note, but that’s not why you want him on the field.

— Could work to expand his catch radius; he’s more capable of getting the ball clean and turning it into a car chase.

— Focus and timing drops are notable enough for it to be a small coaching point at the NFL level.

— 50/50 balls are about 50/50; he’s not your ideal contested-catch target.

The combination of pure speed and route understanding could have Nabers as the top WR in this class. If Marvin Harrison Jr. is No. 1 on anybody’s board, Nabers should be at least 1A for his own special reasons.

Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of the former Indianapolis Colts receiver who totaled 1,102 catches on 1,781 targets for 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns over 13 seasons from 1996 through 2008, was a four-star recruit out of St. Joseph’s High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He chose Ohio State over Syracuse (his father’s alma mater), Florida, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Penn State.

Harrison, thought by most to be the No. 1 receiver prospect in this class, caught 67 passes on 114 targets for the Buckeyes last season for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. On throws of 20 or more air yards, he caught 15 passes on 24 targets for 598 yards and five touchdowns. Harrison is capable of burning defenders on any route, but he ran primarily go, dig, hitch, post, drag, and seam routes.

PLUSES

— Contested-catch artist who can wriggle out of press coverage by slow-playing cornerbacks and adjusting his moves off the line of scrimmage.

— Has an impeccable understanding of voids in zone/man/match; he’ll become his NFL quarterback’s best friend.

— His release into route stems is absolutely filthy. Basically, covering him all day just sucks.

— Catch radius is also ridiculous. He’ll do as much as any receiver to mitigate inaccurate throws.

MINUSES

— Doesn’t have Tyreek Hill-level burner speed, but it won’t matter because he has so many ways to get open downfield.

— Focus drops can be a problem, even after he’s tied a poor cornerback into knots.

— Could work on blocking.

Harrison is absolutely plug-and-play in the NFL from Day 1. If he had a fifth gear at the third level of a defense, he might be the best player in this class, regardless of position. He has just about everything else.

A four-star recruit from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Rome Odunze chose Washington after a dalliance with Oklahoma under Lincoln Riley, and he succeeded through three different head coaches (Chris Peterson, Jimmy Lake, Kalen DeBoer). He redshirted in the COVID-shortened season of 2020, fought through injuries in 2021, and then went viral with 75 catches on 110 targets for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns.

Odunze then upped the ante in 2023 with 92 passes on 140 targets last season for 1,639 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a deep target, Odunze caught 23 of 49 passes of 20 or more air yards for 783 yards and six touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Odunze feasted on go, seam, post, and hitch routes, but there really isn’t any route he can’t run.

PLUSES

— Contested-catch monster who seems to welcome converging defensive backs and close-in situations.

— Arm-tackling him is an exercise in futility; you’d better wrap him up after the catch.

— “Drifts” really well on posts and fades and has late hands to give him an advantage if the CB isn’t playing the ball.

— Outstanding end zone target who can subtly re-distribute defenders to keep him open in short areas.

— Finds the voids in coverage, and then he wants to beat people up to stay open.

MINUSES

— Doesn’t have third-level breakaway speed, but go tell him it’s a problem.

— Speed off the snap is generated more by route concepts than pure vertical ability.

— Effort and intent as a blocker, but the technique is a bit iffy.

Odunze has every attribute you want at the position except for downfield accelerant speed, and as much else as he brings to the field, that shouldn’t be an issue.

A three-star recruit from Williston High School in Williston, Florida, Mitchell committed to Toledo and stuck with that commitment despite a late offer from Illinois. Other programs offering him out of high school were Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, South Alabama and South Florida. We’re guessing that the major schools that turned a blind eye probably regret that now.

Mitchell really got his name out there with a great Senior Bowl week, where he definitely answered any questions about his ability to handle receivers from bigger programs than Bowling Green and Ball State (no offense to those fine institutions).

In his 2023 season (his fourth with the Rockets), Mitchell allowed 27 receptions on 62 targets for 290 yards, 67 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, one interception, 14 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 51.1. 2022 saw Mitchell allow 27 catches on 70 targets for 270 yards, 58 yards after the catch, three touchdowns, five interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 34.8. So, this is no one-year or one-week wonder, and you can throw the small-school dings out the window. Mitchell’s skill set is absolutely transitive to the NFL, and in a “right now” sense.

PLUSES

— Outstanding turn and transition to stick with his target out of press coverage; he’s sticky every step through the route.

— Will slow-play his coverage when playing off, and has a great sense of when to hold back and when to get aggressive to the ball.

— Uses his long arms to envelop and deflect; it’s almost as if his arms are a second defender that gets there before the rest of him does.

— Ferocious closing speed allows him to bait quarterbacks and jump routes at the last second.

— Excellent technique (for the most part) against smaller, quicker receivers running angular routes; a lot of cornerbacks at his height get moved one way or another, but he’s quite practiced at watching the numbers and breaking when he needs to.

MINUSES

— Right now, I like him more in man than in zone; he’s more of a clampdown specialist than a true collaborator in more complex coverages.

— Will occasionally turn his back to the target too long when transitioning from bail, and that can have him losing sight of his assignment.

— Footwork gets a little clunky at times, which NFL coaching should take care of.

— Like a lot of taller cornerbacks, it can take him an extra millisecond to get everything aligned at full speed.

— Willing tackler on run plays and screens, but he’s more pesky than dominant.

At the NFL level, I would play Mitchell much more in press than in off; he showed he’s good in off because he did it so much, but I want him on that receiver from the jump all the way through the route. His Senior Bowl week took care of any issues with talent from bigger schools. First-round talent if you want a big, aggressive CB1.

Brock Bowers was a four-star prospect out of Napa High School in Napa, California, and it took him no time to make an impact in Georgia’s offense. As a freshman, he caught 56 passes on 71 targets for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns, winning all kinds of Freshman of the Year awards. No one-year wonder, Bowers caught 63 passes on 82 targets for 942 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022, and he had 56 catches on seven targets for 717 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.

Bowers certainly projects well as a high-end tight end in the NFL, but there could be more to the picture with his NFL team. He didn’t run downfield for a ton of isolated vertical shots in college, but it could be a hidden superpower that his next team will unleash. Overall, it’s obvious why he’s everybody’s TE1, and there could be more to come.

PLUSES

— Plays at 6′ 3⅛” and 243 pounds with below-average wingspan, arm length, and hand size. Now, go to the tape and tell me any of that is evident. He looks about 6’6″, 260, with all the physical attributes you want at the position.

— Bowers’ desire for the ball shows up both in his acrobatic catches (extending his catch radius), and the ways in which he’ll win contested catches.

— Brings nice acceleration through his routes, and understands how and when to break into gaps in coverage.

— Wins after the catch with pure power; if you’re trying to arm-tackle him, you might as well go home, especially after he gets a full head of steam in the open field.

— When he squares up to block, he’s capable of pancaking defensive linemen with his technique and will to dominate.

MINUSES

— Bowers does need work on his blocking technique; he’s just as prone to wild misses as he is to direct hits.

— He’s more of a glider as a runner than an explosive weapon off the line of scrimmage.

— Arm length shows up as a negative when he has to go up against lankier defenders in tight situations.

I like Bowers a lot, and it’s clear that he’s TE1 in this class. I’d stop short of the “generational” label; he strikes me as an excellent H/slot weapon in a TE-heavy offense with Travis Kelce/George Kittle potential. I appreciate how he’s maximized his tools, and there could be more to the ceiling.

That ceiling may be his ability to run Y-iso routes as Kelce and Kittle do; Georgia didn’t have him doing that a lot, but he’s clearly got the tools to make it happen.

The 2023 Washington Huskies had one of the most explosive offenses in the NCAA, both run and pass, and while most of the credit goes to the skill position players, you’re not going to get a lot of those big plays happening if the guys up front aren’t doing their jobs.

So, it’s time to take a closer look at Washington left tackle Troy Fautanu, who should be a first-round pick on April 25, and might reach that status at either tackle or guard. A four-star recruit out of Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, Troy-Toese “Troy” Fautanu chose Washington over California, Duke , Notre Dame, Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Utah.

Why guard? Well, it comes up in Fautanu’s case because his height of 6′ 3¾” is third-percentile for the tackle position, and while his wingspan and arm length are more in the box for the position, that will have some NFL personnel people wondering. And Fautanu’s seek-and-destroy playing personality may add to it.

No matter where he plays in the NFL, Fautanu’s pass protection — he allowed two sacks and 23 total pressures last season on 623 pass-blocking snaps for the ultimate deep passing game — will hold up, and his run-blocking is just fun to watch.

PLUSES

– Brings a nasty mentality to the position; he’s technically sound, but he really wants to kick your ass and dominate the rep. More pancakes than an IHOP on Sunday morning. 

– Quick, nimble feet off the snap allow him to set his body to the rusher and to adjust against stunts and games. 

– Hand use is versatile and violent; he had a rep against Texas where he just slapped two pass-rushers down on an E/T stunt – Ethan Burke and T’Vondre Sweat. Those guys couldn’t keep their hands up. 

– Great blocker on screens and other second-level plays; he squares up quickly and accurately, and he’s looking to demolish in the open field. 

– Has no issue extending blocks for a longer period of time because he’ll latch on and mirror well. That’s pretty important when your quarterback has 117 attempts of 20 or more air yards in a single season.

– Agile enough to cross a defender’s face and seal the edge in the run game. 

MINUSES

– Can be beaten by inside counters once he’s set in his stance. 

– Smaller hands (9 ½ inches; 13th percentile for the position) show up when he’s trying to maintain protection around the arc or to either side of his body; he’ll allow some leakage there. 

– Could stand to be a bit more exact when firing out; he’s better in enclosed space than when he’s forced to react to quicker pass-rushers. Sometimes, he’ll just whiff when he’s too aggressive. 

– Will get run over from time to time when he’s too upright off the snap. 

I can see the sense in perhaps making Fautanu a guard at the next level, but if he wants to play tackle, he’s got the attributes to do it, especially in a power-based offense with multiple blocking schemes in the run game.

Based on my personal preferences, I’d try to kick him inside, because I think he could be an All-Pro move guard, as opposed to a pretty good-to-really good tackle. It will be interesting to see how that process takes place with Fautanu’s NFL team. 

A four-star recruit out of John Paul II High in Tallahassee, Florida, Arnold was a football and basketball star in high school, and at one point was convinced that basketball was his primary sporting avenue before Charlie Ward, who had a similar dual profile at Florida State and was Arnold’s high school basketball coach, convinced him to stick it out. It was the wise choice, as Arnold committed to Alabama over offers from Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Penn State and Texas A&M.

Arnold locked things down quite nicely for the Crimson tide last season. He allowed 41 receptions on 79 targets for 441 yards, 250 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, five interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 50.7. Arnold can play just about any route really well, though he’ll need some development on quick, angular routes when he’s in off coverage. When he’s in press, good luck getting anything by him.

PLUSES

— Outstanding man/match corner with step-for-step ability and excellent ball skills to catch and break up passes all over the field

— Hyper-aggressive playing personality when it comes to timing the ball; he thinks it’s more his than yours if you throw it in his area

— Short-area agility and transition speed make him a real pain in tight coverage

— Love him in press coverage where he’s velcroed to the receiver all the way though

— Has an great sense of how to disrupt receivers off the line, which is crucial in today’s NFL with so much quick game

MINUSES

— Had a bad stretch mid-season where Tennessee and Arkansas just killed him with comebacks

— Can be a step late to diagnose and react; you’d like to see him get going just a hair quicker at times

— Grabby at times, which NFL officials might ding him on based on their own competence (ha)

— Needs to work on closing to the target in off coverage

The dings are minor here, though I think that Arnold would be better in a defense with more press coverage than not if you want him to be a Day 1 alpha.

A football, basketball, and track star in high school, Verse had humble collegiate beginnings with two seasons at Albany in 2020 and 2021, transferring to Florida State in time for the 2022 season. It took Verse little ramp-up to succeed at a higher level; in his second game for the Seminoles against LSU, he had two sacks, seven total pressures, and three stops. Verse totaled nine sacks, 36 total pressures, 25 solo tackles, and 26 stops in that first season, but the fun was just beginning.

Last season, Verse had 11 sacks and 62 total pressures in 329 pass-rushing snaps, adding 25 solo tackles and 24 stops. FSU’s first two-time first-team All-ACC defensive end since Reinard Wilson in 1995-96, Verse was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, an AFCA first-team All-American, and a second-team All-American by ESPN, Associated Press, USA Today and The Athletic.

PLUSES

— Verse has average arm length and wingspan, but he makes the most of it. Verse extends his hands and arms through blocks, and will use them to shorten the distance to the ballcarrier.

— Consistently explodes off the snap with bad intentions; whatever move you have to deal with from there, you have to deal with that first.

— Old-man strength is a thing; he has reps where he just nukes a poor tackle with speed-to-power or just pure power. 254-pound player who hits like he’s 270.

— Will put the tackle off-balance with foot-fakes, and then, it’s off to the races. You do not want to be on one foot when Verse plows through you.

— Agility and foot movement also allow him to just work around blockers; his crossover move is a real asset, and he can flip 1-2 gaps to pressure from inside.

— Can stack and shed with the best of them, and he’s quick off the aggressive move to the pocket.

MINUSES

— Can get a bit exuberant at times on his way to the running back, resulting in some flat-out whiffs.

— As a pass-rusher, could stand to play with a bit more control at times; his pressure numbers would improve with a finer-tuned GPS.

— Has the athleticism and skill set to be a dip-and-rip/motorcycle lean (copyright @gregcosell) rusher, but that would have to be developed.

Verse is my favorite kind of draft prospect; he’s done so much to refine and expand his toolkit, but he’s not a low-ceiling player at all. The athletic upside is kind of silly here, and it’s pretty easy to project him as an EDGE1 in the NFL

A three-star recruit out of Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington, Taliese Fuaga chose Oregon State over Oregon and USC due to the program’s extreme interest in his potential.

In today’s NFL, when pass-rushers come from everywhere on the line, the difference in value between left tackles and right tackles has dissipated to a great degree.

That’s good news for Fuaga, who racked up 1,564 snaps over three seasons for the Beavers — all of them at right tackle. In previous eras, that might push Fuaga down draft boards, but you can bet it won’t in 2024. Fuaga had been just about impenetrable in pass protection through his collegiate career; he never gave up a sack in college, and there were just a handful of pass-rushers who got past him at all.

For NFL teams in the know about how important right tackles can be, Fuaga will be a highly-cherished prospect, probably hearing his name called in the top half of the first round.

PLUSES

— Didn’t allow a single sack (and gave up just 23 total pressures) in 734 pass-blocking reps over three seasons with the Beavers.

— Has a great sense of how to use his hands to disrupt and re-direct rushers; Fuaga believes in delivering the first blow.

— Violent hands, which he’ll deploy with quick arm stabs. Had Laiatu Latu in pure hell with this against UCLA.

— Can also “catch” rushers by letting them come to him; Fuaga isn’t just an aggressor.

— Has a nimble kick-step, which gives him an edge through the arc more often than not. He’ll mirror through the rep and maintain the pocket.

— Uses his leverage and desire to dominate to just blow guys out on the move.

— Aggressive run-blocker who can bowl people over in gap and seal the edge in zone.

MINUSES

— Will lose defenders who cross his face at times; he’ll recover well, but he could stand to turn into those protections.

— Can lose his landmarks on the move; he’s not always exact when he’s running from Point A to Point B.

— Needs to be on time with the snap; he’s not a late “recoverer” to the defender. This shows up against wide-9 rushers to his outside shoulder, and inside counters.

— Spin moves can also be a problem; I imagine his NFL coaches will work with him on techniques to maintain later in the down.

Fuaga has the talent and the skill set to work well as a plug-and-play right tackle. I might prefer him in a gap-prevalent offense with multiple run schemes and heavy play-action, but there isn’t much he can’t do, and the refinements will be well worth the effort.

A three-star recruit from Clearwater Central High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, Jer’Zhan Newton (who has since changed his first name to Johnny) chose Illinois under head coach Lovie Smith over several other programs, and excelled under defensive coordinator Aaron Henry in a defense that has recently put a lot of talent in the NFL, including Seattle Seahawks 2023 first-round cornerback Devon Witherspoon and Philadelphia Eagles 2023 safety Sydney Brown.

In 2023, his fourth year on the field with the Fighting Illini, Newton totaled eight sacks, seven quarterback hits, 28 quarterback hurries, 32 stops, and 33 solo tackles, At 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds (unofficial), Newton can disrupt just fine inside, but he also saw 25% of his snaps last season either over or outside the tackles, and he brings an interesting set of techniques to foil blockers on the edge.

Newton should be seen as among the best interior defensive linemen in this draft class, though he can do much more. He did not work out at the combine due to a Jones fracture in his foot — which he played through the second half of his junior season… which makes his 2023 tape all the more impressive.

PLUSES

— Capable of pressure from every gap; spends most of his time at 3-tech, but he’s a disruptor all over the place.

— Gets skinny through gaps like a running back would; gets it done with more than just pass-rush moves.

— Violent with his hands to push through blocks with ridiculous speed — Hits the edge with burst around the turn; can beat tackles with edge techniques.

— Can run multiple gaps at the snap and has good vision to penetrate.

MINUSES

— Size deficits (6-foot-2, 295) show up when he’s doubled and can’t break free.

— Slides will have him lost in the wash and trying to recover at times.

— Needs to be less upright off the snap more often; that’s where he loses leverage.

I’ve always had a bias for smaller defensive tackles who can move around. Newton could wind up being another one of those Geno Atkins-style agitators if he gets his leverage together and devises strategies to beat double teams. Overall, about as fun a player to watch as I’ve seen in this draft class.

Dallas Turner played for played for head coach Roger Harriott at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, helping his school to back-to-back Florida 7A State Championships and the High School National Championship in 2019. He was a consensus five-star prospect, and he chose the Crimson Tide over Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon, and any other major program you’d choose to mention.

Turner had nine sacks and 25 total pressures as a freshman in 2021, upping the ante to 37 total pressures in 2022. But 2023 was Turner’s real breakout season, as he exactly tied his count of 647 snaps from the previous season, but got 11 sacks and 55 total pressures this time around.

Turner is one of the most dynamic athletes in this draft, regardless of position. The question here is whether he’ll find the right NFL team to make the most of his attributes, and build on the things that still need work. If that’s the case, watch the heck out for this guy.

PLUSES

— Twitched-up, hyper-athletic ball of fury who moves off the snap with a killer first step and great acceleration to and through the pocket. And his spin move should be illegal.

— Has no problem flattening his rush path with the dip-and-rip and working under the tackle’s hands around the arc.

— Absurd quickness in open space; he can re-set from flat coverage to take the quarterback down at the boundary. He has the closing speed of a fast linebacker, and you, Mr. QB, are not safe running away from him. 

— Short-area speed extends to stunts and gap games; Turner will cross a gap or two to work pressure inside.

— Not a power player per se, but the speed-to-power moves are just fine.

MINUSES

— Turner is so good at running around (and occasionally through) enemy blockers that he will need to expand his hand work to be similarly successful at the NFL level. He’ll get negated more than he should. Tight ends should not be able to woodshed him.

— Oversells to create pressure at times, which leads to some “cat on a freshly waxed kitchen floor” moments where he’ll whiff at a huge level. He’ll also bite hard on fakes and counters.

— Not much of a plan against double-teams.

— Could stand to deal better with power; right now, if you strike the first blow, you have a great chance of winning the rep.

— Not a run defender of note, though you don’t want to debit him too much for this and miss out on the blinding attributes.

Turner might be your EDGE1 if you need a preposterous athlete to embarrass opposing blockers with every possible speed attribute. If your preferences lie elsewhere, you may just have to deal with him beating your tackles over and over.

It’s vitally important that he be placed in a defense where his special skills are maximized, and the things he’s not really built to do don’t matter as much.

Laiatu Latu’s collegiate career was medically complicated to the point where it’s kind of amazing that we’re now talking about him as a top-15 prospect in any draft class. A four-star recruit out of Jesuit High School in Sacramento, California, Latu chose Washington over Alabama, Notre Dame and Tennessee. Things unfortunately went south quickly. Latu suffered a neck injury during practice in 2020 that eventually forced him to medically retire in the spring of 2021. A year after that, he saw a specialist (the same doctor who performed Peyton Manning’s neck surgery), and was cleared to play. Latu entered the transfer portal in 2021 and committed to Chip Kelly and UCLA.

In 2023, his second season with the Bruins, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Latu had 15 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, 36 quarterback hurries, 33 stops, six tackles for loss, 33 forced fumbles, and four catches allowed on five targets for 19 yards, 12 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 42.9. Latu got 42% of his pressures from the left defensive edge, 47% from the defensive right edge, 7% from defensive tackle positions, and 3% from nose tackle or nose shade.

PLUSES

— Primarily an edge defender, but can disrupt at nose shade and 3-tech in a standup or three-point position.

— Crosses the faces of blockers and jumps gaps with incredible quickness to drive to the pocket; it’s his fastball.

— Speed to and through the pocket is nightmare fuel for opposing blockers.

— Brings impressive speed-to-power from the edge; you had better do more than just chip him.

— Swipe move is a pure killer; brings a lot of strength in his hands.

— Can drop into flat and curl coverage, and has good eyes and hands to go after the ball.

— Was dominant more often than not at the Senior Bowl.

MINUSES

— Has an embryonic bull-rush and dip-and-rip potential, but he’ll want to round those out at the NFL level.

— His slow-play to disengage move might not be as effective against better NFL tackles.

— Can get caught watching the ball and will miss the action.

— Would like to see him become more violent with his hands in his initial strike as opposed to glancing off blockers.

Latu has as much of a plan as any pass-rusher in this class, and in an NCAA that all too often does not prepare its edge-rushers mechanically for the rigors of the NFL, that’s a big deal. His medical history may have some teams taking him off their boards completely, and while that’s understandable, it could lead to a lot of future regret if Latu is able to stay healthy and continue his development.

Michael Penix Jr. was a three-star recruit out of Tech High School in Tampa, Florida, and originally committed to Tennessee before a coaching change had the Volunteers rescinding Penix’s scholarship. Penix’s relationship with Indiana head coach Tom Allen had him committing there in January of 2018. Penix played four seasons at Indiana with middling results before graduating in 2021 and committing to Washington after a time in the transfer portal. Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer had been Penix’s offensive coordinator in 2019.

In the last of his six college seasons, the former Indiana transfer did a lot in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s system, completing 364 of 556 passes for 4,906 yards, 36 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a passer rating of 106.7. Penix was the NCAA’s most prolific deep passer in the 2023 season, completing 51 of 117 (!) passes of 20 or more air yards, 16 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 105.1.

When pressured last season, Penix completed just 59 of 141 passes for 1,072 yards, six touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 68.0. The drop in efficiency under pressure is something to pay attention to when reviewing Penix as a prospect. In addition, Penix had multiple season-ending injuries during his four seasons at Indiana, including two ACL tears (in the same knee).

Another thing that will give evaluators pause is Penix’ performance in Washington’s 34-13 CFP National Championship loss to Michigan. He completed 27 of 51 passes for 25 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 63.0 against a defense that’s pretty much NFL-ready in a schematic sense.

Penix’s medicals were good at the combine, and he ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, so we can probably throw the injury stuff aside. Penix’s primary NFL challenge will be to refine and improve his feel in the pocket.

PLUSES

— Deep passing volume is ridiculous; attempted 117 throws of 20 or more air yards last season

— Can zip the ball into tight windows at all levels of the field

— Has all the pitches; will change the speed and arc of his throws

— Easy (if slightly elongated) delivery

MINUSES

— Reaction to pressure can vary wildly; accuracy suffers when he’s moved off his spot

— Will speed up his clock too much at times and must guard against playing frenetically

— Several bad misses against Michigan in the national championship game, and that’s probably the closest he’s seen to an NFL defense

Nate Wiggins was a four-star cornerback/receiver recruit out of Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia, and chose Clemson over Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Wiggins’ first commitment was to LSU, but he flipped at the last minute.

Wiggins played as well as anybody at his position in this draft class through the 2023 season. In his second year as a starter for the Tigers, Wiggins allowed 18 receptions on 41 targets for 176 yards, 38 yards after the catch, one touchdowns, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 44.4.

PLUSES

— Ideal potential match cornerback because he played a ton of off in Clemson’s scheme, but will clamp well at the route stem.

— Smooth transitions through the routes allow him to also be a very good press defender.

— Has the recovery speed to make up for any delays upfield.

— Works well in space to stay with his landmarks; he’s good with option routes and scramble drills.

— Times his closure in on underneath stuff; allowed just 38 yards after the catch on 18 receptions allowed

MINUSES

— Could stand to be a a bit quicker and less deliberate out of his stance and into the route.

— Needs to work on route combos at the next level; he’ll get lost between routes at times.

— Occasional lateness to close on crossers is odd, because he clearly has the speed to do it.

— Most cornerbacks at his height (6-foot-2) can get out of sorts on quicker angular routes and he does at times.

Overall, Wiggins has the tools to play in any scheme as an outside cornerback with slot value. Set it and forget it.

Fashanu was a three-star recruit out of Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., where he blocked for Caleb Williams for a time — Williams was a year behind him in high school. Basketball was his primary outlet through elementary and middle schools until his high school football coaches got a load of his size and athleticism. He chose Penn State over Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and other programs.

Fashanu received feedback from NFL evaluators telling him that he should make himself available to the league after a 2022 season in which he allowed no sacks, one quarterback hit, and six quarterback hurries.

But the 6-foot-6, 309-pound blocker came back for his 2023 season and hot his degree in supply chain and information systems in December, 2023. He allowed no sacks, no quarterback hits, and 10 quarterback hurries in 382 pass-blocking reps in his 2023 campaign — his second as a full-time starter for the Nittany Lions. The 21-year-old Fashanu shows just about every attribute you can ask from an offensive tackle, and as soon as he’s able to put it all together, he has All-Pro potential.

PLUSES

— Easy footwork around the arc allows him to deal with counters and late in the down movement.

— Mirrors very well out of a quick ready stance; easily picks up stunts and counters.

— Rarely lets anyone into his chest. He’s clearly used to physically dominating his opponents.

— Will absolutely bury guys once he gets a head of steam to the second level.

MINUSES

— Ohio State game was the negative exception; Fashanu struggled to pick up different kinds of pressure and was late with his eyes and hands too often.

— Will lose his latch at times later in the down.

— Still working to consistently pick up line games.

— Doesn’t always pick up his target in space.

— Playing too upright could get him in trouble at the NFL level.

Fashanu is still a bit raw from a technique and awareness perspective, but there is absolutely elite tackle potential on his tape. He could be a guy who spot-starts in his first season as he acquires the benefits of NFL coaching, and then… well, watch out.

A four-star recruit out of Walker High School in Walker, Louisiana, Thomas was a football and basketball star at that level, and received offers from big-time programs in both sports. He chose football, and he chose LSU over Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M.

After two seasons of middling production, and with Jayden Daniels as his quarterback, Thomas caught 68 passes on 87 targets for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023. On passes of 20 or more air yards, Thomas caught 15 passes on 22 targets for 670 yards and 12 touchdowns. Thomas did most of his work on go, seam, dig, and hitch routes, often against defenses that were playing off to respect the Tigers’ deep passing game.

PLUSES

— He’s creeping death on go and seam routes; nice build-up speed, and then whammo — he’s gone.

— Extensive library of foot fakes both at the line of scrimmage and when in open space; he knows how to get open.

— Leans into and out of his routes to create openings, and the burner speed comes right back up.

— Leverages his routes to coverage; would work well in any option route offense.

— Great at slow-playing cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage before turning on the jets.

MINUSES

— Could be more sudden on quick cuts.

— Drops show up on tape and could be an issue at the next level.

— Will face a crapton more press coverage than he did in college.

— Not a contested-catch receiver per se; his game is about getting free from those situations.

— Can he feast on more than go/seam and hitch stuff? Remains to be seen.

I love Thomas as a complementary speed target. I’m not sure if he’s ready to be a true WR1 just yet, but as those designations are different for every NFL team, the right system could give him a boost.

A four-star recruit out of Totino-Grace High School in North Oaks, Minnesota, Alt is the son of John Alt, who was selected in the first round of the 1984 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs and went on to play 179 games at offensive tackle, eventually being enshrined in the Chiefs’ Hall of Honor. Joe Alt was a quarterback and a linebacker in high school, but his dad estimated that he would eventually be an offensive line prospect as he grew, which was a good guess. Alt chose Notre Dame over several other schools because of the university’s reputation for academics, and putting their offensive line prospects in NFL uniforms.

In 2023, his third season as a starter with the Fighting Irish, the 6-foot-8, 322-pound Alt gave up one sack, two quarterback hits, and two quarterback hurries in 368 pass-blocking reps. He allowed no sacks, two quarterback hits, and six quarterback hurries in 406 pass-blocking reps the season before, so the consistency as a pass-blocker is certainly there. And he’s more than capable of making things happen in the run game.

Alt brings Andrew Whitworth to mind — he doesn’t blow you away with his pure athleticism, but he does just about everything at a very high level, and that should transfer pretty easily to the NFL level.

PLUSES

— Keeps a wide base and strong fundamentals even when swerving to deal with speed rushers.

— Mirrors well through the rep. He doesn’t need to over-extend to make up for wasted moves.

— Fires out with a nasty demeanor; when he gets his arms out, a defender is in trouble more often than not.

— Recovers well if he does lose the leverage battle.

— Hits his targets at the second and third level.

MINUSES

— Athletic to a point, but he needs to keep his technique letter-perfect or things can go south quickly.

— Needs to avoid coming off the snap too upright; when he does, the usual stuff happens.

— Can fall off blocks at times when he loses his feet from under him.

A four-star recruit out of DeSoto High Scholl in DeSoto, Texas, Murphy was high-school teammates with current NFL receiver Laviska Shenault, and he broke Von Miller’s DeSoto record for sacks in a season with 14. Murphy chose Texas over several other major programs, and specifically after a brief stint of commitment to Baylor.

In 2023, his third season on the field for the Longhorns, Murphy totaled six sacks, three quarterback hits, 36 quarterback hurries, 21 stops, and 15 solo tackles. Despite being double-teamed frequently (251 double-teams of some kind in his 438 overall snaps), Murphy was consistently productive, and put together his best collegiate season.

PLUSES

— Relentless effort through the pocket; had a sack against Iowa State in which the RG threw him to the ground and Murphy got up and got it done. He’s on your ass from snap to whistle.

— Can just forklift dudes when he’s got his leverage together; upper-body strength shows up there

— Has the quickness and lateral agility to hit gaps running back-style and will jump 1-2 gaps and back to do it

— VERY quick feet; he’s prone to throwing WR-level foot fakes at some confused offensive linemen

MINUSES

— Does alright against double teams with rip and swim moves, but I’d like to see him expand his technical palette.

— As all-out as he is, that lack of nasty hand stuff can have him wrestling too often when he needs to disengage

— Might stand to put on a bit of weight; looks a tad light in some power situations

Right now, Murphy is an interesting hybrid player who combines breakneck play with time in which you’re yelling at him to get out of the block. I think he’ll be a good 3T/4i in his first NFL season, with breakout potential as he reaps the benefits of NFL coaching.

Drake Maye was a four-star recruit out of Myers Park High School in Huntersville, North Carolina, and he eventually chose the option to stay close to home over offers from multiple major programs. He first committed to Alabama, but when Bryce Young also committed to Alabama, North Carolina head coach Mack Brown swept in and scooped Maye up — even enlisting Michael Jordan in the recruiting process.

Maye is projected by many to be either the first or second quarterback selected in the 2024 draft, and the athletic potential is off the charts. In his third season as the Tar Heels’ starter, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Maye completed 269 passes in 425 attempts for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a passer rating of 100.2. As a runner, Maye gained 582 yards and scored nine touchdowns on 41 attempts. On throws of 20 or more air yards, he completed 40 of 85 passes for 1,452 yards, 13 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a passer rating of 113.4. When pressured, Maye completed 39 of 90 passes for 606 yards, seven touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 69.0.

PLUSES

— Pocket movement is VERY underrated; he doesn’t automatically run to run under pressure.

— Arm talent and arm strength. Tight-window throws are no problem at all.

— Can make accurate off-platform throws as well as anybody.

MINUSES

— Not an anticipation thrower, and that shows up more than it should. He’ll spray the ball on easy throws FAR too often. My primary concern.

— Arm arrogance and inconsistent mechanics get in his way as a consistent, sustaining quarterback.

— Doesn’t always see things in ways that work; I would love to know where he thinks he’s throwing the ball at times.

Maye is a fascinating quarterback who can make plays where the tape just pops off your screen… but he also has more than enough tape to give you serious concern about his future potential. He’ll need an offensive coordinator and a quarterbacks coach tuned in to his attributes, while minimizing his liabilities. This isn’t a slam-dunk at all.

A unanimous five-star recruit out of Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin and the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Latham committed to Alabama and saw action as a right guard right away. He moved to right tackle in the 2022 season, allowing no sacks and 12 total pressures in 517 pass-blocking reps, with knockdown blocks all over the place. Latham’s final college season of 2023 saw him giving up two sacks and 14 total pressures in 443 pass-blocking snaps, with power blocking as the order of the day.

With Latham, you have to know what you’re getting, and what needs development. If you’re in the market for a pure demolition expert at right tackle or right guard, he could be your man. If you prefer more quick and athletic blockers who will mirror speed rushers through the rep? That’s a different story. Latham worked to increase his weight and lower his body fat at Alabama; I might think about reducing the weight to help make him more immediately responsive off the snap. Latham just turned 21 on February 8, so the developmental curve is understandable.

PLUSES

— 6′ 5¾”, 342-pound frame allows Latham to latch onto defenders and push them right off the screen; once Latham has you on the track and moving, you’re in huge trouble.

— Has the capability to chip at the line and head to the second level with target accuracy.

— Will seal the edge quickly in the run game, and once he’s sealed it, you’re not going to get through him.

— Has an anchor of concrete and fires out like a jackhammer when his technique is together. Extremely physically imposing blocker.

— Has experience at right guard (135 snaps in 2021), so there’s positional versatility there.

MINUSES

— Can be late to the party on stunts and games; he’ll fixate on his first target and recovery can be difficult.

— Slower kick-step leaves him vulnerable to quicker rushers off the snap, and he’ll need to be faster to deal with inside counters.

— Could stand to be more aggressive with his hands; he’ll allow leakage to either side because he needs to get his hands up and into the rusher’s numbers more quickly.

— Allows defenders to cross his face far too easily; slow response time exacerbates this issue.

Right now, Latham is a “see it and hit it” blocker with the potential to be a highly credible power-mover in the run game. Where he’ll need work (possibly a lot of work) in the NFL is in his ability to naturally and seamlessly respond to speed moves and schemed-up pressure concepts. As schemed-up pressure concepts become more common and varied at the next level, that might give evaluators pause if he sticks to the tackle position.

Tyler Guyton was a second-team All-District 11-5A selection for Manor High School in Manor, Texas, where he played primarily defensive line. He chose TCU, but barely got on the field over two years… though he did bag a #THICCSIX touchdown for the Horned Frogs.

Guyton transferred to Oklahoma before the 2022 season, and that’s when things came into focus for him. He allowed two sacks and four total pressures that season in 191 pass-blocking reps at both left and right tackle, and in 2023 with his move to right tackle ensured, he allowed no sacks and 12 total pressures in 355 pass-blocking reps.

Guyton’s relative lack of big-school starting experience may put some NFL evaluators off, but when you watch the tape, there’s a whole lot to like. Guyton has pro-level potential at either tackle spot, and given how polished he is already, I don’t think the transitional issues will be tough to fix.

PLUSES

— Athletic mover with a really nice kick-step and turn around the arc. He has left tackle feet if you want him there.

— Understands stunts and games and will adjust his body on the fly to pick up the second defender.

— Keeps his feet under and aligned for the most part; this allows him to use his leverage optimally in power situations.

— Mirrors comfortably through the rep; it’s tough to get by him to either side because he recovers quickly.

— Has no issue driving defenders out in the run game, and he’s a headbanger in the pit when he needs to be. Perfectly capable of inflicting knockdown blocks and throwing linebackers around.

MINUSES

— Guyton is more of a catcher than an aggressor with his hands, and he’ll lose battles as a result when he could fire out. This might be a product of how the Sooners wanted him to do it; I’m not sure.

— Can get overpowered in two-point stances when he brings his upper body up too early in the rep.

— Guyton’s blocking isn’t… passive per se, but I would like to see him be a tick quicker to engage at times.

— If you want a tackle who clearly shows a will to dominate every rep, Guyton is more of a technician… but good luck getting his technique with some of the more dominant run-drivers.

Guyton is one of my favorite tackle prospects in this class, and I’m at a bit of a loss as to why he isn’t talked about more as a high-end (first-round) guy. I think he’s a plug-and-play RT in the NFL who can switch to the left side if need be. Yes, there is a relative lack of experience, but that makes his technique even more impressive.

Maybe the “blow your face up” blockers get more attention. Guyton just does everything really well. If that’s relatively boring, I’ll take boring 10 times out of 10. If he played with about 10% more Metallica, he might climb into OT 1/2 territory.

A consensus four-star recruit out of Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah, Jackson Powers-Johnson chose Oregon over BYU, Liberty, Missouri, Nebraska, Utah, Utah State and Washington State. He played in 11 games as a true freshman in 2021, adding a bit of time at defensive tackle. Powers-Johnson’s first start for the Ducks didn’t come until November 19, 2022, against Utah, but Powers-Johnson was more than ready for that, and he continued to prove it in 2023.

Powers-Johnson became the first Pac-12 player in conference history to win the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation’s best center, and he received First-Team All-American honors from  the AFCA, the Associated Press, the FWAA, the Sporting News, and Walter Camp.

In 2023, Powers-Johnson allowed no sacks, no quarterback hits, and one quarterback hurry in 497 pass-blocking snaps. Over his three seasons with the Ducks, Powers-Johnson gave up no sacks, one quarterback hit, and three quarterback hurries in 758 pass-blocking reps. Add that to his run-blocking tape and his work on the move, and Powers-Johnson isn’t just plug-and-play for the NFL; he could well display All-Pro potential from his first step on the field.

PLUSES

— Powers-Johnson’s combine weight of 328 pounds is 98th percentile for centers, and he carries it well, Big frame, wide butt, and no wasted pounds. It’s all coming right at you off the snap, Slappy.

— Looks to exert physical dominance on every snap in the run game; that’s his default mechanism. He doesn’t just want to take you out of the play, he wants to embarrass you.

— Good movement skills to get upfield; keeps his head on a swivel and doesn’t seem overmatched in space.

— Upper-body strength is impressive; Powers-Johnson can take a defender by the pads and just shake him into oblivion.

— Aggressive hands allow him to deflect and defeat rushers; Powers-Johnson can take a head-over nose tackle and just obliterate him.

— Mobile and agile enough to win on pulls and at the second level.

MINUSES

— While Powers-Johnson moves well in space, he isn’t going to make anybody forget Jason Kelce as a move center. He can be pre-determined with his landmarks and will occasionally let a defender through.

— Needs to work on moving with defenders crossing his face and stunting; tends to attack what’s right in front of him. More of a lunger and grabber when he’s challenged laterally.

If I’m taking a guard or center in the first round, I need to see obvious physical and mental dominance at the position(s). No issue here — Powers-Johnson is a plug-and-play center in any scheme, and that tape is fun to watch. Let’s get nasty!

Troy Franklin was a four-star recruit out of Menlo-Atherton High School in East Palo Alto, California, and he chose the Ducks over Alabama, Arizona State, LSU, USC and Washington.

When Greg Cosell and I recently watched tape with Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, the one receiver who came up more often than any other in the plays we sorted was Franklin. And for good reason — last season, Franklin caught 81 passes on 114 targets for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns. More specifically (and key for his playing profile), Franklin caught 14 passes of 20 or more air yards on 25 targets for 558 yards and seven touchdowns, and that’s what his game is about — deep speed, and understanding how to use it to tear a pass defense apart.

In today’s NFL, it’s all about creating and defending explosive plays. Franklin is more than adept at creating them, and if you’re trying to defend him… well, good luck. Franklin has a few things to work out before he’ll be able to realize his full NFL potential, but it’s hard not to be excited about what he brings to the field.

PLUSES

— Oregon ran a ton of hi/lo concepts last season, and Franklin proved to be one of the NCAA’s best receivers when taking the top off a defense on post/go/over routes.

— Gliding vertical speed with a discernible extra gear to get to the deep ball.

— Has a great understanding of how and when to slip into voids in zone coverage.

— Speed cuts are immediate and nasty; Franklin can leave a cornerback high and dry with one simple move.

MINUSES

— Nine drops last season, and a lot of them were on simple screens, slants, and comebacks. He’ll need to get his eyes and hands together at the next level.

— Contested catches are hit-and-miss; he’ll lose a 50/50 battle for every one he wins.

— YAC ability is more about winning in the open field than breaking tackles with physicality.

— Could use a bit more suddenness against press coverage from the snap; he’s certainly got all the speed necessary to blow by cornerbacks in the open field, but they’ll stick with him off the line.  The 14-yard catch against Washington State below is the ideal example of how he could win vs. press more often.

Franklin is a top receiver if you understand exactly what he is at this point in his development, and where he still needs work. With some time in the weight room and work on focus drops, he has WR1 potential with X-iso attributes. For now, put him in a heavy 3×1/2×2 offense and watch him work the deep third to your team’s advantage.