Category: 2024 NFL draft

2024 NFL draft watch list: Wide receiver prospects for the New Orleans Saints

2024 NFL draft watch list: Wide receiver prospects for the New Orleans Saints to pair with Chris Olave | @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints drafted Chris Olave in the first round of the NFL draft last year and it worked to great success. Despite that move, many people still consider the Saints to have one of the weaker groups in the league.

The good news is that every receiver class seems to get better than the one before it. That seems to be the case again in 2024, as there are fantastic options no matter where you pick in the first round. With Michael Thomas’ health still looming and Rashid Shaheed still needing to improve as an all around receiver, it might not hurt to add another option.

Here are the names to keep an eye on as the college football season gets started:

Missouri secondary loaded with future NFL Draft picks

If you are looking for defensive stars, the Missouri Tigers have to covered.

The Missouri Tigers boast one of the most talented secondaries in college football. When the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around the Tigers could have four defensive backs get selected.

The Tigers open the season on Thursday at home against the University of South Dakota at 7 p.m.. The Coyotes will start Aidan Bouman, the son of long-time NFL backup quarterback, Todd Bouman. The lefty quarterback was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year, after passing for 892 yards and eight touchdowns in six games last season. Bouman and the Coyotes won’t be the most challenging test that the Tigers face this season, however, it figures to be a good early test for a talented secondary.

Kris Abrams-Draine

A four-star recruit out of Alabama, Abrams-Draine arrived at Columbia as a wide receiver and made the switch to cornerback in 2021. That season, Abrams-Draine recorded three interceptions and 10 pass deflections. This past season, the Missouri cornerback recorded 14 pass deflections. His background as a wide receiver is evident in his route recognition. He quickly closes on the ball to get his hands on a lot of passes. He’s got excellent speed and doesn’t panic when the ball is in the air. Despite being on the leaner side (178), Abrams-Draine has a high batting average as a tackler.

Jaylon Carlies

A 28-game starter, Carlies can line up in the slot, on the boundary, in the box, or deep. Over the past two seasons, the Missouri safety has recorded 149 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, seven interceptions, and 11 pass deflections. He’s a well-rounded prospect, who is capable of wearing multiple hats for a defensive coordinator. He flies downhill and arrives at the ball carrier with bad intentions. He’s a lanky athlete, who showcases good range. 

Ennis Rakestraw Jr

A year removed from a torn ACL, Rakestraw recorded 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and 13 pass deflections last season. Rakestraw is a fluid athlete and easy change of direction ability. The Missouri cornerback is a long, physical cornerback who does a good job of getting physical at the catch point. 

Joseph Charleston

A Clemson transfer, Charleston finished his first season as a Tiger with 53 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception. Charleston is a movable piece, logging snaps in the slot, deep, and on the boundary during his first year with the Tigers. According to Pro Football Focus, Charleston missed just four tackles last season. 

Other names to know from Missouri’s secondary include Daylan Carnell, Tre’Vez Johnson and Sidney Williams. Note: Carlies is a game-time decision for tonight’s matchup against the Coyotes. 

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CFB Week 1 draft scouting spotlight: Utah vs. Florida

Looking at some of the 2024 NFL draft prospects from the matchup between Florida and Utah

After a nice appetizer in what was termed Week 0, this weekend sees college football explode onto the scene. Week 1 kicks off on Thursday night with a matchup of the Florida Gators and Utah Utes.

Last year’s meeting was the game that launched Gators QB Anthony Richardson into prominence. Richardson wound up being the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and his three rushing TDs in the opener against Utah were part of that progress.

While there isn’t a surefire first-rounder on either roster, there are still quite a few prospects for the 2024 draft to watch in an appealing Pac-12 vs. SEC matchup.

As was the case a year ago, it starts at quarterback. Utah has a good one in Cam Rising, but he’s likely not playing while he continues to recover from a torn ACL. Florida’s Graham Mertz is among nine Gators who appear on the Senior Bowl’s preseason watch list, and the Wisconsin transfer can quickly elevate himself with a good showing.

Mertz gets some talented weaponry at his disposal. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall works well out of the slot and is adept at making catches away from his body. RB Montrell Johnson Jr. can break the big play and shows pretty good vision and acceleration through the hole without rushing the process.

Perhaps the most interesting Gator is TE Dante Zanders, who has flip-flopped between tight end and defense lineman and overhauled his physique in the process. Zanders only caught 10 passes a year ago, but he’s poised for a bigger senior season with positional stability and a leaner frame.

On defense, Florida offers CB Jason Marshall Jr. and bendy pass rusher Princely Umanmielen. Both have early-round draft potential. With Rising and top Utah TE Brant Kuithe sitting out, they could shine under the Western lights.

Utah’s top prospect expected to play is offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea. He’s one of the top interior offensive line talents in the early draft conversation and might be the best pulling run blocker in college football. He’s expected to play right tackle in 2023. Another TE, Thomas Yassmin, is one of 10 Utes on the preseason Senior Bowl watchlist.

Others to watch

Utah:

LB Micah Bernard

S Cole Bishop

OG Ethan Calvert

RB Ja’Quinden Jackson

DE Connor O’Toole

DT Junior Tafuna

CB Zemaiah Vaughn

Florida:

C Kingsley Eguakun

DB Jaydon Hill

OG Micah Mazzccua

S R.J. Moten

DT Cam Jackson

LB Scooby Williams

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South Dakota State Jackrabbits return talented offensive core that could have scouts flocking to Brookings

South Dakota State won the FCS championship in 2022 and have some viable NFL prospects returning to Brookings for 2023

The South Dakota State University Jackrabbits will begin their title defense on Thursday in Brookings against Western Oregon.

It will also mark the first game for head coach Jimmy Rogers. Last year’s defensive coordinator takes over for John Stiegelmeier and will benefit from a strong core of offensive players returning from last year’s championship team.

This past April, the Jackrabbits had one offensive player selected from the National Championship team. When the 2024 NFL Draft rolls around the Jackrabbits could have up to six offensive players hear their names get called during draft weekend.

Isaiah Davis, RB

During his first season as a full-time starter, Davis rushed for 1,451 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s a well-built running back who refuses to go down on initial contact. According to Pro Football Focus, Davis racked up 938 yards after contact. The former Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year showcases good vision and scoots through the hole with outstanding burst.

Jaxon Janke, WR

The Madison, South Dakota native is a detailed route runner. Janke has vice grips for hands, only dropping one pass last season on 88 targets. The SDSU wide receiver has hauled in 132 receptions for 2,033 yards and 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Along with what he brings to the table on offense, Janke brings special teams value as a return specialist. He enters his final season at Brookings with a 12.2 punt return average and one punt return touchdown.

Jadon Janke, WR

Janke, like his twin brother, is going to be a fan-favorite of special teams coordinators. He brings value as a return specialist and has also played on punt and kickoff coverage units. During his career at Brookings, he’s averaged 11.4 yards per punt return, with one touchdown and 19.3 yards per kick return. He has strong hands, with a little wiggle after the catch. 

Zach Heins, TE

Heins is nowhere near the same level of athlete as his former running mate, Tucker Kraft. What he lacks in pure athleticism, he makes up for with his size (6-7, 260). He’s strong at the point of attack as a blocker and does an adequate job of keeping his legs driving to drive defenders downfield. He finished last season with career highs in receptions (29) and yards (347) to go along with four touchdowns. With Kraft no longer in the picture, SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski could look to target his big-bodied tight end over the middle of the field more frequently this fall.

Garrett Greenfield, OT

Greenfield enters his final season at SDSU with 24 career starts at right tackle and 16 at left tackle, starting 15 games at left tackle last season. The 30-game starter has light feet as a pass blocker and showcases the lateral quickness to mirror edge rushers. He has the easy athleticism to climb to the second level without laboring. After giving up two sacks against Iowa and UC Davis to start last season, Greenfield gave up zero sacks and just eight pressures during the final 13 games. 

Mason McCormick, OL

Maybe one of the most seasoned interior linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCormick has started 42 games at left guard for the Jackrabbits. The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native is smooth in pass protection and has strong hands. He showcases good quickness and erases defenders at the second level.

 

Updated future New Orleans Saints draft picks after trading Wil Lutz

We’ve updated our list of future New Orleans Saints draft picks after the team traded Wil Lutz. Here’s what they have to work with in 2024 and beyond:

The New Orleans Saints completed a controversial roster move on Tuesday by trading former Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz to the Denver Broncos, reuniting him with his old coach Sean Payton — and bringing just a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft back in return. So how many draft picks do the Saints have now?

Because NFL rules dictate that only picks in the next three draft cycles may be traded, we’re limited to the 2024 draft (to be held in Detroit), the 2025 draft (in Green Bay), and 2026 (location to be determined). Here is what the Saints have to work with:

Saints didn’t get much back from Broncos in Wil Lutz trade

The Saints didn’t get much back from the Broncos in their Wil Lutz trade, adding a pick in the final round of next year’s NFL draft:

Yikes. The New Orleans Saints did not get much back from the Denver Broncos after trading former Pro Bowl kicker Wil Lutz — longtime Denver beat reporter Mike Klis says that the Broncos swapped a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft for Lutz.

It’s better than nothing, which is what the Saints got for cutting veteran cornerback Bradley Roby, but it still isn’t much. Kicker trades are rare in the NFL and never seem to involve anything higher than a fifth- or sixth-round pick. But if this is the best the Saints could get back for trading Lutz away, they might have been better off just sticking with him.

New Orleans is projected to get several compensatory picks in the upcoming draft after losing free agents in 2023, but those won’t be awarded until next March. It means the Saints currently control these draft assets in 2024:

  • Round 1
  • Round 2 (via Denver Broncos)
  • Round 4 (compensatory for Marcus Davenport, unconfirmed)
  • Round 4 (compensatory for David Onyemata, unconfirmed)
  • Round 5
  • Round 6
  • Round 6 (via Philadelphia Eagles or Tennessee Titans)
  • Round 6 (compensatory for Kaden Elliss, unconfirmed)
  • Round 7 (via Denver Broncos)

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2024 NFL draft watch list: Safeties for the New Orleans Saints

2024 NFL draft watch list: Safety could be a long-term concern for the New Orleans Saints | @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints don’t have an immediate need at safety on their roster, but it is certainly looming. Tyrann Mathieu is aging and Marcus Maye has two years on his contract.

The team did select Jordan Howden in the most recent draft, but they could add some more dynamic players at the position in the upcoming draft cycle. There are a lot of fun ballhawks entering the draft in 2024, which could be intriguing to the Saints if they miss having a Marcus Williams-type player around. With Mathieu aging, they could also be looking at box safeties and more versatile pieces which this class has as well.

Here are the names to keep an eye on at Safety as the season begins to ramp up this week:

2024 NFL mock draft update

Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. highlight this 2024 mock draft update.

With the preseason wrapped up and final cuts happening around the NFL, we decided to update our 2024 NFL mock draft. The draft order this time around was determined by the Pro Football Network mock draft simulator but the picks are all mine.

College football is going full speed ahead and most NFL franchises have their scouts hard at work on the road checking out every draft prospect imaginable.

Most pundits at this point have USC quarterback Caleb Williams as the top player with Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. just behind him. This draft class is shaping up to be absolutely loaded at some positions but there are even more guys who are poised for breakout seasons and that will tip a mock draft like this on its head.

Steelers land elite cornerback in new mock draft

In this mock draft, the Steelers get another Penn State cornerback to pair up with Joey Porter Jr.

Our friends over at Touchdown Wire have released a new 2024 NFL mock draft as the NFL preseason wraps up. In the next two days, the Pittsburgh Steelers and all of the league will be trimming rosters down and will have a clear picture of where the roster is strong and where it falls short.

This is where scouting for the 2024 NFL draft comes in. Head coach Mike Tomlin noted his college scouts are out on the road and already working hard on next year’s draft and college football is underway. So if you think it’s too soon to be talking draft, you would be wrong.

In this mock draft, TD Wire has the Steelers picking No. 16 overall, which is a travesty in itself. But putting aside that little quibble, getting Penn State cornerback Kalen King makes it better.

The Steelers got former Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft and he’s inching very close to a spot in the starting lineup. With free agency looming for guys like Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace in the coming seasons, getting a player who is starter-ready like King is a smart call. A strong case can be made that King is already a better cornerback than Porter was last season.

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2024 NFL draft: Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman huge in 1st game

Sam Hartman was impressive in his first game at Notre Dame.

We are in Week 0 of the college football season and already some top prospects for the 2024 NFL draft are drawing attention. On Saturday, Notre Dame took on Navy and Fighting Irish quarterback Sam Hartman took apart the Navy defense with precision.

Hartman finished the game with 251 passing yards on 19-of-23 passing. IN addition, Hartman had four passing touchdowns including two to super freshman wide receiver Jaden Greathouse and one to junior wide receiver Deion Colzie.

With all the talk about USC quarterback Caleb Williams as the top quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft, there is a large group of guys in the next tier who are jockeying for position. Hartman is firmly in this group.

Hartman’s career started at Wake Forest and this is where he first started showing up on NFL draft watch lists. But this move to Notre Dame for his final season will give him an opportunity not only for more exposure but also the chance to play with much better players on offense.

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