Category: 2024 NFL draft

4 top prospects for the 2024 NFL draft proved their hype in CFB Week 5

Top prospects from the early season don’t always sustain the on-field success, but these 4 proved their 2024 NFL draft hype

Sometimes during a college football season, the presumptive top NFL draft prospects for the coming year wind up getting locked in place. Their performance after the first few weeks of a college season might not merit the lofty status anymore, but the early top prospects stay elevated regardless.

In Week 5 of the college football season, several players widely projected to be first-round picks proved they’re not just early-season or preseason flukes. They’ve got the high-level NFL draft goods and showed them on the final weekend of September.

Saints scouts spotted in attendance at Penn State-Northwestern game

Saints scouts were spotted in attendance at Saturday’s Penn State-Northwestern game, where plenty of 2024 draft prospects helped their case:

A small crowd of NFL scouts were spotted at Saturday’s college football game between Penn State and Northwestern, including the New Orleans Saints. Penn State beat writer Seth Engle reports that the Saints were among ten teams with representatives on hand for the matchup at Ryan Field on Saturday.

So who were they watching? Penn State left tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu is one of the highest-rated prospects in the 2024 draft class and a veritable top-10 pick (if not top-5). But his teammates Kalen King (a cornerback) and Demeioun “Chop” Robinson (a pass-rushing linebacker) are also seen as surefire first rounders, so there was no shortage of NFL talent on the field. Penn State routed Northwestern 41-13, so there’s plenty of impressive game tape for the Saints’ scouts to pore over as they prepare for the 2024 draft.

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Saints among teams scouting future pros at Tulane vs. UAB

The Saints were among teams in attendance scouting future pros at Tulane’s conference opener against UAB | @crissy_froyd

It’s no secret the New Orleans Saints have a solid relationship with Tulane’s football team. The Green Wave practice in the Saints’ facilities at certain times, head coach Willie Fritz has paid visits to training camp, and Tulane names have crossed through as potential players to take the field in the same city at the next level.

And the Saints have been dropping in at Yulman Stadium a good bit, most recently with a representative in attendance for the Saturday matchup between UAB and Tulane as the Green Wave open up conference play.

The Saints had one individual on-site, joining the Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While there are multiple potential 2024 NFL draft prospects between the two sides here that may provide intrigue to the Saints and other teams who came to the contest, some have suggested that Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt could be one of the primary potential targets as he’s received plenty of NFL attention before and throughout the season.

According to sources, Pratt was being talked about “not far behind” USC quarterback Caleb Williams and UNC quarterback Drake Maye. It was also said he had a third-round grade on him with the potential of moving even higher than that.

Other possible draft prospects of note for the Green Wave in this cycle include wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson, kicker Valentino Ambrosio, defensive lineman Patrick Jenkins and cornerback Jarius Monroe, among others.

This is not the first time the Saints have sent a scout over this season, including Week 1 against South Alabama. They’ve maintained a scouting presence with this local team.

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4 CFB safeties who Cowboys should be keeping an eye on

A look at four CFB safeties who should be available later in the 2024 draft where Dallas has found success. | From @TimLettiero

Ask any fan what they’ve been craving for the Cowboy’s defense over the last 20 years and they’d likely say quality safety play. That’s why it may feel surreal to those who believe Dallas has cornered the market in that department over the last two seasons. Malik Hooker, Donovan Wilson, and Jayron Kearse have become fan favorites for their versatile play styles, fiery personalities and most importantly how they’ve been deployed by defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Hooker and Wilson have earned their extensions, leaving Kearse on the outside waiting for his. If it doesn’t happen, Dallas has plenty of depth ready to take a step up. Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell have made names for themselves so far this season, and join Israel Mukuamu as potential pieces to cover the positions. Potentially.

The issue with this group is not talent but rather contractual timetables. Names like Thomas, Mukuamu, and Bell have the potential to become more than just-another-guys, but will they get a chance in Dallas with the names ahead of them? With Kearse not getting his deal yet how much longer is he in the plans for? Wilson and Hooker are the only two under contract past 2025. If Dallas wants to keep the deepest safety room in the league, the key is to draft well. Here are some names to watch who may provide good value come the 2024 NFL draft.

Sons of Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders set to face off Saturday

Colorado vs USC this weekend is must-see TV.

One of the greatest matchups in NFL history is going to be recaptured this Saturday in college football when #8 ranked USC faces off against the surprise Colorado Buffaloes. In the late eighties and early nineties, there was not a better one-on-one matchup to watch on Sundays than when Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders attempted to guard the greatest wide receiver of all time Jerry Rice.

It was a blessing for fans at the time to witness greatness at that level, and younger fans on Saturday will get a taste of that greatness.

Both the son of Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice will face off this Saturday, and they are both two of the most impactful players at their position in the NCAA. Shilo Sanders has shown out as one of the most dynamic corners in football, showing out as the Buffaloes’ best defensive player, and was key in their wins over TCU and Colorado State.

Brenden Rice has been the leading touchdown scorer for a Caleb Williams lead offense and has truly exploded onto the seen in the first three games with over 250 yards and five touchdowns.

It’s not guaranteed that these players will line up from each other the entire game, but it is a safe bet that they will see snaps against one another. When they do line up across one another the entirety of football fandom will be watching, hoping to recapture shots of the past and glimpse pieces of the future with these bright young stars.

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2024 NFL Draft: Updated wide receiver big board

We have seven wide receivers with a first-round grade on our latest big board.

It seems that every season, college football wide receivers get bigger, faster, stronger and more talented. Just when we think we’ve seen a generational talent come into the NFL, another player follows them the next season just as talented.

With every passing week, we find another standout in college football and if we notice them, so does the NFL. Here is our updated wide receiver big board for the first four rounds of the 2024 NFL draft.

 

2024 NFL draft: 4-round Steelers mock draft update

The Steelers get help on both sides of the football in this new four-round mock draft.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are three games into the NFL regular season and the cracks in the armor in this roster are starting to show. Concerns among the starters as well as some of the depth make this new four-round mock draft update a little harder to sort out.

4 CFB cornerbacks who Cowboys should be keeping an eye on

All of a sudden, Dallas’ future at cornerback is murky. Here’s a look at several prospects who, while not necessarily first-round material, should be on their draft radar. | From @TimLettiero

Two weeks into the season, Dallas boasted arguably the best corner tandem in the league in the recently paid Trevon Diggs and former DPOY Stephon Gilmore. That all came crashing down in a hurry with Diggs sadly missing the remainder of the 2023 season. The current depth chart isn’t bare, with solid veteran Jourdan Lewis and second-year man DaRon Bland already having an interception to add to his team-leading five in 2022. After them, however, it gets questionable.

Nahshon Wright barely hung on to his roster spot while Kelvin Joseph has already been swapped out for another out-of-favor corner in Noah Igbinoghene. Late-round rookie Eric Scott Jr. has made the 53-man roster but will have to fight with numerous veterans for any playing time. Looking ahead, Gilmore and Lewis are free agents and Diggs’ recovery from ACL could take many directions. Suddenly, cornerback is a need for Dallas in 2024.

Depending on the development of the young guys and the regression and price tag of Gilmore, Dallas might not prioritize targeting the position early come next year’s draft, but it will certainly be a Day 2 or early Day 3 consideration. Here are some under-the-radar names to pay attention to who can help for the long term.

2024 NFL draft: Updated 2-round mock draft after Week 3

Check out all the huge changes in this new two-round mock draft.

We are headed into Week Four of the NFL season, so it is time for a huge update to our 2024 NFL mock draft. We went with two rounds this time around and thanks to every team having three games in the books, the draft order is completely different than anything we had been using to this point. This means lots of new names in the places this time around.

A few spoilers about this latest update. Five quarterbacks go off the board in the first round and sorry but no running backs this time around.