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2024 NFL draft top 150 prospects: Pre-Combine edition

2024 NFL draft top 150 prospects: Pre-Combine overall rankings from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

Weeks upon weeks of watching college game film, All-22 tape and more than a few games in person and the individual big board is finally taking some real shape. With the NFL Scouting Combine coming next week, it’s time to reveal the base rankings of the top 150 players I’ve evaluated for the 2024 NFL draft.

There likely won’t be any radical changes even after the combine and pro day workouts. Verifiable character issues and medical problems are about the only things that can swing prospects radically, though unexpected measurements or workout numbers can also create some later movement. Note that this is an overall ranking, not a prediction of draft order.

Without further ado, the top 150 prospects as graded entering the 2024 combine.

2024 NFL draft: Initial top 20 prospects

The initial top 20 prospects for the 2024 NFL draft from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

It’s been a couple of weeks since the 2023 NFL draft wrapped. Just enough time to sort through an early list of the top early prospects for the 2024 draft that will take place in Detroit next April.

I haven’t done a deep dive into most of these players, but I’ve studied them enough to have some level of confidence that they’re poised to excel in the 2023 college season and attract significant draft attention in 2024.

These aren’t necessarily in a strict order, but in general, this is how they would list out if I had to make a too-early big board. There is a lot of football to be played before any rankings should be considered too seriously, just as is the case with preseason college football polls. Also remember: big boards do not necessarily equal projected draft slots.

2023 NFL draft big board: Top 150 prospects

Presenting the top 150 prospects for the 2023 NFL draft from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

In a few short days, the 2023 NFL draft will be live in Kansas City. It puts an end to months of evaluation of draft prospects and projections.

Figuring out where the players will wind up being drafted is a very different discipline than grading the players and coming up with a final ranking. Separating the two is critical.

With that said, here is my final 2023 NFL draft big board ranking of players.

This is my own board and does not represent the views or ratings of my Draft Wire colleagues in any way. It is not meant to project the draft order.

A bit about my process for ranking the players…

Film study is the basis for all grading, but there are other factors. I tend to value injuries more than most evaluators, especially repeated soft tissue injuries. Relative athleticism for the position matters, as does a player’s progression across the course of his career. Is there upside and is it coachably attainable?

In situations where the grades are effectively the same, I more highly rank the player I’m more confident in achieving his success.

2023 NFL draft big board: Quarterbacks

Ranking the QBs in the NFL draft class for 2023

Evaluating quarterbacks requires more film work than any other position group. The quest to find the consistency of mechanics, as well as how things like pocket presence, accuracy, awareness and athleticism worked in college and twill ranslate to the next level is arduous — and inexact. Yet it’s also the most critical position for NFL teams to get right.

2023 NFL draft big board: Running backs

Here’s how I rank the quarterbacks in the draft class of 2023.

2023 NFL draft big board: Cornerbacks

Ranking the prospects in a very good cornerback class in the 2023 NFL draft

Up next in the 2023 NFL positional big boards is the cornerback group.

It’s a very good year to need a cornerback. This is a deep class with all sorts of athletic prowess and stylistic diversity. College football’s heavy emphasis on passing offense has developed many of these corners into more NFL-ready contributors right away than in the past, too.

2023 NFL draft big board: Running backs

As was the case with the running backs, different corners will have stronger appeal for some teams but less for other schemes. As an example, Devon Witherspoon will rank much higher for press-man coverage defenses but won’t have nearly as high of a ranking for zone-heavy schemes. These are broader rankings based on overall ability; adjust for scheme accordingly.

2023 NFL draft big board: Running backs

Ranking what looks to be a very talented and deep RB class in the 2023 NFL draft

Kicking off the positional rankings with the very deep running back position.

It’s a good year to need a running back. Whatever type of back a team might want to augment the backfield, there are multiple appealing options in the draft class of 2023 — and some guys who don’t project to be drafted but still have viable skills.

These are my personal, overall rankings. There are cases where a player ranked lower overall makes for a better fit with a certain team than someone listed above him here. The draft projections won’t match the order in which these prospects are ranked.

Without further ado, the 2023 RBs:

2023 NFL draft: Top 50 prospects heading into combine week

Draft Wire’s Natalie Miller ranks the top 50 overall prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class heading into this year’s Scouting Combine

After an instant classic of a Super Bowl, and an eventual all-star circuit, the next big mile marker on the NFL calendar is the Scouting Combine, otherwise known as the biggest job interview in professional football.

More than 300 of this year’s top draft hopefuls will gather in Indianapolis for the opportunity to show off their skills to NFL decision-makers.

As players and teams alike prepare for a big week in Indy, here’s an updated look at the top 50 prospects in this year’s draft class:

2022 NFL draft rankings: The Draft Wire 300

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling ranks the top 300 prospects in the 2022 NFL draft

Welcome to draft week, NFL fans.

After months of breaking down game film, cataloging workout times, and trying to sift through the smokescreens, the 2022 NFL draft is just days away.

While this year’s class may lack a clear-cut top prospect, or a stacked quarterback group, it’s a crop of prospects loaded with quality depth at just about every position. It’s a great year to need pass rushers and pass catchers, as well as pass protectors and pass interceptors.

It’s time to reveal our final overall rankings for the top prospects in this year’s draft, graded across all seven rounds.

Here it is, the Draft Wire 300:

2021 NFL draft board: The Draft Wire 300

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling ranks the top 300 prospects in the 2021 NFL draft class

This last week is always the longest.

After months of rumors and hot takes, pro days and interviews, all-star games and trades, the 2021 NFL draft is just days away.

As all 32 teams put the finishing touches on their draft boards, we’re doing the same.

A couple of things you’ll notice here:

Yes, there are fewer than 32 first-round grades. That’s typical, especially within the league. Just because there are 32 first-round picks every year doesn’t mean there are 32 prospects worthy of first-round selection.

These rankings are based on my own grades on a macro level, which means they’re likely to vary in many ways from individual team boards that have to take different team-specific variables into account (scheme, position needs, philosophy, medical evaluations by team doctors, private interviews with prospects, etc.).

This is also not a mock draft. Just because a player has a particular number rank doesn’t mean that’s where I think he’ll be drafted, by the team that currently holds that pick.

Here’s how I rank the top 300 prospects in this year’s draft class:

2020 NFL Draft Big Board: The Draft Wire 300

Luke Easterling ranks the top 300 prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft class

Another year of breaking down film, player interviews, all-star games and more is in the books, and the process leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft is coming to a close.

It’s time to put the finishing touches on our overall rankings for this year’s draft class, as teams and prospects alike wait to see how things will transpire over draft weekend.

Here’s our final big board for the 2020 draft, ranking this year’s top 300 prospects:

1ST ROUND GRADES

1. Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

2. Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

3. Isaiah Simmons | LB | Clemson

4. Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

5. Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

6. Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

7. Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

8. Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

9. Jedrick Wills | OT | Alabama

10. CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

11. Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

12. Javon Kinlaw | DL | South Carolina

13. Mekhi Becton | OT | Louisville

14. Henry Ruggs III | WR | Alabama

15. Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

16. Cesar Ruiz | OL | Michigan

17. Jonathan Taylor | RB | Wisconsin

18. CJ Henderson | CB | Florida

19. K’Lavon Chaisson | EDGE | LSU

20. Kenneth Murray | LB | Oklahoma

21. D’Andre Swift | RB | Georgia

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