Category: Positional Rankings

Top 50 prospects for the 2024 NFL draft for the beginning of fall

Updating the top 50 prospects for the 2024 NFL draft for the beginning of fall

Summer is falling into autumn on the calendar. While it might not feel like it in many places, the autumnal equinox will take place early Saturday morning.

That means summer football is over for the vast majority of college teams and 2024 NFL draft prospects. It’s a good time to take stock and re-rank the top 50 prospects on the overall 2024 big board.

These rankings are based on current observational grades and do not necessarily reflect the order in which they will be taken. That’s what mock drafts are for…

2024 NFL draft: Preseason EDGE watch list and early rankings

2024 NFL draft: Preseason EDGE watch list and early rankings from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

The EDGE moniker is a relatively recent name, but EDGE players have been around for a long time. It’s essentially a mix of outside linebackers and defensive ends who have the primary task of rushing the passer. Sometimes they’re stand-up OLB types (think Von Miller), while others are hand-in-dirt ends (think Myles Garrett).

It’s a position where collegiate production is important but athletic upside matters quite a bit, perhaps more than any other spot. The early evaluation of this EDGE class shows a couple of high-end prospects and then a group that is variable based on team/scheme preferences; the No. 3 here might not be in the top 8 for a team that doesn’t run the particular type of scheme that he best fits.

These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. Some underclassmen are included here strictly as mentions; it is not meant to advocate for a player to leave early.

After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the EDGEs in the NFL draft class of 2024.

2024 NFL draft: Preseason OT watch list and early rankings

2024 NFL draft: Preseason CB watch list and early rankings

2024 NFL draft: Preseason QB watch list and early rankings

2024 NFL draft: Preseason RB watch list and early rankings

2024 NFL draft: Preseason WR watch list and early rankings

2024 NFL draft: Preseason CB watch list and early rankings

2024 NFL draft: Preseason CB watch list and early rankings entering the 2023 college football season

The popular saying is true: no NFL team can ever have enough cornerbacks. More CBs are drafted each year than any other position, with no less than 36 selected in every draft since 2020.

With such a huge demand comes a giant group of aspiring collegiate corners. The early impression on the class is that there is room for a couple at the top to seize the bull by the horns and emerge as the best, while the next grouping is slightly lower-end than the similar tiers of the past couple of seasons at the same preseason point.

These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. Some underclassmen are included here strictly as mentions; it is not meant to advocate for a player to leave early.

After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the cornerbacks in the NFL draft class of 2024.

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2024 NFL draft: Preseason OT watch list and early rankings

The early impression and rankings for what looks like a very good OT draft class

Up next in the preseason 2024 NFL draft positional rankings and players to know: the offensive tackles. The initial impression is that this could be a very good draft year for NFL teams to need OT help from the college ranks.

These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. Some underclassmen are included here strictly as mentions; it is not meant to advocate for a player to leave early.

After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the offensive tackles in the NFL draft class of 2024.

2024 NFL draft: Preseason RB watch list and early rankings

The initial 2024 NFL draft running back rankings and preseason watch list from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

Running backs have taken a hit in value in recent NFL drafts, but with two (Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs) being selected in the top 12 in 2023, perhaps a resurgence is coming. The early returns on the potential draft class of 2024 aren’t so strong, but there are some impressive talents to watch in the upcoming college season.

These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. The RB position in particular lends itself to players rising or falling rapidly on one season, so don’t expect the final rankings in April to look anything like this.

After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, and in talking with some NFL-employed scouts, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the running backs in the NFL draft class of 2024.

2024 NFL draft: Preseason WR watch list and early rankings

An early ranking of the receivers in the 2024 NFL draft class and WR watch list from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

Wide receiver is generally one of the deepest positions in every draft. It’s also one where players can rise quickly, notably underclassmen or transfers who benefit from better QB play or a more conducive scheme.

These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted.

With some feedback and info from a couple of team-employed NFL scouts and an active player agent, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the wide receivers in the NFL draft class of 2024.

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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:

Combining and ranking the last three first round quarterback classes

A look at the QBs from the last three first-round classes and what respective grade we would give them if they all came out in the same year

Every year the quarterbacks are highlighted in a particular draft which is absolutely justified given their importance within the league as the most impactful position in the NFL. The last three years have given us a handful of prospects that were selected in the first round, and today we look at all of them coming out of college and what respective grades we would give them if they all came out in the same year.

Here are our rankings:

2023 NFL draft: Updated prospect rankings for every position

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling updates his prospect rankings for every position group in the 2023 NFL draft

The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is over, which means it’s time to update our prospect rankings for every position group in the 2023 NFL draft.

Here’s how we rank this year’s class at each position heading into the homestretch of the predraft process:

2023 NFL draft: Post-combine safety rankings

Draft Wire editor Luke Easterling updates his rankings for the top safety prospects in the 2023 NFL draft

Now that the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the books, it’s time to update our prospect rankings for every position group in the 2023 NFL draft class.

Here’s an updated look at how we stack this year’s safety class: