2024 Top 25/50 draft prospects

Hawkeye0202

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Already talk from a few media outlets of teams tanking for the top 2 QBs but early projections are showing as many as 5/6 could be 1st round material. What's interesting is most teams now have their franchise guy with the exception of a few........Falcons, Bucs and Commanders only have band-aid guys so they will be looking. The Jets, Raiders, Broncos, Bears, Dolphins, Cardinals and Rams could def look to draft one high depending on how their season shakes out.




https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2024-nfl-draft-prospect-watchlist/


Top 50 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Watchlist: Brock Bowers, Caleb Williams Highlight the Stars of Tomorrow​



The action during the 2022 college football season has indicated just how great the 2024 NFL Draft prospect pool should be. Here are the top 50 to watch.

If the 2022 college football season was any indication, the 2024 NFL Draft could be a franchise-changing event for many teams. On the heels of a 2023 class that lacked blue-chip talent, the early returns of the projected 2024 group are extremely promising. And there’s only more to come.

2024 NFL Draft Prospects To Watch​

Will the 2023 NFL Draft fading behind us, the 2024 NFL Draft cycle now comes into focus. There’s still plenty more studying left to do, but already, a top group is starting to emerge from the haze. Who are the top prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class, as it stands? And who is best positioned to go early next April?

1) Caleb Williams, QB, USC​

Coming off a season with 4,537 passing yards, 42 scores, and just five picks, Caleb Williams already has the production profile of a first-overall pick. At 6’1″, 215 pounds, he’s an off-platform ninja with rare creative feel and a hose for an arm. Williams’ ability to produce off-script is surpassed only by his layering ability — both franchise-caliber traits.




2) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State​

Being a Hall of Famer’s son can generate an exorbitant amount of pressure, but Marvin Harrison Jr. has already proven he can handle it. Early on, he looks like a blue-chip NFL prospect in the mold of A.J. Green. At 6’4″, 205 pounds, Harrison makes unnatural things like sinking, separating, and converting at the catch point look absolutely effortless.


3) Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina​

Having completed 342 of 517 passes for 4,321 yards, 38 scores, and seven picks in 2022, Drake Maye is one of those quarterbacks who makes it look easy, both as an athlete and as a passer.

MORE: FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator (With Trades)

Maye has a smooth, effortless throwing motion and can evade rushers and create at a high clip, despite his 6’4″, 220-pound frame. His ability to torque off-platform is superb.


4) Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State​

It’s rare for offensive tackle prospects to “look the part” as much as Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu does coming out of his redshirt sophomore season. At 6’6″, 321 pounds, Fashanu hits all the size thresholds. But he’s also a superb athlete with the mobility and flexibility to match and recover against rushers and the violent hands to suffocate rushes.




5) J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama​

Most preseason lists don’t have J.C. Latham quite this high, but the Alabama OT has the talent to follow in the footsteps of other Crimson Tide first-rounders before him. He’s unnaturally explosive and nimble on his feet for his 6’6″, 335-pound frame, and his unending physicality serves as a channeling module for his elite physical tools.


6) Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia​

Accruing 119 catches for 1,824 yards and 20 touchdowns across his first two seasons, Brock Bowers is on a collision course with Round 1 capital. The Georgia offense has always been proficient at giving Bowers space, but he makes the most of it with his instant acceleration, zone awareness, contact balance, and vice-grip hands at the high point.

7) Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State​

Harrison is a blue-chip prospect, but Emeka Egbuka has top-10 upside in his own right. At 6’1″, 205 pounds, Egbuka has the desired blend of explosiveness, agility, and speed. But what truly brings Ebuka’s profile together is his ability to displace and exploit zones as a route runner, and his ability to naturally corral passes in stride while turning upfield.





8) Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama​

It’s very early in the 2024 NFL Draft process, but it’s safe to drink the Kool-Aid on Alabama’s next first-round CB prospect. Kool-Aid McKinstry is coming off a sophomore campaign that saw him rack up 15 pass deflections in coverage. He has length at 6’1″, 188 pounds, but he’s a gnat with his technique, twitch, burst, and precise, stifling physicality.

9) Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State​

In a year, Jared Verse has gone from an under-the-radar Albany transfer to a projected Round 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Had he declared in 2023, he might have gone in that range as well.

Verse, who logged nine sacks and 17 TFLs in 2022, has it all in his arsenal: Burst, length, power, bend, and supremely quick and active hands at contact.


10) Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama​

Next in line for the Crimson Tide, Dallas Turner has big shoes to fill after Will Anderson Jr.’s departure. Turner himself has work to do before he reaches Anderson’s caliber, but he has the upside to get there. At 6’4″, 240 pounds, Turner has the length to go along with high-level burst and bend, and his speed-to-power element is surprisingly destructive.
 

Aerolithe_Lion

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Already talk from a few media outlets of teams tanking for the top 2 QBs but early projections are showing as many as 5/6 could be 1st round material. What's interesting is most teams now have their franchise guy with the exception of a few........Falcons, Bucs and Commanders only have band-aid guys so they will be looking. The Jets, Raiders, Broncos, Bears, Dolphins, Cardinals and Rams could def look to draft one high depending on how their season shakes out.
I think there’s a bunch more you could add to that list:

Jordan Love is already in year 4. Imagine if he’s absolutely terrible and they have a top 5 pick

This is probably Mac Jones’ last chance in NE to show he’s the guy

Cousins is a FA after this year. If Minny doesnt make the playoffs, they’re almost assuredly moving on

Geno’s short term contract invites the team to develop a rookie behind him. He almost has to eclipse last year’s pro bowl season to prevent that

I think exactly like last year, Derek Carr can be dumped after 1 season even with the deal he signed(remember he got an extension in LV in 2022). I have never been a believer; I think he can have yet another perfectly mediocre year and their win total doesn’t change. Why continue to pay him in that scenario, or at least not prepare the eventual replacement?

And then there’s Tennessee and Detroit. Both drafted QBs this year, but neither invested major assets into the position(only day 2 picks). If either are in the top 10 next year, you have to think they’d strongly consider upgrading the position like when Arizona drafted top QBs in back to back years, or even what Tennessee already did giving up on Malik Willis in only a few starts.


There is a crazy scenario where 10+ teams are wanting to draft QBs next year and the trade compensation for top 5 picks gets unreal
 

Mac_MaloneV1

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There is a crazy scenario where 10+ teams are wanting to draft QBs next year and the trade compensation for top 5 picks gets unreal
I don't think this is crazy, although I doubt the teams in the top-5 will be super motivated to move down, since they'll need quarterbacks. There's only 4-5 teams in the NFC (Dallas, Philly, Carolina, Chicago, ARZ) who have any sense of certainty at QB long-term, and bot CHI and ARZ are kind of a toss up at this point.
 

Aerolithe_Lion

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I don't think this is crazy, although I doubt the teams in the top-5 will be super motivated to move down, since they'll need quarterbacks. There's only 4-5 teams in the NFC (Dallas, Philly, Carolina, Chicago, ARZ) who have any sense of certainty at QB long-term, and bot CHI and ARZ are kind of a toss up at this point.
But then again, Arizona will very plausibly have 2 top 5 picks. Murray will miss most of the season, they will be dreadful. And then he could come back guns blazing and re-convince the team he’s the guy… all while they finish 4-13 due to the start. Suddenly Arizona has picks 1 and 3 with Houston’s. Could you imagine what ARI could come out of that draft with.
 

Mac_MaloneV1

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But then again, Arizona will very plausibly have 2 top 5 picks. Murray will miss most of the season, they will be dreadful. And then he could come back guns blazing and re-convince the team he’s the guy… all while they finish 4-13 due to the start. Suddenly Arizona has picks 1 and 3 with Houston’s. Could you imagine what ARI could come out of that draft with.
If they finish 4-13, Arizona would be really stupid not to take a QB.
 
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Pass2Run

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Who wants to bet right now that Dallas makes a move for Sheduer Sanders?
 

KingintheNorth

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Why would they?
Nothing wrong with a team grabbing their next QB to develop. Sure, everyone loves Cooper Rush now after starting 5 games last year, but it was not that long ago that the Cowboys let him go (2019, 2021, and 2022) and the Giants waived him (2020) as well. Plus, moving on from Rush after 2023, saves the team $2.25M in cap room.
Why would he even enter this season?
Top QB's typically declare after their Junior seasons. The top 3 QB's drafted last year were underclassmen. The top 2 QB's drafted next year will be underclassmen.
 

Mac_MaloneV1

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Nothing wrong with a team grabbing their next QB to develop. Sure, everyone loves Cooper Rush now after starting 5 games last year, but it was not that long ago that the Cowboys let him go (2019, 2021, and 2022) and the Giants waived him (2020) as well. Plus, moving on from Rush after 2023, saves the team $2.25M in cap room.

Top QB's typically declare after their Junior seasons. The top 3 QB's drafted last year were underclassmen. The top 2 QB's drafted next year will be underclassmen.
I know there's nothing wrong with that, but there's no reason to "make a move" for Sanders.

Yes, top 2-3 QBs are underclassmen. He's not a top 2-3 QB. If you were to have the draft today, he might end up being like the 12th QB off the board. Odds are way better if he has back-to-back productive seasons and gets into a lesser QB class in 2025. He's not enough of a physical talent to have limited production.
 

KingintheNorth

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"make a move" for Sanders.
Absolutely agree.
He's not a top 2-3 QB. If you were to have the draft today, he might end up being like the 12th QB off the board.
I think you're sleeping on him some. He gets some flack for being Deion's son but he has real talent. I think you'll see that more this year.

Right now in the 2023 draft, I'd have him after Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, and really close to Herndon Hooker.

In 2024, he'd be well after Caleb Williams and Drake May, and after Michael Penix Jr. too. I need to see more from Quinn Ewers, but I like Sanders more than Bo Nix, Joe Milton, and KJ Jefferson. I'm expecting bounceback years for Spencer Rattler and DJ Uiagalelei as well. Next year is a good draft to find your future QB.
 

Mac_MaloneV1

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Absolutely agree.

I think you're sleeping on him some. He gets some flack for being Deion's son but he has real talent. I think you'll see that more this year.

Right now in the 2023 draft, I'd have him after Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, and really close to Herndon Hooker.

In 2024, he'd be well after Caleb Williams and Drake May, and after Michael Penix Jr. too. I need to see more from Quinn Ewers, but I like Sanders more than Bo Nix, Joe Milton, and KJ Jefferson. I'm expecting bounceback years for Spencer Rattler and DJ Uiagalelei as well. Next year is a good draft to find your future QB.
I don't care that he's Deion's son. I care that his reel is all from a clean pocket against lower competition.

He's accurate but has a baseball throwing motion off of his hip, has average size and isn't a good but not great runner. There's just nothing to him to suggest that he's got any ceiling worth investing anything other than a late-round pick in right now. He reminds me of Kyle Trask .
 
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