Risen Star
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I tackled my list for the 2024 class with a strict grading scale after handing out 20 first-round scores in 2023, and I ended up with 18 names -- up from 16 in late February. Here are the players who deserve a first-round grade on my board. (Players' overall rankings are in parentheses after their names.)
Quarterback (3)
Caleb Williams, USC (No. 1)
Comp: Aaron Rodgers
The top overall player in the 2024 draft class, Williams combines excellent arm strength, mobility and field vision with a knack for making creative plays when defenses close in on the pocket. At 6-foot-1 and 214 pounds, he is responsible for 93 touchdowns over the past two seasons at USC (72 passing, 21 rushing).
Sure, he will need to clean up the fumbles (eight in 2023) and get the ball out faster (3.14 seconds to throw on average), but the NFL-style playmaking and jaw-dropping passing ability has scouts calling him a rare prospect. What he's able to do on second-effort plays is impressive, and Williams would have been my top-rated quarterback in each of the past five draft classes. He looks like a lock to go No. 1 right now.
Jayden Daniels, LSU (No. 5)
Comp: Lamar Jackson
The Heisman Trophy winner was the most improved player in college football in 2023. He entered the season with a Day 3 grade from NFL scouts but put together a 50-touchdown campaign (40 passing, 10 rushing) with just four interceptions. Daniels is not only the draft's best deep-ball thrower -- he had a 99.6 QBR targeting vertical routes -- he's also the most dangerous runner among the quarterbacks. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder had 3,812 passing yards and 1,134 rushing yards last season.
Drake Maye, North Carolina (No. 9)
Comp: Justin Herbert
Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms used to tell me "size is a trait," and if you subscribe to that philosophy, you'll love the 6-foot-4, 223-pound redshirt sophomore from North Carolina. Maye is poised in the pocket but also mobile when necessary, and he has proven the past two seasons that he's capable of putting a team on his back with awesome arm talent and the toughness to pick up difficult yards as a runner. He has to work on footwork mechanics and cut down on interceptions -- he threw 16 in the past two years combined -- but there is a lot to like in his game. Maye threw for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdown passes last season.
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Running back (0)
After seeing Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs picked in the top 12 in 2023, it was fair to wonder if the running back position was seeing a comeback in draft priority. But we aren't quite there, at least not yet. The 2024 class doesn't feature a player ranked inside my top 40. There are solid backs capable of helping NFL teams immediately -- Jonathon Brooks (Texas, No. 45 overall) leads a list of seven RBs with Day 2 grades -- but none has the right mix of traits to qualify here.
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Wide receiver (5)
Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (No. 2)
Comp: A.J. Green
Harrison -- the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr. -- has rare traits, including great size (6-foot-4, 209 pounds), body control, agility and flexibility, along with the fastest hands this side of Tyreek Hill. You don't often see big wide receivers show the flexibility and body control that Harrison does in order to get low to snag ground balls. And he's consistently making plays that show off an elite catch radius. He accumulated 2,474 receiving yards and 28 TDs over the past two seasons, despite defenses knowing the ball is going his way.
Rome Odunze, Washington (No. 3)
Comp: Ja'Marr Chase
Odunze is a physical, aggressive player when the ball is in his hands, and he sheds defenders with his 6-foot-3, 212-pound frame. Odunze combined for 167 catches, 2,785 yards and 20 touchdowns over the past two seasons while making a name for himself as a back shoulder fade specialist. His toughness pre- and post-catch is fantastic, and his ability to consistently beat man coverage and dominate on 50-50 balls is why he gets the Chase comp.
Malik Nabers, LSU (No. 4)
Comp: Stefon Diggs
He's the best after-the-catch receiver in the draft class. The 6-foot, 199-pound Nabers averaged 18 yards per catch on 86 grabs last season, with 6.8 coming after the catch. He also turned in 14 touchdowns and 1,546 yards in a breakout season. Nabers' start-stop quicks are high-end, and his field vision to find running lanes with the ball in his hands is special. I also love that over the past two seasons he had a drop rate of just 3.1%. Nabers is sure-handed, fast, explosive and ready to be an NFL WR1.
Brian Thomas Jr., LSU (No. 17)
Comp: Tee Higgins
Thomas burst onto the scene in 2023, leading the nation with 17 receiving touchdowns and showcasing a vertical ability at 6-foot-3 that will get him a true Round 1 grade from many teams. Thomas excels at stretching the field and uses his great agility and body control to attack passes. The way he adjusts to the ball in the air and speeds up to get into position is a WR1 quality. While raw as a route runner, Thomas' potential is sky high.
Adonai Mitchell, Texas (No. 18)
Comp: George Pickens
Mitchell had a dominant 2023 season after transferring to Texas from Georgia, with 11 touchdown receptions and just one dropped pass. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder ran a 4.34-second time in the 40-yard dash at the combine, highlighting his burst and ability to run past defenders vertically. In five career College Football Playoff games, Mitchell had five touchdowns. He's a gamer and a first-round pick.
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Tight end (1)
Brock Bowers, Georgia (No. 10)
Comp: George Kittle
Bowers is not just a tight end; he's an offensive playmaker. The 6-foot-3, 243-pounder is rough and ready, and unlike so many smooth-moving tight ends of this day and age, he'll simply run over you. Bowers is physical but fast; he's as elusive as he is powerful. And it's why he scored 31 touchdowns over three seasons while being used as a tight end, H-back, slot receiver and sometimes tailback. Some may say he's undersized, but Bowers' effort and strength as a blocker are underrated. He can be a focal point for an NFL passing game from Day 1.
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Offensive tackle (4)
Joe Alt, Notre Dame (No. 6)
Comp: Andrew Thomas
The son of Chiefs' Hall of Famer John Alt, the younger Alt is a masterful technician with just two sacks allowed in the past two seasons. At 6-foot-9 and 321 pounds, he dominates defenders with his length and grip strength. Once he's locked on, defenders are best to just wait for the whistle. Alt doesn't have the flashy agility of other tackle prospects, but his power and technique are NFL-ready.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State (No. 11)
Comp: Terron Armstead
A long-armed, easy-moving left tackle, Fashanu is a massive man at 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds. The 20-year-old started 20 games over the past two seasons, allowing one sack while being flagged only four times. He's powerful and agile, and he is still getting better with more reps. Fashanu has the tools to become a top-five NFL left tackle.
Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State (No. 12)
Comp: Darnell Wright
His tape shows awesome power as a pure people-mover, but he's also agile and nimble in space at 6-foot-6 and 324 pounds. A college right tackle, Fuaga has the movement ability and poise to play either side in the pros. He's a plug-and-play right tackle with the ceiling of a top-five player at the position very early in his career.
Troy Fautanu, Washington (No. 16)
Comp: Peter Skoronski
Fautanu has been discussed as a potential pivot player who could move inside to guard, but after watching his combine workout and reviewing more tape, I have him sticking with his college position and playing left tackle in the NFL. His quickness and excellent arm length are adequate to cover his modest height (6-foot-4, 317 pounds). And his ability to dump defenders and finish in the run game is a thing of beauty.
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Interior offensive line (0)
The 2023 draft saw one interior offensive lineman -- Skoronski, who played tackle at Northwestern -- drafted in the first round, and the 2024 draft could be similar. Center Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) is No. 29 on my board, while center Zach Frazier (West Virginia) and guard Cooper Beebe (Kansas State) are solid Round 2 prospects.
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Edge rusher (2)
Dallas Turner, Alabama (No. 7)
Comp: Josh Allen
Turner broke out in 2023 after replacing Will Anderson Jr. as the primary pass-rusher at Alabama. He led the Crimson Tide in sacks (10) and emerged as an elite force coming off the edge, adding two forced fumbles along the way. Turner has a slim build at 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, which is where the comparison to Allen (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) comes from. Both are smooth, fast, long-armed pass-rushers. And like Allen, Turner has the upside and traits to develop into a special edge defender.
Jared Verse, Florida State (No. 14)
Comp: Trey Hendrickson
Verse dominated over two seasons at Florida State, collecting 18 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss during that time. He's strong at the point of attack at 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds and has the power to go toe-to-toe with NFL offensive tackles. A true 4-3 defensive end prospect with this type of power and pass-rush production is rare, which is why Verse slides in with a Round 1 grade.
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Defensive tackle (1)
Byron Murphy II, Texas (No. 13)
Comp: Justin Madubuike
Murphy was asked to play out of position at Texas as a 5-technique in the team's three-man front, but he still managed to find pass-rush production there with five sacks and 33 pressures. Murphy is stout at 6-foot-1 and 297 pounds, and his tape shows stunning first-step quickness and absolute power at the point of attack. Once he's able to shoot gaps in the NFL, he can be a game-changer.
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Linebacker (0)
Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper is my top-ranked 'backer at No. 33 overall, while Michigan's Junior Colson also makes the top 50 at No. 46. But there's a good chance we don't see anyone at the position go on Day 1 in April.
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Cornerback (2)
Terrion Arnold, Alabama (No. 8)
Comp: Devon Witherspoon
Arnold was lights out in coverage last season, grabbing five interceptions and breaking up 12 passes. He's big at 6-foot and 189 pounds, and he plays with fire and tenacity at the line of scrimmage. While he's definitely physical, Arnold also has the quickness and speed to fly downfield with receivers. He's a tough, instinctive and all-around great cornerback prospect.
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo (No. 15)
Comp: Jaylon Johnson
Mitchell has had the best pre-draft process of any defensive player in the class. He followed a remarkable Senior Bowl week with a combine performance that included a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 6 feet, 195 pounds. Mitchell is tough and physical, and he had six interceptions over the past two seasons.
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Safety (0)
The safety position might be the weakest of the 2024 draft. Tyler Nubin (Minnesota) has a top-50 ranking at No. 49 overall, but the group lacks top-end talent. However, there is good late-Day 2 and early-Day 3 value to be found here.
Quarterback (3)
Caleb Williams, USC (No. 1)
Comp: Aaron Rodgers
The top overall player in the 2024 draft class, Williams combines excellent arm strength, mobility and field vision with a knack for making creative plays when defenses close in on the pocket. At 6-foot-1 and 214 pounds, he is responsible for 93 touchdowns over the past two seasons at USC (72 passing, 21 rushing).
Sure, he will need to clean up the fumbles (eight in 2023) and get the ball out faster (3.14 seconds to throw on average), but the NFL-style playmaking and jaw-dropping passing ability has scouts calling him a rare prospect. What he's able to do on second-effort plays is impressive, and Williams would have been my top-rated quarterback in each of the past five draft classes. He looks like a lock to go No. 1 right now.
Jayden Daniels, LSU (No. 5)
Comp: Lamar Jackson
The Heisman Trophy winner was the most improved player in college football in 2023. He entered the season with a Day 3 grade from NFL scouts but put together a 50-touchdown campaign (40 passing, 10 rushing) with just four interceptions. Daniels is not only the draft's best deep-ball thrower -- he had a 99.6 QBR targeting vertical routes -- he's also the most dangerous runner among the quarterbacks. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder had 3,812 passing yards and 1,134 rushing yards last season.
Drake Maye, North Carolina (No. 9)
Comp: Justin Herbert
Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms used to tell me "size is a trait," and if you subscribe to that philosophy, you'll love the 6-foot-4, 223-pound redshirt sophomore from North Carolina. Maye is poised in the pocket but also mobile when necessary, and he has proven the past two seasons that he's capable of putting a team on his back with awesome arm talent and the toughness to pick up difficult yards as a runner. He has to work on footwork mechanics and cut down on interceptions -- he threw 16 in the past two years combined -- but there is a lot to like in his game. Maye threw for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdown passes last season.
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Running back (0)
After seeing Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs picked in the top 12 in 2023, it was fair to wonder if the running back position was seeing a comeback in draft priority. But we aren't quite there, at least not yet. The 2024 class doesn't feature a player ranked inside my top 40. There are solid backs capable of helping NFL teams immediately -- Jonathon Brooks (Texas, No. 45 overall) leads a list of seven RBs with Day 2 grades -- but none has the right mix of traits to qualify here.
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Wide receiver (5)
Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State (No. 2)
Comp: A.J. Green
Harrison -- the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr. -- has rare traits, including great size (6-foot-4, 209 pounds), body control, agility and flexibility, along with the fastest hands this side of Tyreek Hill. You don't often see big wide receivers show the flexibility and body control that Harrison does in order to get low to snag ground balls. And he's consistently making plays that show off an elite catch radius. He accumulated 2,474 receiving yards and 28 TDs over the past two seasons, despite defenses knowing the ball is going his way.
Rome Odunze, Washington (No. 3)
Comp: Ja'Marr Chase
Odunze is a physical, aggressive player when the ball is in his hands, and he sheds defenders with his 6-foot-3, 212-pound frame. Odunze combined for 167 catches, 2,785 yards and 20 touchdowns over the past two seasons while making a name for himself as a back shoulder fade specialist. His toughness pre- and post-catch is fantastic, and his ability to consistently beat man coverage and dominate on 50-50 balls is why he gets the Chase comp.
Malik Nabers, LSU (No. 4)
Comp: Stefon Diggs
He's the best after-the-catch receiver in the draft class. The 6-foot, 199-pound Nabers averaged 18 yards per catch on 86 grabs last season, with 6.8 coming after the catch. He also turned in 14 touchdowns and 1,546 yards in a breakout season. Nabers' start-stop quicks are high-end, and his field vision to find running lanes with the ball in his hands is special. I also love that over the past two seasons he had a drop rate of just 3.1%. Nabers is sure-handed, fast, explosive and ready to be an NFL WR1.
Brian Thomas Jr., LSU (No. 17)
Comp: Tee Higgins
Thomas burst onto the scene in 2023, leading the nation with 17 receiving touchdowns and showcasing a vertical ability at 6-foot-3 that will get him a true Round 1 grade from many teams. Thomas excels at stretching the field and uses his great agility and body control to attack passes. The way he adjusts to the ball in the air and speeds up to get into position is a WR1 quality. While raw as a route runner, Thomas' potential is sky high.
Adonai Mitchell, Texas (No. 18)
Comp: George Pickens
Mitchell had a dominant 2023 season after transferring to Texas from Georgia, with 11 touchdown receptions and just one dropped pass. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder ran a 4.34-second time in the 40-yard dash at the combine, highlighting his burst and ability to run past defenders vertically. In five career College Football Playoff games, Mitchell had five touchdowns. He's a gamer and a first-round pick.
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Tight end (1)
Brock Bowers, Georgia (No. 10)
Comp: George Kittle
Bowers is not just a tight end; he's an offensive playmaker. The 6-foot-3, 243-pounder is rough and ready, and unlike so many smooth-moving tight ends of this day and age, he'll simply run over you. Bowers is physical but fast; he's as elusive as he is powerful. And it's why he scored 31 touchdowns over three seasons while being used as a tight end, H-back, slot receiver and sometimes tailback. Some may say he's undersized, but Bowers' effort and strength as a blocker are underrated. He can be a focal point for an NFL passing game from Day 1.
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Offensive tackle (4)
Joe Alt, Notre Dame (No. 6)
Comp: Andrew Thomas
The son of Chiefs' Hall of Famer John Alt, the younger Alt is a masterful technician with just two sacks allowed in the past two seasons. At 6-foot-9 and 321 pounds, he dominates defenders with his length and grip strength. Once he's locked on, defenders are best to just wait for the whistle. Alt doesn't have the flashy agility of other tackle prospects, but his power and technique are NFL-ready.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State (No. 11)
Comp: Terron Armstead
A long-armed, easy-moving left tackle, Fashanu is a massive man at 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds. The 20-year-old started 20 games over the past two seasons, allowing one sack while being flagged only four times. He's powerful and agile, and he is still getting better with more reps. Fashanu has the tools to become a top-five NFL left tackle.
Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State (No. 12)
Comp: Darnell Wright
His tape shows awesome power as a pure people-mover, but he's also agile and nimble in space at 6-foot-6 and 324 pounds. A college right tackle, Fuaga has the movement ability and poise to play either side in the pros. He's a plug-and-play right tackle with the ceiling of a top-five player at the position very early in his career.
Troy Fautanu, Washington (No. 16)
Comp: Peter Skoronski
Fautanu has been discussed as a potential pivot player who could move inside to guard, but after watching his combine workout and reviewing more tape, I have him sticking with his college position and playing left tackle in the NFL. His quickness and excellent arm length are adequate to cover his modest height (6-foot-4, 317 pounds). And his ability to dump defenders and finish in the run game is a thing of beauty.
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Interior offensive line (0)
The 2023 draft saw one interior offensive lineman -- Skoronski, who played tackle at Northwestern -- drafted in the first round, and the 2024 draft could be similar. Center Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) is No. 29 on my board, while center Zach Frazier (West Virginia) and guard Cooper Beebe (Kansas State) are solid Round 2 prospects.
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Edge rusher (2)
Dallas Turner, Alabama (No. 7)
Comp: Josh Allen
Turner broke out in 2023 after replacing Will Anderson Jr. as the primary pass-rusher at Alabama. He led the Crimson Tide in sacks (10) and emerged as an elite force coming off the edge, adding two forced fumbles along the way. Turner has a slim build at 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, which is where the comparison to Allen (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) comes from. Both are smooth, fast, long-armed pass-rushers. And like Allen, Turner has the upside and traits to develop into a special edge defender.
Jared Verse, Florida State (No. 14)
Comp: Trey Hendrickson
Verse dominated over two seasons at Florida State, collecting 18 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss during that time. He's strong at the point of attack at 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds and has the power to go toe-to-toe with NFL offensive tackles. A true 4-3 defensive end prospect with this type of power and pass-rush production is rare, which is why Verse slides in with a Round 1 grade.
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Defensive tackle (1)
Byron Murphy II, Texas (No. 13)
Comp: Justin Madubuike
Murphy was asked to play out of position at Texas as a 5-technique in the team's three-man front, but he still managed to find pass-rush production there with five sacks and 33 pressures. Murphy is stout at 6-foot-1 and 297 pounds, and his tape shows stunning first-step quickness and absolute power at the point of attack. Once he's able to shoot gaps in the NFL, he can be a game-changer.
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Linebacker (0)
Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper is my top-ranked 'backer at No. 33 overall, while Michigan's Junior Colson also makes the top 50 at No. 46. But there's a good chance we don't see anyone at the position go on Day 1 in April.
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Cornerback (2)
Terrion Arnold, Alabama (No. 8)
Comp: Devon Witherspoon
Arnold was lights out in coverage last season, grabbing five interceptions and breaking up 12 passes. He's big at 6-foot and 189 pounds, and he plays with fire and tenacity at the line of scrimmage. While he's definitely physical, Arnold also has the quickness and speed to fly downfield with receivers. He's a tough, instinctive and all-around great cornerback prospect.
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo (No. 15)
Comp: Jaylon Johnson
Mitchell has had the best pre-draft process of any defensive player in the class. He followed a remarkable Senior Bowl week with a combine performance that included a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 6 feet, 195 pounds. Mitchell is tough and physical, and he had six interceptions over the past two seasons.
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Safety (0)
The safety position might be the weakest of the 2024 draft. Tyler Nubin (Minnesota) has a top-50 ranking at No. 49 overall, but the group lacks top-end talent. However, there is good late-Day 2 and early-Day 3 value to be found here.
