NFL free company continues to be churning, however it is time to flip our consideration again to the draft. This is my newest prime 50 massive board of prospects.
1. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
After totally finding out Maye and Williams, I view each as elite-level abilities and each a full tier above the opposite choices on this yr’s group of quarterback prospects. Maye is a superb mixture of age, dimension, athleticism and arm expertise, with extra really feel within the pocket and creativity to his recreation than he has gotten credit score for.
Williams has very good accuracy, clear footwork and has extra total soundness to his recreation than he has gotten credit score for, together with the power to increase, create and work throws from angles that different quarterbacks can not fathom.
Whereas each have a lot to work on — Maye with slowing down his warmth checks and Williams with attempting to not press, and each with slicing their sacks down— they’re true prizes in a draft group with MVP-level upside.
3. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
I’ll simply maintain repeating what I ended my final massive board blurb on Harrison with: Do. Not. Overthink. Him. A particular mixture of dimension, velocity, footwork, catching vary and route-running polish, Harrison has the maturity to step in straight away and eat targets in a passing recreation because the main man. Even issues like Ohio State increasing his position this season with extra snaps from the slot, largely out of necessity, allowed Harrison to showcase extra to his deep recreation.
Bowers is an offensive weapon. These days that time period is often wasted on small gamers whom coaches endlessly waste touches and time on within the hopes of including pop to their assaults. However Bowers’ versatility and explosiveness, and his precise, tangible affect on the sport from all elements of the sector, can open up a complete offense.
Bowers can beat defensive backs one-on-one, an essential potential for his future paths to success on the subsequent stage, and has yards-after-the-catch potential to take any play the space. Sure matches will probably be higher than others for him, and I favor some touchdown spots over others due to that, however he can put an offense excessive and his potential synergy with different go catchers may turn into weekly spotlight materials for soccer nerds.
As I watched extra (and extra) gamers from Washington’s offense or on defenses going in opposition to the Huskies, my eyes saved coming again to Odunze. He does so many issues effectively, loads of velocity to win down the sector and the burst to create yards after the catch, with route-running polish in any respect three ranges, glorious catching vary and hand-eye coordination and energy that stands out on movie. That energy and burst assist him constantly beat press and break tackles with the ball in his palms. I’ve in contrast Odunze to Chris Godwin throughout this course of, and I believe Odunze has much more upside than the previous second-team All-Professional.
7. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Fashanu is a high-end sort out prospect who will regulate early to the NFL stage due to his first-rate mixture of traits, approach and intelligence. He already reveals a formidable understanding of the right way to harness his potential, particularly within the go recreation, and I’m larger on his blocking within the run recreation than some. Fashanu has the ceiling of a bona fide blindside protector who will be the tip of the spear, or face of the hammer, for a run recreation.
He nonetheless has some issues to wash up, most notably permitting inside counter-moves too typically in his go units. And his palms did shockingly measure in at simply 8.5 inches on the scouting mix, which doesn’t hinder his recreation on movie however have to be famous, as the one different latest first-round offensive sort out prospect with palms that small was Isaiah Wynn, who was drafted twenty third total to the Patriots in 2018.
Alt is, by some means, someway, near Fashanu as a prospect. A easy operator in his go units, Alt reveals off his tight finish background with glorious footwork and quickness and by no means appears to get out of whack. He improved on his hand utilization this season, particularly with bringing extra preliminary pop along with his blocks, which let him stun defensive linemen as a go protector and likewise on the level of assault within the run recreation.
Alt’s mixture of dimension, size, athleticism, measurables and testing numbers carefully resemble Jonathan Ogden, and his quickly bettering recreation makes him one other elite offensive prospect on the prime of the draft. He might want to proceed so as to add to his energy, as he doesn’t have the perfect shock to his hand strikes on preliminary blocks, however his youth and body permits for a clear projection to proceed to get stronger on the subsequent stage.
Latham is constructed like a globe with legs (measuring in a 6-foot-6, 342 kilos on the mix) and his blocking within the run recreation may transfer a globe as effectively:
Latham is the strongest and most dominant run blocker on this draft, however don’t let his construct and floor dominance on the proper sort out place idiot you; Latham has fast toes and is a powerful go protector, too. His hand energy nullifies go rushers as soon as he locks on and he’s constantly in a position to get well and mirror inside strikes with clear footwork and stable consciousness. Latham’s energy reveals up when he anchors in opposition to bull rushes as effectively.
Latham will simply undertaking to supply a boon to a crew’s run recreation, however his potential as a go blocker is underrated. His clear toes, particularly given his excellent dimension that he carries effectively, was backed up by his drill work in Indianapolis. I take into account him extraordinarily shut, grade-wise, to Fashanu and Alt.
Sidenote: This crop of offensive tackles are younger. All three of those prospects turned 21 up to now few months.
Nabers is an finish zone risk regardless of the place he touches the ball, with true gamebreaking velocity and explosive play potential, whether or not it’s hauling in a deep ball or taking a brief crossing path to the home. Nabers will robotically elevate the ceiling of no matter offense he joins within the NFL due to his package deal of velocity, agility and physique management. He has a aptitude for the highlight-worthy seize, particularly across the sideline, however has just a few too many physique catch makes an attempt when working over the center of the sector and has to proceed to refine among the sloppier points of his route working. Nonetheless, his top-tier athleticism and physique management reveals a clear path for projecting development and polish within the space.
10. Troy Fautanu, OT/OG, Washington
I’m nonetheless determining what spot alongside the road I like Fautanu the perfect. He will be, on the very least, a great starter or higher at any of the 5 spots, together with heart. Fautanu lacks the perfect peak of a beginning sort out however possesses loads of size (34.5-inch arm size) and is a superb technician with clear footwork already to deal with the higher athletes who play edge defender within the NFL.
Given Fautanu’s traits and expertise, he has an simply attainable flooring of a high-quality beginning inside lineman. His upside to be a powerful starter out the surface, maybe at proper sort out, makes me bullish on his NFL profession. Fautanu’s mixture of foot velocity, athleticism, energy and superior approach as a run and go blocker is an attractive package deal, even earlier than contemplating the positional versatility.
11. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Due to Georgia’s depth and accidents, Mims has began eight video games and performed 655 snaps in his faculty profession. These are faculty rep counts that look extra like a one-and-done NBA prospect than a possible offensive line lottery decide within the NFL Draft. However Mims has prototypical dimension (6-8, 340 kilos) and size (36 ⅛-inch arm size) and is a surprisingly easy athlete regardless of his gargantuan body, which was mirrored along with his testing in Indianapolis.
Watching Mims in area as a puller or on a display is a sight to behold. Whereas his approach and consciousness are nonetheless a piece in progress (although nonetheless enough, contemplating his lack of enjoying time), and he has primarily been solely a proper sort out, Mims is such a strong participant and very good athlete with a tangible on-field affect hat if groups are effective along with his medicals, Mims’ sky-high ceiling at a premium place will probably be definitely worth the gamble. He may very effectively find yourself as the perfect offensive lineman from this draft. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler calls Mims “essentially the most fascinating participant within the draft,” and it’s straightforward to see why.
Barton performed left sort out to complete his profession at Duke. He’ll probably shift inside to protect or heart on the subsequent stage, offering high quality play and positional flexibility that groups desperately covet of their offensive line room. Barton wins with quickness and hand placement that offers him an opportunity in opposition to higher athletes, with sufficient bend and energy to carry up in opposition to extra highly effective rushers, although extra elite defenders will probably give him points on the subsequent stage.
A high-floor participant who can assist out any offensive line someplace, Barton may even maintain up at proper sort out. He is one other offensive lineman on this class with a high-end mixture of athleticism and approach. Given what even an honest starter alongside the offensive line goes for nowadays, Barton’s needle-moving potential alongside the inside, which may enable any offensive line to get its greatest beginning 5 on the market, has actual worth.
13. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
He’s the primary defensive participant on my massive board all the best way at spot No. 13, and it’s a former MAC participant taking the honors. Mitchell dominated his competitors at Toledo and is greater than the basic height-weight-speed riser that’s an annual draft cycle custom. An impressive athlete with notable manufacturing (he has a recreation with 4 interceptions and two pick-sixes in faculty), Mitchell is aware of when to uncoil his spring-like explosiveness and make performs on the ball, with that seek-and-destroy mentality that carries over in run help.
After enjoying largely off with eyes on the quarterback in faculty, his unfastened hips and talent to remain constantly sticky in man protection confirmed up throughout Senior Bowl apply and his athleticism shined in Indianapolis on the scouting mix. Mitchell all the time seemed like the perfect participant on the sector at Toledo and it makes much more sense after he examined like an upper-tier NFL athlete. He’ll in fact have to regulate with the extent leap, however Mitchell has checked each field within the course of with vigor and has true lockdown potential.
14. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama
Turner is lengthy and is excellent when knifing inside as a part of some defensive position motion, continually disrupting offenses along with his bend and shocking energy regardless of his leaner body.
Turner can create stress as a pocket pusher or along with his athleticism, and he’s nonetheless bettering his go rush software set. He’s a positive-play generator enjoying the run or go, and could have a match into any kind of defensive scheme, along with his flexibility even opening potentialities as a spy or protection participant. I see him ideally as a high-end No. 2 go rusher (which is why I battle to stack him larger) who does loads of different issues effectively for his crew, like a standard 3-4 Sam exterior linebacker or what’s now referred to as a Jack in newer three-down defenses. There are similarities between Turner and former Seattle Seahawk Bruce Irvin.
A top-shelf athlete who has Professional Bowl potential at exterior cornerback, slot, security or punt returner, DeJean is one among my favourite gamers within the draft. DeJean is aggressive, a powerful tackler and likes to press large receivers when engaged on the surface, with clear palms to keep away from penalties and the coordination and velocity to remain in lockstep with large receivers. He can depend on his potential to get well a bit too typically, however when you’ve DeJean’s burst, I assume you will get away with it.
A playmaker regardless of the place he’s on the sector, DeJean’s potential to affect the sport in a wide range of methods will assist any defensive again finish or particular groups unit. We didn’t get to see DeJean take a look at on the mix as a consequence of harm and we would not at Iowa’s professional day, which is a disgrace.
16. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Arnold’s position and affect on Alabama’s protection expanded all through the 2023 season. Whether or not it was from the surface or within the slot, Arnold liked to problem large receivers and was keen to combine up his protection appears whereas doing so. His ball expertise are additionally an asset, not simply with interceptions however making performs on the ball, which he helps create along with his play recognition and superb burst with some Gary Payton-like ball swipes.
Arnold is an aggressive participant who can get burned from time to time, however he can play in and out and is keen to press large receivers (and win as effectively). His size, twitchiness and feisty fashion are going to offer him loads of followers all through the league.
17. Brian Thomas, WR, LSU
Thomas is a superb athlete (4.33-second 40-yard sprint on the mix) with superb dimension (6-3, 209 kilos) and a quickly creating recreation. His route working improved all through the season, exhibiting off his agility that’s particularly spectacular given his body and helps undertaking an much more totally shaped route tree down the highway. Thomas’ foot quickness additionally reveals up when he beats press protection, opening up quick-hitters and retaining him on time within the offense. He has the burst to separate after the snap and has the lengthy velocity to take the highest off the protection.
Thomas nonetheless has work to do along with his total recreation, however his arrow is strongly pointing up. His potential as a real remoted large receiver with a vertical route tree makes him one other robust addition to this large receiver class.
18. Taliese Fuaga, OT/OG, Oregon State
Utilizing the snap like a sprinter makes use of the shot of a gun, Fuaga fires off the soccer. He’s good on straight-ahead run mixtures and might get to the second-level in a rush. He struggles to regulate at occasions and can find yourself too tall and off-kilter. He’s good in go safety, with a mirroring and shielding fashion that may frustrate go rushers, however will at occasions overset and go away himself weak to inside strikes, along with his potential to get well being hit-or-miss.
Fuaga has potential to maneuver inside due to his work within the run recreation, however I like him greatest at proper sort out due to his stable potential as a go protector and chemistry he may create within the run recreation with a great guard subsequent to him.
Daniels obtained higher all through his faculty years, culminating in a Heisman season in his last yr at LSU. He’ll do harm from the pocket with plus-marks in accuracy, and has no points with working throughout the confines of the offense. He confirmed a sophisticated understanding of the drop-back passing recreation that correlates along with his multi-year starter background.
When issues break down, Daniels is a superb straight-line athlete (though not overwhelmingly shifty) and an explosive runner. However as I wrote about extra in my prolonged breakdown of Daniels, he can look to run too typically for my liking, selecting to discover a scrambling lane quite than working to increase a play to get off a throw.
Daniels’ toughness ought to by no means be questioned and he has some Johnny Knoxville to his recreation. You admire his competitiveness, however it’s one thing you’ll have to smother out virtually totally on the subsequent stage, particularly given his slight body. Daniels’ athleticism creates a sliding scale along with his dimension. It permits him to create greater than a typical passer, and he can function shortly from the pocket and win with accuracy, however his potential to work over the center and intermediate elements of the sector from the pocket, given his simply enough arm energy and inconsistent anticipation, will stay a query mark till confirmed in any other case on the subsequent stage.
Murphy is a basic gap-shooting defensive sort out who can disrupt a play earlier than it even begins. His potential to create explosive defensive performs along with his quickness and violent palms (he loves a great ol’ club-rip transfer) will present a spark for any protection that may be stuffed with extra plugger-types. His lack of best dimension and size will knock him with some groups and matches, however Murphy can cease drives along with his play and is best at holding up in opposition to the run than he will get credit score for. His robust testing on the mix additionally helped his case.
21. Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Verse is all about energy, energy, energy. He loves to fireplace off the ball and lock onto offensive tackles and push them into quarterbacks’ laps, or drive them into the trail of a working again attempting to get exterior. He doesn’t have many auxiliary strikes, missing finesse and bend to complement his hammerhead strategy, which implies sure groups are going to love him for his or her defensive make-up greater than others, particularly given his not-exactly-ideal overlap of dimension and magnificence.
I like Verse loads as a high-end secondary go rusher and total helpful participant who can assist solidify any run protection. His go dashing upside has a ceiling due to his lack of overwhelming bend.
Latu is a technician as a go rusher. Switching between preventing types like Neo being uploaded kung fu, Latu adapts his assault as the sport goes alongside, continually working and selecting at weaknesses or lapses in safety.
Latu’s play in opposition to the run recreation is a little more boom-or-bust and he lacks best size and athleticism, resulting in questions on what upside there’s left to faucet into. His medicals are additionally going to be pored over by groups, with every going to have completely different opinions of threat. Nonetheless, Latu’s effort and go transfer set give him excessive worth for groups seeking to create stress on the quarterback. Consider him as a Weight-reduction plan Coke model of Trey Hendrickson.
23. Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
I’m probably going to finish up larger on Suamataia than loads of different individuals. His greatest soccer is forward of him, and with the proper touchdown spot the place he will be introduced alongside, there’s a potential beginning offensive sort out with the power to play on both facet of the soccer. Suamataia was a former five-star recruit and he has an intriguing bundle of instruments to work with, with good dimension (6-5, 326 kilos, 10 ⅝-inch palms) and size (34 ¼-inch arms).
Suamataia’s play is inconsistent, his footwork can get out of whack and he will be all over along with his palms, however he is an effective athlete (and examined like one, working a 5.04-second 40 in Indianapolis) who can transfer like a a lot smaller participant with loads of pop to his palms when he strikes defender. He’ll take time and endurance, however he’s one other younger offensive sort out prospect on this class (he turned 21 in January) and has loads of the fascinating traits which can be onerous to search out at sort out.
One in every of my greatest risers, Mitchell’s quick-twitch athleticism as a much bigger receiver reveals up on his movie again and again. He has good dimension and ball expertise, and his aptitude at adjusting for passes away from his physique and within the crimson zone is so harmful when paired along with his potential to select up velocity and likewise leap out of the fitness center (11-4 broad leap and a 4.34-second 40 on the mix).
Mitchell is such a formidable athlete that it will probably seem to be he’s merely gliding when working his routes, however his precise velocity turns into extra obvious if you see the bottom he’s consuming up and the warmth he places on defenders down the sector. Mitchell is an effective route runner due to his spectacular physique management, however his self-discipline and energy nonetheless have room for enchancment.
Mitchell has true X large receiver upside and might win down the sector and in remoted conditions. He has loads of work to do, however it’s onerous to search out gamers that transfer like this with this type of Johnny Bench-like catching vary.
25. Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC/OG, Oregon
Constructed like a strongman from an early-1900s circus, Powers-Johnson is all the time doing one thing on the sector:
The 2023 season was Powers-Johnson’s first full-time expertise at heart (he additionally has beginning expertise at guard and even defensive sort out), and whereas there are nonetheless moments of his rawness on the pivot spot, he is an explosive and highly effective participant that performs with an infectious fashion. He can transfer in area as a puller and on screens (like within the play above) whereas additionally having dimension (over 330 kilos), and performs like he has the attention meters cranked up. There are a number of occasions a recreation the place Powers-Johnson will sift by site visitors and work to discover a extra harmful defender when his authentic task takes themselves out of the play, or tries to tackle two blitzing go rushers without delay.
Powers-Johnson nonetheless has to develop and add polish to his recreation — he can nonetheless get a bit too excessive out of his stance and he makes use of his palms like a barroom brawler and never a disciplined boxer — however he generally is a keystone participant for an offensive line for years to return with just a few extra video games below his weightlifter’s belt.
I battle with Robinson. There are performs the place he appears merely unblockable, firing off of the soccer and obliterating the offensive sort out’s palms with a swipe or erasing the angle and talent to get well. Robinson is twitchy and explosive, he bursts on the snap of the ball and might shortly drive blockers again, with some auxiliary go strikes to assist steadiness out his go rush arsenal.
There isn’t loads of manufacturing and constant ending with these instant-wins on the surface. At occasions, Robinson will maintain looping across the quarterback and take himself out of the play, or get swallowed up by a much bigger sort out at any time when he tries to win by a blocker.
Robinson placed on a present on the mix, and that athleticism reveals up on movie, however these flashes of elite dashing potential should turn into extra constant to be price the next choice. His potential to carry up within the run recreation can also be a query mark, which has led to me evaluating him to Yannick Ngakoue, a participant with comparable dimension and magnificence.
27. Jordan Morgan, OT/OG, Arizona
Morgan is one other good athlete on the sort out place and wins extra with velocity and ability than bruising power. He might want to maintain creating his energy, as power-first gamers will give him points, and he has bother getting constant motion on the snap of the ball. He could possibly be a great match as a guard in a zone-heavy run scheme due to his motion and size, whereas additionally overlaying up any energy deficiencies. I’m nonetheless determining what Morgan’s best weight and place are t the following stage. His potential versatility needs to be seen as a optimistic.
28. Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
One other quick-trigger defensive sort out, Newton wins with violent palms and get-off on the snap of the ball. He isn’t a flexible athlete and lacks the majority to carry the purpose constantly in opposition to double-teams, however he can jolt linemen in singled-up conditions and likewise present instant-win explosive performs when he occasions up the snap.
29. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Coleman’s basketball background oozes off the display.
Coleman is a ball-winner, by and thru. He is an out of doors large receiver who could lack just a few limbs on his route tree however makes up for it along with his potential to complete alley-oops and regulate for throws throughout his physique.
Coleman goes to be a weapon within the crimson zone straight away, his athleticism greatest exemplified along with his leaping potential and burst. His lengthy velocity is extra “effective” than overwhelming, one thing that was mirrored along with his 4.61 40 time on the mix, however Coleman can create just a few yards after the catch due to his steadiness and physique management. (He was a prime performer within the gauntlet drill on the mix.) Coleman may excel as a secondary participant early in his profession as he continues so as to add refinement to the extra delicate points of the place. His wow performs will probably be price it as he provides extra down-to-down consistency.
30. Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Guyton is particularly uncooked and has barely greater than a dozen begins to his title, however his dimension and motion potential are onerous to show. He’s going to wish a developmental plan and endurance, particularly with including energy to his decrease physique and along with his go safety approach, however he’s a enjoyable piece of clay for an offensive line coach to work with. He’s at the moment greatest on the transfer versus on the level of assault, however there aren’t loads of massive males who can transfer in area like Guyton.
31. Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Lengthy and twitchy, Wiggins already has the starter equipment for an NFL excellent cornerback. Wiggins makes use of his twitchiness to shut area on large receivers, with an understanding of the right way to use his palms when seeking to make a play on the ball. Wiggins continually hinders vertical routes along with his potential to remain in-step with large receivers.
Wiggins is merely effective in opposition to the run and lacks dimension to be a difference-maker within the space, which is regarding on the subsequent stage as groups will assault any deficiencies that present up. However he has the power to work effectively in man or zone with out assist, with the size to match up with the longer NFL receivers. Will probably be a sliding scale with how groups need to gauge his protection potential and lack of dimension.
32. Kool-Support McKinstry, CB, Alabama
McKinstry is a artful cornerback, one who wins with management and understanding of the place quite than overwhelming athleticism or size. McKinstry does a pleasant job of staying inside himself and retaining himself close to receivers, with the power to make performs on the ball.
The opposite facet of that is that McKinstry must be in excellent place as a result of if he makes a misstep, he lacks the power to constantly get well due to his just-average lengthy velocity and burst. He isn’t a nasty athlete, only one who lacks the suddenness that you’d favor. McKinstry’s consciousness, approach and willingness as a tackler make him an attention-grabbing candidate in a extra zone-heavy protection that may let him play extra as a “cloud” cornerback within the flat.
33. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
I’ve warmed to McCarthy’s recreation the extra I’ve watched him (which is required given his low utilization in Michigan’s offense this previous season), however I’ll unlikely be capable to elevate him a lot larger than this. Having stated that, he’s aggressive, keen to work the center of the sector, flashes good really feel within the pocket and is a plus-athlete that throws effectively on the transfer. He reveals off imaginative and prescient as a runner as a scrambler and designed runner, too.
McCarthy can have inconsistencies anticipating exterior, particularly to his left, and with layered throws over the center, which can result in some sprayed throws when he feels late after which overstrides. He’s additionally alarmingly skinny, which causes me hesitation about his potential to drag away from a stronger NFL defender’s grasp within the pocket and potential to carry as much as sustained hits on the subsequent stage. And whereas he’s athletic, he’s once more extra of a good athlete than an glorious one.
Quarterbacks are all the time complicated to judge and McCarthy, along with his lack of considerable throws to judge, is much more complicated. Coaches from Shanahan offenses will like McCarthy greater than others due to his potential to throw on the transfer and drive the ball within the intermediate areas. However there’s a ton of projection wanted with such a younger and low-usage participant.
34. Christian Haynes, G, Connecticut
Christian Haynes rocks. He’s a great athlete who fires off the soccer and might rise up on defensive linemen and linebackers instantly.
Christian Haynes (#64) will get his head throughout on a 0-tech nostril sort out and creates the crease for the zone run. A extremely spectacular play with a tasty end. pic.twitter.com/Ez9BZAmHA4
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) March 6, 2024
Haynes’ potential to anchor is inconsistent in go units, he has fast footwork and size with the power to get well and bend, however he may get steadily pushed again in opposition to larger defensive tackles. He fights and received’t outright lose, however he’ll cede floor at occasions.
Haynes is analogous to Shaq Mason, however in a barely bigger body. His motion within the run recreation, intelligence as a participant and talent to carry up in opposition to higher athletes as a go protector make him an aesthetic guard prospect and he’s been an enormous riser for me.
35. Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Like his teammate Odunze, Polk checks loads of packing containers on the WR place. Inside-outside versatility? Test. Good palms? Test. Clean athleticism with glimpses of a deeper bag of methods as a route runner? Test. Willingness as a blocker? Test.
Polk has above-average-to-good dimension, velocity, foot quickness and get in touch with steadiness, together with all the things listed above. He won’t have true No. 1 choice upside, however he can carve out a task in loads of various kinds of offenses as a prime No. 2 choice on the NFL stage and turn into a dependable target-eater it doesn’t matter what’s requested of him. He’s the final word helpful kind of large receiver.
36. Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
All he does is transfer the chains. McConkey’s manufacturing at Georgia won’t leap off the web page, however he’s a route-running dynamo who’s explosive with the ball in his palms. He had a powerful week of Senior Bowl practices.
McConkey’s dimension will restrict a few of his upside on the surface, however his burst, steadiness and footwork let him win on the market extra typically than you’ll assume. McConkey thrives in opposition to man protection and he can decide aside his defender along with his potential to bend and range up his tempo in his route working. He’s one other participant with limitations to be a real No. 1, however McConkey has all of the makings of a third-down goal monster that may create explosive performs on the beneath and intermediate ranges. He has some fashion similarities to Emmanuel Sanders, however with a smaller catching vary.
37. Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Facilities are again! Frazier is all the things you need from the chief of your offensive line room. Aggressive and difficult with a excessive soccer IQ, Frazier is all about soccer and maximizes his traits on each snap. Frazier continually will get himself in the proper place and wins with quickness and hand placement, which permits him to create leverage along with his blocks. Longer defenders will give him points on the subsequent stage, however Frazier’s high-energy, polished and tenacious fashion will make for an exhausting day for whoever goes throughout him on Sundays.
38. Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Lengthy and twitchy, Franklin eats up floor shortly bounding down the sector. Though he appears extra like a basic outside-only “X” large receiver, Franklin really has the quickness to win beneath and from the slot as effectively. He’s explosive and has extra to his recreation than first meets the attention. He’s a great route runner with lengthy velocity and can snatch throws from all angles, which can assist him in contested catch conditions and within the crimson zone. He’s skinny, however has extra actual “soccer participant” to him than you’d assume and performs with toughness and is a keen blocker. I battle with Franklin a bit, particularly contemplating his weight (176 kilos), however he grows on you the extra you watch him.
39. Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Paul is massive with extremely lengthy arms and the toes of somebody 200 kilos lighter. He’s extra of a bundle of instruments than a completed undertaking. Paul can wallop defenders when he has all the things working in the proper course, however he’s going to wish constant teaching and a plan on the subsequent stage to focus his potential and attain his excessive ceiling, and will probably be extra flashes till his hand placement and footwork come collectively and begin working in unison. These keen to speculate can come out on the opposite finish with a high quality beginning left sort out, and who doesn’t need a type of?
40. Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Rakestraw’s play is infectious. He takes on each blocker prefer it’s an insult and relishes getting man or press protection assignments, whether or not it’s inside or exterior.
Rakestraw is undersized, weighing in at 183 kilos on the mix, and can nonetheless have to harness the vitality he brings to the sport like Cyclops needing his visor, as his aggressive and handsy fashion, with lack of overwhelming athleticism, will draw penalties on the subsequent stage. However his potential to carry his personal in opposition to various kinds of large receivers, with potential to play snaps within the slot, offers him a path as a beginning cornerback. Carlton Davis is greater, however he is an effective fashion comparability on the place for Rakestraw.
41. Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
Benson is the one working again in my prime 50 (though there could be a couple of half-dozen who would make this listing if it went to 100). He has had accidents in his profession, however has been in a position to keep on the sector over the previous two seasons in a cut up backfield and showcase his explosive play potential and steadiness:
Benson has good dimension and ran a 4.39 40 on the mix, one thing that’s mirrored with the house runs he hit in faculty. Ideally he’d be with one other again to eat some touches, however Benson has good imaginative and prescient, footwork and big-play potential, and reveals off good palms in his restricted publicity as a go catcher. If a crew is OK along with his medical historical past, he will be an immediate impact-type participant.
42. Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
43. Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
It’s not an important linebacker crop this yr, and deciding between Colson and Cooper is a little bit of what taste you like. Colson is a great participant who’s extra of an OK than nice athlete. He can maintain up in protection due to his play recognition potential. He has three-down potential and is an effective tackler regardless of his lack of overwhelming dimension. Simply consider Colson as stable, however with a probably low ceiling (though there’s worth in an actual beginning linebacker nowadays).
Cooper, however, is extra of an athlete enjoying the place. He has size (34-inch arms) and velocity, however lacks best dimension (solely 230 kilos) and his play recognition will be up and down. Cooper can get caught enjoying excessive or a step sluggish in opposition to the run, however his velocity permits him to get well. It will get solely more durable on the subsequent stage, however Cooper has a powerful athletic profile and a body to develop into. Did I point out off-ball linebackers are onerous to search out nowadays?
44. Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest
Mustapha is my prime security at one other skinny place on this yr’s class of prospects. He brings it within the run recreation, and there are a number of performs a recreation the place Mustapha closed in on ball carriers from depth and wiped them out immediately:
Mustapha is that this yr’s greatest tackling defensive again prospect. These tackles aren’t simply massive photographs and head looking highlights. He continually reveals off his good burst when closing on the ball and is a powerful and sound tackler with constant approach within the open subject.
In protection, he’s greatest when working in two-high shells, however he confirmed the power to transition cleanly when in man protection conditions. Mustapha lacks best peak, however has loads of dimension to his body and he continually places ball carriers down along with his energy. Consider him as a price model model of Budda Baker.
45. Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Lassiter isn’t an important athlete and lacks best dimension, however he’s a aggressive and sensible participant who sees the sport effectively and is continually in the proper place. He received’t be proper for each touchdown spot, however he generally is a optimistic starter in the proper position that permits him to make use of his smarts and doesn’t ask him to carry up in man protection on a regular basis.
46. Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
This can be a massive projection, however evaluating almost each tight finish prospect ever requires an enormous serving to of projection. Johnson all the time confirmed extra to his recreation than the field rating numbers indicated; he has excellent dimension and was probably the greatest testers on the mix just a few weeks in the past.
Some clips of TE Theo Johnson (#84) in opposition to Ohio State.
Johnson did not have a ton of manufacturing however he is an intriguing prospect due to his dimension, athleticism and potential as an in-line blocker. I am a fan. pic.twitter.com/aieXWQtpdU
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) February 20, 2024
Johnson has upside as an in-line TE, with actual performs of him doing it in faculty, however he can stretch the sector as a go catcher with how easy of an athlete he’s in such a big body. He has a profile that’s seldom seen exterior of the 2023 draft class.
47. Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
The third Husky large receiver to make my prime 50, McMillan has good dimension and is a easy athlete who largely operated out of the slot in faculty. McMillan has among the identical qualities as Christian Kirk; he can stretch the sector and win constantly from inside. He performs with simply common energy as a route runner, however that doesn’t maintain him again within the run recreation, the place he’s keen to scrap and contribute. McMillan received’t make a ton of defenders miss, however has some YAC potential as a defender-splitter who can plant his foot and get upfield. He could possibly be a powerful secondary choice on the subsequent stage along with his mixture of dimension, route working and palms.
48. Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
The one different security to make my prime 50, Nubin is a stable athlete who can play within the field or from depth. He will probably be greatest in a quarters-based system with one other like-bodied security. He’s extra stable than good in protection, and extra athletic tight ends may give him points in the event that they push vertically. He’s additionally a powerful contributor within the run recreation and a keen tackler, however his athleticism limits his potential to get well if he missteps. I view him as a solid-level security who will probably be continually in the proper spot on the subsequent stage.
49. Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
I’m just a little decrease on Worthy’s recreation than others, however 4.21 is 4.21. Worthy isn’t only a blazer and has extra route working to him than you’ll assume, however he’s going to be greatest used vertically — probably extra from the slot to cover his lack of dimension — on the subsequent stage. Worthy’s lack of dimension reveals up when working over the center, as he tends to be a physique catcher and shrink his smaller body much more, resulting in drops and double-catches.
50. Michael Corridor, DT, Ohio State
Corridor is one other gap-shooting defensive sort out prospect, one I am bullish on on the subsequent stage due to his explosiveness and youth. He didn’t have the perfect field rating numbers, however Corridor is continually profitable and disrupting offenses. He has a fast first step that usually places guards in a nasty place, and has loads of size and steadiness to take care of his leverage.
11 extra NFL Draft prospects to look at
Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame
Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Cooper Beebe, OG/OC, Kansas State
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon
Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri