USATSI

I have submitted my final project of the 2024 NFL Draft, and you can read a large portion of it below. After evaluating the entire draft class, these are my top 283 prospects this year. Why 283? That's as many prospects as I had time to watch, evaluate, and grade during this draft cycle. 

For a quick primer on my grading system, it's constructed as follows -- grades in five categories I deem most important to each position, weighed from most important to least important. That combination of grades equates to a prospect's "raw grade." But that's the first layer. I then add "position addition" at each spot -- and this is another subjective part of the process -- based on how valuable I view each position. For convenience, I've labeled each prospect in the top 100 with his respective positional ranking, too. 

For full transparency, here's how I rank the importance (and supply/demand) of each position on the field in today's NFL:

1. Quarterback
Tied 2. Wide Receiver
T2. Offensive tackle
T2. Edge rusher
T5 Cornerback
T5. Interior offensive line
T5. Interior defensive line
T8. Safety
T8. Linebacker
T10. Tight end
11. Running back

Positional value matters. It's baked into my board, and it's precisely why I'm always higher on quarterbacks and lower on running backs than the NFL. 

For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on "With the First Pick" -- our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find "With the First Pick" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc.

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC (QB1)
2. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina (QB2)
3. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU (WR1)
4. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU (QB3)
5. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State (WR2)
6. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo (CB1)
7. Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State (OT1)
8. Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State (OT2)
9. Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State (EDGE1)
10. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU (WR3)

Run-after-the-catch talent is the tiebreaker between Nabers and Harrison, and the LSU star is significantly better in that regard than his Ohio State counterpart. Mitchell is the mold of the large, suffocating, plus athlete, with outstanding ball skills boundary cornerback that has thrived recently in the NFL (see: Gardner, Sauce and Surtain, Patrick). 

Fashanu has All-Pro upside -- I don't understand why his stock has apparently sunk this draft cycle -- and Robinson was highly productive at Penn State with burst and bend and an ascending pass-rush move arsenal. He's also more than two years younger than Laiatu Latu and Jared Verse. 

Yes, I have Thomas over Odunze, and while I realize the two weren't utilized identically in their respective offenses, Thomas' YAC brilliance is the reason why. 

11. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA (EDGE2)
12. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama (CB2)
13. Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas (IDL1)
14. Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State (EDGE3)
15. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington (WR4)
16. Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri (CB3)
17. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama (EDGE4)
18. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia (OT3)
19. Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia (WR5)
20. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame (OT4)

So many stellar prospects here. Arnold is as feisty as they come at cornerback. I can see him thriving in any system with any responsibilities. Murphy can be a 50-plus pressure, 8-12 sack interior rusher in the pros. In this section lies my largest draft crush -- especially relative to where he's believed to be selected -- Abrams-Draine from Missouri. Sound tackler, hyper-twitchy, ball skills galore. He's just small and doesn't have blazing speed. But by now we know those two components are not the be all, end all for cornerbacks, right? 

I adore McConkey -- separation via athleticism and nuance -- along with deceptive YAC skills and vertical speed. I acknowledge Alt's massive upside given his enormous frame and freaky combine workout. I was just surprised at how many ugly wins he had on film. 

21. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan (QB4)
22. JC Latham, OT, Alabama (OT5)
23. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama (CB4)
24. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia (TE1)
25. Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa (CB5)
26. Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson (CB6)
27. Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon (IOL1)
28. Johnny Newton, DL, Illinois (IDL2)
29. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington (QB5)
30. Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas (WR6)
31. Ruke Orhorhoro, DL, Clemson (IDL3)
32. Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri (IDL4)

McCarthy has the goods to be a solid starter in the right situation, and he's still only 21 years old with loads of big-game experience entering the NFL. Latham and McKinstry have high floors because of their steady games against top competition for multiple years at Alabama. 

Newton didn't work out pre-draft, a bummer for everyone involved, but has a tremendous blend of powerful hands and suddenness athletically. Worthy plays bigger than his tiny frame and, of course, has rocket-boosters on his cleats. 

Robinson is sculpted like a Greek god. Of course, that's a plus on his resume. However, if he's only deployed on the edge, I'm not confident he'll be able to sustain success in the NFL. Now, if he's routinely deployed inside? Different story. 

Orhorhoro doesn't have a bevy of pass-rush moves to rely upon -- which is typically a huge red flag for me -- but he has immense, length, power, and athleticism. He flourished as a three-down defensive lineman in the ACC despite not being a hand-work master. I'm trusting his physical prowess with this high grade.

33. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon (QB6)
34. Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas (WR7)
35. Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama (EDGE5)
36. Javon Baker, WR, UCF (WR8)
37. Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College (CB7)
38. Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon (WR9)
39. Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State (S1)
40. Sataoa Laumea, OL, Utah (IOL2)
41. Malik Washington, WR, Virginia (WR10)
42. Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington, (OT6)
43. Calen Bullock, S, USC (S2)
44. Braden Fiske, DL, Florida State (IDL5)
45. Michael Hall Jr., DL, Ohio State (IDL6)
46. Trey Benson, RB, Florida State (RB1)
47. Payton Wilson, LB, NC State (LB1)
48. Mason McCormick, OL, South Dakota State (IOL3)
49. Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina (WR11)
50. DJ James, CB, Auburn (CB8)

My take on Nix is this: he's the most situation-dependent quarterback in this class. I didn't see standout traits on film. And he's not nearly as accurate as a nearly 78% completion rate would suggest. 

Braswell feels like the most slept-on edge rusher in the class. He's long, powerful, knows how to deploy his hands effectively, and has sneaky bend. Baker ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, which will likely be the leading reason he's picked well into Day 2 or even the early stages of Day 3, but I love everything about his game. Complete package. 

Laumea is a brawler on film, and this high ranking comes with a caveat -- he kicks inside to guard at the next level. Perfect disposition, length, power and balance to be a mauling right guard in the NFL. Not quite laterally capable enough to stay at offensive tackle. Hicks is my safety No. 1. It all checks out with him: Intimidating size, reliable tackling, with some sizable thuds mixed in, and he's a competent coverage type down the seam. 

Jones feels like the most slept-on cornerback in the class. He checks all the boxes I want out of a man-coverage specialist. He's over 6-foot, reasonably lengthy, with 4.44 speed, a 42.5-inch vertical and had 26 pass breakups with six interceptions in his final two seasons at Boston College. The lone issue is that he's a sixth-year prospect. 

Nos. 43-46 represent some of my favorite prospects in the class. Bullock has the best pure centerfield range -- he's just skinny -- while Fiske is the most athletic interior defensive lineman in this draft who plays with his hair lit on fire. To me, Hall has a case for most underrated defender in the entire class, and Benson is far and away my RB1. Big, fast, elusive, low mileage, receiving ability. He has it all.

51. Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona (OT7)
52. Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington (EDGE6)
53. Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington (OT8/IOL3)
54. Graham Barton, OL Duke (OT9/IOL4)
55. Christian Haynes, IOL, Connecticut (IOL5)
56. Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri (CB9)
57. Christian Jones, OT, Texas (OT10)
58. Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon (CB10)
59. Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia (CB11)
60. Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU (OT11)
61. Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota (S3)
62. Beaux Limmer, OL, Arkansas (IOL6)
63. Gabriel Murphy, EDGE, UCLA (EDGE7)
64. Kris Jenkins, DL, Michigan (IDL7)
65. Kiran Amegadjie, OL, Yale (IOL7/OT12)
66. Mohamed Kamara, EDGE, Colorado State (EDGE8)
67. Delmar Glaze, OT, Maryland (OT13)
68. Jamari Thrash, WR, Louisville (WR12)
69. Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State (S4)
70. Myles Harden, CB, South Dakota (CB12)
71. Nathan Thomas, OT, Louisiana (OT14/IOL8)
72. Jonah Elliss, EDGE, Utah (EDGE9)
73. Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky (WR13)
74. Daequan Hardy, CB, Penn State (CB13)
75. Zach Frazier, IOL, West Virginia (IOL9)

Trice was on my Trust The Tape Team -- lower-level athlete with tremendous film and first-round production. I can't quit him. He has a stupid amount of ways to beat blockers at the point of attack with his hands. I like Barton but feel he has to get drastically stronger and play more under control to thrive at the next level. 

Jones is fascinating at 6-foot-5, 305 pounds with immense length and a nasty demeanor with explosive tendencies. 

Nubin had first-round film but a Day 3 workout. 

Limmer was a monster at center for the Razorbacks. So strong. So explosive. Instant starter. Thrash gets open regularly, has some downfield juice, and is nifty after the catch. He feels like a future high-end No. 2 wideout. Oladapo gives you much of what Hicks does at safety. Big, long, fluid in coverage. Sure tackler. Hardy has a case for the most explosive, twitched-up corner in the class and finds the football in the air with good regularity. 

76. Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State (TE2)
77. Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane (QB7)
78. Dwight McGlothern, CB, Arkansas (CB14)
79. Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma (OT15)
80. Hunter Nourzad, OL, Penn State (IOL9)
81. Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida (WR15)
82. Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame (OT16)
83. Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State (CB15)
84. Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan (CB16)
85. Trey Taylor, S, Air Force (S5)
86. Max Melton, CB, Rutgers (CB17)
87. Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington (LB2)
88. Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan (EDGE10)
89. TJ Tampa, CB, Iowa State (CB17)
90. Chigozie Anusiem, CB, Colorado State (CB18)
91. Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice (WR16)
92. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech (S6)
93. Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M (LB3)
94. Austin Booker, EDGE, Kansas (EDGE11)
95. Adisa Isaac, EDGE, Penn State (EDGE12)
96. Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama (WR17)
97. Marcellas Dial, CB, South Carolina (CB19)
98. Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington (WR18)
99. Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky (CB20)
100. Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU (IOL10/OT17)

Sinnott has upside galore because of his burst in and out of his breaks and natural ball skills. He's a monster after the catch. I'm fully prepared for McGlothern to either be a seventh-round pick or go undrafted. Can't that let tweak my evaluation. Loved him on film so much. Watch the LSU game. 

Jones and Sainristil are interchangeable to me. Plug-and-play electric short-area quickness nickel backs with a nose for the football. Those annoying types every defense wants and no offense wants to see on Sunday. Anusiem is one of my enormous sleepers. Not sure why he hasn't received more buzz. Tall, long, big-time pro-day workout. Plenty of ball production. Instant starter on the boundary.

Ulofoshio is one of the older prospects in this class, and he plays like the experienced linebacker he is. Free-flowing to the football. Can rely on his tackling, coverage chops, and an elite athlete. Coleman is probably an interior blocker in the NFL and has awesome movement capabilities in a wide frame. I don't love the idea of him as a full-time offensive tackle.

101. Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
102. Tahj Washington, WR, USC
103. Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
104. Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State
105. Maason Smith, DL, LSU
106. Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M
107. M.J. Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
108. Matt Goncalves OT Pittsburgh
109. Jacob Cowing WR Arizona
110. Devontez Walker WR North Carolina
111. Deantre Prince CB Ole Miss
112. Chau Smith-Wade CB Washington State
113. Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
114. Jaheim Bell TE Florida State
115. Brandon Dorlus DL Oregon
116. Javon Foster OT Missouri
117. Keon Coleman WR Florida State
118. Gabe Hall, DL, Baylor
119. Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
120. Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
121. Tyler Owens, S, Texas Tech
122. Javon Solomon, EDGE, Oklahoma State
123. Jason Bean, QB, Kansas
124. Ryan Flournoy, WR, Southeast Missouri State
125. MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC
126. Bub Means, WR, Pittsburgh
127. Tyrone Tracy, RB, Purdue
128. Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
129. Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
130. Joe Milton, QB, Tennessee
131. Dominick Puni, OT, Kansas
132. Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
133. Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest
134. Walter Rouse, OT, Oklahoma
135. Jalen Coker, WR, Holy Cross
136. Cole Bishop, S, Utah
137. Jaylinn Simpson, S, Auburn
138. Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
139. Leonard Taylor, DL, Miami (FL)
140. DeWayne Carter, DL, Duke
141. James Williams, S, Miami (FL)
142. Jadon Janke, WR, South Dakota State
143. Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon
144. Renardo Green, CB, Florida State
145. Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami (FL)
146. Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
147. Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
148. Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
149. Mekhi Wingo, DL, LSU
150. Eric Watts, EDGE, UConn

Cowing can be such a dynamic, ball-possession slot option before and after the catch. Flournoy from Southeast Missouri State is a chiseled outside weapon with legitimately downfield juice. Bell gave me Chig Okonkwo vibes on film. He's an H-back type who's the full package after the catch thanks to lower-body power, rapid feet with the ball in his hands, and running back-like vision. 

Puni is one of the rare cats who could probably play all five offensive line positions. Super-aware, balanced, nasty, athletic. Love his game. 

Rattler is everyone's favorite mid-round quarterback. Count me in that club. Impressive film at South Carolina the past two seasons. Simpson is a magnet to the football in the middle of the field and plays larger than his more spindly frame. In fact, all the safeties in this group can be reasonable starters. Bishop is such a commander of the defense on the field. Williams is a colossal, hard-hitter with surprising ball skills. Bullard and Mustafa are high-energy, versatile defensive weapons. 

Irving is Devin Singletary 2.0, and Kinchens is one of the few workouts I simply could not compute in my brain. On film, the Miami safety looks plenty fast, quick, twitchy, all that good stuff. His workout was epically bad, which sunk his grade for me. Can't ignore those 11 interceptions the past two seasons, though. He very well could outplay his draft position. Stover is one of the most complete tight ends in the class. Not sky-high upside, but a high floor. 

Watts is the Day 3 defensive end for teams to target who prioritize length and size. Major workout for him before the draft, too. Just hasn't put it all together yet. 

151. Cedric Johnson, EDGE, Ole Miss
152. Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
153. Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State
154. Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
155. Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy
156. Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
157. Layden Robinson, OL, Texas A&M
158. Kalen King, CB, Penn State
159. Matt Lee, OL, Miami
160. Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
160. Dominique Hampton, S, Washington
162. Jordan Magee, LB, Temple
163. Sedrick Van Pran, IOL, Georgia
164. Brenden Rice, WR, USC
165. Tyler Davis, DL, Clemson
166. Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
167. Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB, Louisville
168. Braiden McGregor, EDGE, Michigan
169. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
170. AJ Barner, TE, Michigan
171. Omar Brown, CB, Nebraska
172. Kamal Hadden, CB, Tennessee
173. Lideatrick Griffin, WR, Mississippi State
174. Javontae Jean-Baptiste, EDGE, Notre Dame
175. George Holani, RB, Boise State
176. Isaiah Adams, OL, Illinois
177. Fabien Lovett, DL, Florida State
178. Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
179. Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
180. Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
181. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
182. Charles Turner III, OL, LSU
183. Brennan Jackson, EDGE, Washington State
184. Ryan Watts, CB, Texas
185. Ja'Quan Jackson, WR, Tulane
186. Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
187. Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
188. Taylor Bortolini, OL, Wisconsin
189. Travis Glover, OT, Georgia State
190. Erick All, TE, Iowa
191. Blake Watson, RB, Memphis
192. Jase McClellan, RB, Alabama
193. Xavier Thomas, EDGE, Clemson
194. Caedan Wallace, OT, Penn State
195. Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
196. Donovan Jennings, OT, USF
197. Jarrett Kingston, IOL, USC
198. Logan Lee, DL, Iowa
199. Zion Tupuola-Fetui, EDGE, Washington
200. Nick Samac, OL, Michigan State

More running back representation here, and please do not sleep on Vidal. Built like a tree stump with bouncy footwork, plus vision, and natural elusiveness coupled with surprising power, he absolutely could shoulder the full workload in a modern-day backfield. Right with him is Wright from Tennessee, who runs on sheer rocket fuel. One cut type who can erupt on any play. 

Holani was incredibly steady for four seasons at Boise State and has requisite athleticism and cutting skills to carve out a nice complementary role in an NFL backfield. Watts may play safety in the pros -- I just want him on my secondary because of length and elite-level explosiveness. He has offensive tackle length with a 40.5-inch vertical. 

Thomas can be a Day 1 sub-package outside rusher, and Kingston and Samac are two gritty battlers on the interior of the trenches. Liufau was puzzling to me. Looked like the real-deal burst and speed-wise. Average-ish workout. He may make it strictly on his enthusiasm attacking the football in the NFL.


201. Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame
202. Julian Pearl OT Illinois
203. Daijahn Anthony S Ole Miss
204. Gottlieb Ayedze OT Maryland
205. Tarheeb Still CB Maryland
206. Bryan Hudson IOL Louisville
207. Justin Eboigbe DL Alabama
208. Cam Hart CB Notre Dame
209. Ethan Driskell OT Marshall
210. Keaton Bills IOL Utah
211. C.J. Hanson IOL Holy Cross
212. Josh Proctor S Ohio State
213. Shyheim Battle CB NC State
214. Jaylen Harrell EDGE Michigan
215. McKinnley Jackson DL Texas A&M
216. Keith Randolph DL Illinois
217. Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State
218. Eyabi Okie-Anoma EDGE Charlotte
219. Khalid Duke EDGE Kansas State
220. Sione Vaki S Utah
221. Audric Estime, RB Notre Dame
222. Evan Williams, S, Oregon
223. Anim Dankwah, OT, Howard
224. Josh Newton, CB, TCU
225. Javion Cohen, IOL, Miami (FL)
226. Sundiata Anderson, EDGE, Grambling State
227. Frank Gore Jr., RB, Southern Miss
228. Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
229. Trajan Jeffcoat, EDGE, Arkansas
230. Jay Stanley, S, Southern Miss
231. Khristian Boyd, DL, Northern Iowa
232. Devin Leary, QB, Kentucky
233. Evan Anderson, DL, Florida Atlantic
234. Jowon Briggs, DL, Cincinnati
235. Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky
236. Christian Mahogany, IOL, Boston College
237. Josiah Ezirim, OT, Eastern Kentucky
238. Nelson Ceaser, EDGE, Houston
239. Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State
240. Dylan McMahon, IOL, NC State
241. T'Vondre Sweat, DL, Texas
242. Zak Zinter, IOL, Michigan
243. Marcus Harris, DL, Auburn
244. Darius Muasau, LB, UCLA
245. Solomon Byrd, EDGE, USC
246. Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
247. Drake Nugent, IOL, Michigan
248. Andrew Coker, OT, TCU
249. Pheldarius Payne, DL, Virginia Tech
250. Bo Richter, EDGE, Air Force
251. Jalen Green, EDGE, James Madison
252. Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP
253. Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah
254. Joe Andreessen, LB, Buffalo
255. Curtis Jacobs, LB, Penn State
256. Jaylon Carlies, S, Missouri
257. Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State
258. Joshua Cephus, WR, UTSA
259. Myles Cole, EDGE, Texas Tech
260. Beau Brade, S, Maryland
261. Austin Reed, QB, Western Kentucky
262. Kingsley Eguakun, IOL Florida
263. Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona
264. Dayton Wade, WR, Ole Miss
265. Garret Greenfield, OT, South Dakota State
266. Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville
267. Isaiah Williams, WR, Illinois
268. Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
269. KT Leveston, OT, Kansas State
270. Jalen Sundell, IOL, North Dakota State
271. JD Bertrand, LB, Notre Dame
272. Ty'Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri
273. Jordan Jefferson, DL, LSU
274. Carter Bradley, QB, South Alabama
275. Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
276. Jaden Crumedy, DL, Mississippi State
277. Devin Culp, TE, Washington
278. Kendall Milton, RB, Georgia
279. Demani Richardson, S, Texas A&M
280. Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE, Minnesota
281. Dallin Holker, TE, Colorado State
282. Trevor Keegan, IOL, Michigan
283. Trey Knox, TE, South Carolina