Top 40 players in the 2024 NFL Draft: Gabriel Trevino’s Big Board
Another draft cycle will end when 257 names are read across three days at the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.
This draft class has the exciting top-end talent that teams hope can become superstars and the unproven or overlooked who want a chance to make their dreams.
But my overall thoughts on this class is different than others since I began scouting in 2020. For the most part, I think it’s a pretty poor draft class. That’s why this Big Board consists of 40 players rather than a common number like 50. I studied just more than 90 players this year and handed out the fewest number of first and second round grades in five years. I could’ve made this list 50, 60 or 75 players long, but we’d be getting into players I don’t expect to be contributors in the NFL by then.
There is still a lot of great players in this class. The top 15 is as good as if not better than other top 15s in past classes, but it’s a much shallower class overall. I suspect there’s a lot of reasons for that — mostly the COVID-19 year of extra eligibility every college player got and transfer portal making it that younger players’ development was stunted in college, but that’s for another day.
Here’s my top 40 players in the 2024 NFL draft.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The top player in the class is also the best I’ve scouted since I began in 2020. It’s hard to find flaws in his game, and will be in contention for best receiver in the NFL within the first few years of his career.
2. Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Williams has one of the highest upside of any quarterback drafted and is well deserving of the №1 pick. His arm talent and creativity will allow him to contend for a Super Bowl in his career.
3. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Whoever drafts Nabers will get the definition of a playmaker. I can already envision a few third down catches over the middle of the field in fourth quarters of playoff games in his career.
4. Drake Maye, QB, UNC
Maye might struggle his first few years, and it will be fine. He’s got the athleticism, size, arm and playmaking to be a top 10 quarterback, but it also won’t surprise me if that’s sooner rather than later.
5. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Odunze is a safety blanket for any passing offense. In any other year he’d be the easy WR1, but his size and contested-catching ability will let him be an outside threat from Day 1.
6. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Arnold is an NFL-ready corner. He’s fluid in press man, instinctual in off and zone, can make plays on the ball in the air or on the ground. Few throws go his way, and if they do he usually breaks them up.
7. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Alt’s lower body quickness is a marvel, without considering he’s 6-feet-9 320 pounds. He can keep step with speed rushers and swallows those who try to attack his frame, and makes linebackers look away in run fits.
8. Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
I’m higher than most on DeJean, and he’s one of my favorite players in the class. Wherever DeJean will start, he’ll be a playmaker for a defense. He’s aggressive and explosive running downhill, and can shadow receivers going backward. He’ll also be one of the best returners in the game if a team lets its №1 corner do so, which he can be.
9. Tailese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
I have confidence Fuaga can play four positions well despite being a right tackle in college. He could even be a better left tackle, as on the right he would only lose when rushers attacked his outside. Fuaga is great in the run, alright in pass but a smart player that will grow as he gets stronger.
10. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Bowers is the modern pass-catching tight end. He’s not a great blocker nor is the biggest, but with the ball in his hands is as dangerous as anyone on the field and can catch it in the air with his body covered by defenders.
11. Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
I have no doubts Fautanu can play left tackle, but could be one of the best guards in the league if a team decides to play him there. He’s the nimblist offensive lineman in the class, is laterally quick who can also anchor and use his hands against bigger rushers.
12. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Thomas is one of my personal favorite prospects in this draft. With size, speed, route running and catch radius, he could be the steal of the draft and be a №1 receiver for a team in need of a deep-threat.
13. Byron Murphy II., DT, Texas
The best run defender in the class is Murphy II. His vision into the backfield gives him a head start into gaps, is quick and athletic enough to get there faster and possesses the motor to grow as a pass rusher as his play strength improves.
14. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Fashanu plays exactly like someone who’s 6–6, 312 pounds with 34-inch arms. Rushers aren’t big enough to take him head on, and he’s wide enough to keep them away from his outside. He could get quicker and more intelligent in the run game, and has technical improvements to be made, but for his age and size, can develop into a franchise tackle.
15. JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Once Latham gets his hands on a rusher, the rep is usually over. He could definitely get quicker in his lower half to survive in the NFL, but his play strength and size will let him start at right tackle and be effective in pass pro while he develops.
16. Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State
Robinson is my best edge rusher in the class. He might not be the best in his first year, but I’d bet will be in a few years. Robinson is by far the most explosive off the edge and gets into the backfield faster despite his awkward rushing. Robinson can be a game-wrecker who can disrupt any play.
17. Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
Verse rushes like a bull. He charges tackles’ chest, knocking them back off the line. He also uses a swim move to attack the inside shoulder. On all his rushes, he drives with his legs and has the motor to beat lineman. His pass rush moves are limited and is not bendy or as explosive, but can be a solid speed-to-power rusher in the NFL.
18. Graham Barton, OL, Duke
Another versatile player, Barton can play all five positions on the line, and most project him to be a center. That’s because he’s quick out of his stance and has started games in his first year before becoming a left tackle for three years. He’s not the biggest and struggles against nose tackles, but is a crafty, athletic run blocker.
19. Dallas Turner, DE/OLB, Alabama
Despite his size, Turner sets the best edge in the class. He’s long and strong against bigger tackles to hold up against the run, but rarely does the same in pass rush with a bull rush. He’s athletic to play in space and takes good angles on his rushes, but will likely be a hybrid linebacker player in the NFL unless he develops more as a pure pass rusher.
Turner was a difficult scout for me, as I see the intelligence and drive to be a complete defensive end, but doesn’t play with the body he has. I’d like to see more speed rushing once he makes the jump, as I don’t see much pass rush upside with where he’s at right now.
20. Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Guyton uses his frame effectively to stall rushers who come his way. He traps them with his long arms, planting one on rushers front and the other on their back to stop them in place, and is quick enough out of his stance to move laterally to slow down speed rushers. He needs to improve in the run game and play speed, but has the upside to be a franchise tackle.
21. Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
If corners could have motor, then Rakestraw does. He’s feisty off the line in coverage, sticks with corners in space or slows them down off the line and is physical taking on blockers.
22. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
I like Mitchell on the outside, but would love to have him in nickel. He’s best in off coverage, where he can use his instincts and explosiveness to make plays on the ball in the air or against a ball carrier rather than his fluidity in coverage. His ball skills are present and has the toughness to take on the NFL from Toledo.
23. Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Mitchell is a weapon deep down the field or in the red zone. He uses all of his 6–4 frame to win in the air and is a fluid route runner despite the yardage production not following in college. He’s fast to improve after the catch and blow by corners, and I won’t be surprised if he finds more success in the NFL than he did in college.
24. Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona
Morgan is a perplexing prospect. He’s got the size of a tackle but the feel of a guard. Taller guards could work in the NFL, and I could see that for Morgan, just as I could see him staying at tackle. He anchors well against power but is still light enough to have quickness in his game.
25. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Coleman may end up being the steal of the draft. His role in the league will be much different — and most of all much better for him — than at Florida State. He’s a big target down field and plays faster than his testing numbers. With great feel for route running and space, he’ll be a consistent target in short and intermediate range for any quarterback.
26. Zach Frazier, OL, West Virginia
When in doubt, draft a former wrestler to play offensive line. He’s much stronger in the run than other lineman in this class, gets to the second level and has the body to allow him to face any type of rush.
27. Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Wiggins may be one of the best mirror corners in this class, but his thin frame will limit what he can do in the league. He can’t win on the line but has the long speed to keep up with receivers down field and reaction time and fluidity to match breaks, but won’t be much in the run. He is tall, so he won’t be a liability in 50/50 balls, though he won’t win many.
28. Jackson Powers-Johnson, OL, Oregon
Powers-Johnson is my third center with a first round grade, though I like him more as a guard. He doesn’t play the quickest or with great knockback power, and his snaps I would best describe as lackadaisical, but he can still anchor against bigger rushers, has great, active hands in run and pass, and is an overall high-floor, low ceiling player.
29. Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Pearsall is who many think Ladd McConkey is. Pearsall is a big receiver who can play anywhere but will do most of his damage in the slot. He’s a quality, sharp route runner with great feel for the position, and is loose and physical after the catch. He can also use his size and strength to make wicked contested catches.
30. Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Lassiter plays corner like a linebacker. He isn’t the biggest or most athletic, but he fights on every play, gets through blocks and is a violent tackler. Coverage isn’t too much of a concern, as he uses his strength and is technically sound. I could see him playing anywhere in the secondary and being a solid player.
31. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
McKinstry doesn’t have the highest ceiling of the corners in this class, but will be a reliable corner in the NFL. He’s not the biggest or fastest, and isn’t the most aggressive, but does everything in standard coverage with great technique. Alabama teaches its corners well, and McKinstry is a product of that.
32. Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
Newton is a bulldog rusher with a high motor, great hands and better counter moves. He produced well pass rushing, but wasn’t an enthusiastic run stopper. For a team looking for interior pass rush, Newton is their guy.
33. Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA
Latu plays defensive end like a MMA fighter. His hands are always moving and are strong with any punch, move or pass rush he uses. He’s not the best athlete nor shows great bend. His entry to the backfield isn’t as fast or dominant as other rushers in the class, but will be a solid player from Day 1.
34. Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
Melton’s reaction time and feel for receivers’ movement will allow him to excel as a nickel corner. He’s best at covering crossers and is a smart player who sometimes takes too many risks, especially with two-hand jabs that aren’t effective at the line. His awareness for the position will let him make plays for a defense.
35. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
If you want more on Daniels — or any other quarterback in this class — then read my guide on the QB class this year. The quick thoughts on Daniels is that his floor isn’t as high as many others think and upside ain’t near other quarterbacks. He could be a decent starter in the NFL, but I’m not betting on him to be a franchise changing player.
36. Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
It’s great how every tackle in this draft class is a mammoth. Suamataia is still a young prospect with the body to allow him to reach a high ceiling if he develops as a run blocks and generally becomes more athletic and laterally quick.
37. Edgerinn Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
In a bad linebacker class, Cooper was the only one I gave better than a fourth round grade to. He’s quick downfield and can go through or around blocks into the backfield and gaps but needs to improve lateral quickness to tackle in space and in coverage.
38. Darius Robinson, DT, Missouri
Robinson is a lengthy rusher who can lineup anywhere on the defensive line, and I like him best inside. He’s quick and makes contact first, getting around lineman and into the backfield to disrupt plays. He’ll best serve a contending team as another rotational rusher.
39. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Starting just eight games in his career doesn’t scare me as much as his tape did, but that fact certainly didn’t help. He’s a great athlete with a bowling ball frame as an offensive lineman, yet his inexperience playing the position and limited skill set makes me bullish on his ability to play in the NFL. But if he lands in the right place and develops for a few years, Mims could be great, and I’d be OK being wrong on his scout.
40. Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
Orhorhoro’s best football is ahead of him. A young defensive tackle prospect with the size and raw talent to lineup from zero to 5-tec, he will continue to grow as a rusher to fit any defensive line.
