2024 NFL Draft Big Board: Generational talents lead final draft big board plus rankings by position
By John Blair
2024 NFL Draft defensive end rankings
ACC: Jared Verse, Florida State: A player who saw his stock go down some this year is Florida State’s Jared Verse. Going into the year he was widely viewed as a top-five pick, but after he got off to a slow start this year he will most likely go in the middle of round one.
Big 10: Chop Robinson, Penn State: I am in the minority by having Penn State’s Chop Robinson as my top defensive end in the draft. However, he has rare traits as a pass rusher including 4.48 speed off the edge. He also has underrated production having led the Big Ten with a 92.3 pass rush grade according to Pro Football Focus, and also making 42.7 percent of his tackles behind the line of scrimmage over the past two seasons.
Big 12: Austin Booker, Kansas: Booker spent his first two seasons at Minnesota where he made little impact finishing his career with the Golden Gophers with just two tackles. However, he transferred to Kansas this year and quickly established himself as one of the better Kansas defensive ends in school history. This season he led the Big 12 with 38 pressures and also finished the season with eight sacks.
Pac 12: Jonah Elliss, Utah: Another player who had a breakout season is Utah’s Jonah Ellis. Going into the year he never had more than three sacks in a season, but this year he got to the quarterback 12 times in just ten games.
SEC: Darius Robinson, Missouri: Teams that primarily play a 3-4 defense and need a defensive end will take a close look at Darius Robinson. Robinson has ideal size to play this position coming in at 6-foot-5 and 286 and also has the strength to play in this alignment.
Non-Power Five: Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State: A player who impressed me when I saw him up close at the East-West Shrine Bowl is Colorado State’s Mohamed Kamara. He displayed the quickest burst off the ball I have ever seen live, and this speed allowed him to pick up 13 sacks this year.
Overall Rankings
1. Chop Robinson, Penn State (first round)
2. Jared Verse, Florida State (first round)
3. Darius Robinson, Missouri (second round)
4. Bralen Trice, Washington (second round)
5. Brennan Jackson, Washington State (fourth round)
6. Adisa Isaac, Penn State (fourth round)
7. Gabriel Murphy, UCLA (fourth round)
8. Jonah Elliss, Utah (fourth round)
9. Braiden McGregor, Michigan (fourth round)
10. Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State (fifth round)
11. Austin Booker, Kansas (fifth round)
12. Nelson Ceaser, Houston (fifth round)
13. Xavier Thomas, Clemson (sixth round)
14. Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan (sixth round)
15. Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington (sixth round)
16. Javon Solomon, Troy (sixth round)
17. Cedric Johnson, Ole Miss (sixth round)
18. Jalen Green, James Madison (seventh round)
19. Myles Cole, Texas Tech (seventh round)