NFL Mock's Top 25: 2024 NFL Draft prospect rankings plus position rankings & analysis

As we enter the final stages of the 2024 NFL Draft process it is time to look at where these prospects fall on my draft board. One of the surprises you will find on this list is Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy not carrying a first-round grade despite, him likely being a possible top-five pick. Another surprise is how high I have another Big Ten prospect, Chop Robinson.

In this article, I break down my top 25 players, give my position rankings, and identify an overrated and underrated prospect as well as highlighting a non-power five player at each position.

Top 25 NFL Draft prospects

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Caleb Williams is the top quarterback to enter the NFL since 2021 when the Jacksonville Jaguars took Trevor Lawrence with the number one pick. Williams has all the traits needed to be an elite quarterback including impressive arm strength, the accuercey to make the big throw on the run, and the competitiveness to lead a team. He will be a great fit in Chicago especially after the team added D'Andre Swift and Keenan Allen this offseason.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Another franchise player in the 2024 NFL Draft is Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison has been one of the most productive receivers in college football the past two seasons becoming the first player in Ohio State history to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. There is no reason this production should not continue at the next level either. He is a big physical wide receiver who does a great job of catching the ball in traffic. He also has surprising speed for a bigger wide receiver and does a good job of picking up yards after the catch.

3. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

One lesson we should take from this year’s Super Bowl is that running your offense through a tight end is not a bad idea. The Kansas City Chiefs did an outstanding job of doing this with Travis Kelce who led the team in receptions and yards. Their opponent the San Fransico 49ers had George Kittle who finished second on the team in receptions and yards. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers should be able to have a similar impact in the NFL.

4. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Yet another highly though of pass catcher in this year’s draft is Washington’s Rome Odunze. Odunze is a big wide receiver who excels at making plays downfield having led the nation in targets more than 20 yards down field and having caught 21 of 28 contested targets. In addition to threatening teams vertically he is a reliable target who does a terrific job of catching the ball with his hands. One more positive with him is that he uses his 4.45 speed to consistently pickup yards after the catch.

5. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Four of the top five players on my draft board are all pass catchers with the last one being LSU’s Malik Nabers. Nabers is a dynamic receiver who can work all three areas of the field, and this season he led the nation in plays of 10-plus yards (59), 20-plus yards (34) and 30-plus yards (17). He also is extremely dangerous after the catch having caused 27 missed tackles this season. In addition to these traits, he also does a great job of securing the catch despite letting the ball get into his body.

6. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Going into the 2023 season I named Joe Alt as the offensive tackle I would stand on the table for, and he showed why I was so high on him this season. Alt was the only tackle in the country to post 85.0-plus grades as a pass blocker and a run blocker this season according to Pro Football Focus. As a pro prospect, he is a nasty run blocker who does a great job of finishing his blocks. He also holds up well in pass protection and moves extremely well for a 6-foot-9 321-pound offensive tackle.
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7. Laiatu Latu, OLB, UCLA

The top defensive player on my board is UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu. What stands out with Latu is how fundamentally sound he is and how advanced his pass-rushing moves are. Last season, he led the Pac-12 in sacks with 13 and led the nation in tackles per loss per game. He also is an improving run defender and should be able to set the edge in the NFL.

8. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

The most versatile quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft is LSU’s Jayden Daniels. This past season Daniels led the nation in total offense (412.2), passing touchdowns (40), touchdowns responsible for (50), passer rating (208.0), yards per pass attempt (11.7), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,134), and yards per play (10.71), so to say the least he can hurt opponents in multiple ways. Now that the Washington Commanders have signed Marcus Mariota who has a similar style of play as Daniels it looks like a strong possibility that Daniels will be the number two overall pick.

9. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

2023 was not the type of season Drake Maye was hoping for, but despite that, he will likely still be a top-five pick. The main reason for this is that he is your classic pocket passer. He has an impressive arm and can easily throw any pass in a team’s offense. He also displays the athletic ability to throw off of platform or escape from the pocket. One area he will need to improve on at the next level is his footwork and not drifting in the pocket.

"He has good arm strength, good vision and he's very, very intelligent. He is very consistent with his decision-making. He is aggressive when you give him some freedom in regards to checking a route or plays. He's a good, total-package kid."

- UNC OC Phil Longo on Maye

10. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

One of the players with the highest upside in this year’s NFL Draft is Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu who could develop into an All-Pro left tackle. As a pass blocker, he shows good agility, a strong punch, and the length to keep defenders at bay. These skills helped Fashanu not give up a sack this season and to be named the Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. He is also a strong run blocker who does a great job of getting to the second level. However, I would like to see him improve his balance when drive blocking.

11. Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama

Another high-caliber pass rusher in the 2024 NFL Draft is Alabama’s, Dallas Turner. The trait that sticks out with Turner is his quickness which consistently allows him to beat offensive tackles off the ball. In addition to his quickness off the ball, Turner has good length coming in with 34 3/4 arms. My concern with him is that he is a one-dimensional player currently not having spent much time in pass coverage and lacking the desire to be a force vs. the run.

12. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

A player who had a breakout season this year is LSU’s Brian Thomas. Going into the season he never had more than 65 yards in a game, but this season he had six games with over 100 yards and finished the year with 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and a nation-leading 17 touchdowns. As a pro prospect, he has the ideal size (6-3 209), and speed (4.33) combination. He also has surprising agility which gives him a big catch radius.

13. Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon

Another player who had a breakout season this year is Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson. 2023 was Powers-Johnson's first year as a starter and in that one year, he established himself as the best center in college football winning the Rimington Trophy and earning the top grade from Pro Football Focus in run blocking, pass blocking, and overall. He has the tools to be a first-round draft pick as well, including impressive strength, good mobility for a 328-pound center, and excellent footwork.

14. Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State

Penn State’s Chop Robinson is one of the most explosive pass rushers in the 2024 NFL Draft. On his game film, he consistently blew by the man blocking him causing 27 pressures on the year. He also posted a blazing 4.48 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He holds up well against the run as well and should be able to be a three-down defensive end in the NFL. One concern is that he only recorded four sacks on the year despite consistently pressuring the quarterback.

15. Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

Jared Verse’s season got off to a slow start this year having recorded only half a sack in the first four games, and picking up 4.5 sacks of his nine sacks in the last two games of his Florida State career. Despite this spotty production this year he still led the ACC with a 21% Pass Rush Win Rate according to Pro Football Focus. As a pass rusher, he shows a good first step off the ball and has the strength to bullrush opponents. NFL scouts would like to see Verse use his hands better to disengage from blocks, and if he doesn’t it could limit his production at the next level.

16. Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

One of the most polarizing players in the 2024 NFL Draft is Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton. On one hand he has limited production on the field never being named to an All-Confernce team and only earning a 66.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus this season. On the other hand, he is an impressive athlete who has the quick feet to develop into a starting left tackle in the NFL. If he can get proper coaching look for him to be a better pro than he was a college player.

17. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

One of the most underrated players in the 2024 NFL Draft is Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. While McKinstry might not have elite speed he is an incredibly polished player. He has outstanding footwork and the loose hip to stick on his man despite blazing speed. He also has good ball skills when thrown at breaking up an SEC high 15 passes in 2022. These traits have allowed him to be named an All-American each of the past two seasons, and to be targeted on just 8.5% of passing downs which was the lowest rate in the nation according to Pro Football Focus.

"Kool-Aid McKinstry is more reliable and consistent than Terrion Arnold, but I think Arnold has more pure cover talent."

- NFC Scout to NFL.com on Alabama CBs

18. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

The other Alabama cornerback who carries a first-round grade is Terrion Arnold. Arnold is a complete cornerback and should be a day-one starter in the NFL. In coverage, he is a physical corner who shows elite ball skills having tied for the SEC lead with five interceptions. He also is outstanding against the run consistently coming up to make the big stop and rarely missing a tackle. Like McKinstry, Arnold’s lack of speed could be a concern having run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds.

19. J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama

The third straight Alabama and fourth Alabama player on my board is offensive tackle J.C. Latham. Latham is the ideal right tackle having impressive size, strength, and demeanor to develop into a Pro Bowler. While he is a better run blocker than pass blocker he has the long arms and enough mobility to hold up in this area.

"He’s big, strong, physical. He’s the prototype right tackle that everybody would look for in terms of having a power guy who is effective in being able to pass block well enough"

- Nick Saban on Latham

20. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

The top Group of Five player on my board is Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. What makes Mitchell such an impressive player is his quickness. He does a great job of driving on the ball and finished second in the nation with 18 pass breakups this season. In addition to his 4.33 speed he also is a good tackler who shows the desire to be a force vs. the run. One concern I have with him is he can be little slow to diagnose different passing concepts.

21. Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

The top pass-rushing defensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft is Illinois’s Jer'Zhan Newton. This past season the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year recorded 7.5 sacks. Over the past two seasons, he has 102 quarterback pressures which is 24 more than any other defensive tackle according to Pro Football Focus. Against the run, he has a powerful punch and plays with great intensity. He could be a good replacement for Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald who retired last week.

22. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Mims is similar to Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton in that neither player has a ton of experience, but both have high upsides. The first thing that standouts with Mims is his enormous size coming in at 6-foot-8 and 340 pounds. He has the strength to go along with this size as well, which makes him a strong run blocker. The biggest concern with Mims will likely be his history of injuries which has limited him to just eight starts during his college career.

23. Troy Fautanu, OG/OT, Washington

A player who made my All-Underrated team going into the season, but now is viewed as a first-round pick is Washington’s Troy Fautanu. The main reason he has flown up the draft board is his impressive pass blocking which has seen him only give up two sacks in his 30 career starts. He also has good versatility having played both offensive guard and offensive tackle for the Huskies.

24. Byron Murphy, DT, Texas

Yet another player who significantly improved his stock this year is Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy. In his first year as a starter he was named a second team All-American after recording 29 tackles 8.5 tfl for loss and five sacks. As a pro prospect he is an explosive defensive tackle who could see time either as a 3-technique defensive tackle or as 3-4 defensive end. Another positive with Murphy is how well he uses his hands to disengage from blockers.

25. Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

A player I am lower on than most is Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga. The main reason for this is his limited flexibility and the fact he loses his balance too often for my liking. Despite these concerns, he is an elite run blocker who consistently knocks his opponent off the ball. He also held up well in pass protection this season having not allowed a sack and just 12 pressures.