How on Earth are we halfway through football season already?
As the NFL nears the official midway point of the regular season, we now have nearly two months of updated film to break down from this year’s top college prospects.
It’s looking like a great year to need a wide receiver, offensive tackle or pass rusher early, or to take a stab at a promising quarterback on Day 2. If you’re looking for a superstar running back or linebacker, however, good luck.
As we look ahead to November, here’s how I stack the top 32 prospects in the 2024 NFL draft class.
1WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
The son of a Hall of Fame pass catcher, the younger Marvin has all the traits to eventually earn his own gold jacket, too. October’s top-10 showdown against Penn State matched Harrison up against one of this year’s top cornerback prospects, Kalen King (No. 19 on this list), and it never even looked like a fair fight.
2OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
Fashanu could have been a first-round pick in 2023 as one of the first offensive tackles off the board, but another year of experience and polish should make him even more prepared to make an immediate impact at the next level. He’s the prototypical franchise left tackle with size (6'6" 319 pounds), power and athleticism.
3TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
An ankle injury and subsequent surgery will put a damper on his 2023 campaign, but at full strength, Bowers is simply one of the best football players in the country. He’s a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses and an explosive playmaker after the catch.
4QB Caleb Williams, USC
He’s still the current favorite to be the No. 1 pick, but Williams has struggled in back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and Utah, showing some flaws that might give NFL scouts some pause. Even so, Williams is an elite playmaker with ridiculous arm talent, and teams will still be enamored with his sky-high ceiling.
5QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
It feels like Maye is starting to close the gap between himself and Williams at the top of the quarterback class. His ceiling isn’t far off (if at all), and his consistency might give him a higher floor than the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Both appear destined for the top five, but we might end up with a legit competition for the No. 1 pick.
6Edge Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Another polished pass rusher with an elite blend of explosiveness off the ball and a pro-ready range of moves, Latu has the technique and tools to be a problem for opposing blockers and quarterbacks. His injury history could give some teams pause, but when fully healthy, he’s dominant.
7WR Rome Odunze, Washington
This year’s receiver class is loaded, and Odunze remains one of the more underrated members of the group. He was my WR2 behind Harrison throughout the offseason, and he’s only cemented that status so far this season. His skill set is the total package, with the size (6'3", 215 pounds), speed, athleticism, physicality, body control and hands to be a superstar in the NFL.
8WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
Few players in this class had made themselves more money in 2023 than Coleman, who has emerged as one of the most dominant pass-catchers in college football. At 6'4" and 215 pounds, Coleman’s got a massive frame and rare athleticism for his size, plus the length, physicality and leaping ability to be uncoverable in the red zone. Oh, and he’ll take punts back for touchdowns, too.
9OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Another legacy prospect, Alt’s dad was a Pro Bowl offensive tackle and clearly passed along some valuable traits for playing a premium position. Alt is as polished and pro-ready as any prospect in this class and should be a lock to come off the board at some point in the top 10.
10CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
One of the best names in the draft, McKinstry also happens to be the best cornerback prospect in this year’s class. He’s got all the physical and mental traits to be a shutdown artist at the next level, and he brings added value as an explosive playmaker in the return game.
11WR Malik Nabers, LSU
This year’s receiver class is the gift that keeps on giving. Nabers is a smooth operator who runs sharp routes and excels after the catch thanks to his explosiveness, agility and physicality to break through tackles. He’s the next in a long line of Bayou Bengal pass catchers destined for NFL stardom.
12DB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Size, athleticism and versatility are all premium traits in the modern NFL defensive backfield, and DeJean checks all three boxes with ease. He can line up outside or in the slot at corner, patrol the deep middle or mix it up down in the box as a safety, and even play linebacker when necessary. He’s also another top prospect who excels in the return game.
13Edge Chop Robinson, Penn State
The top of this year’s class of edge defenders is impressive, but after Verse, Robinson is the guy that gets me the most excited. He’s already got a polished array of pass-rush moves and quality counters, with an explosive first step and violent hands to punish opposing offensive tackles.
14DL Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
The top interior defender in this year’s class, Newton might be a bit undersized at 6'2" and 295 pounds, but he more than makes up for it in every other area of his game. He’s got rare explosiveness for a defensive tackle, and brings the power to match. He’s consistently camped out in opposing backfields, and there’s no reason to think he won’t do the same at the next level.
15Edge Dallas Turner, Alabama
Now that Will Anderson Jr. has moved on to the next level, Turner is making the most of his chance to shine as a full-time starter in Nick Saban’s defense. Turner’s an explosive rusher off the edge, with the athleticism and versatility to drop into coverage and make plays in space.
16OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
The biggest riser on this list, Fuaga has announced his presence with authority this season as one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the country. He’s massive and powerful, with impressive athleticism for his size (6'6", 334 pounds), and looks like a plug-and-play starter at right tackle who should be a first-round lock.
17Edge Jared Verse, Florida State
Another player who could have been a first-rounder last year, Verse is making the most of his opportunity to sharpen his skill set against college competition before jumping to the pros. His sack numbers may be down this year, but Verse is still creating tons of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
18DL Leonard Taylor III, Miami
Much like Newton, Taylor isn’t the biggest interior defender, but that doesn’t seem to matter much when he’s blowing up run plays in the backfield or collapsing the pocket as a pass rusher. He’s versatile enough to make an impact from multiple alignments, regardless of scheme, which gives him even more value.
19CB Kalen King, Penn State
King may have had a rough time against Harrison last week, but he’s still one of the best corner prospects in this class. He checks all the major boxes NFL teams are looking for at the position, and his ability to make splash plays when the ball’s in the air will set him apart. He should be the first Penn State defensive back ever drafted in the first round.
20S Kamren Kinchens, Miami
There’s plenty to like about this year’s safety class, but Kinchens is the clear-cut favorite of the group. He’s got the range, athleticism and instincts to excel in both man and zone coverage, as well as the toughness and tackling prowess to be a stout run defender in the box.
21Edge JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
All Tuimoloau does is make big plays in big games. He is the ideal base defensive end in a 4–3 scheme, but he also has the athleticism and versatility to drop into coverage, and even slide inside on passing downs to get after the quarterback. He’s a pro-ready prospect who can make big things happen on any down.
22CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Another player who has made the most of his 2023 campaign so far, Wiggins is proving to be a shutdown corner against some talented competition. At 6'2" and 185 pounds, he boasts an ideal height and length combination, even if he could use a few more pounds of quality bulk to help him hang with the bigger, more physical receivers at the next level.
23OL Graham Barton, Duke
Here comes a run of offensive linemen who bring different things to the table, and also have different potential drawbacks. Barton is the most polished, versatile and well-rounded prospect in this cluster of blockers. His lack of length might shift him to guard at the next level (think Peter Skoronski in the 2023 draft), but he’s got the skills and experience to play all five positions.
24OT Patrick Paul, Houston
Next, we have the high-upside player in this run of offensive linemen. Paul has an elite combo of length and rare athleticism for his size (6'7", 315 pounds), plus all the power and strength you’d expect from such a massive blocker. He’s got superstar potential as a starting left tackle in the NFL if he can maximize those physical traits.
25OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
Mims is currently recovering from surgery to repair an ankle injury, and it’s still unclear when he’ll be able to return this season. When fully healthy, Mims showed plenty of promise, but his lack of starting experience (he’s missing valuable time this season in his first year as a full-time starter) could leave NFL teams with more questions than answers.
26OT JC Latham, Alabama
Latham was getting top-10 love in the preseason, but he’s been inconsistent at times throughout the season. That said, the physical tools are all there, and he’s surprisingly athletic for someone with his 6'6", 360-pound frame. He’s got tons of starting experience at right tackle against top competition, and could even slide inside and be a dominant guard in the NFL.
27WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
If he played for any other school, Egbuka would be the clear-cut No. 1 receiver. Even playing second fiddle to Harrison, Egbuka has a first-round skill set in his own right, with polished route-running ability and reliable hands that will make an NFL quarterback extremely happy.
28DL Maason Smith, LSU
A massive mountain of an interior defender (6'6", 315 pounds), Smith missed most of last season with a knee injury, but his five-star talent is shining through now that he’s back to full strength this season. His combination of size, power, athleticism and versatility will allow him to make a big impact in any scheme or alignment at the next level.
29Edge Chris Braswell, Alabama
Speaking of five-star recruits who are living up to that billing this season, Braswell is enjoying a breakout campaign lined up across from Turner. He’s been a big-play magnet for the Crimson Tide, and his blue-chip talent is translating to impressive production that’s sure to catch NFL eyes in the first round.
30TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
If your favorite NFL team is looking for a dynamic weapon who can make life miserable for linebackers and defensive backs alike, Sanders should be near the top of their list. He’s got the size (6'4", 243 pounds) and athleticism to be a mismatch machine against NFL defenses, particularly in the red zone.
31Edge Bralen Trice, Washington
Another dynamic edge rusher makes the list, as Trice brings a prototypical frame along with an explosive first step and pro-ready pass-rushing technique to the table. There may be more athletic or physical prospects in his position group, but he’s got a strong enough balance of both to warrant first-round consideration.
32S Calen Bullock, USC
I’m a sucker for a true ballhawk on the back end of the defense, and Bullock is the best of the bunch in this year’s safety class. Whatever he might lack in run support (thanks in part to a 6'3", 190-pound frame), Bullock makes up for with elite range, instincts and ball skills that make him a big-play magnet in the secondary.
