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It is time to shut the books on the 2023 NFL draft and start looking forward to subsequent yr’s group. And the 2024 class is wanting fairly, fairly good. The quarterback class could possibly be even deeper and higher than 2023’s was, there are potential franchise choices at receiver and tight finish, and subsequent yr’s defensive sort out class could possibly be among the many finest we have seen shortly.
In fact, the 2024 draft remains to be 12 months away, and there’s a lot nonetheless to be taught concerning the class. Over the following few months, you may be taught extra concerning the high names out there and their strengths. However for now, let’s take a fast introductory take a look at what could possibly be an excellent group of prospects.
NFL draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid, together with nationwide faculty soccer reporter Adam Rittenberg, are right here to reply seven large questions concerning the high gamers, from who may go No. 1 total to who’s flying below the radar within the early going. Get your notebooks prepared — it is time to begin evaluating the 2024 class. And for extra on what to anticipate from the 2024 class, try Todd McShay’s way-too-early mock draft of Spherical 1.
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Top QBs | Other top names
Sleepers | Class strength
Team to watch
Who’re the highest quarterbacks within the 2024 class?
Miller: Caleb Williams, USC. Williams was the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and has already obtained comparisons to Patrick Mahomes from NFL scouts. Time will inform if he is that sort of NFL quarterback, however as a prospect there may be lots to get enthusiastic about. Williams (6-foot-1, 218 kilos) threw for 4,537 yards and 42 landing passes to only 5 interceptions final season. He additionally rushed for 382 yards and one other 10 scores. That was all in his first full season as a starter after changing Spencer Rattler halfway via his true freshman season at Oklahoma in 2021. The early scouting report on Williams could be very flattering, and he is the favourite to be the No. 1 choose subsequent yr.
Reid: Drake Maye, North Carolina. At 6-4, 225, he was solely a redshirt freshman final yr, however you would not have identified it when watching him. Incomes ACC Rookie and Offensive Participant of the 12 months honors, Maye completed the season with 4,321 passing yards and 38 landing passes whereas including one other 698 yards and 7 scores on the bottom. I used to be in attendance for his first faculty begin in the course of the season opener against Florida A&M. Despite the fact that it was an FCS opponent, his five-touchdown efficiency made it clear that he was a participant to regulate sooner or later.
The early identify most related to Maye is Justin Herbert. The Tar Heels’ signal-caller’s body is not fairly as large as Herbert’s (6-6, 236), however their talent units are almost an identical. Maye has the arm power to simply push the ball down the sector however can be a succesful runner who can escape and make performs exterior of construction.
Rittenberg: Michael Penix Jr., Washington. After main the nation in passing yards per recreation (357.0), Penix returned to fine-tune his expertise much more. He will probably be throwing to one of many nation’s finest receiving teams, led by 1,000-yard receivers Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. Penix’s arm power jumps out — some within the Pac-12 suppose he is even higher than Williams in that space. He’ll cope with sturdiness questions all through the NFL analysis course of, however a second productive, injury-free season in coach Kalen DeBoer’s offense ought to improve his professional inventory. “I do not suppose he beloved the place his draft grade was; he thinks he is a greater participant than that,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb advised me.
Which prospects may find yourself being the highest non-QB within the class?
Reid: The early outlook on offense for the 2024 class seems superb on the high of the draft. Ohio State vast receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would be the non-QB prospect talked about essentially the most, however I will the opposite aspect of the ball with Florida State defensive finish Jared Verse. Many evaluators had been actually shocked to see him return to school as a result of he was doubtless a top-15 choose within the 2023 draft. Now again in Tallahassee for his senior season, he is anticipated to anchor an thrilling Seminoles protection.
Verse, who transferred from Albany, was a right away success on the FBS degree. At 6-4, 248 kilos, Verse completed with 16.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks in 2022. He is a protracted, bodily and disruptive participant off the sting who’s anticipated to have an even bigger position subsequent season. The Seminoles have not had a defensive participant drafted within the high 10 since Jalen Ramsey went No. 5 in 2016. Verse may finish that streak and change into the following nice defender from that program.
Rittenberg: The excitement round Harrison is unbelievable, particularly as a result of Ohio State has produced so many nice vast receivers lately. I had folks in this system telling me halfway via final season that Harrison would change into the perfect of the immensely gifted bunch, and he did not disappoint with 1,263 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 77 receptions. Harrison has all the weather NFL groups need in a receiver and stands out in large video games, as he confirmed in opposition to Penn State, Michigan and Georgia final season.
Miller: Adam nailed it with Harrison, who already has scouts buzzing, however what about Olumuyiwa Fashanu? The Penn State left sort out was receiving buzz because the potential high sort out within the ’23 draft class earlier than he shocked evaluators and went back to college for an additional yr. At 6-6 and 321 kilos, there will probably be no arm-length questions or energy issues from scouts. Fashanu has the size, mobility and poise to be a star left sort out. After surrendering simply two pressures and nil sacks in 2022, there’s an awesome probability for him to be the highest non-quarterback subsequent yr.
Who’re some early draft sleeper picks who may rise this season?
Rittenberg: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri. After producing only one draft choose (defensive finish Isaiah McGuire) this yr, Missouri will probably be a a lot greater issue within the 2024 draft. Rakestraw is one among a number of Tigers defensive backs who may stand up draft boards. Totally recovered from a 2021 ACL injury, Rakestraw had three pressured fumbles, 13 cross breakups and an interception final season. He is at all times across the ball and has superb pace, testing effectively in Missouri’s offseason program.
Miller: Calen Bullock, S, USC. The 2023 security class did not have a standout participant, as none had been drafted within the first spherical, however Bullock could possibly be that man in 2024. A 6-3 free security, he has vary and ball expertise. He had 5 interceptions, together with a 93-yard pick-six, and 6 passes defensed in his true sophomore season. Scouts are already buzzing about his consciousness and instincts in protection.
Reid: Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State. The Nittany Lions have change into accustomed to producing dynamic prospects, particularly on protection. At 6-5, 253 kilos, Robinson figures to be this system’s subsequent nice edge rusher. He recorded 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks final season, and Robinson is a ready-made pass-rusher whose pass-rush routine continued to get higher with extra taking part in time. He generated the very best mark amongst FBS pass-rushers in cross rush win price (12.1%). That reveals he is attending to passers shortly and sometimes.
What’s the early power of the category?
Reid: For the primary time shortly, defensive sort out. The 2019 draft had the final robust defensive sort out class, as six gamers got here off of the board within the first spherical. I am not saying the upcoming class will match or surpass that lofty quantity, however the early projection seems superb.
Maason Smith (LSU), Jer’Zhan Newton (Illinois), Kris Jenkins (Michigan), Michael Hall Jr. (Ohio State) and Leonard Taylor (Miami) are names which have already generated buzz, however there are many others scouts consider may have early-round potential. Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Ruke Orhorhoro (Clemson) and Nazir Stackhouse (Georgia) are three guys to regulate. It looks like endlessly since we have had an inside line of defense class to get enthusiastic about, however this yr’s group could possibly be one of many strongest within the 2024 class.
Miller: I will go along with quarterback. We highlighted three distinctive gamers earlier, they usually’re simply the tip of the iceberg for a category that’s each wealthy when it comes to star energy and depth. Williams, Maye and Penix would be the front-runners, however due to NIL offers convincing juniors to return to varsity and a powerful group of underclassmen, we now have a heavy load of quarterbacks to judge. Quinn Ewers (Texas), Bo Nix (Oregon), Tyler Van Dyke (Miami), Sam Hartman (Notre Dame) and Jayden Daniels (LSU) have already obtained hype from scouts I’ve spoken with. So much can and may change within the subsequent 12 months, however the quarterback class seems very robust.
How does the 2024 class examine to the 2023 group?
Miller: There are lots of issues we do not know proper now that we’ll uncover in the course of the subsequent yr, however I am comfy saying 2024 seems higher. The highest two quarterbacks are thought-about to have extra potential than this yr’s group. The identical goes for left sort out and vast receiver, the place Fashanu and Harrison are elite prospects. I can not wait to dig in on the highest gamers this summer season, however my preliminary record seems considerably higher at quarterback and offensive sort out than it did in 2023.
Reid: It is nonetheless means too early to say as a result of there’s lots of projecting proper now with the 2024 group. What I’ll say, although, is there are much more instant-impact gamers on the high of subsequent yr’s draft. Outdoors of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr. and Bijan Robinson, the 2023 class lacked on the spot star energy on the high. In 2022, we had a sense prospects like Aidan Hutchinson and Sauce Gardner could be stars immediately. I’ve that very same feeling for a number of gamers on the high of the 2024 group, significantly on offense.
Williams and Maye appear to be immediate-impact quarterbacks, however Harrison and tight finish Brock Bowers (Georgia) have the potential to step in immediately and supply prime pass-catching assist, too. I might additionally add that we’re in for an attention-grabbing battle for the highest offensive sort out. Each Fashanu and Joe Alt (Notre Dame) could possibly be challengers to be the primary non-QB drafted subsequent April.
What’s a sneaky faculty group to look at for 2024 prospects?
Rittenberg: Washington and Florida State do not essentially qualify as sneaky, however each will populate the 2024 draft. After having no draft picks this season, Washington could possibly be the Pac-12’s high producer with Penix, Odunze and McMillan, edge rushers Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui and probably different linemen on either side of the ball. Florida State had only one participant (security Jammie Robinson) drafted this yr however ought to see a spike with Verse, inside lineman Fabien Lovett and a bunch of offensive gamers, together with quarterback Jordan Travis, working again Trey Benson and vast receiver Johnny Wilson.
Which prospect’s tape are you excited to look at while you begin setting your preseason board?
Reid: Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama. Whereas learning Anderson, the participant on the other edge saved popping on the display screen. At 6-4, 242 kilos, Turner is subsequent up in a protracted lineage of Crimson Tide pass-rushers. He completed final season with 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in 13 video games performed (10 begins) however is anticipated to fill Anderson’s starring position. Turner is a lanky, rangy rusher who has the distinctive capacity to bend and nook the quarterback however nonetheless wants to achieve power in all components of his body.
Miller: J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State. The true sophomore had simply 3.5 sacks in 2022 however will step into a bigger position with Zach Harrison off to the NFL. Tuimoloau placed on a dominant efficiency in opposition to Penn State, recording 4 pressures, two sacks and a pressured fumble that gave us glimpses of his upside. The 6-4, 270-pound pass-rusher additionally had two interceptions final yr, displaying his versatility in area.
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