There's nothing quite like the NFL draft, as it's the one beacon of universal hope. Contenders can find missing players for continued success, while teams picking early can reshape their franchises with one great class. Just ask Houston Texans fans how they feel now with C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr. and Tank Dell in the fold. And this 2024 class looks like it should have plenty of prospects who can make similar impacts.
The opportunity to take on an expanded draft role here at ESPN is exhilarating, and with the 2024 draft about five months away, the starting point for this journey is a look at my top five players at each position. How do the top players at quarterback, receiver, edge rusher and cornerback rank against one another? I stacked the best at 12 positions and then broke down why the No. 1-ranked player at each spot tops the list. I also explained the toughest player to stack at each position and pointed out some names who just missed the rankings. Let's dive in.
Jump to:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G | C
EDGE | DT | LB | CB | S
Quarterback
1. Caleb Williams, USC
2. Drake Maye, North Carolina
3. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
4. Jayden Daniels, LSU
5. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Why is Williams No. 1? Williams is the most dynamic player in college football, as he has rare ability to play outside of structure to make something out of nothing. He flashes consistent accuracy to all three levels of the field (68.6% completion percentage), and the ball flies out of his hand with a certain effortless that is unmistakable. Through 12 games, Williams has 30 touchdown passes and five interceptions.
Toughest player to rank? It's McCarthy, but some of the reasoning is outside of his power. He is third in the country in QBR (90.8), but Michigan's schedule this season has been the easiest for any legitimate playoff contender. He threw a combined 28 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown pass and zero interceptions in two ranked matchups -- at Penn State in Week 11 and against Ohio State this past Saturday. I wanted to see him stamp his spot in those games, but the opportunities just weren't there. Maybe that changes in the College Football Playoff. But while Michigan is 12-0, McCarthy and the offense have largely dodged opposing star power, and the Wolverines haven't leaned on him much in those few big games.
Who just missed? Bo Nix is a tough omission based off how he has performed this season. He has excelled in the Oregon offense, delivering the ball with razor-sharp accuracy and protecting it at a high level. Consider that he has an astonishing 37-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2023. And he also impacts an opposing defense with his legs, as he has 38 career rushing touchdowns.
Running back
1. MarShawn Lloyd, USC
2. Blake Corum, Michigan
3. Jonathon Brooks, Texas
4. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
5. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Why is Lloyd No. 1? Lloyd pairs excellent vision as a runner with the ability to start, stop and change direction on the fly. He's unafraid of contact and rips through arm tackles with ease. And his style of running will allow him to be a tempo setter for an NFL offense. Lloyd has 820 rushing yards on the season, and he has forced 52 missed tackles on runs (tied for 12th in the FBS). I should also note that Brooks was my No. 1 back until he tore an ACL in Week 11, which complicates his value and decision whether to declare early.
Toughest player to rank? It's Allen by a long shot. While his overall production has remained excellent in 2023 (984 rushing yards), he has had to adapt to a new system under a different coaching staff. Allen is a simultaneously powerful and loose runner who can go through or around defenders, but he was a better fit in Wisconsin's 2021-2022 offense that featured a ton of between-the-tackle rushes that catered to his 6-foot-2, 245-pound frame, compared to the spread attack the Badgers have run this season.
Who just missed? I want to make special mention of Ray Davis from Kentucky, as he's a joy to watch. He's a chunk run ready to happen with excellent burst and quick feet, and he plays with a low center of gravity and can search through traffic effectively to find daylight. But he'll be a 24-year-old rookie, and the NFL has shewed younger at running back given the tread of the position.
What about the fullbacks? The most versatile player of this year's class is Florida State's Jaheim Bell, who will align basically anywhere along the formation -- something we also saw plenty of in 2022 when he was still at South Carolina. He had 73 carries and 25 receptions last season for the Gamecocks, compared to four carries and 36 receptions this year with the Seminoles. Bell has great physical traits, and a creative NFL playcaller could use him in a variety of ways.
Wide receiver
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
2. Keon Coleman, Florida State
3. Malik Nabers, LSU
4. Rome Odunze, Washington
5. Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Why is Harrison No. 1? This one needs little explanation, as Harrison has a strong case to be the single best prospect in the entire draft. His combination of 6-foot-4 size, body control, route running, catching skills and competitiveness makes him the closest thing to a can't-miss prospect in this class. He's a franchise-altering addition the minute he walks into an NFL facility, having racked up 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
Marvin Harrison Jr. becomes first Ohio State player to have multiple seasons with 1,000 receiving yards with his performance against Michigan State.
Toughest player to rank? I am a massive fan of McConkey and would take him on my team every day of the week. The NFL will typically lean toward players with great physical traits, and at 6-foot and 185 pounds, McConkey is smaller than several of the wideouts who missed my top five. That tells you just how bullish I am on his suddenness, route running and open-field speed. He has 26 catches for 418 yards but has missed time.
Who just missed? This is the deepest position in the draft by far, and there are several worthy names that could have been included in this top five. A pair of size and speed mavens in Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU) and Adonai Mitchell (Texas) have the goods to be Day 1 impact starters and could garner first-round consideration.
Tight end
1. Brock Bowers, Georgia
2. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
3. Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
4. Erick All, Iowa
5. Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina
Why is Bowers No. 1? There's no wider gap from No. 1 to No. 2 at any position than Bowers to the rest of the field. Bowers recently returned from TightRope surgery on his left ankle, and he has 51 catches for 661 yards and six scores. He is the rare tight end prospect who will merit top-10 consideration; he is a route-running genius, has outstanding hands and is a cheat code after the catch (averaging 8.9 yards after the catch per reception over his three-year career).
Toughest player to rank? Evans has just 34 career catches after sitting behind Michael Mayer in his first two years at Notre Dame and being limited to five catches in those 2021-2022 seasons. His breakout in 2023 is impossible to ignore, though, as he has a massive catch radius and the strength to attach and lock on to defenders as a blocker. I see seam-stretching ability as a pass-catcher, and Evans is averaging 14.6 yards per catch this year.
Who just missed? Penn State's Theo Johnson is a highly talented player who just hasn't had a ton of opportunities in his career (71 catches in four seasons), but it's easy to project him in a large role going forward. His physicality as a blocker is as good as any tight end in this class.
Offensive tackle
1. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
2. Joe Alt, Notre Dame
3. JC Latham, Alabama
4. Jordan Morgan, Arizona
5. Amarius Mims, Georgia
Why is Fashanu No. 1? You'd be hard-pressed to find a glaring hole in Fashanu's game, as he combines his 6-foot-6, 317-pound frame with the reactive mobility to match and mirror pass-rushers. He's fleet of foot, has excellent length, plays with suddenness to adjust and shows excellent power. Fashanu is, in relative terms, a late-bloomer, as he didn't play football until high school. To be this good this fast is exceptional. He's a Pro Bowl-level talent in the NFL.
Toughest player to rank? Mims has some ideal qualities for an offensive lineman with a 6-foot-8, 330-pound frame and foot quickness that a man of that size simply should not have. But he's light on experience. Mims has started just seven games in his career -- he was a backup until the College Football Playoff during the 2022 season and has missed extensive time this year after TightRope surgery to his ankle. The upside here is like Mims himself: massive. He has allowed five pressures over 365 career pass-block snaps.
Who just missed? Tackle is the second-deepest position in the class behind receiver, and there are some solid players who deserve mention: BYU's Kingsley Suamataia, Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton and Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga could all be starters early in their careers. Guyton might wind up being the most intriguing of that bunch, as the former defensive lineman has off-the-charts upside at 6-foot-7 and 324 pounds.
Guard
1. Troy Fautanu, Washington
2. Graham Barton, Duke
3. Zak Zinter, Michigan
4. Joshua Gray, Oregon State
5. Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
Why is Fautanu No. 1? Let's start by noting that three of my top five players are college left tackles, including Fautanu. I'm projecting Fautanu at guard because his overall length might be more conducive to playing inside. But he has light and quick feet, and he plays with an edge that has helped catapult Washington to one of its best seasons ever. He has allowed only two sacks over 38 career games (28 starts).
Toughest player to rank? Beebe has played all over the offensive line during his college career (at least 440 snaps at left tackle, right tackle and left guard) but has settled in most at guard. The difference between him and the other four players on this list is his mobility, which isn't on the same level as that of Fautanu, Barton, Zinter and Gray. But if you want to get tougher and stronger on the interior of the offensive line, Beebe is your guy.
Who just missed? Tanor Bortolini has been a center at Wisconsin, but I'm projecting him at guard at the next level because he has had extensive struggles with shotgun snaps. But if the primary objective of an offensive lineman is to get hands on a defender, he fits the bill.
Center
1. Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
2. Zach Frazier, West Virginia
3. Matt Lee, Miami
4. Drake Nugent, Michigan
5. Beaux Limmer, Arkansas
Why is Van Pran No. 1? Few players I've studied on tape at any position have impressed me more with their reliability and competitiveness than Van Pran. He's experienced and instinctive, and people around the Georgia program rave about him. Oh, and he has allowed just one sack over 2,500-plus career snaps. I love his game.
Toughest player to rank? Lee has been excellent for Miami this season after transferring from UCF, becoming an instant impact starter for the Canes. I view him as a center only, and he's listed at just 295 pounds, so teams that value positional versatility and size will turn elsewhere. But he's a grinder who always finds contact.
Who just missed? Dylan McMahon is an experienced and versatile player for NC State. He has started at center exclusively this season after prior years starting at right guard. He's fast off the snap to set the tone for the play.
Edge rusher
1. Dallas Turner, Alabama
2. Laiatu Latu, UCLA
3. Chop Robinson, Penn State
4. Jared Verse, Florida State
5. Bralen Trice, Washington
Why is Turner No. 1? The best defensive prospect in the entire class in my eyes is Turner, who is both versatile and dominant as an edge rusher. He has uncommon suddenness and explosion, along with the instincts and quickness to play in space both as a drop-coverage player and even on a rare occasion as a stand-up inside linebacker. Turner has eight sacks and 38 pressures this season.
Toughest player to rank? I acknowledge that the NFL is going to favor pass-rushing prospects with more physical traits, and Trice is behind the rest of the pack there. But if I were going to line up and play a game without any preparation right now, I'd start Trice on my squad. He's a physical menace with a contact-seeking mentality and the strength to dominate pass-blockers. And while he has only five sacks, his 45 pressures are tied for the fourth-most in the FBS.
Who just missed? Ohio State's JT Tuimoloau deserved to be on this list, and he has a chance to be a first-round pick come April. He's not just one of the top pass-rushers in this class but also one of the most instinctive players I've watched. He gets his hands up in passing lanes and diagnoses plays at a high level.
Defensive tackle
1. Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
2. Leonard Taylor III, Miami
3. Kris Jenkins, Michigan
4. McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
5. Howard Cross III, Notre Dame
Why is Newton No. 1? Few players in this class go as full-tilt on every snap as Newton, who messes things up for offenses all game, every game. He has an arsenal of moves to win -- his 42 pressures are tied for eighth in the country regardless of position -- and is a relentless run defender. Really, the only blemish on Newton's resumé is that he's under 300 pounds (295). That's not nearly enough for me to view him as anything other than one of the best players in this class. Newton already declared for the draft.
Toughest player to rank? Jenkins is a tricky player to rank for a couple of reasons. First, he's not a true edge rusher but also isn't a defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme. He's probably best suited as a 3-4 defensive end, playing many of his snaps in either a 4- or 5-technique alignment. Second, he has just 3.5 career sacks. But don't confuse that with his overall impact -- Jenkins is the epitome of a "do the dirty work" player who is as selfless as anyone I've scouted.
Who just missed? Several players stand out, but T'Vondre Sweat from Texas is a fascinating prospect. He's the most powerful defensive player in the country at 6-foot-4 and 362 pounds, with the kind of overwhelming strength to ruin a blocker from the jump. The question for Sweat will be how often he can be on the field, as he has averaged just 34.5 snaps per game this season. But when he's out there and locked in, he's borderline impossible to block, evidenced by his eight tackles for loss and 15 run stops.
Linebacker
1. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
2. Barrett Carter, Clemson
3. Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
4. Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
5. Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
Why is Trotter No. 1? It will sound cliché to say this given his father was an incredible NFL linebacker, but Trotter was born to play the position. His football instincts, reaction speed and tenacity pop off the screen in film study. Trotter is just 6-foot and 230 pounds, but he overcomes his stature with his quickness and clear anticipation skills. He has 93 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions this season.
Toughest player to rank? Linebacker is a position where teams aren't very aligned on what matters most. In other words, some want every-down players who can do it all, while others are OK with a rotation of linebackers (rushing down players vs. passing down players). And some deemphasize a major investment in the position entirely (see: the Eagles). Cooper has a lot of NFL traits, and he can rush off the edge and own the game as a sackmaster (eight this season). He has had less exposure as a drop-in-space coverage linebacker, though, and a team might view him as just as valuable off the edge than as a standup player.
Edgerrin Cooper comes away with a sack
Who just missed? Payton Wilson from NC State can really run and loves to hit. He plays a healthy amount of snaps on the edge, as well, but is best suited to play inside. Wilson will be 24 years old at the time of the draft, which could impact his draft stock. He's fourth in tackles for loss (18.5) and tied for sixth in tackles (130) among FBS defenders this season.
Cornerback
1. Kalen King, Penn State
2. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
3. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
4. Nate Wiggins, Clemson
5. Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Why is King No. 1? Part of being a capable cover cornerback in the NFL is having the mental toughness to believe on every rep that you're superior to your opponent. And King has a contagious competitive swagger to him that is matched by an impressive skill set. He's long, he's aggressive at the point of catch, and he has awesome ball skills. And King loves the challenge of playing man-to-man defense. He doesn't have a pick yet this season, but he had three in 2022, along with 15 pass breakups.
Toughest player to rank? Mitchell was overlooked in the recruiting process and has since thrived at Toledo, which complicates the evaluation only because the level of competition he consistently faces is much different than the others on this list. But I'll bet on his ability in a major way. Mitchell has arguably the fastest transition out of his back pedal to break toward the line of scrimmage and can flat out fly. That speed has helped him to six interceptions over the past two seasons.
Who just missed? One of the most unique players in the class is Iowa State's T.J. Tampa, who has excellent size at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds and plays with an intensity not often associated with a cornerback who can also hold up in man coverage. He knows how to use his long arms advantageously both in run support and by disrupting passes thrown his way.
Safety
1. Cooper DeJean, Iowa
2. Kamren Kinchens, Miami
3. Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
4. Calen Bullock, USC
5. Javon Bullard, Georgia
Why is DeJean No. 1? Few players bring more versatility or playmaking to this year's class than DeJean. He could play an entire career as a cornerback or sub-package linebacker and be outstanding at either role, but safety seems like his best permanent position in the NFL. He's like a vacuum for the football when it is anywhere near him, with seven picks over the past two years. He's physical, fearless and confident in coverage. DeJean suffered a significant leg injury earlier this month but assuming he'll be ready to roll for NFL training camp, he's still locked in at No. 1 here.
Toughest player to rank? Bullock and Bullard both need mention here. In the case of Bullock, he has the best range in the class, and if you're looking for a safety to defend the deep half of the field, no one else is in his zip code. He's so fluid and covers so much ground. But his lack of body armor and physicality won't be a fit for all defenses early in the draft. Meanwhile, Bullard is one of the most opportunistic players in the class -- he had a sack and two interceptions in last year's pair of College Football Playoff games -- but has a bit of a roll-of-the-dice mentality to him that can lead to him surrendering some big plays.
Who just missed? Cole Bishop out of Utah has shades of DeJean in the versatility department but does not possess the same quickness and top-tier traits. Still, Bishop epitomizes a lot of what has made Utah such a stout defensive team under coach Kyle Whittingham. He's physical and versatile, plays with intensity and is one of the best blitzers I've studied so far in this class (three sacks in 2023).