There's no official start to NFL draft season, but we're declaring it unofficially here as the 2023 NFL season hits the stretch run and college football turns its attention to bowls and the College Football Playoff. Over the coming weeks, intrigue will grow around a talented 2024 draft class, which includes a handful of potential franchise quarterbacks.
With the first round set to begin les than five months from now -- April 25 in Detroit -- plenty can change. The draft order, for one, won't be fully set until mid-February, and the No. 1 pick is still very much up in the air. Most players entering the draft still have at least one game to play, along with all-star events, combine and pro day workouts and tons of pre-draft interviews. But we are at least starting to get some clarity on this group of prospects.
We brought in our NFL draft experts -- Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates -- to answer 30 big questions about the class at this point in the process. Is Caleb Williams locked in as the first QB, and which passers could follow him over the course of seven rounds? Which receivers, edge rushers and cornerbacks have first-round upside, and who are potential sleepers to watch? How will teams with multiple early-round picks approach the draft? What are the best pro comps in the class, and which prospects will post eye-popping numbers at the combine? Let's get cooking on this exciting draft class.
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QB class | Offensive stars | Defensive guys to know
Favorite prospects | Comps | Intriguing teams
Let's talk through this quarterback class: How many passers have a Round 1 grade?
Reid: There's only two on my board -- USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye. Williams is the class' top QB (No. 2 overall for me), with the instincts to create off-script and the playmaking ability to change an NFL offense. But Maye -- who has a great arm and solid ball placement -- is certainly making it interesting as the No. 3 player on my board. They both look like early picks come April. The QB3 spot is where things get interesting, and while there will likely be more than two signal-callers taken on Day 1, only Williams and Maye are graded there for me at the moment.
Is Williams locked in as the clear No. 1 QB?
Kiper: Yes, at least on my board. Williams -- assuming he enters the draft -- is going to have his 2023 season picked apart for the next five months, but when you really study his tape, you'll see he was still tremendous. He is an outstanding talent, a passer who can do rare things when he's moving in and outside the pocket. Plus, the reality is Maye had some inconsistent games and didn't grab his chance to move up down the stretch. Williams is going to go wire to wire as my No. 1 QB.
But could Maye pass Williams in some teams' evaluations over the next few months?
Yates: More than any other position in football, the evaluation of a quarterback extends beyond the traits you can see on the field. Some teams have a physical profile that they prefer, and Maye at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds has the edge there over Williams at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. Intangible factors also are a part of the equation. While I believe Williams has the decided edge on film, Maye will be in the first-pick mix.
Is Shedeur Sanders considered the No. 3 QB? What are you hearing about his draft status?
Miller: Sanders would be my QB3 right now, and many NFL scouts agree the Colorado quarterback is right below Williams and Maye. But it doesn't sound like he will enter the draft, based on conversations with scouts and comments by his father/coach Deion Sanders. Sanders also missed the Buffaloes' season finale with a back injury. There's no denying his accuracy, toughness and poise at the position, but another year of development and competition against Power 5 defenses would improve his NFL stock.
If Sanders doesn't enter the draft, who is the favorite to be QB3?
Reid: That spot is likely going to be tight all the way up until draft day, but LSU's Jayden Daniels is currently third on my board with an early-Round 2 grade. His improvement this season has been phenomenal. His patience in the pocket has taken a significant leap, and his accuracy to all three levels of the field has been incredible. Daniels has been the most accurate deep passer in the country this year. Now factor in his mobility -- he's a slippery runner who can generate explosive plays with his legs -- and you have a potential impact NFL starter.
Who's the wild-card QB in this class?
Kiper: It's Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, who has been one of the most difficult evaluations of this entire class. He has the tools to be in the mix for that No. 3 QB spot, but he just didn't convince me down the stretch. Where were the "wow" throws? I didn't see him go through progressions much. Sure, he only had four interceptions, but three of those came against ... Bowling Green? Plus, he wasn't asked to beat teams with his arm, partly because the Wolverines blew out all of their opponents until November.
It's clear McCarthy has a ton of talent, but not all NFL teams are going to be in love with him, which means he could drop to Day 2. I have him as my No. 7 QB right now.
Which NFL teams are you watching for Day 1 quarterbacks?
Yates: Teams that will have varying degrees of interest in a Round 1 quarterback include the Patriots, Giants, Falcons, Bears, Commanders, Vikings, Titans, Buccaneers, Cardinals and Rams. It's a long list! But the only team that I project as a stone-cold lock to take a quarterback that is also within reasonable striking distance of where Williams and Maye will be selected is New England. It's evident how badly the Pats need a quarterback change right now.
Audric Estime turns on the burners for a 39-yard Fighting Irish touchdown.
Any other signal-callers fans should know?
Miller: I'll call out Oregon's Bo Nix, who has had a resurgence since transferring from Auburn and has no doubt improved his draft stock the past two seasons while throwing 69 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions. NFL teams like his steady, efficient style of play and his experience (over 50 starts) as a Day 2 passer. Nix is my QB5 right now.
Another quarterback who must be considered is Washington senior Michael Penix Jr. The 6-foot-3 lefty threw 33 touchdown passes to nine interceptions this season while showcasing a dangerous deep ball and awesome touch on back-shoulder fades. There will be questions about his injury history because of two previous ACL tears and a shoulder surgery, but Penix's touch accuracy has him ranked in my top 75 overall. The pre-draft process could be huge for his stock.
Let's pivot to a loaded wide receiver class: How high could Marvin Harrison Jr. go?
Reid: I would be shocked if the star Ohio State receiver is not picked in the top three, as he's the clear favorite to be the first non-quarterback selected. Harrison is a blue-chip talent who has the potential to be a game-changer very early in his pro career. His body control, hands and route running ability are all rare traits for a wideout with his size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds). He's in the same prospect tier as Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones and Ja'Marr Chase, and he's an immediate WR1 in the NFL.
Where would you set the over/under for Round 1 wide receivers?
Kiper: I'd go with 5.5. That's up over the four from the 2023 draft but under the six from the 2022 class. As Jordan said, Harrison is a no-brainer, and I'd put these three as first-round locks as well: Rome Odunze (Washington), Malik Nabers (LSU) and Keon Coleman (Florida State). They are big-time playmakers. After that? Let's see what happens at all-star games and testing at the combine. Xavier Worthy (Texas), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU) and Xavier Legette (South Carolina) are next up in my wideout rankings.
Who has the edge in the race for WR2 behind Harrison?
Yates: My vote is for Coleman, but it's a three-man race between him, Nabers (silky smooth, pristine route runner) and Odunze (size, speed and exceptional ball skills). Coleman has been excellent this season (11 touchdowns) and has the most impressive raw physical tools, which often prevail come draft time.
What's your favorite comp for top tight end Brock Bowers?
Miller: George Kittle. Bowers and Kittle are similarly built at 6-foot-4, with Bowers just 10 pounds lighter at 240 but with room to grow. And each is amazing with the ball in their hands and can be used in a number of alignments -- Bowers has even carried the ball at tailback when Georgia needed to get him touches. Kittle was a better blocker leaving Iowa, but that's a skill set that can be learned by Bowers in the NFL.
Which team most needs a Round 1 pass-catcher?
Reid: The Cardinals. Considering his contract and level of play since returning from an ACL injury, Kyler Murray is likely going to be under center for Arizona for the foreseeable future -- and it's clear he needs a go-to target to depend on in all situations. Plus, Marquise Brown is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season. Harrison could be Plan A here, but similar how they approached the 2023 draft, the Cardinals could look to trade back, add more draft capital and take advantage of a strong receiver class further down the board.
How does this offensive line class stack up to the past few years?
Kiper: There is legit All-Pro talent at the top of Round 1, and there's enough to depth to find rookie starters on Day 2. It's a really solid group, though it might not reach the eight first-round linemen we saw in 2022 (there were five in 2023). Left tackles Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State) and Joe Alt (Notre Dame) could be top-10 picks. Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State) and Amarius Mims (Georgia) are right tackles with high upside. I also see Troy Fautanu (Washington) as an elite guard prospect. And that's just five of the very best of the class; if I listed all the guys I liked you'd probably stop reading.
Any Day 1 running backs in 2024 after we saw two go in the top 12 picks in April?
Miller: Not from my viewpoint. The 2024 running back class is good, but there isn't a top-tier talent comparable to Bijan Robinson or even Jahmyr Gibbs. In fact, we're all torn on who the best back is right now. Texas' Jonathon Brooks was my clear RB1 until he tore an ACL, but now there's a bit of a question mark at the top of the position. Notre Dame's Audric Estime and Michigan's Blake Corum are solid prospects but look more like third-rounders than top-32 picks.
Michael Penix Jr. throws a 40-yard TD dime to Rome Odunze to give Washington the lead.
Let's flip to the other side of the ball: Who are you taking as the first defender off the board?
Yates: I'll take Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner and feel good about it. His physical traits are terrific, with the burst and explosion off the edge to have 10-plus sacks per season at the NFL level (he has nine so far this season with two more games on deck). And he has the speed and fluidity to drop in coverage when needed. Offense will dominate the top 12 to 15 selections, but Turner is a worthy pick in that range as well.
Is this a down year for teams that need defensive prospects in Round 1?
Reid: There's some depth at defensive end and cornerback in the top 40, but I don't see a slam-dunk top-10 pick on the defensive side of the ball like we've had in recent years. It could be all offense in the top 10, a product of having two high-end QB prospects and stars at offensive tackle and wide receiver.
Two guys to watch: I actually have UCLA's Laiatu Latu over Turner at edge rusher. He's tied for fourth in the FBS in sacks with 13, but there will be medical questions after Latu retired and missed two seasons at Washington (neck) before returning and joining the Bruins. And then there's Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, who has great versatility and explosiveness, but positional value will be part of his draft stock equation.
Who is your favorite sleeper edge rusher that you're keeping an eye on?
Kiper: He's probably not quite a sleeper, but I'm high on Turner's teammate at Alabama, Chris Braswell. He has really come on this season, racking up eight sacks with three forced fumbles. And his 15% pressure rate ranks just behind Latu (20.1%), Turner (15.4%) and Florida State's Jared Verse (15.4%) among top draft prospects for 15th-best in the entire FBS. I have a Round 2 grade on him, and he's my No. 3 defensive end.
Is there a Jalen Carter-level defensive tackle in the class?
Miller: Not to that level -- Carter was a ridiculously talented prospect in 2023 -- but Newton is a potential top-10 pick. He is slightly undersized at 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds, but he has great first-step quickness and two years of dominating film as a 3-technique pass-rusher who often moves around the defensive front. He's not on Carter's level, but he is my No. 9 overall player. T'Vondre Sweat (Texas) is my DT2 behind Newton, but he's down at No. 39 overall.
Which team picking in the top 15 most needs an edge rusher?
Yates: The Commanders stick out here after trading away both Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the deadline earlier this season. They have played five games since those moves -- they didn't record a sack in three of them and recorded just one in another (for zero yards). They did have nine against the hapless Giants, but it's simply a massive need.
Turner, for one, has the skill set to fit with any defense and would help to fill their collective void in a hurry. Latu and Penn State's Chop Robinson are next up on my edge rusher rankings.
Which first-round cornerback's skill set projects best to the NFL?
Reid: Kool-Aid McKinstry is the most technically sound cornerback in this draft class. At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, he has the length, instincts and technique to be a key contributor early on in his career. He also isn't shy about coming up in run support to make tackles. Yes, he has had some inconsistent moments this season, but his fluidity and playmaking on the ball have remained steady.
Which prospects do you expect to light up the combine?
Miller: Unfortunately, Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean suffered a leg injury that will potentially keep him from performing -- he would have otherwise been my answer.
Instead, I have two other cornerbacks to watch: Nate Wiggins (Clemson) and Terrion Arnold (Alabama). A coach at Clemson told me recently that Wiggins is the fastest player on the team at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds. He'll test very well overall. And Arnold passes the eye test; I see the burst, explosiveness and open-field speed to dominate the 40-yard dash and three-cone drills.
You get to call dibs on a prospect in this class: Who's your guy?
Kiper: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State. I love throwback linemen who just punish defenders. That's Fuaga -- but he also moves really well for a 335-pounder. He is outstanding in the run game. I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up in the top 10 picks when all is said and done.
Reid: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame. This may be a boring or safe pick, but he just keeps improving each season. His reliability as both a pass-protector and a run-blocker will translate well to the next level. I don't know that Alt will ever crack the top tier of NFL offensive tackles, but he will be a dependable starter for a very long time.
Yates: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU. When someone can come up with an area of weakness in Nabers' game, please feel free to let me know. He's crafty as a route runner, constantly creating space against man coverage and finding room against zone looks. And he's a menace after the catch.
Miller: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior is an aggressive, powerful player after the catch and has the body adjustment and agility of a much smaller player. He's similar in play style to Deebo Samuel ... but bigger.
What's your favorite prospect-to-pro comp right now?
Yates: Malik Nabers to Bills receiver Stefon Diggs. When you watch either of them play, they almost look like they're gliding on the field. Their footwork is just incredible, and covering Nabers in man coverage -- as is the case with Diggs too -- is just a nightmare for corners.
Miller: Dallas Turner to Jaguars edge rusher Josh Allen. Both are long, lean rushers who can play with a hand down in the dirt or standing up in an outside linebacker alignment. Turner has better play power coming out of college than Allen did, but the speed rush he brings and his length as a linebacker reminds me of Allen back in 2019.
Kiper: Laiatu Latu to Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. Both are pure pass-rushers, both wore No. 15 in college and both retired from the sport for a stretch. Phillips, of course, thrived once he landed at Miami (transferring from UCLA, Latu's current school), and Latu was at Washington before transferring last year. They each understand leverage, and they're super bendy and quick. They're both around 6-foot-5, 260 pounds. And Latu is likely to land in Round 1 like Phillips did in 2021.
Reid: Marvin Harrison Jr. to former NFL receiver A.J. Green. Like Green did when he came out of Georgia in 2011, Harrison has a slender frame but displays unique body control and strong hands while having the movement skills of a much smaller receiver. Even though neither give you a ton after the catch, Harrison and Green have a dominating presence at the catch point to tower over defensive backs. There isn't a route in the tree that Harrison can't run, and he has the potential to be an impact WR1 on the next level -- just like Green was for nine years in Cincinnati.
The Bears are potentially looking at two picks in the top 10. How could they reload in Round 1?
Reid: Chicago has one-win Carolina's first-rounder, which is the favorite to end up at No. 1. That top pick would then hinge on how Bears quarterback Justin Fields plays to close out the season.
If Fields proves himself as the guy, the Bears could look to auction off the pick to a QB-needy team ... again. If that's the route GM Ryan Poles elects to take, then the Bears should look to add a pass-catcher to help Fields out and a defensive playmaker in Round 1. But if the team elects to move on under center and trade Fields, then it should obviously select Williams at No. 1 and then the best player available with their other first-rounder. They still need a lot, but they can make a big step forward on Day 1.
The Cardinals also have two first-rounders. Should they trade Kyler Murray and take a QB on Day 1?
Kiper: No, they should recommit to Murray and keep building around him. He's still a really good -- and young (26) -- quarterback. And he's still growing as a player and has come back from his ACL injury playing well. I understand that many franchises want to reset the clock on quarterback decisions, but Arizona already is invested in Murray; his huge contract would be tough to move.
If I was running the Cardinals, I'd take Harrison and give Murray a true No. 1 receiver. And if they did land the No. 2 pick, I'd figure out a deal with the team selecting at No. 3 -- New England? -- so it could get a quarterback and Arizona could still get Harrison. Just look at the Bears-49ers trade involving Mitch Trubisky from 2017 as the comp.
The Patriots are projected to pick in the top five, too. What's their biggest need?
Yates: Yeah, to Mel's point, it's quarterback all the way. A promising rookie campaign by Mac Jones is a distant memory right now, as he has regressed since that time. New England even started Bailey Zappe this past weekend, though it didn't change anything for this lackluster offense. The Pats must also be diligent in their efforts to surround a new quarterback with superior line and receiver play. There's just not enough offense in New England.
The Giants just gave Daniel Jones a big contract last offseason. Which direction should they go with a potential top-five pick?
Miller: Sometimes the best thing you can do is admit you were wrong and move on. That's what the Giants must do if they are in a position to draft Williams or Maye atop the quarterback board. But if they're out of that top-two-quarterback range, let's look at drafting a top wide receiver (Harrison?) and adding a quarterback on Day 2 to compete with Jones.
Which other teams could be intriguing in Round 1?
Kiper: I have my eye on the Jets, who have lost five games in a row and look like a lock to draft in the top 10. If they pick in the 5-to-7 range, they would be prime candidates to take one of the elite tackles. Offensive line is a massive need for them, especially with Aaron Rodgers back under center next season. And remember, they traded away their second-round pick in order to get Rodgers, so they'd get only one shot at a premier prospect.
Which sleeper team is set up to dominate the first two days of the draft?
Yates: The Bears are the non-sleeper choice with those two early first-rounders, but a fellow NFC North team is also one to keep an eye on: Green Bay is equipped with five picks in the first three rounds, including a potential top-40 pick via the Jets (acquired in the Rodgers trade). The Packers have the youngest roster in the NFL, and GM Brian Gutekunst could continue to stockpile the young talent. Conversely, he could also consolidate picks and move up the board to address their most pressing needs.