Rob Rang
NFL Draft Analyst
The ink is barely dry on the 2024 NFL draft, however we’re already waiting for subsequent 12 months – and so are the defenders.
After an unprecedented 14 consecutive picks spent on offensive gamers kicked issues off in Thursday’s first spherical, subsequent 12 months’s class seems rather more even, with a top quality crop of cornerbacks and edge rushers rating among the many most intriguing place teams, with a handful of Ohio State Buckeyes among the many headliners.
However don’t be concerned, there will probably be loads of playmakers obtainable to groups with a premium decide subsequent 12 months — together with a trio of quarterbacks and working backs.
Nobody is aware of how the 2024 NFL season will play out, so for this mock draft, we merely used the inverse order of the present Tremendous Bowl odds (through FanDuel) to create the choice order.
1. Carolina Panthers – JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State
With “simply” 12 sacks over his first three years on the school stage, Tuimoloau has not produced the eye-popping manufacturing some anticipated after he signed with Ohio State as a celebrated prep, however do not let the stats idiot you. The ability-packed 6-foot-5, 279-pounder turned down an opportunity at a first-round choice this 12 months to return to Ohio State. I anticipate will play his means right into a prime 10 choice cinch subsequent fall.
2. New England Patriots – Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
A flashy dual-threat athlete whose playmaking capability is paying homage to his Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, Hunter has the pure cowl expertise and gentle arms to star wherever his future NFL groups most wants assist.
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3. Denver Broncos – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
With all due respect to Cincinnati Bengals second-round choice Kris Jenkins, Jr. the perfect inside defensive lineman for Michigan throughout final 12 months’s title run was the ultra-powerful 6-foot-3, 318-pound Graham. A uncommon true freshman starter at Michigan, Graham bulldozed his means into First Group All-Huge Ten honors a 12 months in the past with 36 tackles, together with 7.5 for loss and three sacks.
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4. Washington Commanders – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
A blue-chip prospect who would have been the primary cornerback chosen on this 12 months’s draft had he been eligible, Johnson affords a tantalizing mixture of measurement, pace, physicality and ball expertise. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder initiatives as a direct difference-maker just like the Broncos’ Patrick Surtain Jr., registering seven interceptions over his first two seasons on the school stage.
5. Tennessee Titans – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Yr in and 12 months out, the Buckeyes churn out first-round-caliber large receivers and the pipeline will proceed in 2025 with the {powerful} 6-foot-1, 205-pound Egbuka, who caught 10 touchdowns and registered 1,051 yards whereas serving because the second possibility behind Marvin Harrison, Jr. Already productive, Egbuka’s numbers may explode in 2024.
6. New York Giants – Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Projected by many to get replaced by celebrated signee Arch Manning, Ewers as a substitute confirmed off the accuracy and grit scouts count on of a future NFL starter, bettering from a 58.1% completion price to 69% with a powerful 37-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio over his two seasons in Austin.
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7. Arizona Cardinals – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Banks has been cash at left deal with for the Longhorns the previous two seasons, incomes all-conference accolades each years, together with first-team honors in 2023. Related in some methods to this 12 months’s No. 20 general choice Troy Fautanu, Banks’ lack of ideally suited top — Texas lists him at 6-foot-4 and 324 kilos) — might push him inside to protect within the NFL. Regardless, he is nice lineman.
8. Minnesota Vikings – Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M
One of the celebrated transfers of the offseason, Scourton returned to his residence state of Texas after main the Huge Ten with 10 sacks a 12 months in the past at Purdue (amongst his 50 general stops, together with 15 tackles for loss). At 6-foot-4 and 280 kilos, Scourton combines prototypical measurement with good snap anticipation and energy.
9. Las Vegas Raiders – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Regardless of what his gaudy statistics recommend (27 landing passes in comparison with simply three interceptions in 2023), Sanders will not be a match for each workforce. However his consciousness, accuracy, contact and mobility makes him one of many extra intriguing dual-threat quarterbacks in school soccer, projecting equally as former PAC-12 foe Bo Nix.
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10. New Orleans Saints – Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Just one working again was chosen within the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL draft (Carolina took Texas’ Jonathon Brooks at No. 46 general) and that vacuum might be stuffed subsequent spring with a number of high quality choices. Gordon was the Huge 12’s Offensive Participant of the Yr and the Doak Walker Award winner because the nation’s prime again, main the nation with 1,732 speeding yards and ending second with 21 speeding touchdowns.
11. Seattle Seahawks – Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Soccer is a giant man’s recreation they usually do not come a lot greater than the 6-foot-6, 346-pound Walker, who earned Second Group All-SEC honors from league coaches a 12 months in the past after main the Wildcats in tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (7.5) regardless of combating near-constant double-teams.
12. Indianapolis Colts – Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Campbell (together with proper deal with Emery Jones) performed a crucial however underrated position in Jayden Daniels’ run to the Heisman Trophy. A direct standout who earned second-team All-SEC honors from league coaches as a real freshman, Campbell ascended to first-team honors in 2023, displaying off the dimensions, agility and energy to warrant an early first-round decide.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State
A powerfully constructed 6-foot-4, 320-pounder, Jackson is the most recent within the lengthy line of former five-star recruits sprucing their recreation at Ohio State earlier than incomes a excessive choice within the NFL. He generated all-conference honors at left guard following every of the previous two seasons, together with first-team accolades by each the media and league coaches in 2023, however nonetheless returned for an opportunity at a nationwide championship.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
A pure playmaker as each a receiver and returner, Burden has lived as much as his prep hype as a five-star recruit, ending second within the SEC in 2023 with 1,212 receiving yards and 9 landing receptions. Powerfully constructed at 5-foot-11 and 208 kilos, Burden is appropriately named as he’s an actual downside for defensive backs.
15. Los Angeles Chargers – James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
Pearce led the SEC with 10 sacks in 2023 and completed second within the convention with 15 tackles for loss. Listed by the Vols at 6-foot-5 and 242 kilos, Pearce has a lean, lanky body that may deal with one other 10-15 kilos with out sacrificing his trademark burst and bend off the sting.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars – Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Mississippi
A four-year producer at Florida with 24.5 tackles for loss (together with 14.5 sacks), Umanmielen transferred to Ole Miss within the offseason in hopes {that a} change of surroundings may lead to a breakout marketing campaign. Umanmielen (6-foot-5, 255 kilos) has the dimensions and explosiveness scouts need to develop, however he wants to point out better consistency.
17. Chicago Bears – Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
Versus most Geese flying south for the winter, this one flew west from the Bronx (by the use of the College of Rhode Island), becoming a member of Oregon in 2023 as one of many extra celebrated blockers within the switch portal. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder had no hassle with the leap in competitors, incomes Honorable Point out All-PAC-12 honors final 12 months, permitting only a single sack and offering loads of punch within the working recreation.
18. Cleveland Browns – Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
To earn a first-round NFL draft choice, Milroe should present important enchancment as a pocket passer, however he has a head coach in Kalen DeBoer who can develop his accuracy and anticipation and, in fact, already boasts elite measurement and athleticism. Milroe will probably be one of the vital fascinating and carefully scrutinized prospects within the nation subsequent season.
19. Los Angeles Rams – Smael Mondon Jr., ILB, Georgia
Because the NFL more and more spreads horizontally, in addition to vertically, linebackers with true sideline-to-sideline pace are leaping in worth. Mondon is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound heat-seeking missile who might be on the verge of a Butkus Award season.
20. New York Jets – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
With simply six landing receptions to his credit score, Loveland seemingly will not generate first-round buzz from these scouting stat sheets, however the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder possesses the gentle arms and steadiness via contact to be a monster within the center within the NFL.
21. Atlanta Falcons – Mykel Williams, DL, Georgia
There wasn’t a member of the Georgia protection drafted within the first spherical this 12 months however do not count on that to be a pattern. The twitchy 6-foot-5, 265-pound Williams continues to be rising into his physique, however scouts are enthusiastic about his upside — and that’s after he led the Bulldogs with 4.5 sacks a 12 months in the past.
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22. Miami Dolphins – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
A real ballhawk with 9 interceptions recorded over his first two seasons, the six-foot, 186-pound Morrison is well-known for his gentle arms and instincts in protection, however scouts additionally like his reliability as an open-field tackler.
23. Inexperienced Bay Packers – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
It is not usually that true freshmen begin at blue-blood packages like Clemson, however that’s the street Miller has traveled on his strategy to the NFL, incomes the nod at proper deal with in all 27 video games of his school profession. Balanced and {powerful} at 6-foot-6 and 310 kilos, Miller might be Clemson’s highest-drafted blocker of the Dabo Swinney period.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – Collin Oliver, LB, Oklahoma State
Whether or not off the sting or in additional of a standard linebacker position, Oliver is a confirmed playmaker, registering an eye-popping 38.5 tackles for loss and 21.5 sacks amongst his 130 profession tackles. At 6-foot-2 and 225 kilos, Oliver will not be a match for everybody — simply these keen to prioritize massive performs over prototypical measurement.
25. Houston Texans – Harold Perkins, Edge, LSU
At 6-foot-1 and 220 kilos, Perkins lacks the majority the NFL prefers off the sting, however his explosive burst and shutting pace are simple. He enters his junior marketing campaign having already recorded 27 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, together with seven pressured fumbles.
26. Dallas Cowboys – Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
After main the Huge 12 in tackles in 2022 and incomes All-American accolades (regardless of battling damage) a 12 months in the past, Stutsman was considered a shoo-in to hitch the 2024 NFL draft. As an alternative, by returning, the rangy 6-foot-4, 241 has an opportunity at being the primary off-ball linebacker chosen subsequent spring. He actually checks packing containers for his playmaking capability, recording 267 tackles, together with 28 tackles for loss already.
27. Buffalo Payments – Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
The primary cornerback did not come off the board till No. 22 general this 12 months, however Burke is a part of a really intriguing class that appears like one in every of 2025’s strongest teams. Silky clean in protection, Burke simply wants to point out extra ball-hawking expertise, turning simply two of his 26 profession go breakups into interceptions.
28. Detroit Lions – Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Ever since James Franklin took over at Penn State, the Nittany Lions have churned out edge rushers and all indications are that Carter is subsequent. Even whereas splitting duties with 2023 top-100 draft picks Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Carter earned first-team All-Huge Ten honors with 5.5 tackles for loss, together with 4.5 sacks.
29. Cincinnati Bengals – Jonah Monheim, OL, USC
A four-year starter with expertise at each deal with spots in addition to proper guard, Monheim is anticipated to slip inside to heart in 2024, displaying off a mixture of measurement, agility and flexibility that helped earn former Duke blocker Graham Barton Tampa Bay’s prime decide, No. 26 general.
30. Baltimore Ravens – Ashton Gillotte, Edge, Louisville
A shock returnee after incomes first-team All-ACC honors with 45 tackles, together with 14.5 for loss and 11 sacks, Gillotte is a slippery — if unconventionally constructed (6-foot-3, 275 kilos) — edge rusher with the burst and bend that interprets properly to the following stage.
31. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs – Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
A switch from Ole Miss, the place Judkins was the primary working again from the SEC to attain 15+ touchdowns in every of his first two seasons because the legendary Herschel Walker (Georgia), the six-foot, 219-pound Judkins is a greasy runner who accelerates easily and slithers his means via arm tackles.
32. San Francisco 49ers – Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
A bodily mauler related in some ways to his former Alabama teammate, JC Latham (now a member of the Tennessee Titans), the 6-foot-5, 352-pound Booker cracked the beginning lineup in 2023 and instantly earned All-SEC honors. Scouts will love the truth that he loved his strongest efficiency of the 12 months final season within the SEC Championship victory over Georgia.
Rob Rang is an NFL Draft analyst for FOX Sports activities. He has been masking the NFL Draft for greater than 20 years, with work at FOX, Sports activities Illustrated, CBSSports.com, USA Right this moment, Yahoo, NFL.com and NFLDraftScout.com, amongst others. He additionally works as a scout with the BC Lions of the Canadian Soccer League. Comply with him on Twitter @RobRang.
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