The countdown to the 2024 NFL draft is officially under a week now. With the majority of free agency signing completed and clubs in the midst of finalizing their big boards for the new season, we have returned with a list of prospects to watch out for ahead of the NFL Draft on April 25. Caleb Williams has been one of the key names that has caught the attention of everyone this year but there are a lot of draft-eligible prospects to choose from this year.
Offensive Playmakers to Watch
It is extremely likely that the first four choices on April 25 in Detroit will be quarterbacks. With a huge list of Offensive players in the list, it would not be surprising that the first defensive player for the 2024 NFL Draft might be selected outside of the top 10.
Top Quarterback Prospects in NBA Draft 2024
USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, and LSU's Jayden Daniels are all vying to join last year's big three of Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, and Anthony Richardson as top-10 picks. Joining them on the list is 21-year-old J.J. McCarthy, who might be a first-round choice and longtime NFL starter with the intangibles that point to more titles in his future.
Another quarterback rounding out in the Top 50 could be Michael Penix Jr. of the Washington Huskies. Penix is the largest wildcard among quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL draft, with a top ten or mid-Day 2 pick probable. The club that takes a chance on his unique arm talent might win big.
Next on the list is Oregon’s Bo Nix. A strong player who threw 45 touchdown passes in his last season, more than he had in his first three years at Auburn combined (39). Nix's career passing figures are outstanding on their own as well with 113 touchdowns and only 26 interceptions. Completing the list are South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler, Tulane’s Michael Pratt, and Sam Hartman from Notre Dame.
Top Wide Receivers to look out for in NBA Draft 2024
Up to four wide receivers might make the top 12. After that, the position is so deep that strong prospects may fall into the second or even third rounds if clubs believe they can wait and still get their guy.
First on the list is Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of a Hall of Fame receiver. The Biletnikoff Award winner of 2023 might even be the first non-quarterback drafted in the first round. He is gifted with a rare combination of size, speed, strength, and football intelligence. Next on the list is Malik Nabers. His mobility is exceptional, even at the NFL level. As a future WR1, his athleticism necessitates that the defense be aware of his whereabouts at all times.
Washington’s Rome Odunze might not be at par with Harrison Jr and Nabers but his abilities easily qualify him as a top 10 candidate. Nabers teammate Brian Thomas is one to watch out for as well. With excellent speed and a better build than his teammate Thomas exploded in his last season with LSU doubling the receiving yards at 1,177 and recording more touchdown catches (17) than his first two years of college combined. Adonai Mitchell, Ladd McConkey, Xavier Worthy, and Keon Coleman are worthy candidates as well.
Tight End Prospects
The Tight end has only one candidate that might feature in the first round itself- Brock Bowers. Georgia’s Elite athlete is an ideal tight end player for any team, he can make an impact in the slot, out wide, and inline as well. Add to this his dependable blocking abilities he is an ultimate offensive weapon for a team with All-Pro potential. He is also the two-time winner of the John Mackey Award.
Other players in this position are Ja'Tavion Sanders, Theo Johnson, and Ben Sinnott.
Top Offensive Tackles and Center players
The NFL draft is all about identifying athletes with size, speed, and strength who also have the IQ to make the most of those attributes. That's Joe Alt, and he should be a top-10 pick as a prospective long-term tackle. Teams can also consider Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu. He is incredibly talented and by far the greatest tackle prospect available, and a possible exceptional starter chosen outside of the top fifteen. Other important youngsters in the position are- Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Alabama’s JC Latham, Washington’s Troy Fautanu, Georgia’s Amarius Mims, Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton, and Duke’s Graham Barton.
Wrapping up the list of rising offensive prospects of the 2024 NFL Draft for the Center position, the best player to keep a lookout for this year is Jackson Powers-Johnson. He is the winner of the Rimington Award as the nation's best center. He is large, muscular, and tough. With that build and the right mentality, he can play numerous positions in the interior. Next relentless and tough-looking Zach Frazier of West Virginia is a versatile center who could be picked early on Day 2.
As the NFL draft approaches, tap into the world of data-driven insights with Data Sports Group’s NFL Data API. Track these players’s performance, capabilities, and prospective impact at the professional level with the most accurate and comprehensive Soccer API and NFL data feeds. We anxiously await the ascension of these offensive talents to football's greatest stage.
