Are you ready for the NFL Draft?
65. Carolina Panthers – Ja’Tavion Sanders, 6’4”, 245lbs, TE, Texas, Jr.
04/18/24 – Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
02/22/24 – Brandon Dorlus, DE, Oregon
Carolina needs to continue to invest in weapons for Bryce Young. Looking at the TE position, Tommy Tremble led the position with 23 catches for just 194 yards and 3 TD, while Hayden Hurst is gone, and Ian Thomas has failed to duplicate the production from his rookie season in 2018. Sanders proved to be a reliable weapon up the seam for Quinn Ewers, finishing the last two seasons with 99 catches for 1,295 yards. Sanders, who decent speed running a 4.69 40 at the Combine, is physical after the catch and doesn’t go down on first contact. He’s also a solid blocker in the ground game.
66. Arizona Cardinals – Jaylen Wright, 5’10”, 210lbs, RB, Tennessee, Jr.
04/18/24 – Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
02/22/24 – Christian Haynes, OG, Connecticut
James Conner eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his three seasons in Arizona, but he didn’t get much help on the ground this past season. Enter Jaylen Wright, who posted a 1,000-yard season himself with the Vols but was a big play waiting to happen as he finished the season with a 7.4 yards-per-carry average. Wright shared time in the backfield with Jabari Small at UT, so there isn’t a lot of wear on his legs. He has the breakaway speed to go the distance on any play if given a crease. Wright also has good lateral agility to make defenders miss, the contact balance to run and spin through tackles and the leg drive to finish the run. His speed would be a nice complement to Conner’s power.
67. Washington Commanders – Adisa Isaac, 6’4”, 247lbs, Edge, Penn State
04/18/24 – Adisa Isaac, Edge, Penn State
02/22/24 – Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Washington finished the 2023 season ranked 26th in league with just 39 sacks and their team leader was Montez Sweat, who only played in 8 games with the team before being traded to Chicago. Chase Young and Casey Toohill combined for 10 of those sacks, but they’re both no longer on the roster. Adam Peters has tried to bring in some reinforcements with the signings of Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell and Dante Fowler Jr. Armstrong finished last season with 7.5 sacks in a reserve role for Dallas, but Ferrell and Fowler Jr. combined to hit that total last year. Adding another edge rusher is a must in the draft. If they don’t land Bralen Trice in the 2nd Round, then Adisa Isaac is possible with this pick. Isaac has continued his development year over year with the Nittany Lions, finishing with 7.5 sacks of his own in 2023. He has the burst and bend coming off the edge to attack the OT on the outside. Isaac is also a beast against the run as 34% of his total tackles were made behind the line of scrimmage.
68. New England Patriots – Devontez Walker, 6’1”, 193lbs, WR, North Carolina, Jr.
04/18/24 – Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
02/22/24 – Brenden Rice, WR, USC
The Pats continue to add bodies to their WR room with the addition of KJ Osborn, who will now be teaming with DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor. However, you can expect New England to look for a playmaker in the draft, whether it means bypassing a QB to take Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 3 or opting to take advantage of the deep WR class to select one on Day 2. I think Walker could be an option for the Patriots in the 3rd Round after Walker proved to be a threat down the field for Drake Maye this past season at UNC. Walker was a proven commodity entering the transfer portal after a sophomore season that saw him haul in 58 passes for 921 yards and 11 TD for Kent State. However, following his transfer to UNC, the NCAA determined Walker to be ineligible for the 2023 season. Per the Associated Press, Walker was initially supposed to play at East Tennessee State, but a knee injury deferred his enrollment. After recovering, he was at North Carolina Central, but the COVID-19 pandemic eliminated the 2020 season at the FCS level, which then prompted his move to Kent State. When he moved on to North Carolina to be closer to family after HC Sean Lewis left to become the OC at Colorado, he was already enrolled in the school, taking classes and practicing, but the NCAA ruled that waivers for two-time transfers would be on a case-by-case basis. Thus, Walker was only able to play in 8 games, but he showed a level of maturity throughout the process. As soon as he stepped on the field, he was an immediate go-to target for Maye and caught 41 passes for 699 yards, an average of 17.0 yards per reception, and 7 TD. While he did struggle with drops at times, Walker posted three 100-yard games and tallied at least 3 receptions in six of his eight games with the Tar Heels. He then showcased his speed at the Combine, running a blistering 4.36 40, as well as tremendous leaping ability with a 40.5-inch vertical leap. If Walker can play with consistency, he has a chance to be a Day 2 steal.
69. Los Angeles Chargers – Blake Corum, 5’8”, 205lbs, RB, Michigan
04/18/24 – Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
02/22/24 – Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
I think we can expect Harbaugh to target Wolverines in the draft and Blake Corum should be atop the list. Austin Ekeler is off to the Commanders and while the powerful Gus Edwards was signed as a free agent, he’s not the type of back who can carry a load. It would be fitting for Harbaugh, who wants to bring the level of physicality to the running game we saw at Michigan to LA with the Chargers, to target Corum here, especially since he amasses 3,737 yards on the ground and fond the end zone 58 times in his career with the Wolverines. Corum was a perfect fit in Michigan’s power running game. He ran with a low center of gravity, patience to wait for the hole, the vision to find it and then tremendous lateral agility to make a quick jump cut to explode through the hole and down the field to eat up chunks of yardage in bunches. Corum did suffer an ACL tear in 2022 during a banner year in 2022, but his explosiveness laterally came back when he recovered from the injury. Corum can also be a weapon out of the backfield for Justin Herbert having hauled in 58 passes at Michigan. He’s decent with his routes and has soft hands out of the backfield.
70. New York Giants – Trey Benson, 6’0”, 216lbs, RB, Florida State, Jr.
04/18/24 – Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
02/22/24 – Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon
It’s the end of an era in New York because for the first time since he was the 2nd overall pick in 2018 that Saquon Barkley will not be in a Giants uniform. Over 5,200 yards and 35 TD in 6 seasons with in New York, but now Barkley will be playing for NFC East rival Philadelphia. Who fills the void? Well, Joe Schoen was quick to move in on Devin Singletary with Saquon Barkley going to the Eagles. Devin Singletary brought in, who had a career-high 898 yards on the ground. Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray are currently Singletary’s backups, but neither saw much action a season ago, so I think New York will look for a high-end rookie to push for playing time early. Benson is an upright runner who is quite physical between the tackles, the lateral agility to make you miss in the hole or in the open field and has sub-4.4 speed to take it the distance. He finished with over 900 yards on the ground in each of his two seasons with the Seminoles after transferring from Oregon. He split time with Lawrence Toafili in the FSU backfield, so there isn’t a ton of wear and he’s improved as a pass catcher and has shown his ability to make plays after the catch as a receiver. I expect Benson to step in and split time with Singletary early.
71. Arizona Cardinals (from Tennessee) – Jonah Elliss, 6’2”, 248lbs, Edge, Utah, Jr.
04/18/24 – Christian Haynes, OG, Connecticut
02/22/24 – Kiran Amegadije, OT, Yale
Arizona needs to improve upon the 30th-ranked pass rush from a season ago. Dennis Gardeck paced the Cards with 6.0 sacks while BJ Ojulari, Victor Dimukeje and Zaven Collins combined for 11.5. Adding another explosive edge rusher is absolutely needed to round out this group. Elliss emerged as one of the top edge rushers in the nation after racking up 13.0 sacks this past season. His ability to take over games coming off the edge was evident after racking up multiple sacks in six of the 11 games in which he played. Elliss has a tremendous burst coming off the edge, but it’s his patented spin move that is so lethal as he gets the OT leaning in one direction before using that spin back the other way to create separation and he then has a clear path to close on the QB.
72. New York Jets – Javon Foster, 6’5”, 313lbs, OT, Missouri
04/18/24 – Javon Foster, OT, Missouri\
02/22/24 – Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
If the Jets don’t target an OT at No. 10, expect them to target one with their first pick on Day 2, which is at 72 overall because they’re without a 2nd Round pick. Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses were both signed to one-year deals and with the health of Smith always in question now having missed 37 games over the last 4 years, finding insurance is key. If the Jets don’t try to trade up to land an OT, Foster could be the guy here. Foster doesn’t have quick feet, but he does have good length, impressive power and strength with a wide base to anchor. He does a great job anchoring against the bull rush and has the power as a drive blocker generating a lot of movement in the run game. Foster may be ideally suited to play on the right side, but getting to learn from a future Hall of Famer like Smith could go a long way toward his development as a future LT.
73. Detroit Lions (from Minnesota) – Javon Baker, 6’1”, 202lbs, WR, Central Florida
04/18/24 – DJ James, CB, Auburn
02/22/24 – Dominick Puni, OG, Kansas
Detroit will look to add another WR to take the place of Josh Reynolds and Baker would be a nice complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Baker has decent speed to get vertical, but it’s his ability to be physical at the top of his route, his knack for creating late separation, and is known for elevating and plucking 50-50 balls at their highest point. Baker finished this past season with 52 catches for 1,139 yards and 7 TD, but his 21.9 yards-per-catch average ranked in the top 10 in the FBS.
74. Atlanta Falcons – DJ James, 6’0”, 173lbs, CB, Auburn
04/18/24 – Brenden Rice, WR, USC
02/22/24 – Javon Baker, WR, UCF
Atlanta finished the 2023 season giving up the 7th fewest passing yards in the NFL, but only managed 8 Int., which was tied for the 3rd fewest, and 6 of those Int. came from FS Jessie Bates III. AJ Terrell is still the leader of the group, though he clearly didn’t repeat his All-Pro 2022 season. Clark Phillips and Dee Alford are likely back, though Mike Hughes may be a cap casualty. James is a long, lanky corner with 4.42 40 speed, fluid hips to make transitions at the top of the route or turn and run with WRs down the sideline and does a good job putting himself in position to make a play on the football. While he’s not the most physical corner, the ball skills are evident as he does a good job driving on the football to make a play at the catch point.
75. Chicago Bears – Brenden Rice, 6’2”, 206lbs, WR, USC
04/18/24 – Jonah Elliss, Edge, Utah
02/22/24 – Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, Western Michigan
The Bears made a move to get a veteran presence in the WR by going after Keenan Allen to pair with DJ Moore. However, the WR room still needs to be addressed if Rome Odunze isn’t selected at No. 9 overall and it’s possible Chicago could target Caleb Williams’ USC teammate with this pick, bringing a familiar face to his growing list of targets. Brenden Rice certainly has the bloodlines as he’s the son of the WR GOAT Jerry Rice. What he also brings is a toughness to the position, an ability to attack the ball in the air using his size to his advantage and surprising 4.5 speed. Rice also has a nose for the end zone, tallying 12 TD this past season and should be a terror in the red zone.
76. Denver Broncos – Spencer Rattler, 6’0”, 216lbs, QB, South Carolina
04/18/24 – Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
02/22/24 – Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
It was inevitable at season’s end that Russell Wilson would be on his way out and now that he’s in Pittsburgh, which leaves Jarrett Stidham in as starter and only Ben DiNucci as the other QB on the roster. If Denver doesn’t target a QB in the 1st Round, Rattler is a viable option on Day 2. We’ve seen Rattler mature before our very eyes over his five seasons in college football. He showed up to Oklahoma a brash five-star recruit who showed promise as a redshirt freshman, completing just under 67% of his passes and finishing the season with multiple TDs in nine of his 11 starts, but after struggling with consistency throwing over 275 yards just once and threw picks in four of the first six games, he was benched in favor of Caleb Williams and was benched for the remainder of the season. Rattler remained supportive, but it was clear his time was up in Norman, so he transferred to South Carolina and that’s where we saw his leadership blossom. Rattler was inconsistent through his first 8 games with the Gamecocks, throwing just 5 TD versus 9 Int., including three games with multiple picks. However, in his final five games, Rattler threw 13 TD passes with just 3 Int. and had two dominant performances against top-10 opponents in back-to-back weeks. First, Rattler went 30-37 (81.1%) for 438 yards and 6 TD with 0 Int. to take down # 5 Tennessee 63-28. The following week, against rival Clemson, Rattler threw for 360 yards and 2 TD with 2 Int. to upset the # 7 Tigers 31-30. As a senior, it was clear that South Carolina was his team and Rattle finished the season with over 3100 yards passing and 19 TD to 8 Int. The arm talent is there as his delivery is effortless and he can throw the deep ball on a line when needed. He can be accurate to all three levels of the field, though he does try to force it too often and it’s that gunslinger mentality that gets him into trouble. However, he showcased pinpoint accuracy and playmaking ability at the Senior Bowl where he was named the MVP of the game and has continued to showcase his talent as a passer. If Sean Payton can harness that gunslinger mentality a bit, Rattler could prove to be a solid starter in time at the next level.
77. Las Vegas Raiders – Kam Kinchens. 5’11’, 206lbs, S, Miami, Fla., Jr.
04/18/24 – Kam Kinchens, S, Miami, Fla.
02/22/24 – Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami, Fla.
Antonio Pierce needs to decide whether he wants to stick with Marcus Epps at free safety, especially after he struggled in coverage a season ago. While Epps will likely go into the season as the starter next to Tre’von Moehrig, I can see the Raiders targeting a safety in the draft to push him for playing time. Kinchens may not have wowed folks with his 40 time at the Combine as his time, a 4.65, was the slowest among all DB’s. However, turn on the film and you’ll see a ballhawk on the back end as evidenced by the 11 career Int. and 15 PBU. If you’re still worried about the time, Kinchens was able to bring his 40 time down to 4.57 at Miami’s Pro Day. Think about this – Moehrig had similar production at TCU (7 Int. and 21 PBU) and ran a 4.52 40 at the 2021 Combine and wound up the Raiders’ 43rd overall pick and is now entrenched as a starter at one safety spot. Could Kinchens do the same?
78. Washington Commanders (from Seattle) – Ben Sinnott, 6’4”, 250lbs, TE, Kansas State
04/18/24 – Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
02/22/24 Seattle – Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
The Commanders released Logan Thomas to clear cap space and signed Zach Ertz in his place to a one-year deal. However, Ertz is now 33 years of age and hasn’t played a full season in two years. It would be wise for Washington to look for a long-term answer at TE. Sinnott is a virtual Swiss Army Knife in that you can line him up literally anywhere on the field – as an inline TE, at HB, in the backfield as a FB, in the slot or even split out wide, he does it all. Sinnott is one of the better blockers in this year’s draft, playing with physicality, leverage and decent hand placement. He’s also quite the receiver, showing good athleticism as a route runner, great hands and the ability to make plays after the catch. Sinnott led K-State in receiving yards (676) and receiving TD (6) this past season. He would be a versatile chess piece for Kliff Kingsbury.
79. Atlanta Falcons (from Jacksonville) – Chris Braswell, 6’3”, 251lbs, Edge, Alabama
04/18/24 – Chris Braswell, LB, Alabama
02/22/24 – DJ James, CB, Auburn
Atlanta may very well go back to the well and grab another edge rusher in the first two days of the draft. Why though when the team finished with 42 sacks, its highest total in the last 10 years? Well, the Edge rush position hasn’t been the source of most of these sacks. Bud Dupree led the group with 6.5 sacks, but he’s a free agent and not expected to be back. Arnold Ebiketie tallied 6.0 sacks, up from just 2.5 in his rookie season, but Lorenzo Carter failed to make an impact getting to the QB just 3 times in 2023, and no other edge rusher was able to bring down the QB. Even if Atlanta drafts an edge rusher in the first two rounds of the draft, doubling up on the position with someone like Braswell makes a lot of sense. Braswell gets a good jump off the ball, uses his hands well to attack the OT’s hands and likes to use a rip move to get by off the edge. He’s not going to blow you away against the run or in coverage, but he can definitely get after the QB, recording 8.0 sacks this past season when finally given a full-time starting spot in 2023.
80. Cincinnati Bengals – Theo Johnson, 6’6”, 259lbs, TE, Penn State
04/18/24 – Kiran Amegadije, OT, Yale
02/22/24 – Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
The Bengals had a need at TE going into the offseason. Drew Sample started 12 games a season ago but managed just 22 catches. However, Tanner Hudson was a surprising breath of fresh air, showing the ability to be effective in the passing game, hauling in 39 receptions for 352 yards. Mike Gesicki was brought in after having a disappointing 2023 season in New England after 5 solid years in Miami. Can Zac Taylor count on any of them? While Sample was just re-signed to a three-year deal, Gesicki and Hudson are both in contract years. Adding another TE would be wise and Johnson is a fast riser up draft boards. The focus at Penn State was on the emergence of Tyler Warren, who will be a top TE in next year’s draft, but Johnson had himself a strong season in his own right. He was a solid pass-catching option down the middle of the field and found the end zone 7 TD last season and is also a solid inline blocker in the ground game. Johnson then put on a show at the Senior Bowl and made a claim as the top TE in attendance, repeatedly winning with smooth route running and tremendous hands. Johnson then ran an impressive 4.57 40 and posted a 39.5-inch vertical leap at 6’6” and 257 pounds and his 4.19 short shuttle time was the quickest among TEs.
81. Seattle Seahawks (from New Orleans) – Junior Colson, 6’2”, 238lbs, LB, Michigan
04/18/24 – Payton Wilson, LB, NC State
02/22/24 – Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
The Seahawks lost Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks to free agency, creating a huge need at ILB. In their place, Seattle signed Jerome Baker, a long-time starter with Miami who injured his MCL in 2023 before being released this offseason, and Tyrel Dodson, who started only five games in his first three seasons before starting ten for Buffalo this past year. Adding another LB to the mix who can push the two for playing time is a must. Colson is instinctive both against the run and the pass, taking proper angles to the ball carrier and trusting his eyes to drive on the football in a hurry.
82. Indianapolis Colts – Luke McCaffrey, 6’2”, 198lbs, WR, Rice
04/18/24 – Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
02/22/24 – Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Expect Indy to continue to add weapons for Anthony Richardson at the WR position. McCaffrey would bring tremendous hands and reliability to the position and would be a perfect fit with Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and Josh Downs. Luke McCaffrey not only has good length, but also the surprising speed to be a downfield threat having run a 4.46 40 at the Combine which is actually 0.01 faster than his brother Christian. McCaffrey runs precise routes and has impressive hands like his father Ed and has the competitive fire that his brother has. He was also very productive for the Owls in 2023, hauling in 71 passes for 992 yards and 13 TD.
83. Los Angeles Rams – Calen Bullock, 6’2”, 188lbs, S, USC, Jr.
04/18/24 – Calen Bullock, S, USC
02/22/24 – Calen Bullock, S, USC
The Rams are completely overhauling an underwhelming secondary from a season ago, signing Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams to start at corner while Kamren Curl will take over at strong safety. However, while Russ Yeast started nine games at the free safety spot, I think LA needs to draft someone to compete with him for playing time and they can look no further than a short trip down the 110 freeway to the USC campus. Calen Bullock was a three-year starter for the Trojans who showcased the ability to cover a lot of ground on the back end of a defense. There is no doubt Bullock can track a ball in the air and will find a way to put himself in position to make a play. One rep that really puts this into focus was the 2022 game against California at the Coliseum. Bullock lined up on the right hash and as the Cal QB threw a go route down the left sideline, Bullock was able to cover a ton of ground to not only get over the top of the route, but also all the way to the other side of the field to then pluck the ball out of the air for the pick. Bullock finished with 9 Int., 2 of which were returned for TD, and 15 PBU. He seemed to struggle this year against the run, where he seemed to be out of position and would miss tackles. It’s really unclear how much the defensive scheme played into this, but it’s clear Bullock is better suited in coverage. At the Combine, Bullock looked so smooth in the drills, especially with his transitions, and looked at ease running the Gauntlet, making the likes of Daniel Jeremiah and Charles Davis wonder if he’d be given a shot at corner. I don’t think that’s out of the realm of possibility and if any of the young CB’s like Derion Kendrick, Cobie Durant and Tre Tomlinson falter, you might see Bullock and Yeast on the field at the same time. However, I think LA would go into the season with White and Williams on the outside, Curl and Bullock at the safeties with Quentin Lake taking the NB spot.
84. Pittsburgh Steelers - Sedrick Van Pran, 6’4”, 298lbs, C, Georgia, Jr.
04/18/24 – Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
02/22/24 – Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
Mason Cole was released this offseason, which leaves Nate Herbig, a traditional RG who has only 49 snaps at center, and James Daniels, who last played the position in 2019 with the Bears, as the starting candidates for the pivot currently on the roster. I fully expect Mike Tomlin to address the position early in the draft and if Graham Barton or Jackson Powers-Johnson aren’t targeted at NO. 20, the Steelers could wait until this pick late in Round 3 to select Van Pran, who has been one of the top-rated centers all season long and has the potential to step in and start right away. Van Pran is a three-year starter with 44 consecutive starts under his belt at the center position. He lacks ideal length but is quick to get his hands on his man and does a good job playing with leverage, which allows him to generate a ton of movement. Van Pran also does a good job staying under control and lining up the defender at the second level to seal off defenders, though he does need to improve his play strength to sustain blocks in the run game. As a pass protector, Van Pran did not give up a single sack or hit in his career and gave up just 23 total pressures. While he can get driven back with a powerful bull rush, especially if longer defenders can get their hands on him early, if he can win early with leverage, Van Pran does a good job keeping square to the IOL.
85. Cleveland Browns – Brandon Coleman, 6’4”, 313lbs, OG, TCU
04/18/24 – Brandon Coleman, OG, TCU
02/22/24 – Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
The Browns added Jerry Jeudy to the WR room in a move that tempers the need to draft a WR on Day 2, which allows the focus to turn to the OL. LT Jedrick Wills is in the final year of his deal, but I think the play may actually be at OG, where Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio are each under hefty contracts for another two seasons, but they’ll both be over the age of 30 by the time their contracts are up and there’s no depth behind them right now. Adding the versatile Coleman would give them depth along the interior of the line as a potential replacement for either Teller or Bitonio. Brandon Coleman started 38 games in his four seasons with the Horned Frogs, lining up both at OT and OG. In 2023, Coleman allowed just 1 sack in 723 pass snaps and was also credited with 32 knockdown blocks. While Coleman lacks the foot speed to be effective on the outside, he does a good job keeping the defender square in pass pro and uses his long arms (34 5/8-inch arms) to get his hands on the DT early to neutralize the rush. He also has the power in his hands and the ability to generate movement in the run game. Coleman ran a 4.99 40 and hit a vertical leap of 34 inches at the Combine to show off his explosiveness as he can be effective pulling or climbing to the second level.
Miami Dolphins – forfeited.
86. Houston Texans (from Philadelphia) – Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, 5’10”, 197lbs, S, Texas Tech
04/18/24 – Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech
02/22/24 – Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
The Texans have their starters at safety in Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward, but with Ward and reserves MJ Stewart and Eric Murray all in contract years, you can expect Houston to be looking ahead while adding depth. Taylor-Demerson has the versatility to both play on the back end of the defense and line up against receivers in the slot. He patrolled the back end of the Red Raider defense and was so quick to trigger downhill on the football. Taylor-Demerson also has fluid hips to turn and run with the WR and has the burst and long speed (4.41 40 time) to handle the suddenness on underneath routes and to hang with the vertical routes. Taylor-Demerson also has tremendous ball skills, as evidenced by his 7 Int. and 13 PBU in his two seasons at Texas Tech. Taylor-Demerson can find the field in a variety of ways as a rookie and should take over from the aging Ward at season’s end.
87. Dallas Cowboys – Jeremiah Trotter Jr., 6’0”, 228lbs, LB, Clemson, Jr.
04/18/24 – Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
02/22/24 – Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
Leighton Vander Esch retired from the game due to injury and Eric Kendricks was brought in on a one-year deal as his replacement. However, the 32-year-old is not a long-term option at ILB. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. plays the game a lot like his father. He has tremendous instincts which allows him to play fast on the field. Trotter Jr. will fill the stat sheet for you, having recorded back-to-back seasons with at least 88 tackles, with 28.5 TFL, 12 sacks, 4 Int., 10 PBU and 3 forced fumbles during his final two seasons at Clemson. He trusts his eyes in coverage and drives quickly on the football. You’ll see him scrape over the top to meet the RB off tackle, but also has the speed to chase down the RB to the sideline, taking the proper angle to meet him on the outside. Trotter Jr. also shows good timing with his blitzes and uses his hands and lateral agility to avoid blocks and get to the QB.
88. Green Bay Packers – Christian Haynes, 6’3”, 317lbs, OG, Connecticut
04/18/24 – Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
02/22/24 – Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
The Packers need to find an upgrade over Sean Rhyan who was the lowest-rated OL on the team per Pro Football Focus. Haynes was a four-year starter for the Huskies with 49 consecutive starts and gave up just one sack and 15 total pressures over his last two seasons at UConn. Haynes is athletic with excellent lateral quickness to stay square in pass protection. He also shows off his athleticism and power as a puller in the ground game, getting around in a hurry, then locating the defender, latching on and driving him down the field before emphatically finishing the block. He also has flexible hips to get his hips turned to seal off his man on one play, then generates movement blocking down to generate a hole off his hip on the next.
89. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Marshawn Lloyd, 5’9”, 220lbs, RB, USC
04/18/24 – Marshawn Lloyd, RB, USC
02/22/24 – Austin Booker, DE, Kansas
Rachaad White took a step forward in 2023 starting every game and falling just ten yards shy of 1,000 on the year. He was also a tremendous receiver out of the backfield, finishing third on the team with both 64 receptions and 594 yards. However, there was little support behind him with Chase Edmonds, Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Sean Tucker failed to make much of an impact. Adding Lloyd to team with White would give Tampa a formidable one-two punch at RB. Lloyd may be able to lay claim to the No. 1 RB spot in this year’s wide-open class. He’s powerfully built and has tremendous vision between the tackles. His low pad level allows him to bounce off defenders maintaining exceptional balance. However, it’s his incredibly quick feet and lateral agility that make him so deadly both between the tackles, where he’ll make you miss in the hole, and out on the outside where he’ll make you miss in the open field. Lloyd put on a show at the Senior Bowl as a receiver, showing the footwork in his route running and the nuances to widen the LB at the top of the route before planting and cutting away to create separation. He also showed the ability to track the ball over his shoulder and adjust to the ball in the air.
90. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston) – Kiran Amegadije, 6’5”, 323lbs, OT, Yale
04/18/24 – Brandon Dorlus, DE, Oregon
02/22/24 – Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Arizona brought in Jonah Williams to take over at LT for DJ Humprhies opposite Paris Johnson Jr. However, durability is a concern for Williams, so you can expect Arizona to target an OT in the first two days of the draft as insurance. Amegadije is raw and will be a developmental prospect, but his athleticism and tremendous length (36 1/8-inch arms) are tools the Cardinals can work with. A three-year starter in Yale’s RPO-heavy offense, Amegadije is such an easy mover as a pass protector and wins with power and leverage in the run game. I don’t see him getting past Day 2 and the Cards would be excited to land him at this point in the draft.
91. Green Bay Packers (from Buffalo) – Braelon Allen, 6’1”, 235lbs, RB, Wisconsin, Jr.
04/18/24 – Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
02/22/24 – Kalen King, CB, Penn State
Green Bay has proven that even with two established RBs on the roster, they’ll still make a move as they look to the future. In 2020, even with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams handling the bulk of the carries, the Packers still drafted AJ Dillon with the 62nd pick in that draft. Fast forward a few years and we now have AJ Dillon in a contract year backing up Josh Jacobs. Expect Green Bay to bring in another RB on Day 2 to challenge Dillon for playing time early and who will likely be his eventual replacement. Allen is a large back who burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old freshman at Wisconsin, rushing for over 1268 yards while averaging 6.8 yards per carry and scored 12 TD. He also finished 2nd in the FBS with 730 yards after contact and 9th with 39 forced tackles missed. Allen followed that performance up with another 1,200-yard and double-digit TD season as a sophomore. Allen is such a patient runner, waiting for a block to develop as he presses the line of scrimmage. Once Allen gets his shoulders square and has forward momentum, he’s a load to bring down, running through arm tackles and throwing his shoulder into defenders to finish his runs. If he gets into the open field, he really opens his stride up, eating up a ton of yards in a hurry. Allen also just turned 20 years of age on January 20th, so he has a ton of football left. The biggest issue is his receiving ability. Paul Chryst did not ask Allen to catch the ball much out of the backfield, as he caught just 21 passes in his two years playing for Chryst. When Fickell took over, it was almost as if the coaching staff was making it a point to throw the ball to Allen, who did catch 28 passes in 2023, but he only averaged 4.7 yards per catch. Allen did not run at the Combine or his Pro Day, opting instead to show off his hands and route running, which were the major question marks to his game.
92. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Detroit) – Javon Bullard, 5’10”, 198lbs, S, Georgia
04/18/24 – Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
02/22/24 Detroit – Jonah Elliss, Edge, Utah
Antoine Winfield Jr. played at an All-Pro level in 2023, but Ryan Neal is a free agent and Jordan Whitehead was signed as his replacement. However, I think the Bucs could use a player like the range over the top, is physical against the run in the box, but can also cover both TE’s and slot WRs. I think Bullard can act as a third safety or better yet, can challenge Tavierre Thomas as the team’s starting nickel. Bullard is also known as a big hitter and will bring another level of physicality to the Bucs’ secondary.
93. Baltimore Ravens – Mike Sainristil, 5’9”, 182lbs, CB, Michigan
04/18/24 – Jaylin Simpson, S, Auburn
02/22/24 – Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
Baltimore finished 8th against the pass and was tied for 3rd in the league with 18 Int., though only four of those were hauled in by the trio of Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens and Arthur Maulet. Humphrey missed seven games due to foot surgery early and a calf injury late in the year. Humphrey is on the short list for the Pro Bowl when heathy and the emergence of Stephens has been a pleasant surprise, though he’s heading into a contract year. Adding a third CB to the mix is a definite need and the tough, gritty Sainristil brings the type of tough mentality that the Baltimore defense is known for. Sainristil started his career with the Wolverines at WR before moving to the defensive side of the ball and he uses those WR instincts to read routes and will often put himself in a better position to make a play on the ball than the WR. He trusts his eyes and drives quickly on the ball in off coverage or zone, but he’s willing to come up and be physical at the line in press coverage. Sainristil I also a terror against the run, flying downhill with bad intentions and does a tremendous job wrapping up and driving through the ball carrier. His 7 Int., including 6 last year, and 13 PBU over the last two seasons is proof he has the ball skills to be a playmaker in the secondary. To top it off, Sainristil was a leader of the Michigan defense, so they’re also getting a high character player who should thrive in Baltimore.
94. San Francisco 49ers – TJ Tampa, 6’1”, 189lbs, CB, Iowa State
04/18/24 – Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
02/22/24 – Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
San Francisco has a keeper on the outside in Charvaris Ward and Deommodore Lenoir is solid at nickel, but there is a need to add a CB to push Ambry Thomas for playing time and Tampa is one of the more physical corners in this year’s draft. Pro Football Focus noted that last year Tampa did allow completions on 51.0% of the passes thrown his way, but he gave up just one TD and QBs ended with a 54.8 passer rating on passes against him in 2023.
95. Kansas City Chiefs – Kris Abrams-Draine, 5’11”, 179lbs, CB, Missouri
04/18/24 – Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri
02/22/24 – McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
The Chiefs traded L’Jarius Sneed to Tennessee and while Trent McDuffie can lock his man down and Jaylen Watson is proving he’s worthy of a starting spot, Joshua Williams could use a push for playing time. Kris Abrams-Draine was a highly productive CB while at Mizzou though he began his career in Columbia as a WR. He brought those receiver skills to the defensive side of the ball, displaying good instincts, fluid movements to mirror and excellent ball skills, as evidenced by his 7 Int. and 34 pass breakups recorded in his career with the Tigers. This past season, KAD had some really good reps against expected top-10 pick Malik Nabers down the field, maintaining inside leverage and squeezing Nabers to the sideline, taking away any chance at a completion down the field. He’s highly competitive and would team well with McDuffie.
96. Jacksonville Jaguars (compensatory selection) – Dominick Puni, 6’5”, 313lbs, OG, Kansas
04/18/24 – Dominick Puni, OG, Kansas
02/22/24 – Gabe Hall, DT, Baylor
The Jaguars had some question marks up front going into the offseason. Mitch Morse was signed to take over at center, while a healthy Cam Robinson will team with Anton Harrison at OT. LG saw three players man the position, but Ezra Cleveland, whom the Jags acquired from the Vikings, bought stability to the position and was rewarded with a three-year deal. Brandon Scherff signed a three-year deal with the Jags in 2022 after five Pro Bowl seasons in Washington. However, his play has yet to live up to his days with the Commanders and now that he’s in the last year of his deal, his contract has been restructured. This feels like a make-or-break season for Scherff, who could be sent packing if he has another down year. Dominick Puni has been one of the most consistent O-linemen in the FBS over the last two years, having not surrendering a sack and giving up just 1 hit and 16 total pressures during that time. He surrendered just 8 pressures in 2023, ranking him 6th in pass block rating by Pro Football Focus. However, Puni doesn’t have ideal length to play OT, which he played last season, but he already has experience at OG having played LG during the 2022 season. I expect him to be an immediate starter inside at the next level.
97. Cincinnati Bengals (compensatory selection) – Khyree Jackson, 6’4”, 194lbs, CB, Oregon
04/18/24 – Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
02/22/24 Philadelphia – Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame
Cincinnati finished the 2023 season having given up the sixth-most passing yards in the league and was last with 8.1 yards per pass attempt. This offseason Chidobe Awuzie left in free agency, leaving Mike Hilton, DJ Turner, and Cam Taylor-Britt as the only other corners who started a game last season. Hilton is the clear leader of the group, Taylor-Britt had an up-and-down 2023 after a solid rookie season and Turner struggled as a rookie but is expected to start. There is little to no depth behind them and you know that GM Duke Tobin is not afraid to use an early pick on a corner. Jackson doesn’t have a ton of starting experience at the FBS level having started only 14 games, but he has excellent size and strength for the position. While he’s not very fluid with his transitions, he’s incredibly physical and is a beast when contesting catches, attacking the catch point and using his length to make a play on the ball. Jackson also isn’t afraid to come up and help in run support.
98. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Philadelphia) (compensatory selection) – Malachi Corley. 5’11’, 215lbs, WR, Western Kentucky
04/18/24 – Javon Baker, WR, UCF
02/22/24 San Francisco – DeWayne Carter, DT, Duke
The Steelers moved on from Allen Robinson and Diontae Johnson at WR and brought in Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins, both of whom are complementary receivers, but neither should be seen as WR2 opposite George Pickens. Corley was a highly productive WR in Tyson Helton’s spread offense at Western Kentucky, finishing with 259 receptions for 3,035 yards and 29 TD in his career. Corley is built like a RB and runs like it when the ball is in his hands. He has tremendous contact balance, runs through contact and runs over DBs on the outside, keeping his leg drive for extra yards before dropping his shoulder to finish. He does a good job selling his routes to create separation. Corley didn’t run at the Combine, but Sports Illustrated reported he ran a 4.47 40 at his Pro Day. He also put up 225 pounds 27 times in the bench press, which puts him tied for second among all skill position players at the Combine and is proof of the strength seen on the field. Corley may not quite be on Deebo Samuel’s level, but if Pittsburgh is looking for someone similar who can bring some physicality to the WR position, he’s your guy.
99. Los Angeles Rams (compensatory selection) – Cedric Gray, 6’1”, 234lbs, LB, North Carolina
04/18/24 - Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
02/22/24 Buffalo – Cole Bishop, S, Utah
Earnest Jones IV Was a force at LB for the Rams leading the team in tackles with 145 this past season while also tallying 14.0 TFL and 4.5 sacks. Christian Rozeboom stepped up next to Jones IV to provide some stability at the position and finished fourth on the team in tackles with 79, which were good enough to have LA bring him back on a one-year deal. However, the Rams could stand to have an upgrade over Rozeboom and absolutely need depth at the position. Gray was a three-year starter in Chapel Hill and finished his career with 348 tackles, 29 going for loss, 8.5 sacks, 5 Int., 13 PBU. 5 forced fumbles and 5 fumble recoveries. Gray’s play speed is exceptional as he has the ability to chase down ball carriers from the back side all the way to the sideline. He can also crash downhill, shoot gaps and make plays early behind the line of scrimmage. Gray has also proven to be effective in man coverage. He will overpursue his run gaps and seems to be a step slow in zone coverage, so an NFL DC will need to coach him up and see if his processing can match his play speed.
100. Washington Commanders (from San Francisco) (compensatory selection) – Jermaine Burton, 6’0”, 196lbs, WR, Alabama
04/18/24 - Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
02/22/24 – Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
The Commanders have a good nucleus of WR’s with Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and Jamison Crowder, but I think Burton would bring the vertical game to round out the WR room. Burton has the vertical speed to stretch defenses and open things up for this trio. Jermaine Burton began his career at Georgia before transferring to Alabama prior to the 2022 season. This past year was his best yet with 39 receptions for 798 yards and 8 TD. But it’s the 20.5 yards-per-catch average that should bring excitement. Burton can really get on top of a corner in a hurry and will stretch the defense vertically with quick acceleration and 4.45-speed to make big plays down the field.
2024 NFL Draft: Third Round
Mock Draft and Analysis By: Gregg Schutze
as of April 24, 2024