wolverines Head Coach Has Been Issue A….

wolverines Head Coach Has Been Issue A….

So long, college football season — we’re on to the 2024 NFL draft. I have a new update to my prospect rankings for April’s draft, and you can see my first mock draft of the cycle as well.

I’ve been doing near-weekly updates to my rankings this fall, and I’ve had a great time watching prospects. As I mentioned during the preseason, I spent a looooong time over the summer going back through the 2022 tape, watching lots of cut-ups and dozens of entire games. I had a watchlist of rising seniors and juniors after last season ended, but I kept adding prospects to the list based on my calls with scouts and front office execs in the NFL.

Below is my list of the top 25 prospects overall for the Class of 2024, with the top 10 prospects at every position under that. It’s still pretty early — a lot will change between now and when I get on set in Detroit for the draft, which begins on April 25.

Two notes on these rankings before you dig in:

There is a lot of projection involved here. I’m not yet writing up detailed scouting reports. I expect many of them to be stronger, faster and better as we get closer to the draft, so I’ll adjust my rankings over the next few months.Heights and weights are based on what we have from schools; we don’t get official numbers until the combine in March.

The Trojans struggled at the end of the regular season, losing five of their last six games, but it wasn’t Williams’ fault. There’s a reason why defensive coordinator Alex Grinch was fired. Williams threw 30 touchdown passes to just five interceptions. He had a really tough game against Notre Dame, when he threw three of those picks, but he bounced back and played really well. He also surpassed his rushing touchdowns total from last season, finishing with 11.

Just turn on the tape from any of the games from Williams’ Heisman-winning 2022 season and you’ll see why he’s the top quarterback in this class. He had 52 total touchdowns — 42 through the air — with just five interceptions while completing 66.6% of his passes. He ranked in the top 10 in the FBS in QBR (87.6), passing yards (4,537), yards per attempt (9.1) and throws of 20-plus yards (69).

Williams is a fabulous playmaker, and there are “wow” throws all over his tape, even going back to his freshman season at Oklahoma. He’s incredible escaping the pocket and making off-platform throws, excelling when plays break down. His improvisational skills are off the charts — it’s incredible how he can make the first defender miss and create first downs out of thin air. He has great field vision and throws dimes to receivers while under duress. He’s incredibly creative, which is not something we can usually say of quarterbacks.

Now, Williams is not the prototypical passer in terms of size. At 6-1, he’d be below-average for a starting NFL quarterback. But as we saw with 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, size matters less and less to the execs making decisions in front offices.

I have an elite grade on Harrison, whose name should be familiar. His dad is that Marvin Harrison, whom I scouted coming out of Syracuse in 1996 and is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The younger Harrison is on track to get my highest pre-draft grade for a wideout since Calvin Johnson (2007) and Larry Fitzgerald (2004). Harrison has everything, from outstanding size and stellar hands to incredible body control and blazing speed. His dad ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash before the 1996 draft but was just under 6 feet when the Colts took him in Round 1. Harrison Jr. is four inches taller and could have similar speed.

He caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards with 14 touchdowns last season. He had 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 15 total touchdowns during 2023.

I went deep on Daniels’ future ahead of him taking home the Heisman Trophy. In short, he was consistent enough over the final two months of the regular season that I now feel comfortable moving him into my Big Board. I have a first-round grade on him, and he could go as high as No. 2. Over two seasons at LSU — after he transferred from Arizona State — Daniels threw 57 touchdown passes with just seven interceptions and added 21 rushing scores. He ranked No. 1 in the country in Total QBR this season (95.6), completing 72.2% of his passes while averaging 11.7 yards per attempt. Those are spectacular numbers.

Daniels has rare ability as a dual-threat playmaker. He can evade, elude and blow by defenders, but he also impressed with the way he can run through contact. But it’s his improvement as a passer that has him looking like a Round 1 selection. Yes, having blue chip wideouts Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. to throw to was a huge benefit, but they also were fortunate to have a passer like Daniels with a big-time skill set directing the offense.

Maye had a fantastic debut season as the starter at UNC, throwing for 4,321 yards with 38 touchdowns and seven picks in 2022. He looks the part of a big-time NFL signal-caller. He can make every throw with ease. He’s accurate on the move and can pick up first downs with his legs. Maye varies his pass speeds really well — he knows when to take a little off to make it easier for his receivers. He has outstanding touch on vertical throws.

The biggest question about Maye heading into the 2023 season was about who was catching his passes, as his top two receivers — Josh Downs and Antoine Green — are now in the NFL and transfer target Devontez Walker was finally made eligible. Breaking in new playmakers was part of the reason for predecessor Sam Howell’s up-and-down 2021 season for the Tar Heels, and Maye has had to figure things out with a new group.

Maye completed 63.3% of his passes during the season, and his best performance came when he threw for 442 yards and three scores against Syracuse. Still, he has had a few sloppy interceptions, and I wanted to see him clean up those mistakes. He finished with 24 touchdown passes and nine picks.

Odunze put up four straight 100-yard receiving games to begin the 2023 season, and I love his combination of size and speed. He’s big, and he knows how to use his body to shield defenders. Watch him adjust on this touchdown catch against Boise State. Since 2020, Odunze put up 203 catches for 3,113 yards and 24 scores. He’s used both inside and out. He can make defensive backs miss after the catch. He is going to test extremely well at the combine.

If Odunze had entered the 2023 draft, he likely would have been a Day 2 pick, but I have a top-15 grade on him now. He could be a No. 1 target in the NFL.

I love watching Nabers, whose best trait is his speed. He can take the top off the defense. He was consistent in 2022, showing elite separation skills and the ability to high-point receptions. He also was balanced, catching 35 passes when lined up in the slot and 37 when lined up out wide. That versatility will matter at the next level. He finished with 72 catches for 1,017 yards and three touchdowns.

Nabors blew away those numbers in 2023, catching 89 passes for 1,569 yards with 14 scores. He has good hands and showed toughness in taking a shot while hauling in a catch over the middle of the field. He tracks the ball exceptionally well. He gets easy separation on cornerbacks. I’ve been impressed with his run-after-the-catch ability. He lit up Mississippi State with 13 catches for 239 yards and two scores early in the season.

 

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