Top 5 NFL draft prospects by position
JJ McCarthy's rise continues while players with injury histories take top spots
It’s almost here, and it will be beautiful when it arrives. But for now, we wait until April 25. Soon, commissioner Roger Goodell will open the draft and the Chicago Bears’ 10 minutes to pick will begin winding down, inevitably selecting USC QB Caleb Williams.
Williams is regarded as the top quarterback prospect and one of the draft’s overall top prospects, but where does everyone else stack up at each position?
Editor’s Note: A player’s injury history did not play much of a factor when creating these rankings.
Quarterback
There is a debate between Daniels and Maye for QB2, but after the former Tiger, I prefer Michigan’s McCarthy. He has a small sample size because of how often he was tasked to throw, but his traits show up under a microscope. My favorite aspect of McCarthy’s tape was his ability to convert 3rd and longs, with many throws completed beyond the sticks. Then there is Maye, thought by many as the actual No. 2 QB in the class. To be fair, he’s the prototypical QB. He’s 6-foot-4 with a strong arm and the ability to fit throws into tight windows; he just didn’t have a great final year. My opinion isn’t solely based on that, and I’m aware my opinion will catch some heat. I went back and forth between Maye and McCarthy, and I ended up here. It’ll be interesting to see how the quarterbacks go after Williams. Onto Penix, who, in my opinion, is the clear-cut No. 5. He’s strong-armed and has the best deep ball in the draft.
Running back
Corum isn’t the biggest or the fastest, and he lacks athleticism, but he runs with his eyes. His vision and contact balance make up for those absent traits; he was one of the most productive RBs in college football. Brooks, coming off of a torn ACL in 2023, should be the next Texas RB to secure a starting gig in the NFL due to his blend of strength, speed and size. Wright and Benson are bringing elite athleticism to the NFL, with Wright having a better chance of being a three-down back because of his pass-block ability. Irving is a player who can have success running and catching the ball, offering great vision and quickness.
Wide receiver
Harrison Jr. is at the top, but WR2 can be debated. I’ve seen the reports that Nabers is many teams’ No. 1 WR in the class, and I believe it. Teams will covet his explosiveness. But after Harrison Jr., I actually prefer Odunze. He’s a complete receiver. Nabers is like lighting in a bottle. When deciding between him and Odunze, it’s all about preference. Thomas, to me, is the clear-cut No. 4 due to his ability to take the top off the defense. I have McConkey at No. 5 because I love his ability to create separation. He dominated 1v1’s in Mobile, Ala., seamlessly separating himself from defenders with his hastiness in and out of breaks.
Tight end
I won’t talk too much about Bowers — he’s a stud. Watch the tape. Moving on, Sanders has been TE2 in the draft process for a while, but recently Sinnott overtook that spot. Teams will covet his size, speed and versatility as a pass catcher; he lined up everywhere at KSU. Sanders brings elite athleticism and speed to the TE position, paired with his natural pass-catching ability. It wouldn't surprise me to see him picked in the top 40. Johnson is a good athlete who brings alluring size to the position. Wiley is an above-average athlete who has good speed and YAC ability.
Offensive tackle
Alt, 6-foot-8, 321 pounds, is the consensus OT1. Fautanu is considered a prime candidate to move to guard at the next level, but he doesn’t need to — and, for the most part, he put those assumptions to rest after his measurements and testing at the NFL combine. Fashanu is the best pass-protector in the draft, but his stock took a slight hit because of his hand measurements (8 1/2 inches). Fuaga (FU-ANG-A) is a mauler who could be a plug-and-play guard or right tackle. He excels in the run game. Lastly, Latham has some of the strongest hands in the group. Overall, he’s extremely strong; he’s a people mover.
Interior offensive line
Was it hypocritical of me to put Barton with the IOL when he started at left tackle? Perhaps. Do I care? No. It’s the same situation as Fautanu, however, Barton easily projects to move inside at the next level. OK, let’s begin. Powers-Johnson is a powerful center. He has a strong base that anchors to the turf when he gets a hold of his opponent’s shoulder pads. Barton is feisty and works well in open space and in a phone-booth-like space. Frazier, a former wrestler, uses that past when he dominates players opposite of him. Haynes is a consistent blocker who saw his stock rise after a great week in Mobile, Ala., at the senior bowl. Mahogany is a bully on the interior, playing with power as soon as he gets his hands on his opponent. Both he and Haynes should hear their names called on Friday night.
Interior defensive line
Throughout the college football season, many people began having doubts about the DT group materializing into what it was thought to be — a group full of studs — and their doubts were accurate. However, it still offers first-round talents, such as Murphy II and Newton. Murphy II is violent and plays bigger than he appears. He’s good in both the pass and run game and is one of the more athletic of the bunch. Newtown is a pass-rush specialist. He’ll make his money getting to the QB. The doubts come in the run game, but if you believe he can improve in that area, he could offer more upside than the former Longhorn. After an incredible combine workout, Fiske and Orhorhoro rose up draft boards after the combine, showcasing they’re athleticism. People who are roughly 6-foot-5 and nearly 300 pounds should not move as quickly as they do. Jenkins was part of a Michigan rotation of DTs that featured college football’s best, and he’ll bring his pedigree to a team most likely in the second round.
Edge
Latu is the best pure pass rusher in the draft, but his medicals raise red flags. Still, he’s my No. 1 pass rusher and the guy I would take first in this position group. Turner is the most athletic of the bunch, offering the highest upside if he can put it all together. Verse is a powerful rusher, relying on his size and strength rather than his athletic abilities. Robinson has a wicked first step and is the most athletic of the bunch. But he didn’t have the production you would like — only 4 sacks in 2023 — and doesn’t counter well. Braswell is a powerful rusher with speed.
Linebacker
Since injury history isn’t affecting these rankings, Wilson is the clear-cut LB1 for me. Just watch the tape. He’s a rangy tackler with sideline-to-sideline speed. Cooper is a close second. He lives behind the line of scrimmage. He has exceptional length for an LB. Colson, a key cog in Michigan’s defense, is an instinctive LB with explosive athleticism and exceptional tackling. I also love his story. Trotter Jr. is undersized, but he plays bigger than he appears. He’s a great blitzer and is a hard-hitter. Gray had great college production (365 tackles in his last three seasons) and offers good size for the position.
Cornerback
Mitchell is one of my favorite defensive prospects in this year’s class. Despite coming from the MAC (Mid-American Conference), he’s continuing to gain top-15 buzz, and rightfully so. Forget the competition aspect. Mitchell is a ballhawk — he had four interceptions against Northern Illinois in 2022 — who plays well in man and zone. DeJean is a true playmaker. He can play anywhere in the secondary and is seemingly always near the play. He’s also the best tackler in the group and is excellent in run support. Arnold really got to shine this year since teams stopped targeting his teammate, McKinstry. He has the mentality and play strength to be a top cornerback in the NFL. The latter half of the duo, McKinstry is technical and truly understands the nuances of the position. He’s as smart as they come. Wiggins is an athletic freak. He ran a 4.28 40-yard dash at the combine. His tackling issues are worrisome, but he may be the best at locking down a WR.
Safety
The safety group may be the least impressive of the position groups this year. Nubin is thought by many as the No. 1, but after him, it’s a toss-up. Bullard is a smart and athletic safety. He was a major part of Georgia’s success these past years; he was named the Defensive MVP of the 2023 national championship for the Bulldogs. Hicks boasts impressive instincts and could be a plug-and-play safety for a desperate team because of his ability to play at all three levels. Kinchens is a ball hawk and Bishop offers great size and has much collegiate experience as a multiyear starter for the Utes.