As the 2024 NFL Draft class continues to take shape, it’s once again time to take stock of the prospects dominating the first-round conversation.
AthleticismThe Big Board consensus combines rankings from a wide range of draft experts to identify how top prospects are viewed relative to the rest of their class. In theory, by the time we reach draft weekend, these rankings should help us understand how the picks could (or, at least, should) pan out.
Let’s see how things have changed since our previous forum:
2024 NFL Draft Consensus Board
Player | Pos | School | Last | Change | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Caleb Williams |
QB |
1 |
0 |
|
2 |
Marvin Harrison Jr. |
W.R. |
2 |
0 |
|
3 |
Drake Maye |
QB |
3 |
0 |
|
4 |
Malik Nabers |
W.R. |
4 |
0 |
|
5 |
Rome Odunze |
W.R. |
5 |
0 |
|
6 |
Joe Alt |
OT |
7 |
1 |
|
7 |
Brock Bowers |
THE |
6 |
-1 |
|
8 |
Jayden Daniels |
QB |
9 |
1 |
|
9 |
Dallas Turner |
EDGE |
8 |
-1 |
|
ten |
Jared Verse |
EDGE |
ten |
0 |
|
11 |
JC Latham |
OT |
12 |
1 |
|
12 |
It’s Fashanu |
OT |
11 |
-1 |
|
13 |
Laiato Latu |
EDGE |
14 |
1 |
|
14 |
Quinyon Mitchell |
CB |
15 |
1 |
|
15 |
Terrion Arnold |
CB |
13 |
-2 |
|
16 |
Troy Fautanu |
G/T |
17 |
1 |
|
17 |
Laugh |
G/T |
16 |
-1 |
|
18 |
Byron MurphyII |
D.T. |
18 |
0 |
|
19 |
Amarius Mims |
OT |
19 |
0 |
|
20 |
Brian Thomas Jr. |
W.R. |
20 |
0 |
|
21 |
JJ McCarthy |
QB |
21 |
0 |
|
22 |
Nate Wiggins |
CB |
22 |
0 |
|
23 |
Jer’Zhan Newton |
D.T. |
23 |
0 |
|
24 |
Cooper De Jean |
CB |
24 |
0 |
|
25 |
Graham Barton |
OL |
28 |
3 |
|
26 |
Chop Robinson |
EDGE |
25 |
-1 |
|
27 |
Kool-Aid McKinstry |
CB |
27 |
0 |
|
28 |
Tyler Guyton |
OT |
26 |
-2 |
|
29 |
Adonai Mitchell |
W.R. |
29 |
0 |
|
30 |
Ladd McConkey |
W.R. |
31 |
1 |
|
31 |
Jackson Powers-Johnson |
VS |
30 |
-1 |
|
32 |
Darius Robinson |
D.T. |
33 |
1 |
|
33 |
Bo Nix |
QB |
32 |
-1 |
|
34 |
Jordan Morgan |
OT |
34 |
0 |
|
35 |
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. |
CB |
35 |
0 |
|
36 |
Xavier Digne |
W.R. |
41 |
5 |
|
37 |
Troy Franklin |
W.R. |
36 |
-1 |
|
38 |
Michael Penix Jr. |
QB |
40 |
2 |
|
39 |
Edgerrin Cooper |
kg |
39 |
0 |
|
40 |
Keon Coleman |
W.R. |
38 |
-2 |
|
41 |
Brad Fiske |
D.T. |
43 |
2 |
|
42 |
Ricky Pearsall |
W.R. |
49 |
7 |
|
43 |
Romain Wilson |
W.R. |
44 |
1 |
|
44 |
Payton Wilson |
kg |
42 |
-2 |
|
45 |
Zach Frazier |
VS |
46 |
1 |
|
46 |
Colson Junior |
kg |
48 |
2 |
|
47 |
Jonathan Brooks |
R.B. |
52 |
5 |
|
48 |
Tyler Nubin |
S |
45 |
-3 |
|
49 |
Kris Jenkins |
D.T. |
54 |
5 |
|
50 |
Chris Braswell |
EDGE |
51 |
1 |
|
51 |
Javon Bullard |
S |
55 |
4 |
|
52 |
I am Tavion Sanders |
THE |
50 |
-2 |
|
53 |
Kingsley Suamatia |
OT |
53 |
0 |
|
54 |
Kamari Lassiter |
CB |
37 |
-17 |
|
55 |
Marshawn Kneeland |
EDGE |
59 |
4 |
|
56 |
Xavier Legette |
W.R. |
58 |
2 |
|
57 |
TJ Tampa |
CB |
57 |
0 |
|
58 |
Malachi Corley |
W.R. |
56 |
-2 |
|
59 |
Max Melton |
CB |
71 |
12 |
|
60 |
Mike Sainristil |
CB |
65 |
5 |
|
61 |
Christian Haynes |
g |
61 |
0 |
|
62 |
T’Vondre sweatshirt |
D.T. |
47 |
-15 |
|
63 |
Cooper Beebe |
g |
62 |
-1 |
|
64 |
Ruke Orhorhoro |
D.T. |
63 |
-1 |
|
65 |
Mike Hall Jr. |
D.T. |
76 |
11 |
|
66 |
Bralen Trice |
EDGE |
60 |
-6 |
|
67 |
Jaden Hicks |
S |
68 |
1 |
|
68 |
Adisa Isaac |
EDGE |
64 |
-4 |
|
69 |
Mason Smith |
D.T. |
83 |
14 |
|
70 |
Patrick Paul |
OT |
67 |
-3 |
|
71 |
Trey Benson |
R.B. |
70 |
-1 |
|
72 |
Call Amegadjie |
OT |
66 |
-6 |
|
73 |
Austin Booker |
EDGE |
85 |
12 |
|
74 |
Jaylen Wright |
R.B. |
80 |
6 |
|
75 |
Brandon Dorlus |
D.L. |
82 |
7 |
|
76 |
Yes’Lynn Polk |
W.R. |
69 |
-7 |
|
77 |
Cole Bishop |
S |
86 |
9 |
|
78 |
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. |
kg |
78 |
0 |
|
79 |
Blake Choir |
R.B. |
79 |
0 |
|
80 |
Blake Fisher |
OT |
75 |
-5 |
|
81 |
Dominique Puni |
g |
87 |
6 |
|
82 |
Jonah Ellis |
EDGE |
77 |
-5 |
|
83 |
Jermaine Burton |
W.R. |
72 |
-11 |
|
84 |
Andrew Phillips |
CB |
89 |
5 |
|
85 |
Javon Boulanger |
W.R. |
88 |
3 |
|
86 |
Must Walker |
W.R. |
74 |
-12 |
|
87 |
Cade Stover |
THE |
90 |
3 |
|
88 |
DJ James |
CB |
93 |
5 |
|
89 |
Roger Rosengarten |
OT |
NR |
NR |
|
90 |
Callen Bullock |
S |
73 |
-17 |
|
91 |
Jalen McMillan |
W.R. |
81 |
-ten |
|
92 |
Fox Green |
CB |
92 |
0 |
|
93 |
Cedric Gray |
kg |
94 |
1 |
|
94 |
Kamren Kinchens |
S |
84 |
-ten |
|
95 |
Kris Abrams-Draine |
CB |
91 |
-4 |
|
96 |
Spencer Rattler |
QB |
100 |
4 |
|
97 |
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson |
S |
96 |
-1 |
|
98 |
Khyree Jackson |
CB |
99 |
1 |
|
99 |
Malik Washington |
W.R. |
NR |
NR |
|
100 |
Cam Hart |
CB |
98 |
-2 |
Some thoughts on the updated chart from analyst Nick Baumgardner:
T’Vondre Sweat title plunges
Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat was one of the biggest losers in this week’s consensus update, dropping from No. 47 to No. 62. Sweat was arrested earlier this month for DWI in Texas. The fact that the arrest happened will impact Sweat’s stock with some teams, but the timing — just weeks before the draft — could be a bigger issue.
Some scouts have expressed concerns about Sweat’s maturity level. One, according to AthleticismDane Brugler of , called him a “class clown” and questioned his commitment to football. (Brugler gave Sweat a fourth-round rating in The Beast.)
On talent alone, Sweat could get a borderline first-round grade from some NFL evaluators. At 6-foot-4, 366 pounds with great swing and quickness, Sweat’s versatility inside and presence as a tough guy to move around could make him a truly dominant NFL defender. However, if he is not consistent, he will struggle. Sweat has maintained a weight in the 360-pound range throughout the pre-draft process, although some scouts told Brugler that Sweat was closer to 380 last season.
GO FURTHER
‘The Beast’ Guide to the 2024 NFL Draft: Dane Brugler Scouting Reports and Player Rankings
Can Maason Smith benefit from Sweat’s slide?
Maybe it’s the fact that the sweat drops — or maybe it’s the fact that The Beast resets so many other opinions this time of year every year — but LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith, climbed 14 places this week (to 69th). It’s worth noting that Brugler ranked the 6-5, 306-pounder at No. 64 on his most recent Top 100 list.
Physically, Smith is a first-round talent, in almost every area. He has 35 1/2 inch arms, an 84 5/8 inch wingspan with great playing strength and natural explosion. It’s a real man’s house. Smith’s pullback power, even when he loses his influence, is still impressive.
However (and there are a few “howevers” here) Smith also missed 13 games in 2022 due to a torn ACL, then was suspended for the first game of last season due to an improper advantage. His lower half is stiff, he plays very tall, and his passing tool set isn’t too deep. Smith’s range is going to be pretty wide, as he’s almost exclusively a trait-based prospect at this point. But he’s only 21 and offers a lot of things that can’t be taught.
Official 40 meter dash times for DTs:
4.78 Braden Fiske
4.85 Mekhi Wingo, Brandon Dorlus
4.87Byron Murphy II
4.89 Ruke Orhorhoro
4.91 Kris Jenkins
4.97 Jaden Crumedy
4.99 DeWayne Carter
5.01 Mason Smith
5.02 Tyler Davis– Danish Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 29, 2024
Another DT on the move
Apparently this is an update to the defensive line.
One player whose consensus ranking stands out as being quite different from where he lands in Brugler’s Top 100 is Florida State DT Braden Fiske. Fiske may have been the star of the combine earlier this spring, as he had strong testing results across the board and was outstanding in almost every area during on-field testing. The consensus committee pushed Fiske all the way to #41.
Brugler, however, has a third-round grade over Fiske (No. 71). And Fiske’s arm length (31 inches) remains of great concern. This is considerably below average inside and will create problems for Fiske if he can’t beat his opponent immediately off the snap.
Braden Fiske is an animal. pic.twitter.com/vx4Y2jTNdp
– Danish Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 20, 2024
It’s his game, and he’s great at it: Fiske’s body twitches, agility and explosion allow him to get off the ball in a flash. However, if a guard or center also gets the ball quickly and is accurate with his punch, Fiske is going to lose almost every time due to his length. It’s difficult for him to generate much after losing ground, so it remains to be seen exactly how much he can give at the next level.
This is not unlike the conversation regarding Smith’s reach, but for different reasons. Fiske’s attitude and effort will overcome size on some boards; this will not be the case for others.
A reshuffle at CB1
It appears the consensus committee is torn about CB1 in this class.
Alabama’s Terrion Arnold held that spot for most of the process. However, this week, Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell moved up one spot to 14th, one ahead of Arnold. This race will be very interesting to watch on draft night – and it will likely be a matter of judgment, based on who picks among the teenagers and what attributes they prefer at the position. Mitchell is bigger with more explosion and speed, while Arnold is probably more versatile and better defined at this point in his career.
However, both guys are starters from day one.
GO FURTHER
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Could quarterbacks move to 1-2-3-4 at top of first round?
(Photo by T’Vondre Sweat: Michael Wade / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)