Mel Kiper Jr's Updated 2024 NFL Big Board Draft Rankings

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6. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia​

6-4, 240 pounds | Previously: 5

Bowers was an instant difference-maker for the Bulldogs as a true freshman in 2021, catching 56 passes for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns. He followed up that season with 63 catches for 942 yards and seven scores as Stetson Bennett's No. 1 target, winning his second-straight national title. He's an advanced pass-catcher and should make an instant impact when he gets to the NFL. Though he's not huge -- former teammate Darnell Washington made him look small at times -- he's a matchup nightmare for defenses. He has great hand-eye coordination and run-after-the-catch ability, and he can stretch the field down the seams. I also love the way he tracks the ball, high-pointing it above defenders. This is his first season without Bennett, but Carson Beck just needs to get the ball in his hands.

 

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5. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado​

6-2, 215 pounds | Previously: NR

Believe the hype. Sanders has been sensational through two games for the Buffaloes. After throwing 70 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in two seasons at Jackson State, he has taken another step up with the jump to FBS competition. He's completing 77.5% of his passes with six scores and no picks in wins over TCU and Nebraska. He's averaging 10.1 yards per attempt and throwing it all over the field.

Sanders is unflappable. He throws a great ball, showcasing pinpoint accuracy on intermediate routes and a heater when he needs it across the middle of the field. He can throw strikes on the move to his right or left. He's an excellent decision-maker and is highly competitive, which I love from a quarterback. Having watched Sanders' tape from 2021 and 2022 and the improvement he has shown this season, I see future top-10 pick potential. He's that good. He's only a true junior, which means he could return to school next season and compete to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 class.

 

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4. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina​

6-4, 225 pounds | Previously: 4

Maye had a fantastic debut season as the starter at UNC, throwing for 4,321 yards with 38 touchdowns and seven picks. He looks the part of a big-time NFL signal-caller. Maye can make every throw with ease. He's accurate on the move and can pick up first downs with his legs. He 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 this season is about who's catching his passes, as his top two receivers -- Josh Downs and Antoine Green -- are now in the NFL and transfer target Devontez Walker apparently won't be eligible to play. 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 is going to have to figure things out with a new group. He's off to an OK start so far, completing 75% of his passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

 

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3. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State​

6-6, 319 pounds | Previously: 3

Fashanu had been moving up my Big Board last fall, before he announced in November that he planned to return to school in 2023. He could have been a top-10 pick in that draft, challenging Paris Johnson Jr. to be the top tackle off the board. In any other class -- a class without Williams and Harrison -- he'd be the easy pick as the No. 1 overall prospect. That's what kind of talent he has. Fashanu has the size, footwork and physical traits teams want in a high-end left tackle. He moves effortlessly and with urgency, getting his hands on second-level defenders with ease.

The exciting part? Fashanu is still developing. He has started just nine games, including eight last season, and doesn't turn 21 years old until December. If he lives up to his potential, it's not out of the question that he gets an Orlando Pace-type grade heading into next year's draft.

 

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2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State​

6-4, 205 pounds | Previously: 2

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 has nine catches for 178 yards and two scores so far this season.

 

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1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC​

6-foot-1, 215 pounds | Previously ranked: 1

Do I really have to explain my choice for No. 1 here? Just turn on the tape from any of the games from Williams' Heisman-winning 2022 season. 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). He is the clear favorite to be the No. 1 pick in next April's draft, and he already has 12 touchdown passes in three games this season.

Williams is a gunslinger, 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, that size matters less and less to the execs making decisions in front offices.

 

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Rankings at every position for the 2024 NFL draft​

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Quarterbacks​

1. Caleb Williams, USC
2. Drake Maye, North Carolina
3. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
4. Quinn Ewers, Texas
5. Riley Leonard, Duke
6. Bo Nix, Oregon
7. Joe Milton III, Tennessee
8. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
9. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
10. Michael Pratt, Tulane

I'm going 10 deep here because this is an extremely loaded class from top to bottom, and there could be a lot of movement over the next couple of months. I'll go to 10 on the other

 

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Running backs​

1. Blake Corum, Michigan
2, Roman Hemby, Maryland
3. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
4. Donovan Edwards, Michigan
5. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
6. Trey Benson, Florida State

 

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Wide receivers​

1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
2. Keon Coleman, Florida State
3. Rome Odunze, Washington
4. Jalen McMillan, Washington
5. Xavier Worthy, Texas
6. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
7. Malik Nabors, LSU

 

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Tight ends​

1. Brock Bowers, Georgia
2. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
3. Luke Lachey, Iowa
4. Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
5. Cade Stover, Ohio State
6. Rivaldo Fairweather, Auburn

 

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Fullbacks/H-backs​

1. Jaheim Bell, Florida State
2. Jared Wiley, TCU
3. Brant Kuithe, Utah
4. McCallan Castles, Tennessee
5. Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
6. Trey Knox, South Carolina

 

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Offensive tackles​

1. Olu Fashanu, Penn State
2. Joe Alt, Notre Dame
3. JC Latham, Alabama
4. Jordan Morgan, Arizona
5. Amarius Mims, Georgia
6. John Campbell Jr., Tennessee

 

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Guards​

1. Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
2. Troy Fautanu, Washington
3. Zak Zinter, Michigan
4. Joshua Gray, Oregon State
5. Christian Mahogany, Boston College
6. Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

 

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Centers​

1. Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia
2. Graham Barton, Duke
3. Zach Frazier, West Virginia
4. Matt Lee, Miami
5. Dylan McMahon, NC State
6. Beaux Limmer, Arkansas

 

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Defensive ends​

1. Jared Verse, Florida State
2. JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
3. Braiden McGregor, Michigan
4. Adisa Isaac, Penn State
5. Eric Watts, Connecticut
6. Bralen Trice, Washington

 

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Defensive tackles​

1. Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
2. Kris Jenkins, Michigan
3. Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
4. Leonard Taylor III, Miami
5. Maason Smith, LSU
6. Mekhi Wingo, LSU

 

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Off-ball linebackers​

1. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
2. Junior Colson, Michigan
3. Deontae Lawson, Alabama
4. Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
5. Cedric Gray, North Carolina
6. Jaylan Ford, Texas

 

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Outside linebackers​

1. Dallas Turner, Alabama
2. Laiatu Latu, UCLA
3. Chop Robinson, Penn State
4. Barrett Carter, Clemson
5. Steve Linton, Texas Tech
6. Curtis Jacobs, Penn State

 

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Cornerbacks​

1. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
2. Kalen King, Penn State
3. Cooper DeJean, Iowa
4. Josh Newton, TCU
5. Nate Wiggins, Clemson
6. Denzel Burke, Ohio State

 

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Safeties​

1. Kamren Kinchens, Miami
2. Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
3. Calen Bullock, USC
4. Cole Bishop, Utah
5. Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
6. Javon Bullard, Georgia