After 14 straight offensive players came off the board before the first defender in 2024, that's going to change in a big way next spring. This year's defensive tackle, cornerback and safety class already look special. While there's no blue-chip quarterbacks just yet, there's plenty of promise with four making this preseason top-50 big board.
1. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Johnson is an island corner with a fearless play style and big-play ability. His combination of size and suddenness gives him the ability to shut down routes in man coverage before they even start. No one fared better against top wide receiver talent on a consistent basis than Johnson.
2. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Sophomore defensive tackles aren't supposed to dominate the way Graham did last season. He lives in opponents backfields with his ability to defeat blocks with quicks, power and technique. It's scary to think where Graham's ceiling can push to after how polished he was already as a true sophomore.
3. James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Pearce is in a freaky tier of athletes off the edge that has a very strong track record of translating to the NFL. His movement skills are closer to that of a typical wide receiver than your typical defensive lineman. Pearce's double-digit sacks last season were only scratching the surface of what kind of player he can become.
4. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The unicorn of college football. Hunter's ranking here is more reflective of his play at corner than at wide receiver, but he would only tumble a few spots if he turned his focus solely to the offensive side of the ball. His body control, ball skills and instincts at corner are off the charts.
5. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Beck is the cleanest returning quarterback in college football. He's a savvy and quick decision-maker with enough zip to challenge any level of the field. While he thrives as a pocket passer, Beck has enough athleticism to keep defenses honest. If he gets more aggressive as a downfield passer in his second season as a starter, he should be the frontrunner to go No. 1 overall.
6. Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
Banks has been starting at left tackle ever since his true freshman year for the Longhorns, and he's done nothing but play exceptional football over that span. He's on the shorter side for a tackle at 6-foot-4, but he makes up for it with high-end movement skills to match even the swiftest edge rushers.
7. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Burden is more slot weapon than true receiver at this point, but then again so was Malik Nabers at the same point in his career. Burden isn't quite Nabers athletically, but he's close. His quicks and YAC-ability are as good as it gets in the draft class, and he has the kind of strength throughout his frame to routinely work the middle of the field.
8. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Walker is a mammoth of a defensive tackle, yet he doesn't move like one.
9. Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Williams is the quintessential Georgia freak athlete along the defensive line. He'll join the likes of Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt and Nolan Smith as high-end combine standouts. While he doesn't have a vast array of pass-rush moves just yet, he plays with a high-motor and attacks blocks violently.
10. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Morrison is a smooth mover on the outside. He has easy feet to mirror wide receivers on the outside and then competes hard at the catch point despite being on the slighter side for the position. He's a plug-and-play man corner who'll get his hands on a lot of footballs.
11. Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Campbell is your quintessential "safe" offensive tackle pick. His technical refinement and punishing play style is precisely what you want from a top prospect at the position. While he may not have any "wow" physical traits, Campbell is a plus all-around athlete for the position.
12. Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Scourton is a heavy-handed defensive end with inside-outside versatility. He was often miscast as a stand-up outside linebacker in Purdue's scheme last year and still managed 10 sacks. The fluidity Scouton plays with at his size is difficult to block.
13. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
McMillan will be a massive target for whichever NFL quarterback is lucky enough to secure his services. Not only does he possess a massive catch radius, but McMillan also doesn't drop passes. His hands are as good as it gets in the draft class.
14. Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
You'd be hard pressed to find as many corners as long as Davis. And if you do, chances are they won't move nearly as effortlessly as Davis does. That absurd blend allows him to break up a ton of passes and give fits to bigger wide receivers.
15. Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Carter was an off-ball linebacker the past two seasons, but will be dropping down to play defensive end this fall. That's the right move for his draft stock as his best reps a season ago came as a blitzer. He's got high-end first-step explosiveness and can bend around blocks with ease.
16. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
It's difficult to poke holes in Starks' tape last season. He almost never misses assignments or tackles. He's a gifted all-around athlete who never seems to get off balance reacting in space. That's precisely what you want from a versatile safety in today's NFL.
17. Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
Dennis-Sutton was stuck behind two top-100 picks off the edge a year ago in Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, but has himself a good chance of being drafted higher than either. He's a jumbo 6-foot-5, 270-pounder who can still get win the edge on offensive tackles. His length and size presents problems for opposing tackles.
18. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
You can throw out Egbuka's 2023 tape as he played through injuries all season long. The man who nearly matched teammate Marvin Harrison Jr. statistically in 2022 is still there waiting to be unleashed as Ohio State's top option this fall. He's an advanced route-runner with high-level understanding of how to attack zone defenses.
19. Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
Burke has been starting ever since his true freshman year in 2021 for the Buckeyes. His ability to click and close to footballs and ball carriers is nothing short of elite. While he needs to finish more tackles, Burke isn't lacking in aggression.
20. Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU
Jones is a naturally massive human who can cave in the entire side of a defensive line on a downblock. He's got immense raw power that translates to the run game and helps with anchoring in pass protection. The huge strides Jones made from his freshman year as a starter in 2022 to last season bode well for his career progression.
21. Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Walker may have only been a part-time player last fall, but something tells me you'll be hearing a lot more from him this year. His two sacks and five pressures against Alabama in the SEC championship game were a sign of things to come. If Walker can give top-10 pick JC Latham the kind of problems he did in that game, most tackles are in trouble this fall.
22. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Sanders has the talent to be the No. 1 overall pick yet some of the bad habits to fall to Day 3. His play towards the beginning of 2023 showed the former while his play towards the end showed the latter. He's got great footwork as a pocket passer yet has a bad habit of trying to get the most out of every play. We'll see how he fares with an improved offensive line in 2024.
23. Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M
Weigman would likely have been much higher on this list had a foot injury not cut his 2023 season short after only four games. He showed the kind of poise under pressure that many starter in the NFL even struggle to replicate. That's a tremendous starting point for a young quarterback.
24. Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati
Corleone is a ball of muscle in the middle of the Bearcats defense. He's got power throughout his frame, and his natural leverage shines when knifing into the backfield. Hopefully we see the three-down nose tackle back out on the field, as recently discovered blood clots in his lungs have him currently out indefinitely.
25. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Loveland definitely has "it" as a receiver. The uncoachable body control and footwork to run routes like a wide receiver despite tipping the scales at nearly 250 pounds. It's why he was the second-leading receiver on Michigan's national title team as only a sophomore last year.
26. DT Howard Cross III, Notre Dame
No defensive tackle in the country can quite match Cross's motor. The undersized defensive tackle routinely played 50-plus snaps and was effective until the final whistle. He's a pure one-gapper who is extremely adept at avoiding the outstretched arms of guards and centers.
27. Parker Brailsford, IOL, Alabama
The only thing standing between Brailsford and a first-round selection at this point is size. The former Washington center was listed at 275 pounds during his sophomore campaign before transferring to Alabama - almost unplayably small by NFL standards. That's not too dissimilar to what we saw from Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum early in his career before he ultimately got to the 300-pound range as a prospect. Brailsford is easily the best center in the country otherwise.
28. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Ewers isn't lacking in ability, just consistency at this point. He's shown up time and time again on the biggest stages over the course of his career, but thrown out some head scratching duds as well. He also needs to prove he can stay healthy after missing time with injuries each of the past two seasons.
29. Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
Perkins is the best 220-pound edge-rusher I've ever scouted. That being said, there's a reason there are no edge-rushers playing in the 220s at the NFL level. Unless he completely transforms his body, he'll have to improve his off-ball instincts to end up as a first-rounder. I wouldn't count that possibility out. as he's got the kind of range and ability to mirror in coverage to be a darn good linebacker.
30. JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Tuimoloau is an explosive power rusher whose high-end reps make you think he could be a top- 10 pick. His down-to-down effectiveness, however, is why he's back at Ohio State and not in the NFL right now. With his kind of power, Tuimoloau doesn't need much more than a bull-rush to still do damage at the next level.
31. Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State
Winston is a long, rangey safety who can line up pretty much anywhere on the back end of a defense. He's also an outstanding tackler with PFF charting him without a single miss on 75 attempts in his career.
32. Jonah Savaiinaea, IOL, Arizona
Savaiinaea played right guard in 2022 and right tackle last season. One look at his build and it's obvious that this man is destined for the guard position in the NFL. He blocks out the sun for his quarterbacks and is surprisingly nimble in pass protection. His best work, though, comes in a phone booth where he can impose his will.
33. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
Carter is the kind of athlete every defensive coordinator wants at the linebacker position. I'd be willing to bet that if he trimmed down 15-plus pounds and switched to cornerback, Carter could still be a top-100 pick. That's how easily he moves around a football field. If he improves his tackling this fall, he could very well end up a first-rounder.
34. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Grant is still figuring out how to consistently defeat blocks and when he masters that look out. He arguably possesses even more impressive physical tools than his teammate who ranks No. 2 on this list. His explosiveness at 339 pounds is off the charts and should get harnessed correctly in time.
35. Patrick Payton, EDGE, Florida State
Payton possesses the ultra-long body type that every defensive coordinator wants rushing off the edge. He can consistently get his hands on offensive tackles before they get their hands on him. If he adds more of a power element to his game he'll be a first-rounder.
36. Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
Stewart was on track for a big year for Texas A&M in 2023 before quarterback Conner Weigman went down and the Aggies offense went with him. Stewart started with back-to-back 100 yard games as he showcased his high-end speed to work downfield. He's a gifted downfield route-runner who just needs to get stronger.
37. Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Sawyer isn't the specimen that teammate J.T. Tuimoloau is, but the former has more tricks in his bag. He's a refined pass-rusher with a number of ways to get home. His ability to bend the edge at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds will serve him well at the next level.
38. Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Harris has unique big-play ability for a bigger wide receiver. He averaged 18.3 yards per reception in his first year with the Rebels after playing his first three seasons at Louisiana Tech. While he's rough around the edges as a route-runner, Harris has the kind of movement skills that could make big strides in that regard.
39. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
While smaller and faster is the wave at a lot of positions around the NFL, bigger and faster is still preferred. The 6-foot-3, 227 pound rising junior qualifies as the latter. At that size, Emmanwori has reportedly been clocked as fast as 23 miles per hour on the GPS. That puts him in elite territory that shows on tape. His ability to cover ground and hit on the back end will strike fear in any wide receiver looking to go over the middle of the field.
40. Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
Williams is a heavy-handed nose tackle who holds the point as well as anyone in the draft class. He's already NFL-ready to handle double teams. While he's not a pass-rushing dynamo by any means, Williams offers more potential in that regard than most nearly 330-pounders.
41. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Gordon is one unique dude at the running back position. He's one of the lankiest running backs you'll ever see at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds as he could truly pass for an H-back/Tight end. That size is part of his super power as his open field stiff arm led to numerous long runs a season ago. What really makes him special, though, is his footwork between the tackles, where he can navigate tight spaces that 99% of power backs could only dream of getting through.
42. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
Delp isn't going to be Brock Bowers, but he's not terribly far off, either. Delp is a svelte 245-pounder who flies past linebackers on tape. While we haven't seen too much of him given Georgia's tight end depth chart the past two seasons, Delp looks poised for a breakout campaign.
43. Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
The former 5-star offensive tackle lives up to his recruiting billing on tape. He's such a loose athlete who has no trouble finding defenders in space. While he has to use his hands more effectively in pass protection, there's a lot to work with for a young player.
44. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Bond is an undersized yet ultra-explosive wideout. Bond has solid hands for a vertical threat and will make the most of his deep opportunities. He's the perfect receiver to send in fast motion in modern NFL offenses.
45. Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Jackson is a prototypical 3-4 defensive end, even if that distinction isn't as cut and dry in today's NFL. His size and length make him uniquely suited to go toe-to-toe with offensive tackles in the run game. While he may not be an explosive edge winner, Jackson can get the job done with his powerful mitts.
46. Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M
At 290 pounds, Turner looks out of place pre-snap on the edge for the Aggies defense. Once the ball is snapped, though, you see just why he's able to play there. The rising senior can flat out move for a big fella. While he'll likely end up on the interior in the NFL, his versatility will be coveted.
47. Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
Stutsman has the kind of frame and mobility to be a 3-down middle linebacker at the next level. He's tremendous at sorting through trash to find ball-carriers underneath. He won't be lacking in experience, either, as he enters his third season as a starter in Brent Venables' complex defense this fall.
48. Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
I can't for the life of me understand why Green didn't play a larger role in Marshall's defense last season. He has NFL-caliber twitch and bend for the position. While undersized, Green still possesses heavy hands that were capable of playing the run from an interior alignment at times last season (why they had him there in the first place was a head-scratcher). I'm betting on a big 2024 season from him.
49. Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Nolen is yet another freaky athlete in the interior defensive line class. It truly is all there for the former No. 2 overall recruit in the 2022 high school class to make the leap into a top-10 pick. We only saw it in flashes, however, last season for Texas A&M. Here's hoping his transfer to Ole Miss can unlock the next step in his development.
50. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
A safety a year ago, the rising junior has continued filling out his lanky 6-foot-4 frame and will drop down into the box full time this fall. He's got unique fluidity at that height and can range sideline-to-sideline the way every NFL evaluator wants to see.
