NFL Draft News & Analysis

2024 NFL Draft: The five best remaining players at every position ahead of Day 3

2TBF8WH Oregon Ducks wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) runs a route during the Pac-12 Championship NCAA college football game against Washington, Friday, Dec. 1 2023 in Las Vegas. (Ric Tapia via AP)

• Oregon's Troy Franklin is still on the board: Franklin might get lost in the shuffle of a loaded wide receiver class, but he shouldn't. His smoothness comes from his athletic profile and his confidence in knowing how to win at the position.

• Spencer Rattler is the top-ranked remaining quarterback: Rattler has a mature game, with sound fundamentals and pocket presence, as well as good accuracy in and out of structure. His arm is adequate, but he needs to improve when it comes to seeing additional coverage defenders post-snap.

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QUARTERBACK

1. QB SPENCER RATTLERSOUTH CAROLINA

Rattler has a mature game, with sound fundamentals and pocket presence, as well as good accuracy in and out of structure. His arm is adequate, but he needs to improve when it comes to seeing additional coverage defenders post-snap. He projects as a Day 2 quarterback with starting potential.

2. QB MICHAEL PRATTTULANE

Pratt's clean fundamentals and impressive touch throws make him an intriguing quarterback, even though he has smaller measurables. His arm strength limits his ability to push the ball vertically, but he has a good enough feel for the game to garner a potential starter label.

3. QB JORDAN TRAVISFLORIDA STATE

Travis is a good athlete, a tough competitor and a QB with great intangibles for out-of-structure plays. His follow-through fundamentals are a mess, likely due to him needing more power on most throws, which leads to inconsistencies. He is a developmental quarterback who will be a fan favorite no matter where he goes (likely on Day 3).

4. QB JOE MILTON IIITENNESSEE

Milton has NFL-level tools but lacks the processing, instincts and accuracy to be considered a potential starter.

5. QB CARTER BRADLEYSOUTH ALABAMA

Bradley is an intriguing prospect with a decent arm, an encouraging playstyle and good mechanics. How quickly he can learn to read NFL defenses and how much he can improve on touch throws is his key to locking down a preferred backup spot.

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RUNNING BACK

1. HB JAYLEN WRIGHTTENNESSEE

Wright is an NFL-caliber athlete for the running back position. His youth is both a positive (lack of mileage) and a negative (lack of consistent RB vision), but he has succeeded in both gap and zone-blocking concepts and has top-tier pass protection ability for three-down potential in the NFL.

2. HB BUCKY IRVINGOREGON

Irving might not have the look of a running back that teams will automatically covet on draft weekend, but his tape shows an incredibly efficient player in both the run and pass games.

3. HB RAY DAVISKENTUCKY

Davis might not have the build and long speed of a top-50 player, but his vision, feel for space/blocking and one-cut ability make him an efficient ball carrier with good hands in the passing game. This should make him a mid-round selection and potential starter.

4. HB TYRONE TRACYPURDUE

Tracy is a natural playmaker with adequate athleticism (explosiveness and agility) for a zone-blocking scheme. He must continue to improve how he sees blocks/space if he is to be a consistent rotational player.

5. HB BLAKE WATSONMEMPHIS

Watson is an alluring athlete out of the backfield, both as a rusher and a receiver. He should earn the versatile “offensive weapon” label with the potential to be an NFL contributor.

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WIDE RECEIVER

1. WR TROY FRANKLINOREGON

Franklin might get lost in the shuffle of a loaded wide receiver class, but he shouldn't. His smoothness comes from his athletic profile and his confidence in knowing how to win at the position. He needs to continue to get stronger, but he is a competitive player who can be a good WR2 for a vertical NFL offense.

2. WR DEVONTEZ WALKERNORTH CAROLINA

Walker is not a polished product, but at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, he has the foot speed and vertical ability to put a lot of stress on defenses. His most pressing issue is his reliability as a pass-catcher. If he shores that up, he can become a good vertical threat.

3. WR JAVON BAKERUCF

Baker can be a solid WR3 for a vertical offense that likes to attack down the sidelines. His long-speed limitations hurt his ability to separate, but he is a competitive contested-catch receiver.

4. WR JOHNNY WILSONFLORIDA STATE

It's hard to watch Wilson's tape and not be intrigued enough to take him at the back end of Day 2. He has some frustrating drops on tape, but there is so much more to like, including how well he moves for a player of his size.

5. WR MALIK WASHINGTONVIRGINIA

Washington is a tough assignment in the slot due to how fast he accelerates and his ability to create separation with quick changes of direction. He is a slot-only type of receiver due to his lack of size and strength, but he is tough to cover.

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TIGHT END

1. TE JA'TAVION SANDERSTEXAS

Sanders is a Tier 1 athlete for the tight end position. He is still mastering the nuances of tight end play, and he needs more of a consistent mean streak as a blocker. But even with those concerns, what he brings to the table as a vertical threat is worth a top-50 pick.

2. TE ERICK ALLIOWA

Although his game could use a bit more nastiness, this is a player with a versatile, contributing skill set who projects as a TE2 at the next level if he can stay healthy.

3. TE CADE STOVEROHIO STATE

Stover is a well-rounded, well-versed football player whose natural athletic ability and fundamentally sound approach to the position should make him a high-floor role player with TE1 potential.

4. TE JARED WILEYTCU

Wiley has an ideal size/athleticism combination to be a contributing TE2/3 at the next level.

5. TE THEO JOHNSONPENN STATE

Johnson brings alluring size to the position, as he plus length for blocking and pass-catching. He is a developmental tight end who runs good vertical routes and thrives when blocking, but he needs to be more consistent in both areas.

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OFFENSIVE TACKLE

1. T CHRISTIAN JONESTEXAS

Jones has a ton of experience, good length and good linear athleticism for zone-blocking schemes. However, he still has some bad tendencies to clean up before he can be considered a rotational or starting tackle in the NFL.

2. T WALTER ROUSEOKLAHOMA

Rouse is an experienced and well-built offensive tackle prospect with good size, length and football intelligence for a man/gap run scheme. In pass protection, he must improve his foot speed and consistency with leverage in order to become a starter at the next level.

3. T JAVON FOSTERMISSOURI

Foster has good length and experience to be a preferred backup offensive tackle in a zone-blocking scheme with enough dependability to be considered a potential starter.

4. T KT LEVESTONKANSAS STATE

Leveston has the build, strength and movement ability of a starting guard in the NFL, but his hand work must improve.

5. T ETHAN DRISKELLMARSHALL

Driskell is a massive and powerful left tackle who would work well in a man/gap scheme where his job is to vertically displace defenders. Even with his slow foot speed, if he can improve his hand placement, he can be a depth tackle prospect.

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INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

1. G MASON MCCORMICKSOUTH DAKOTA STATE

McCormick pairs a mauling mentality with explosive athleticism. His hips are a tad stiff, which limits his flexibility, but he has the potential to be a starter in a zone-blocking scheme.

2. C SEDRICK VAN PRANGEORGIA

Despite some athletic limitations, Van Pran is a high-IQ center prospect whose acumen, experience and physical mentality warrant a shot at a starting role (center only) in a man/gap-heavy scheme.

3. G CHRISTIAN MAHOGANYBOSTON COLLEGE

Mahogany is a guard only and a powerful run-blocker with inconsistencies in the passing game. He projects into a rotational and potential starting role for a team that is heavier in the run game in mostly man/gap concepts.

4. C HUNTER NOURZADPENN STATE

Nourzard presents a well-rounded skill set and high-floor fundamentals for almost any offense, though he must get stronger to really garner a full-time starting role in the NFL.

5. G TREVOR KEEGANMICHIGAN

Keegan is smart and experienced, and he brings coordination, balance and explosiveness as an ideal guard in a man/gap scheme. He lacks true power and body density, which complicates his projection, but he does have starting-caliber traits.

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INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

1. DI BRANDON DORLUSOREGON

Though a bit of a tweener, Dorlus has 3-4 and 4-3 versatility with a strong power profile to be a rotational player and potential spot starter.

2. DI MEKHI WINGOLSU

Wingo's shorter arms and legs limit his efficacy and versatility. He will likely be limited between the 2i and 4i alignments in a 4-3 scheme. However, his quickness and consistent hand placement can lead to some success as a rotational pass-rusher in the NFL.

3. DI LEONARD TAYLOR IIIMIAMI FL

When Taylor is on, he possesses the power and explosive athletic ability to be an impact player. We don't see that enough, though. He is a young, hot-and-cold interior defensive lineman — and a talent worth drafting in the top 100.

4. DI TYLER DAVISCLEMSON

Davis has the football intelligence and mentality of a depth/rotational defensive lineman for any front. His physical limitations hinder his pass-rush efficacy and block shedding, but because of his intangibles, he could still become a spot starter at some point.

5. DI LOGAN LEEIOWA

Lee has a unique build and skill set, and a move to edge defender might be in his future. But if you get get a bit more weight on him, he has the quickness and effort to be a potential rotational contributor in an even front as a 3-technique defensive tackle.

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EDGE DEFENDER

1. ED XAVIER THOMASCLEMSON

Thomas is a true low-floor, high-ceiling prospect. He is on the older side, but his natural athletic gifts are still worth taking a chance on, especially for teams in need of a 3/4 pass-rushing specialist.

2. ED AUSTIN BOOKERKANSAS

Booker is an alluring prospect because of his pass-rushing style, but his lack of weight is a concern. To mitigate that at the NFL level, he must play with a better pad level.

3. ED JAVON SOLOMONTROY

His length could prove to be a limiting factor for his potential in the NFL, but his athletic ability should yield a rotational pass-rush role at worst. He has the potential to eventually play an impact role as a top-100 pick.

4. ED BRENNAN JACKSONWASHINGTON STATE

Jackson has the power profile and effort of an early rotational 4-3 defensive end with the potential to be a starter at the next level.

5. ED MOHAMED KAMARACOLORADO STATE

Kamara's measurables limit his finesse pass-rush potential and ceiling. However, he can be a stout depth defensive lineman because he enjoys the physical aspect of the position.

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LINEBACKER

1. LB JEREMIAH TROTTER JR.CLEMSON

Trotter is an incredibly smart linebacker who consistently puts himself in the right positions. However, his lack of length, size and explosiveness limit his NFL potential.

2. LB TOMMY EICHENBERGOHIO STATE

Eichenberg is a strong-side linebacker who can find work in an early-down role as a MIKE/SAM, specifically in a 4-3 defense. However, due to his lack of lateral mobility, you won't want him operating in coverage in late-down, sub-package situations.

3. LB JORDAN MAGEETEMPLE

Magee approaches the middle linebacker position like he is the quarterback of the defense (he played QB in high school). He is fast and tough, and he communicates well. However, he is on the smaller side in height, weight and length, which could limit full-time opportunities.

4. LB CEDRIC GRAYNORTH CAROLINA

Gray is an adequate athlete for WILL linebacker responsibilities, but his play recognition must improve to become an NFL starter.

5. LB JD BERTRANDNOTRE DAME

Bertrand is a tough, smart and competitive prospect, albeit undersized, who projects as a rotational/backup inside linebacker for 4-3 or 3-4 schemes.

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CORNERBACK

1. CB T.J. TAMPAIOWA STATE

Tampa's unique fluidity and size for a cornerback make him worthy of a top-75 pick. If he can clean up his footwork, he can be a starting outside cornerback with the potential to be an impact player.

2. CB KHYREE JACKSONOREGON

Jackson is an alluring prospect because his size and athletic combination don't come around often. However, he must anticipate routes better and try not to rely on his recovery speed as much. If he can do this, he can be a starting-caliber cornerback.

3. CB CAELEN CARSONWAKE FOREST

Carson lacks the long speed/recovery speed to play island coverage. He can be a CB2/3 as an off-coverage defender in a zone-heavy scheme, bringing good downhill closing speed and reliable tackling.

4. CB KRIS ABRAMS-DRAINEMISSOURI

Abrams-Draine has a lower weight percentile and is still learning the nuances and anticipation required to play the position at a high level, but he is a fluid athlete with a knack for making plays on the ball. He projects as a CB3 with CB2 potential in a zone-based defense, and he brings special teams experience.

5. CB JARVIS BROWNLEELOUISVILLE

Brownlee is a competitive player who will be coveted by teams that run press coverage, but his middling long speed is a concern when it comes to him defending vertical routes from NFL athletes.

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SAFETY

1. S JADEN HICKS, WASHINGTON STATE

Hicks is a well-built strong safety who can play at all three levels of the field. He is a tone-setting tackler and has starting potential in two-safety systems, especially as a strong safety/robber over the middle.

2. S DADRION TAYLOR-DEMERSON, TEXAS TECH

Taylor-Demerson sees the back end of coverage with excellent vision and anticipation. However, his overall play speed must improve if he is to make plays at the NFL level.

3. S MALIK MUSTAPHAWAKE FOREST

Mustapha has a tone-setting skill set and mentality as a throwback strong safety. He does not have the fluidity or long speed to be relied upon in single-high roles, but his toughness, power and motor make him an ideal depth safety to draft and develop.

4. S KITAN OLADAPOOREGON STATE

Oladapo was one of college football's best run-defending safeties in 2023. His ability as a tackler gives him a chance to make an impact right away on special teams and in a rotational role.

5. S JOSH PROCTOROHIO STATE

Proctor has lined up in the slot, in the box and as a deep safety. He's a better run defender than he is in coverage, but at a minimum, he is capable of sticking around on special teams in the NFL.

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