With the NFL Combine and all college Pro Days completed, there is nothing more to see for NFL scouts and fans alike. NFL players climb and fall on draft boards, but that’s the name of the game. With many prospects having excellent seasons, here is the Courier’s pick of the three best players for each position.
Quarterbacks
- Cam Ward
Cameron Ward of the Miami Hurricanes had 4,313 passing yards on 454 attempts. He accumulated 39 passing touchdown passes and seven interceptions. His remarkable arm and pocket mobility makes him a contender for the first overall pick and my pick for the number one quarterback in this year’s draft class.
2. Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes had 4,134 passing yards on 413 attempts. He threw for 37 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Sanders also battled with a relatively poor offensive line, demonstrating his ability to play with a crumbling pocket. He is the most NFL-ready quarterback out of all candidates this year.
3. Jaxson Dart
Jaxson Dart of the Ole Miss Rebels had 4,279 passing yards on 398 attempts. He threw for 29 touchdowns and six interceptions. While these are good stats, Ole Miss often threw run-pass options, which did not fully showcase Dart’s potential.
Running Backs
- Ashton Jeanty
Ashton Jeanty of the Boise State Broncos had 2,607 yards on 374 attempts. He ran for 29 touchdowns with three lost fumbles. Jeanty has been the consensus RB1 due to his historic season, rushing for the second-most yards in college football history and finishing as the runner-up for the Heisman.
2. TreVeyon Henderson
TreVeyon Henderson of the Ohio State Buckeyes had 1,016 yards on 144 attempts. He ran for 10 touchdowns on zero fumbles. Henderson has not been seen as the RB2 of this draft class by many, but due to his sheer talent and dedication, whatever team drafts him will be able to implement him immediately.
3. Quinshon Judkins
Quinshon Judkins of the Ohio State Buckeyes had 1,060 yards on 194 attempts. He ran for 14 touchdowns on one fumble. Quinshon ran a 4.48 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and has an 11-foot broad jump as a 221-pound back. Judkins is the definition of a day one starter. He split a backfield with TreVeyon Henderson and has speed you can not teach.
Wide Receivers
- Nick Nash
Nick Nash of the San José State Spartans had 1,382 yards on 104 catches. He caught 16 touchdowns on a 5.5% drop rate. Nash earned the CFB triple crown, having the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns by the end of the season. Many don’t view Nash as the number one candidate, but with this stat line, that’s like saying Ja’Marr Chase wasn’t the best receiver last year. In my opinion, he is the most NFL-ready pass catcher.
2. Tetairoa McMillan
Tetairoa McMillan of the Arizona Wildcats had 1,319 yards on 84 catches. He caught eight touchdowns with a drop rate of 4.7%. Through 3 years at Arizona, McMillan set the school’s all-time career receiving yards record and is considered by many to be the best overall receiver and a day-one starter.
3. Matthew Golden
Matthew Golden of the Texas Longhorns had 987 yards on 58 catches. He caught nine touchdowns with a drop rate of 6.5%. He is this high due to his uncoachable speed, as evidenced by his 4.29 40-yard dash. His ceiling is somewhere around Tyreek Hill, but his floor is unknown.
Tight Ends
- Tyler Warren
Tyler Warren of the Penn State Nittany Lions had 1,233 yards on 104 catches. He caught eight touchdowns this year. Warren is the unanimous TE1 because of his size at 6 feet 6, 260 lbs, and his hands at tight end. Warren is seen as one of the most outstanding tight end prospects of all time and is someone to look out for this year.
2. Colston Loveland
Colston Loveland of the Michigan Wolverines had 582 yards on 56 catches with five touchdowns. Loveland’s stats may not seem the best, but he set records for most receptions as a tight end for Michigan and spent a portion of the 2024 season injured.
3. Mason Taylor
Mason Taylor of the Arizona Wildcats had 546 yards on 55 catches and two touchdowns this year. While Taylor is a tier behind the two others, he is not someone to ignore this year. His rare and composed grace of a man at his stature makes him a top-three tight end for this year.
Offensive Linemen
- Will Campbell
Will Campbell of the LSU Tigers gave up 18 pressures and two sacks. As the best candidate for offensive lineman, Campbell added to his resume by running a sub-5-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He is my favorite offensive lineman for this class.
2. Armand Membou
Armand Membou of the Missouri Tigers allowed 26 pressures and three sacks. Membou ran a 4.91 40-yard dash at over 330 pounds; that kind of speed as an offensive lineman is unheard of.
3. Josh Simmons
Josh Simmons of the Ohio State Buckeyes allowed one pressure and zero sacks. These stats are incredible, but Simmons was taken out due to injury quite early in the season, which leaves him at number three on this list.
Defensive Lineman
- Mason Graham
Mason Graham of the Michigan Wolverines had 24 solo tackles and 3.5 sacks. Graham is regarded as one of the best defensive tackle prospects of all time, exemplified by his athleticism at one of the most demanding positions in football. His ability in the run game makes him the pick for DT1.
2. Walter Nolen
Walter Nolen of the Ole Miss Rebels had 26 solo tackles and 6.5 sacks. His ability to sack the quarterback and create pressure makes him an excellent candidate for the second-best defensive tackle.
3. Derrick Harmon
Derrick Harmon of the Oregon Ducks had 27 solo tackles and five sacks. His ability to shed the block from offensive linemen is exceptional, so he is the pick for number 3.
Edge/Outside Linebackers
- Abdul Carter
Abdul Carter of the Penn State Nittany Lions recorded 43 solo tackles and 12 sacks. Even though these stats are fantastic, he is constantly double-teamed due to his ability to beat everyone on the edge, drawing comparisons to former Penn State defensive end Micah Parsons.
2. Jalon Walker
Jalon Walker of the Georgia Bulldogs had 38 solo tackles and 6.5 sacks. This is great for an edge; his athleticism is also unteachable, making him a major candidate for any team to start day one.
3. Mike Green
Mike Green of the Marshall Thundering Herd had 38 solo tackles and 17 sacks. Green is a fantastic candidate for the edge position, but with the quality of his competition, he falls to 3rd.
Defensive Backs
- Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter from Colorado had 24 tackles and four interceptions. Hunter won the Heisman award due to his ability to play defense as well as wide receiver. Hunter has unteachable ball-hawking skills and the accolades to prove it.
2. Will Johnson
Will Johnson of the Michigan Wolverines had 25 tackles and three interceptions. Johnson was an integral part of Michigan’s national championship win last year. With his ability to read routes, his ceiling could be as high as someone like Pat Surtain II.
3. Malaki Starks
Malaki Starks of the Georgia Bulldogs had 52 tackles and one interception. His ability to read the field makes him the best safety and 3rd best DB in this year’s draft.
With the 2024 Draft long in the rearview, it is time to look forward to the 2025 draft, taking place from April 24-26, and see where the best players land.
