As part of my post-draft wrap up, I like to revisit my initial top-50 draft board from August to examine the trajectory of prospects.
I always try to be transparent with my evaluation process and reasoning for prospect rankings. A preseason top 50 is a starting point and this look-back exercise helps illustrate each prospect’s journey from where they started to where they finished. Fluctuations are expected when new evidence is presented during the season and pre-draft process.
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The prospect ranking below represents my top-50 ranking from last August. Also noted is where each player finished in my final top 300 this past April and their ultimate draft result.
1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Final ranking: No. 1
Where he was drafted: No. 1 (Chicago Bears)
Williams started at No. 1, finished at No. 1 — and was drafted No. 1. Time will tell if he lives up to the high billing, but there were no surprises in this draft cycle regarding the top prospect or the Bears’ pick.
GO DEEPER2024 NFL Draft team-by-team rankings: Best and worst classes, from 1 to 322. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Final ranking: No. 2
Where he was drafted: No. 4 (Arizona Cardinals)
At this time last year, Harrison was the clear top non-quarterback prospect in the 2024 draft class, and that came to fruition in April when the Cardinals selected him after quarterbacks went 1-2-3. It was very difficult to talk about Harrison as a prospect without sounding hyperbolic. In most years, he would have been the No. 1 overall player on my board — but he just happened to be in the same class as Williams.
3. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Final ranking: No. 4
Where he was drafted: No. 3 (New England Patriots)
Studying Maye last summer, I was hooked almost immediately by his Justin Herbert-like skill set. Some areas of his game aren’t as fully developed, which kept him locked in as QB2 (and explained why he was ultimately the third quarterback drafted). But if I am going to take a swing on a quarterback, I’m going to bet on the high-end physical and mental traits, which are exactly what Maye has to offer.
4. Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Final ranking: No. 12
Where he was drafted: No. 11 (New York Jets)
Had he entered the 2023 NFL Draft, Fashanu likely would have been the first offensive lineman drafted. Instead, he returned to school for another season of development and to earn his degree. He had a few rough patches on his 2023 tape (see the Ohio State game), which knocked him down a few spots in the final rankings, but his projection as a starting NFL left tackle stayed the same.
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5. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Final ranking: No. 19
Where he was drafted: No. 18 (Cincinnati Bengals)
Last summer, as I was working through my list of lesser-known underclassmen, I was blown away by Mims on the Georgia-Ohio State tape from the College Football Playoffs — Mims’ first career start. Despite the lack of experience, his traits were rare, and I was ready last August to plant my flag on Mims as a future high pick. Because of an ankle injury that knocked him out for six games in 2023, inexperience kept Mims from playing up to his gaudy preseason ranking. His rare traits still made him a top-20 pick, though.
6. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Final ranking: No. 7
Where he was drafted: No. 13 (Las Vegas Raiders)
Going back to Bowers’ freshman season at Georgia, scouts were asking themselves, “How early could this guy realistically be drafted?” Unsurprisingly, he fell out of the top 10 on draft day due to the position he plays, but he finished almost exactly where he started in the rankings.
GO DEEPERRaiders rookies hit 'elementary school,' but top pick Brock Bowers is a fast learner7. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Final ranking: No. 30
Where he was drafted: No. 41 (New Orleans Saints)
McKinstry put himself on the NFL map as a true freshman starter in Nick Saban’s secondary, then had an All-America sophom*ore year, which earned him this high preseason ranking. However, there was a stark difference in cover twitch and overall competitiveness on the 2023 tape between McKinstry and teammate Terrion Arnold, which contributed to McKinstry’s draft projection tumbling a tad (and to Arnold’s ascending). It was still surprising to see him fall out of the top 40.
8. Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Final ranking: No. 20
Where he was drafted: No. 19 (Los Angeles Rams)
Verse passed up a spot in last year’s first round to return to Tallahassee for his senior season. He didn’t make a substantial jump in on-field performance in 2023, which prevented his draft grade from climbing into the top 10. However, Verse played on a similar level in his two seasons at Florida State, which showcased his overall consistency and made him a comfortable first-round projection.
Jared Verse took over in the final minutes last night.
Well-timed (and disrespectful) speed-to-power! pic.twitter.com/iqRzCCV9XI
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) November 26, 2023
9. Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
Final ranking: No. 14
Where he was drafted: No. 17 (Minnesota Vikings)
Similar to Verse, Turner didn’t quite have the “wow” 2023 season to punch his ticket as a no-doubt top-10 pick. But he played at a high level that put him in the conversation to be the first defensive player drafted. Ultimately, Turner was the third defensive player taken, behind Laiatu Latu and Byron Murphy II.
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10. JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Final ranking: No. 13
Where he was drafted: No. 7 (Tennessee Titans)
Latham was an interesting test case throughout the process. The former five-star recruit is better than an average athlete, but he wasn’t considered an elite mover for his position and didn’t play left tackle at Alabama. (He also didn’t do any athletic testing pre-draft). However, he was arguably the strongest player in the entire draft and put promising play on tape at a high-demand position, which earned him a spot in the top seven.
11. Kalen King, CB, Penn State
Final ranking: No. 189
Where he was drafted: No. 255 (Green Bay Packers)
To quote an NFL scout on King: “I kept giving him chances, and he kept me wanting more.” After King posted 21 passes defended as a sophom*ore in 2022, there was plenty of buzz in the scouting community about him as a future first-round prospect. However, he struggled living up to those expectations — his 2023 tape was far too volatile, his Senior Bowl performance was underwhelming, and then he ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the combine.
King plummeted in my rankings and was off the board for multiple teams. The Packers took him with the third-to-final pick in the draft.
12. Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Final ranking: No. 24
Where he was drafted: No. 30 (Baltimore Ravens)
With his elite speed and fluid movements, Wiggins earned a sky-high grade in my initial rankings. That outlook changed slightly throughout the season because of my concerns that Wiggins’ skinny, underpowered body type might become more of a problem versus NFL-level physicality. Even so, Wiggins has the athletic tools to quickly become a blanket corner in the NFL.
13. J.T. Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
Tuimoloau is one of four Buckeyes in this top 50 who opted to return to Columbus for another season. I don’t expect him to be ranked this high on my initial top-50 board for the 2025 NFL Draft, but he will be in the first-round mix.
GO DEEPEREarly 2025 NFL mock draft: Who's QB1? Plus, two Michigan prospects crack the top five14. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Final ranking: No. 3
Where he was drafted: No. 6 (New York Giants)
In the comments section last summer, I was told I was “too high” on Nabers. In hindsight, I actually was much too low. That changed, as Nabers eventually finished as a top-three prospect for me. The Giants drafted a special player.
15. Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State
Final ranking: No. 26
Where he was drafted: No. 21 (Miami Dolphins)
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Coming off the bench in 2022, Robinson had double-digit tackles for loss and a handful of sacks, indicating he was poised for a breakout 2023. Despite becoming a full-time starter, though, his backfield production declined — but his intoxicating first-step burst stayed on full display and stamped his ticket for the first round.
16. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Final ranking: No. 5
Where he was drafted: No. 5 (Los Angeles Chargers)
Considering he didn’t become a full-time left tackle until his freshman year in South Bend, it wasn’t surprising that Alt was still connecting the technical dots of playing the position on his 2022 film. Throughout the 2023 season, he answered almost all of my concerns, showing instinctive recovery and finish to match his physical talent. Alt’s selection in the top five was warranted.
17. Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Final ranking: No. 25
Where he was drafted: No. 40 (Philadelphia Eagles)
With DeJean’s athletic gifts and 2022 production (five interceptions), the expectations were high going into his junior season. For the most part, he lived up to the hype as the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year in 2023. But a late-season injury and positional questions dropped him a little bit in the rankings — and on draft weekend.
GO DEEPERHow do Cooper DeJean's skills fit at the next level? NFL Draft film study18. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
After posting 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022, Egbuka entered last season as a projected top-25 pick, according to NFL scouts. But he battled injury as a junior, including tightrope ankle surgery midway through the season. Egbuka will be back with the Buckeyes for 2024 and looking to return to the first-round conversation.
19. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Final ranking: No. 21
Where he was drafted: No. 10 (Minnesota Vikings)
From start to finish, my thoughts (and ranking) of McCarthy stayed consistent. Once he became Michigan’s starter in 2022, it was clear he had the physical tools and intangibles to become an NFL starter. His evaluation was always going to feel incomplete in a run-focused offense, but that didn’t take away from McCarthy’s enticing upside.
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20. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
Ewers took a healthy step in his development during his second season as the Longhorns’ starter, but he made the right choice returning to Austin for another year of seasoning. How Ewers plays in 2024 will determine where he is ultimately drafted next April.
21. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
Carter won’t be for everyone as an NFL prospect due to his lack of size, but he is hyper-athletic with twitch and closing burst. He returned to Clemson for another chance to convince teams he is a first-round player.
22. Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Final ranking: No. 59
Where he was drafted: No. 55 (Miami Dolphins)
Last summer, NFL teams were optimistic about Paul, with some scouts believing he would be in the conversation for the 2024 class’ top-ranked senior prospect. However, the concerns on his tape heading into his final season remained and dropped him to Day 2.
23. Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA
Final ranking: No. 22
Where he was drafted: No. 15 (Indianapolis Colts)
Latu had an All-America 2022 season and followed it up with an even better 2023. But he was always going to be a tough prospect to rank because of his medical history. Based strictly on his on-field impact, it wasn’t a surprise that Latu was the first defensive player drafted.
UCLA Edge Laiatu Latu is such a nightmare to block.
Technician + explosive hands + red-hot motor. pic.twitter.com/ywbGvNiMkw
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 18, 2023
24. Josh Newton, CB, TCU
Final ranking: No. 154
Where he was drafted: No. 149 (Cincinnati Bengals)
Newton was a prospect who had plenty of buzz among NFL scouts last summer, and my healthy preseason ranking was a bet on him taking another jump as a senior. Unfortunately, he didn’t live up to those expectations.
25. Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
Final ranking: No. 28
Where he was drafted: No. 36 (Washington Commanders)
I couldn’t quite get on board with Newton as a top-20 prospect, but he was an easy player to like based on the last two years of film. He fell a few picks further than expected on draft weekend, but his pre-draft ranking was pretty consistent from start to finish.
GO DEEPER2024 NFL Draft sleepers who could make an instant impact as rookies26. Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Final ranking: No. 57
Where he was drafted: No. 101 (Carolina Panthers)
The on-field impact in 2023 didn’t quite live up to the expectations for Sanders, and he couldn’t lock up the TE2 label in a wide-open tight end class. Several teams (including the Panthers) came close to drafting him in the third round, but Sanders fell through the cracks into Day 3.
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27. Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
Final ranking: No. 79
Where he was drafted: No. 99 (Los Angeles Rams)
After leading the team in tackles and interceptions two seasons ago, Kinchens was considered a strong contender to be the top safety in the 2024 NFL Draft. And though he played well for the most part in 2023, his mistakes shined a bright light on his mediocre athleticism and range — which made him a third-rounder, not a first-rounder.
Riley Leonard will be Notre Dame’s quarterback in 2024 after transferring from Duke. (Joseph Weiser / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
28. Riley Leonard, QB, Duke
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
Leonard was the catalyst of Duke’s offense, which outplayed expectations and helped the Blue Devils to eight wins last season. However, there weren’t a ton of excitable, NFL-level throws on his 2023 tape, which has evaluators taking more of a wait-and-see approach as Leonard gets ready to take over as Notre Dame’s QB.
29. Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
Mondon is an athletic mover who rarely misses tackles, so he is an easy player to like. Can he become more of a playmaker this upcoming season to put his name back in the top-50 conversation?
30. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Final ranking: No. 37
Where he was drafted: No. 33 (Buffalo Bills)
At this time last year, it felt like Coleman was one of the best-kept secrets in college football. Not only did he flash big-time play on his 2022 tape at Michigan State to earn a high ranking last August, he lived up to it at Florida State and was drafted in the expected range.
GO DEEPERGraham: As Bills fans paint over Stefon Diggs era, expectations soar for rookie Keon Coleman31. Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Final ranking: No. 27
Where he was drafted: No. 29 (Dallas Cowboys)
With only a handful of starts on his resume last summer, Guyton was another of college football’s best-kept secrets — but not to NFL scouts. My high ranking of him preseason was based on his raw traits, which are what ultimately made him a first-round pick.
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32. Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Final ranking: No. 40
Where he was drafted: No. 63 (Kansas City Chiefs)
A former five-star recruit at Oregon, Suamataia had plenty of momentum as a prospect last summer after a promising first year as BYU’s right tackle. However, his junior year was a mixed bag, which is why his ranking dropped.
33. Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Final ranking: No. 62
Where he was drafted: No. 42 (Houston Texans)
Lassiter was the quintessential “trust the tape” prospect. On his film last summer, he looked like a potential first-rounder. But his lack of top-end speed was a question mark, and his 4.6 40-yard dash didn’t help answer that concern. Nonetheless, the Texans might look smart for this pick.
34. Leonard Taylor III, DT, Miami
Final ranking: No. 155
Where he was drafted: Undrafted
From his freshman season on, Taylor created a buzz for the Hurricanes. If you put together a highlight package of his 15 best plays, he’d look like a first-round player because of the disruptive flashes. But the lack of consistency was too troubling to overlook.
GO DEEPER2024 NFL best UDFA fits: One undrafted prospect to watch on each roster35. Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
Sawyer entered last season as a prospective Day 2 prospect trying to prove he belonged in the first round. I don’t think he quite got there, which is one of the reasons he returned to school. Time will tell if he can take a jump in his development this season, but regardless, he has an NFL future.
36. McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
Final ranking: No. 237
Where he was drafted: No. 97 (Cincinnati Bengals)
Jackson was another defensive tackle prospect who had early-round flashes on tape and created buzz among NFL scouts last summer. However, his 2023 tape was underwhelming, and his draft process didn’t go well in the eyes of some NFL teams, which led to a free fall in my rankings. But in a class with only a few draftable nose tackles, Jackson was destined to be overdrafted.
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37. Maason Smith, DT, LSU
Final ranking: No. 64
Where he was drafted: No. 48 (Jacksonville Jaguars)
A former five-star recruit, Smith’s Freshman All-America season in 2021 put him on the fast track to becoming a highly drafted NFL prospect. However, he missed almost all of 2022 with a torn ACL, which clouded his projection last summer. Though he returned healthy, Smith’s impact didn’t quite live up to the first-round expectations. But NFL teams covet 6-foot-5, 300-pound athletes — and those types were in short supply in the 2024 draft class.
38. Jordan Morgan, OT/G, Arizona
Final ranking: No. 29
Where he was drafted: No. 25 (Green Bay Packers)
Morgan had a chance to be a first-rounder in the 2023 NFL Draft, but a late-season ACL injury (November 2022) forced him to return to school. He not only returned to form in ’23, he continued to get better and had his best season, which stamped his ticket for Round 1.
39. Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
Final ranking: No. 36
Where he was drafted: No. 49 (Cincinnati Bengals)
Jenkins became a full-time starter in 2022 and showed the traits of a future NFL starter, following in the footsteps of his father. He ended up falling a little further than expected on draft weekend but still landed in the top 50 (and I’ll bet he outplays that slot).
#Michigan DT Kris Jenkins playing peek-a-boo with the RG. Controls and sheds the block and makes the stop in the hole.
With his muscle twitch, I can’t wait to see his testing numbers next week in Indy. pic.twitter.com/C48bzh7N0e
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 21, 2024
40. Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Final ranking: No. 68
Where he was drafted: No. 47 (New York Giants)
Nubin surprised NFL scouts by returning to Minnesota for his fifth year in 2023. With a team-best five interceptions, he helped himself in his final season for the Gophers. His mediocre testing numbers soured his draft grade for several teams — but not for the Giants, who drafted him closer to his preseason ranking.
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41. Zak Zinter, G, Michigan
Final ranking: No. 131
Where he was drafted: No. 85 (Cleveland Browns)
Zinter entered the 2023 season as a solid Day 2 prospect, and his play last season only cemented that projection. However, a late-season broken leg against Ohio State clouded his draft projection, with some teams believing he would fall to Day 3. The Browns obviously felt comfortable about Zinter’s medicals and recovery.
42. Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State
Final ranking: No. 38
Where he was drafted: No. 73 (Dallas Cowboys)
In my rankings, Beebe finished very close to where he started last summer. He wasn’t a fit for several schemes because of his lack of length, which caused his fall on draft weekend. But I think the Cowboys got a steal in the mid-third round.
GO DEEPERNFL Draft 2024 winners and losers: Eagles, Steelers stand out; why did Raiders pass on QB?43. Calen Bullock, S, USC
Final ranking: No. 105
Where he was drafted: No. 78 (Houston Texans)
Bullock was a polarizing prospect among NFL teams. His coverage range popped on film, which is why he made my preseason top 50. But the missed tackles (and the frame of a cornerback) were a major issue for several teams. The Texans just weren’t one of them.
44. Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
Final ranking: No. 102
Where he was drafted: No. 174 (Dallas Cowboys)
Based on his 2022 tape, Carson was a player on the rise entering the 2023 season. He continued to show flashes on his film, although he didn’t take the necessary steps to lock himself into the top-100 mix. Despite an average skill set, Carson was terrific value for Dallas at pick 174.
45. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Final ranking: No. 6
Where he was drafted: No. 9 (Chicago Bears)
Odunze was an easy player to like last summer, but his dominant performances didn’t come until the 2023 season. He really struggled with contested balls on the 2022 film, which was the main reason I didn’t rank him higher in my initial top 50. He was outstanding finishing through contact this past season, however, turning a weakness into a strength and becoming a legitimate top-10 prospect.
GO DEEPERBears rookie camp: Caleb Williams-Rome Odunze connection, Austin Booker's length and more46. Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
With Blake Corum injured late in the 2022 season, Edwards was dominant as the Wolverines’ lead back, averaging 173.3 rushing yards over the final three games. However, his impact was underwhelming in 2023, as he combined for just 746 yards of total offense (while playing behind Corum) and smartly returned to Ann Arbor for his senior season.
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47. Bralen Trice, Edge, Washington
Final ranking: No. 82
Where he was drafted: No. 74 (Atlanta Falcons)
Few college pass rushers were as productive as Trice over the past two seasons, which helped him sneak into my preseason top 50. He dipped a tad in my final rankings (and on draft weekend) because of mediocre athletic traits, but his heavy hands and rushing know-how are NFL-quality.
48. Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
Aside from a pivotal interception against Missouri, Stackhouse didn’t have a ton of splash plays on his 2023 tape, which led him back to Athens for his fifth season. Several scouts had second-round grades on him at this time last year.
49. Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
Final ranking: N/A (returned to school)
In terms of natural talent, Jackson is one of the best offensive linemen in college football. But his technique and timing aren’t on an NFL level just yet, and Jackson wisely returned to Columbus for his senior season.
50. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Final ranking: No. 77
Where he was drafted: No. 83 (Los Angeles Rams)
Corum started the season as my RB2, and that’s how he finished — just a little further down the overall rankings. He is an easy back to appreciate because of his quick, urgent decisions and low center of gravity to maneuver through congestion.
(Top photos of Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr.: Eric Canha / The Republic via USA Today; Michael Reaves / Getty Images; Rob Schumacher / The Republic via USA Today)
