DRAFT TRACKER 2024

Bailey is a productive inside linebacker with below-average size and average pursuit speed. The tackle totals are good but would be much more impressive if he played with better anticipation and play recognition. He would benefit from operating with better downhill aggression to stay ahead of the blocking scheme. He needs to become more adept at slipping blocks, as he loses too often when blockers get up to him. Bailey's run defense falls below the mark, but he’s very natural and effective in coverage. He’s a likely undrafted free agent who needs to improve his run take-on before he can make a squad.

Jerrell is nowhere near ready to take an NFL snap, but his traits and athleticism might be worth a developmental plan. To be sure, Jerrell is a project. However, he should be able to improve as both a run and pass blocker with a year of technique work. He’s limber enough with good range to climb to linebackers or set out to edge rushers. Jerrell is unlikely to be drafted, but his tools might entice a team to bring him in for a longer look in camp.

Five-year starter who was the heartbeat of the UTSA defense. Wisdom is a fiery competitor whose aggression can sometimes lead to penalties and missteps in positioning. His size and length will be a concern for teams, but he’s physical in both run support and coverage. Wisdom’s lack of ball production stems, in part, from his unwillingness to trust his eyes and squeeze catch points. To make a roster, Wisdom will need to find a level of disciplined urgency to minimize his negative reps and maximize any advantages from his aggressive demeanor.

Pinckney spent six years in college and will turn 25 during the 2024 season. He struggles to beat press, won’t outrun most cornerbacks and is below average as a route runner. However, Pinckney also happens to be an elite contested-catch winner with finishing talent to flip a 50/50 ball in his favor. He is big and strong with an innate understanding of body control and timing to win the catch. He has strong hands and plays with impressive focus and competitive spirit. He might need to pack on weight and convert to an F tight end to have a shot at playing in the league.

Jackson is an edge defender who plays with some firmness into contact but is lacking in quickness and athleticism. He doesn’t have much arm length, so he can absorb blocks with balance but struggles to get off of them quickly. He doesn’t have the short-area movement as a run defender or pass rusher to make many plays in the backfield, but he can dart off the snap and get into gaps at times. He’s had a history of injuries and his athletic testing was unimpressive, so he faces an uphill battle to earn a spot in the league.

Team leader with loads of football in his background. Latham is a scrappy run blocker who stays connected to blocks with grip strength more than core strength. He works well with his center or tackle on double-teams and can strain to neutralize as a base blocker. He ends up on the ground too often and can be pulled off balance due to his leaning. He plays with enough anchor and technique to hang on in pass protection but is slow reacting to twists and movements across his face. Latham is an average talent with below-average traits who has a shot at fighting for a back-end roster spot as a guard.

Ugwoegbu played primarily on the edge at Houston, but he’s a better fit as an inside linebacker. He diagnoses quickly and plays with good recognition but needs to balance the cerebral with the physical in how he takes on blockers. He lacks the athleticism and speed to chase and cover, which could overshadow the physical traits.

Richard’s dual-threat potential is appealing, but it’s hard to project his production as translatable to the league. He has good arm strength but is too often tardy with his delivery and needs to throw with much better placement and accuracy. He has a nose for the end zone when he gets close, but his work as a passer might not be able to carry him into that position as a pro.

Team captain with outstanding size but potentially too many holes in his game to stay at cornerback. Johnson has definitely improved his technique, but a fundamental lack of coverage fluidity and deep speed will be hard to cover up as a pro. Johnson could be seen as a developmental prospect whose tackling talent and size give a team an opportunity to develop him as a Cover 2 cornerback or in a transition to safety if he can run with functional speed.

Sixth-year senior with a nose for the football and a feel for how to play linebacker. Andreessen is well-schooled from a technical standpoint, playing with square pads, quick hands and a desire to leverage his gaps. His pro day results will create additional attention for him, but extended tape study creates concerns regarding his lateral quickness and range outside the box as a run stopper. He’s built for special teams consideration and has a good football IQ, but he will be overmatched in man coverage. Andreessen is a productive college linebacker with intriguing traits but a challenging road to the NFL ahead.

Productive tackler with good size and loads of experience on the back end. Logan’s game is set on aggressive near the line but passive in space. He’s a willing tackler near the box and is quick to drop down as an add-on run stopper when he’s at moderate depth pre-snap. He’s an average tackler in run support and, after the catch, lacks pursuit speed to close off angles in space. He plays too upright in space and lacks the change-of-direction quickness and athletic package teams look for to handle big-space coverage. Logan will check some boxes, but maybe not enough to make a team.

Slightly undersized three-year starting center whose lack of leverage and play strength could make the NFL game a tough nut to crack. Eguakun has the quickness to get into space as a pulling center or second-level climber but needs to do a better job of dominating those targets once he strikes. He’s a fighter and a strainer at the point of attack but it’s unlikely to be enough when facing off against a willful NFL nose tackle. Bull rushers will cause trouble for him due to his lack of lower-body anchor, but his sets and punch are fairly well-schooled. Eguakun could be a later-round pick but might not have enough marks in his favor to make a roster.

Offensive tackle with decent athletic traits and above-average physical traits, but his game tape simply doesn't show enough consistency. Henderson's size and length will check boxes, but his play against the likes of Iowa, Alabama and opponents at the Senior Bowl left a lot to be desired. He needs to improve his anchor strength in protection, but he appears to have enough lower-body drive to generate some movement in the run game. Ultimately, an inordinate amount of mental mistakes and a lack of instincts will be hard for offensive line coaches to overlook.

Slot target on the next level with rare testing speed but an unpolished skill set as a route-runner. Tipton is tight-hipped and struggles to elude press. His routes are raw but could improve quickly with NFL coaching. His ball skills shine, with an ability to track, create space and lay out for difficult catches. Tipton showed blazing speed at his pro day, but it’s hard to find that same caliber of speed on tape. The ball skills and speed will get him a look, and making a practice squad would be a good first step for him as a developmental project.

Pickering carries an underdeveloped frame and below-average musculation, but he utilizes his length and determination to get to the football. His lack of contact balance sees him end up on the ground too often, but he somehow finds himself in on plays despite lacking key elements associated with success. He’s not a powerful gap-clogger and is missing first-step quickness for disruption as a run defender or pass rusher, so making a squad will be an uphill battle.

Harper has been a roaming box safety, playing for four different schools in the past six seasons. His aggression and physicality near the line of scrimmage are his calling card and his testing numbers are sure to gain some attention from teams who lean heavily into traits when searching for priority free agents. He can handle some coverage details and might get better in that area with more time, but his best chance will be to impress as a hard-charging special-teams ace.

Pines is a girthy guard who has played a high number of snaps over the course of his collegiate career, which included time with Sam Houston State and Baylor. He has long arms and strong hands to maneuver opponents around, and he's powerful enough to neutralize challenges heads-up. He doesn't have enough foot quickness to make lateral blocks and could struggle to play quickly enough to be an effective pulling guard. His length and width give him advantages in redirecting rushers away from the quarterback, but he'll be frequently outmatched against hand-fighters and edge-to-edge interior rushers. Pines' size, length and power work in his favor, but his limitations work sharply against him.

A track standout with an NFL body type and traits, Stona is trying to become a pro football player with no competitive football in his background. As a discus and shot put thrower, Stona possesses explosive hips and above-average core strength to pair with very long arms and huge hands. He will likely be targeted as a developmental project at tight end, where he will have to learn to block. He ran and jumped well at his pro day, but he looked uneasy running and catching in drills. If he’s committed to making it, he might be worth prioritizing as an undrafted free agent.

Stand-up rush linebacker prospect and team captain who comes from NFL bloodline. Stone ran decently and displayed good-lower body explosion at his pro day, but on tape, his movement can be too gradual and not sudden enough. He plays hard and gives good effort against much bigger blockers, but he is overwhelmed by size and brute force as a run defender. Stone lacks burst and bend to threaten at the top of the rush and doesn’t have enough go-to moves and counters to beat NFL tackles.

An edge defender with a fairly productive run at both Wyoming and USC, Byrd fails to stand out physically or athletically on tape. He plays with solid aggression and play strength but finds himself entangled with blockers more than he should. He can be creative when attacking tackles at the top of the rush, but he struggled to get much done when tasked with taking on some of the more talented opponents on the schedule. Byrd possesses certain play features that are worthy of consideration, but he might not have enough above-average qualities to make much of a mark in the league.

Woods is missing the size and length to stay outside, so he will need to prove that his quickness can override his average speed from the slot. He’s patient from press and has adequate short-area footwork to stay close to most routes. When he falls behind, he’s unlikely to make up the difference against NFL competition. Jump balls can eat him up against receivers with size. Overall, his athletic ability appears to be good enough for consideration, but there might be too many holes for defensive coaches to poke in his game.

Five-year starter who is more durable and reliable than he is athletic or skilled as a pro prospect. Nester carries an NFL frame with adequate length, but his feet are slow, and his athletic profile drops below the functional levels expected on the next level. Nester is unable to succeed as a move blocker and pass protector with range and might not be strong enough to generate the push needed to appeal to power teams.

Wiley has good size and can finish with some thump, but he’s missing key elements to be a successful NFL runner. He struggles with reading fronts in outside zone. Playing with one-cut decisiveness and burst, he might be better suited in a gap-oriented running scheme. He’s smooth when he gets up to the second level but can be too slow in getting there. He lacks play speed and short-area elusiveness to create for himself but has been impressive putting the ball in the paint as a runner and pass catcher. Wiley has some third-down potential but will need to prove he can play faster and with better vision to stay ahead of NFL defenses.

Reed has impressive career production but lacks NFL traits for the position. He benefited from a scheme that featured almost 30 percent of his throws targeted behind the line of scrimmage in 2023 -- and he still completed under 60 percent of his passes, per Pro Football Focus. While his receivers dropped too many easy throws, Reed often lacked the touch and accuracy needed to make their jobs easier. He's a competitor who can slip away from pressure and make plays out of structure, but he simply doesn't have the arm to make the intermediate and deep throws required for the position in the NFL.

Bryant will be a 25-year-old rookie after spending six seasons in college. He has good size and enough arm strength, but his long stride and issues operating against pressure can create inconsistencies with accuracy and ball placement. He throws with adequate anticipation when he’s protected and is at his best in a rhythmic, controlled passing game. He’ll have a chance to fight for a QB3 spot in camp.

Long-limbed down safety whose pedestrian timed speed and above-average size could force a position change to linebacker. Isbell is quick to diagnose and flow downhill to the action and is a willing hitter, but his pursuit angles and tackle strength both need upgrading to eliminate missed tackles. His coverage background and ball production could give him an advantage when asked to match up against pass-catching tight ends. Isbell might need to earn his way as an undrafted free agent but he has some elements to work with as a potential practice-squad talent.

Linebacker with average size and good production that doesn't always reflect his consistency of play. Gibbs falls below the cutoff line as an NFL athlete, lacking explosiveness and suddenness in his play. The instincts and paths to the action often create inefficiencies as a run defender, and he doesn't have the athleticism to handle man coverage asks in the passing game. The college production is a nice starting point, but he might not have the athleticism or skill level needed to make a roster.

Baugh is an athletic and undersized interior defensive lineman. He has pretty good play strength for his size but is lacking the mass and anchor to hold his spot against NFL force. While his quickness popped in pro-day testing, he needs to come off the ball earlier and with better explosiveness both forward and laterally against move blocks. Baugh isn’t going to overpower opposing blockers as a pass rusher, but he does play with good activity and change of direction in space.

Thompson’s lack of guard experience could be an issue for him, as he will need to prove to NFL teams that he can play with the pad level and hand quickness to survive inside. He’s athletic as a move blocker, but he’s narrow in his upper body and has shorter arms, which creates opportunities for defenders to beat his blocks along his edges.

Hearing Pline is a former basketball player might initially cause evaluators’ ears to perk up, but he fails to overwhelm coverages with athleticism and above-the-rim ball skills. He’s tall with an athletic frame but needs to get much stronger to keep from getting bounced around by defenders. He’s unable to sustain blocks for long and lacks the necessary aggression to do battle with the bullies in the league. While he showed continual improvement as a pass catcher this past season, it might not be enough to create a legitimate camp opportunity.

With average size and instincts, Speights appeared to be more comfortable in the comfort of the Oregon State defense than he was at LSU in 2023. He can be hit or miss in reading play design and finding his best positioning to make plays and he tends to sit back and wait a hair too long. He plays with active feet and good lateral slide quickness and rarely drifts into traffic unnecessarily. He sees what he hits in the box but lacks agility as an open-field tackler and can be exploited in coverage. The pre-2023 tape is better, but he might not be enough of a downhill alpha and playmaker to garner draft attention.

Sixth-year senior with stops at Notre Dame, Texas and LSU. Oghoufo possesses a tapered frame with long arms and a leaner lower body. While he lacks anchor in his base, he avoids being centered and driven off the ball thanks to well-timed punches and an ability to play around blockers. However, he doesn’t have the burst to restrict outside runs or threaten the edge as a rusher. While he’s a try-hard player, he’s not skilled enough as a rusher and might lack the dynamic athleticism needed to create advantages against NFL opposition.

Linear receiver with good size but several holes to fill to be a “make-it” prospect at the next level. Keyton played all five seasons at Tennessee, with the bulk of his production landing over the last two seasons. He’s not bad getting off of press coverage, but he’s a build-up runner lacking early acceleration. His route-running and ball skills will need a serious upgrade.

An outside cornerback in college, Stephens will need to play inside in the NFL due to a lack of size. His outstanding interception production (16) over the past two seasons, combined with a strong pro day performance, will force teams to take a deeper dive. He has twitchy feet but his technique is messy in coverage. He needs to improve his footwork, play with patient hips and do a better job of squeezing route breaks against slot receivers. While there are noteworthy elements to consider, his game tape is too rough right now.

Burgess has the size, testing and production to create some league interest. He thrived against a lower level of competition but plays with a consistently competitive demeanor. His route-running is very raw for a player with his level of experience and his testing numbers don’t really match his movements on tape. However, his pro day performance could earn him a look as an undrafted free agent who might have more to offer at the slot position with additional schooling.

Powerful and thick with an old-school mentality as an interior linebacker, Njongmeta is limited by heavier feet and a lack of speed or agility. He's physical in block take-ons and shows an ability to crash through gaps as a run blitzer, but his impact on a game will diminish once the action leaves the box. He's decent at reading the run design but misses too many tackles against runners with wiggle. Njongmeta might appeal to teams desiring depth as a two-down thumper, but he might not have enough functional cover talent to be more than that.

Linear edge defender lacking ideal size and functional bend to translate his college production into the pros. Jibunor is tough but limited, as he struggles with change of direction in pursuit and bending the edge as a rusher. He has an unusually long wingspan, which can create early advantages when he throws his hands on time, but he’ll need to add more weight to his frame to hold up at the point of attack. Jibunor lacks the creativity and burst needed to pry open sack opportunities on the next level and might need to prove himself as an undrafted free agent.

Box safety with the toughness and play strength to play near the line and get his nose dirty against the run. Kane has decent straight-line speed and was an explosive leaper at his pro day. However, he struggles to transition and match route-runners and lacks the anticipation to squeeze the catch space often enough. Teams will need to have a narrowly focused role for Kane as a special teams performer and dime linebacker who can cover underneath and survey the terrain for screen passes and draw plays. The athletic testing and production are solid, but scheme limitations could cost him.

Man-cover corner with below-average size who can press or play off coverage. Boatwright can be a smooth and twitchy athlete when his feet are right, but too often he gets caught with premature hips/foot movement that sees him fall behind. He gives away too much route freedom to receivers and takes passive recovery angles that prevent him from making as many plays as he could. Boatwright has adequate deep speed but is missing the jets to make up for much lost ground. His testing numbers are worthy of consideration, but the tape says he has a long way to go.

The size, length and toughness all check out for Dooley, but he might not have enough functional athleticism to make it work at the next level. He is scrappy and finishes blocks with attitude when he gets the chance. He needs the action in front of him and won’t be much help if asked to climb up or into space due to his lack of quickness and agility. His footwork is often way too sloppy to survive against an edge-to-edge rush in the pros, but he does a nice job of playing with independent hands to help him reset and keep rushers occupied. Ultimately, Dooley falls below the mark when projecting his prospects in the NFL.

Productive three-year starter who has good size but below-average athletic features. Oliver put the ball in the paint at an impressive rate at Youngstown State, but he isn’t the voracious ball-winner you want him to be. He’ll struggle to get away from coverage on any of the three levels due to a lack of foot quickness, burst and top-end speed, but his ball skills do work in his favor at times. Based on his performance against Ohio State in 2023, it’s clear he’ll be forced to make a living by winning contested catches and that could be a hard sell in the NFL.

Big base end who might need to keep adding weight to become an interior tackle. McCarthy uses length to his advantage and was able to at East Stroudsburg, but he will line up across from much stiffer competition on the next level. He gets off the ball with decent quickness, but his leg stiffness is apparent when trying to bend the edge or change direction in run pursuit. McCarthy’s size, length and production are impressive, but he might not have the athleticism to make the jump to the pros.

Linebacker with the sense of urgency and nose for the football that helped him stack big production totals. Mitchell is patient and efficient in play diagnosis, but he needs to improve his hands and take-on strength to make up for his lack of short-area athleticism. He ran poorly at his pro day and that shows up on tape with his inability to maintain leverage when pursuing runners wide. Mitchell’s tackle numbers look great, but the missed tackles are an issue, as are his athletic deficiencies in coverage. Mitchell is unlikely to be drafted but should find his way into a camp.

Pure speedster with an impressive testing background as an athlete. Unfortunately for Burton, his on-field production never came close to matching his elite athletic traits. He’s too tight-hipped to run a varied route tree, lacks instincts and struggles with his hands whether the catch is contested or not. Still, explosive athletes deserve an extended look and teams might want to take a chance on developing him as a gadget option working deep and short as an undrafted free agent signee.

McCammon runs with a willingness to work between the tackles, but he’s a bumper-car runner lacking the proper vision and feel to get through run lanes without maximum contact. Also, he’s inconsistent as a finisher. There isn’t enough speed in his game to thrive as an outside runner, so he projects as a grinder with limited upside.

Long-limbed receiver who might not have the skill set or traits needed to uncover against NFL competition. Rosemy-Jacksaint played with improved ball skills in 2023, which allowed him to tap into his size and length for catch wins. He doesn't have the speed to separate, and his routes are way too labored and sloppy at this stage. While he has the ball skills to compete at the catch point, he will really need to add polish to his game in order to find himself in consideration as a productive pass catcher.

Hayball has good lever length and an ability to sail kicks with natural power. However, he will need to prove he can generate coverage success through hang time over rugby-style operation time. Hayball is a left-footed punter whose directional punts are almost always toward the right side of the field, but he operates with good touch and consistency. He should get a chance to compete for an NFL job but will need to eliminate opportunities for returns as a pro.

While Battle has posted electric athletic-testing numbers, the game tape shows he’s a much better athlete than cornerback right now. He lacks coverage instincts in man and has busts from deep zone coverage from time to time. He’s not a physical hitter or tackler, so a move to safety seems unlikely.

Based on his size alone, Tagovailoa -- the brother of Tua Tagovailoa -- is likely to be left off the draft board for some NFL teams. He doesn’t have the physical tools and arm strength to fall back on. He has plenty of starting experience and knows his way around the pocket when it heats up, but he hasn’t proven he can beat defenses in the face of pressure and throw with consistent timing.

Nikkel might not be talented enough to handle backup safety duties without more coaching and experience, but he deserves a look for his special teams work. He has good size and races down the field like his hair is on fire, both on kickoffs and as a gunner. Nikkel played on all five phases of special teams at Iowa State, but he’s nowhere near ready to take NFL snaps at safety.