DRAFT TRACKER 2024

An explosive cornerback prospect with intoxicating long speed, Lovely fails to fully capitalize on his dynamic athletic traits. His tape can be frustrating, as he simply doesn’t play with enough anticipation or aggression to squeeze the route and jump the throws. He can make up ground when he falls behind and has an instant accelerator to break downhill on throws. Lovely’s athleticism, speed and potential might be worth a look, but he will likely need to show more of a willingness to take chances in coverage before he can earn a roster spot.

Breezy slot target with the silky hips and steady feet to run a more robust route tree as an NFL slot. Robinson is quicker than he is fast but has good burst at the break point and is capable of doing some damage over all three levels of the field. Ball skills come naturally, whether he's plucking fastballs on the move or tracking and adjusting to throws downfield. He lacks the size and play strength to post a high success rate on contested catches, but he's a very capable catch-and-run option in the quick game or in space. Robinson might be better than his average career production and should compete for a WR4/5 spot in the pros.

Durable three-year starter with loads of tackle production on his résumé. Knight plays a floating, freestyling brand of football from the second level, looking for opportunities to knife in and make plays. While he racks up tackles, he fails to play within defensive structure full-time and will lose run fits and overflow action outside the tackle box. He has average speed and below-average man cover talent. His size and production will be looked upon favorably, but he might not play with the instincts needed to handle what he will see from NFL offenses.

Unique journey to the draft with 53 career starts over seven years with three different teams. Sam has added substantial weight to his frame since coming into college but is still built more like a cornerback than a safety. He plays with a smooth pedal and solid response time to the quarterback’s eyes and operation from his safety perch. He is more consistent lining up over the slot or playing from split safety alignments, where his attention is much more focused than when he’s digesting the field from single-high. He improved as a tackler as the season wore on, but angles of pursuit might still be an issue. Sam has late-round potential.

Decorated left tackle with extremely rare size, mass and length. Dankwah is a human wall with the ability to grind and drive opponents off their turf once he's centered up and has his legs driving. He moves with adequate initial quickness but will struggle to redirect his weight to make blocks on the move or to recover against quick inside rush counters. Dankwah is too tall to play guard and might not have the lateral quickness to protect the passer at an acceptable level. However, size and power matter to NFL teams, and there is enough on tape for a general manager to invest a late-round pick in him.

Big tight end with the frame of an in-line Y receiver but the playing style of a move tight end. Spann-Ford showed some improvement in his run blocks in 2023 but sustaining them and blocking with accuracy in space is still a work in progress. He’s a little heavy-legged on zone-beater routes underneath and lacks instincts to create separation against man. Spann-Ford struggled badly with drops and contested catches this past season, but teams might be intrigued by the potential matchup issues he could create as a big slot target. 

Athletic cornerback with quality ball skills but missing the functional size for the league. Johnson plays with good mirror-and-match footwork from press and has some talent to make plays on the throw from trail positioning. He’s athletic in space and transitions on route breaks with adequate quickness. He struggled staying with Colorado’s deep threats but the speed he showed at his pro day alleviated concerns about his ability to carry vertical threats. His size and build should force him to play inside, and his limitations in run support could be a major red flag for teams.

Dalcourt has a girthy lower half and play strength that is commonly found in Alabama interior linemen. He can displace down-block targets and is capable on double teams and when pulling in space. He can play center and guard, but he lacks the ideal length to keep two-gappers from punching and neutralizing his efforts at the point of attack. He’s a leaner in pass protection, but he will generally work to mirror the man in front of him. Dalcourt’s position flexibility is great and he’s solid when he’s healthy, but his history with durability issues could be a stumbling block for him despite his potential to earn a job as a backup in the NFL.

Functional as either an outside receiver with some route-running polish or as a big slot able to create matchup concerns for static coverages. Vele won’t win with quickness or speed, but his attention to detail as a route runner and willingness to utilize his play strength helps create advantages. He has a great catch radius, but his production was stymied by inconsistent catch finishing and below-average quarterback play. Vele has draftable talent and could compete for a roster spot.

Culp's tape features below-average blocking combined with bad drops and unbelievably acrobatic grabs. He doesn't have the size or aggression to help much as a run blocker and will project as an F tight end. He has decent vertical speed but spent much of his time running routes underneath due to the receiving talent around him. Fastballs get on top of his hands and turn into drops, but he's able to flash with circus grabs and contested catches downfield. Culp has played a decent amount of football, so teams will need to determine whether they can project enough improvement to make him a pro.

Nugent comes from NFL bloodlines (his father, Terry Nugent, played for the Colts and Browns) and an extended family with a college football background (his uncle, Brian, played at Washington State). The former high school shot-put champ is stout and powerful through his upper body but lacks the size, length and leverage many teams will be looking for. He's well-versed as a technician but might see his success decrease away from home base. Nugent does well at protecting his gaps in pass protection and battles back against bull rushers but doesn't have the foot quickness to survive on an island if isolated against an athletic rusher. Nugent has a shot at making an NFL roster, but the ceiling could be fairly low for him.

A frisky runner with a compact frame, Small can run with good burst and efficiency of movement when he’s locked in. Unfortunately, many of his carries in 2023 featured few clear points of entry, which caused him to run with less decisiveness. A lack of patience and tempo limits his opportunity to read the front and find developing run lanes instead of crashing forward into the abyss. Small can find his own yardage on bounce-outs and with improvisational path changes, but that might not be sustainable as a pro. He runs hard and flashed route-running potential, but his lack of pass-catching production and special teams experience could hurt his cause.

Offensive lineman who has the grit, play strength and know-how to play guard, but his size and length could prevent it. Kingston has been well-trained in pass protection, with a steady posture and quick hand strikes, but he could have issues when he’s on an island and forced to defend both gaps against an athletic rusher. He’s capable of making zone-scheme blocks and does an admirable job of sustaining run blocks for as long as possible. While he never played the position in a collegiate game, Kingston’s future in the NFL might rest on his ability to prove he can snap and move to center. 

Inside linebacker with an average frame but king-sized tackle production over his last three seasons. Johnson plays with a good feel for sifting through blocking schemes and runners’ lane choices. He’s an outstanding tackle-finisher who rarely misses, but he will get himself into trouble by sitting on the second level and allowing blockers to climb into him. He’s adequate in zone coverage but unlikely to be on the field for NFL passing downs. Johnson is smart and extremely productive on special teams, but he’s a little lacking in traits.

Small running back with thin lower half who plays much tougher than his size would indicate. Unlike most smaller backs, Jordan isn't sudden or explosive. He can be a step slow through the line of scrimmage and isn't going to be much of an "added yardage back" with power or wiggle. However, Jordan runs with good vision and great processing, making smart cuts and taking the most efficient routes he can. He can compete for third-down reps and has above-average talent as a kick returner. The lack of size will hurt his draft slotting, but he has a shot when he gets into a camp.

King's 2022 performance was significantly better than what he put on tape in 2023, but it might not be enough to sway some evaluators. King was consistently rocked out of position by route breaks over the first two levels and didn't find the ball frequently enough with his back to the passer on deep shots. He doesn't have the fluidity to just mirror and match routes, so he'll need to get back to playing more physically from press to slow down route momentum. King is more than capable of tilting 50/50 balls in his favor when he's in position, but finding positioning in man or zone coverages as a pro could be very challenging.

After playing multiple positions at Michigan, Barnhart is likely an interior line prospect as a pro. He has decent size and length as a guard, but he doesn't play with enough pop into contact. He's missing twitchy, sudden hands to snap into pass rushers and run defenders for early leads in the rep. Barnhart is an adequate technician on double-teams and single blocks but rarely uproots and dumps opponents at the point of attack. He's an athletic pull-blocker but fails to excite enough in any phase.

Long-limbed edge defender who will need to learn to play standing up as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Duke will need to add mass and play strength in order to hold up as an NFL edge-setter. He's unable to neutralize and discard blocks on a regular enough basis, but that could come in time. Duke plays with an often unorthodox amount of recovery agility to keep his feet and stay in the play, and he possesses a plus closing burst to the football. It's easy to like the upfield burst and occasional elusiveness as a rusher, but Duke won't be able to build on that unless he develops more moves and counters at the top of the rush.

Durable three-year starter as an undersized defensive tackle in the aggressive Iowa front. Lee has the size and length of a 5-technique but might not possess enough twitch and power to control blockers from that spot. He has good strength but needs time to ramp it up and doesn't have as many quick wins as teams will want. Lee's pass rush is very pedestrian but could improve some with better hand work and training. He's a hard worker but fails to stand out with power, quickness or pass-rush talent, which puts a firm cap on his upside.

Spunky pocket passer who operates as a full-field reader and benefited from a scheme that allowed for a heavy percentage of quick-game throws. Hiers has below-average size and average velocity but does flash arm talent with some of his throws. He’s not overly mobile but can maneuver around the pocket to buy time and is improvisational enough to create for himself here and there. He operates with a natural accuracy on many throws but found it tougher to find his deep receivers with good placement. He might flash enough potential to be picked late on Day 3 as a developmental backup.

Edwards possesses rare size and length, but he will need to play guard in the NFL as he lacks the range to play tackle at the next level. Edwards isn’t a natural bender, but he can still push people around with his size while big, strong hands allow him to stay connected longer. He’s slow getting his hands into opponents as both a run and pass blocker, allowing defenders to crowd his frame. Pass protection issues should be tamped down somewhat with a move inside if he can get quicker with his hands. The tape isn’t NFL-ready at this time, but his traits and a position change could open a door in the future.

Stocky safety lacking the length and speed to make easy scheme projections for him. Bradford’s inconsistencies as a tackle finisher will be a disqualifier for some teams. In coverage, he plays with good field recognition and is fairly athletic in man coverage but lacks the length and burst to make enough plays on the football. His physical limitations could make it an uphill battle to stick on a roster.

An interior defender with good size, Murphy lacks a consistent batting average when it comes to defeating blocks and making plays. Murphy appears heavier and slower than he has previously, and his sphere of influence has shrunk accordingly. He does play with good power, but a lack of lower-body bend makes it harder for him to anchor and hold his spot consistently. He's not much of a pass rusher, so he will need to play with more consistency at the point of attack in order to make a roster as a backup interior defender.

Scheme-dependent box safety who requires a specific plan for usage when he’s on the field. Jules has good size and terrific play strength. He can deliver a thumping blow when running the alley and has the play strength to cover tight ends and finish tackles near the line. His anticipation and foot quickness are below average in man coverage and he doesn’t run well enough to stick with vertical challengers. He’s a fit with teams looking for a player who can hold his own on special teams and compete at nickel safety in short-zone cover concepts.

McMorris' tape study can be a roller-coaster ride. He has good size and physicality and moves with fluidity in coverage. He has played all three safety spots and is capable of lining up over the slot. On the flip side, the speed and acceleration are fairly average in coverage. His missed tackles don't really square with his frame and the way he plays the game. He flashes the potential to play in the league in split-safety alignments or as a sub-package option with scheme versatility. However, he needs to run well and prove he can become a more consistent tackle finisher to get his chance.

Long-limbed press corner with physical attributes certain teams are sure to covet. Torrence is a menace from press, where he crouches and jabs the release with relative consistency. He has the tools to smother simple routes but gives away separation at sharper break points. He can stride with deep routes and has the make-up speed to close ground when beaten. He’s not built for mirror-and-match coverage and is very average in deep zones. Torrence can flip the 50/50 ball in his favor but might not have the instincts or ball-tracking to post the production one might expect from a player with his traits. He will be at his best working with limited coverage focus in press-man, but his execution as a tackler is a concern.

The evaluation of Cooper will come down to what a team is willing to live with. He has decent size with good athletic ability to play both inside and outside. He’s a quick responder to route breaks and can be smothering in man coverage underneath. He feels smaller than his listed height and weight and can be exploited by big targets on contested catches. Cooper’s speed at his pro day was very disappointing, and his tape is littered with missed and broken tackles that led to way too many additional yards. The tape has positive flashes, but he might have to make a roster as an undrafted free agent.

Solidly built but shorter, Hartman plays with a competitive temperament but a lack of consistency. He can play inside structure, but at heart, he's an improv-oriented passer. He has big hands to pump and reset the football, and his Wake Forest tape showed a player capable of beating defenses on extended plays. He processes quickly and can go from read to throw in an instant, but the arm strength is average and could be exploited by ball-hawking defenders. There are flashes on tape that can be compelling, but his lack of physical traits and high turnover totals during his career could limit him into a role as an average backup.

Can play the edge as a 4-3 end or a 3-4 outside linebacker. Jeffcoat has the size and length to set NFL edges, but lacks the shed quickness and instincts to rack up solo tackles. He plays with a solid motor from the first snap to the last and effort won’t be a problem with him. He’s fairly explosive off the snap but he’s rarely able to bend and elude the tackle’s punch. He tries to win the rush with power too frequently as a rusher. Jeffcoat needs to focus on polishing his hand usage and counters that flash from time to time. He possesses decent traits but has a limited ceiling.

English offensive line prospect whose experience in rugby shows up with straight-line speed and athleticism. Clayton will need to spend significant time developing and adding more muscle to his frame. He looks smooth in his pass slides and on pulling drills, and he has the bend to stay low into contact. Any chance of making an NFL roster will depend heavily on his toughness and a team’s ability to provide him with the necessary reps to get better at his craft.

Reid is an average athlete with average size, but he’s smart, consistent and productive. With seven years of college experience, Reid knows the score and understands what the game looks like from the second level. He’s quick to read play design and can prevent blockers from landing flush on him as a run defender. He can drop into zone coverage and make quick tackles after the catch but doesn’t squeeze many routes to deter quarterbacks. He could have a chance to compete in camp for a back-end roster spot.

Tall nickel cornerback who could get some looks as a backup safety. Johnson is a relatively fluid athlete with good explosion numbers and adequate top-end speed. He frequently covers the slot in man or zone but allows too much operating space for opponents in his man coverage. He doesn’t play with the burst or instincts to make many plays on the football but he’s usually in pretty good position to make quick tackles. He does a good job of playing with vision and recognition from zone but falls below average in run support. Johnson’s traits give him a chance to fight for a practice-squad spot.

Williams primarily played guard at Austin Peay and Appalachian State, but a move to center might give him the best chance to compete for a spot as a pro. He’s undersized with short arms, so doing battle against two-gappers inside will be a lofty challenge. He has quick feet and shows an ability to get to his landmarks with good pace as a move blocker. He doesn’t have the physical ability to hold up against NFL bull rushers, but a move to center would help in that area. He’s unlikely to be drafted, but zone teams might want to give him a look.

Future off-ball linebacker who plays with full-time tenacity and boundless energy. Jones’ value will mostly come as a special-teams ace who will play in all five phases. With kickoff rules changing, Jones deserves to receive additional attention thanks to his production on coverage teams during his college career. He flows hard to the football as a run defender and is urgent to find and tackle the ball-carrier, but he might fall below average as a coverage option. If a team can become comfortable with him as a backup linebacker, he could make an NFL roster as a core special-teamer.

Smallish slot target who spent two seasons playing in junior college and two seasons with Sacramento State. Hill will need to lean on a solid 2023 and impressive testing numbers at his pro day to make it into a camp. He’s smooth and athletic with a chance to improve his route-running with additional time if a team gives it to him. He’s an instinctive pass catcher with plus ball skills but might not have the accelerator to free himself from NFL man coverage frequently enough. More development is needed, but Hill’s flashes and athletic profile could give him a chance.

Bradley has a good understanding of his offensive design and where to go with the football. He’s intelligent but limited as an athlete and doesn’t have the accuracy to sit in a pocket and beat NFL defenders on intermediate and deep throws. He might need to improve his footwork and delivery mechanics to make an NFL roster.

Slywka’s level of competition could give teams pause, but his impressive pro day and game tape suggest he has a chance. The explosiveness he showed in his workout is above the norm for NFL starters at his position. He has good size but will need to get stronger and improve his play as a run defender. Slywka has smooth hips in space and sees what is unfolding when playing as a single-high safety. He might be viewed as a developmental prospect, but he has the physical traits and versatility to give himself a shot as an interchangeable safety with special teams value.

Driskell's height is likely to create imbalance and a lack of foot quickness that cannot be coached up. With that said, he has good length, big hands and the frame to keep getting bigger. It's unlikely he'll ever be able to deal with NFL quickness, but he might be able to improve his technique and hand placement to become more consistent from rep to rep. Driskell could be a Day 3 "draft and stash" candidate for a team looking to improve his game without having to put him in harm's way.

Lacking anchor and length, Green is a shorter edge defender whose outlier production in 2023 requires additional tape work. He can create penetration against the run and has adequate rush talent but also benefited from a scheme that allowed for more opportunities through twists. He has some pop in his hands but will have issues anchoring and setting edges. He missed the abbreviated COVID season (2020-2021) due to injury and suffered a season-ending knee injury in early November 2023. Green's 2023 season was intriguing, but he might have to earn a spot as an undrafted free agent.

A two-year starter with a broad frame, Flax has spent his time almost exclusively at right tackle but might need to push inside to guard to have a shot at the next level. He lacks slide quickness to mirror edge rushers up to the top and struggles with redirecting his weight back inside against inside moves. He’s long but needs to improve his hand usage to make his length work for him. He doesn’t generate much movement as a drive blocker due to his lack of bend, but he might have enough size and potential to warrant a late look in the draft.

Man-cover cornerback with adequate size and toughness and above-average speed. Dial has the physical attributes for consideration as a pro, but he needs to improve his technique and pad level to prevent so many pitch and catch throws on the pro level. He’s tenacious when the route travels vertically but he’s an inconsistent ball-tracker and relies on face guarding on most throws. Dial’s pre-snap recognition and instincts fall below the mark and his run support is below average. He could be a late-round pick but might struggle to make a team.

Undersized safety and below-average tackler who might be better served by a full-time move to nickel corner. He can flip his hips and match patterns but has average lateral burst to stay connected to the route. Banks is unreliable as a tackler in both run support and when racing after plays from his high-safety positioning. His size and athletic profile help, but his lack of starting experience and ball production could hurt his prospects to be drafted.

Compact and decisive, Williams knows who he is and runs with urgency and attitude to try to make up for his lack of burst and elusiveness. He can get what is blocked for him and add to it when crashing through tacklers who don’t wrap him up. He’s always on the move and gets downhill quickly on zone and gap runs. He will commit to the play design but lacks the athletic traits to create when things come off track. Williams’ lack of pass-catching acumen could hurt his roster chances.

Gamer who does whatever is necessary to help his team win. Vaki carries a thick frame with good upper-body power and heavy hands. He took on carries to help his team when it was stung by injuries, but he’s not an NFL running back. He’s a conscientious tackler who is careful to center up and launch his attack only when he’s in realistic striking position. He is overmatched in coverage and struggles when plays roll downfield. Vaki’s below-average athletic traits and lack of positional fit might create a limited path forward.

A two-gapping wide-body capable of standing firm when manning his gaps, Taimani has some pop and anchor to battle along the interior but is a non-factor as a rusher. He has shown the ability to play at a variety of weights, but he’s lacking initial snap quickness and rarely captures lateral positioning or the neutral zone off the snap. Taimani might not have the traits or versatility to be drafted, but players with power who can challenge run games will always have a chance to make a roster.

Yassmin is an intriguing athlete and pass catcher, but he’s lacking in game experience and production. He has good play speed in his routes and appears to have better instincts than I expected in space. He doesn't show much attention to detail with his routes and will need to prove he can make catches in congestion. He lacks aggression and his frame is too underdeveloped to compete as a point-of-attack run blocker. He’s unlikely to be drafted but his athletic traits and upside are worth prioritizing as an undrafted free agent.

Knox has pass-catching measurables and the willingness to block as an in-line tight end. He's a receiver-turned-tight-end-prospect with an expansive wingspan. He's better at getting into the route and separating than he is at making tough catches. While he saw plenty of schemed opportunities and short catches, it appeared he was able to create his own chances over the first two levels. Knox possesses credible run-blocking talent in-line or on the move but will need to get bigger and stronger for the pro game. His timed speed could hurt his draft stock, but teams might be pleasantly surprised with Knox’s catch/block potential.

Combination tight end who can do a little blocking and a little pass catching. Welch powers through routes with too much aggression and not enough finesse. He competes to win combat catches and shows an ability to go get the off-frame throw. He struggles to separate against tight man coverage and isn’t big enough to sustain run blocks against edge defenders, despite his toughness. Welch should get a shot to compete in a camp even if he goes undrafted.

Johnson lacks a definable position and is likely to make a camp as a special-teamer who will need to prove he can also fit into a role on offense. He has good size but average speed and explosion. He had enough field vision to handle kick returns and some carries at Ohio State, and his best position might be at running back instead of receiver. Either way, he’s not polished enough to make a team as a backup skill-position player alone, so he must become an ace on special teams to play on Sundays.

Center with good toughness and a willingness to do whatever he needs to in order to come out on top of the rep. Unfortunately, Raym lacks lateral quickness and plays with inconsistent body control, which could stunt his impact on games. Raym needs to play with much more consistent technique and hand usage in order to make up for his liabilities. Coaches love tough guys with size, which gives him a shot at making an NFL roster.