DRAFT TRACKER 2024

There is a lot to like on tape for Brown, who received his first meaningful reps for Nebraska in 2023 after transferring from Northern Iowa before the 2022 season. He has adequate size and plays fast with quick eyes and explosive closing burst. He’s adept in man coverage from the slot and has enough awareness and range to handle split safety duties. His urgent demeanor guides him toward playmaking opportunities and away from defaulting into consistently “safe” options. He’s both a striker and a tackler but will need to improve his approach, as he tends to come in too hot, leading to misses. Brown possesses the versatility, instincts and traits to compete for NFL reps.

Big slot target who comes from high-end NFL bloodlines and who showed noticeable improvement in his second season at the position. Luke lacks the size of his father, former Pro Bowl receiver Ed McCaffrey, and the explosiveness of his brother, Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, but he catches with soft hands, great focus and extreme toughness. McCaffrey struggles to release and bypass press coverage and might not have enough separation quickness or top-end speed to uncover against NFL defenders. However, with additional time to learn the position and fine-tune his route running, McCaffrey might be able to follow his dad and brother into the league as a possession slot receiver.

Payne returned in 2023 from an Achilles injury that sidelined him for the 2022 season, but you would never know that by watching his 2023 tape. He’s lightning quick off the snap, attacking gaps and frequently disrupting play design. He doesn’t use his hands effectively enough and might be pigeon-holed as a pure one-gapper. He’s a tremendous athlete with good bend and short-area agility to hunt and tackle. His lack of lower body mass makes him a bit of a tweener, but his electric pass-rush potential could plant him firmly as a designated pass rusher with under-the-radar upside.

Outside cornerback with decent size and feel for route recognition but a lack of chase speed that makes it tough to envision him sticking on a roster. Newsome plays with good aggression and is a tackle-finisher, but he’s not likely to make many plays on the ball. Look for Newsome to get into a camp as an undrafted free agent.

Interior defender who split his college career between Nebraska and Oregon. Rogers lacks NFL size and mass inside but works to the echo of the whistle. He tested at his pro day with very good speed and explosiveness, but he doesn’t put those attributes into play often enough as a run disruptor or pass rusher. He locates the football quickly and can play off blocks to make tackles, but he might lack the size and playmaking ability to keep NFL teams interested.