DRAFT TRACKER 2024

Latu possesses the kind of rare maturity to his game that you usually see from NFL veterans. He rarely stays blocked by tackles as a run defender and dominates blocking tight ends on the collegiate level. His pass-rush approach is both well conceived and instinctive, and he’s brilliant at taking possession of the rep using clever hands and slippery angles to pry open opportunities. His eyes play beyond blockers, and he feeds off of a voracious motor that keeps him pushing forward as a run defender and pass rusher. Concerns surrounding his neck injury (while at Washington) will certainly come into play when he gets to medical exams, but his durability and play at UCLA are certainly promising. Everything about Latu’s skill set and production is translatable to the NFL, and he could become a Pro Bowler as a 3-4 outside linebacker with a heavy influence on the game.

Ascending prospect with size, speed and ball skills to become a very good NFL receiver, but he’s still in the process of bridging those traits. Mitchell can beat press and has the speed to take the battle to the third level but he’s still learning the art of bullying the catch space in tight quarters and jump-ball battles. He’s not always a natural hands-catcher, but his ability to snare balls outside his frame is top-notch. His route running currently lacks focus and consistency, but agility and burst out of breaks will not be an issue. Mitchell is rugged after the catch and has the ability to become a winner on all three levels. The difference between becoming a WR2 or WR1 could rest on his urgency and willingness to go to work on the unpolished areas of his craft.

Beefy lineman with experience at both tackle spots who should be able to transition inside if needed. He's not a natural knee-bender and lacks leverage as a projected guard but has the mass and power to execute blocks inside. He's a decent athlete for his size but is limited as a move blocker. He's sound in pass protection, with the only real issue being his inability to change direction quickly against counters and twists. Goncalves might get a shot to prove himself at tackle early in his career but limited foot quickness will shrink his margin for error. The physical traits and two-position potential could make him a middle-round pick with eventual starter potential.

Bortolini offer center/guard flexibility with good mass and below-average length. He's well-schooled from a technique standpoint and will fit his blocks with hand placement and footwork to put him in position to succeed. He has decent strength but won't root out single blocks and could have issues dealing with a two-gapping NFL nose tackle. He's fluid on the move as a pulling center and has played in every run-blocking scheme. He's fundamentally sound in pass protection but is inconsistent sliding and catching rushers in the A-gap. He's solid in most areas and could become a backup with two-position flexibility in the future.

There will be a good deal of focus on his lack of size, but Gould's particular skill set should create discussions about how to make it work. He has electrifying long speed and spent a majority of his reps as an outside receiver working all three levels of the field. He has the shiftiness to uncover against tight man coverage from the slot but can be utilized as a matchup problem deep against cornerbacks lacking speed. He can step in as a catch-and-run specialist with punt return talent but has the capability to offer more in the future. The productive rookie season of Tank Dell (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) in 2023 could have a positive influence on how some teams view Gould's potential as a future starting slot.

Carlies likely needs to make the transition from safety to linebacker to have an opportunity in the NFL. He’s very tight in his hips and plays with a debilitating lack of change of direction that causes problems for him in coverage and as an open-field tackler. As a linear mover, he needs to be able to play forward and near the line, where he’s less likely to make mistakes with his angles of pursuit. Carlies has pretty good ball skills but will have a hard time sticking with pass-catching tight ends, so it could be challenging for teams to lock in on a role for him.

Long defensive back with speed, athleticism and ball skills that might have teams posting him in the cornerback column instead of at safety. Simpson has started at both positions but might be caught between the two. He doesn’t support the run well enough to instill confidence as a last line of defense and he can be a little tardy to get his hips flipped in one-on-one transitions as a corner. Simpson does pedal and match receivers in space, balancing his eyes between route progressions and the quarterback as a high safety. He also contests catches with good success. He’s a good football player with explosive traits, but teams will need to have a plan for how to use him.

Ball-hawking cover man with impressive instincts and rare ball production. Abraham is highly experienced as a wide corner, but a lack of size will necessitate a move to the slot. He plays with greedy eyes and is constantly looking to make a play on the football. He looks twitchier on tape than he did at his pro day and already possesses NFL-caliber ball skills. His technique and pad level can be sloppy, and that must be ironed out if he is to have a shot at covering NFL slot targets. His aggressive mindset extends to his hitting and tackling. Abraham is capable in man or zone coverage, but zone might give him the best chance to shine at the next level.

Interior defender with below-average mass but outstanding athletic traits. With loose and explosive hips, Laulu has rare fluidity and closing burst to the football. He springs into blockers off the snap and has the ability to become a more disruptive run defender, but he lacks ideal instincts and diagnosis quickness. Laulu’s rush production is nothing special, but it is easy to see the ingredients are all on the table if a team can help craft his hands and counters. Laulu’s potential and traits will make him a coveted addition as a late pick or priority free agent.