After months of scouting NFL Draft prospects, the work is finally complete. Well, the work may never be complete, but with the draft just mere hours away, the work has concluded.
After hours and hours of games, all-22 footage, highlights, practice reps, and research, the players have been graded, graded again, and in some cases even graded a third time. The fruit of all that labor is my big board.
For me, draft preparation rivals even the regular season as my favorite time of the year for football. Creating my own evaluations and brainstorming their best fits lets the creative football mind work its wonders.
Blitz Sports Media allowed me to work these wonders right into our consensus Top 50 Big Board, which you can see a lot more of on draft night. Blitz will be hosting live draft coverage throughout the first round beginning at 7:30 PM EST. We’ll have live pick-by-pick analysis, coverage from the NFL Draft in Green Bay, and special guest appearances from Blitz contributors and team reporters.
Prospects 1-10
1. Travis Hunter WR/CB Colorado
A generational prospect unlike any we have seen in the modern era of professional football. Travis Hunter has a real chance at being an impact wide receiver and corner in the NFL.
2. Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State
Abdul Carter is a game wrecker on the edge who should be able to register double-digit sacks on a yearly basis with ease.
3. Tyler Warren TE Penn State
There is no weakness in Warren’s game as he has elite hands, route running, and run-after-catch ability. He lines up all over the field and is a strong blocker in the run game. Warren is the top talent in a strong class of tight ends.
4. Mason Graham DT Michigan
Graham possesses excellent strength, hands, and leverage, making him nearly immovable on the interior. His instincts and athleticism allow him to snuff out screens and run plays down from behind. He won’t be a stats guy, but will make the entire defense around him better.
5. Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas
Banks wins with tremendous power but is quick enough to handle outside rushers and easily get to the second level on run plays.
6. Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State
Ashton Jeanty is an elite ball carrier with a rare combination of speed, strength, contact balance, and vision. After an uber-productive college career, he’ll enter the NFL as the focal point of whichever offense he is drafted to.
7. Will Campbell OT LSU
Campbell has quick feet and keeps his shoulders square while mirroring defenders. Dominates working downhill in the run game. Many project him to ultimately play guard in the NFL, but his dominance at LT in the SEC proves he can hold up in the NFL at tackle.
8. Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina
Hampton is a power runner with deceptive long speed which can often result in house calls. He displays great vision and an ability to run through arm tackles, excelling as a between-the-tackles runner.
9. Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona
McMillian is a large, easy target who creates high percentage passes working towards the QB. He can line up out wide or in the slot and has the speed and athleticism to create chunk plays. The Arizona standout will produce immediately at the pro level.
10. Armand Membou OT Missouri
Membou has tremendous tools and good movement for a tackle of his size (6’4″/332 lbs). Some project him as a guard, but I believe he can excel at tackle. He moves defenders with ease in the run game and is great at sealing the edge. As a raw talent, he projects as a plus starter but will take some time to develop.
Prospects 11-20
11. Malaki Starks S Georgia
Starks is an instinct-driven menace in the secondary. He lacks top-end athleticism but makes up for it with intelligence and effort, often making stops near the line of scrimmage or creating turnovers with his elite ball skills.
12. Shemar Stewart EDGE Texas A&M
Stewart has all the major athletic tools to be a consistent disruptor in the NFL. He struggles to finish at the ball carrier or QB, logging just 4.5 sacks in his college career. NFL teams will covet his ability to wreck a play on a consistent basis, despite not finishing.
13. Jahdae Barron DB Texas
Barron played every secondary position at some point in his college career, making him an interesting subject for NFL teams. He lacks top-end speed, but his football IQ is second to none. He will be a very valuable piece to an NFL defense as someone who could move around the secondary.
14. Walter Nolen DL Ole Miss
Nolan is an elite defender who plays an attacking up-the-field style. He can play inside and outside but will excel as an inside rusher. He has a quick first step and a relentless motor. He’s a bit raw in his technique but has the physical capabilities to dominate at the next level.
15. Josh Simmons OT Ohio State
Simmons is a quick tackle who forces rushers outside to create a wide pocket. He lets defenders into his body too often, but can redirect himself to block pass rushers or create running lanes. He will need to learn to use his hands better in the pros, but is talented enough to learn on the job as a starting tackle.
16. Will Johnson CB Michigan
Johnson thrives with his eyes on the QB and is a prototype zone or off-man corner. He reads and reacts well resulting in 10 pass deflections and 9 interceptions during his time in the Wolverines defense.
17. Colston Loveland TE Michigan
Loveland is a lean, route-running hands catcher who can contribute immediately to an NFL offense.
18. Kenneth Grant DT Michigan
At 6’4″ and 331 pounds, Kenneth Grant is a mountain of a man and nearly impossible to move in the run game. He’s a true nose tackle with some pass rush upside due to being quite nimble for a man of his size.
19. Mike Green EDGE Marshall
There is no weakness in Green’s game. He has a relentless motor and uses great hands to finish at the QB as well as the strength to set the edge in the run game. Green has all the tools to be a big-time difference maker in the NFL.
20. Luther Burden III WR Missouri
Burden is an elite talent with the ball in his hands, comparable to Ja’Marr Chase after the catch. He can be lackadaisical when he is not the focal point of the play and has suffered some post-play penalties, but his elite talent is undeniable.
Prospects 21-30
21. Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame
Morrison mirrors receivers well and displays an elite ability to disrupt the play at the catch point. If not for medical questions, he would likely be a consensus top-20 player.
22. Tyler Booker G Alabama
Booker dominates with power in the run game and sets a solid base in pass protection. Best suited for a power scheme, Booker is a day-one starter with Pro Bowl potential out of the gate.
23. Cam Ward QB Miami
Ward heads the 2024 QB class but will need some time to develop to become a plus starter. He has an adequate NFL arm with touch and ball placement being his strength. He’s athletic enough to get out of trouble and make plays off-script, but will mostly be recognized as a pocket passer.
24. Jihaad Campbell LB Alabama
Campbell is a versatile player who can play on the edge or at inside linebacker. Despite lacking elite speed, he closes well and finishes at the ball carrier or QB.
25. Carson Schwesinger LB UCLA
This rangy middle linebacker excels at working in space. He’s a plus zone coverage defender and excels at finishing at the QB with late blitzes. He possesses sideline-to-sideline speed and the instincts and IQ to excel early in his NFL career.
26. Derrick Harmon DT Oregon
Harmon is a high-energy defender who wins early, but sometimes overexerts himself and fails to finish at the QB or at the ball carrier.
27. Mykel Williams EDGE Georgia
Williams is a powerful edge defender with a relentless motor. He has great discipline against the run and sets the edge well. He’s not as explosive as his Georgia counterpart (Jalon Walker), but he has the potential to be a game-changer in the NFL nonetheless.
28. Alfred Collins DL Texas
As a massive prospect, Collins has great athleticism and a relentless finish. He’s armed with a spin move, a man of his size should not be capable of, but he struggles to finish at the QB.
29. Maxwell Hairston CB Kentucky
With the temperament to play inside, Hairston lacks the size needed, forcing him to play strictly outside corner. He has a strong football IQ and attacks the ball at the catch point, but lacks the size to compete with larger receivers. He’s talented enough to be a difference-maker at the next level, but it will be up to a good coaching staff to determine his role.
30. Jalon Walker EDGE Georgia
Walker was a playmaker at both edge and linebacker at Georgia, but I project him as an outside linebacker in the NFL. He has an elite motor paired with blazing speed, but is slow to trust his eyes and react when off the ball. He possesses a quick change of direction, which gives stiff blockers fits. He needs to develop some pass-rushing techniques as he often rushes without a plan. Walker is a raw talent who has Micah Parsons-type upside. Walker could be deployed as an elite QB spy to neutralize some of the NFLs most athletic passers.
Prospects 31-40
31. Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State
Egbuka is a prototypical “chain mover” as he runs exceptional routes and presents himself well to the QB. He displays elite late hands, which often result in great sideline catches and YAC opportunities. Egbuka is also a willing and talented blocker in the run game. He will immediately step in and help any offense become more efficient.
32. Mason Taylor TE LSU
Taylor is a complete tight end with the in-line and slot ability. He displays soft hands and has a nice burst of speed after the catch. He’s a polished route runner and uses his hands well to shield from defenders. He’s also able to assist in the run game as a plus blocker and can even effectively pass protect. He should find immediate success in the NFL.
33. Donovan Jackson G Ohio State
Jackson started at both LG and LT throughout Ohio State’s 2024 National Championship season with ease. He projects as a guard in the pros, but his versatility adds even more value to this already talented prospect.
34. TreVeyon Henderson RB Ohio State
Henderson has one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in this year’s draft. He has game-breaking speed, good receiving ability, and plays with a rare toughness for a player with his skill set. His strongest attribute may be his ability as a plus pass protector. Henderson’s only knock is that he split carries in college, leaving his ability as a bell-cow back in question.
35. Nic Scourton EDGE Texas A&M
Scourton is a heavy-handed edge defender who, after playing near 280 pounds in 2024, has slimmed down to 257 pounds, which gives him much more upside. He’s stout against the run and possesses a refined pass rush arsenal which will serve him well early in his NFL career.
36. Nick Emmanwori S South Carolina
Emmanwori is an athletic freak with good football instincts. He can line up all over the defense, but should settle out as a safety or nickel box defender.
37. Trey Amos CB Ole Miss
Great frame with long arms, which he uses to create PBUs and interceptions. Redirects receivers well in the press and trusts his eyes to break on the ball. Projects as a CB2 that could start right away.
38. Kyle Williams WR Washington State
Quickly rising up draft boards, Kyle Williams is an ultra-quick receiver who, despite his size, is effective at the X receiver position but also works well in the slot. He has elite footwork, which helps him work off the line of scrimmage against bigger corners.
39. Tyleik Williams DT Ohio State
Tyleik Williams, being my 39th-best player, is proof of a strong defensive line class. He has a rare blend of quickness and power, with the ability to beat double teams. He lacks pass-rushing moves, but his overall athleticism lends itself to learning and utilizing them well.
40. Donovan Ezeiruaku EDGE Boston College
An outstanding, polished pass rusher who has a variety of moves and good sack production. Has great instincts and a feel for the QB in the backfield. Will be an immediate effective pass rusher at the next level.
Prospects 41-50
41. Shavon Revel CB East Carolina
A freakish athlete, Revel is extremely raw as far as coverage skills but has all the physical tools to be a dominant outside corner.
42. Quinshon Judkins RB Ohio State
Judkins is an inside runner who finishes every carry and possesses enough pop to create some big plays along the way.
43. James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee
Pearce is an NFL-ready pass rusher who will be able to contribute on day one. He uses his hands masterfully to win early against blockers. He chooses quickness but has a deceptively powerful bull rush as well. He will primarily play in passing situations, but is good enough to log 10+ sacks during his rookie year.
44. Grey Zabel OL North Dakota State
Zabel helped himself with a strong senior bowl week, which quieted questions about his domination against lesser competition. His positional versatility brings great value, but he’ll likely settle out as a Pro Bowl-caliber guard in the NFL.
45. R.J. Harvey RB UCF
Harvey displays great patience until he finds his lane, which he hits with an impressive burst. He can make tacklers miss and has enough speed to rip off some long runs as well.
46. Kaleb Johnson RB Iowa
Kaleb Johnson is an outside zone runner who shows great vision and burst through the hole. He struggles with penetration in the backfield, but if given a clear path, he can be difficult to tackle once he reaches top speed.
47. Matthew Golden WR Texas
Golden is a plus route runner who presents himself well to the QB. He has a good burst with the ball in his hands, which also helped him be a successful kick returner. He projects as a strong slot receiver in the NFL who can contribute immediately.
48. Jordan Burch DL Oregon
The former RB/WR has great movement for his size but can still dominate with power. He works well with his hands but has no real pass-rush moves or plans. He’s a raw product who will have plenty of NFL interest due to his athleticism.
49. Josaiah Stewart EDGE Michigan
Stewart is an all-around talent at OLB without any glaring weaknesses. With 30 collegiate sacks, he has shown the ability to rush the passer and finish at the QB. He may be a bit undersized (6’1″/249lbs) to hold up on the edge in the NFL, but with that production, teams will find a way to get him on the field.
50. Xavier Watts S Notre Dame
Watts is an ultra instinctive safety who excels playing the middle of the field. He has elite ball skills (13 INTs) and works best with his eyes on the QB. He lacks the athleticism to play in man coverage or change direction, but he can be an asset to a cover 2/3/4 team.