by Jackson Schneider ’24
April 23, 2024
This year’s NFL draft, while weaker in depth than previous seasons, has some of the best top end talent we have ever seen in a draft. Here are the top names to know for the 2024 NFL draft, which takes place this week from April 25-27 in Detroit.
1. Caleb Willams, QB
College: USC
Arguably the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck, and has some of the best natural arm talent you will ever see. There is not a throw that he can’t make. That is why he is pretty much locked into going number one overall to the Chicago Bears after the Bears sent former first round pick Justin Fields to the Steelers. Most years the teams with the first overall pick are really bad and it will take a few years before they will compete for championships. The Bears’C team structure and Willam’s talent immediately puts them into playoff contention. The Bears already have a top 5 defense in the NFL and with weapons like Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and Cole Kmet, Caleb Willams could be looking at one of the greatest rookie seasons ever.
My projection: Chicago Bears, #1
2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR
College: Ohio State
In my eyes, Harrison not only the best prospect in the draft, but one of, if not the best wide receiver prospect of all time. His father, NFL hall of famer Marvin Harrison, clearly taught his son everything he knows. Jr.’s size and speed combination has never been seen. Standing at 6‘4”, Harrison Jr. has no weakness as a prospect. He can catch and run a route better than anyone in he draft, combined with the ability to either run by defenders or jump up and catch over them. Defenses can’t stop him — they can only hope to contain him. Many are comparing Harrison Jr. to another NFL hall of famer, Calvin Johnson, as he and Johnson had similar builds coming into the NFL. If it were not for Caleb Willams, Harrison Jr would likely be the first wide receiver taken number one overall since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996.
My projection: Los Angeles Chargers, #5
3. Brock Bowers, TE
College: Georgia
In 2021, Kyle Pitts was seen as the greatest tight end prospect of all time where he was taken fourth overall. Three years later his place was taken by Brock Bowers. Another generational offensive prospec,t Bowers has every tool teams need out of a tight end. He can block and catch at an elite level and is probably already coming into the NFL as a guy who is already top 10 at his position. Although he will probably not be taken as high as Pitts due to the plethora of receivers, tackles and quarterbacks that does not mean his impact on the draft will be unfelt. Right now, Bowers has a very wide range of where he could go in the draft; he has been seen going everywhere from nine- the late teens. I think he will end up going earlier rather than later, but if he does fall, Bowers could be all a team needs to take them over the top. Bowers is a player teams can build there offense around a tight end whom I would not be surprised is at the top of his position by the end of his rookie year.
Projection: New York Jets, #10
4. Joe Alt, OT
College: Notre Dame
If you want another generational offensive line prospect, here he is. Alt was already seen as the clearcut best tackle in the draft before the combine, but after his stellar performance in Indianapolis there is no doubt that this guy is the real deal. Alt just like many NFL offensive linemen came from Notre Dame. He has started the past 2 seasons and has been dominant. Many NFL teams that were looking at skill position guys have quickly turned their focus to him. Standing at 6 ‘7” this guy has so much frame and potential to fill out his ceiling is almost unlimited. And along with him probably having the highest floor out of all the tackles as well, he is the best tackle in the draft.
Projection: Tennessee Titans, #7
5. Byron Murphy, DT
College: Texas
This draft is so stacked at the top offensive line that it makes some of the defensive guy an afterthought almost, but Byron Murphy is hard to miss. Standing at 6’1” and 300 Lbs, Murphy is an elite athlete, running a 4.87 40 yard dash at the NFL draft combine. Murphy is an absolute monster. He is disruptive in the run game and while he definitely has some work to do, has a lot of potential in the pass, as he accumulated five sacks out of the middle of the defensive line last year. Not only is Murphy fast, but he is also a great athlete using his combination of strength and balance to constantly get past centers and guards with moves you don’t see a lot from a guy his size. Although scouts don’t know how good he truly is being right next to another future NFL pick in T’Vondre Sweat. Many scouts say his potential is higher due to his unfilled frame and speed which is why many experts have Murphy as their top defensive tackle in the draft.
Projection: Seattle Seahawks, #16
