Here are The Buffalo News’ rankings of the top 10 players at each position available in the NFL draft. Asterisk indicates underclassmen. Compiled by Jay Skurski, Katherine Fitzgerald, Mark Gaughan and Ryan O’Halloran.
Here’s a look at players from UB or with ties to UB and Western New York who could be taken in late rounds of the NFL draft, or could join teams as undrafted free agents or training-camp invitees.
Quarterbacks
The 2024 NFL draft is all about the quarterbacks – at least at the top of the draft in the first round.
Quarterbacks are expected to go with each of the first three picks to Chicago, Washington and New England, respectively. Believe it or not, that has happened only once since 2000 and only three times since 1970.
There looks like a good chance a quarterback could go either fourth or fifth. Arizona holds the fourth spot and the Los Angeles Chargers are fifth. Multiple teams are likely to try to get up to one of those spots to select whichever quarterback still is on the board after the top three.
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That would make history. There never has been a draft in which four quarterbacks have been taken among the top five.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1. Caleb Williams*, USC 6-1 214
2. Drake Maye*, North Carolina 6-4 223
3. Jayden Daniels, LSU 6-4 210
4. J.J. McCarthy*, Michigan 6-2 219
5. Michael Penix Jr., Washington 6-2 216
6. Bo Nix, Oregon 6-2 214
7. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina 6-0 211
8. Joe Milton, Tennessee 6-5 235
9. Michael Pratt*, Tulane 6-2 217
10. Jordan Travis, Florida State 6-1 200
Wide receivers
Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze are the top three and are likely to go in the top 12 picks.
No. 4 on the list arguably is LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr., who’s 6-foot-3 and runs 4.33 in the 40-yard dash. It would be an upset if he made it to No. 28 but if he gets within range, he may be worth a move up. The next group includes Texas’ 6-2 Adonai Mitchell (4.34), Georgia’s 5-11 Ladd McConkey (4.39), Florida State’s 6-3 Keon Coleman (4.61) and South Carolina’s 6-1 Xavier Legette (4.39).
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr*, Ohio State 6-3 209
2. Malik Nabers*, LSU 6-1 199
3. Rome Odunze*, Washington 6-3 212
4. Brian Thomas Jr.*, LSU 6-3 209
5. Adonai Mitchell*, Texas 6-2 205
6. Ladd McConkey*, Georgia 5-11 186
7. Xavier Worthy*, Texas 5-11 165
8. Xavier Legette, South Carolina 6-1 221
9. Keon Coleman*, Florida State 6-3 213
10. Ricky Pearsall, Florida 6-1 189
Offensive tackles
Need a left tackle to pass protect for quarterbacks of various levels of experience, ability and mobility? The first round of this month’s draft, in general, and the top half of the opening round, in particular, is the best place to shop.
If quarterbacks go Nos. 1-3, as expected, and potentially four in the top eight picks, depending on trades, the board will fall well for teams such as the Chicago Bears (No. 9), New York Jets (No. 10), New Orleans Saints (No. 14) and Seattle Seahawks (No. 16).
Further down the board, the Miami Dolphins (No. 21), Dallas Cowboys (No. 24) and Green Bay Packers (No. 25) could find immediate or eventual starters.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1 Joe Alt*, Notre Dame 6-9 321
2 Olu Fashanu*, Penn State 6-6 312
3 Taliese Fuaga*, Oregon State 6-6 324
4 JC Latham*, Alabama 6-6 342
5 Amarius Mims*, Georgia 6-8 340
6 Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma 6-8 322
7 Jordan Morgan, Arizona 6-5 311
8 Kingsley Suamataia*, BYU 6-6 325
9 Blake Fisher*, Notre Dame 6-6 312
10. Patrick Paul*, Houston 6-7 331
Interior OL
Most draft analysts categorize Washington’s Troy Fautanu as a guard in the NFL, even though he started mostly at left tackle in college. Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, the Rimington Trophy winner (best college center), could go in the top 25.
Duke’s Graham Barton is a plug-and-play starter at center or guard who started 34 games at left tackle for the Blue Devils. His light feet draw comparisons with former Bills center Mitch Morse. A lot of mock drafts have him gone by No. 25. If he lasts to 28, the Bills might be tempted.
At No. 60, a guy who may be worth it to Buffalo is Connecticut’s Christian Haynes. He has long arms, made 49 straight starts and impressed at the Senior Bowl.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Pos. Ht. Wt.
1 Troy Fautanu*, Washington OG 6-4 317
2 Graham Barton, Duke C 6-5 313
3 Jackson Powers-Johnson*, Oregon C 6-3 328
4 Zach Frazier*, West Virginia C 6-3 313
5 Cooper Beebe, Kansas State OG 6-3 322
6 Christian Haynes, UConn OG 6-3 317
7 Zach Zinter, Michigan OG 6-6 309
8 Dominick Puni, Kansas OG 6-5 313
9 Sedrick Van Pran-Granger*, Georgia C 6-4 298
10. Christian Mahogany, Boston College OG 6-3 314
Running backs
The top back arguably is Texas’ Jonathon Brooks, who has size, speed and good hands. He rushed for 1,139 yards last season but he tore knee ligaments on Nov. 11. Next is Tennessee breakaway threat Jaylen Wright (4.38), who gained 10-plus yards on 25% of his carries last season.
Florida State’s Trey Benson has ideal size and 4.39 speed and can catch. But he’s probably going in the third round. Wisconsin’s 235-pound Braelon Allen is good between-the-tackles zone runner who’s good in pass protection. He’d be ideal for the Bills but may not last to the late fourth round. Ditto for Notre Dame’s Audric Estime, who set an Irish record with 18 touchdown runs last season and led all FBS players with 200 carries at 6.39 yards per attempt.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1. Jonathon Brooks*, Texas 6-0 216
2. Jaylen Wright*, Tennessee 5-10 210
3. Trey Benson*, Florida State 6-0 216
4. MarShawn Lloyd*, USC 5-9 220
5. Braelon Allen*, Wisconsin 6-1 235
6. Ray Davis, Kentucky 5-8 211
7. Blake Corum, Michigan 5-8 205
8. Bucky Irving*, Oregon 5-9 192
9. Will Shipley*, Clemson 5-11 206
10. Isaac Guerendo, Louisville 5-10 208
Tight ends
Georgia’s Brock Bowers is expected to be picked in the top half of the first round. After him, there might not be another tight end drafted in the first two rounds. It is not a great year to be looking for a starting tight end in the draft.
The New York Jets at No. 10 and the Denver Broncos at No. 12 are popular landing spots for Bowers in mock drafts.
Penn State’s Theo Johnson is a Windsor, Ontario, native who didn’t have one 100-yard outing in 45 career games. But he’s a freak athlete with a high ceiling and the size to be an all-around tight end who can block and stretch the field. He is probably an early Day 3 pick. Late Day 3 prospects include Iowa’s Eric All, Michigan’s AJ Barner, Illinois’ Tim Reiman and Minnesota’s Brevyn Spann-Ford.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1. Brock Bowers*, Georgia 6-3 243
2. Ja’Tavion Sanders*, Texas 6-4 245
3. Cade Stover, Ohio State 6-4 247
4. Theo Johnson, Penn State 6-6 259
5. Ben Sinnott*, Kansas State 6-3 250
6. Tanner McLachlan, Arizona 6-5 244
7. Jared Wiley, TCU 6-6 249
8. AJ Barner, Michigan 6-6 251
9. Dallin Holker, Colorado State 6-3 241
10. Jaheim Bell*, Florida State 6-2 241
Defensive end
With the 2024 NFL draft just days away, Buffalo News Buffalo Bills reporters Jay Skurski, Mark Gaughan, Ryan O'Halloran and Katherine Fitzgerald take a step back and look at the offseason, in general, and answer questions about the draft, in particular.
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Alabama’s Dallas Turner checked into the scouting combine at 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, a weight that means he will need an ultra-quick first step to be an effective run defender. As a third-year junior, Turner was a first-team All-America selection and had 10 sacks and 53 total tackles. In 42 career games, Turner had 23.5 sacks and 120 tackles (33.5 for lost yardage).
Florida State’s Jared Verse had 18 sacks over two seasons. At the scouting combine, he ran the 40 in 4.58 seconds and led his position group in bench-press reps (31 on the 225-pound bar).
Penn State’s Chop Robinson ran the 40 in 4.48 seconds at the scouting combine, and is highly rated because of his get-off and bend around the edge at 254 pounds.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1. Dallas Turner*, Alabama 6-3 247
2. Jared Verse, Florida State 6-4 254
3. Laiatu Latu, UCLA 6-5 259
4. Chop Robinson*, Penn State 6-3 254
5. Darius Robinson, Missouri 6-5 285
6. Chris Braswell, Alabama 6-3 251
7. Marshawn Kneeland,W.Michigan 6-3 268
8. Bralen Trice*, Washington 6-3 245
9. Adisa Isaac, Penn State 6-5 247
10. Jonah Elliss*, Utah 6-2 248
Defensive tackles
Texas’ Byron Murphy II leads this year’s class of defensive tackles. Murphy is a three-year starter who had six sacks and 45 pressures last season. He is a little undersized (6-foot-1, 297 pounds), but he is explosive and quick.
At 6-4½, 366 pounds, Texas’ T’Vondre Sweat is massive. Sweat earned him Outland Trophy (given to college football’s best interior defensive lineman) and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Florida State’s Braden Fiske had 19.5 sacks in his career, including six last season. He is athletic with lateral quickness and he shined in the ACC championship game with a three-sack performance.
Jer’Zhan Newton of Illinois was Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He had 7.5 sacks and he led the FBS with four blocked kicks.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1. Byron Murphy II*, Texas 6-0.5 297
2. Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois 6-2 304
3. Braden Fiske, Florida State 6-3 295
4. Maason Smith*, LSU 6-5 306
5. Kris Jenkins*, Michigan 6-3 299
6. Michael Hall Jr.*, Ohio State 6-3 290
7. T’Vondre Sweat, Texas 6-4 366
8. Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson 6-4 294
9. Brandon Dorlus, Oregon 6-3 283
10. Gabe Hall, Baylor 6-6 291
Linebackers
N.C. State’s Payton Wilson blazed a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, and won the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year Award and Butkus Award as nation’s top linebacker in 2023. He also was the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year after finishing with 138 tackles, including 17.5 tackles for loss.
Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper has great speed (4.51-second 40) and plays with a physical style that led to Jeremiah calling him the best off-ball linebacker in the class.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1. Payton Wilson, N.C. State 6-4 238
2. Edgerrin Cooper*, Texas A&M 6-3 230
3. Junior Colson*, Michigan 6-3 247
4. Jeremiah Trotter Jr.*, Clemson 6-0 230
5. Cedric Gray, North Carolina 6-2 235
6. Marist Liufau, Notre Dame 6-2 239
7. Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State 6-2 239
8. Jaylan Ford, Texas 6-3 242
9. Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington 6-1 239
10. Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State 6-2 244
Cornerbacks
A few cornerbacks should go Day 1, with Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean among them.
Mitchell has been a full-time starter since 2021. Mitchell did not give up a touchdown in the 2023 season, according to Pro Football Focus. His 46 career pass breakups are a Toledo record.
DeJean lined up at multiple spots and he returned three of his five interceptions for touchdowns in the 2022 season.
Terrion Arnold’s five interceptions last season showed why opposing quarterbacks have to watch out for the Alabama corner. He earned first team AP All-American nods in 2023. His college teammate, Kool-Aid McKinstry, is patient, but physical.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo 6-0 195
2. Terrion Arnold*, Alabama 6-0 189
3. Cooper DeJean*, Iowa 6-0.5 203
4. Nate Wiggins*, Clemson 6-1 173
5. Kool-Aid McKinstry*, Alabama 5-11.5 199
6. Kamari Lassiter*, Georgia 5-11.5 186
7. Ennis Rakestraw Jr.*, Missouri 5-11 183
8. T.J. Tampa, Iowa State 6-1 189
9. Max Melton, Rutgers 5-11 187
10. Mike Sainristil, Michigan 5-9 182
Safeties
Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin intercepted a school-record 13 passes in his career and is being pegged by many mock drafts as the first safety off the board, but not until the back half of the second round.
A five-year college player, Nubin was second-team All-America in 2023. He played in 55 games and had 207 tackles and 24 pass break-ups. As a senior, Nubin had five interceptions.
USC’s Calen Bullock checked into the scouting combine at 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds, built more like a cornerback than a prototypical safety. He can move around the field – he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds at the scouting combine. Bullock played safety, corner and nickel as a true freshman in ’21, then settled in at safety.
Utah’s Cole Bishop was a college teammate of Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid. Bishop ran the 40 in 4.45 seconds at the scouting combine, third-fastest among the safeties. Bishop projects as a free safety because of his range, and it keeps him out of man coverage situations.
TOP 10
Rk. Player, College Ht. Wt.
1. Tyler Nubin, Minnesota 6-1 199
2. Calen Bullock*, USC 6-2 188
3. Cole Bishop*, Utah 6-2 206
4. Javon Bullard*, Georgia 5-11 198
5. Kamren Kinchens*, Miami (Fla.) 5-11 203
6. Jaden Hicks*, Washington State 6-2 211
7. Tykee Smith, Georgia 5-10 202
8. Beau Brade, Maryland 6-0 203
9. Evan Williams, Oregon 5-11 200
10. Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State 6-2 216
* – Underclassman