It’s time to close the books on the 2023 NFL Draft and start looking ahead to next year’s group. And the class of 2024 looks pretty, really good. The quarterback class could be deeper and better than the class of 2023, there are potential franchise options at receiver and tight end, and next year’s defensive tackle class could be among the best we’ve seen in a while.
Of course, the 2024 draft is still 12 months away, and there’s still a lot to learn about the class. Over the next few months, you’ll learn more about the best names available and their strengths. But for now, let’s take a quick introductory look at what could be a distinct set of leads.
NFL draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reed, along with National College Football Reporter Adam Rittenberg, are here to answer seven big questions about the best players, from who could finish first overall to who flies under the radar early on. Get your notebooks ready—it’s time to start taking stock of the Class of 2024. And for more on what to expect from the Class of 2024, check out Todd McShay’s Super Early First Round Way.
jump to:
Top QBs | Other notable names
sleep | class strength
team to watch
Who are the best quarterbacks in the class of 2024?
Miller: Caleb Williams, USC. Williams was the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and has already received comparisons to NFL scout Patrick Mahomes. Time will tell if this type of quarterback is in the NFL, but as a prospect there is plenty to get excited about. Williams (6-foot-1, 218 pounds) threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdown passes to just five interceptions last season. He also rushed for 382 yards and another 10 scores. This was all in his first full season as a starter after replacing Spencer Ruttler midway through his freshman season at Oklahoma in 2021. The early scouting report on Williams is very flattering, and he’s a favorite to be the first pick next year.
Reed: Drake May, North Carolina. At 6-4, 225, he was only a freshman last year, but you wouldn’t have recognized him when you watched him. May was named ACC Rookie and Offensive Player of the Year, finished the season with 4,321 yards passing and 38 touchdown passes while adding another 698 yards and seven scores on the ground. I was present for his first college start during the season opener against Florida A&M. Although he was an opponent of FCS, his five-a-side performance made it clear that he was a player to watch in the future.
The early name most associated with Maye is Justin Herbert. The Tar Heels’ caller’s frame isn’t quite as great as that of Herbert (6-6, 236), but their skills are nearly identical. Maye has arm strength to easily propel the ball down the court but is also a capable runner who can make runs and make plays off the hull.
Rettenberg: Michael Bennix Jr., Washington. After leading the nation in passing yards per game (357.0), Penix is back to hone his skills even further. Will throws to one of the best receiving groups in the country, led by 1,000-yard receivers Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. Penix’s arm strength jumps – some in the Pac-12 think he’s better than Williams in that area. He’ll grapple with questions of durability throughout the NFL evaluation process, but a productive, injury-free second season for offensive coach Kalin DeBoer should bolster his pro stock. “I don’t think he liked where his test pitch was; he thinks he’s a better player than that,” Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb told me.
What prospects could eventually become the best non-QB in the class?
Reed: The offense’s early outlook for the class of 2024 is looking very good at the top of the draft. Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would be the non-QB I talked about the most, but I’m going to the other side of the ball with Florida State defensive end Jared Fiers. Many evaluators were really surprised to see him return to school because he was probably among the top 15 overall in the 2023 draft. Now back at Tallahassee for his senior season, he’s expected to anchor an exciting Seminoles defense.
Verse, who moved from Albany, was an instant hit at the FBS level. At 6-4, 248 pounds, Verse finished with 16.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks in 2022. He’s a tall, physical and annoying player who is expected to have a bigger role next season. The Seminoles haven’t had a top 10 defensive tackle since Jalen Ramsey finished fifth in 2016. Verse can end this streak and become the next great defenseman from this program.
Rettenberg: The hype around Harrison is incredible, especially since Ohio State has produced a lot of wide receivers in recent years. I had people in the program tell me halfway through last season that Harrison was going to be the best of the extremely talented bunch, and he didn’t disappoint with 1,263 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 77 receptions. Harrison has all the elements NFL teams want in a receiver and stands out in the big games, as he showed against Penn State, Michigan and Georgia last season.
Miller: Adam hooks it up with Harrison, who already has his scouts buzzing, but what about Olumuyiwa Fashanu? The Penn State left tackle was receiving buzz as the top potential tackle in the ’23 draft class before surprising the Residents and returning to college for another year. At 6-6 and 321 pounds, there will be no arm questions or power concerns from the Scouts. Fashanu has the height, mobility and poise to act as a stellar intervention. After giving up just two pressures and no sacks in 2022, there’s a big chance he’ll be the best non-quarterback next year.
Who are some of the early bedtimers who can get up this season?
Rettenberg: Ennis Rackestraw Jr. CB, Missouri. After producing just one draft pick (defensive end Isaiah McGuire) this year, Missouri will be a much bigger factor in the 2024 draft. Rakestraw is one of many Tigers defensive backs who can rack up the drawing boards. Racistro has fully recovered from a 2021 AFC Champions League injury, and had three forced fumbles, 13 tackles and an interception last season. He is always around the ball and has very good speed, testing well in Missouri’s offseason program.
Miller: Caline Pollock, S, USC. The safety class of 2023 didn’t have a standout, as none were drafted in the first round, but Bullock could be that guy in 2024. A 6-3 free safety, he has range and ball skills. He had five interceptions, including a 93-yard pick-up, and six passes defended in his sophomore season. Scouts are already starting to talk about his awareness and his covering instincts.
Reed: Chubb Robinson, DE, Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions are used to producing dynamic prospects, especially on defense. At 6-5, 253 pounds, Robinson is the next best driver in the program. He recorded 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks last season, and Robinson is a pass-ready tackler whose passing rush system has continued to improve with more playing time. He has the highest mark among FBS pass rushers in pass rush win rate (12.1%). This indicates that he reaches out to passers-by quickly and often.
What is the early strength of separation?
Reed: For the first time in a while, a defensive tackle. The 2019 draft contained the last strong defensive tackle class, with six players taken off the plate in the first round. I’m not saying the next chapter will match or exceed that lofty number, but early projection looks very good.
Mason Smith (LSU), Jerzan Newton (Illinois), Chris Jenkins (Michigan), Michael Hall Jr. (Ohio State) and Leonard Taylor (Miami) are names that have already made a buzz, but many other scouts believe they could have early round potential. Tellick Williams (Ohio State), Rock Urhururu (Clemson) and Nazir Stackhouse (Georgia) are three guys to watch. It seems like forever since we’ve had an inside linebacker class to be excited about, but this year’s group could be one of the strongest in the class of 2024.
Miller: I’ll go with the quarterback. We’ve highlighted three exceptional players earlier, and they’re just the tip of the iceberg for a class that’s rich in star power and depth. Williams, May and Benks will be up front, but thanks to NIL trades coaxing juniors back into college and a strong underclass group, we’ve got a heavy load of quarterbacks to take stock of. Quinn Ewers (Texas), Bo Nix (Oregon), Tyler Van Dyke (Miami), Sam Hartman (Notre Dame) and Jaden Daniels (LSU) all received buzz from the scouts I spoke with. A lot can and should change in the next twelve months, but the quarterback class looks very strong.
How does the class of 2024 compare to the group of 2023?
Miller: There’s a lot we don’t know now that we’ll find out over the next year, but I’m comfortable saying 2024 looks even better. He is considered to be the two best midfielders with more potential than this year’s group. Same goes for left tackle and wide receiver, as Fashanu and Harrison are elite clients. I can’t wait to hunt down the best players this summer, but my starting roster looks a lot better at quarterback and offensive tackle than it does in 2023.
Reed: It’s still too early to say because there are a lot of projections at the moment with the 2024 group. What I will say, though, is that there are a lot of immediate impact players at the top of next year’s draft. Outside of Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, and Will Anderson Jr. and Bijan Robinson, the 2023 class lacked instant star power at the top. In 2022, we had a feeling prospects like Aidan Hutchinson and Sauce Gardner would be instant stars. I have the same feeling for a few of the players in the 2024 derby, especially in terms of attack.
Williams and May look like immediate impact quarterbacks, but Harrison and Brock Powers (GA) have the ability to step in immediately and provide excellent passing assists as well. I would also add that we are in an interesting battle for the top offensive tackle. Fashanu and Joe Alt (Notre Dame) could both be contenders to be the first non-QB to be drafted next April.
What sneaky college team to watch for 2024 predictions?
Rettenberg: Washington and Florida State aren’t necessarily eligible for stealth, but both will fill out the 2024 draft. After not having draft picks this season, Washington could be the biggest producer for the Pac-12 with Penix, Odunze, McMillan, edge rushers Bralen Trice, Zion Tupuola-Fetui, and possibly linemen. Others on either side of the ball. Florida State has only had one player (safety Jimmy Robinson) drafted this year, but it should see a surge with Verse, inside lineman Fabian Lovett and a host of offensive players, including quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson and Johnny Wilson.
Which prospect tape are you excited to watch as you start preseason?
Reed: Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama. As Anderson studied, the player on the opposite edge kept popping up on the screen. At 6-4, 242 pounds, Turner is next in the long line of Crimson Tide pass rushers. He finished last season with 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in 13 games (10 starts) but is expected to fill the starring role for Anderson. Turner is a slender, rushing player with a unique ability to bend and corner quarterback but still needs to gain strength in all parts of his frame.
Miller: JT Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State. The true sophomore had just 3.5 sacks in 2022, but he’ll move into a bigger role with Zach Harrison’s exit to the NFL. Tuimoloau had a dominant performance against Penn State, recording four pressures, two sacks and a forced fumble that gave us glimpses of his progress. The 6-4, 270-pound pass was also intercepted last year, demonstrating his versatility in space.