With the NFL Draft approaching, here’s my ranking of the prospects at each of the offensive skill position players. These are the players I have graded inside my Top 100 overall Big Board, with a couple extras for some positions.
Quarterbacks
1. Cam Ward, Miami
Risky profile with late breakout but his potential to be a great starter makes him the top QB in this class.
2. Quinn Ewers, Texas
Good mix of athleticism and some workable passing traits. Needs to develop consistency but many weaknesses are coachable.
3. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Strong accuracy and decision making. Physically limited and will need to be less risk-averse in the NFL.
4. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Good traits to work with. Potential starter to develop but overall a large unknown.
5. Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Very far off from NFL-ready but elite athleticism gives him huge potential at least in a class where it’s hard to see most of these guys after him working out either.
HMs: 6. Tyler Shough, Louisville; 7. Kyle McCord, Syracuse
Running Backs
1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Running style is reminiscent of some of the truly elite recent pure rushers - Chubb, early career-Zeke, etc. Runs with a wildly low center of gravity, combined with excellent patience and vision. Lacks those names’ size and receiving skills but as a wholistic prospect profile, truly is as clean of a projection as it gets.
2. Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Great combination of powerful running style with real long speed. Burst (for his size) and ability to break contact standout as excellent) Elusiveness is okay (but again, impressive for his size); is worth noting the disproportionate rate he was able to face LBs 1-on-1 though. With those yellow flags said, there isn’t really any clear weaknesses.
3. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
Oxymoronically runs with both incredible grace and violence. Just a menace. Excellent explosiveness and contact balance as a rusher; great route running and ball skills as a receiver. Has the build to develop in pass protection but does lack true long speed.
4. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Reliable pass catcher and pass protector with great speed - rare combination which should mean he has plenty of demand (and could go very early). Leaves some stuff to be desired as a pure rusher though (vision, physicality).
5. RJ Harvey, UCF
Efficient runner with excellent vision and ability to manipulate defenders. Hard to bring down. Ashton Jeanty-light and with where Jeanty will be drafted, I’d prefer Harvey at his value significantly more.
6. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
Great runner (specifically excellent acceleration) but will be scheme-dependant in NFL. Likely a committee back where he plays the power rusher role.
7. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Lacks athleticism but checks pretty much every other box (although receiving game is inconsistent). If he goes to an outside zone scheme, I think he will be very successful.
8. Damien Martinez, Miami
Was excellent in two different schemes. Elegant runner - will almost stand still with the ball to allow holes to present themselves (think Le’Veon Bell). Feel confident he has a lot of outs to succeed in the NFL. Weak pass protection for his size though.
9. DJ Giddens, Kansas State
Awesome elusiveness and speed. Hoping he adds more weight as contact balance is poor currently.
10. Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Great contact balance - doesn’t go down easy. I view him as much more boom-or-bust than others though as that Tennessee scheme leaves a lot unknown (2 under center rush attempts last season, frequently faced light boxes). On teams where he will face light boxes though, should succeed as a a modern compact running back.
HMs - Out of top 100:
11. Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
Strange profile - never had an under center carry at Virginia Tech. Excellent speed, creates big plays at a very high rate, but also gets stuffed extremely often (22.6% stuff rate, leads class). Fumbles were also an issue. Shades of Matt Breida.
12. Trevor Etienne, Georgia
Small runner with excellent speed. Would work well in a 2-back committee with a power runner beside him
13. Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
Will likely be drafted into an RB3 role but good potential for production. Strong power runner with excellent elusiveness but doesn’t offer much else yet.
14. Corey Kiner, Cincinnati
One-dimensional player but strong runner with good vision and contact balance. Lacks long speed but could find a short-yardage/goal line situation specialist role somewhere. <8 inch hands may be a concern.
15. Devin Neal, Kansas
Consistent, smooth runner with good vision. Limited athleticism and upside.
16. Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State
Early breakout but has been much worse since. Still a talented back but I do fear this is a descending player.
17. Kalel Mullings, Michigan
Stole the show at Michigan and could prove find a role at the next level
Wide Receivers
1. Travis Hunter, Colorado
The fact he may not even play WR shouldn’t let you forget he is still an absolutely elite WR prospect.
2. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
A very safe prospect who produced early competing with legit NFL talent for targets. Savvy route running and plays much bigger than his size. No clear standout traits but no weaknesses either. Don’t think he’ll ever be a true WR1 but hard to see a reason he won’t be productive immediately and sustain a long NFL career.
3. Matthew Golden, Texas
Really strong route running ability which eases concerns he’s only going in 1st because of his 40-time (which he probably overperformed in). Has improved drastically (the tape at Houston is bad, but is great to see his development). Can see really high upside.
4. Jack Bech, TCU
Scheme specific player but the ones he does fit are the Lafeurs, Shanahan, McVay etc and is the type of prospect who finds success in the league as a productive WR2. Played the F/TE at LSU (notably outproduced Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.), then the slot at TCU and now on the outside. Will thrive in a “positionless football” scheme like those mentioned earlier but does have the genuine WR skills anyway. Excellent route runner - besides Hunter he is top of the class for me at finding the soft spot in zone coverages and for his athletic profile, maximises YAC. Could improve blocking ability and main case against is he may not have the athleticism. Half the teams won’t have a good role for him. My instinct is that a good offense will scheme him against the nickel primarily where he provides a great mismatch.
5. Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Great speed for his size. Particularly excellent vertical ability. Not elusive but can separate with good route running ability and body control. I see a lot of Michael Pittman Jr. in his game. Should be productive in the NFL but may lack explosiveness to be a top tier target in the league. Comeback and curl routes weren’t pretty to watch.
6. Kyle Williams, Washington State
Excellent athleticism - great speed and vertical ability. Awesome route running and release packages - makes a lot of corners whiff (although not great competition). Also fantastic hands. 5 years in college is concerning for his profile; none of them at good programs. Small and very late breakout. At the end of the day, he consistently created and more importantly maintained separation which is skill I really covet. Long term upside is limited should be productive immediately in NFL.
7. Tre Harris, Ole Miss
Ascending player. High school QB who moved to WR at Louisiana Tech, and then transferred upwards. Ole Miss system or not, being productive in the SEC while still familiarising yourself with the position means something. For me, it’s not about his efficiency. Harris is a great athlete who has consistently gotten better and more instinctual through his career. Will be deadly if he can develop intermediate routes but the NFL is a step up and it will take time.
8. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Extremely productive. Plenty of speed for his great size. Really smooth hips and YAC ability for someone of his build. More risky to me than many think because of high proportion he ends up in contested situations. Don’t see how he’ll consistently separate at the next level.
9. Elik Ayomonor, Stanford
Great profile of size, speed (impressive movement skills in general) and excellent blocking ability. Former track athlete and it shows in change of direction. Routes aren’t “smooth” perse but would say there’s a lack of wasted movements. Questionable — bordering on poor — ball skills and injury history (ACL, MCL, meniscus tears) isn’t ideal but was long ago now. Could be great but needs to be coached up. I see the vision but the worry is he won’t get on the field enough early.
10. Savion Williams, TCU
6’ 4”, 222 lbs at WR is a super unique build. Has genuine release packages and route running ability. Also impressed as Wildcat QB which is prompting many to say he should move to RB with his size. Powerful runner and surprising ability to make defenders miss. Terrible inconsistency from game to game - truly don’t know what you’re getting each snap. You also wish he played more special teams for his size. A real mould-breaker though and hopefully he gets to the right play caller.
11. Luther Burden III, Missouri
Upside is incredibly high, excellent speed and YAC skills. Inconsistent ability to win as a route runner and work ethic concerns make it tough to project he can improve this (at least as an outsider scouting him). 2023 tape is electric though and still has excellent movement skills.
12. Tai Felton, Maryland
Great athlete- speed and vertical ability is very impressive especially at his size. Quite lean and frequently ended up with awkward catches. Feel like you’re getting Jahan Dotson at a much better price tag.
13. Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Great releases and shifty route runner with good speed. Overall great WR skills. Smaller frame wasn’t able to compete with more physical corners. Is a great player but lacks a lot of the things you can’t coach.
14. Tory Horton, Colorado State
Lean, fast player. Clear potential to develop into a field stretcher in the NFL. Injury history isn’t ideal but I’m very in on Horton.
15. Jalen Royals, Utah State
Excellent speed and burst, should move to slot in the NFL. Utah St offense isn’t translatable at all and likely will need to be schemed up touches. Inconsistent route running and drops. Was able to transfer from JUCO to Utah St- why couldn’t he move further up the totem pole? Will be first player drafted from school since Jordan Love.
16. Isaiah Bond, Texas
Game speed pops off the tape. Barely ran any real routes and need to develop ability to separate on deep routes - a concerning comment given off-the-field concerns.
HMs - Out of top 100:
18. Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
Solid athlete with special teams versatility.
19. Pat Bryant, Illinois
Good route running; savvy, but not a prospect for me - just not athletic enough.
Tight Ends
1. Tyler Warren, Penn State
Strong receiver and blocker. Versatility to play on all downs will be highly valued. Extremely clean prospect profile.
2. Kolston Loveland, Michigan
Excellent, tough receiver. Great athleticism should see him be a starting TE early.
3. Mason Taylor, LSU
Talented and young. Ascending player with high upside but still raw
4. Elijah Arroyo, Miami
Basically a power slot - will be steady option for a West Coast scheme
5. Harold Fannin Jr, Bowling Green
Should do the job for offences looking for a pass-catching option but skeptical if prolific production against weak competition will translate.
HM - out of top 100:
6. Gunnar Helm, Texas
Still developing but good YAC skills to work off of.