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| Rank 3 Rome Odunze Washington · WR · Senior Odunze is a big, athletic wideout with exceptional hands. He can play outside or in the slot. He is refined and polished in everything he does on the field. He uses a variety of releases at the line of scrimmage and is a clean route runner. He uses his strength to lean into defenders before separating out of the break point. He thrives in traffic, possessing the ability to pluck the football and absorb big shots over the middle of the field. He makes some incredible adjustments on poorly thrown balls. He tracks naturally over his shoulder. After the catch, he is very tough to bring down and has some nifty make-miss ability. He plays with a ton of passion and energy. Overall, Odunze is a complete player and reminds me of Larry Fitzgerald coming out of college. 4 Malik Nabers LSU · WR · Junior Nabers is a dynamic receiver with outstanding competitiveness and production. He explodes off the line in his release, creating immediate separation. He sets up defenders before snapping off his route. He isn't afraid to work in the middle of the field and has strong hands to finish through contact. When working back to the quarterback, he prefers to let the ball travel into his body, but his drops are limited. He can scoop low throws off his shoes and easily adjusts to balls on his back hip. He does a lot of damage on slot fades, where he uses his speed to win early, and he tracks the ball with ease. After the catch, he explodes through tackles and also has a nasty stiff arm. Overall, Nabers is an electric playmaker who reminds me of DJ Moore with the ball in his hands. |
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| 5 Drake Maye North Carolina · QB · Sophomore (RS) Maye has prototypical size, athleticism and arm strength. He has quick feet and quick hands, but his delivery can get long at times. He’s a gifted thrower who drives the ball without much foot space in the pocket (including with defenders hanging on him). He can take pace off the ball on swings and shallow crossers. He has a nice touch on bucket throws down the field. He is athletic to escape and create with his legs and he’s tough to tackle in space. He is ultra-competitive as a runner, something he'll need to dial back a bit at the next level. His pass protection wasn’t good last season at North Carolina and there weren’t always answers in the route to bail him out, which led to some poor decisions and carelessness with the ball. Overall, Maye has some things to clean up, but he has every ingredient to be a top-tier starter at the game's most important position. 6 Jayden Daniels LSU · QB · Senior Daniels is a tall/lean quarterback with exceptional accuracy, decision-making and speed. He is very poised and comfortable in the pocket. He likes to use a rhythm bounce at the top of his drop before settling his feet into the ground and smoothly transferring his weight to throw. He has an extremely quick release and beautiful throwing motion. He throws with anticipation, touch and accuracy. He flashes the ability to manipulate safeties with his eyes to create separation downfield. When he gets pressured, he doesn’t hesitate to explode out of the pocket. He has elite suddenness. He is more of a linear/speed runner than a break-down/make-you-miss type of ball-carrier. He needs to do a better job of protecting himself, though, as he took some huge hits in the games I studied. Overall, Daniels took a massive leap in 2023 and now offers both a high floor and ceiling. |
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| 20 J.J. McCarthy Michigan · QB · Junior McCarthy is a lean, athletic quarterback with a live/loose arm. He is very consistent because of his ability to always throw from a firm base, with his feet and eyes connected. He is selectively aggressive as a passer. He has the combination of velocity and accuracy to fit balls into tight windows, but he is also very comfortable taking checkdowns and piling up completions. He is very efficient. He shows the touch to take speed off the ball underneath and provide optimal run-after-catch ball location. The only throws that gave him some trouble were over-the-top outside shots, as he let too many of those leak and end up out of bounds. He is a very explosive straight-line runner. Overall, other quarterbacks in this class have more volume in the passing game, but it’s hard to argue with McCarthy's results. I see some similarities to Alex Smith coming out of college. |
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| 9 Terrion Arnold Alabama · CB · Sophomore (RS) Arnold has ideal size, play speed and instincts for the position. He plays both outside and inside at the nickel. He is effective in press and off coverage. He is fluid to open up and mirror in press. He has plenty of speed to stay in phase on deep balls. From off coverage, he has a quick and smooth pedal, and he doesn't waste steps in his plant drive. He is also effective playing with a side turn and anticipating routes before cutting them off. He has outstanding ball skills, and the production (five interceptions and 17 passes defensed in 2023) reflects his ability. He is a physical, face-up tackler. He doesn't miss tackles in space. Overall, I struggled to find much to criticize in Arnold's play, despite his lack of experience at the position, having arrived at Alabama as a highly regarded safety prospect. He has all the tools and traits to be a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback. |
Bo Nix
Oregon · QB · Senior
Nix is an experienced quarterback (61 starts at Oregon and Auburn) with outstanding accuracy and toughness. He has average height and a thick/sturdy frame. He is at his best in the quick-rhythm passing game. He has quick feet in his setup, scans the field with urgency and accurately delivers the ball. He has a compact release and generates velocity to drive the ball to all three levels. He shows touch to layer the ball over linebackers and under safeties. He is accurate on designed rollouts. He does need to improve habits under duress, though, as he occasionally fails to feel back-side run-throughs and also falls off some throws when faced with interior pressure. He’s an urgent athlete and is effective as a runner, especially on zone reads. His coaches rave about his leadership and toughness. Overall, Nix’s combination of competitiveness, intelligence and experience reminds me of Jalen Hurts coming out of college.
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Michael Penix Jr.
Washington · QB · Senior
Penix has exceptional arm strength and toughness. He has a unique, whippy, three-quarters delivery from the left side, and the ball explodes out of his hand. He can hang on his back foot and effortlessly drive the ball 55 yards. He excels driving throws outside and tosses a beautiful, lofting deep ball. He does have issues getting throws up and down in the middle of the field. His ball can stay flat. He is quick to process and consistently gets to No. 3 in the route progression. He flashed the ability to avoid, escape and create against Texas in the College Football Playoff. He’s been through a litany of injuries during his career, but he managed to overcome them and led Washington to the national title game. Overall, durability is a legitimate concern, but I believe in his combination of vision, accuracy and arm strength.
some guys who he has ranked right around #47 who I think would be great 2nd round picks and probably plug and play starters:
Ricky Pearsall
Florida · WR · Senior
Pearsall is a loose, smooth wideout with outstanding hands and toughness. He is quick in his release and he understands how to change gears as a route runner. He is fluid getting into and out of breaks. He has outstanding hands. He attacks the ball at the highest point and makes some circus catches (SEE: one-handed gem vs. Charlotte). After the catch, he is quick to transition up the field and has the elusiveness to make defenders miss in space. He has a lean frame, but he plays with excellent toughness and competitiveness. Pearsall followed up an excellent 2023 season with a solid week at the Senior Bowl and should have a starting role from Day 1 for his drafting team.
46
Max Melton
Rutgers · CB · Senior
Melton offers an exciting mix of size, speed and toughness. He can align outside or in the slot. He has quick feet and he’s fluid to open up and mirror. The former Scarlet Knight has plenty of top speed to carry vertical routes, though he does get a little grabby down the field. He’s had consistent ball production throughout his career (eight INTs, 22 pass breakups over the last three seasons). I love his feistiness and toughness against the run, and he’s a reliable tackler. Overall, Melton has the ideal tools to step in and start right away outside or at the nickel position.
48
Kris Jenkins
Michigan · DT · Junior (RS)
Jenkins is a muscled-up, powerful DT. He’s at his best against the run. He shoots out of his four-point stance and jolts blockers. He easily holds the point of attack and has lateral range. He is more of a stack/hold player than a penetrator. As a pass rusher, he relies almost exclusively on power. He’ll need to develop a better plan in that area at the next level. Overall, Jenkins will be an immediate asset against the run while providing some upside as a rusher.
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Mike Sainristil
Michigan · CB · Senior
Sainristil is a former wideout turned nickel cornerback. He lacks ideal size, but he plays big and he’s been a ball magnet for the Wolverines. He has very quick feet, stays in phase and is adept at locating and playing the ball. He doesn’t have elite long speed, but he was rarely put in compromising positions in his role/system. He’s an incredibly physical and reliable tackler in space. He also displays timing and feel as a blitzer. His production is exceptional and he’s been praised for his leadership. Overall, the sum is better than the parts, and it’s easy to be excited about the entire package of player/person.
everyone is watching the same tape. a lot of people have made the observation for the last several months and jeremiah has been higher on odunze than consensus since his first top 50.
there isn't much unique in draft commentary these days but jeremiah is in the top tier.
it seems like Nabers is consistently rumored ahead of Odunze with NFL evaluators. Albright and McGinn have both reported that. so if there are 3 qbs top 5, i agree nabers is the likely other guy with MHJ. Odunze seems like the guy NYG are likely looking at as BPA at pick #6.
i think the chargers would move down before taking nabers, but he is a fit for what they need. quentin johnston looked bustier than kate upton last year and they moved both their starters. i think harbough is going to want to accumulate picks though, and then i think he will use multiple picks in this draft on michigan guys he knows better than anyone.
I hold Jeremiah in high regard, out of all the supposed analysts out there, I think he's the most tuned in and reliable.
I don't agree with him regarding McCarthy, and I'm sure he's the 1 prospect teams have ranked all over the map.
i think he kind of took an easy way out with jjm putting him squarely in the middle of daniels/maye and nix/penix.
i mean i guess it's fair to think that perhaps he is exactly in between those 2 clusters, but we all know how drafts go and he is almost certain to go in the top 12. so ranking him at 20 feels like picking a winner but not to beat the spread. he's covered both ways.
if i were making rankings, id work hard to consider him closer to one group or the other. if you think he's a reach in the top 12, rank him where you ranked nix/penix. if you think he's only a little behind daniels/maye, then rank him #9 or #10 a few places behind them since that's where any QB in such a ranking is going to get pushed up to. thats sort of how he ranked the 2018 class. I think the top 4 were all top 15 or so and then im not sure he even had lamar in his top 50.
jjm directly in the middle is like a shoulder shrug non-answer.
just a minor criticism of how he had the players ranked.
yeah not gonna lie having trouble getting this comparison out of my head.
just a minor criticism of how he had the players ranked.
Like I said earlier, I hold him in the highest esteem, but I don't quite get the Alex Smith comp. Smith, coming out of Utah, had the talent, but it was unknown how he was going to read defenses coming from an Urban Meyer run offense. He also looked a bit stiff and uncomfortable in the pocket, and that's not what I see in McCarthy.
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i agree with the majority of his comments on the prospects i know well (including JJM who i agree reminds me of Alex Smith when he went #1).
just a minor criticism of how he had the players ranked.
Like I said earlier, I hold him in the highest esteem, but I don't quite get the Alex Smith comp. Smith, coming out of Utah, had the talent, but it was unknown how he was going to read defenses coming from an Urban Meyer run offense. He also looked a bit stiff and uncomfortable in the pocket, and that's not what I see in McCarthy.
i see a similarity with how urban meyer's offense was tough to project into the pros. harboughs offense is a different projection but similarly is unique compared to the rest of CFB.
the other similarities are the age/athleticism. both were entering their drafts as extreme outliers in their youth (never took snaps above age 20) with all the athletic and intelligence boxes checked.