2024 Top Five Positional Rankings: Final Edition!

Hello everybody! Twas the night before the draft eh?! AskQuestionsLater here, bringing you the final 2024 Top Five Positional Rankings! Unlike last year, finally made it through... though at the zero hour due to some personal woes. Regardless, we have reached the end of our list so let us begin to wrap up the 2024 NFL Draft Class!!



Previous entry of the Top Five Positional Rankings list can be found here!!



These written statements by the author do not reflect nor are shared opinions of members of TheSteelersFans Message Board, Staff Members and/or Site Administrator.




Quarterbacks:




1.) Caleb Williams

2.) Drake Maye

3.) Jayden Daniels

4.) Michael Penix Jr.

5.) J.J. McCarthy


..... Considering this was my order before, mind you that I did say that the listing wouldn't change. No more words nor characters need wasted here; these QBs are ranked where they are for my rankings. If anything, even with Penix's clean bill of health during the Combine confirmed, that still was not enough for him to move up past Daniels for me.



Best Arm Talent: Caleb Williams

Best Accuracy: Michael Penix Jr.

Best Pocket Poise: Drake Maye

Best Pocket Presence: Drake Maye

Best Improv. Skills: Caleb Williams

Best Runner: Jayden Daniels/J.J. McCarthy

Biggest Boom/Bust: Caleb Williams (Hero Ball cranked to 11)/Michael Penix Jr. (Injury History)

Most Pro Ready: Drake Maye

AQL's Favorite: Drake Maye




Running Backs:



1.) Johnathon Brooks

2.) Trey Benson

3.) Blake Corum

4.) Braelon Allen

5.) Audric Estimé


Much like the QBs, the RBs also don't see much movement here. Again, this position, like the QB position, was already preordained; longer ago than even the QBs were. This class isn't very good but count out the likes of Trey Benson and Blake Corum at your own risk. In the right system, both are easy 1K rushers.



Best Speed: Trey Benson

Best Power: Braelon Allen

Best Vision: Blake Corum

Best BCA (Ball Carrying Ability): Blake Corum

Most Versatile: Johnathon Brooks

Biggest Boom/Bust: Trey Benson

Most Pro Ready: Blake Corum/Braelon Allen




AQL's Favorite: None



Wide Receivers:



1.) Marvin Harrison Jr.

2.) Malik Nabers

3.) Romeo Odunze

4.) Brian Thomas Jr.

5.) Adonai Mitchell



Detecting a pattern here?! Some may call this lazy but mind you, more often than not, every time I have done these lists, the only major forms of move up occur at two points; post scouting combine and during the pro day trail. While there have been more private workouts for players this year since the COVID 2021 laden season, much of the players I had slotted into for these rankings were already completed. Same goes for WR.. though this is by no means a knock on this years crop. Outstanding is an understatement for teams who are in dire need of one are in the correct year. While the rankings of the above haven't changed, this classes position as the best in the Draft Class is still number one.




Best Speed: Malik Nabers

Best Hands: Marvin Harrison Jr.

Best Route Running: Marvin Harrison Jr

Best Blocking: Romeo Odunze

Best CIT (Catch In Traffic): Romeo Odunze

Best YAC: Malik Nabers

Biggest Boom/Bust: Adonai Mitchell

Most Versatile: Romeo Odunze

Most Pro Ready: Marvin Harrison Jr.



AQL's Favorite: Romeo Odunze



Tight Ends:




1.) Brock Bowers

2.) Ja'Tavion Sanders

3.) Cade Stover

4.) Jaheim Bell

5.) Ben Sinnot



Less than 24 hours remain for the "Brock Bowers Sweepstakes"!!! Something of interesting note though; in the past 10 NFL Drafts, only one First Round Tight End has ever eclipsed 1K yards (Kyle Pitts) and none have ever earned First Team All Pro during their Rookie Contract. Now, regarding the First Team All Pro nods, this key metric requires context; only one slot for the All Pro Team is reserved for Tight End; three slots total for WRs or even four slots reserved for RBs. As such, the chances of of a First Round WR being an All Pro are much higher due in part to the fact that there are more spots available. Again though, being a First Team All Pro as a Rookie is quite rarefied air in general; Ahmad Sauce doing so in 2022 while Micah Parsons capturing one himself in 2021. As for WR?! Last WR to actually make it as an All Pro was JaMarr Chase. Before him?! Justin Jefferson. Tyreek Hill and Tyler Lockett also did it as well... but as return men... not at the Wide Receiver Position like the two LSU boys. Long story short, history is simply not on Brock's side as far as First Round Tight Ends go; Kyle Pitts and Dalton Kincaid both being too early to determine for me. Last great one coming out was OJ Howard and... well... he didn't cut out like Tampa Bay would have hoped. Will Brock break the streak?! Time to find out.




Best Speed: Brock Bowers

Best Hands: Brock Bowers

Best Route Running: Brock Bowers

Best Blocking: Cade Stover

Best CIT (Catch In Traffic): Brock Bowers

Best YAC: Brock Bowers

Biggest Boom/Bust: Ja'Tavoin Sanders

Most Versatile: Brock Bowers

Most Pro Ready: Brock Bowers




AQL's Favorite: Brock Bowers



Offensive Tackles:


1.) Joe Alt

2.) Troy Fautanu

3.) Amarius Mims

4.) Taliese Fuaga

5.) JC Latham



Despite this being the second best positional group in the class, for my money, this group will have more Pro Bowlers and All Pro's than their WR counterparts. The talent drop off after someone like Tyler Guyton is a hit but not to the extent of the TE Group before them. Regardless, no movement here though Joe Alt, for me, is the best Tackle to come out since Andrew Thomas.




Best Pass Blocker: Olumuyiwa Fashanu

Best Run Blocker: Joe Alt

Best Zone Blocker: Joe Alt

Best Man Gap Blocker: J.C. Latham

Most Versatile: Troy Fautanu

Biggest Boom/Bust: Amarius Mims

Most Pro Ready: Joe Alt



AQL's Favorite: Taliese Fuaga





Interior Offensive Lineman:



1.) Graham Barton (+1)

2.) Zach Frazier (+1)

3.) Jackson Powers Johnson (-2)

4.) Cooper Bebe

5.) Jordan Morgan



... and just like that, we have a new number one in the class. Graham Barton for me was, has been, and still is, a bit of a tough projection to make. On one hand, his athleticism is on another planet. On the other hand, his IOL experience as a whole is very difficult to project. Some see him as a Guard; others a Center. I tend to lean toward latter rather than former. Regardless, what cannot be disputed is his overall play demeanor; full commitment, dedication and effort to the whistle.. every... damn play. Given how influential the Center Position is to the Offensive Line in today's NFL, having that special someone at the pivot is of great importance... and I believe Barton has that potential. As for Frazier, while his athletic scores are not nearly as impressive, his experience and capability at the position are what make him versus Barton a very worthy discussion. For one, being 6'3 vs. 6'5 as a Center is massive; both pun and literal intended. More leverage means more wins as a Center. More wins means bigger lanes for Running Backs. Bigger lanes for Running Backs means more yards and more yards equates to more sustainable drives. Add in Frazier's Wrestling background and Frazier is as good in the ground game as he will be nigh immovable in pass protection.


Now, time to address the elephant in the room. Jackson Powers Johnson is still my favorite among all IOL of this group. However, allowing favoritism to cloud judgement is something one whom follows and enjoys studying draft prospects should never do. Why the sudden decrease of two spots?! For one, outside of a light appearance at the Senior Bowl along with some light testing at his Pro Day.... where has JPJ been exactly?! Turn on the tape I know; a First Team All American I see.. one that earned that through and through. That all said, it did leave me wanting more at his Pro Day given how he was able to perform the Vertical and Board Jumps. Second and, more importantly, is a series of concussion woes that has been recently reported today. Prior to that, there were tremors about such a case but I was awaiting further information by other reputable sources as smokescreens during this time are as vibrant as mid Spring Tree leaves. However, given how some who do cover the league have been stating such now, it is much more fair and concerning to assess how much longer can JPJ continue to play the game. Too many concussions is not something a player should want; doubly so in a position that is mentally taxing as it is brutally physical.




Best Pass Blocker: Graham Barton

Best Run Blocker: Jackson Powers Johnson

Best Zone Blocker: Jackson Powers Johnson

Best Man Gap Blocker: Zach Frazier

Biggest Boom/Bust: Graham Barton (Little IOL experience)

Most Versatile: Graham Barton

Most Pro Ready: Zach Frazier


AQL's Favorite: Jackson Powers Johnson





Interior Defensive Lineman:



1.) Jer'Zahn Newton

2.) Byron Murphy

3.) Darius Robinson

4.) Ruke Orhorohro

5.) T'Vondre Sweat



T'Vondre's silly stunt cost him serious NFL Draft Capital. That said, to me, he is still far too gifted a player to be left off; doubly so given how more and more emphasis will be placed on the Interior of Offensive Lines during not just this draft but the drafts to come. While many have Byron Murphy being selected first before Jer'Zahn Newton, for me, Jer'Zahn still wins out for his ability to pass rush is rock solid enough. Not the pass rushing phenom that Byron Murphy is but Newton wins out in run stopping ability; something that Murphy has more trouble adjusting to than Newton has to pass rush proficiently.


Best Pass Rusher: Byron Murphy

Best Run Stopper: T'Vondre Sweat

Best 3 Tech: Jer'Zahn Newton

Best 5 Tech: Darius Robinson

Best 0/1 Tech: T'Vondre Sweat

Most Versatile: Darius Robinson

Biggest Boom/Bust: T'Vondre Sweat (Weight Management)

Most Pro Ready: Jer'Zahn Newton


AQL Favorite: T'Vondre Sweat





EDGE:



1.) Dallas Turner

2.) Laiatu Latu

3.) Chop Robinson

4.) Jared Verse

5.) Chris Braswell




Even with Laiatu Latu's medicals... he is still the second best. Forgive me but players who have motors that run hot and cold will always leave me wanting more and that is the biggest hang up for me with Jared Verse. The talent and potential are easily the best among the group... but the consistency and effort is very much hit or miss. Not ideal whenever a premium position is being counted on quite often no less.




Best Speed Rusher: Dallas Turner

Best Power Rusher: Jared Verse

Most Versatile Rusher: Laiatu Latu

Best Run Stopping: Chop Robinson

Best Coverage: Dallas Turner

Best HID (Hand in Dirt): Jared Verse

Best 3-4 OLB: Dallas Turner

Biggest Boom/Bust: Jared Verse (very inconsistent motor)

Most Versatile: Chris Braswell

Most Pro Ready: Dallas Turner



AQL's Favorite: Chop Robinson




Off-Ball Linebackers:



1.) Edgerrin Cooper

2.) Jerimiah Trotter Jr.

3.) Payton Wilson

4.) Junior Colson

5.) Cedric Gray



After the combine?!... much of the same. Trotter Jr does not have Wilson's gifts but his processing speed and instincts are just simply way too difficult to ignore. Wilson's injury history is also something to consider as well. Should he pan out however?!... never mind being the best LB of this class but one of the best players to come out of this draft... and that is saying quite a lot. Again though... high emphasis on "should he pan out." Cedric Gray may never be a Pro Bowler but in the right system?!.. one does have a rock solid starter on their hands; not bad for a QB turned LB I'd say. Edgerrin Cooper though, for me, is the best of the bunch. He might not be nearly as athletic as I thought him to be but he is plenty athletic enough and can start Day One.


Best Pass Coverage: Jerimiah Trotter Jr.

Best Run Support: Cedric Gray

Best Pass Rusher: Edgerrin Cooper

Best Instincts: Jerimiah Trotter Jr.

Best Leadership: Junior Colson

Biggest Boom/Bust Potential: Jerimiah Trotter Jr. (very scheme dependent)

Most Versatile: Payton Wilson

Most Pro Ready: Edgerrin Cooper



AQLs Favorite: Cedric Gray




Cornerbacks:


1.) *** Cooper DeJean ***

2.) Quinyon Mitchell

3.) Terrion Arnold (+2)

4.) Kool Aid McKinstry

5.) Nate Wiggins (-2)




If there was one position I'd knew I needed one final look at, the Corner Class leads the pack by a mile. Much of my positional review time had to do with this positional group alone. I am happy that I did return to this group to give it one more glossing over too. To start out, Nate Wiggins is the best pure Cover Corner from this class... by far and away. If I were only grading based on that?!... Nate Wiggins even outshines the likes of Cooper DeJean. However, a whole lot more has to be done as a Corner than just merely cover. Tackling is also a defenders job and this is where Nate Wiggins suffers greatly. If anything, Nate Wiggins and Jared Verse are kinda one and the same; both have talent and potential one cannot coach but have the effort and consistency that drives those very same coaches insane. It is quite mind blogging given how much the position has evolved since the days of Deion Sanders as well. Covering is still the greatest asset a CB can bring but that alone cannot be the defining factor.


Terrion gets the nod here over Kool Aid for I find Kool Aids overall game inferior to his teammate. In addition, while I don't have nearly as much athletic juice in Terrion that I have in Kool Aid, a steady tackler with excellent run support?! So long it is sufficient in the case of Arnolds?!... give me those traits over athletic gifts any day of the week. Quinyon was close but still couldn't knock off Cooper for the top slot. Cooper's overall skillset is just simply that much greater than Mitchell's; therefore making him the superior choice for me.



Best Man Coverage: Nate Wiggins

Best Zone Coverage: Cooper DeJean

Best Run Support: Terrion Arnold

Best Blitzer: Cooper DeJean

Best Speed: Nate Wiggins

Best COD (Change of Direction): Quinyon Mitchell

Best Instincts: Nate Wiggins

Best Technician: Kool Aid McKinstry

Best Tackler: Terrion Arnold

Best Slot: Cooper DeJean

Biggest Boom/Bust Potential: Nate Wiggins (tackling)

Most Versatile: Cooper DeJean

Most Pro Ready: Quinyon Mitchell

AQL's Favorite: Cooper DeJean





Safeties:


1.) *** Cooper DeJean ***

2.) Tyler Nubin

3.) Cole Bishop

4.) Javon Bullard

5.) Calen Bullock



No movement here for the safeties. I will say though that Cole Bishop is gonna make a GM very, very happy. All that is needed for Bishop is for him to start near the LOS and have him gradually improve his skill set from there. Should that happen?!... he could have a potentially better career than Tyler Nubin.



Best Man Coverage: Tyler Nubin

Best Zone Coverage: Cooper DeJean

Best Speed: Cooper DeJean

Best Power: Tyler Nubin

Best Tackler: Javon Bullard

Best COD: Cooper DeJean

Best Instincts: Cooper DeJean

Best Slot: Cole Bishop/Cooper DeJean

Best Single High: Tyler Nubin

Best Pure Safety (FS or SS): Cole Bishop

Best Strong Safety: Tyler Nubin

Biggest Boom/Bust Potential: Calen Bullock (scheme)

Most Versatile: Cooper DeJean

Most Pro Ready: Javon Bullard




AQL's Favorite: Cole Bishop




2024 NFL Draft Rankings By Position (FINAL):



1.) Wide Receivers: Was, is and will be this. Legendary class... nuff said.

2.) Offensive Tackles : Much like last time, Troy Fautanu came in the clutch when this class needed him most. Class now has a more rounded blended of talent and depth that can carry it to the mid portions of Day Three.

3.) Quarterbacks : Arguably the best group if only accounting for the first five. Talent pool overall though is far greater than 2022 thought that season was a wash. Joe Milton III and Spencer Rattler are two names I would look out for. Both would be great developmental options.

4.) Interior Offensive Lineman : Much like Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier came in clutch. In addition, this group, while a bit top heavy, still has some serious starting capability for its group within the first 100 picks. The talent drop off is the only thing that keeps this group from being higher than the QBs.

5.) Cornerbacks: Very good start to the class but a sizeable drop afterwards. Even so, as far as slot options go?! Very much available in this draft.

6.) EDGE (-2): Dallas Turner is the "Hellraiser" of the pack; the Alpha Wolf. After him, a drop off to the next four. After them?! A very sizable one.

7.) Interior Defensive Lineman : Extremely top heavy group talent wise. Depth is good but value for such depth is found at late Day Three. Best to get the big boys on Defense early and often if a team is in need of one.

8.) Off Ball Linebackers (-1): After these five?! Very, very schematically limited; some even being pure Special Teams players. Unlike the IDLs best, the LBs best is among the worst it has been in some time.

9.) Safeties (-2): After the likes of Bullard and Bullock..., Jaden Hicks or even Dadrion Taylor-Demerson. After those two?!... ouch....

10.) Tight Ends: The Brock Bowers Sweepstakes!!


*** WARNING: Tight Ends drafted in Round One have been known to underachieve during the past 10 seasons. Purchase your very own "generational Tight End" at your own risk!! ***


11.) Running Backs: Just... no.....



Another year has concluded on this Draftsmas Eve everyone! The five best players of their positions for 2024; finalized and completed. Have to say that this adventure of mine heading into the 2024 NFL Draft had me very much excited to do this; more so than I even did during the 2021 Season. Still am happy about the end result though I wish there were more players like James Williams or even like DeVontez Walker who could have showed more. Ah well... as the saying goes.. one cannot have everything.


Be that as it may, I did have a lot of fun making these for you all to read. I thank you for reading these as they always help me out; doubly so given the fact I was not able to do them a year ago! Your support means a lot and keeps me going as well!



Before we part ways, would like to announce that my Mock Draft has not been forgotten. It will be released tomorrow long before the draft starts! Gonna have a number of surprises to look forward to that! That said and once again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Feel free to comment or post a question below for it always helps me out!


Once again, this is AskQuestionsLater saying so long, stay safe and have an awesome day!

 

Thanks. These are the kinds of things I look forward to at draft time.
Comment regarding the CB's- I can see Wiggins being a top 20, maybe 2nd CB off the board. I know, he's skinny, and not known for his tackling. Last year the #2 cb off the board was Emmanuel Forbes, who makes Wiggins look like Adonis (Forbes 6'1", 166. Wiggins 6'1" 182). But Forbes jumped from early 2nd to mid-first and 2nd CB taken when he ran a 4.35 and was the fastest CB at the combine. Wiggins ran a 4.28. Gonzales, who went right after Forbes, also had a rep for being a lousy tackler (Tomlin said he "didn't have that competitive edge").
People draft corners to cover. Tackling is nice, but it's secondary to coverage. And that's about length, speed, and instincts. Think Deon Sanders.

 

Great list and very little to argue, however, I'm wondering if your list of traits include all the prospects or just the top 5... Case in point, while the list of top 5 qb's are above reproach, the traits may be debatable.... I truly believe that while he doesn't belong anywhere near the top 5, the strongest arm belongs to Tennessee's Joe Milton....
As far as CB's are concerned, it may be splitting hairs, but the best tackler, could very well be Kool-Aid..... absolutely apples and oranges here since they have the exact same coaching...

I also think while not glamorous, you don't give the RB group nearly enough credit.... there's a few here that may just surprise

 

20 Years ago I would totally disagree, but in today's NFL. You are spot on.

 

As always. A great writeup, and a pleasure to read. Thank You for the time spent do it.

 

I don`t keep up with college football, so I`m wondering if there is a consensus or just a plurality here in the BN draft room about who we are picking tonight.

 

Just the Top Five of these lists. If accounting for all Players listed per their positions?! As you said, this list is looking very, very different.

 

we got your second ranked tackle on offense

 

That we did!!


Didn't have him in my sig as I thought the likes of New Orleans would nab him!

 

Second ranked tackle, second ranked center, and third ranked ILB. Not a bad haul.
Got the qb's in their exact order, all in the top 10 picks.
Got the DT's in order except Orhorhoro went one pick before Newton, all in the top 38 picks.

 

Draft Season; my favorite tied with Steelers Season. Cannot get enough of it!!