In what is now one of my favorite yearly traditions, I try to evaluate and rank as many eligible players as possible for the NFL Draft. This is my third year preparing a big board. I have 154 players evaluated this year, a considerable step down from 2023. Whereas last year I only posted my rankings in a positionally agnostic vacuum, this year I will put at the end how my big board stacks up with positional value applied.

My 2024 NFL Draft Grading Process

As with any evaluation, it is important to provide context and process. It wouldn’t be much fun to just publish a list of names without the reasoning of how I came to that order. So, before we get to the NFL Draft big board itself, here is a rundown of my grading process.

Blue Chip Prospects — I am very confident these players can step into an NFL starting lineup and be immediate contributors.

First-Round Grades — These players should be able to be immediate contributors to an NFL roster, if not as starters, as players who can log significant snaps in year one.

Second-Round Grades — Players with several NFL-caliber traits that should translate, but they will need some development to be successful at the next level.

Third-Round Grades — Prospects who have a few NFL-caliber traits but lack consistency in leveraging those traits or techniques.

Fourth/Fifth-Round Grades — Prospects who have one to two really good traits that you hope continue to develop at the next level. You will also find a few players with publicly reported medical concerns.

Late-Round Grades — Players who can be productive special teamers who may contribute a few snaps per game at the NFL level.

UDFA Grades — Players who I would give opportunities to make a roster but didn’t see enough to warrant a draft pick spent.

One thing to note is that I don’t tie my grades to the number of picks in each given round. I don’t have 32 blue-chip/1st round grades. This year, I only have six of those grades. But I have 47 third-round grades. With ALL of that said, let’s dive into my big board so you can let me know where I went right, and more likely all the places I went wrong!

2024 NFL Draft First-Round Grades

Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson – Photo by: University of Oregon

While I think this draft is extremely deep, I am very hesitant to give out first-round grades as guys I think are sure-fire positive contributors from day one. As such, I only have six of those grades this year. However, when adjusting for positional importance, that number rises to a more-robust 14.

Newton takes the pole position for me as he is my favorite defensive lineman I have ever scouted and second-favorite defensive player, behind Devon Witherspoon last year. Alt was my cleanest eval for offensive linemen and two receivers make my list with Nabers beating out Harrison Jr. for WR1 on my board by just 0.02 points.

You’ll notice I have no quarterbacks in this tier. I don’t know if I ever will given how hard it is to find consistent translatable skills at that position with how vastly different college offenses are from NFL offenses. I let my positional adjustments more correctly align quarterbacks on my overall board. I am fine if I am consistently seen as lower on quarterbacks than the rest of the draft evaluation field.

2024 NFL Draft Second-Round Grades

Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk – Photo by: USA Today

Some notable takes from this tier are that I am significantly higher than the consensus on Marshawn Kneeland. I also have Graham Barton in a lower bracket than Jackson Powers-Johnson. I see JPJ as more pro-ready and Barton needing more time/development to get as close to his (admittedly higher) ceiling.

Kris Jenkins is my second-ranked defensive tackle, over Byron Murphy II, who I have one tier lower. I also see this tier having great value at both receiver and cornerback, with nine receivers and six corners clocking in here. On the other hand, I have no tight ends in this tier after Brock Bowers earned a round one grade for me.

Speaking of receivers, I have fallen more and more in love with Washington receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, who is now my WR5 and 23rd overall player. As an avid fan of Chris Godwin’s skillset, I can’t get over how much Polk reminds me of Godwin.

2024 NFL Draft Third-Round Grades

Wide receiver continues to be a value in this tier, with nine players from that position group falling into this round for me. It’s also where my first linebacker checks in (Payton Wilson). Wilson tested great at the NFL Combine, but I worry about his arm length severely hampering his ability to tackle at the NFL level.

Oklahoma OL Tyler Guyton – Photo by: USA Today

There are a couple of offensive tackles in this group who are expected to go in the first round who I have graded much lower in Taliese Fuaga and Tyler Guyton. Both possess immense potential, but I worry about how raw both are and whether they will ever approach their ceilings.

Two names in this group I am particularly high on: Georgia safety Tykee Smith and UCF wide receiver Javon Baker. Smith is a Pewter Report Bucs Best Bet and the number one safety on my board. Baker is someone I think has a better chance to develop into a true “X” receiver than more-heralded players like Keon Coleman and Brenden Rice.

2024 NFL Draft Fourth/Fifth-Round Grades

Right off the bat, let me give some love to my alma mater’s own Donovan Jennings. The USF product is a true “sleeper” for me, and I think he will have a long career with stretches where he starts for teams.

Three other players I really like in this area are center Hunter Nourzad, edge rusher Braiden McGregor and safety Beau Brade. Two players you may be shocked to see this low are center Zach Frazier and safety Tyler Nubin. Both are seen as day-two guys by the consensus, and I just don’t see it with either.

The rest I will post below without additional comment.

2024 NFL Draft Sixth/Seventh-Round Grades

2024 NFL Draft UDFA-Round Grades

Positionally-Adjusted Grades For The 2024 NFL Draft Class

Now, I am not advocating for Jackson Powers-Johnson to be a top-10 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The center position is the second-least valued non-special teams position in the league. As such, it’s much more economical to find a center in free agency than it is to find a quarterback or an edge rusher. That needs to be accounted for in how teams (and draft evaluators) stack their boards.

I am currently using a model that gives a 10% bump to quarterbacks, 7% increase to edge rushers and tackles, 6% jump to interior defensive linemen and an extra 5% to wide receivers and cornerbacks.

Here is how my vertical board stacks up after those adjustments are made.

Horizontal Boards Are Better

While most people prefer to understand draft boards on a simple numbering system, I prefer to look at them horizontally based on position with color-codes for round breakouts. This helps to show where drop-offs are occurring at different positions. It can aid in maximizing value throughout an entire NFL Draft. For instance, this year’s draft is deep at OL and WR and shallow at LB. Seeing those positions stacked up can show a huge drop-off coming between LB3 and LB4, while the difference in WR9 and WR15 is relatively small.

Seeing those trends can help a team make a smart call to grab the last linebacker in one tier, feeling comforted that they can still get a good receiver with their next pick. Here is my big board stacked horizontally by position (with positional adjustments factored in).

Well, there you have it. What do you like? What do you hate?