The 2024 NFL Draft class may feel relatively light at certain positions like quarterback and running back, but there’s one position that has scouts and coaches excited. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, this year’s offensive tackles group has the potential to match 2020’s class, which saw six tackles selected in the first round.
Four names have been regarded as likely first-rounders for about a year now, so the projections of Notre Dame’s Joe Alt (ranks 6th overall in Dane Brugler of The Athletic’s top 100 prospects), Penn State’s Olu Fashanu (9th), Alabama’s JC Latham (13th), and Georgia’s Amarius Mims (17th) come as no surprise. After some impressive performances in Mobile, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga (16th) and Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton (18th) have joined those four in the range of the first round.
The top-end depth doesn’t end there, either. There are several other prospects that sit just outside that first-round range in Brugler’s rankings that still find themselves in consideration to be Day 1 picks because of strong Senior Bowl performances and a general interest in the position. Arizona’s Jordan Morgan (32nd), Houston’s Patrick Paul (55th), and Texas’ Christian Jones (NR) all sit on that fringe, according to Fowler.
With these nine guys and still more others pushing for Day 1 money, we’re bound to see a change in recent trends of five or fewer tackles taken in the first round. Even if this year’s class fails to match 2020’s six first-round picks, which seems unlikely as of now, the depth in the first two rounds of this class have a lot of teams excited about what’s available.
Here are a couple of other draft rumors from around the country, starting with more updates out of Mobile:
- In a mailbag Q&A this week, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer gave his take on some prospects who improved their standing after this year’s Senior Bowl. Breer sees Fuaga and Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (11th in Brugler’s rankings) as big risers coming out of Mobile. While both players were already expected to be Day 1 picks, Breer believes that they’ve played their way into the top half of the first round. He also touts Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson (45th) as a recent riser. While Wilson may not hear his name called in the first round, Breer thinks he may have pushed his way up to the second.
- One player who wasn’t able to improve his stock at the Senior Bowl was Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw (48th). Rakestraw had been dealing with a core muscle injury for much of his redshirt junior year before opting to undergo surgery at the close of the season in December, according to Matt Miller of ESPN. After missing out on the college all-star game due to the surgery, Rakestraw, who has been considered a fringe first-rounder, was unable to secure his potential Day 1 status. The young corner has shown a resiliency in coming back from an ACL tear his sophomore year, but his injury history may be enough to push him into the second round.
“2024 NFL Draft class may feel light at certain positions like quarterback…”
Are you guys even trying anymore?
They dont believe or read their own writing anymore. Lazy and contradictory depending on the “writer.”
Alt reminds me so much of John Runyan.
The 2024 draft is light on QBs?! Seriously?
Comparatively speaking yes. Williams Maye Daniels are the big 3 but guys like Penix Jr McCarthy Nix are going to be over drafted due to positional need. It’s not an elite QB class by any means. Best word I’d use is solid.
Bears are literally deciding between Williams and Fields that’s how “light” it is. If there was a Herbert Tua Burrow class fields would be shipped out asap.
People say the same excuse every draft though, “Next years class is better”/
Your example, Miami thought about replacing Tua. McDaniels has helped him but I don’t think anyone thinks he is that dude. If they give him a large contract they won’t win.
Herbert gives stats but he hasn’t translated to wins and his demeanor does not seem like someone people follow.
Tua coming out of college was considered a #1 overall pick before his hip injury at Alabama. If not for that him and Burrow would probably have been consensus #1 and #2 picks.
I’m not talking about what their NFL careers have looked like. I’m talking coming out of college Burrow Tua Love Hurts and Herbert were a better draft class of QBs.
I’m not saying next years class is better but this years class isn’t elite by any means. Solid but if there was an elite QB prospect coming out it Fields staying wouldn’t even be an option is the point. The fact Bears have to consider who is the better choice tells you this draft class may be one of the weaker ones compared to others.
Only time will tell though.
The Bears stated it would take a “historic haul” for a team to acquire the first overall pick from them but I would agree with you that the QB draft prospects available just don’t warrant a team making a monster investment of that nature. The Bears are overplaying the cards they hold but it wouldn’t be the first time the organization has done that.
Every #1 pick people have said or put out it would require a historic haul for a QB. Bears have also said they’re willing to carry Williams and Fields which isn’t a good sign for a team to come out and say that especially when you want a historic haul. Tells us people don’t view Williams as a historic haul type caliber QB. Will it eventually be some 1sts and couple players? Yeah think that’s what the bears can hope for similar to the young package.
Think it was the Bengals who rebuffed 3+ 1st round draft picks for Burrows which came out after the Bengals drafted him.
Just not an elite QB class. Not to say they won’t have good great NFL careers but coming out of college they’re definitely mid tier class.
I actually agree…other than Marvin Harrison Jr,,,rock stars are missing in this class. I watched Drake May lose his entire career to Clemson year after year, he is good, but not rock star good. Caleb Williams has Ryan leaf written all over him, is he going to cry in the locker room over a tough game, or chipped nail polish?
The problem is that even if the draft class is stocked with high quality OL prospects, owners want to make a big splash with their first pick. A Jeep isn’t nearly as eye catching as a Lamborghini so QBs will still dominate the early draft…even if teams would be better served by taking a top tier tackle.
Not true lemon. Btw you say a lot of crap. Seriously. A lot. Every year a QB or two slips and there is always a run on oline. Offensive line gets its respect with multiple top tens and 5+ first rounders every year.
Ely Allen. C’mon? Try harder and do better. Three QBs in the Top 5. 4 first rounders, 6 in the Top 80, 7 QBs in the Top 100. Okay… weak and light like your writing Ely.
A.I. probably wrote this and a person attached their name to it instead of actually working.