There are plenty of talented players left after an exciting first day of the NFL Draft in Green Bay. Here are my top prospects available for Friday’s second and third round:
1. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan, Jr.
Johnson is a press corner with outstanding size, ball skills and fluid athleticism.There are questions surrounding his speed — like Patrick Surtain Jr., he’s fast enough — and a turf toe injury cost him most of his junior season.
2. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio St., Sr.
Henderson was the top-ranked running back in the 2021 recruiting class. He isn’t a juke machine, but he’s shifty and fast, which can be a problematic combination for defenders.
3. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri, Jr.
Burden is an explosive athlete with confident hands who is dynamic after the catch.
4. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado, Sr.
Coach Prime’s progeny is a polished pocket er. His pinpoint accuracy, fearlessness and production are the top selling points.
5. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College, Sr.
Ezeiruaku was second in the FBS with 16½ sacks and fourth with 20½ tackles for loss, earning the Ted Hendricks Award (best defensive end) and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
6. Aireontae Ersery, T, Minnesota, Sr.
Ersery features an impressive athletic profile (9.42 RAS) for such a massive frame. T
7. Mike Green, Edge, Marshall, So.
A former three-star recruit, Green earned first-team All-American recognition after leading the nation with 17 sacks.
8. Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa St., Sr.
Higgins’ size, soft and reliable hands mixed with nuanced route-running capabilities sets him apart in this draft class.
9. Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame, Sr.
Out of the defensive backs in this draft class, only do-it-all Travis Hunter rivals Watts’ instincts or ball skills.
10. Alfred Collins, DT, Texas, Sr.
How much he’ll contribute as a rusher in the pros remains up in the air, but Collins’ size, raw power and athleticism will make him the focus of offensive line meetings most weeks.
11. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina, Jr.
Emmanwori is a hybrid safety-linebacker whose size, range and physicality will endear him to any defensive coordinator with a pulse.
12. Charles Grant, T, William & Mary, Sr.
Grant’s combination of long arms (almost 35 inches) and fluid athleticism set him apart in this tackle class.
13. Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo, Sr.
Alexander is already an elite run defender, and only scratching the surface as a rusher, although his bull rush consistently pushes the pocket.
14. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame, Jr.
Morrison is a former four-star recruit with coverage instincts, fluid athleticism and elite ball skills — he had nine interceptions in his first two seasons in South Bend.
15. Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA, Jr.
Schewesinger wasn’t even starting last August, but he finished the regular season with the most total tackles (136) and solo tackles (90) in the FBS.
16. Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida St., Jr.
Speed isn’t Thomas’ game, but badgering receivers into submission until the QB decides to stop looking their way works just as well.
17. Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa St., Sr.
Noel has been primarily a slot receiver, but I believe he has enough size and athleticism to play outside as well.
18. Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina, Sr.
A former no-star recruit, Revel tore his ACL last September during practice, but his size, athleticism, physicality and ball skills all add up to a first-round prospect.
19. Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss, Sr.
The Rebels didn’t take advantage of Harris’ full skill set the way the NFL might, but he did eclipse 100 receiving yards in half his 20 games there.
20. Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa, Jr.
Johnson is built to handle an NFL workload. He averaged 8.3 yards per carry in the fourth quarter last season.
21. J.T. Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio St., Sr.
Tuimoloau is a rugged edge defender with the size, athleticism (9.33 RAS) and the ability to shed blocks, meaning he could become an elite run defender in the NFL right away.
22. Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss, Sr.
Amos features the size, physicality and the movement skills to thrive in man coverage.
23. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio St., Jr.
Judkins is a physical, north-to-south runner with prototypical size and elite athleticism (9.87 RAS).
24. Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M, Jr.
Scourton is a physical presence with highly-skilled hands and efficient footwork.
25. Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas, Sr.
Jackson’s size, reach and elite power makes him a finisher against the run, and a vacuum for any QB who happens to drift anywhere near his vicinity.
26. Ozzy Trapilo, T, Boston College, Sr.
Trapilo’s massive build, nasty temperament and extensive experience in a pro-style offense are key selling points.
27. Kyle Williams, WR, Washington St., Sr.
Smaller hands lead to the occasional drop, but few in this class are capable of creating separation the way Williams does.
28. Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M, Sr.
The former five-star recruit plays with a bully mentality, features a quick first step and active hands during his rush.
29. Josaiah Stewart, Edge, Michigan, Sr.
Stewart is undersized, but he features explosive get-off with a variety of -rush moves, and he’s a competent edge-setter.
30. Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green, Jr.
Frankly, Fannin was uncoverable last season. If there was a space on the field where there wasn’t a defender, he’d find it, and it wasn’t just against MAC competition.
31. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama, Jr.
The right coaching staff could help him fulfill his promise as the next Colin Kaepernick (albeit shorter) or Kordell Stewart (a better physical comp).
32. Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma, Sr.
The former wide receiver knows what to do when he has the ball, scoring four total defensive TDs with an average return of 58 yards the last two seasons.
33. Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida St., Jr.
Farmer is quick, has impressive length (35-inch arms) and his hands are jarring, often creating enough separation in a single blow to puncture the pocket, freeing him to make a play.
34. Mason Taylor, TE, LSU, Jr.
Taylor features prototypical size and reliable hands, converting almost 70% of his receptions in 2024 for a first down.
35. T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina, Jr.
Sanders is tall, versatile, athletic (9.38 RAS) and surprisingly stout at the point of attack.
36. Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami, Jr.
A whopping 34.3% of his receptions last season went for at least 20 yards, and Arroyo led all FBS tight ends with 9.1 YAC per catch.
37. Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville, Sr.
Shough’s prototypical size, NFL-caliber arm talent, athleticism and productive season with the Cardinals have generated plenty of buzz in what’s considered a down year for quarterbacks.
38. Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas St., Jr.
Parrish offers inside-outside versatility, athleticism (8.82 RAS) and his technique is fundamentally sound.
39. Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia, Sr.
Ratledge’s size, toughness and strong hands all add up to a strong enforcer on the interior for years to come, if he stays healthy (he’s dealt with some ankle issues).
40. Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska, Sr.
Robinson led the team in sacks (seven) and tackles for loss (12½) last season, earning third-team All-Big Ten recognition.
41. Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon, Sr.
The former four-star recruit is a fluid athlete who has enough vertical speed to threaten a defense up the seam.
42. Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee, Sr.
Norman-Lott was a part-time player for the Vols, but he led FBS interior defensive linemen in rush win rate (12.6%) and win percentage (18.9%) last season.
43. Darien Porter, CB, Iowa St., Sr.
Porter has only started seven games, and didn’t crack the starting lineup until his sixth season in college, but his elite combination of size, length and speed (9.99 RAS) will be catnip for coaches looking for a summer project.
44. Jack Bech, WR, TCU, Sr.
Bech features an impressive contested catch résumé, good size and the versatility to line up inside or outside.
45. Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn St., Jr.
Winston’s instincts and processing are underdeveloped, but he features the size and traits NFL teams covet for a modern safety.
46. Wyatt Milum, G, West Virginia, Sr.
The consensus All-American and Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year last season is a tenacious run blocker who has the ability to seek and destroy moving targets at the second level.
47. Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona, Jr.
Savaiinaea ran a 4.95 40-yard dash, the third-fastest time among all offensive linemen in Indy (9.19 RAS). He also tied for the second-best 10-yard split (1.72).
48. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson, Sr.
Carter is a prototypical three-down linebacker with man-cover skills (24 career es defensed) who lives in an opponent’s backfield (31½ career tackles for loss).
49. Ashton Gillotte, Edge, Louisville, Sr.
Gillotte features violent hands and a devastating bull-rush.
50. Marcus Mbow, G, Purdue, Jr.
Mbow’s movement skills, processing ability and elite instincts play at all five line positions. His short arms (32 inches) likely means he’s playing guard or center in the pros.
