Hayden Shapiro’s 2024 NFL Draft Big Board: Holiday Edition
By: Hayden Shapiro
After I published my mock, I had people, mostly college friends, asking me why I think the players I had mocked will be picked where I had them being taken. So, here’s my top 50 players in the draft, (YES! FIFTY!), for now. As always, it is subject to change, because it is only December, but these fifty guys are the individuals who have the absolute pleasure of being featured on my first official big board. This is not a mock draft, it is simply ranking players based on talent, statistics, and Booger McFarland’s beloved “eye test”. The number next to their name correlates where they rank among the other players in the class, not where they will be drafted. The explanations I give are what I saw on film or watching a game of theirs. As always, leave some feedback, whether it’s that you disagree or agree, because I will always respond. With that being said, here is my first official BIG BOARD, 50 guys ranked, not by position, but simply where they rank among their classmates. Sorry if any feelings are hurt…let’s jump into this thing, starting with Randy Moss 2.0, MHJ!
- Marvin Harrison Jr, Wr Ohio St.
Simply unbelievable body control. Wins 50/50 balls consistently. Crisp and sharp route running, can play inside or outside. Hands like glue. Will be the highest WR drafted since Calvin Johnson.
2. Caleb Williams, QB USC
A truly remarkable player to watch. Uncanny ability to extend plays. Throws from a number of different arm slots. Does not need to have feet set to throw an accurate ball. One of the best QB prospects the NFL has ever seen. Can make a receiver look great, that is the impact he can have, truly a special player.
3. Olu Fashunu, OT Penn St.
Very heavy-handed tackle. Watching him consistently win battles against Edge Rushers actually gets boring. A sure-fire day 1 starter. Polished pass blocker and has finesse blocking on run plays. Special tackle prospect.
4. Laiatu Latu, ED UCLA
My number one defensive player in the draft. His power rush moves compare to an NFL vet. He is a pure power rusher with heavy hands. Has perfected the bull rush and push-pull. Can line up with his hand in the dirt or standing. Fits in pretty much any defensive scheme. Comes in with good size and weight.
5. Drake Maye, QB UNC
Very sound and confident QB. Took a lot of hits and faced a lot of pressure this year but kept his cool. Definition of a game-manager. High floor, but worried about the ceiling. Special ability to read defenses, plays a lot like Ben Roethlisberger, just smaller. Good arm strength, needs talent around him to succeed, something Williams does not, as he can make a receiver better, not sure if Maye has that same ability.
6. Jared Verse, ED FSU
Verse’s story may be the coolest in the draft, but he is also one of the best players. His ability to get into the backfield on run plays is unreal. He seems to always set the edge perfectly and be right there to wrap the ball carrier up. Strong hands which allows him to get to the QB on pass plays as well. Will eat up the combine, I can see him being ED no. 1 by the time April rolls around.
7. Brock Bowers, TE UGA
Only reason he is at 7 is injury concerns, but Bowers is a special talent. His ability to make plays after the catch, block, and line up anywhere is something you just don’t see from someone in college. Bowers is the definition of a generational athlete, his style of play is just something you don’t see. I don’t have any doubt that he will be successful at the next level.
8. JC Latham, OT Bama
Latham is a classic, mean, hog-mauler tackle. He fits better on the right side of the line. He is a phenomenal run blocker and has surprisingly quick feet for his size + style of play. The reason I have him over Alt is because of his sheer strength and power, he is another O-Lineman I can see making an impact from day 1. Reminds me a lot of Bryan Bulaga’s earlier days in Green Bay.
9. Malik Nabers, WR LSU
Nabers is consistently separating himself from defenders. He has very big and strong hands, leading to him being a safety net for Jayden Daniels during their time at LSU. He is more of a slot WR and may not shock people in the combine, but his skills from a technical wide receiver standpoint are remarkable. He will be an impact player right out of the gate.
10. Rome Odunze, WR Wash
Odunze is a true Red-Zone target. He is strong and can jump with the best of them. He makes jump balls look easy and has an impeccable understanding of the way a corner is playing him. The only reason he is my WR3 is because he is strictly an outside pass-catcher, unlike Nabers and Harrison who can both play anywhere along the line.
11. Kool-Aid Mckinstry, CB Bama
Really physical and long armed corner who loves to play the ball. One of those corners you can put on an island and not need to worry about safety help. He is going to bite on short routes, but his ball skills are special. McKinstry looks like a pro out there and rarely is even thrown at in college, which is why we may not hear his name often, but that is actually a good thing. He has really impressive instincts and is not afraid to tackle, which scouts will love.
12. Joe Alt, OT ND
Very polished pass blocker. Low floor, but not sure how high the ceiling is. He struggles against power rushers and is limited to LT, cannot move along the line like the OL above him on this list.
13. Dallas Turner, ED Bama
Really, really fast. Very good athlete. Weight is an issue, but we are seeing more and more light edge’s succeed in the league. He is going to dominate the combine, but I am worried about his size. His speed is impeccable, but what happens when he is matched up against a far more physical tackle?
14. Jayden Daniels, QB LSU
Daniels’ ability to extend plays is unreal. He throws the ball with precision and makes the hardest throws look easy. He could be a bit of a project at the next level, but I think this year proved that he is an NFL talent and can start for an NFL team, especially now when it seems like everyone needs a signal caller.
15. Jer’Zhan Newton, DL Illinois
Really underrated player. He eats up blocks, but also has some sneaky finesse moves to rush the QB. Newton uses his strength on run plays, but flashes some really special potential rushing the passer. Day 1 starter.
16. Taliese Fuaga, OT Ore St.
Power, power, power. Will be a hog-mauler in the run-game, certainly fits better at RT. His sheer size allows runners to wait patiently behind him to hit a hole that eventually opens up. Fuaga has climbed up my board, and I can see him climbing up even further once the combine rolls around.
17. Chop Robinson, ED Penn St.
Chop is one of those players that is so much fun to watch. He seems to be involved in every play. He is very good at setting the edge on run plays and is polished speed/finesse pass rusher, but his size concerns me. He has a sky-high ceiling, but the floor is worrisome simply because he looks like a safety on the line. Needs to be in a strict 3–4 defense to succeed. Very fun prospect, though.
18. Cooper DeJean, DB Iowa
An unbelievable athlete. Put simply, he is the size of Jamal Adams, can tackle like an OLB, but locks down opposing receivers. He is so much fun to watch and will be a start for a long time in the NFL. I am worried about his speed, but if runs in the 4.4’s, this dude could very well be the cornerback 1 in this class. He is so physical and an excellent tackler, fits best in the slot, but can truly play anywhere, including in the box. Extremely interesting and exciting prospect.
19. Kalen King, CB Penn St.
I think people are way too low on King. He takes risks, yes, but we have to realize that this style of play is the modern CB2 on a team. Look at Dallas and Daron Bland, he often gets beat jumping routes, but also has five pick sixes. King has very long arms and ball skills that cannot be taught. His weight is concerning, but he is so physical and almost makes the viewer forget how light he is. I am really high on this Nittany Lion, I compare him to Devon Witherspoon. King has incomprehensible upside, arguably more than any other DB in this draft, and I think teams are going to regret passing on him.
20. Keon Coleman, WR FSU
Coleman showed us this year that a true possession receiver can still make plays after the catch. His hands are legit like glue. He runs crisp routes, but his lack of separation makes for a lot of his highlights. He struggles to shrug the corner at the top of his routes, but his technical wideout skills are so pretty and a treat to watch. He reminds me a lot of guys like Keenan Allen and Michael Pittman, sure handed receivers with not great speed, but they are a QB’s best friend.
21. JJ McCarthy, QB Mich
McCarthy is a really interesting prospect because of how hard he is to read. When I watched film on him, nothing in particular stood out, but he did everything well. He is not extraordinary in any category, but I could see him being a good game manager in the league. He would really benefit by sitting behind someone for a year, but JJ has a very special ability to read defense and can throw on the move. He is sneaky mobile, which coaches love. HINT, HINT,..NYG.
22. Amarious Mims, OL UGA
Mims is a big man. He uses his strength to clear paths for runners and would fit better at guard in the NFL, in my opinion. He has surprisingly quick feet for his size and has kept every UGA quarterback safe over his years as a Bulldog, which ironically I would compare his style of play to. He is like a Bulldog.
23. Xavier Leggette, WR South Car.
A true offensive weapon. Leggette’s ability to make plays happen with the ball in his hands may be the best in the draft. He reminds me a lot of Deebo Samuel, not just because he is a gamecock, but the speed he runs at while being his size is quite frankly impressive. He is going to be a steal for whoever selects him in the latter half of the first round.
24. Payton Wilson, NC St.
He has been the best LB in college football. He stuffs the run, covers TEs. Nothing flashy, just a good, hard nosed ball player. Will succeed at the next level, maybe even as a mic.
25. Michael Penix Jr, QB Wash
Penix is so much fun to watch, maybe due to the fact that he is a lefty, but he just throws such a pretty ball. He sets his feet extremely fast and has a special ability to escape the pocket, stay calm, and deliver a beautiful ball down the field. His ball placement is impeccable, but I worry about his patience and arm strength. Really exciting player to watch and could climb up boards post-Heisman voting/combine.
26. Kamari Lassiter, CB UGA
Mel Kiper loves this guy, and I can see why, but I am not as high on him as Kiper. Lassiter is an unbelievable tackler, seriously, one of the hardest hitters in the country. He blows up screens and loves to take down runners when they reach the sideline or secondary. He is a classic cocky, trash talking corner who plays much bigger than he is. My only critique is that he jumps routes and gets beaten over the top, but if the right team drafts him and plays him where he should be playing, which is in the slot, this guy could end up being the steal of the draft. Lassiter is going to climb boards during the combine and as more highlights surface, but for the time being, he remains just outside my top 25.
27. Nate Wiggins, CB Clemson
Wiggins is a lengthy corner, but his speed worries me. He isn’t the best tackler, but a good corner worthy of a top pick because of his ability to play one on with no safety help, although this was in college.
28. Johnny Wilson, WR FSU
I have no clue why Johnny Wilson is so low on some experts’ boards. Yes, he lacks separation at the top of his routes, but that separation/speedy guy is not the type of receiver he is. He is a jump ball guy and runs very well, and smart, down the sideline and in the endzone. His ball skills are comparable to a defensive back and he can jump out of the stadium. I really like Wilson and could see him being an impact player from day 1.
29. Kam Kinchens, S Miami
The Miami product has a unique ability of reading the QB’s eyes from way down the field. He consistently jumps deep routes and is great at picking up receivers who break the first zone. He is not the best tackler, but as a FS, he could certainly succeed at the next level and he is my S no. 1 in the class.
30. Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio St.
Egbuka runs short routes and is very talented after the catch. He is a sharp route runner and also gives the team who drafts him a fun new returner.
31. Bo Nix, QB Oregon
Nix is a game manager and his losses against top defenses in college scare me. He has not won a game against a ranked opponent away from home in his entire CFB career. Nix has talent, he reads defenses and linebackers extremely well, but the leadership and arm strength are things that worry me.
32. Christian Haynes, IOL UConn
Haynes paves the way for runners and can play almost anywhere on the interior of the line.
33. Blake Corum, RB Mich
Corum is one of those backs that love contact. He is patient and can even catch some screens. He is a big play threat whenever he is on the field. Reminds me a lot of guys like Isiah Pacheco and Rhamondre Stevenson
34. Bralen Trice, ED Wash
Trice can play with his hand in the dirt or standing. He is a great run stopper and fits better in a traditional 4–3 defensive scheme. I like him alot as a late first/early second round pick, but he lacks the speed that the top guys in this class have at his position.
35. Xavier Worthy, WR Texas
Worthy is so exciting. He is always looking for the home run. His speed and elusiveness are things that NFL scouts and coaches will drool over. Plays similar to the likes of Kadarious Toney and LaViska Shenault.
36. Adonai Mitchell, WR Texas
Two Texas WRs in a row is fun. Mitchell runs great routes and has great hands, he just has a lower ceiling than his partner in crime, Xavier Worthy. Mitchell has pro ability in route running and can be a QB’s best friend with his strong hands, but Worthy’s undeniable upside leads me to believe that he will be drafted higher.
37. Troy Fautanu, IOL Wash
Great run blocker. Lacks the speed to play outside, but has done a great job protecting whoever was at the helm in Washington, especially this year with Penix. He allowed only 2 sacks in 2023, very impressive prospect, but could benefit from sitting a year behind a star.
38. Terrion Arnold, CB Bama
I am way lower on Arnold than others. This is simply because he just is not as fast as corners in the league these days. He has long arms, but doesn’t like to tackle and is always matched up against the teams #2 option given that Kool-Aid is covering the true firepower, whether that be Odunze or Malik Nabers. I just want to see more talented guys against Arnold and my opinion may change, especially after the CFP, as Bama got in and FSU did not.
39. Jerimiah Trotter Jr, LB Clemson
Trotter is a big hitter and excels at stuffing the run. The guy is a liability in coverage and consistently was beaten by TEs in 2023. He has so much potential, but the speed and pass coverage scares me. Personally, I could see him moving outside in a 4–3 and playing a Frankie Luvu type role, used for run stopping and even sometimes rushing the QB.
40. Denzel Burke, CB Ohio St.
Burke is such a fun player to watch. He is not a big guy, but plays like he is the biggest player on the field. He will most likely play the slot in the nFL due to his great tackling ability, but he often jumps routes and gets beaten by stronger/more physical WRs. Plays a lot like Devon Witherspoon, a rookie who has taken the league by storm this year in Seattle. Burke very well may end up higher on this list as the draft process speeds up, especially during the combine when we see how he runs and jumps.
41. Leonard Taylor III, DL Miami
Eats up blockers and stuffs the run. Needs some time to develop, but the potential for a franchise NT is certainly there. Good value pick wherever he is taken, preferably a contender where he does not have to play every snap.
42. JT Tuimoloao, ED Ohio St.
Really strong and smart. His football IQ is off the charts. He is like the Qb of the defense, except he plays on the line. He sniffs out screens almost every time they occur and his is great at beating tackles with his inside spin or swipe. He will succeed at the next level and I may end up putting him over Trice in later editions of this board.
43. Roman Wilson, WR Mich
Sure handed, slot WR. Runs crisp routes and creates eye popping separation on shorter outs and digs. Lacks top end speed and poses no threat down the field, but was McCarthy’s best friend at Michigan and I can see him being an Amon-Ra like player if he just puts on some weight so he can shed some tacklers. His health poses a concern as well.
44. Kris Abraims-Draine, CB Mizzou
It is not crazy to say that this Tiger was the best corner in CFB this year, but he just takes too many risks for my liking. His long arms and ability to cover with no safety help is great, but his size is another concern. His intangibles aren’t great, but as a corner prospect, this guy is everything you want. He has a sky-high ceiling, but teams will take SOS (strength of schedule) into account and the fact that he is always looking for the home run into account. That being said, his combine performance may shock people and Kris could very well creep into the first round simply because of his remarkable college tape, always covering the opposing team’s number one wideout and almost never needing a safety on his side of the field.
45. Carson Beck, QB UGA
I had to put Beck on here. He is so smart with the ball and has a really pretty throwing motion. Beck doesn’t make mistakes, but on the contrary, lacks flashy/fun plays that scouts want to see. He did play the best defenses in college football week in and week out. He reminds me of Dereck Carr and I honestly can see Beck starting down the road and his smarts may draw teams in, especially when coaches take into account that he only had one college loss, with that being to Alabama for a playoff spot. Can he handle the pressure of a great defense, he couldn’t against Bama’s star-studded secondary, and that is worrisome. Nevertheless, Beck is a Davis Mills type prospect and will be a solid pickup for anyone who drafts him, preferably a team with a veteran Qb he can sit under and learn some good old football strategies. Once again, I can see him starting down the road, but he needs more work against top secondaries and defenses. He doesn’t panic in the pocket and is very good at recognizing where the linebackers are on the field, but the ceiling is just too low for now to put him higher on this list.
46. Brian Thomas Jr, WR LSU
Thomas is big and runs fast. He needs some polishing and sanding along the edges, but has incomprehensible upside. One thing that worries me is how he did not have better stats as a Tiger, given that opposing defenses were so focused on Nabers. He should have been more open and been able to get the ball more in college.
47. Graham Barton, OL Duke
This would be a value pick for whoever takes him. He is very quick for his size and can play anywhere along the line. Probably fits better inside at the next level.
48. Quinyon Mitchell, DB Toledo
He is aggressive and plays the slot. Can start right out of the gate. SOS is a problem, but his uncanny tackling ability is something coaches won’t overlook.
49. Tyler Nubin, S Minnesota
True Ball-hawk. Always looking for the big play. Not a great tackler, but hey, he can work on that, right?
50. Jonah Elliss, ED Utah
Very small, but his speed is crazy. He cannot play sitting down, but I had to put him on here due to the fact that he runs like a defensive back and rushes the QB. Very fun prospect, or you could even say, project.
That’s all, folks. These guys are my top 50 players in the draft right now, but of course this is subject to change. This is only big board 1 and I feel that these specific prospects have either sky-high ceilings, day 1 starter potential, or, put simply, the ability to make a team better all by themselves. Thanks for tuning in, and as always, Stay Cool.
Instagram: @haydenrayshapiro, X/Twitter: @HaydenShap49
