2024 NFL Draft Watch: Pre-combine positional big board rankings

Thanks for checking me out here at BSJ. My career began circa 2000 as an intern with the New England Patriots. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to have covered the NFL Draft for what is my 23rd cycle. The access to information and an extended network has enabled me to provide what has been the most accurate big board available to the public during that time. 

Currently, the Patriots and 31 other NFL organizations are huddling up inside team headquarters, as they begin to stack their internal big boards headed into phase two of the draft process.

The NFL Scouting Combine holds immense value for a number of reasons. Any ccout can tell you that the medical evaluation is the most important element of the annual gathering in Indianapolis. Other benefits include getting to meet players, witnessing how they interact, peeking into the DNA of their personality makeup and, of course, the part made for prime time, the on-field performance.

For the past 40 years, the combine has been held in downtown Indianapolis. In terms of testing, what pro evaluators appreciate most is that the event provides a true apples-to-apples comparison. Each year, participants run the same drills, on the same track, in similar elements, under the guidance of NFL staff. 

The event helps scouts to confirm what they've seen on film, or may even encourage them to do more homework on players who outperformed their initial projection. While not much should change atop draft boards once the combine is completed, it can alter how teams perceive prospects in the mid-to-late rounds and undrafted free agency.

It’s a year-round exercise that never ends, time only expires. For example, the process for building our 2025 NFL Draft board has already begun. In the meantime, we have compiled a pre-combine top 25 prospect rankings by position. The big board projections are based on intel gathered over the course of the football calendar year, which includes campus visits, numerous games attended, on location analysis from all-star games, plus feedback from pro football personnel at every level. 

We will refresh rankings periodically leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit on April 25th. Our next update will come post-combine. Without further ado, the initial Boston Sports Journal 2024 NFL Draft Positional Big Board (with projections).

Abbreviations: Rd1 = Round 1 | HPFA = High Priority Free Agent (commands bigger signing bonus) | PFA = Priority Free Agent (potential to make 53-man roster) | FA = Free Agent (tryout type/camp body)

QUARTERBACKS

1. Caleb Williams, USC, Rd1

2. Drake Maye, North Carolina, Rd1

3. Jayden Daniels, LSU, Rd1

4. JJ McCarthy, Michigan, Rd1

5. Michael Penix Jr., Washington, Rd2

6. Bo Nix, Oregon, Rd2

7. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina, Rd3

8. Jordan Travis, Florida State, Rd4

9. Michael Pratt, Tulane, Rd5

10. Joe Milton III, Tennessee, Rd6

11. Devin Leary, Kentucky, Rd7

12. Sam Hartman, Notre Dame, HPFA

13. Carter Bradley, South Alabama, HPFA

14. Austin Reed, Western Kentucky, HPFA

15. Jack Plummer, Louisville, HPFA

16. Jason Bean, Kansas, HPFA

17. Kedon Slovis, BYU, PFA

18. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland, PFA

19. Garrett Shrader, Syracuse, PFA

20. Spencer Sanders, Mississippi, PFA

21. Brennan Armstrong, North Carolina State, PFA

22. Ben Bryant, Northwestern, PFA

23. John Rhys Plumlee, UCF, PFA

24. Davius Richard, North Carolina Central, PFA

25. Michael Hiers, Samford, PFA

RUNNING BACKS

1. Trey Benson, Florida State, Rd2

2. Jonathon Brooks, Texas, Rd2

3. Blake Corum Michigan, Rd3

4. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin, Rd3

5. Will Shipley, Clemson, Rd3

6. Audric Estime, Notre Dame, Rd3

7. MarShawn Lloyd, USC, Rd4

8. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee, Rd4

9. Bucky Irving, Oregon, Rd4

10. Kendall Milton, Georgia, Rd4

11. Blake Watson, Memphis, Rd5

12. Dillon Johnson, Washington, Rd5

13. Ray Davis, Kentucky, Rd5

14. Dylan Laube, New Hampshire, Rd6

15. Jawhar Jordan, Louisville, Rd6

16. Daijun Edwards, Georgia, Rd6

17. Miyan Williams, Ohio State, Rd7

18. Jaden Shirden, Monmouth, Rd7

19. Cody Schrader, Missouri, HPFA

20. Deshaunn Fenwick, Oregon State, HPFA

21. Jabari Small, Tennessee, HPFA

22. Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State, HPFA

23. Carson Steele, UCLA, HPFA

24. Kimani Vidal, Troy, HPFA

25. Rasheen Ali, Marshall, HPFA

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Marvin Harrison Jr, Ohio State, Rd1

2. Rome Odunze, Washington, Rd1

3. Malik Nabers, LSU, Rd1

4. Ladd McConkey, Georgia, Rd1

5. Xavier Worthy, Texas, Rd1

6. Brian Thomas Jr, LSU, Rd2

7. Keon Coleman, Florida State, Rd2

8. Adonia Mitchell, Texas, Rd2

9. Roman Wilson, Michigan, Rd2

10. Troy Franklin, Oregon, Rd2

11. Xavier Legette, South Carolina, Rd3

12. Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington, Rd3

13. Jalen McMillan, Washington, Rd3

14. Johnny Wilson, Florida State, Rd3

15. Brenden Rice, USC, Rd3

16. Jacob Cowing, Arizona, Rd3

17. Jermaine Burton, Alabama, Rd4

18. Anthony Gould, Oregon State, Rd4

19. Ricky Pearsall, Florida, Rd4

20. Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky, Rd4

21. Jamari Thrash, Louisville, Rd4

22. Ainias Smith, Texas A&M, Rd4

23. Devontez Walker, North Carolina, Rd5

24. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Georgia, Rd5

25. Malik Washington, Virginia, Rd5

TIGHT ENDS

1. Brock Bowers, Georgia, Rd1

2. Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas, Rd2

3. Erick All, Iowa, Rd3

4. Cade Stover, Ohio State, Rd3

5. Ben Sinnott, Kansas State, Rd4

6. Jaheim Bell, Florida State, Rd4

7. Theo Johnson, Penn State, Rd5

8. Jared Wiley, TCU, Rd5

9. Dallin Holker, Colorado State, Rd6

10. AJ Barner, Michigan, Rd6

11. Isaac Rex, BYU, Rd7

12. Trey Knox, South Carolina, Rd7

13. Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota, Rd7

14. Devin Culp, Washington, HPFA

15. Jacob Warren, Tennessee, HPFA

16. Austin Stogner, Oklahoma, HPFA

17. Tanner McLachlan, Arizona, HPFA

18. Tip Reiman, Illinois, HPFA

19. Jack Westover, Washington, PFA

20. Leak Bryant, LIU, PFA

21. Zach Heins, South Dakota State, PFA

22. David Martin-Robinnson, Temple, PFA

23. McCallan Castles, Tennessee, PFA

24. Alex Larson, Saint Johns, PFA

25. Owen Glascoe, LIU, PFA

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

1. Joe Alt, Jr, Notre Dame, Rd1

2. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, Rd1

3. JC Latham, Alabama, Rd1

4. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, Rd1

5. Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma, rJr, Rd1

6. Amarius Mims, Georgia, Rd2

7. Jordan Morgan, Arizona, Rd2

8. Christian Jones, Texas, Rd2

9. Patrick Paul, Houston, Rd2

10. Kiran Amegadjie, Yale, Rd2

11. Kingsley Suamataia, BYU, Rd3

12. Javon Foster, Missouri, Rd3

13. Blake Fisher, Notre Dame, Rd3

14. Walter Rouse, Oklahoma, Rd3

15. Gottlieb Ayedze, Maryland, Rd4

16. Brandon Coleman, TCU, Rd4

17. Caedan Wallace, Penn State, Rd4

18. Matt Goncalves, Pittsburgh, Rd5

19. Roger Rosengarten, Washington, Rd5

20. Andrew Coker, TCU, Rd5

21. Delmar Glaze, Maryland, Rd6

22. Ethan Driskell, Marshall, Rd6

23. Anim Dankwah, Howard, Rd6

24. Garrett Greenfield, South Dakota State, Rd7

25. Josiah Ezirim, Eastern Kentucky, Rd7

OFFENSIVE GUARDS

1. Troy Fautanu, Washington, Rd1

2. Cooper Beebe, Kansas State, Rd2

3. Dominick Puni, Kansas, Rd2

4. Javion Cohen, Miami, Rd2

5. Christian Haynes, UConn, Rd2

6. Zak Zinter, Michigan, Rd3

7. Christian Mahogany, Boston College, Rd3

8. Layden Robinson, Texas A&M, Rd4

9. Isaiah Adams, Illinois, Rd4

10. Sataoa Laumea, Utah, Rd5

11. Matthew Jones, Ohio State, Rd5

12. Trevor Keegan, Michigan, Rd6

13. Jarrett Kingston, Washington State, Rd6

14. LaDarius Henderson, Michigan, Rd7

15. Aaron Frost, Arizona State, 

16. Frank Crum, Wyoming, HPFA

17. Doug Nester, West Virginia, HPFA

18. CJ Hanson, Holy Cross, HPFA

19. KT Leveston, Kansas State

20. Mason McCormick, South Dakota State, HPFA

21. Donovan Jennings, USF, HPFA

22. Trente Jones, Michigan, HPFA

23. Gabriel Wallace, Buffalo, HPFA

24. Ed Montilus, North Carolina, HPFA

25. Brady Latham, Arkansas, HPFA

CENTERS

1. Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon, Rd1

2. Graham Barton, Duke, Rd2

3. Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia, Rd3

4. Zach Frazier, West Virginia, Rd3

5. Drake Nugent, Michigan, Rd4

6. Andrew Raym, Oklahoma, Rd5

7. Tanor Bortolini, Wisconsin, Rd5

8. Dylan McMahon, North Carolina State, Rd6

9. Charles Turner III, LSU, Rd6

10. Beaux Limmer, Arkansas, Rd7

11. Clark Barrington, Baylor, HPFA

12. Nick Gargiulo, South Carolina, HPFA

13. Nick Samac, Michigan State, HPFA

14. Kingsley Eguakun, Florida, HPFA

15. Matt Lee, Miami, HPFA

16. Will Putnam, Clemson, HPFA

17. Jacob Monk, Duke, HPFA

18. Darrian Dalcourt, Alabama, HPFA

19. Hunter Nourzad, Penn State, HPFA

20. Jalen Sundell, North Dakota State, FA

21. Mason McCormick, South Dakota State, FA

22. Kyle Hergel, Boston College, FA

23. Mike Novitsky, Kansas, FA

24. Bryan Hudson, Louisville, FA

25. Sebastian Delasoudas, Rhode Island, FA

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

1. Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois, Rd1

2. T’Vondre Sweat, Texas, Rd1

3. Byron Murphy II, Texas, Rd1

4. Leonard Taylor III, Miami, Rd2

5. Kris Jenkins, Michigan, Rd2

6. Darius Robinson, Missouri, Rd2

7. Maason Smith, LSU, Rd2

8. McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M, Rd3

9. Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson, Rd3

10. Tyler Davis, Clemson, Rd3

11. Brandon Dorlus, Oregon, Rd4

12. Justin Eboigbe, Alabama, Rd4

13. Braden Fiske, Florida State, Rd4

14. Mekhi Wingo, LSU, Rd4

15. Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State, Rd5

16. Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois, Rd5

17. Myles Murphy, North Carolina, Rd5

18. DeWayne Carter, Duke, Rd6

19. Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa, Rd6

20. Fabien Lovett, Florida State, Rd7

21. Jowon Briggs, Cincinnati, Rd7

22. Gabe Hall, Baylor, Rd7

23. Tuli Letuligasenoa, Washington, HPFA

24. Justin Jefferson, LSU, HPFA

25. Levi Drake-Rodriguez, Texas A&M Commerce, HPFA

EDGE RUSHERS

1. Dallas Turner, Alabama, Rd1

2. Jared Verse, Florida State, Rd1

3. Laiata Latu, UCLA, Rd1

4. Chop Robinson, Penn State, Rd1

5. Chris Braswell, Alabama, Rd2

6. Adisa Isaac, Penn State, Rd2

7. Bralen Trice, Washington, Rd2

8. Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M, Rd3

9. Jonah Ellis, Utah, Rd3

10. Zion Tupuola-Fetui, Washington, Rd4

11. Jaylen Harrell, Michigan, Rd4

12. Xavier Thomas, Clemson, Rd4

13. Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State, Rd4

14. Eric Watts, UConn, Rd5

15. Nelson Ceaser, Houston, Rd6

16. Marshawn Kneeland, Colorado, Rd6

17. Brennan Jackson, Washington State, Rd7

18. Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Notre Dame, Rd7

19. Khalid Duke, Kansas State, HPFA

20. Layton Jordan, Temple, Jr, HPFA

21. Ron Stone, Washington State, HPFA

22. Eyabi Okie-Anoma, Charlotte

23. Austin Booker, Kansas

24. Sundiata Anderson, Grambling,

25. Myles Cole, Texas Tech

LINEBACKERS

1. Cedric Gray, North Carolina, Rd1

2. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson, Rd2

3. Jaylan Ford, Texas, Rd2

4. Junior Colson, Michigan, Jr, Rd2

5. Payton Wilson, North Carolina State, Rd3

6. Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State, Rd3

7. Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State, Rd4

8. Curtis Jacobs, Penn State, Rd4

9. James Williams, Miami, Rd4

10. Ty’ron Hopper, Missouri, Rd5

11. Trevin Wallace, Kentucky, Rd5

12. Jackson Mitchell, UConn, Rd6

13. Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington, Rd6

14. Marist Liufau, Notre Dame, Rd6

15. Darius Muasau, UCLA, Rd7

16. Levelle Bailey, Fresno State, Rd7

17. Steele Chambers, Ohio State, Rd7

18. Jalyx Hunt, Houston Baptist, HPFA

19. Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State, HPFA

20. Jackson Sirmon, California, HPFA

21. Jason Johnson, UCF, HPFA

22. Nick Jackson, Iowa, HPFA

23. Jacob Roberts, Wake Forest, HPFA

24. Justin Flowe, Arizona, HPFA

25. Jordan Magee, Temple, HPFA

CORNERBACKS

1. Terrion Arnold, Alabama, Rd1

2. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, Rd1

3. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama, Rd1

4. Cooper DeJean, Iowa, Rd1

5. Nate Wiggins, Clemson, Rd1

6. Caelen Carson, Wake Forest, Rd2

7. Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri, Rd2

8. Kamari Lassiter, Georgia, Rd2

9. TJ Tampa, Iowa State, Sr, Rd2

10. Kalen King, Penn State, Jr, Rd3

11. Cam Hart, Notre Dame, Rd3

12. Max Melton, Rutgers, Rd3

13. Mike Sainristill, Michigan, Rd3

14. Josh Newton, TCU, Rd3

15. Denzel Burke, Ohio State, Rd3

16. DJ James, Auburn, Rd4

17. Qwan’Tez Stiggers, Toronto (CFL), Rd4

18. Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn, Rd4

19. Khyree Jackson, Oregon, Rd4

20. Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri, Rd5

21. John Dixon, Penn State, Rd5

22. Jarvis Brownlee, Louisville, Rd5

23. Chau Smith-Wade, Washington State, Rd5

24. Elijah Jones, Boston College, Rd6

25. Willie Drew, Virginia State, Rd6

SAFETIES

1. Tyler Nubin, Minnesota, Rd1

2. Kamren Kinchens, Miami, Rd1

3. Javon Bullard, Georgia, Rd2

4. Calen Bullock, USC, Jr, Rd2

5. Cole Bishop, Utah, Rd2

6. Jaden Hicks, Washington State, Rd3

7. Beau Brade, Maryland, Rd3

8. Jaylin Simpson, Auburn, Rd3

9. Tykee Smith, Georgia, Rd3

10. Akeem Dent, Florida State, Rd4

11. Demani Richardson, Texas A&M, Rd4

12. Josh Proctor, Ohio State, Rd4

13. Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State, Rd5

14. Dominique Hampton, Washington, Rd5

15. Sione Vaki, Utah, Rd6

16. Evan Williams, Oregon, Rd6

17. Isiah Johnson, Syracuse, Rd7

18. Ro Torrence, Arizona State, Rd7

19. Kenny Logan Jr., Kansas, HPFA

20. Malik Mustafa, Wake Forest, HPFA

21. Tyler Owens, Texas Tech, HPFA

22. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech, HPFA

23. Jaylen Key, Alabama, HPFA

24. Al Blades, Duke, HPFA

25. Knylen Miller-Levi, Minot State, HPFA

KICKERS

1. Harrison Mevis, Missouri, Rd7

2. Joshua Karty, Stanford, HPFA

3. Will Reichard, Alabama, HPFA

4. Cam Little, Arkansas, HPFA

5. Spencer Shrader, Notre Dame, HPFA

PUNTERS

1. Tory Taylor, Iowa, Rd6

2. Ryan Rehkow, BYU, Rd7

3. Austin McNamara, Texas Tech, HPFA

4. Ryann Sanborn, Texas, HPFA

5. Matthew Hayball, Vanderbilt, HPFA

LONG SNAPPERS

1. Peter Bowden, Wisconsin, HPFA

2. William Mote, Georgia, HPFA

3. Joe Schimko, North Carolina State, HPFA

4. Maco Ortiz, Nebraska, HPFA

5. Steele Judy, Citadel, HPFA

*For more from Ric Serritella be sure to follow him @ricserritella, bringing you the names you need to know first since 2002!