The BSJ Top 250 Overall Big Board lists the top-rated prospects compiled by our consensus draft intel. First, some final thoughts.
It figures to be a historic 89th annual meeting of the NFL Draft in Detroit.
In what is shaping up to be a first round for the ages, we could see up to six quarterbacks selected in round one, three wideouts inside the top 10 and up to 10 offensive linemen. There's a very strong chance that we even see the NFL record for most offensive players drafted in the first round (19 in 2009) demolished by the end of Thursday night.
In a highly competitive win-now league, the influx of quarterback retirements in recent years has resulted in a plethora of QB-needy teams. Roughly half the league would like to upgrade the most critical position in sports. Hence, the overreaction will be many signal-callers who get over-drafted and thrust into situations setup for failure. Welcome to the NFL where rinse, repeat, recycle plays on a loop. New England happens to be caught in the current spin-cycle. Luckily, they pick atop the draft. If fate plays out correctly, it will mark the beginning of a new dynasty in Foxborough.
As alluded to, the strength in numbers lies on offense, with up to a half dozen each of wide receivers and offensive tackles to hear their name called on Day 1, possibly more. On defense, cornerbacks will fly off the board early and often. Look for Day 2 to be the sweet spot to find the real value on defensive prospects. Meanwhile, positions such as running back, center and linebacker have been devalued the past decade. In effect, there will be some true diamonds who fall to Day 3.
While New England and 31 other NFL organizations have finalized their big board, it's important to understand that it's a three-year process leading up to the April 25th moment. Countless hours have been clocked, thousands of miles have been accumulated and plenty of strong coffee has been brewed along the way! The Patriots have done it with a blended staff that consists of old and new faces. Now it's time to sit back and watch how they stack their building blocks. Each draft selection is a lotto ticket. The most prepared teams win consistently in the long run.
Make sure you bookmark the Boston Sports Journal NFL Draft Headquarters page. For scouting reports on 125+ prospects and a further breakdown of individual player rankings, be sure to check out the BSJ primer series:
Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Offensive Tackles | Guards | Centers
Defensive Tackles | Edge Rushers | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties
RANK | PLAYER | POSITION | SCHOOL
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Joe Alt, Jr, OT, Notre Dame
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Jared Verse, ER, Florida State
Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Laiata Latu, ER, UCLA
Dallas Turner, ER, Alabama
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State
Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State
Graham Barton, C, Duke
Darius Robinson, DE, Missouri
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
Brian Thomas Jr, WR, LSU
T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
Chop Robinson, ER, Penn State
Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State
JC Latham, OT, Alabama
Adonia Mitchell, WR, Texas
Marshawn Kneeland, ER, Colorado
Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
Chris Braswell, LB, Alabama
Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State
Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
Christian Haynes, OG, UConn
Bralen Trice, ER, Washington
Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina
Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
Mike Sainristill, CB, Michigan
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Dominick Puni, OT, Kansas
Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
Calen Bullock, S, USC
Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
Maason Smith, DT, LSU
Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida
Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina
Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
Malik Washington, WR, Virginia
TJ Tampa, CB, Iowa State
Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington
Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky
Javon Bullard, S, Georgia
Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State
Jonah Ellis, ER, Utah
Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
Brandon Coleman, OG, TCU
Cole Bishop, S, Utah
Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin
Malik Mustapha, S, Wake Forest
Adissa Isaac, ER, Penn State
Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
Brenden Rice, WR, USC
Mohamed Kamara, ER,Colorado State
Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina
Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College
Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
Christian Jones, OT, Texas
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
DJ James, CB, Auburn
Jalyx Hunt, ER, Houston Christian
Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech
Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State
Tanor Bortolini, C, Wisconsin
Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU
Josh Newton, CB, TCU
DeWayne Carter, DT, Duke
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
Austin Booker, ER, Kansas
Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State
Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee
Cedric Johnson, ER, Mississippi
Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
Curtis Jacobs, LB, Penn State
Brennan Jackson, ER, Washington State
Zak Zinter, OG, Michigan
Myles Cole, DT, Texas Tech
Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame
Patrick Paul, OT, Houston
Javon Foster, OT, Missouri
Qwan’Tez Stiggers, CB, Toronto (CFL)
Xavier Thomas, ER, Clemson,
Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State
Nathaniel Watson, LB, Mississippi State,
Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State
Matt Goncalves, OT, Pittsburgh
Gabriel Murphy, ER, UCLA
Jordan Jefferson, DT, LSU
Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB, Louisville
Mason McCormick, C, South Dakota State
Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri
Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah
Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
Leonard Taylor III, DT, Miami
Kiran Amegadjie, OT, Yale
Edefuan Ulofoshio, LB, Washington
Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona
Erick All, TE, Iowa
Renardo Green, CB, Florida State
McKinnley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
Dominique Hampton, S, Washington
Sedrick Van Pran, C, Georgia
Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn
Walter Rouse, OT, Oklahoma
Javion Cohen, OG, Miami
Caedan Wallace, OT, Penn State
Jordan Magee, LB, Temple
Gabe Hall, DT, Baylor
Blake Watson, RB, Memphis
Jaylen Harrell, ER, Michigan
Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona
Ryan Watts, CB, Texas
Javon Baker, WR, UCF
Trey Taylor, S, Air Force
Jaden Crumedy, DT, Mississippi State
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC
Jaylin Simpson, S, Auburn
Khristian Boyd, DT, Northern Iowa
JD Bertrand, LB, Notre Dame
Tylan Grable, OT, UCF
Myles Harden, CB, South Dakota
Jaheim Bell, TE, North Carolina State
Eric Watts, ER, UConn
Jalen Coker, WR, Holy Cross
Sione Vaki, S, Utah
Marcus Harris, DT, Auburn
Garrett Greenfield, OT, South Dakota State
Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice
Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
Justin Eboigbe, DT, Alabama
Isaac Guerendo, RB, Lousiville
Layden Robinson, OG, Texas A&M
Javon Solomon, ER, Troy
Beanie Bishop Jr., CB, West Virginia
Myles Murphy, DT, North Carolina
Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State
Jamari Thrash, WR, Louisville
Ty’ron Hopper, LB, Missouri
Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky
MJ Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
Dylan McMahon, C, North Carolina State
Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
Jackson Sirmon, LB, California
Travis Glover, OT, Georgia State
Dwight McGlothern, CB, Arkansas
Ryan Fournoy, WR, Southeast Missouri State
Isaiah Adams, OG, Illinois
Michael Pratt, QB, Tulane
Chau Smith-Wade, CB, Washington State
James Williams, LB, Miami
Delmar Glaze, OT, Maryland
Tahj Washington, WR, USC
Braiden McGregor, ER, Michigan
Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE, Minnesota
Deantre Prince, CB, Mississippi
Marist Liufau, LB, Notre Dame
Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon
Drake Nugent, C, Michigan
Jowon Briggs, DT, Cincinnati
Tyler Owens, S, Texas Tech
Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Notre Dame
Tyrone Tracy, RB, Purdue
Frank Crum, OG, Wyoming
Devin Leary, QB, Kentucky
Willie Drew, CB, Virginia State
Bub Means, WR, Pittsburgh
Trajan Jeffcoat, ER, Arkansas
Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame
Beau Brade, S, Maryland
Joe Milton, QB, Tennessee
Beaux Limmer, C, Arkansas
Tarheeb Still, CB, Maryland
Fabian Lovett Sr., DT, Florida State
Eyabi Okie-Anoma, ER, Charlotte
Jaden Shirden, RB, Monmouth
Cam Allen, S, Purdue
AJ Barner, TE, Michigan
Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy
Julian Pearl, OG, Illinois
Devin Culp, TE, Washington
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, ER, Washington
Mason Tipton, WR, Yale
Charles Turner III, C, LSU
Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP
Johnny Dixon, CB, Penn State
Josh Proctor, S, Ohio State
Dallin Holker, TE, Colorado State
KT Leveston, OG, Kansas State
Ethan Driskell, OT, Marshall
Demani Richardson, S, Texas A&M
Sundiata Anderson, ER, Grambling
Keith Randolph Jr., DT, Illinois
Keaton Bills, OG, Utah
Justin Rogers, DT, Auburn
Nelson Ceaser, ER, Houston
Jacob Monk, C, Duke
Lideatrick Griffin, WR, Mississippi State
Logan Lee, DT, Iowa
Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State
Andre Sam, S, LSU
Zion Logue, DT, Georgia
Aaron Casey, LB, Indiana
*For year-round coverage of the NFL Draft and everything football be sure to follow @ricserritella