NFL Draft Media: Underrated Prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft
Hear from 18 media members about 26 underrated prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft
One of the best things about the NFL Draft community is the wide array of differing opinions people develop about prospects. I figured you all might be getting tired of only hearing my views on players, so we’re doing something new. For today’s special collaboration, I reached out to more than a dozen people in and around the NFL Draft space to provide analysis on some of their favorite and underrated prospects in the 2024 cycle.
You’ll hear from 18 people in the draft space, me included, about 26 prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, along with some bonus 2025 NFL Draft content for players returning to school.
Links to the Twitter/X profiles of all the media members who participated in this collaboration and links to their work appear throughout this article. I can’t thank them enough for taking time during the holiday season and the peak of the football season to help with this project.
Hopefully, I’ll see some of you at the Senior Bowl later this month.
2024 NFL Draft Prospects on Offense
Devontez Walker left the draft community consciousness due to the NCAA not allowing him to play for the first four games of the season. Transferring from NC Central to Kent State to North Carolina is an odd path, but Walker has an insane skill set that fits most NFL teams. His explosion off the line from the slot and crisp footwork are unmatched in this WR class. He instantly became the security blanket for Drake Maye and showed how easily he could get open against ACC defenses. Walker is a top 10 WR in this class and is heavily slept on. – Shane P. Hallam, Draft Countdown
Every year, I put together the All Forno team with my favorite players in the draft, and Malachi Corley is likely going to be at the top of the list. It's difficult to find players who comp to those in the NFL who are unique, but Corley really does profile as a Deebo Samuel archetype. At 5110 and 210 lbs., Corley is dynamic in open space and forced an astounding 40 missed tackles during his junior season in 2022. If you want a mismatch weapon that can be deployed in a myriad of ways, Corley is your guy. – Tyler Forness, Vikings Wire for USA Today
For someone who was the WR1 for a top QB draft prospect, Devontez Walker isn't being talked about nearly enough nationally. The 6-foot-3, 192-pound prospect is a lanky receiver with a large catch radius, and he maximizes that with his body control, attacking the ball in the air and how he high points passes. He offers impressive deep speed for his size, accelerating well off the line of scrimmage and showing the ability to separate with pure athleticism vertically. He understands the importance of leverage as a route runner, disguising his route concepts through his stems and attacking the blind spots of defensive backs well. Though he's skinny and not the sharpest out of his breaks, Walker is a smart, lengthy and athletic receiver who belongs in discussions surrounding the top WRs in the 2024 draft. – Jacob Infante, Windy City Gridiron for SB Nation
We all know the offensive tackle class is strong, but one prospect who gets lost in the mix at times is Yale's Kiran Amegadjie. Amegadjie has respect as an FCS sleeper, but on my board, he's a Top 100 talent. Amegadjie has experience at both tackle and guard, but at 6'5", 320 pounds, with near-36" arms and high-energy athleticism, his foundation at OT is very exciting. If he can compound growth with his hand usage and footwork from 2023, he has the explosiveness, strength, and tenacity to be a high-level starter. – Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network
Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright is currently only listed at 275th on the consensus board, but he should be somewhere in the top 100 by the middle of March after testing data and more eyes get on him. Funny enough - Sam's two listings of him are the only two on consensus data right now. I currently have him in the 2nd-3rd round range and a top three back. 5100, 209 lbs., high 4.3 speed, SEC pedigree, 7.4 YPC on 137 rushes this year. HWS combo could fit for kick return value. Unless he has a bad process, or something, I don't think he gets past the fourth, especially in this light of a class. Hard runner who has good balance & twitch, but a little tightly bound. – Mark Jarvis, Jarvis Scouting
Brandon Coleman has really impressive size and a big frame to go along with almost 35-inch arms. He was on Bruce Feldman’s freak list (35-inch vert) and should test a lot better than people expect. He has high-end play strength, anchors well against power, and creates consistent displacement in the run game. Coleman played mostly tackle in college, but his tape at guard was better. He projects as a starter by year two. Guys with his size, length, strength, and athleticism end up starting in the league. – Jack Borowsky, Pro Football Network
Offensively, I love how Ohio State TE Cade Stover plays. He’s not the most explosive athlete and probably is at his best in the short yardage range, but he absolutely gets after it as a run blocker and is extremely physical after the catch. He’s probably limited to a TE2 in the NFL but becomes extremely valuable as teams shift to more 12 personnel and downhill running. – JP Acosta, SB Nation
Dallin Holker saw limited time during his first three seasons at BYU. However, transferring to Colorado State gave him new life via a breakout season. He’ll likely measure in just north of 6'4", but you wouldn’t be able to tell on film as he was used as more of a slot receiver than tight end at CSU. I think he’s a 5th round to 6th round prospect that teams will take a chance on. Teams will have to find that perfect fit for him on the field, but there’s no doubt that he can be a mismatch for defenses on Sunday. – Brian Lamb, NFL Draft Lounge
I consistently see Cooper Beebe outside of the top two rounds in mock drafts, and I’m not sure why. While there are concerns about his length and athleticism, his tape is special. He was the best guard in the country this season and was one of the best last year as well. He also excelled at left tackle in 2021 and played right tackle in 2020, so the positional versatility is there. He’s only allowed one sack in the last three years combined. – Max Chadwick, PFF
Ray Davis runs with a low center of gravity, and his patience and lateral quickness allow him to identify and fit into running lanes. He runs with power and shows excellent contact balance to rack up yards after contact. Compared to other backs in the class, he has significantly more experience in blitz pickup and has been well-integrated into the passing game as a receiver as well. – Matthew Jones, FantasyPros
Minnesota TE Brevyn Spann-Ford is currently 289th on the consensus board (and with few inputs since Oct/Nov), but the Senior Bowl invitee has a great height, weight, length combo with NFL caliber blocking. While he probably runs somewhere in the mid 4.7s (which could limit his upside), he should be able to capitalize on a rather weak tight end class. I have him projected in the 3rd-4th round but think he could get as high as the 2nd with a great pre-draft process. He has a floor of about the 6th if he tests poorly. – Mark Jarvis, Jarvis Scouting
Note from Mark Jarvis: There are an insanely high number of senior bowl invitees (particularly OL) who aren't accurately priced on consensus because of too few inputs. Guys like Tanor Bortolini from Wisconsin and Delmar Glaze from Maryland are in the 300s because nobody has really written them into mocks and stuff like that, but both those dudes are going top 175. The Senior Bowl is the best indicator of player value at this stage of the process.
Let’s expand on Mark’s point a bit by covering a Senior Bowl lineman. Isaiah Adams hasn’t received much attention as a top 100 pick, probably because he spent most of 2023 playing out of position. Adams showed potential at left guard in his FBS debut in 2022, but he kicked over to right tackle this past season because of injuries. At 6'4", 318 lbs. with 34 1/8-inch arms, it’s easy to see why the Fighting Illini asked him to play outside. Adams packs pop in his hands and boasts impressive upper body and core strength to complement his hand placement. He has a stout anchor in pass protection and plays bully ball in the run game. – Sam Teets, Sports Talk with Sam Teets
Spencer Rattler went from a surefire first round pick to a fringe draft pick in one season due to very little that was actually in his control. It took a while for him to catch on to a complicated system in his first season at South Carolina, under a coordinator that put up 17.5 points per game at Nebraska. Rattler's arm talent is still elite, and he has the type of game that translates well in the pros. Maturity and pocket awareness were two lingering question marks from early in his career, and he showed tremendous improvement in both as a senior. Because of a loaded quarterback class, Rattler could go later in the draft than he would in a lighter class, but he's a pro-ready starter that could have a long NFL career. – Will Helms, College Football Network
During his two seasons at Pitt, wide receiver Bub Means primarily caught passes from Phil Jurkovec, Nick Patti, Kedon Slovis, Christian Veilleux, and Nate Yarnell, and his receiving totals reflect those quarterback struggles. Means could’ve been a college stud in a more proficient offense. He plays bigger than his height (6007) at the catch point thanks to his 33 1/4-inch arms. Means’ acceleration and top speed help the 218 lb. receiver stack defenders and stretch defenses vertically. His breaks and cuts are crisp on most routes. Height, weight, speed combinations are excellent early day three investments. – Sam Teets, Sports Talk with Sam Teets
Editor’s Note: Below, Nick Muzzillo provided in-depth insight on Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman, who has become a more divisive prospect as the pre-draft process continues. Coleman opened his Florida State career with a massive game against LSU but only topped 90 receiving yards in one other game during the season.
Offensive Analysis from Nick Muzzillo
It's no secret how loaded this wide receiver class is. It has the potential to be one of the strongest and deepest classes in history with the amount of talent this year. It's likely 5-6 prospects could go on day one, including Keon Coleman.
The reason I have chosen Coleman for this piece is because it appears the draft community is split on his projection and rank. Most of it comes from the dynasty/fantasy football space, who look at Coleman and his profile and have shades of being burned again by Quentin Johnston. Then there are the draft pundits - the ones who cover in its entirety year-round - who are much higher on Coleman than those experts.
And I fall into the higher-on-Coleman crowd. Now, I do understand why some might not get excited as much. He is certainly not the twitchiest off the line of scrimmage and doesn't separate with his speed. But, as my RPM colleague and friend, Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) has mentioned before, there are different ways of separation.
Just his sheer size/frame alone makes Coleman hard to match up with one on one. In addition to that frame, he is probably the best contested catch receiver in this class, but he does it with explosiveness and physicality. He can truly change the game with one catch and is a volume/rhythm receiver. Lastly, I have seen enough of him to believe that his route-running precision at the next level will be what sets him back. Sure, it can use refinement, but he is not stiff in his hips. He can sink and change directions quickly and can find the middle of the field with ease.
Don't be surprised if Coleman tests well as an athlete at the combine, too. – Nick Muzzillo, RPM Data
2024 NFL Draft Prospects on Defense
As a player overshadowed by how dominant Laiatu Latu was this season, UCLA edge rusher Gabriel Murphy has an unreal first step and devastating closing speed to be a Bryce Huff mold of a player. Although he’s a bit undersized and doesn’t have overwhelming length, Murphy consistently wins both as an interior and standup, outside rusher quickly and proficiently, using a quick cross chop or swim move. I would take Murphy inside the top 100 and feel like he could become a reliable 3rd down sub package pass rusher. – Devin Jackson, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Jalyx Hunt from Houston Christian can be a true gem in the 2024 NFL Draft class. His bend, length, and burst give him a tremendously high ceiling that enabled him to dominate lower level opponents. He does a fantastic job of closing down on ball carriers thanks to his acceleration. Hunt does need to add more upper body strength to better anchor against the run. For a player who is a former converted safety, he also needs more exposure to the position to improve his instincts and pass rush move set. – Joe DeLeone, The First Team
Twitch, length, competitiveness, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was a joy to study this fall. Teams in need of an alignment versatile corner with experience as a pure man corner or an instinctive, downhill zone defender will have Rakestraw high on their positional board. – Ryan Fowler, Bleacher Report
Alabama EDGE Chris Braswell is one of my favorite players to watch in this draft cycle. He’s not the most bendy prospect, but he’s a hard working, high motor player who wins with explosiveness through an offensive lineman and not around him. He can set the edge against the run but also provide upside for teams who need a secondary pass rusher. – JP Acosta, SB Nation
Jaden Hicks stands at a physically-imposing 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 212 pounds. He uses this size to lay monster hits on unsuspecting ball carriers in the run game. The versatile DB is more than just a bruiser. Hicks uses impressive footwork, natural instincts, and a quick trigger to disrupt passing lanes downfield. He often sees plays unfold before they do. Hicks is a plug-and-play fit as a rookie, profiling as a potential All-Pro caliber player early in his career. The NFL Draft community gets a chance to see the former Cougar put up reps against the elite of the elite at the Senior Bowl. He is a Top-50 grade on my Big Board, but the consensus has him outside the Top 100 currently. – Hunter Haas, NFL Mocks for FanSided & The Blue Stable
Missouri DT/DE Darius Robinson, currently 141st on the consensus board, seems to be a likely riser in the pre-draft process if he has a good Senior Bowl and tests as expected. He was likely a mid rounder last year, but he looked great this year playing outside and had more burst and agility in his movements in my opinion. 6050, 293 lbs., 3478 (arms), 8458 (wingspan), 4.86e, SEC, DE/DT versatility, went from 5.5 TFLs/3.5 sacks last year to 14 TFLs/8.5 sacks this year. Productive HWS freaks in the best conference at key positions with versatility are about as clear cut as it gets for early rounders. I currently expect him to go in the second but think first is likely if he has a great pre-draft process. Floor is probably early day three or mid day three if he has a bad process. – Mark Jarvis, Jarvis Scouting
Byron Murphy II is an explosive athlete who led defensive linemen in pass rush win rate (20.1%). He has an explosive first step, quickness to threaten both gaps, and a wide range of pass rushing moves. His ability to win with power & hand usage makes him worth a 1st round pick in this class. – James Foster, A to Z Sports
Most evaluators have Byron Murphy II as a Top 100 talent at the very least, but he's my DT2 behind Jer'Zhan Newton and a true first-round prospect. Murphy's natural leverage and strength at 6'1", 308 pounds is a trump card against taller linemen, through which he channels elite burst, twitch, energy, torque, and destructive urgency to wreak havoc in both phases. – Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network
Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland has 33 3/4-inch arms attached to a thick frame with plenty of natural power. His hands pack pop, generating knockback, and his powerful arm extensions and leg drive help generate displacement. Kneeland’s hand usage and pass rush plan need development, but he has a sturdy foundation and plenty of physical tools. He converts speed to power with a long-arm move and primarily focuses on chaining clubs and swims with his bull rush. Kneeland has the burst to stress tackles vertically before attacking the B-gap but also lowers his pad level just enough to dip under tackles. He is a standout run defender who quickly redirects from blocks to the ball and generates vertical displacement against one-on-one blocks. Kneeland has the burst and speed to make plays as a backside run defender. – Sam Teets, Sports Talk with Sam Teets
Old school linebackers aren't as highly coveted as they were in the past, but Payton Wilson is more than just a thumper. The Butkus award winner racked up over 400 tackles in college while adding seven interceptions and 15 sacks. He's one of the bigger linebackers in the class and has solid instincts. When he runs a sub-4.5 40 at the combine, he'll likely climb draft boards. He's as athletic as some of the risky "high upside" picks and he has the college production/football IQ of those old school linebacker types that teams covet. – Will Helms, College Football Network
Editor’s Note: Below, Nick Muzzillo provides his analysis on North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray, who is part of an underwhelming linebacker class that is further suffering from players electing to return to school for 2024.
Defensive Analysis from Nick Muzzillo
Cedric Gray declared for the NFL Draft and is one of the top linebackers in this class. However, he's one that appears to be flying under the radar as a potential day two pick. You may not have heard much about him, but I think part of that is due to the lackluster top talent at the position this year. It lacks a lot of depth and is very top heavy, but I think Gray can emerge as one of the best.
He has started for the Tar Heels defense the past two years and has good size and athleticism. He played almost every snap inside as their MIKE and flashed range in space with his sideline to sideline speed. He has the physical tools to stack/shed blocks and showed instincts to fill gaps and process quickly. He certainly does not have Patrick Queen-type trigger, but he displayed a good IQ and an explosive burst to disrupt the interior.
Gray was trusted to stay on the field on third downs and showed he can cover the middle of the field on hook/curls and carry routes to the flat. He is a really solid tackler and can finish in the open field.
Gray will get an opportunity to build his draft resume next at the Senior Bowl in early February. I expect him to be one of the standouts at Linebacker in Mobile and has the athletic/physical traits to pop at the Combine in March.
I am higher than most on Gray and think he is a solid day two pick in the mid to late second round range. – Nick Muzzillo, RPM Data
Two 2025 NFL Draft Prospects for the Road
Editor’s Note: Hunter Haas provided a section on former Washington State Cameron Ward. Ward flirted with the transfer portal before declaring for the draft, then deciding to transfer to Miami two days before this story was scheduled to go out. Here’s Hunter’s write-up on Ward, who is now one of the top quarterback options in the 2025 NFL Draft.
It’s not often a QB prospect flies under the radar, but that is exactly the case with Cam Ward. The Wazzu alum possesses as much natural talent as anyone in the class — Caleb Williams included. Ward uses creative arm angles and a quick release to create passing lanes that wouldn’t exist otherwise. He has the arm strength to attack all levels of the defense and the athleticism to make plays outside the pocket. His mechanics, including improved footwork, allow for impeccable ball placement downfield. The gunslinger signal-caller should be firmly on the Day 1 radar, in the same breath as reigning Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. – Hunter Haas, NFL Mocks for FanSided & The Blue Stable
Editor’s Note: Brian Lamb was kind enough to write two sections for this story since his initial prospect decided to return to school for 2024. I’ve always been averse to cutting work, especially when it belongs to someone else. So, here’s Brian’s 2025 NFL Draft primer for Georgia defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse.
His production dropped this season, which is why he's fallen down draft boards, but Georgia DT Nazir Stackhouse is such an underrated prospect. He has a high-football IQ and does an outstanding job of reading and reacting to the ball quickly at the line of scrimmage. He could fall to day three, but in my opinion, Stackhouse has the traits to be a difference-maker for a long time in the NFL. – Brian Lamb, NFL Draft Lounge