McGinn: How the top 100 could unfold in the NFL Draft (2024)

Here’s my guess at how the first 100 players might go off the board in the NFL draft Thursday and Friday.

It’s arranged by position, from the highest-ranked player to the lowest-ranked player. The rankings often were based on my polling of scouts across the league in the last four weeks.

This is a prediction of how the top 100 might unfold, not necessarily how I would draft them.

OFFENSE (51)

WIDE RECEIVERS (14)

1. CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma: The scouts say there’s no Julio Jones or Calvin Johnson in the group. Ten years from now there might be, and Lamb could be it.

2. Jerry Jeudy, Alabama: He’s so precise in and out of his breaks.

3. Henry Ruggs, Alabama: Speed has always killed, and it does even more in today’s game.

4. Justin Jefferson, LSU: Jefferson is a complete player who probably fits best as a big slot.

5. Jalen Reagor, TCU: Mr. Explosive. Reagor plays with admirable edginess.

6. Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State: Aiyuk came out of relative anonymity from October on.

7. Tee Higgins, Clemson: A popular choice in the scouting fraternity for having the best hands in the draft.

8. Bryan Edwards, South Carolina: Edwards is a much-admired player who’s coming off a meniscus tear late in the season.

9. Denzel Mims, Baylor: His 6.66-second 3-cone resonated among scouts.

10. Michael Pittman, USC: A towering tough guy, Pittman is more than just possession.

11. Laviska Shenault, Colorado: Shenault is a quintessential boom-or-bust selection.

12. Van Jefferson, Florida: He doesn’t have a 40 time, so timed speed will forever remain a mystery. But his exquisite routes were obvious.

13. K.J. Hamler, Penn State: Hamler is diminutive and dangerous — when he catches the ball.

14. Devin Duvernay, Texas: He’s a big-play slot guy with speed and thickness.

TIGHT ENDS (5)

1. Cole Kmet, Notre Dame: The latest in a long line of Irish tight ends.

2. Chase Claypool, Notre Dame: Another member of the Fighting Irish, some teams have Claypool at WR. He’ll be something of a project, but he’s so talented.

3. Adam Trautman, Dayton: The lower level of competition from playing at Dayton didn’t deter him in Mobile.

4. Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic: Versatility is Bryant’s bread and butter.

5. Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri: Okwuegbunam has so much ability, but there are questions, too. As one scout put it, “really talented human being in terms of size and athleticism but just doesn’t put it all together.”

OFFENSIVE LINE (18)

1. Andrew Thomas, T, Georgia: There’s little or no reason to think Thomas won’t be a high-caliber LT very soon.

2. Jedrick Wills, T, Alabama: Wills is considered one of the top four tackles in the draft, though Crimson Tide offensive linemen haven’t fared all that well in the pros.

3. Mekhi Becton, T, Louisville: Becton is a massive man with massive potential, but he’s a considerable risk as well.

4. Tristan Wirfs, G-T, Iowa: Wirfs didn’t play as well as he worked out.

5. Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan: Ruiz should start from Day 1.

6. Ezra Cleveland, T, Boise State: Cleveland is neither long nor powerful, but he does have LT athleticism.

7. Isaiah Wilson, T, Georgia: Wilson could be a dominator at RT.

8. Austin Jackson, T, USC: People say he’s soft. People also love his feet.

9. Josh Jones, T, Houston: He’s a solid LT but might drop due to makeup concerns.

10. Robert Hunt, G-T, Louisiana: Hunt is reminiscent of Josh Sitton.

11. Lloyd Cushenberry, C, LSU: Some scouts think LSU players will gain draft favor from the national title.

12. Matt Hennessy, C, Temple: This was an exceptional class of centers, and he’s No. 3 on the list for many teams.

13. Matt Peart, T, Connecticut: Peart has the longest arms (36 5/8) among the O-linemen.

14. Prince Tega Wanoghu, T, Auburn: He has a ways to go but the tools to get there.

15. John Simpson, G-C, Clemson: He’s the best of the Tigers’ four senior O-linemen.

16. Lucas Niang, T, TCU: A smart bruiser with a worrisome post-operative hip.

17. Jonah Jackson, G, Ohio State: He’s well-liked for his personality, his temperament and his mind.

18. Damien Lewis, G, LSU: Lewis, a sawed-off interior brawler, has LSU going for him.

QUARTERBACKS (6)

1. Joe Burrow, LSU: His senior season was one for the ages.

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama: We’ve seen how talented he is, but with the injury history, justhow far might he fall?

3. Justin Herbert, Oregon: Herbert is a good player, but is he special?

4. Jordan Love, Utah State: Opinions vary wildly on Love. One scout said that you can “rein in” some of his bad habits on the field, while another scout says he feels those habits “are not correctable”.

5. Jacob Eason, Washington: Eason has a big arm and big upside, but he’s a big risk.

6. Jake Fromm, Georgia: Some insist he’s more than a game manager.

RUNNING BACKS (8)

1. D’Andre Swift, Georgia: Swift is magnificentin the passing game.

2. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin: He should be a productive workhorse if there’s still enough gas in the tank.

3. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU: You can’t tackle what you can’t see.

4. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State: Dobbins was sensationalin the biggest games.

5. Cam Akers, Florida State: Akers has the lowest body fat (4.2%) among the backs.

6. Zack Moss, Utah: He could bring toughness to a team ala Eddie Lacy.

7. Josh Kelley, UCLA: He has come light years in just two years’ time.

8. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt: His abundant talent was somewhat hidden with the scuffling Fighting Illini and Commodores.

DEFENSE (49)

DEFENSIVE LINE (12)

1. Derrick Brown, Auburn: Brown possesses everything it takes to become an elite defensive tackle.

2. Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina: Kinlaw has outstanding physical attributes, but nagging doubts persist.

3. Ross Blacklock, TCU: Pass-rushing potential drives him into the first round.

4. Neville Gallimore, Oklahoma: See Blacklock above. Gallimore is a very similar player.

5. Marlon Davidson, Auburn: Amid weight fluctuations, he’s a remarkable leader and versatile run-pass player.

6. Jordan Elliott, Missouri: Some scouts really like him, some don’t at all.

7. Davon Hamilton, Ohio State: Hamilton came on like gangbusters as a fifth-year senior.

8. Justin Madubuike, Texas A&M: Makeup and injury issues make his draft-day landing point difficult to call.

9. Raekwon Davis, Alabama: Scouts are leery of the person (as Dane Brugler wrote in The Beast, “his maturity has been questioned after he admittedly ‘got caught up’ with all the hype following his sophom*ore season, struggling as a junior and senior”), but they laud his run-stop ability.

10. McTelvin Agim, Arkansas: His ability to get off the ball quickly and into gaps are the core of his candidacy.

11. Leki Fotu, Utah: Fotu is a good old 3-4 nose man with surprising wheels in pursuit.

12. James Lynch, Baylor: His old coach was Matt Rhule. Is he Carolina-bound?

EDGE RUSHERS (11)

1. Chase Young, Ohio State: Young ranks right up there with the Bosa brothers.

2. K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU: If he’s as good as ex-Tiger Danielle Hunter, he’ll be a smashing success.

3. A.J. Epenesa, Iowa: His flat-line playing temperament has scouts asking for more.

4. Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State: Everyone loves those 34 7/8-inch arms.

5. Julian Okwara, Notre Dame: He’s just too talented not to go high.

6. Josh Uche, Michigan: He might be too small for steady work as a 3-4 outside LB and has little exposure off the ball.

7. Darrell Taylor, Tennessee: Remarkable physique and talent comes with injury and character concerns.

8. Curtis Weaver, Boise State: Thirty-four sacks are 34 sacks, right?

9. Bradlee Anae, Utah: No one is going to outwork him.

10. Jabari Zuniga, Florida: His ability to put his hand down and rush inside reminds one of Za’Darius Smith.

11. Jonathan Greenard, Florida: His high work ethic and almost 35-inch arms give him a shot at Day 2.

LINEBACKERS (8)

1. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson: Aspace-speed player with multi-dimensional skills.

2. Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma: Murray’s got Pro Bowl potential based on size, speed, smarts and leadership.

3. Patrick Queen, LSU: He turned it on down the stretch in 2019, his only season as a starter.

4. Zack Baun, Wisconsin: His injury history and combine diluted sample make his draft position a tough one to call. (The sample stemmed from excessive water intake before the weigh-in, as Adam Schefter reported, and Schefter also reported that “under the NFL’s new CBA, it will not count as a strike against him whereas it would have under the NFL’s old CBA. Therefore, teams don’t believe it will impact his draft status much.”)

5. Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech: An atypical size-speed combination is balanced by a linebacker’s zest for contact.

6. Willie Gay, Mississippi State: Gay “blew it up at the combine” according to a scout. Though there are some character issues, he could flourish with hard coaching.

7. Logan Wilson, Wyoming: Not all that physical but gets people down and can run.

8. Davion Taylor, Colorado: A project, but with that speed (4.44) he won’t last long.

CORNERBACKS (11)

1. Jeff Okudah, Ohio State: Another in a long line of top Buckeye corners.

2. C.J. Henderson, Florida: He’s the best talent available, but he but didn’t tackle or play hard in 2019.

3. Jaylon Johnson, Utah: A solid cover man coming off his third shoulder surgery.

4. Trevon Diggs, Alabama: A prototypical press-man corner with no verified speed and a lackadaisical approach.

5. A.J. Terrell, Clemson: Aside from the LSU game, he looked like a solid starter.

6. Jeff Gladney, TCU: Gladney is the shortest of the top 10 corners but really knows how to play.

7. Kristian Fulton, LSU: Maybe he goes high because he’s LSU. Scouts see good, not great.

8. Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn: Lots of personnel people like Igbinoghene’s toughness.

9. Damon Arnette, Ohio State: Feisty and almost over-the-top emotional. Still, he can cover.

10. Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State: There was very little not to like until he ran 4.6 in Indy.

11. Reggie Robinson, Tulsa: Teams can see his speed, his smarts and his testing numbers. One scout said, “I don’t know if I want to draft him and start him next year, but Year 2 you could really have something.”

SAFETIES (7)

1. Xavier McKinney, Alabama: Depending upon which scout you quiz, he’s either a solid 10-year starter or an overrated player from an elite program.

2. Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne: He has it all, other than the fact that he didn’t play against anybody good until the Senior Bowl.

3. Antoine Winfield, Minnesota: A safety standing just 5-9 isn’t desirable. But Winfield could be the exception.

4. Grant Delpit, LSU: His brutal display of porous open-field tackling couldn’t be justified.

5. Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois: Chinn has it all mentally and physically, but some scouts aren’t buying the total small-school package.

6. Ashtyn Davis, California: Davis is one of the mystery men of the draft. One scout called him “the second-best safety,” another said he’s “stiff and does not cover well.”

7. Terrell Burgess, Utah: We’ll see just how far a blazing, surprising 40 (4.42) in Indy can take a one-year starter.

NEXT IN LINE (10)

Here were the last 10 players out:

WR – Lynn Bowden, Kentucky.

OL – Ben Bartch, G-T, St. John’s (Minn.).

QB – Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma.

RB – AJ Dillon, Boston College.

Edge – Jason Strowbridge, North Carolina.

LB – Jacob Phillips, LSU; Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State.

CB – Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech; Bryce Hall, Virginia.

S – K’Von Wallace, Clemson.