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2024 NFL Draft Big Board: Eddie Brown's Top 100 Prospects

Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune on

Published in Football

— 4. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia, Jr., 6-3, 243

Bowers is one of the most well-rounded and prolific tight end prospects to ever enter the draft, and could develop into a premier chess piece with All-Pro potential. He became the first two-time Mackey Award winner last season, producing 175 receptions for 2,538 yards and 26 TD receptions in three seasons for the two-time champion Bulldogs. He's a diverse route runner who is dangerous after the catch and has the speed to execute jet sweeps. He finished with 183 rushing yards and five rushing TDs in his collegiate career. Bowers joined Herschel Walker and David Pollack as the only three-time first-team All-Americans in school history. He falls short of George Kittle as a blocker — who doesn't? — but Bowers is in the same vein as a playmaker and offensive weapon.

— 5. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina, So., 6-4, 223

Like Williams, Maye was highly-ranked (No. 9 QB) in the 2021 class. Also like Williams, Maye emptied his toolbox in an attempt to prop up a bad football team last season. The difference? Maye is almost a year younger, and despite USC fielding an atrocious defense, Williams still had plenty of talent at his disposal on offense. There were plenty of plays where it looked like he was being irresponsible or reckless, and a few missed layups, but when you factor in no one was blocking for him, and he essentially had one effective receiver who missed the beginning of the season because of eligibility issues, I'd say Maye made a whole lot of chicken salad with the ingredients he was working with. His prototypical size (there's not a lot of it in this class), elite arm talent and ability as a runner are the combination of tools teams traditionally are happy to invest a top-five pick in. He had 56 carries of 10-plus yards the last two seasons, second most in the FBS behind only LSU's Jayden Daniels.

— 6. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington, Jr., 6-2, 212

The four-star recruit was also a decorated track athlete at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas and won the 2019 state title in the 200 meters at 21.25 seconds, a school-record and the fifth-fastest time in state history. Odunze was elected team captain as a junior, and features good size with elite ball skills and excellent hands. The two-time All-American led the FBS with 1,640 receiving yards last season, producing 32 receptions of 20-plus yards, second most in the FBS (only Malik Nabers had more). Odunze is also a reliable blocker in the run game and treats every jump ball as an opportunity to prove himself.

 

— 7. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU, Jr., 6-0, 199

Nabers is the latest prolific receiver to come out of Baton Rouge. His body control and route-running are top-notch, plus he's elite after the catch and a terror in the open field while playing all three receiver spots. The gap between him and Marvin Harrison Jr. isn't the Grand Canyon, but it's not as close as some may think either. Some teams have Nabers as the top receiver in this draft class. He led the FBS in receiving yards per game (120.7) and was an unanimous All-American last season. Nabers won't turn 21 until July.

— 8. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU, Sr., 6-3, 210

Daniels was the No. 2 dual-threat QB in the 2019 class and spent three seasons with Arizona St. before transferring. His skill-set and stature is very reminiscent of three-time All-Pro QB Randall Cunningham. He had a historic final season in Baton Rouge, winning the Heisman Trophy while becoming the first player in college football history to surpass 12,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a career. Daniels is tall but slender, so there will be concerns about durability, considering how quickly he bails from the pocket once he sniffs pressure. His processing skills have improved since his time in Tempe, but will he regress against NFL-caliber coaching if the talent surrounding him isn't on par with what he had at LSU? He's gifted, savvy and he's played a lot of football, so I like his chances, but I'd prefer he'd end up almost anywhere outside of New England, for his sake. Daniels will turn 24 in December.

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©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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