2024 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper makes big QB moves in updated Big Board Top 25 player rankings

With Pro Days in full swing, the pre-NFL Draft process is picking up. There’s just one month to go until the attention turns to Detroit as prospects find out where they’ll continue their football journeys, and there’s still plenty left to figure out.

There was also plenty of movement in ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest Big Board – notably at quarterback.

While the top prospect hasn’t changed – that’s still Caleb Williams – Jayden Daniels is now in Kiper’s Top 5 prospects while Drake Maye fell down the board a bit. Of course, there’s still time for that to change even more, but here’s where Kiper thinks things stand in his Top 25 player rankings.

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Although Kiper made a few changes to his Big Board, Caleb Williams remains his top prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. The former USC star put on a show at his Pro Day, ending his throwing session with a 67-yard pass with all 32 teams in attendance.

The consensus seems to be Williams will go to the Chicago Bears with the No. 1 overall pick, and the franchise paved the way for that by trading Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He would walk into an interesting situation in Chicago with two 1,000-yard receivers, a 1,000-yard rusher, an improving offensive line and potentially another top-10 pick joining him.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Williams has been viewed as the top prospect for some time, but Marvin Harrison Jr. also received hype dating back to last year’s draft. He wowed scouts at C.J. Stroud’s Pro Day a year ago and looks like he could become a top-five pick this year after winning the Biletnikoff Award.

Harrison surprised many with how he handled his pre-draft process, though. He didn’t meet with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine and didn’t participate in Ohio State’s Pro Day earlier this week. Still, the thinking is he won’t have to wait long to hear his name called next month.

3. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

After winning the Heisman Trophy this past season at LSU, Jayden Daniels’ star continues to rise. The debate continues about whether he should be the second quarterback off the board, and Mel Kiper Jr. thinks Daniels is a top-three player in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Daniels had a huge year in 2023 as he cemented himself as a true dual threat, accounting for 412.2 yards of offense per game and 50 total touchdowns. He could’ve declared for the draft last year – Kiper projected him as a second-round pick – but opted to run it back at LSU and is now a projected top-three pick.

4. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Another player capitalizing on his Combine performance, Rome Odunze looked the part as he worked out in front of scouts in Indianapolis. He’s squarely in the debate around the wide receiver position, which is shaping up to be one of the top positions in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Odunze was the top target for Michael Penix Jr. at Washington this past year, hauling in an FBS-leading 1,640 yards to go with 13 touchdowns. His big-play ability makes him especially intriguing for NFL teams, and Mel Kiper Jr. thinks he’s a top-five talent available on the board.

5. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Malik Nabers makes three wide receivers in Mel Kiper Jr.’s top five players on his Big Board, and he easily could move to No. 4. Evaluators seem split on whether Nabers or Odunze will go higher on Draft Day, but they all agree the two bring dynamic skillsets with them to the NFL.

Nabers’ 120.7 receiving yards per game led the nation, and his 1,569 total receiving yards ranked second in the FBS. He played a crucial role in Jayden Daniels’ success during his Heisman Trophy-winning season, and his playmaking ability is sure to excite teams in position to select him.

6. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Now, we get to one of the more intriguing prospects on the draft board. Brock Bowers has bounced around mock drafts throughout the offseason after a decorated career at Georgia, but there’s no denying he would be an injection of talent to whichever team calls his name.

Bowers made history as the only back-to-back Mackey Award winner as the nation’s top tight end, totaling 2,538 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns. He also got involved in the running game in the red zone, and that versatility is what could separate him from the rest of the pack to potentially hear his name called in the Top 10.

7. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Throughout the 2023 season, it seemed like the debate for the top quarterback centered around Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. Now, Jayden Daniels is in that conversation, and Maye fell to No. 7 in Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest Big Board.

Maye had a breakout season in 2022 with 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns, although his numbers fell a bit in 2023 – largely due to a scheme change. Still, he’s viewed as one of the top quarterbacks available in the 2024 NFL Draft and could find himself going toward the top of the board.

8. Joe Alt, OL, Notre Dame

Mel Kiper Jr.’s top offensive lineman in his latest Big Board, Joe Alt was a stalwart at Notre Dame. He was a unanimous All-American in 2023 as he helped protect Sam Hartman in South Bend.

Notre Dame ranked No. 13 in the nation in sacks allowed last year as Alt became a Unanimous All-American Selection. He could be an intriguing option at left tackle, although some evaluators wonder if he’d move to right tackle if a team has a need at that spot.

9. Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

Dallas Turner was another big winner at the NFL Scouting Combine this year, especially in the 40-yard dash. He’s coming off an impressive career at Alabama, and he’s viewed as one of the top pass rushers on the board.

Turner put together an impressive career in Tuscaloosa and is coming off the best year of his career with 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks to his name. Mel Kiper Jr. viewers him as a top-10 player on his Big Board, and that could bode well for Turner’s chances of going in the Top 10.

10. Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington

As Washington won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s top offensive line, Troy Fautanu emerged as a top NFL Draft prospect. He was a first team All-Pac-12 selection after starting all 15 games as the Huskies made a run to the national championship.

Washington’s offensive line was impressive in 2023 protecting Michael Penix Jr., allowing just 12 sacks to rank tied for sixth in the nation. Fautanu was an important part of that success, and he is also rising up draft boards.

The rest of Mel Kiper Jr.’s Big Board

11. JC Latham, OL, Alabama
12. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
13. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
14. Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
15. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
16. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
17. Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
18. Olu Fashanu, OL, Penn State
19. Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
20. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
21. Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
22. Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
23. Tyler Guyton, OL, Oklahoma
24. Byron Murphy, DL, Texas
25. Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25. Then, the second and third rounds will be April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds April 27.