Pair of Oregon Ducks named 'top' prospects at their positions for 2024 NFL Draft
The 2023 NFL Draft is still more than three months away, but that hasn’t stopped some draft analysts from diving into the 2024 Draft.
This week, ESPN’s Matt Miller unveiled an early look at his top 2024 Draft prospects and listed three standouts at each position. The Oregon Ducks were well-represented.
Miller highlighted two Ducks as marquee prospects next season — fifth-year quarterback Bo Nix, and junior interior offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson.
Here’s the rundown from Miller on each player.
Bo Nix
“Transferring from Auburn to Oregon turned around the perception of Nix and has helped put him in the top-three-quarterback conversation for the 2024 class. Nix tossed 29 touchdown passes to seven interceptions for a QBR of 85.1, and he added 14 more touchdowns on the ground. He finished third in the country in completion percentage, too (71.9%).”
Jackson Powers-Johnson
“One of the best run-blockers in the nation, Powers-Johnson is a talented guard prospect with some of the best interior blocks you’ll see on tape. He’s 6-foot-3 and 319 pounds but plays with power and balance that will make an impact on Sundays. He has a shot to be the top interior prospect next season. Powers-Johnson has only four starts (23 games) but still hasn’t allowed a sack or pressure over two seasons.”
In his first season with the Ducks, Nix produced one of the more productive seasons by a quarterback in program history.
He finished the year 294-for-409 passing (71.9%) for 3,593 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also ran for 510 yards on 89 carries (5.7 yards-per-carry) and 14 touchdowns. In the process, Nix surged up draft boards and potentially could have been a dark horse prospect in the 2023 Draft.
He opted to return to Oregon for the 2023 campaign and could ultimately catapult himself into the first-round conversation for 2024.
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Aside from Nix, Miller also pinpointed USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. among his top quarterbacks for 2024.
Powers-Johnson delivered a breakout true sophomore campaign for the Ducks in 2022 and was a key for an offensive line that was one of the best in the nation.
According to Pro Football Focus, Powers-Johnson played 400 snaps and garnered an overall grade of 84.1 — the third-best among Oregon’s offensive players.
PFF issued Powers-Johnson a run-blocking grade of 84.7, which was the seventh-best in the nation among interior offensive linemen.
Next season, Powers-Johnson’s versatility will be key for the Ducks as they work to replace four starters along the offensive front. In 2022, he filled a number of roles for Adrian Klemm’s group and played 350 snaps at center and 44 at left guard.
In addition to Powers-Johnson, Miller also tabbed Ohio State’s Matt Jones, Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran, and Baylor’s Clark Barrington as standout interior offensive line prospects for 2024.
