Just over a month away we are from the 2024 NFL Draft, in Detroit which I will be covering live this year. My preparations are going well for the three-day event, I want to delve deeper into this topic which is the reason for the start of football as we await spring.
I went through the top defensive players in this year’s draft class this week and ranked them 1-5. Let me say, first of all, that I think the offensive players will dominate in the first round of this draft.
Not many guards will be taken early, especially in the first half of the first round. As stated, I could rank the top five players for each defensive position group but want to add a category I would like to rank all defenders.
These are the guys who are the starters in the draft the night their names are called.
5. CB Terrion Arnold Alabama
Arnold was a five-star recruit as a safety, didn’t step on a field as a freshman, and then came out and was named Freshman All-American last year and first-team All-American this year.
4. Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson
This guy burned it on the combine. He is a fantastic athlete. He has great size and speed and let’s face it, that’s what we’ve come to expect from Penn State defenders. Look what Micah [Parsons] is doing in the NFL. You can’t stop him from the first step.
3. CB Quinton Mitchell Toledo
He is the person I am trying to break up with in this entire process. My top two corners are these two guys. I want to go with Arnold because he is an older conference player, has played in the SEC and has seen better competition every week. And, Mitchell still tested him at the combine with the lights off and showed up at the Senior Bowl and, well, it was great. There is competition. So, that alleviated some of the concerns I had about the playing space.
2. EDGE Jared Verse Florida State
This guy starts in Albany and goes upstate and then to Florida. He had 18 Florida State sacks. Which is probably the most secure protector you can choose. Verse is more versatile than anything. He can play on the ground by placing his hands or while standing. He is very strong on attack. He’s got a great first step. He has gained production by sacking the QB and is still an excellent run defender. This guy is easily the best defender in the class I think.
1. EDGE Dallas Turner Alabama
Turner was a first-team All-American and had 22 sacks the past three seasons. Last year he was second in the SEC in QB pressures. When he reaches the Kyuubi, he is angry. This has to be changed. If he plays exactly like he did at Alabama, he could find himself playing for free. Dynamic athlete and a great defender.
