2024 NFL Draft: Dynasty Superflex Rookie Mock Draft
Well, we have made it! College football is back. As fast as the season flows, it almost goes even faster during the off-season. And with CFB returning, and the NFL kicking off opening night this Thursday, we now will begin to gather data and sift out who are the best players in college football and the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s great to have football back!
This is the first installment of our rookie mock draft with an early look into the fantasy-related players of the 2024 class. We will also cover the 2025 and 2026 classes throughout the course of the season.
A lot will change between now and a midseason look into the 2024 prospects – but here is how I see this class right now.
1.01 – Caleb Williams, QB USC
This is a no-brainer. From now until next spring, Williams will remain the consensus selection. Even if he may have a down year (unlikely) or gets hurt, I don’t see a scenario where he falls belows 1.01. His talent level is immense and the ceiling is sky-high. No matter where he lands, Williams will arrive at the next level as a top six-eight dynasty QB. If you have the 1.01 pick next year, it would be best practice to keep it.
1.02 – Marvin Harrison Jr, WR Ohio State
The see-saw begins here at the 1.02 slot. For me, I think this will fluctuate quite a bit between Harrison Jr and Drake Maye. For right now though, before any games are played, I will go with the next best player in college football, which is the Ohio State product. Harrison Jr has the look of a cornerstone wideout who you will want to build your team around. I think he will enter the NFL on the same trajectory as his former teammate, Garrett Wilson. The scary thing is – he may end up even better.
1.03 – Drake Maye, QB North Carolina
Maye doesn’t fall outside of the top three unless he goes to a situation where the incumbent is an established, productive veteran – which is very unlikely. Whoever picks Maye, will pick him in the top five and be in the market for a franchise QB. Maye is one of my players in this entire draft. He has the tools to step in day one and start. A new offensive coordinator and some better talent around him should help him take another step in Chapel Hill this year.
1.04 – Brock Bowers, TE Georgia
Wait… a tight end in the top five?! Haven’t we been down this road before?!
Yes, we have, but Bowers is the exception to the rule. Much like Kyle Pitts in 2021, Bowers is the next freakish, athletic specimen who will force NFL decision-makers to use a top five-ten pick on a tight end. The truth is, Bowers may be even better than Pitts. It would be naive of me to think that there won’t be growing pains, because there will. But I would not want to miss out on the next generation of an athlete who projects and fits the mold as the next Travis Kelce, George Kittle, or Rob Gronkowski in dynasty.
1.05 – Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State
Year after year, the Buckeyes program continues to pump out elite wide receiver talent and it’s no different in 2023. Egbuka, the true junior, had a breakout season in Columbus and was the 1B to the 1A in Harrison Jr. If Harrison Jr wasn’t the generational talent that he is, Egbuka would easily be the WR1 for Ohio State and probably higher in this mock. Still, it’s hard to leave Egbuka outside of the top six in 2024.
1.06 – Donovan Edwards, RB Michigan
The first running back off the board in this mock… and it may not have been the one that you thought. I am going to plant my flag on this right now – I think Edwards is the best running back in the 2024 class. I could be wrong, and may eat my words come draft season, but I am trusting my eyes and gut when it comes to Edwards. He is run-scheme versatile with zone or power, dynamic as a receiver, and has the burst and long speed to create explosive plays. I think he is everything you look for in today’s version of running backs. Edwards will be a key cog again for the Wolverines as they look to make it three straight playoff appearances.
1.07 – Malik Nabers, WR LSU
Much like Ohio State, LSU continues to produce perimeter talent in the NFL. Nabers is next in line for the Tigers. He broke out as a second-year player and will look to build on a strong 2022 campaign. There are high expectations in Baton Rouge, but Nabers is an exciting player to watch. He’s got good size as an outside wideout, soft/strong hands and above-average catch radius. He high points and attacks the ball on contested catches and can create explosive plays on the catch and run. Nabers will be among the top five prospects at wide receiver in 2024.
1.08 – Trey Benson, RB Florida State
It took a while for him to get going, but Benson really finished strong at the end of last season. As I have mentioned before, his tape against Florida was one of the best performances I had seen from a running back in college football in 2022. Benson runs with power and physicality with a nasty stiff arm that can knock a defender’s face mask off. He is explosive to the second level and finishes his runs. He has a strong leg drive that can push the pile and was often trusted at the goal line for the Seminoles. If he takes another step, I think he will solidify a strong draft profile heading into next April.
1.09 – Braelon Allen, RB Wisconsin
A third running back off the board within the last four picks. It provides an early look at the possible depth of the running back class next year. Allen is an imposing, physical specimen listed at 602, 220 pounds. He possesses the power-type back skills that we have seen the Badgers produce to the next level. Allen is exceptional at anticipating running lanes and getting north to south in a hurry. He has the lower body strength and contact balance to break and run through tackles, with the intermediate speed to create chunk plays. He does lack long speed to turn a 10-yard rush into a touchdown, but he is patient and controlled and knows when to change gears. Allen would make for a nice value here in the late first range.
1.10 – Blake Corum, RB Michigan
Michigan will produce two potential early draft picks next year out of their backfield with Edwards and Corum. Corum comes off the board with 1.10, but I think this could fluctuate depending on where he lands next year. In my opinion, Corum has a range of a mid to late first to a mid-second. I think there will be some who are turned off by his size (listed 508/219) but he runs with power and a lower center of gravity. He is also elusive and shifty in the open field, able to make defenders miss in space and make sudden, lateral cuts at full speed. Corum is an exciting talent, but he will just need to stay healthy.
1.11 – Quinn Ewers, QB Texas
The one pick in this mock I feel has a realistic chance to look different come mid-season is here with Ewers. There have been reports that Arch Manning is already pressing Ewers for the QB1 in Texas – and if the Longhorns start slow, or Ewers underperforms, I think Steve Sarkisian and the coaching staff will have a quick axe and turn it over to Manning. If this scenario does happen, it would completely plummet Ewers’ devy value and dynasty outlook at least through the regular season. It could be rebuilt during draft season, with a strong draft preparation circuit, but the questions and concerns of getting beat out by a freshman (albeit to a legacy name and top-ranked player in the country) will loom.
1.12 – Raheim Sanders, RB Arkansas
Closing out the first round is Sanders, whom many have as the RB1 of this class. It seems to fluctuate between him and TreVeyon Henderson, but I do not see it compared to the market. I think Sanders is closer to the fourth or fifth-best running back and is a good player with a lot of upside. Sanders is arguably the best receiving back out of the 2024 class, and at a listed 602/225, that is something to pay attention to. He is powerful and has a good burst to the second level. Like Edwards, he is also run-scheme versatile able to run in zone or power run concepts. Sanders is the bona-fide RB1 for the Razorbacks and should get fed often this year.
