Post-Combine Superflex Rookie Rankings: Round Two
With the NFL Scouting Combine over, the rookie pecking order is beginning to take shape and settle as draft capital expectations are known. It is a waiting game for the NFL Draft to finally know the landing spots as well, but a pre-draft ranking that takes into account the process can help formulate rookie rankings after the draft.
Let’s get into round two.
2.01 Jonathon Brooks, RB Texas
The running back class is not as bad as the narrative out there, but it obviously lacks the type of elite talent that we had in 2023. Brooks is probably the closest to a potential stud at the position, but only starting 10 collegiate games and dealing with an ACL tear makes him a tricky evaluation. His cutting ability and explosion off the snap are easy to see on film when plays develop as they are drawn up. Brooks can hit the home run and maintain his contact balance in space as needed. He is a good receiver too. With more experience in vision and reading his blocking, Brooks would have the full toolset there to be an NFL starter.
2.02 Trey Benson, RB Florida State
Benson is a little higher on most boards due to his athletic upside with a 4.39-second 40 time at the Combine. He has a full package of athletic talents both in terms of speed and quickness. It often shows up on film against weaker competition where Benson could just eat (averaging over 18 yards per carry against Virginia Tech for example). But, against ranked opponents, Benson averaged less than four yards per carry and often got stonewalled in any traffic. His 2022 was much better, so Benson has flashed before, but there is some major downside along with his profile. Ultimately, that settles just inside the top 20 for me.
2.03 Braelon Allen, RB Wisconsin
The fantasy community has stayed low on Allen, but that tide is starting to turn on the youngest player in the class, Allen was dominating the Big Ten back when he was 17 years old. Size, speed, and strength are the hallmarks of Allen, harkening back to an old-school type of Brandon Jacobs RB. This past season, the Wisconsin offense switched to the spread and Allen flashed as a receiver on top of his past rushing prowess. Though the lack of lateral agility may hinder the scheme fit, Allen could be a TD-scoring machine in the NFL.
2.04 Ladd McConkey, WR Georgia
After Tank Dell’s emergence as a rookie, crisp route runners who can separate will be in high demand. McConkey tops the list as a precision slot receiver with good hands and toughness. Despite never leading his own team in receiving, McConkey is a complimentary piece who could get peppered with quick third-down targets. With a number of big, athletic X WRs in this draft class, McConkey could be the slot who emerges as an immediate fantasy contributor.
2.05 Keon Coleman, WR Florida State
It’s easy to see the upside with Coleman. He has the size and speed to be a downfield threat who is ridiculously difficult to cover. When he dominated LSU in week one for 122 yards and three TDs on nine catches, he looked like a future top draft pick. As the season went on though, Coleman became a one-trick pony. Running barely any short digs, ins, or slants, questions arose about whether he is too limited to be a viable starting NFL WR. Coleman is a risk, and thus why he falls a bit on my rankings compared to others, but I also can’t deny the upside. If a coaching staff uses him correctly and molds him into a multi-faceted target, the sky’s the limit.
2.06 Blake Corum, RB Michigan
A Heisman candidate in 2022, Corum suffered a late ACL tear that halted his season. He bounced right back in 2023 by leading the Michigan backfield and being a primary factor in their National Championship run. Corum’s short-area quickness is elite and he can navigate traffic at the line to find a hole and turn nothing into something. This consistent play along with a pro-style gap system that is easy to translate, gives Corum some upside. He is an older prospect, over three years older than Braelon Allen. Corum also isn’t a straight-line athlete, so there are questions about his NFL upside. Coming in under 5’8 and only running a 4.53 is an issue. But, with his receiving ability, he could be an Aaron Jones-esque NFL runner.
2.07 Jaylen Wright, RB Tennessee
A 1,000-yard SEC RB with 4.38 speed is hard to come by and not be impressed. Wright is a top-shelf athlete who can outrun nearly any defender. Once he gets space to the outside, he is gone. Splitting time in college may have led to some deficiencies in vision and development, but Wright has three-down upside at the NFL level. He can catch, despite Tennessee not using him that way. He is dripping with fantasy upside in an RB class starved for it.
2.08 Michael Penix Jr, QB Washington
QBs who go in the second or third round of the NFL Draft are always difficult to place in dynasty rookie rankings. They have enough draft capital to get a shot, but enough red flags in the profile to keep them out of the first round. Penix’s arm talent and accuracy from a clean pocket are among the best in the class. He has a good sense of the pocket, but his lack of mobility makes being under pressure a nightmare. On a team that emphasizes quick passing and good blocking up front, Penix could turn into a 4,000-yard passer. Though he won’t add much with his leg, the attractiveness of a great pure passing QB is worth a shot in the second round of rookie drafts.
2.09 Bo Nix, QB Oregon
Nix faces similar issues to Penix in terms of value since he is unlikely to go in the first round of the NFL Draft, but the skillsets could not be more different. He was an absolute bust as a five-star recruit who started in Auburn, but when he transferred to Oregon, the light came on. The system was perfect for Nix’s strengths. Quick passing and allowing Nix to use his athletic abilities to run the football created a great Ducks offense. If Nix has success in the NFL, his legs give some real fantasy upside. Once again, taking a shot in the second round of rookie drafts is worth it for the coveted QB position.
2.10 Roman Wilson, WR Michigan
With Michigan’s propensity for running the football, their weapons did not get as much opportunity as many other programs. Despite this, Wilson was garnering praise throughout the year for his ability to get open and create big plays in space. He scored six touchdowns in the first three games of the Michigan season as a do-it-all type gadget player. From the slot or outside, Wilson was taking screens and short scripted passes to the house while also showing his speed to be a deep threat. His dynamic ability should make him an attractive pick in the top 50 and he could be used creatively to score fantasy points in a variety of ways.
2.11 Malachi Corley, WR Western Kentucky
Don’t let the smaller school label fool you, Corley is a rocked-up athlete with a diverse skillset. The comparisons to Deebo Samuel are legitimate as Corley can catch, run, and create space quickly off the snap. Though his stats were slightly worse this past season, his 2022 with 101 catches for 1,293 yards and 11 TDs was dominant. Turning on the film against top defenses like Ohio State proves Corley can play against top competition. If he is paired with a creative offense, Corley has enough upside to be worth a swing in the second round of rookie drafts.
2.12 Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE Texas
The clear TE2 of the class, Sanders is the epitome of athletic upside at the position. In 2022, he was so good that the Texas offense scripted plays to get the ball in his hands. This past season, Sanders only found the end zone twice and was relegated to a fourth option in the Longhorn offense. But at 6’3, 240 pounds with the athleticism he brings to the table, an NFL team can mold Sanders into a very productive TE. I’m a tad lower on him, just for positional value and downside, but he could turn into a difference-maker quickly.
- 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Dynasty Rookies In The Top 100 - April 14, 2024
- Post-Combine Superflex Rookie Rankings: Round Three - March 8, 2024
- Post-Combine Superflex Rookie Rankings: Round Two - March 7, 2024
