Even if you have seen only one mock draft this year, you know this is a loaded class for wide receivers. That's good news for NFL clubs in the market for a WR1.
"Would it be nice? Yeah, it would be nice to have a No. 1 receiver," general manager Joe Schoen said recently at the NFL Annual Meeting. "I think every team would sign up with that, and especially with an offensive head coach. I think all teams would want that."
Schoen, who holds the No. 6 overall selection among the team's six picks, also noted the "staff is happy" with the current corps led by Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Jalin Hyatt.
"I think they all showed their ability that they can play in this league," Schoen said.
While that may be the case, the Giants know they cannot have a repeat of last year. The offense finished last in pass plays of 10 yards or more, 29th in offensive points scored, and 27th in yards per pass attempt. Those numbers, of course, reflect more than one area and have been addressed.
In addition to using draft capital (two high first-round picks and another in the second round) in recent years, the Giants spent resources in this free agency cycle to bolster the offensive line. But with a long way to go until Week 1, there is plenty of roster-building still to do. The next major checkpoint is the 2024 NFL Draft, which is set for April 25-27.
"It's a good receiver draft," Schoen said. "We've got six picks right now. Again, we can move several different directions and get more picks, less picks."
Until then, the staff will do its due diligence in evaluating all options.
"It starts in the fall with the film," Schoen said. "Their play speed. We have GPS data now that we can utilize too that maybe they do not look like they're moving fast, but they're bigger versus a 5-9, 180-pound guy. There are different shapes and sizes, and there's different data points we can use. Then you have the trained eye over years of scouting, the live looks that you can see and get a really good feel. These pro days are important when you can get right up on a player and see how they move."
With that said, below is a look at the current state of the Giants' wide receiver corps:
2023 GAME-BY-GAME STARTERS
| Opp | WR | WR | WR |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAL | Parris Campbell | Isaiah Hodgins | - |
| @ARI | Darius Slayton | Parris Campbell | Isaiah Hodgins |
| @SF | Darius Slayton | Parris Campbell | Isaiah Hodgins |
| SEA | Darius Slayton | Isaiah Hodgins | - |
| @MIA | Isaiah Hodgins | Wan'Dale Robinson | - |
| @BUF | Darius Slayton | Isaiah Hodgins | - |
| WAS | Jalin Hyatt | Sterling Shepard | - |
| NYJ | Darius Slayton | Wan'Dale Robinson | - |
| @LV | Darius Slayton | Isaiah Hodgins | - |
| @DAL | Darius Slayton | Isaiah Hodgins | - |
| @WAS | Jalin Hyatt | Darius Slayton | Isaiah Hodgins |
| NE | Jalin Hyatt | Sterling Shepard | Wan'Dale Robinson |
| GB | Wan'Dale Robinson | Darius Slayton | Jalin Hyatt |
| @NO | Jalin Hyatt | Darius Slayton | Wan'Dale Robinson |
| @PHI | Jalin Hyatt | Darius Slayton | Wan'Dale Robinson |
| LAR | Jalin Hyatt | Darius Slayton | Wan'Dale Robinson |
| PHI | Darius Slayton | Isaiah Hodgins | - |
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2024 cycle.
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Activated, from Reserve (November 23)
QB Tim Boyle - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 23)
OLB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (November 23)
QB Daniel Jones - Waived, No Recall (November 23)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (November 20)
TE Jordan Murray - Practice Squad (November 20)
T Tyre Phillips - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
QB Tim Boyle - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Garret Greenfield - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Joshua Miles - Practice Squad Veteran (November 12)
P Matt Haack - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 12)
K Graham Gano - Activated from Injured Reserve (November 9)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
CB Art Green - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Practice Squad (November 6)
T Joshua Miles - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 6)
P Matt Haack - Practice Squad Veteran (November 6)
K Graham Gano - Designated for Return/Returned to Practice (November 6)
CB Nick McCloud - Waived, No Recall (November 5)
P Matt Haack - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (November 5)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (November 2)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (November 2)
K Greg Joseph - Reserve/Injured (November 2)
K Jude McAtamney - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 2)
T Marcellus Johnson - Practice Squad (October 30)
T Garret Greenfield - Practice Squad (October 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 30)
S Gervarrius Owens - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 29)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
CB Greg Stroman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
OLB Boogie Basham - Practice Squad Veteran (October 24)
DL Armon Watts - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 22)
OLB Boogie Basham - Waived, No Recall (October 22)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 19)
OT Chris Hubbard - Free Agent Signing (from SF Practice Squad) (October 18)
OT Andrew Thomas - Reserve/Injured (October 16)
DT Armon Watts - Practice Squad Veteran (October 15)
CB Duke Shelley - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 15)
P Matt Haack - Free Agent Signing (October 12)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Reserve/Injured (October 12)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
OLB Benton Whitley - Practice Squad (October 8)
G Cade Mays - Signed to CAR Active Roster from NYG Practice Squad (October 8)
ILB Matthew Adams - Activated from Injured Reserve (October 5)
OLB Benton Whitley - Waived, No Recall (October 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
LB Matthew Adams - Returned to Practice (October 2)
WR Kearis Jackson - Practice Squad (October 1)
CB Greg Stroman - Practice Squad Veteran (October 1)
TE Joel Wilson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
DB Alex Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE Lawrence Cager - Terminated (Injury Settlement) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
CB Duke Shelley - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 25)
LB Ty Summers - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 25)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 24)
TE Joel Wilson - Practice Squad (September 24)
TE Lawrence Cager - Practice Squad; Injured (September 24)
CB Art Green - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Patrick Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (September 17)
K Greg Joseph - Free Agent Signing from DET Practice Squad (September 17)
K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (September 17)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (September 14)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
WR Chase Cota - Waived, Injury Settlement (September 13)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (September 10)
G Cade Mays - Practice Squad Exception (September 10)
OT Marcellus Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 10)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Free Agent Signing (September 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Practice Squad Veteran (September 9)
LB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad; Injured (September 9)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Carter Coughlin - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad Veteran (September 6)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 6)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 5)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 4)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 3)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 2)
WR Miles Boykin - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
CB Adoree' Jackson - Free Agent Signing (August 31)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 31)
S Gervarrius Owens - Practice Squad (August 30)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (August 29)
C Austin Schlottmann - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
DB Duke Shelley - Practice Squad Veteran (August 29)
DE Elijah Garcia - Practice Squad (August 29)
DB Art Green - Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Curtis Bolton - Free Agent Signing (August 28)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 28)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, WR Isaiah Hodgins, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, OT Joshua Miles, LB Ty Summers - Practice Squad Veteran (August 28)
LB K.J. Cloyd, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller, DL Casey Rogers - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Anthony Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from GB (August 28)
S Gervarrius Owens - Waived, No Recall (August 28)
LB Matthew Adams - Reserve/Injured - Designated for Return (August 27)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Reserve/Injured; Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
LB Darrian Beavers, LB K.J. Cloyd, LB Tomon Fox, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, C Jimmy Morrissey, DT Casey Rogers, TE Jack Stoll - Waived (August 27)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, DB Tre Herndon, WR Isaiah Hodgins, DB Darnay Holmes, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, DB David Long, OT Joshua Miles, OT Matt Nelson, WR Allen Robinson - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 27)
DB Mario Goodrich, G Jalen Mayfield, DE Ovie Oghoufo - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
RB Joshua Kelley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Breon Borders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Jonathan Sutherland - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
DT Timmy Horne - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
WR Ayir Asante, DT Kyler Baugh, DB Christian Holmes, DB Clayton Isbell, WR John Jiles, LB Trey Kiser, RB Lorenzo Lingard, T Marcus McKethan - Waived, No Recall (August 25)
DB Clayton Isbell - Free Agent Signing (August 20)
WR Dennis Houston - Waived/Injured (August 20)
DT Kyler Baugh - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
LB Trey Kiser - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
DL Ryder Anderson - Waived/Injured (August 19)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Injured (August 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
TE Tyree Jackson - Waived/Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 16)
RB Joshua Kelley - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Raheem Layne - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Jonathan Sutherland - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
DL Jordan Phillips - Traded to Dallas Cowboys (August 15)
S Jalen Mills - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Failed Physical (August 15)
DB Elijah Riley - Reserve/Injured (August 15)
RB Lorenzo Lingard - Free Agent Signing (August 12)
RB Jacob Saylors - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
OT Evan Neal - Passed Physical (August 11)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 11)
CB Christian Holmes - Claimed off Waivers from WAS (August 5)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived/Injured (August 5)
CB Mario Goodrich - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (July 31)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury (July 31)
OL Greg Van Roten - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
CB Aaron Robinson - Waived, Failed Physical (July 30)
DB Breon Borders - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
QB Nathan Rourke - Waived, No Recall (July 28)
TE Theo Johnson - Passed Physical (July 28)
OT Evan Neal - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
DB Jalen Mills - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
TE Theo Johnson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 16)
RB Jacob Saylors - Free Agent Signing (June 18)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Injured (June 18)
CB Tre Herndon - Free Agent Signing (June 12)
TE Darren Waller - Reserve/Retired (June 10)
S Tyler Nubin - Selection List Signing (May 31)
DB Elijah Riley - Free Agent Signing (May 30)
RB Gary Brightwell - Waived, Injured (May 30)
TE Theo Johnson - Selection List Signing (May 22)
LB Darius Muasau - Selection List Signing (May 15)
CB Dru Phillips - Selection List Signing (May 14)
DL Elijah Chatman - Free Agent Signing (May 13)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Waived (May 13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Selection List Signing (May 10)
WR Malik Nabers - Selection List Signing (May 10)
K Jude McAtamney - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (May 10)
WR Ayir Asante, WR John Jiles, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, G Jake Kubas, DE Ovie Oghoufo, DL Casey Rogers - Free Agent Signing (May 10)
RB Deon Jackson - Waived, Injured (May 10)
WR Allen Robinson - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
QB Nathan Rourke - Claimed off waivers from New England (May 7)
DB David Long - Free Agent Signing (May 1)
Giants select LB Darius Muasau with No. 183 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. with No. 166 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select TE Theo Johnson with No. 107 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select CB Dru Phillips with No. 70 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select S Tyler Nubin with No. 47 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select WR Malik Nabers with No. 6 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
DB Nick McCloud - Restricted Free Agent Signing (April 15)
LB Matthew Adams - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 12)
DL Jordan Phillips - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 11)
WR Miles Boykin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
S/LB Isaiah Simmons - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 5)
RB Dante Miller - Free Agent Signing (April 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
CB Darnay Holmes - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OT Matt Nelson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OL Austin Schlottmann - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
TE Chris Manhertz - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
TE Jack Stoll - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 15)
OL Jon Runyan - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
RB Devin Singletary - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
QB Drew Lock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
DB Jalen Mills - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR/PR Gunner Olszewski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Carter Coughlin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OLB Brian Burns - Acquired via trade with Carolina Panthers (March 13)
LB Benton Whitley - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
G Mark Glowinski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
LB Tomon Fox - Reserve/Future Signing (January 10)
DL Ryder Anderson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
WR Dennis Houston - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
RB Deon Jackson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
G Jalen Mayfield - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Joshua Miles - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
THE NEWCOMER
WR Isaiah McKenzie
Previous Team: Indianapolis Colts
Career: 93 G (28 GS), 152 REC, 1,427 YDS (9.4 AVG), 11 TD; 50 CAR, 244 YDS (4.9 AVG), 4 TD
The 5-foot-8, 173-pounder has experience with coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, having played in Buffalo for parts of five seasons. A fifth-round draft choice by Denver in 2017, McKenzie has played in 93 games with 28 starts for the Broncos (2017-2018), Bills (2018-2022), and Colts (2023). His career numbers include 152 receptions for 1,427 yards (9.4 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns in addition to 50 rushing attempts for 244 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and four scores. He also attempted one pass, which went for a 12-yard touchdown in 2020.
The Georgia product also brings experience as a return specialist. He has returned 81 punts for 722 yards (8.9 yards per return), including an 84-yard touchdown. He has also brought back 56 kickoffs for 1,264 yards (22.6 yards per return), with a long of 75 yards.
THE RETURNEES
Darius Slayton
Career: 76 G (53 GS), 220 REC, 3,324 YDS (15.1 AVG), 19 TD
The former fifth-round draft choice has led the Giants in receiving yards in four of his five NFL seasons. His average of 15.1 yards per catch is ninth in the NFL since he entered the league in 2019 (minimum 100 catches), which is one spot ahead of Justin Jefferson and one behind Mike Evans.
Wan'Dale Robinson
Career: 21 G (11 GS), 83 REC, 752 YDS (9.1 AVG), 2 TD; 11 CAR, 86 YDS (7.8 AVG), 1 TD
On Nov. 20, 2022, Robinson was enjoying his breakout performance as a rookie with nine catches for 100 yards until the second-round pick went down with a torn ACL. The 5-foot-8, 185-pounder worked all the way back to become the team leader in receptions (60) last season.
"I think when he was healthy at the end of the year really showed what he could do," Schoen said.
Robinson's signature performance came in a Week 14 home victory over the playoff-bound Packers. Among his career-high 115 yards from scrimmage were two long plays (one rushing and one receiving) that set up a touchdown in the first half and then the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Jalin Hyatt
Career: 17 G (7 GS), 23 REC, 373 YDS (16.2 AVG)
Nearly three-quarters of Hyatt's rookie receiving yards came in three games, including 109 in Week 12 against the Patriots. It followed a year in which the Tennessee product exploded onto the college football scene and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver.
"Hyatt is going to be a good receiver," Schoen said at the end of the third-round pick's debut season. "I think you saw with Jalin the explosive play ability."
Isaiah Hodgins
Career: 28 G (14 GS), 58 REC, 622 YDS (10.7 AVG), 7 TD
Hodgins, who played in all 17 games for the Giants with nine starts last season, re-signed last month as a restricted free agent. A sixth-round pick by the Bills in 2020, Hodgins was acquired off waivers by the Giants midway through the 2022 season. He went on to catch 33 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns in just eight games as he helped the Giants clinch a spot in the postseason, where he hauled in another eight passes for 105 yards and a score in the team's Wild Card win over the Vikings.
Gunner Olszewski
Career: 65 G (4 GS), 15 REC, 180 YDS (12.0 AVG), 1 TD; 14 CAR, 71 YDS (5.1 AVG)
Known more as a specialist, Olszewski was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in the second-to-last game for the Giants after his 94-yard punt return touchdown. It was the second longest punt return in Giants history and the longest in 95 years. Since he entered the NFL in 2019, Olszewski ranks second in punt return yards (1,170) and punt return average (11.9 yards). He re-signed over the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
Bryce Ford-Wheaton
Career: 0 GP
Ford-Wheaton, who had performed impressively after joining the team as a rookie free agent, suffered a torn ACL in the preseason finale against the Jets. The 6-foot-3, 224-pound West Virginia product caught two passes for 24 yards the previous week against the Carolina Panthers.
In addition to Ford-Wheaton, the Giants also signed fellow wide receivers Chase Cota and Dennis Houston to reserve/future deals.
THE DEPARTURES
Veteran Parris Campbell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles after catching 20 passes for 104 yards in his lone season with the Giants.
Sterling Shepard, who remains a free agent, just completed his fourth season as the Giants' longest-tenured player. After the season finale, he acknowledged what was almost certainly his final game in a Giants uniform.
"Really just trying to take it all in," an emotional Shepard said at his locker after the game. "Like I told you guys earlier in the week, I knew that this was probably going to be my last time being in this jersey. I just wanted to take it all in with my brothers and enjoy every moment of it, and that's exactly what I did."
Shepard did reach one important milestone in the final game of his eighth season. The former second-round draft choice increased his reception total to 372, moving him into fifth place on the franchise's career list, one more than Jeremy Shockey.
"It meant a lot," Shepard said. "I grew up watching that guy and it was a special deal being able to get it. It wasn't easy, but my career hasn't been easy. So, I didn't expect it to be any other way, but it was a great feeling."
THE PROSPECTS
The top five wide receivers in the 2024 draft class, according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks:
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)
- Rome Odunze (Washington)
- Malik Nabers (LSU)
- Keon Coleman (Florida State)
- Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU)
Keep an eye on … Troy Franklin (Oregon)
Brooks: "This 2024 class of pass catchers is loaded with dynamic playmakers offering WR1 potential. Harrison Jr. is a plug-and-play No. 1 receiver with stellar ball skills and polished route-running ability. The Ohio State star is a Larry Fitzgerald clone with game-changing potential in a pass-centric offense. Odunze is a "get open" specialist with a crafty game built on size, strength and physicality. The Washington product is a contested-catch wizard. Nabers is a playmaking machine with outstanding stop-start quickness and burst. He can flourish as a No. 1 receiver in any system, utilizing his speed and route-running polish to dominate one-on-one matchups on the perimeter. Coleman is an acrobatic pass-catching specialist with the length and leaping ability to develop into a dominant third-down and red-zone weapon. Thomas Jr. heads into the NFL as a hybrid WR1/WR2 prospect for most rosters. The LSU standout has the blue-chip traits to flourish as a lead wideout, but he needs more refinement as a route runner in order to headline a pro receiving corps."
NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks revealed his final position rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft.
EDGE DEFENDERS
1. Laiatu Latu, UCLA
2. Dallas Turner, Alabama
3. Jared Verse, Florida State
4. Chop Robinson, Penn State
5. Bralen Trice, Washington
Keep an eye on: Chris Braswell, Alabama
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Byron Murphy II, Texas
2. Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
3. Kris Jenkins, Michigan
4. Darius Robinson, Missouri
5. Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
Keep an eye on: Leonard Taylor III, Miami
LINEBACKERS
1. Payton Wilson, N.C. State
2. Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
3. Junior Colson, Michigan
4. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
5. Cedric Gray, North Carolina
Keep an eye on: Marist Liufau, Notre Dame
CORNERBACKS
1. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
2. Terrion Arnold, Alabama
3. Nate Wiggins, Clemson
4. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
5. Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
Keep an eye on: Renardo Green, Florida State
NICKELBACKS
1. Cooper DeJean, Iowa
2. Mike Sainristil, Michigan
3. Max Melton, Rutgers
4. Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
5. Daequan Hardy, Penn State
Keep an eye on: Jarrian Jones, Florida State
SAFETIES
1. Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
2. Javon Bullard, Georgia
3. Calen Bullock, USC
4. Kamren Kinchens, Miami
5. Tykee Smith, Georgia
Keep an eye on: Cole Bishop, Utah
QUARTERBACKS
1. Caleb Williams, USC
2. Jayden Daniels, LSU
3. Drake Maye, North Carolina
4. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
5. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Keep an eye on: Bo Nix, Oregon
RUNNING BACKS
1. Jonathon Brooks, Texas
2. Trey Benson, Florida State
3. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
4. Blake Corum, Michigan
5. Will Shipley, Clemson
Keep an eye on: Bucky Irving, Oregon
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
2. Rome Odunze, Washington
3. Malik Nabers, LSU
4. Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
5. Keon Coleman, Florida State
Keep an eye on: Troy Franklin, Oregon
SLOT RECEIVERS
1. Ladd McConkey, Georgia
2. Ricky Pearsall, Florida
3. Roman Wilson, Michigan
4. Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
5. Malik Washington, Virginia
Keep an eye on: Jacob Cowing, Arizona
TIGHT ENDS
1. Brock Bowers, Georgia
2. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
3. Cade Stover, Ohio State
4. Theo Johnson, Penn State
5. AJ Barner, Michigan
Keep an eye on: Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Joe Alt, Notre Dame
2. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
3. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
4. JC Latham, Alabama
5. Amarius Mims, Georgia
Keep an eye on: Troy Fautanu, Washington
INTERIOR BLOCKERS
1. Graham Barton, Duke
2. Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
3. Christian Haynes, Connecticut
4. Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
5. Zak Zinter, Michigan
Keep an eye on: Javion Cohen, Miami
