2024 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper updates Top 25 Big Board player rankings with big moves

As the onset of the 2024 NFL Free Agency cycle has turned the league on it’s head, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has updated his Big Board Top 25 player rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft.

With a bevy of veterans switching teams, looking for a new opportunity to prove their worth, the picture is becoming clearer for where some of the top prospects entering the 2024 NFL Draft will land. From the top quarterbacks, to the incredible playmakers and a collection of tremendous defensive talent, every team wants to land a game-changer.

So who’s the best of the best at the moment, from the college football world? Check them out below, as it goes as follows, with Kiper has made some changes to his Top 25.

1. Caleb Williams, QB – USC

This one should surprise no one if you’ve been following the draft process leading into the upcoming spring. The former Heisman Trophy winner is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by someone, likely the Chicago Bears at this point.

The USC star broke out as a freshman at Oklahoma before achieving superstardom with the Trojans as a sophomore. Sure, he wasn’t as good in 2023 but myriad factors sent USC packing early this year. Williams is surely the top prospect.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR – Ohio State

Here’s a guy who has the argument to be the top selection over Williams though, if teams were so quarterback needy. Harrison Jr. is as good of a wide receiver prospect seen in recent memory.

He has the name recognition from his Hall of Fame father, but the younger Harrison certainly carved out his own path with the Buckeyes. Instant star it seems like once he gets to the NFL.

3. Jayden Daniels, QB – LSU

Daniels has passed Drake Maye, according to Kiper, in this year’s draft after his Heisman campaign. The LSU quarterback always had dual threat abilities, but they were on a different level this past season. Kiper now has him in the driver’s seat as QB2.

Since the trend of a lot of these rookie quarterbacks to start right away, that might be the case for Daniels as well. It’ll remain to be seen how high he goes in the first round, but he might not last long.

4. Rome Odunze, WR – Washington

Odunze is the other wide receiver people need to talk about. He was a stud at Washington, helping the Huskies get to the national title game this season.

Odunze can run the entire route tree and he’s certainly NFL-ready for whoever selects him this spring. He was Michael Penix Jr.’s favorite target after all. Kiper Jr. now has him ahead of the aforementioned Drake Maye, firmly planted as his WR2. 

5. Malik Nabers, WR – LSU

Don’t forget about Nabers, who had just as good, if not a better season catching passes. He was the main target for Daniels all year long, helping his quarterback win the Heisman.

Like Odunze, he can run the entire route tree and can really stretch the field. Depending upon your evaluation, it might be a toss up between Nabers and the others.

6. Drake Maye, QB – North Carolina

Maye has an argument to be the second best quarterback in this draft class. At least, that’s been the general consensus all season until as of late following Daniels’ Heisman season. Now, he’s Kiper Jr.’s QB 3 at the moment.

Maye has all of the tools and the prototypical size to succeed at the NFL. It’s a question of where he will go and how early he will be selected by a quarterback-needy team. Perhaps his stock falling is a bit of an overreaction at the moment.

7. Brock Bowers, TE – Georgia

Bowers is the top tight end in the draft class and it’s not even close. Overall, he’s one of the best players regardless of which side of the ball. He’s been a popular mock selection to the Los Angeles Chargers, which might be unfair with Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh right?

He can do it all as a pass catcher, a blocker and heck, a ball carrier. Bowers is a day one starter for whomever selects him in a couple of months.

8. Joe Alt, OT – Notre Dame

Kiper raved about Alt when noting on a recent podcast that the tackles lower ranking in his previous Big Board wasn’t entirely reflective of his stature. The new rankings make that sentiment more than clear. Being a top 10 prospect overall is nothing to take lightly.

Alt is expected to continue a lineage of Notre Dame linemen going to the NFL. He’s got as strong a track record as any tackle in the draft.

9. Dallas Turner, EDGE – Alabama

Turner is a demon off the edge and one of the best rushers we’ve seen in a few years. Kiper has him in the top 10 now, receiving more recognition.

He starred for Alabama and helped the Crimson Tide get back to the playoff this season. Like a lot of guys before him, he’s a day one starter and likely to be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

10. Troy Fautanu, G – Washington

Troy Fautanu established himself as one of the best offensive lineman in college football over the last season. With Washington’s offense taking the sport by storm, he was as big of a part of the Huskies as anyone.

The collection of talent among available offensive lineman is as good as it’s been in many, many seasons, and Fautanu is a big piece of that. He’s a riser, and we’ll see if NFL squads have the same affinity Kiper has for him.

Rest of Mel Kiper’s Big Board 2024

11. JC Latham, OT – Alabama
12. Brian Thomas Jr., WR – LSU
13. Quinyon Mitchell, CB — Toledo
14. Xavier Worthy, WR – Texas
15. Terrion Arnold, CB – Alabama
16. Taliese Fuaga, OT – Oregon State
17. Olu Fashanu, OT – Penn State
18. Cooper DeJean, CB – Iowa
19. Laiatu Latu, OLB – UCLA
20. Nate Wiggins, CB – Clemson
21. JJ McCarthy, QB – Michigan
22. Tyler Guyton, OT – Oklahoma
23. Jared Verse, DE – Florida State 
24. Byron Murphy II, DT – Texas
25. Chop Robinson, DE – Penn State

As you can tell, Mel Kiper Jr. has done his research, and adjusted his 2024 NFL Draft Big Board accordingly. With a little more than a month until the time to turn in draft cards is upon us, there’s bound to be some changes, but this is what the ESPN analyst settled on for this week’s edition.