Mel Kiper updates Big Board Top 25 rankings for 2024 NFL Draft
As Week 8 of the college football season gets underway, the conversation is already starting to shift about the 2024 NFL Draft. Multiple big names will have opportunities to improve their stocks over the next few weeks, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has updated his Big Board.
Atop the board is USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who has been seen as the top prospect on the board all season. He was one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy again, as well, but a rough showing against Notre Dame made his odds drop in a big way, according to BetMGM. But his draft stock is still in good standing as teams vie for the top pick to select him.
Not far behind Williams is North Carolina standout Drake Maye, who has become a bigger part of the national conversation in recent weeks. He and Williams have been viewed as the top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft, while Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is up there with them atop Mel Kiper’s Big Board.
1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Caleb Williams has been a mainstay atop the board since last year’s draft ended. The USC signal-caller can do it all, which makes him an intriguing prospect for NFL teams.
Williams struggled mightily last week against Notre Dame, throwing for three interceptions for the first time in his career and also failed to top 200 passing yards. He’ll try to bounce back this week when the Trojans take on Utah.
2. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Although Drake Maye looks to be a top pick in the draft, he didn’t see his Heisman hype start to grow until this week. He has two 400-yard games through his first six games, including a season-high 442 yards against Syracuse.
Maye leads the ACC with 317 passing yards per game this season and is second in the league with a 68.9% completion percentage. Next up for North Carolina is a matchup against Virginia on Saturday.
3. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
The top wide receiver on Mel Kiper’s Big Board, Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of the most electric playmakers in the nation. He’s the only receiver in the Big Ten to average 100 yards per game so far, and he’s a key piece of the Ohio State offense to start the year.
The son of the former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, Harrison looks more than likely to become a top-five pick in the draft. He’ll have a big opportunity to improve his stock this week as Ohio State takes on Penn State in a huge top-10, Big Ten showdown.
4. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Another top playmaker on Mel Kiper’s Big Board, Brock Bowers is a Swiss Army Knife for the Georgia offense. He can catch and he can run, which makes him a unique tool for the Bulldogs — and also makes him hard to replace.
Bowers went down with a high ankle sprain last week and underwent tightrope surgery. He’s expected to miss a few weeks, and his absence comes right before the first College Football Playoff rankings drop.
5. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
After a red-hot start to the season, Shedeur Sanders has seen the noise quiet down a bit as Colorado comes off a brutal 46-43 loss to Stanford last week. Still, he finds himself toward the top of Mel Kiper’s Big Board and one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft, if he decides to enter.
Sanders ranks second in the nation with 345.7 passing yards per game this season, and his ability to make big plays could be attractive to NFL teams. While he has some things to fix, his pedigree and ceiling could improve his chances to go in the first round.
6. Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Olu Fashanu would’ve been a first-round draft pick last year, but opted to return to Penn State for one final go-round. He is improving his stock as a result and might find himself becoming a top-five pick.
Fashanu will have his hands full going up against Ohio State this weekend, but it could be the type of game for him to cement his draft status. It’ll be a tough matchup, but he has already proven he can stand strong on the Penn State offensive line.
7. Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Rome Odunze is another player with rising draft stock after a huge performance for Washington against Oregon. He hauled in eight receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in the final minutes.
Odunze is becoming one of the top playmakers in the game this season, which is helping drive his draft stock. He and Michael Penix Jr. have an obvious connection, and they’ll try to keep things going the rest of the way, starting with this week’s game against Arizona State.
8. Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama
After losing Will Anderson Jr. to the draft last year, Dallas Turner has stepped in to help anchor the Alabama defense this year. He has 7.0 sacks already this year, which is three more than he had all of last season.
Turner is considered the top pass rusher in the draft this year and is the top outside linebacker on Mel Kiper’s Big Board. A statement game awaits this week when the Crimson Tide take on Tennessee in a Third Saturday in October battle.
9. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
One of the key pieces of the Notre Dame offensive line that wants to compete for the Joe Moore Award, Joe Alt is in the same class as Fashanu in terms of the best lineman on the board. As a result, he checks in at No. 9 on Mel Kiper’s Big Board.
Alt is a stalwart for the Fighting Irish in front of Sam Hartman and bounced back well after a rough showing against Louisville. Notre Dame is on a bye week this week, which will allow the Irish to take a break after eight games.
10. Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Iowa’s defense is once again a big reason the Hawkeyes jumped in to the AP Top 25 this week, and Cooper DeJean is the straw that stirs the drink. His athleticism jumps out right away, especially considering there have been conversations about playing both sides of the ball.
DeJean has two interceptions so far this year after totaling five a season ago. He also has 13 tackles, and he’ll surely be one of the top defensive players taken in the draft if he stays on this path.
Nos. 11-25
11. Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
12. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
13. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
14. Jared Verse, DE, Florida State
15. Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
16. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
17. Kalen King, CB, Penn State
18. JC Latham, OT, Alabama
19. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
20. J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, UCLA
21. Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona
22. Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
23. Laiatu Latu, OLB, UCLA
24. Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami
25. Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
The 2024 NFL Draft is set for April 25-27 in Detroit, and the picture will start coming into focus over the course of the next month or so. The race for the No. 1 overall pick is also on in the NFL, which adds to the intrigue around the mock drafts and big boards.