2024 NFL Draft: Prospects Charles Davis would pound the table for

I’ve seen progress from Rattler on and off the field over the past two seasons. He’ll probably go late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 of the draft, but there’s a reason he was once a highly touted prospect. Remember, this was a five-star recruit widely considered the best quarterback in his class. He eventually lost his starting job to Caleb Williams at Oklahoma in 2021 and then transferred to South Carolina after the season. His setback has become a comeback, though. Rattler was the Gamecocks’ co-MVP in 2022 and then set school records for completions (275) and completion percentage (68.9) in 2023. He’s shown he has the tools and toughness to succeed. I feel good about this young man — who has some Teddy Bridgewater in his game — and his chances of making it in the NFL. 

Davis truly knows what it means to overcome adversity. One of 15 children in his family, he was living in a homeless shelter at the age of 12. Now he’s known as the relentless running back who gained 1,000 total yards at three different schools (Temple, Vanderbilt, Kentucky), and he’s about to have his NFL draft dreams become a reality. He might not have the long speed of some of the other running backs in this draft, but he has great contact balance and reminds me of Zach Charbonnet, a second-round pick of the Seahawks last year. I’m banking on Davis’ internal drive and talent carrying him to success in the NFL.

Meet Vidal, a person with athletic prowess in his genes. Indeed, he’s the great-nephew of the baseball icon Hank Aaron. Vidal is also a remarkable runner who consistently grabbed my attention at the Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this offseason. He continued to impress with an exceptional performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, clocking a 4.46-second 40-yard dash and a 37 1/2-inch vertical. I believe his energetic stride will carry over to the next level.

Smith is not the biggest, strongest or fastest receiver, but when he touches the ball, good things happen. After a leg injury limited him to four games in 2022, he returned stronger than ever in 2023, earning first-team All-SEC honors as an all-purpose player/return specialist for the Aggies. He’s the only SEC player ever to reach 2,000-plus receiving yards, 250-plus rushing yards, 250-plus kick-return yards and 250-plus punt-return yards, per NFL Research. I know he’s been dealing with a stress fracture in his left shin this spring, but we’ve seen Smith come back from injury in a big way before. I wouldn’t sleep on him doing it again.

Holker might not be a pure tight end — he’s more of a fit in the H-back mold — but I think he’s going to be a great pick for a team on Day 3 of the draft. Clearly, he understands the passing game. Holker led all FBS tight ends with 64 catches and 767 receiving yards last season. He was coached very well by Jay Norvell at Colorado State, the school that produced Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, who is coming off a breakout season in Year 2. Oh, and Holker also gave us one of the best highlights of this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, when he made a one-handed catch during the gauntlet drill while holding a ball in the other hand!

During the Senior Bowl, I closely observed Jones and noticed his consistent quality performance against elite competitors. Although he lost some contests, he triumphed in a significant number. Despite the lack of hype surrounding the Texas product as the draft approaches, he demonstrates potential to fit into many offensive line environments and deliver quality play, particularly as a right tackle. However, he could also potentially play inside if required. Per Pro Football Focus, Jones has conceded 23 pressures since 2022, the lowest among FBS tackles with a minimum of 900 pass-block snaps during this period. I would be strongly advocating for him early on the third day of the draft.

I love the way McCormick goes about his business on the field. He’s a very cerebral player and has plenty of experience, with 57 career starts — all at left guard — during his college career. That most definitely counts for something in my book. In addition, McCormick impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s a road grader who reminds me of Browns Pro Bowler Wyatt Teller, featuring some twitch and a whole lot of nastiness in his game.

Van Pran-Granger appears to be overlooked by many. Despite his slightly smaller size, weighing 298 pounds with 31 3/8-inch arms at the combine, I firmly believe he has the potential to be a Day 1 starter for the right team. It’s worth noting that he was a consistent starter for Georgia over the past three seasons, during which time he contributed to two national title wins. I liken Van Pran-Granger to the former Pro Bowl center, Ryan Kalil, in terms of intelligence and experience.

A two-time first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection, Anderson has posted 11-plus tackles for loss in each of the last three seasons. That’s the type of production that should excite NFL teams. As I watched him, he reminded me of the Raiders’ Malcolm Koonce, a third-round pick in 2021 who had eight sacks for Las Vegas last season. I don’t know if Anderson will be drafted as early, but he has a similar playing style and possesses the juice to go get quarterbacks.  

It’s easy for me to root for Isaac. A loving and dedicated brother to three non-verbal siblings, he provided a pillar of support for his family from a young age. On the field, he keeps getting better. He has plenty of toughness and is strong at the point of attack. Also, he outproduced his more highly touted Penn State teammate, Chop Robinson, when it came to sacks and tackles for loss last season. I believe he will reward the NFL team that gives him an opportunity.

Boyd did not receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, but as people around the league will tell you, this young man can play. He’s no sleeper. Boyd earned first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 2023, starting every game and picking up 6.5 tackles for loss. He showed he more than belonged at the East-West Shrine Game earlier this offseason. Later on Day 2 of the draft, that sound you’ll start to hear will be me pounding the table for the former Northern Iowa Panther.

Carter is the first player in Duke history to be a team captain for three straight seasons, which speaks volumes, given the leaders that have come through that program over the years. He was also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, aka the academic Heisman, last season. He wasn’t a captain because of his personality and smarts alone, though. The Ohio native produces on the field, too. He is a playmaker on the interior, collecting 25 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 11 pass breakups and seven forced fumbles over the past four seasons. His intangibles are off the charts, and he reminds me of Steelers 2023 second-round pick Keeanu Benton when I watch his tape. 

Sure, while it’s true that statistics can sometimes be misleading, they also provide a significant amount of information about a player. This is particularly true in the case of Knight, whose stats portray him as a player consistently on the tail of the ball-carrier. Last season, he topped the FBS with 84 solo tackles and ranked sixth with a total of 140 tackles. He also led his team with 15.5 tackles for loss in 2023. His performance at the Senior Bowl was commendable. Despite the trend of off-ball linebackers being undervalued in the NFL, I’m confident that with another year or two to sharpen his instincts, Knight will validate the decision of the team that drafts him.

Should your team be in need of a young male player who excels at ball coverage and tackling on the perimeter, I have the ideal candidate for you. In 2022, Harden was the leading player in his team with three interceptions and four forced fumbles. In 2023, he shared the team lead with six pass breakups. While his speed may not be awe-inspiring, it is sufficient. Players of his caliber consistently find opportunities to enter the field and make positive impacts.

As I said on a recent episode of Path to the Draft, I wouldn’t just pound the table for Bishop, I’d go Bills Mafia and jump through the table for him. I am all-in on the junior from Utah. I know he can play the high-safety position, but he’s going to make the majority of his big plays near the line of scrimmage. He’s tough with a nose for the football, posting 21.5 tackles for loss over the past three seasons. Also, he ran faster than people expected in Indianapolis, clocking a 4.45-second 40-yard dash. To me, he should be in the conversation for top safety in the draft. He reminds me of new Ram Kamren Curl, who doesn’t get enough credit for his level of play in the league.

My list concludes with a transition from a Bishop to a Deacon, specifically a Demon Deacon. When I watch Mustapha’s footage, I see a player full of energy. He’s consistently involved in the action, having made 80 tackles for Wake Forest in 2023. Though he isn’t the biggest player, he compensates with his aggressive and forceful play. His style brings to mind ex-Lions safety Louis Delmas, who enjoyed a solid six-year tenure as an NFL starter.