Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton and Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell lead the way on the list of best 2024 NFL draft prospects still available for NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.
Occasionally there's a draft where a highly regarded talent unexpectedly falls out of the first round. Quarterback Will Levis was an example from 2023.
None of the players currently on the board had a precipitous drop this year.
Jeremiah had DeJean as the No. 24 overall player, so landing in the second round won't be a complete shock. The same goes for Newton (No. 25), Mitchell (No. 27), Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry (No. 28), Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (No. 29) and Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (No. 30).
The B/R NFL Scouting Department is more bullish on McKinstry, though, ranking him 15th on its final big board.
"McKinstry is a top cornerback in this year's class based on his skill set," B/R NFL scout Cory Giddings wrote in his breakdown of the Crimson Tide star. "As most incoming cornerbacks do, he will need to continue improving his technique, especially when it comes to using his hands downfield. His skills are undeniable and gives defensive coordinators the versatility to play multiple schemes. Look for him to be a starter early in his career."
One thing Jeremiah's rankings illustrate is how deep this year's draft class is at receiver.
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The first round saw seven wideouts get selected, and Jeremiah has another four in his top 50 overall. Following McConkey are Florida State's Keon Coleman (No. 42) and Western Kentucky's Malachi Corley (No. 44).
Teams that missed the run on receivers Thursday will be able to find plenty of value Friday.
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