2024 NFL Draft: ‘My Guys’ in the class

A range of NFL Draft prospects to look out for this weekend.

You might not know this, but I’m a draft guy. And by that I mean, a real geek. I’ve been covering the NFL Draft and scouting prospects since 2008, or ‘the Matt Ryan draft’ as it’s known in my own head – staying up until 6 a.m. each morning to watch every pick (the curse of being British I suppose).

If any of you can remember who the Jacksonville Jaguars selected with the eighth overall pick in 2008, prove your worth and guess it in the comments below – let’s just say it wasn’t a draft worth remembering for Jags fans. But I digress…

Since that first foray into draft analysis, I have scouted more than 3,000 prospects and interviewed hundreds more – all of which you can find at The Touchdown. Of course, nobody knows anything when it comes to talent evaluation, and the usual caveats about landing spot, opportunity and development all apply. But regardless, here are ‘my guys’ in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft class.

Rasheen Ali, RB, Marshall

Let’s start off at a position that the Jaguars probably aren’t looking to address. But if they did, it would likely be in the later rounds – and Rasheen Ali would be well worth a look.

The junior out of Marshall is a workhorse ball carrier that – if you remove an injury-affected 2022 from the stats – racked up more than 2,500 yards over two years in Huntington. At 6’0” and 209 lbs, Ali isn’t one of your heavier ball carriers, and you can see how it helps his footwork. He’s agile coming through the line of scrimmage, has the burst to accelerate through gaps as they develop, and has the long speed to run away from tackles in the open field.

That’s not to say he isn’t physical – Ali is your classic three-down back who will put his head in when needed and fight for the hard yards. There’s a reason why I chose the clip above; Ali is a YAC monster who doesn’t know when to quit, and his leg drive is as impressive as any in this class. He has the physicality for a gap scheme and the backfield vision to work inside or outside zone, giving offensive coordinators the versatility they crave. Oh, and he’s a competent receiver out of the backfield too.

Ali has had some fumbling issues at Marshall – a problem not to be ignored, but exacerbated by the fact that he WAS the offense for the Herd. He also cruelly ruptured his Achilles at the Senior Bowl, meaning he won’t be ready for training camp. That likely means he’ll slide, giving one lucky team the chance for a steal on Day 3.

Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

I like my offensive lineman like I like my steak; big, gritty and tough. No wait, that’s not how I like my steak at all. But it is what I want in my big men up front!

When it comes to protection for my quarterback and blocking for the run game, I am more than happy to eschew fluidity, grace and technique for a bunch of guys who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. And in that regard, Troy Fautanu fits the bill.

At 317 lbs, Fautanu is slightly on the light side for an offensive lineman. But that doesn’t affect the brand of physicality with which he operates – the former Husky is stout and powerful, with long limbs and a refusal to be beaten on any snap. The Nevada native only allowed three sacks in 1,336 pass blocks in his college career, which saw him help keep an injury-prone Michael Penix Jr. alive without issue for two seasons in Washington. He will grab and maul and wear down edge rushers until they have nothing left to give – and he has the speed and explosion to get into his pass sets early and match up with the quickest of pocket penetrators.

Fautanu’s doggedness has raised suggestions he might be a better guard than a tackle in the NFL. I don’t think that’s necessarily wrong – I think he can play at four positions on the o-line at the next level. This guy is a tone-setter and a pillar of your offense for a decade plus.

The Jags could very well be looking to bolster their o-line room in this draft. But if Trent Ballke wants a dose of nasty, Fautanu will need to be a first-round selection – he won’t be around after Day 1.

Nehemiah Pritchett, CB, Auburn

Now HERE’S a prospect that the Jags might legitimately consider. Auburn corner Nehemiah Pritchett has flown a little under the radar in this draft cycle, likely a victim of the Tigers’ perpetual inability to return to relevance in the SEC. But despite the poor team aesthetics from the outside, Pritchett has been an incredible contributor for four full seasons on The Plains, playing in 45 games in the biggest conference in the nation. He’s gone up against some of the best receivers in college football and held his own, playing with a fairly physical brand of football that might be attractive to new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen…

Pritchett is a long, lean corner that looks well suited to a role in press coverage at the next level. At 6’1” and 190lbs, perhaps you’d like a little more meat on the bone – and I would suggest his career begins as a slot corner as he acclimates to the physicality the NFL brings. But instincts, athleticism and feistiness are a hallmark of his game. If the ball is in the air, Pritchett will be at the catch point fighting tooth and nail to disrupt the pass. He also performs well in off-man coverage, with impressive click and close speed to break on routes and undercut throwing lanes.

The size will limit his draft ceiling, even if Pritchett is able to get bigger and stronger as his pro career progresses. It wouldn’t put me off drafting him, a prospect with plenty of special teams tape to back up his toughness – not to mention making big plays like the one against Alabama above – with the game on the line.

Nehemiah Pritchett is a dawg.

Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

I was sold on this catch alone…

Trent Baalke might be in the market for a new receiver this coming weekend. But considering Christian Kirk is ideally suited to a slot role, I would be shocked if the Jags turn in a card with Ricky Pearsall’s name on it. The former Florida wideout is something of a route-running connoisseur, routinely creating separation at the top of his routes. A careful marriage of athleticism, suddenness and subtle movements gives him the ability to make defensive backs look silly as they try to stick to him. I’m not sure there’s a more creative, valuable receiver against man coverage in this draft.

When it comes to the testing, Pearsall knocked his pre-draft process out of the park. Achieving a 9.91 RAS, he achieved elite grades in explosion, speed and agility, alluding to the athleticism he demonstrates on tape. Add to that a pair of sticky hands and a penchant for making outrageous catches like the one above, and it’s easy to see Pearsall thriving as a slot receiver at the next level.

Pearsall is undersized for an outside receiver, and I would suggest that may knock him out of the first round. His lack of lower body strength can also make him uncompetitive against press off the line of scrimmage, although it was pleasing to see him make a significant improvement in forcing missed tackles in 2023 (9) compared to previous seasons (2022 – 1, 2021 – 4). He can also take big hits and stay on his feet, an invaluable trait when making your money in the middle of the field.

If Pearsall lands with a creative play caller on Day 2, the league better watch out.

Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

Every year I promise I won’t fall in love with an athletic phenom edge rusher with question marks when it comes to size and strength, and every year I totally ignore my own advice.

But in 2024, I feel more vindicated than usual; comparing Chop Robinson to Micah Parsons is lazy scouting – they may both hail from Penn State, but Parsons was a far more polished prospect heading into the draft than Robinson is. If you’re looking for a comp for Robinson, perhaps Azeez Ojulari (New York Giants, 2021) or Nolan Smith (Philadelphia Eagles, 2023) are more suitable, as they offer similar traits.

Robinson jumps off the line of scrimmage like he’s been fired out of a cannon – the explosion is literally unparalleled in this draft class, and maybe in any prospect I have scouted. He had Michigan’s famed offensive line on skates this season and tortured some of the best tackles in the Big Ten for the past three years.

Robinson is about speed-to-power conversion. He’ll set up blockers by challenging their outside with his bend and athleticism, before starting to mix it up by catching them off guard and bull rushing to work interior gaps. He’s so fluid he can ignore arms from anyone that comes at him without a firm base – and considering he’s up in their business very quickly, having linemen reach for him is a common sight. Robinson’s issues stem from a lack of length, and perhaps not enough lower body torque when it comes to shedding blocks – if blockers can get onto his pads, his danger is nullified.

The one comparison between Robinson and Parsons that works? Both are extremely versatile defensive playmakers who can play anywhere in the front seven. I like Robinson as a ‘Wide 9’ designated pass rusher on later downs to start his career, but don’t be surprised to see him drop into coverage as a linebacker. He provides good value if he slips into Day 2 – but might still be a little early for Jacksonville, who probably have more pressing needs elsewhere.