Happy 2024 NFL Draft week! To celebrate here at The Draft Network, we released our final Top 100 Big Board on Monday morning. Our scouts have spent countless months and hours scouting 250-plus prospects, culminating in a collaborative top 100.
I've identified a handful of players that I believe were ranked too low in the latest (and final) TDN100 update.
MARSHAWN KNEELAND, EDGE, WESTERN MICHIGAN (NO. 76)
Marshawn Kneeland projects as a reliable, high-motor, and versatile three-down lineman. Statistically, Kneeland took a step forward in 2023 by recording a career-high 4.5 sacks. From a traits perspective, Kneeland is a power rusher with enough twitch and bend to surprise opposing offensive linemen with counter moves.
Kneeland also impressed athletically at the NFL Combine. He ran a 4.75 40 with splits of 2.77 and 1.65 at 267 pounds. Kneeland displayed terrific lower-body explosion by leaping a 35.5-inch vertical and 9-foot-11 broad jump. Change of direction was evident through Kneeland's 4.18 shuttle and 7.02 3-cone.
Kneeland is an elite run-stopper with the size and length necessary to be an outstanding early-down defender. NFL teams will view Kneeland as an ideal base defender who possesses enough pass-rushing juice to get after quarterbacks on 3rd-and-obvious. Kneeland's all-around skill set should get him drafted significantly higher than No. 76.
JORDAN MORGAN, OT, ARIZONA (NO. 52)
Jordan Morgan is an experienced, technically sound blocker with more than 2,400 snaps under his belt. Morgan is a pro-ready offensive tackle prospect who's big, strong, and athletic enough to thrive in one-on-one situations at the next level. I have a late first-round grade on Morgan, meaning he's approximately 20 slots (No. 52) too low on the new TDN100 update for my liking.
Morgan possesses a legitimate opportunity to be drafted with a back-half first-round selection. The Cowboys, Packers, Ravens, 49ers, and Chiefs are all OT-needy teams that own picks somewhere between 24 and 32. If Morgan isn't drafted within those opening 32 selections, then a team like the Commanders, Patriots, or Cardinals should target him in the early 30s.
Morgan measured in with arms under 33 inches throughout the pre-draft process, which brings his ability to consistently play tackle at the next level into question—some teams may view Morgan as an interior lineman. He's a plug-and-play offensive lineman regardless of position.
JUNIOR COLSON, LB, MICHIGAN (NO. 61)
We're probably not getting a linebacker within the opening 32 picks, but there could be an early second-round run at the position. Michigan's Junior Colson is in contention with NC State's Payton Wilson and Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper to be the first linebacker drafted. That should have landed Colson higher than No. 61 in our latest update.
Colson is an explosive sideline-to-sideline linebacker prospect with marvelous twitch and athleticism. Colson triggers downhill violently with speed and confidence. Colson is also highly comfortable with man and zone coverage concepts, making him a highly-coveted three-down defender at the next level. I think he gets drafted in the 33-45 range, approximately 15-30 spots higher than his final ranking on our big board.
