The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on J.J. McCarthy.

J.J. McCarthy'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6'2 1/2"
• Weight: 219 lbs.
• 40-Time: DNP
• 10-Yard Split: DNP
• Vertical: DNP
• Broad Jump: DNP
• 3-Cone: 6.82 seconds
• Shuttle: 4.23 seconds

J.J. McCarthy 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS:

• Excellent ball carriage on drop and set in the pocket. Clean footwork with good balance. Compact delivery.
• Doesn't have a big power arm but has enough arm strength to hit the hole shot from the opposite hash. Must be balanced.
• Effective with firm-touch throws between the numbers — where his arm strength shows up.
• Experience with conventional play-action passing game from under center turning his back to the defense.
• Michigan's 2022 pass game featured conventional play action, with defined reads and throws that helped him. What consistently stands out watching that year's tape is repetitive pocket mechanics; he's balanced with a firm base.
• In pass drops, shows the rush awareness to climb the pocket and calmly reset his throwing platform.
• Effective in designed boot action pass game. Throws the ball well on the move with precise ball placement.
• Has the mobility to make second-reaction plays throwing and running. Good athlete with excellent overall movement.
• On 2023 tape, shows a willingness to make tough third-down throws vs. man coverage. Enough arm strength to drive the ball. Shows pocket poise working progressions, including full-field reads. Stays mechanically sound with a firm base.
• Uses pocket movement to find a quieter area to deliver the ball. Has quick feet to reset his throwing platform.
• Showed improvement in nuances of position. Moved defenders with eyes and shoulders. Made stick throws.
• Good athlete who makes plays with his legs by design and second-reaction movement. Not dynamic.

WEAKNESSES:

• Doesn't have a naturally strong arm. Needs a firm base with his front foot pointing to the target to drive the ball with velocity. Some deeper intermediate and deep throws lose energy on the back end. Has a good arm but not an explosive arm.
• Must become quicker with elimination and isolation from the pocket, which will likely happen with experience.
• Missed a few too many routine throws with less-than-precise ball placement. Must be tightened up.
• Has a tendency at times to break down and leave the pocket when he perceives pressure. Needs to stay within structure.
• 2023: At times, labored to drive the ball when on the move. Ball did not jump off his hand with natural velocity.
• Occasionally has a tendency to be late on some intermediate and vertical throws. Afforded that luxury because he was behind a great offensive line.
• The tape doesn't show a natural sense of timing and anticipation. Don't see those kinds of rhythmic throws.  
• Not an off-platform thrower. Needs a firm, solid base to drive the ball and throw with any kind of velocity; has to use his entire body to deliver with juice.
• Too many poor ball-placement throws. Shows tendency to be erratic with his accuracy on routine throws.

NFL TRANSITION:

Based on his 2022 and 2023 Michigan tape, McCarthy is much more of a developmental prospect than a Week-1-ready starter at the next level. He may never be more than a quality starter on a good team with multiple offensive weapons and a strong offensive line.

His tape in college showed an efficient system quarterback lacking any special throwing or athletic traits. However, it would be fair to say that play extension with the ability to make well-placed throws on the move was a strength of his game, in addition to plus athleticism to scramble for first downs when demanded. He is more of a play extender than a play creator, but that is a meaningful part of his game and showed up throughout this tape. That will be strongly factored into his projection and transition to the NFL.

One trait that consistently showed up on tape — a critical one as you project McCarthy to the next level — was an efficient and clean pocket movement to find space to deliver the ball. McCarthy did not show higher-level arm talent, with the result being that he needed to be on balance with a firm base to throw the ball effectively and to have any chance to drive the ball with any kind of velocity (in the same way Kenny Pickett was coming out of Pitt).

When McCarthy was clean in the pocket and could play in rhythm with room to step up, the ball came out well, but that is not realistic to expect consistently at the next level. There will be legitimate questions regarding McCarthy’s ability to function effectively in muddied and noisy pockets with bodies around him. His tape did not show much efficient pocket movement to navigate and reset, nor did it show any ability to make off-platform throws.

My sense watching McCarthy is he projects to the NFL as much more of a system-based quarterback who will be team- and scheme-specific to play at a relatively consistent level, rather than a dynamic playmaker with either his arm or his legs (although he does have plus athletic ability). It would not surprise me if McCarthy became a quality starter down the road given the overall efficiency with which he played in college and with a more refined sense of timing and rhythm in a well-schemed passing game.

OTHER NOTES:

McCarthy spent his last prep season at IMG Academy in Florida, coming out as a 4-star recruit. He became the starter at Michigan in his sophomore season and finished his career with 28 starts and a national championship in 2023.

A defining feature of the Michigan passing game was play-action, with McCarthy executing with a high level of efficiency: 61-80 (76.3 percent) and 10.7 yards per attempt. The large majority of his play-action throws came out of the shotgun.

McCarthy was at his best throwing between the numbers and the hashes, where his body and his feet were aligned and where he could generate some drive and velocity. McCarthy threw the ball very well vs. Michigan State and Purdue. A 22-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland vs. Michigan State was one of McCarthy’s best throws of the season: a decisive, aggressive seam throw with good velocity and precise ball placement. The ball came out with a tighter spiral and more juice, and he threw the ball much better on the run with some excellent throws to his left.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Rome Odunze.

Rome Odunze 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6'3''
• Weight: 212 lbs
• 40-Time: 4.45 seconds
• 10-Yard Split: 1.52 seconds
• Vertical: 39"
• Broad Jump: 10'4"
• 3-Cone: 6.88 seconds
• Shuttle: 4.03 seconds

Rome Odunze 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS:

• Outstanding size and length with smooth athleticism and an underlying subtle suddenness to his movement.
• Stride length is a significant trait, especially with free access off the line of scrimmage. He eats up ground and breaks down cushions.
• Showed a second gear on double moves, with the sudden burst and acceleration to run by aggressive corners.
• There were snaps vs. press man where he won off the LOS and got on top of and then stacked the corner.
• Played under control with smooth measured efficiency but at times flashed a subtle suddenness.
• Consistently showed excellent hands. He made catches away from his frame with arm extension and body control.
• 2023 – Significant snaps out of the slot. He showed the location versatility to be a factor both outside and inside.
• Caught the ball easily with his hands. He's a ball snatcher who was effective in making well-covered contested catches.
• Deceptive vertical speed with his smooth release off the LOS, especially with free access and his natural stride length.
• Showed outstanding body control to adjust to throws away from the initial route. He's an easy catcher of the football
• Smooth and fluid run after catch with a gliding feel to his movement. He also has a physical competitive presence.

WEAKNESSES:

• Smooth, measured and controlled in his movement but not sudden or explosive. He lacked a consistent extra gear.
• Not a straight-line vertical dimension re: running by and getting on top of corners, especially vs. press man.
• Did not face many snaps of press man coverage in 2022. Did not work 1-on-1 vs. corners often.
• There will be legitimate questions concerning his ability to separate and win vs. quality man coverage.
• 2023 – Much more of a one-speed receiver than an explosive second-gear receiver. He did not show that extra juice.

NFL TRANSITION:

Odunze is a strong prospect with a higher-level traits profile, given his size, movement and catching ability. What stands out most with Odunze is his exceptional hands consistently. He showed the ability to catch the ball away from his frame, making contested catches on the sideline and in the middle of the field.

He showed this on deep balls, including the control to contort his body to adjust to back shoulder and poorly thrown balls. He is outstanding going up and getting the ball at its highest point, with the body flexibility to adjust to any throw.

Odunze can line up outside and inside, and there is a smoothness and fluidity to his route running that at times makes everything look easy. While he is not a true vertical dimension with the desired long speed, his size, stride length and uncanny ability to track the deep ball allow him to be a factor even if he has not created meaningful separation from the corner.

What Odunze lacks, based on tape study, is explosiveness, long speed and the natural quickness and burst to get in and out of breaks with juice. Overall, I believe he can be a quality NFL wide receiver who can give an offense location versatility as an X, Z and a slot.

He will always be consistent in catching the ball. His ability to make tough contested catches cannot be overstated, and that trait will be a big factor in his transition to the next level.

OTHER NOTES:

Odunze attended Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, where he was also a sprinter. He won the Nevada 4A state title in the 200m and 400m relay.

In 2022, Odunze almost exclusively lined up outside to the field and the boundary. There were snaps in empty formations in which he was in the slot.

In 2023, Odunze had 140 targets, 43 of which came from the slot (31 percent of his targets). He had 30 catches for 508 yards with 16.9 yards per catch out of the slot.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Michael Penix Jr.

Michael Penix Jr.'s 2024 NFL Combine Results

• Height: 6'2"
• Weight: 216 pounds
• 40-yard dash: Did Not Participate (DNP)
• 10-yard split: DNP
• Vertical jump: DNP
• Broad jump: DNP

Michael Penix Jr. 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

• Good-sized quarterback with quick, compact delivery with little range of motion. Can generate velocity when it's demanded.
• Consistently plays with pocket mentality, looking to work through progressions and get the ball to receivers.
• Shows pocket traits of working through progressions and the subtle movement to avoid pressure and deliver.
• Makes intermediate throws vs. zone coverage with a refined sense of timing and anticipation. Aggressive.
• Flashes subtle pocket movement, maintaining his balance and throwing on-platform to deliver with a firm base.
• Has snaps in which he eliminated and isolated within structure and timing of route concept. Quick processor.
• Patient in the pocket working through progressions, comfortably coming to his checkdowns when necessary.
• Eyes and feet are consistently married as he works through progressions. Stays within structure of play.
• Shows the movement ability and awareness to make second-reaction throws. Can play outside of structure.
• High consistency level of precise ball location on different kinds of throws. Throws with velocity and touch.
• At his core is a timing- and rhythm-passer executing and distributing within the structure of the pass game.
• What consistently stands out is he's highly accountable to the system and the pass game concepts.
• In 2023, drove the ball with easy velocity. Threw a tight spiral that accelerated but was highly catchable.  
• Shows arm strength to sit on his back foot in the pocket and make throws downfield with ball placement.   
• Innate feel for the pocket with drops and sets that sync up effectively with route concepts. Executes pass game.
• Comfortable pocket movement to find a quiet place to deliver the ball. Re-sets platform to make vertical throws.
• Understands leverage of defenders and how that affects ball placement. Shows nuanced understanding of high-level pocket play.
• Has movement ability to make second-reaction off-script throws and enough functional mobility to make throws.

Weaknesses

• Throws with a wide base, which often makes it appear as if he is pushing the ball and working hard to throw it.
• Has a tendency to take an extra hitch in the pocket on intermediate throws with result being that he's often a beat late.
• In 2023, showed a low, almost-sidearm delivery that reduced his height significantly and made it appear as if he’s 5-foot-10.
• His ball placement must be more consistently precise for a pocket quarterback. Had too many misses on throws that were there.
• Overall ball placement is a bit erratic, and that’s a concern given that 95 percent of his game will be from the pocket.
• Fluctuates between absolute, pinpoint accuracy at all levels and scratch-your-head, can’t-believe-it misses.

NFL Transition

Penix will have a fascinating transition to the next level given his traits profile and the offense he played in at Washington that featured a foundational intermediate and vertical passing game.

There is no question that, based on his 2022 and 2023 tape, Penix is the best intermediate and deep-ball passer in the 2024 quarterback draft class. He has a strong arm that can drive the ball with velocity and has consistently precise ball placement on more difficult downfield throws.

One thing that stands out in Penix's 2022 and 2023 tape is how accountable he is to the system with his drops and sets and his timing and rhythm playing to and within the structure of the designed passing game. He shows the ability to work through progressions with clarity and decisiveness and an understanding of defensive structures and coverage. He got the ball out to his receivers while rarely getting sacked.

One question with Penix will be his overall efficiency — more specifically, his vision and ball placement when there are bodies around him. At times, he shows a tendency to lose the broader picture of the defense and both throw into dangerous areas and lose some of his precise ball location.

Overall, Penix exhibits the core principles to be a higher-level NFL quarterback:

-Strong arm talent with precise ball placement at all three levels;

-Ability to work through progressions with decisiveness and an understanding of defensive structures and coverages; and

-An aggressive mindset turning the ball loose at the intermediate and deeper levels with the willingness to throw to air.

My sense is Penix will need a strong pass-protecting offensive line so that the offense can get all five eligible receivers out into routes and so he can consistently work the intermediate and deeper of the field, which is a strength of his game.

Other Notes

Penix transferred to Washington after spending four seasons at Indiana, where he went 12-5 as a starter. Penix was a two-year starter for the Huskies, throwing for more than 9,000 yards with 67 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

In 2022, almost 90 percent of Penix's dropbacks came out of the shotgun. Play-action was featured on 22 percent of his shotgun dropbacks — Penix was 71-111 (64 percent) and had 9.05 yards per attempt with seven touchdowns and one interception. (He only had 10 play-action dropbacks from under center.) In 2022, Penix had 573 dropbacks and threw the ball on 554 of them. In short, Penix has a pocket-thrower mentality.

What stands out watching Washington’s offense is the extensive deployment of shifting and motion and the use of cut splits and bunch formations — and Penix's significant snaps as a shotgun dropback passer with NFL route concepts at the intermediate and deeper levels.

When you factor in pass game concepts and scheme, Penix will likely have a much easier NFL transition relatively speaking than many of the other quarterbacks in the 2023 draft class. Devin Culp's 22-yard touchdown vs. USC showed Penix second-reaction ability, and Rome Odunze's 24-yarder vs. Texas was an outstanding example of Penix's high-level pocket movement.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on JC Latham.

JC Latham'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6-foot-6
• Weight: 342
• Arm length: 35 1/8"
• 40-yard dash: DNP
• 10-yard split: DNP
• Vertical jump: DNP
• Broad jump: DNP

JC Latham 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS

• Outstanding size and mass for RT position. Came off the ball low with leverage, generating force as a run blocker.
• Converted strength to power as drive and down blocker in the run game. Kept feet moving, sustaining and finishing.
• Strong initial punch coming off the ball as a run blocker. Heavy, powerful hands that moved and displaced DL.
• Athleticism and movement for a big man showed up in his ability to work to the second and even third level of defense.
• Consistently in run game played with a firm base, good body position, hands inside and excellent balance.
• Efficient kick slide in pass protection with good balance, knee bend and hands in ready position to strike.
• Light, agile feet in pass protection, excellent lateral movement and the needed range to seal the high side.
• Grip strength in pass protection with feel and quickness to re-set his hands when needed to maintain control.
• Pass protection snaps he stayed within his cylinder. Core strength to control the rusher and nullify his athleticism.
• Consistently executed the three pillars of pass protection: Eyes up, hands inside, feet underneath, plus balance.
• Powerful feel to Latham as a run blocker and in pass protection. Big man with agile movement, and he finishes.
• Always looked measured, poised and under control in his movement. Pass protection looked effortless.

WEAKNESSES

• 2023 – Some pass protection snaps he did not show needed range to seal the edge. Not in good body position.
• Vertical set pass protection snaps he opened up too quickly, squeezing the pocket and exposing the inside.
• Biggest issue in pass protection was reps he was beaten across his face with quick inside moves and counters. 
• There were some pass protection reps in which he had to mirror and re-direct, and his balance was an issue.
• Over aggressive at times as a run blocker resulting in dropping his head into contact and off-balance lunging.

NFL TRANSITION

Latham is one of the better OL prospects in the 2024 draft class after starting at right tackle for two seasons at Alabama. He brings a desirable combination of size, play strength, power, movement and competitive toughness.

Power is the foundation of Latham’s game. It comes in a frame with outstanding size and mass, with long arms and a powerful core and lower half. That was especially effective in pass protection, where he consistently played with excellent balance and a firm base, setting a strong anchor to stone speed-to-power pass rush. He showed the needed athletic ability and range with active feet to seal the edge.

In the run game, Latham easily converted contact strength to movement power as a down blocker to create displacement. As a base blocker, he could control and displace with impactful, initial contact and sustaining foot movement. Latham is a big man with natural power throughout his body and surprisingly light balanced feet for a man that size.

His dominant play strength and commanding anchor consistently showed up on tape, especially in pass protection. There are two concerns in pass protection that could be more exposed at the next level, and that is his occasional issue with quick inside counters that cross his face and his vulnerability to detailed rushers with stutters, hesitations and nuance.

Overall, my sense is Latham is a RT prospect who could make the transition to LT, and it would not surprise me if some teams see him as an OG with his strength and power to dominate in the run game.

OTHER NOTES

Latham came out of IMG Academy in Florida as a consensus five-star recruit, the top ranked OL and No. 2 prospect in the nation regardless of position. He played his first two years of high school football in Wisconsin as a DE before transferring to IMG and making the switch to OT.

Latham became the starter at RT in his sophomore season of 2022 and finished his college career with 23 starts. Latham physically overpowered Michigan DT Kris Jenkins on Jase McClellan's 34-yard TD in the national semifinal game. Overall, Latham had a dominant game versus Michigan, especially in pass protection.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Malik Nabers.

Malik Nabers' 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6'0"
• Weight: 200 lbs
• 40-Time: DNP (Did Not Participate)
• 10-Yard Split: DNP
• Vertical: DNP
• Broad Jump: DNP
• 3-Cone: DNP
• Shuttle: DNP

Malik Nabers 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS:

• Extensive experience playing outside and the slot. Smooth, fluid route runner working out of both alignments.
• Short-area quickness and burst to separate at the top of his route stem. Saw that laterally and vertically. 
• Showed route and separation quickness with a relatively refined and nuanced sense of route running.
• He defeated press coverage with a short-area burst and physicality. Aggressive attacking press. 
• He has the good balance and body control to stop on a dime off his vertical stem and be in a position to make tough catches.
• Showed a second gear on vertical routes to create separation from corners. Added burst with the ball in the air.
• Aggressive with the ball in his hands. Strong run-after-catch traits with quickness and competitiveness.
• 2023 – Location versatile within the formation. Has shown he can line up in most wide receiver locations.
• Had feel for dipping his shoulder with body lean to gain leverage and clear defensive backs. Did not lose stride.
• Effective on slot fades, consistently getting on top of defensive backs. Short-area burst and accelerating speed. 
• Tape showed more reliance on physicality and toughness at top of route stem rather than lateral quickness.
• Outstanding run-after-catch traits with a desirable combination of quickness burst and physical toughness.

WEAKNESSES:

• While there were flashes of subtle suddenness, he is not purely explosive. Would not describe him as twitchy. 
• Inconsistent in his ability to separate and win vs. man coverage. Must improve as he develops.
• Had too many drops on routine catches. Didn’t sense hands were an issue, but that must be cleaned up.
• 2023 – Tape showed he relied almost exclusively on his physical ability to defeat press and run routes.
• Did not see him show refined and subtle technique to manipulate corners through and at the top of the route stem.

NFL TRANSITION:

Nabers is one of the best wide receiver prospects in the 2024 draft class. After evaluating his 2022 and 2023 tape, I would rank him as the second-best prospect behind Marvin Harrison Jr. Nabers has extensive experience playing outside and the slot. His location versatility is a significant plus as you project and transition him to the NFL.

Nabers possesses a complete receiver skill set with high-level physical traits and outstanding competitive toughness. There were times he made me think of Deebo Samuel with his run-after-catch presence, aggressiveness and physicality. He worked all three levels of the defense effectively. He has a subtle and nuanced feel for route running with body leans and feints resulting in needed separation and the short-area burst and acceleration to run by and get on top of corners, especially on slot fades.

He has a second gear on vertical routes to create separation with the ball in the air, and he showed the body control and hands to make tough catches on the sideline and in the middle of the field.

One trait that Nabers possesses that is often overlooked is his body control to stop on a dime and present flat and friendly to the quarterback, sending the corner running by him.

Nabers aggressively attacked press coverage, and he defeated it with a desirable combination of short-area quickness, burst and physicality.

Overall, I believe Nabers is a high-level wide receiver prospect who can step in from Day 1 and be a starter and productive contributor, especially with his versatility to line up anywhere in the formation.

OTHER NOTES:

Nabers came out of Louisiana as a four-star recruit, staying home to play for LSU. He was a First-Team All-American in 2022 and 2023, finishing his college career with an outstanding 2023 season: 89 catches, 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns. Nabers left LSU as the school’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards.

In 2022, Nabers caught 35 of his 72 receptions out of the slot. He predominantly lined up on the outside after the fourth game of the 2022 season, including significant snaps at boundary X on the back side of trips. Nabers ran by Georgia corner Kelee Ringo in the 2022 SEC Championship game off an inside release on a straight-go route. Nabers showed build-up speed, and Ringo could not make up the ground.

In 2023, more than 50 percent of Nabers' targets came out of the slot (72 out of 127). He had 54 catches for 1,009 yards and 12 TDs out of the slot, while he had 35 catches for 560 yards and two TDs outside.

Nabers ran 200 routes from outside and 227 from the slot, with much greater production inside. There were significant snaps in which Nabers lined up at boundary X on the back side of trips.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Joe Alt.

Joe Alt'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6'9"
• Weight: 321 lbs
• 40-Time: 5.05
• 10-Yard Split: 1.73
• Vertical: 28"
• Broad Jump: 9'4"
• 3-Cone: 7.31
• Shuttle: 4.51

Joe Alt 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS:

• Well-proportioned, lean build with ideal arm length for the OT position and excellent overall athletic ability.
• Outstanding size and fluid movement in pass protection, with great coordination between the upper and lower half.
• Efficient with kick slide in pass protection. Balanced with a firm base. Controlled and calculated in his movement.
• Consistently did outstanding job with arm extension in pass protection. Kept feet clean and controlled rusher.
• Hand and grip strength foundations of pass protection profile. Size and arm length strong traits in his play.
• Efficient re-setting his hands in pass protection. Stayed in phase, with good balance and fundamental technique.
• Excellent awareness and accelerated vision to recognize and react to DL stunts and second-level pressures.
• Plus athleticism and mobility getting outside as puller in run game. Good balance and body control tracking.
• Came off the ball low, with leverage as base and drive blocker in run game. Strength on contact to move DL.
• Used his long arms effectively as run blocker. Grip strength to control DL and keep his body and feet clean.
• Athletic with excellent mobility and balance getting out on the perimeter as lead blocker in pin-pull run game.
• Competitive run blocker who finished with an edge. Sustained blocks with active feet and nasty demeanor.
• 2023 – Strong one-on-one POA blocker in the run game. Controlled DE with core and upper body strength.
• Consistently plays with good body position and clean footwork and leverage in run game. Understands angles.
• Relies more on athleticism and length than physicality in pass protection, At his best with light feet and balance.
• Used as puller across the formation in gap scheme concepts, Good athlete with balance and body control.

WEAKNESSES:

• Lateral quickness at times caused problems in pass protection. Reaching and lunging resulted in balance issues.
• 2023 – Must be more aggressive and assertive with hand strikes in pass protection. Tendency to place them.
• Did not fire his hands and shock pass rushers at times, resulting in rusher getting inside and driving him back.
• Much more of an extender than a striker with his hands in pass protection. Arm length at times compensated.
• Continued in pass protection to show tendency to reach with hands and lean with upper body. Balance issues.
• Run game snaps in which he did not fire off the ball with his hands. Too often showed tendency to be passive.  
• Significant concerns with strength and aggressiveness in upper body. Snaps in which he was tossed in run game.

NFL TRANSITION:

Alt’s tape from 2022 and 2023 showed an LT prospect whose game was built on athleticism, length and technique more than physicality, strength and power. Alt is an athletic finesse LT whose tape showed a lack of strike power in his hands and throughout his body. His overall pass-protection approach is more passive than aggressive.

In the run game, Alt relied on excellent body position with a strong understanding of angles and leverage than he did on physicality and power. Still, there was no question he was consistently efficient in executing multiple blocking concepts.

Alt is a technician in the run game with an excellent feel for defensive movement and gap fluidity. He has the athleticism, balance and body control to react effectively to second-level defenders shooting gaps and playing downhill to release double teams.

What stood out on tape is Alt played with more physicality and power generation in the run game as the 2023 season progressed, with dominant snaps as a base and drive blocker. That will significantly help him in his transition to the next level.

The more tape I watched of Alt, the more I appreciated his high-level consistency of execution as a run blocker and in pass protection. Alt will need to be coached and developed as a pass protector, given that his hands are too passive, relying too much on arm extension and body length (often bending too far forward with excessive lean) to win.

But that will have to be modified and adapted in the NFL, where the good pass rushers will get inside of him if he doesn’t learn to fire his hands and strike with more force and initial power and stay better balanced over his feet without bending too much at the waist.

Overall, I believe Alt, with his size/length/plus athleticism/efficiency of execution, can be a Day 1 starter and a solid LT as he develops. Still, there will be growing pains and some bad snaps, especially vs. the better edge rushers in the NFL, as he acclimates to the NFL.

OTHER NOTES:

Alt came out of Minnesota as a 4-star recruit and became a full-time starter at Notre Dame in his freshman season of 2021. Alt finished his college career as a three-year starter at LT (33 consecutive starts) and was a unanimous First Team All-American in 2023.

He was featured a significant number of snaps in the Notre Dame run game as the tackle over lining up on the right side of the offensive line. He made an excellent block on North Carolina State LB Payton Wilson on Audric Estimé 80-yard TD run.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Marvin Harrison Jr.

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6'3"
• Weight: 209 lbs
• 40-Time: DNP (Did Not Participate)
• 10-Yard Split: DNP
• Vertical: DNP
• Broad Jump: DNP
• 3-Cone: DNP
• Shuttle: DNP

Marvin Harrison Jr. 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS:

• Long and fluid with short-area burst and acceleration as a vertical route runner and as a runner after the catch.
• Excellent short-area quickness for a receiver with his size and length. Can stop and change direction seamlessly.
• Beats press coverage with short-area quickness and burst off the ball. Gains separation early in route stems.
• Separation quickness and burst at the top of his route stem. Has loose, fluid hips with smooth change of direction.
• Consistently got on top of college corners on vertical routes. Stride length smoothly accelerates his play speed.
• Makes contested catches when demanded. Has excellent body control and hands.
• Wide catch radius with outstanding hands. He made tough catches away from his frame with extension.
• 2023: High-level athleticism to make the transition from vertical stem to stop. Has body control and refined route running.
• Subtle and refined in his route running, with an understanding of how to attack and set up corners with vertical stems.
• Detailed and nuanced route runner, manipulating defenders with his upper and lower body to create separation.
• Changes direction effortlessly at the top of his route stem without breaking stride. An easy mover with explosive traits.
• Outstanding body control, vision and hand-eye coordination to track deep balls. Catches the ball easily.
• Consistently showed multiple releases off the LOS to defeat press coverage. His routes were never disrupted.

WEAKNESSES:

• None

NFL TRANSITION:

Harrison Jr. is one of the best wide receiver prospects we have seen in a long time. He has an his elite traits profile and no discernible weaknesses. He has outstanding size with high-level athleticism and movement skills. Harrison Jr. has a refined and subtle understanding of route running and of how to attack and break down corners to create separation.

Harrison Jr. showed multiple releases vs. press coverage and was never disrupted in his route off the LOS, predominantly winning with short-area quickness and explosive burst into his stem. What was consistently impressive was his quickness at the top of his route stem to force corners off their spot or to get their body turned. The result was that he dictated the creation of space on his routes.

In addition, you could see a sudden explosive burst on vertical routes, allowing him to run by — and get on top of — corners. He is a desirable combination of smooth and twitchy, which seems deceptive, given his size and length.

Then, you factor in his exceptional hands with his easy ability to snatch the ball away from his frame and you have a high-level prospect with three-level explosiveness who is likely to be a WR1 as a rookie.

Harrison Jr. is a prototypical No. 1 wide receiver with his size, speed, hands, body control, explosiveness and physicality profile. He is clearly the top wide receiver prospect in the 2024 draft class

OTHER NOTES:

Harrison Jr. came to Ohio State as a 4-star recruit from St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. He was a unanimous All-American in 2022 and 2023 and the winner of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 2023. 

In 2022, Harrison almost exclusively lined up on the outside to the boundary and the field. He was a static receiver in the different formations.

In 2023, Harrison Jr. had 67 receptions on 117 targets with 33 targets and 22 receptions (for 360 yards and six touchdowns) coming out of the slot. He is location-versatile but likely is best as a boundary X.  

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Drake Maye.

Drake Maye'S 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6'4"
• Weight: 223 lbs
• 40-Time: DNP (Did Not Participate)
• 10-Yard Split: DNP
• Vertical: DNP
• Broad Jump: DNP
• 3-Cone: DNP
• Shuttle: DNP

Drake Maye 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS:

• Desirable combination of size, throwing ability and athleticism. Possesses the needed traits of an NFL QB.
• Easy natural thrower with minimal effort. Could drive the ball down the field: Knee bend, hips and core torque.
• Explosive arm talent with the traits to make every throw. Can drive the ball at all levels with velocity and touch.
• Aggressively worked between the hashes with refined sense of timing and anticipation, velocity and firm touch.
• Threw with velocity when demanded and pace and touch when needed.
• Showed subtle pocket movement with two hands on the ball. Re-set his throwing platform with a firm base.
• Good athlete who can make second reaction plays, throwing and running. Also designed QB run game.
• Second reaction playmaking dimension with outstanding poise and composure outside the pocket on the move.
• Strong mental framework reflected in that bad plays did not affect him. Came right back and made good plays.
• 2023 – It is evident from tape that Maye can execute a drop back passing game with efficiency at all levels.
• Outstanding go ball and fade ball thrower, with precise ball placement, especially with no margin for error.
• Showed poise and composure to trust and work comfortably through progressions. Stayed sound in the pocket.
• Snaps he started to move then re-settled, getting his feet under him with a firm base and delivering cleanly.
• Consistently played with a calm helmet. It was evident he knew what he was seeing and how to process it.
• Poise and patience to move within the pocket when primary read was taken away to work to secondary reads.

WEAKNESSES:

• At times, he drifted in the pocket to his left when there was no pressure and no reason to move off the mid-line. 
• Consistently showed a tendency to drift rather than stay in the pocket. Created his own pressure at times.
• At times, he was tentative in the pocket. He did not turn it loose when throws were there. Must become more decisive.
• Too many dropbacks in which he left throws on the field. Needs to process and isolate quicker from the pocket.
• At this point, he lacks a refined sense of timing-anticipation, resulting in throws that aren’t made that should be.
• 2023 – Still showed tendency at times not to register and process reads, leaving clean throws on the field. 
• Still too many snaps he drifted to his left when there was no pressure.
• There were a few too many misreads where he didn’t process the route concept versus the coverage correctly.
• Needs to develop a better feel for pocket movement rather than running out of the pocket. Higher-level trait.
• While he threw outstanding deep ball, must become more location precise on intermediate and shorter throws.

NFL TRANSITION:

Maye is a high-level quarterback prospect with the size/arm strength/ball placement/athleticism/movement profile that will be in high demand. He consistently played with a natural sense of poise and composure that was reflected in his calm helmet and comfort in working through progressions from the pocket.

It was evident from his 2022 and 2023 tapes that he trusted the route concepts and combinations (and his protection) and allowed them to work for him, with the defense and coverage dictating where he would go with the ball. There was never a sense that Maye was hurried or frenetic in the pocket, and he did not break down and look to move unless he was forced to by the pass rush.

Maye showed the arm talent to make outstanding deep throws and to drive the ball with velocity when demanded. He can throw with the pace and touch to make the right throw into zone windows and at intermediate and short levels. What also stood out from Maye’s tape was his athleticism and movement for a man that size.

There were times Maye had a bit of a Josh Allen feel to his designed runs and his second reaction running. My sense was he was faster on the field than he looked on tape. There are some flaws to work out in Maye’s game (the biggest being inconsistent and at times erratic ball placement which could well be a problem), but there is no question he possesses the physical traits, with the natural pocket feel, in addition to higher-level athleticism to develop into a quality NFL QB with a chance to be one of the best.

OTHER NOTES:

Maye was a 4-star prospect who stayed in-state to play at North Carolina. He was the ACC Player of the Year in 2022.

In 2022, Maye was exclusively a shotgun QB with only nine dropbacks from under center and all of them in the red zone; the 2022 game-winning TD drive vs. Duke was a good snapshot of an inexperienced QB: Some mental mistakes that cost time off the clock, then an 8-yard TD throw off second reaction movement—strong mental framework.

A 2022 game-tying TD drive vs. North Carolina State was another excellent snapshot of Maye staying poised in critical situations and throwing TD with no time on the clock. It was a tough throw from the low red zone to the back of the end zone.

The 2023 tape showed the kind of intermediate and vertical route concepts and combinations you see in NFL passing games, so Maye clearly has a feel for and comfort level with them.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Jayden Daniels.

Jayden Daniels' 2024 NFL Combine Results

• Height: 6'4"
• Weight: 210 pounds
• 40-yard dash: DNP
• 10-yard split: DNP
• Vertical jump: DNP
• Broad jump: DNP

Jayden Daniels 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

• Played from the pocket with patience. He did not look to escape and run. Daniels showed a sense of progression reading.
• Showed a feel for rhythm and timing of the passing game from the pocket. He made some strong anticipation throws.
• Athleticism to leave pocket and run for yards puts tremendous stress on defenses and can simplify coverage.
• Decisive within the context of the offense when reading, throwing the ball and leaving the pocket to run.  
• Showed excellent awareness for check downs when the deeper route concepts did not present a clean read.
• Gives an offense the designed boot pass game and designed QB run game. He is a good athlete with easy movement.
• 2023 - Explosive playmaker with his legs. He is capable of taking it to the house every time he runs.
• Good ball carriage and ball staging on his dropbacks. He has a quick, compact, clean delivery with no wasted motion.
• You can tell playing the position in a fundamentally sound way with strong mechanics is important to him.
• Consistently threw with good balance and firm base from the pocket. His feet and stature are always in good position.
• Showed feel for pocket movement with subtle slides to create a more comfortable space to deliver within timing.
• Dropbacks in which he showed patience in the pocket. He showed a feel for routes' interconnectivity.
• Coverage recognition, anticipation and precise timing to make tight-window throws vs. zone coverage
• Showed pocket toughness to stand and deliver in the face of pressure without compromising throwing mechanics.

Weaknesses

• Arm strength on the average to slightly above scale. His deep balls had a tendency to lose energy on the back end.
• Dropbacks where he leaves throws on the field and runs out of the pocket. He is capable of big plays with his legs, though.
• Ball location must become more consistently precise. He's not scattershot, but he missed throws that had to be made.
• 2023 – Arm strength with the power to drive the ball when demanded at times lacking. Not a high-level passer.
• Still showed a tendency to not turn it loose when throws were there within play concept and structure.
• A few too many dropbacks when he did not process the route concept vs. the coverage. Did not isolate. 
• Did not see anticipation throws in the LSU offense. Can Daniels make those kinds of throws at the next level?
• Overall, he took too many hits as a runner and in the pocket vs. pressures. He must learn to run smarter.

NFL Transition

Daniels is an intriguing prospect because his best trait is his explosive running ability by design and through second reaction movement. However, he is a relatively refined passer with solid fundamentals and mechanics. He has an innate willingness to work from the pocket with some sense of patience and progression reading.

Daniels' pocket command has improved significantly with experience, and he has reached a level of play where he has a desirable combination of pocket efficiency and playmaking explosiveness. He does not have a sudden twitchy arm, and the ball does not explode out of his hands. There were clear examples on his tape of deeper throws that lost energy on the back end. Overall, he can make the necessary throws within the structured context of the passing game. There was a calmness and poise to his game, with an easy fluidity to his movement both as a passer and runner.

The tape showed some issues that need to be worked on and could be cleaned up with coaching and experience. Those include less than clear vision at the second and third levels of the coverage, resulting in throws left on the field. There were also snaps when he could compensate for that deficiency with his running ability.

While Daniels mostly exhibited comfortability and patience in the pocket, that did not necessarily translate to consistent higher-level elimination and isolation within the context of route concepts vs. coverage. Overall, Daniels is a higher-level QB prospect with the ability to be patient and efficient from the pocket, especially at the first two levels of the defense.

He has the dynamic playmaking ability to place stress on the defense in critical down-and-distance situations. The fact that Daniels has shown meaningful improvement in his two seasons at LSU is a real positive. My sense is he would work best in an offense that features a higher percentage of 11 personnel with more spread formation looks to better help define the defense pre-snap.

Other Notes

Daniels played his final two seasons at LSU after three years as the starter at Arizona State. He originally came out of southern California as one of the top three dual-threat QB recruits in the nation. In 2023 at LSU, Daniels threw 40 TD passes with only four interceptions, and he rushed for more than 1100 yards 

In 2022, LSU's pass game featured predominantly half-field reads. Daniels always had the run option if he did not get a clear picture of the route concepts vs. the coverage 

In 2023, LSU's pass game featured NFL route concepts with progression reads that Daniels will need to make at the next level. He made some big-time slot fade throws vs. Ole Miss, three went for touchdowns. He showed a willingness to be patient vs. Ole Miss' high-percentage zone coverage concepts.

Caleb Williams' 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

• Height: 6'1"
• Weight: 214 lbs
• 40-Time: DNP (Did Not Participate)
• 10-Yard Split: DNP
• Vertical: DNP
• Broad Jump: DNP
• 3-Cone: DNP
• Shuttle: DNP

Caleb Williams 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS:

• Good ball carriage with a firm base ready to deliver. Compact yet powerful motion with easy drive velocity. 
• Showed subtle pocket movement, maintaining his downfield focus and re-setting his base to drive the ball.
• Innate ability to make off-platform throws in the face of pressure and drive the ball at the intermediate levels.
• Power arm strength to drive the ball and outstanding second reaction ability to make plays outside of structure.
• Showed arm talent to make pace and touch throws when demanded. Could lay the ball out in front of receivers.
• Flashed the patience in the pocket and recognition of coverage to progression read from one side to the other.
• Made some outstanding second-reaction throws, moving to his left with velocity and precise ball placement.
• Special playmaking dimension, with his ability to make big-time throws on the move. Shows high-level improvisation.
• Outstanding feel for pressure and how to avoid and escape to make plays with his legs. Calm and composed.
• High-level field vision and spatial awareness allowed him to extend and create big plays out of chaos.
• Consistently precise ball placement on different kinds of throws. Threw with velocity, pace and touch.
• Gives offense designed run game element in specific situations. Effective on zone-read concepts. He's a good athlete.
• 2023 – Flashed the timing and anticipation demanded at the next level. Showed he could throw into windows.
• Snaps he showed comfortable pocket patience working through progressions making late-in-the-down throws.
• He effectively secured the ball with two hands when he moved in the pocket and reset his platform to deliver it.

WEAKNESSES:

• Tendency at times to climb the pocket when not needed. The results were drop backs where he created his own pressure.
• Needs to work on playing with more consistent, fundamental technique and discipline in the pocket.
• At times, a beat late with throws due to a lack of clean footwork in the pocket. Did not plant ready to deliver.
• 2022 tape did not show many timing and anticipation throws from the pocket. Must work on that part of his game.
• Not as accountable to the structure and execution of the system as coaches would want him to be.
• 2023 – Needs improvement with his footwork at the top of his drop. Tendency to hop and shuffle rather than plant.
• Showed a tendency to stay focused on routes-concepts when the coverage showed quickly it was not there.
• Too many drop backs when he left throws on the field within the context of the pass game concepts.
• Almost no college experience playing from under center (seven snaps in two years at USC). That’s a learned trait.
• He has a strong arm but is not a Tier 1 arm at the level of Josh Allen, Justin Herbert or Matthew Stafford; he will not be in that conversation in the NFL.

NFL TRANSITION:

Williams is a high-level prospect, and you could make the case he is one of the best quarterback prospects we have seen in recent years with his outstanding combination of physical, athletic and throwing traits.

What consistently stood out watching Williams' tape in 2022 and 2023 was his ability to control the ball and place it where he wanted. That trait cannot be overstated, given that ball placement is a non-negotiable when it comes to QB evaluation.

At this point, Williams is more of a playmaker than a refined pocket quarterback who can consistently execute the subtleties, nuances and disciplines of the position. Still, there is no question he can make off-script, outside-of-structure plays. His greatest strength will be his outstanding spatial awareness to calmly and effectively navigate chaos functioning intelligently and athletically at game speed.

What you did not see much of at USC was Williams executing NFL pass game concepts where he had to hit his back foot and make timing window throws vs. zone coverage. Overall, there is a glaring lack of NFL timing pass game elements vs. coverage (like flood, where he had to read the flat defender or hi-low concepts).

Williams is an exhilarating and frustrating combination of elite playmaking traits with flashes of high-level pocket play and a loose, at times reckless, feel to his game with too much movement and unrefined pocket mechanics and fundamentals.

There is no question he has high-level traits and brings a dynamic and, at times, spectacular playmaking dimension. That will get evaluators and coaches excited with the comparison to Patrick Mahomes likely to be made by many.

OTHER NOTES:

Williams graduated from Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C., as the nation's No. 1 prospect regardless of position. He began his college career in Oklahoma before following Lincoln Riley to USC.

What stood out throughout the season watching Williams' 2023 tape was that the USC offensive line consistently struggled in pass protection, which played into Williams' instincts to break down and leave the pocket.

The other thing that was noticeable was the pass game concepts did not give Williams clean and defined progression reads with good spacing.