2024 NFL Draft Stock Up
Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
NFL teams are always on the lookout for interior pass rushers, and Fiske showed that ability at Florida State in 2023 with six sacks on the season. At the Senior Bowl, Fiske did well in the pass-rushing one-on-ones, showing the speed to fire past blockers and collapse the pocket. The Seminoles listed him at 6-foot-5, but he ended up measuring two inches shorter in Mobile. Fiske has interior rush potential, but he needs to get stronger and stouter as a run defender. Still, his week in Mobile was good enough that Fiske has risen into being a second- or third-round prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Brennan Jackson, DE, Washington State
The 6-foot-4, 266-pound Jackson was a dangerous edge defender for the Cougars in 2023, totaling 8.5 sacks, 57 tackles and three passes batted. In 2022, he recorded 41 tackles and six sacks. He put together 46 tackles and five sacks in 2021. Jackson has quality size and could be a nice sleeper prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Carlton Johnson, CB, Fresno State
After playing at the junior college level, Johnson landed at Fresno State and earned playing time in 2022. He recorded 28 tackles, an interception and six passes defended that season. In 2023, Johnson recorded 54 tackles, four interceptions and seven passes broken up. While undersized, the 5-foot-10, 169-pounder is a gritty player with some coverage skills to be a potential slot corner.
Willie Drew, CB, Virginia State
Drew turned in an impressive senior year, collecting 34 tackles, six interceptions and 16 passes broken up. That production landed him an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he had a decent week of practice. The 5-foot-11, 191-pounder showed some upside and cover skills to handle the better competition. He might be a nice third-day pick who turns into a good value selection from the 2024 NFL Draft.
Grayson Murphy, DE, UCLA
Team sources said that along with Gabriel Murphy, Grayson Murphy impressed at the East-West Shrine and had a good week of practice. In 2023, Murphy recorded five sacks, 32 tackles and two forced fumbles. During 2022, he recorded five sacks. He had 8.5 sacks in 2021. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Murphy could have produced more, but he was rotational in a loaded depth chart. Murphy is a sleeper who could be a nice mid-round value from the 2024 NFL Draft.
Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
Jackson (6-3, 203) is a big cornerback who is a gritty and competitive defender. He totaled only 14 tackles over 2022 and 2021, but he broke out in 2023 with 34 tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defended. At the Senior Bowl, Jackson turned in a solid week of practice. He showed some ball skills and really battled with the wide receivers. If Jackson runs well at the combine, he could be a riser in the weeks to come before the 2024 NFL Draft.
2024 NFL Draft Stock Down
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
As we reported in the Senior Bowl Hot Press, Cooper hurt himself with poor interviews at the East-West Shrine. He pulled out of practicing at the last moment and then had a bad attitude with team evaluators when asked why. The interviews left a bad taste with some teams, and they are questioning whether they want to deal with Cooper in their locker room. Cooper must have a big reversal in his interviews at the combine and in the pre-draft visits.
RELATED LINKS:
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
