“My Guys” List: Who are my favorite players in the 2024 NFL Draft?

A list of ‘my guys’ that I am higher on than the consensus in the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is just one week away. For the Los Angeles Rams it will be a big one as they should select in the first round for the first time since 2016. General manager Les Snead will be looking to have a solid draft once again and build off of the success of last season.

Analysts, fans, and front offices all have those special few prospects that like like more than the consensus. Those players can range from the highly rated blue chippers or under-the-radar sleepers. However, these are the guys you’d give anything to have on your team. Below is a list of “my guys” or players that I am higher on than others or would ‘pound the table for’ in the draft room.

Round 1 Players

• WR Rome Odunze
• CB Terrion Arnold
• OT Olu Fashanu
• EDGE Chop Robinson
• OL Troy Fautanu
• QB JJ McCarthy
• OT Amarius Mims
• WR Brian Thomas Jr.

In any other draft class, we would be talking about Rome Odunze being a ‘can’t miss’ prospect and being the top wide receiver for teams to take. Even in this class, I’m not so sure the gap between him and Marvin Harrison Jr. or Malik Nabers is as big as some have made it out to be. Odunze runs crisp routes, is physical at the catch point, and simply makes life for his quarterback easier. He’s my favorite wide receiver in this class.

Moving on to the trenches, somehow Olu Fashanu has gone from consensus top-10 pick to potentially dropping outside the top-15. This is a player who is 1a-1b when it comes to the top tackle in the class along with Joe Alt. There is an argument to be made that he is actually slightly better in pass protection than Alt. By all accounts, Fashanu tested well and hasn’t had problems in team interviews. Yet, somehow he’s a player that’s almost been forgotten about as the draft process has progressed. Fashanu could still be the best tackle in this class.

There are people that want to move Troy Fautanu inside to guard. Washington put him on an island a lot and he held his own. His arms are worrisomely short where he has to move inside. Fautanu is solid, much like Terrion Arnold. There may not be a bonafide top cornerback in this class. Still, Arnold could step in and be the number one cornerback for a team. He has the mentality needed for the position.

There’s a notion that Amarius Mims is raw, but he’s more inexperienced than raw. He’s barely started more than a handful of games, but he showed some dominant moments in those games. The upside is very high. Another player getting the raw label is Chop Robinson. Again, I disagree there. He’s better against the run than given credit for at this point. If the sack numbers matched the pressure rate, Robinson would be a top-10 pick.

Round 2 Players

• WR Keon Coleman
• DL Michael Hall Jr.
• S Cole Bishop
• iOL Cooper Beebe
• WR Roman Wilson
• TE Ben Sinnott
• CB Max Melton
• WR Xavier Legette

There are fewer players that I enjoyed watching more last year than wide receiver Keon Coleman. Coleman took over games at times and was a dominant force on the outside for the Seminoles while not always having the best quarterback play. Meanwhile, had Roman Wilson been in a more pass-happy offense, we may be talking about him more in that third tier of wide receivers with Brian Thomas Jr. and Adonai Mitchell.

This tier has a lot of versatile players and Ben Sinnott and Michael Hall are no exception. Sinnott can line up in-line or as a H-back. He can also be effective in the slot. Sinnott may be the second-best tight end in a weaker tight end class. With that said, he’s also being underrated a little bit by the consensus. Hall meanwhile is one of the more disruptive interior defensive linemen in this draft class. Some of his reps are dominant. Hall is a “tweener” player that can line up at the 1T or even as wide as the 5T. With the right development path, he can be a swiss-army knife for a defense.

Max Melton and Cole Bishop have been two of my favorite defensive backs in this class. Melton is someone that can come in and be an instant contributor as a team’s number two cornerback. Melton was one of few cornerbacks that held their own against Marvin Harrison Jr. Bishop meanwhile can play anywhere in a secondary. He can be lineup in single or two-high and can hold his own in the box. Bishop brings a physical element to his game that is reminiscent of a Harrison Smith.

Round 3/4 Players

• WR Javon Baker
• iOL Brandon Coleman
• CB DJ James
• DL Mekhi Wingo
• iOL Mason McCormick
• OT Blake Fisher
• CB Cam Hart
• EDGE Jalyx Hunt
• CB Renardo Green
• CB Chau Smith-Wade
• QB Spencer Rattler
• S Malik Mustapha
• EDGE Mohamed Kamara
• LB Edefuan Olofoshio

One of my favorite players in this draft class is Javon Baker from UCF. He started his collegiate career at Alabama and then transferred to the Knights and dominated. Alabama is known for cranking out good wide receivers and Baker is no exception. He learned behind guys like Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Baker may be a mid-round wide receiver that ends up being the steal of the draft.

There are a lot of guys in the trenches that I am high on in this area of the draft as well. Brandon Coleman was Steve Avila’s teammate at TCU and will be a good depth piece on the offensive line that can develop into a starter. The same can be said about Mason McCormick. McCormick dominated at the Shrine Bowl and has carried that momentum throughout the draft process. Blake Fisher is a future starting right tackle in the NFL. Defensively, Mekhi Wingo is slightly undersized, but is extremely quick and moves well. He should be a good rotation piece along a defensive line. Jalyx Hunt will have a lot to learn at the next level, but the athleticism is there for him to succeed with the right coaching.

Again, there is some good value here in the secondary. Cam Hart from Notre Dame and Renardo Green are two cornerbacks that can play immediately on the outside. One of Green’s best performances last year came against Nabers. Hart brings good length and speed to the position. These guys may not be top cornerbacks, but they are solid. The same can be said about Mustapha at safety.

Day Three Diamonds

• RB Isaiah Davis
• CB Qwan’Tez Stiggers
• EDGE Gabriel Murphy
• LB Curtis Jacobs
• RB Dylan Laube
• S Dominique Hampton
• RB Blake Watson
• iOL Nathan Thomas
• LB Jaylan Ford
• WR Anthony Gould
• RB Rasheen Ali
• EDGE Jaylen Harrell
• DL Khristian Boyd
• QB Austin Reed
• K Cam Little
• LB Easton Gibbs

As a big fan of FCS football, it should be no surprise that Dylan Laube and Isaiah Davis make my list here. Laube is a do-it-all swiss army knife. He should be able to contribute at some level on a roster. Davis will be a good depth player to have in a running back room. I’ll also throw Blake Watson and Rasheen Ali here. Ali is a big play waiting to happen. He shows great vision and could be a steal on day three.

Defensively, I’m not sure why Stiggers isn’t getting more attention. The CFL and NFL are two different beasts. With that said, Stiggers was one of the best players at the Shrine Bowl. This is a player that can be a really good addition to a secondary. Khristian Boyd deserves to be in that same category. Dominique Hampton is another player I like. He has good length and physicality. Hampton should be able to contribute early on special teams and develop into a starting safety. Jacobs and Ford are two coverage linebackers that should be able to work in a defensive rotation as well as Gabriel Murphy. These players are too good to go undrafted.

Lastly, we’ll get into special teams. Cam Little has been my favorite kicker through this draft process. Joshua Karty may be the consensus number one kicker, but Little isn’t that far behind and is better than Will Reichard. Anthony Gould is going to be a solid pro. As the fourth wide receiver on a roster and a punt returner, he makes a lot of sense.