Who are the top Day 3 prospects?
The 2024 NFL Draft is now reaching the climax as we head into Day 3. There have been a few surprises and prospects falling down boards. As for the Cowboys, they spent Day 2 using their extra draft pick to draft iOL Cooper Beebe, which was incredible value.
Before the final day of the draft commences, here is a list of the top 10 players left on the board and a brief scouting report on each player.
Troy Franklin, WR – Oregon
How Franklin has fallen this far into Day 3 is quite the mystery. He finished last season with 81 receptions, 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns. But what was even more impressive was his 538 of YAC (18th-most nationally) and his 3.22 yards per route run, only bested by Marvin Harrison Jr and Malik Nabers (both first-round picks). Some view Franklin as a deep downfield threat but he’s definitely more than that. He certainly has the speed with a 4.41s 40-time, but he’s quick footed with fantastic route-running. His releases really puts defenders in a bind.
T.J. Tampa, CB – Iowa State
Tampa is easily the best defensive talent left on the board heading into the fourth round. He has a monstrous 78 5/8” wingspan (90%) which he combines with good functional strength to make great plays on the ball. He has a great ability to remain constantly in-phase with his receiver. That all sounds great, so why the fall this far? Simply put, he can be a gambler which has allowed some big plays the last two years.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE – Texas
Some scouting outlets had Sanders as the TE2 on their board in this year’s draft and the dramatic fall into Day 3 can be attributed to one major flaw in Sanders game, his blocking. As a receiver, he’s explosive, reliable and a great playmaker with the ball in his hands. But his lack of play strength and ability to hold up at the point of attack as a run blocker makes him very one-dimensional. Best pro comparison for him is Peyton Hendershot.
Brandon Dorlus, DL – Oregon
Another Oregon Duck hits the list on top talent available here in Day 3. He was certainly productive last season managing to get five sacks, seven tackles for loss and nine pass breakups. He did miss time in 2022 due to a shoulder injury which could be a factor, but one thing that’s sure is the size is off-putting. At 6’3” and barely over 280 lbs, he is extremely small for the position. If you want a positive take for Dorlus then check out his combine. He tested above 80th percentile in 10-yard split, 40-time and broad jump, and his three-cone time of 7.43s is just as impressive.
Spencer Rattler, QB – South Carolina
The once-highly anticipated quarterback that featured on QB1 some time ago was touted to be the next Oklahoma Sooner signal-caller to get the Heisman. That never panned out and Rattler found himself on the move to South Carolina. Things were tough for Rattler as he tried his best to perform for the Gamecocks that seemingly had nothing to offer in terms of pass protection. The offensive line seriously hindered his production yet Rattler was still able to throw for 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is the clear highest talent at quarterback.
Austin Booker, DE – Kansas
If a team wants a pass rusher with a host of pass rush moves and incredible bend then look no further than the Kansas defensive end who registered eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss last year. He comes from an athletic family and his parents played football and basketball at Taylor university.
Braelon Allen, RB – Wisconsin
When you think of Wisconsin football you immediately think power running football that likes to impose its will with bruising running backs. That’s exactly what Allen is as his frame and build suits the role perfectly. He’s not going to blow you away with his speed and elusiveness, but he has incredible strength and contact balance that will go straight at defenders.
Devontez Walker, WR – North Carolina
“Tez” Walker is an incredible vertical runner and has top-end speed he can accelerate to in almost an instant. His wide stride gets him chewing upfield extremely quickly and any defender trying to play physical or press him will have a fight. His 40-yard time of 4.36s, vertical jump of 40.5” and broad of 112” all register over 90th percentile.
Jaylen Wright, RB – Tennessee
Fast, explosive and elusive is the best way to describe Wright. He ran an incredible 4.38s at the combine which was second-fastest in his class. He’s a homerun hitter that runs with insane momentum and can create on his own when he gets into the secondary. He’s also a very reliable pass catcher who made 22 receptions for 144 yards last year, which on the Tennessee offense that likes to spread the ball is impressive.
Cedric Gray, LB – North Carolina
Gray can be argued as the top linebacker going into Day 3, although some will same it’s Jeremiah Trotter from Clemson. Both are side-by-side in terms of rankings but Trotter is seriously undersized which gives Gray the edge here. Another thing to note for Gray was he led all Power-5 defenders last year in tackles (136) and this is mostly down to his quick movement skills and hustle to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Why the fall? Poor instincts, which counts for a lot at the linebacker position in today’s game.
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