We love talking about traits leading up to the NFL draft. Accuracy, arm strength and mobility for quarterbacks. Elusiveness, physicality and speed for offensive skill positions. Power and agility for linemen. Burst, tackling and range for front-seven defenders. And ball-hawking and instincts in the secondary. Prospect scouting reports are filled with detailed breakdowns in these departments. But who is truly the best in the 2024 class at each individual skill?
I put together my annual list of the best at everything — the skill superlatives of this year’s draft class — for 90 different categories. Where do top prospects separate themselves? Which quarterback displays the best arm talent? Which wideout is the top route runner of the class? Who is the hardest-hitting defensive back or the most powerful edge rusher? I picked the best prospect for each trait, from the quarterbacks to the special-teamers.
Jump to positional traits:
QB | RB | WR/TE | OL | DL | LB | DB | ST
Most accurate passer: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Daniels completed 72.2% of his passes last season at LSU (seventh best in the nation) in a system that required him to attack all three levels of the route tree. He’s a refined thrower who delivers the ball with anticipation and location, and he was off target on only 6.8% of his passes in 2023 (fourth best).
Strongest arm: Joe Milton III, QB, Tennessee
Milton has the physical tools and arm strength to generate high-end velocity on the ball and challenge secondaries down the field. We saw his huge arm on display at the combine, where he let a few fly more than 70 yards downfield. His deep-ball accuracy has to improve, but Milton did throw eight touchdown passes of 30 or more air yards this past season.
Williams has an electric release that allows him to deliver the ball with juice from various arm angles. It doesn’t matter if it’s three-step concepts, run-pass options or inside/outside the pocket. Similar to what we see from Aaron Rodgers, Williams makes it look effortless when releasing the ball.
Best pocket mobility: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
McCarthy has the movement skills to create space in tight quarters. When the walls start to close or opposing defenses send pressure, McCarthy will move around in the pocket and quickly reset his throwing window. His 52 QBR under…
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