Blake Bacas ‘26

Staff Writer

One of the best sporting events in the entire year is set to take place in the coming weeks. Drawing over 54 million viewers last year, the NFL draft is set to take place from April 25th through the 27th, and this class is especially bursting with top-end offensive talent. Let’s take a look at some of the best of the best, and predict the likely landing spots for each one. 

Caleb Williams, QB, USC | Team Fits: CHI

While I would be remiss if I didn’t mention him, there simply is nothing more to be said about him. The 6’1”, 215 pound Washington DC native is one of the best quarterback prospects in recent history, if not ever. He’s got a cannon of an arm, with soft touch on deep balls, combined with impressive athleticism and mobility. Coming off of a 3600 yard, 30 TD season with only 5 interceptions, Caleb will be drafted first overall – it’s just a matter of how long Chicago takes on the pick clock.

Drake Maye, QB, UNC | Team Fits: WAS, NE, NYG

Both Maye and Jayden Daniels are what I would consider to be the ‘best of the rest’ in terms of quarterback prospects in the draft. Maye was steadily penciled in as the second overall pick to Washington, but in recent weeks there has been extensive discourse about the top of the draft, with some saying that Daniels or even McCarthy will be taken at 1.02, but frankly I think that’s simply prospect fatigue. Maye has a massive frame, measuring at 6’4”, 225 pounds. He has the physical ability to make any throw on the field, but has garnered a reputation as a bit of a gunslinger, who needs to improve his decision making. While he is certainly one of the more raw prospects in the draft, his ceiling is sky-high if he pans out.

Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU | Team Fits: WAS, NE, NYG, LVR

Daniels is perhaps one of the most polarizing players in the entire draft. His believers think that he’s the second coming of Lamar, while his detractors think he’s a skinny gimmick QB that NFL defenses will eat alive. The reigning Heisman winner led the country in total yards (4946), yards per game (412.2), yards per play (10.7) and total TDs (50), so regardless of criticisms about his slender frame and lack of top-end arm strength, he will surely be seriously considered by the QB-needy teams at the top of the draft. However, an interesting wrinkle to his situation is his close relationship with newly minted Raiders HC Antonio Pierce. Coach Pierce recruited Danielshim to Arizona State University, where he played the first three years of his collegiate career. The Raiders are in need of a franchise QB, and there have been murmurs for months that Pierce will try and trade a haul to go and get his guy.

JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan | Team fits: NE, NYG, MIN

JJ McCarthy has surged up draft boards within the past couple months before the draft. After leading his Wolverines to three consecutive Big Ten conference titles, as well as a National Championship this past season, JJ has proved that he can consistently play at a high level. While he lacks explosiveness, both in arm strength and as a runner, McCarthy has shown that he possesses excellent timing and location for his throwing windows while under center, which could entice teams in need of stable, smart execution at QB.

Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State | Team fits: AZ, NE, LAC

Quite simply, Marvin Harrison Jr is one of the most complete wide receiver prospects in years. Son of Marvin Harrison, an 8-time Pro Bowl Hall of Fame wide receiver, it is apparent that he comes from an elite NFL bloodline. Weighing in at 6’4”, 205 pounds, he possesses the size and strength to be a nightmare for opposing corners. Great speed compared with elite footwork and route running make him a force to be reckoned with on all three levels of the field. He will be a Day 1 impact starter, and if the level of quarterback play wasn’t as high as it was this past year, he would be a lock for the first overall pick.

Joe Alt, OL, Notre Dame | Team Fits: NYG, TEN, ATL

Joe Alt is a mountain of a man. The 6’9”, 320 pound tackle is simply a brick wall on the OLine. He has elite quick and fluid footwork to keep up with and mirror edge rushers, which can sometimes be a struggle for linemen his size. Despite his high center of gravity, Alt plays with good leverage, and is quick off the snap into his stance. While some teams are certainly more interested in him than others, Alt is the kind of blue-chip prospect that any NFL team would be happy to draft if the opportunity was right.

Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia | Team Fits: NYG, CHI, NYJ

Bowers is an elite pass-catching TE that combines speed, hands, and acceleration into a top end offensive prospect. The two-time John Mackey award winner racked up 714 yards in 10 games played last year, and he’s also a positive blocker as well. He is an exceptionally gritty player who fights for every last yard. This versatile offensive weapon should be impactful in any scheme, but if they are willing to lean into his swiss-army knife abilities and be given multiple types of looks, he can truly explode to the next level.

Featured image courtesy of AP News.