For the past eight weeks, I have been working on the Rookie Super Model and have broken down the top prospects for each position into tiers.
We have also updated our Super Model tools to include draft classes for each position back to 2018 so you can compare prospects. You will also find detailed information on the inputs and methodology for each position so you can understand the why and how behind the model’s scores.
Now that the NFL Draft is complete, it is time to put all that research to work. Below, I have ranked and tiered the top 20 prospects based on their talent profile and landing spot. If you want my complete rookie rankings, you can find them here.
Tier 1 - 2024 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings
1. Marvin Harrison Jr. | Cardinals | WR
- Super Model Score: 100th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: High-end WR2
- Multi-Year Outlook: High-end WR1
Harrison, the No. 1 all-time prospect in the Rookie Super Model, stands out with his early breakout at a star-studded program alongside future NFL stars Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. His potential is not limited to a specific area of the field — he has the tools to excel versus zone and man coverage, making him a versatile threat.
The No. 4 overall pick immediately becomes the top dog in the Cardinals' receiving room and will challenge Trey McBride to be the team's target leader in 2024. Playing with a capable NFL QB in Kyler Murray, Harrison projects as a borderline WR1. In a good runout, Harrison reaches similar heights to Justin Jefferson (WR10) and Ja'Marr Chase (WR5) in their rookie campaigns.
Since 2018, six prospects have reached the 80th percentile or better in the Super Model and have done exceptionally well in their first two seasons.
- Top-12 Finishes: 20%
- Top-24 Finishes: 67%
- Top-36 Finishes: 83%
2. Malik Nabers | Giants | WR
- Super Model Score: 92nd percentile
- 2024 Outlook: Low-end WR2
- Multi-Year Outlook: High-end WR1
Nabers owns the third-highest score in the Super Model, sandwiched between Chase and Jaylen Waddle. While he has yet to demonstrate the same ability to dominate the intermediate range of the field as Harrison, Nabers showed an ability to access targets at all field levels and is the more explosive playmaker. His 30% target rate against man coverage and 25% rate against zone were both WR1-worthy.
Look for the No. 6 NFL Draft selection to captivate the hearts and minds of the Giants coaching staff and Daniel Jones from Day 1. What Nabers gives up landing in a capped passing offense, he could offset with a lack of target competition. There is a world where Nabers accumulates more targets than Harrison in his rookie season.
Nabers grades out in the same range as Harrison, offering the same fantasy hit rates, but an upgrade at QB in Year 2 would be a welcome sight.
Tier 2 - 2024 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings
3. Rome Odunze | Bears | WR
- Super Model Score: 79th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: Mid-range WR4
- Multi-Year Outlook: Low-end WR1
After going No. 9 to the Bears, Odunze grades out as the ninth-best prospect in the Super Model. He broke out later, and his star never burned as bright as Harrison or Nabers, pushing him a tier below.
However, this just happens to be an elite class — Odunze still offers WR1 traits as a player who can win at all three levels of the field. His target rates against man (30%) and zone (25%) are in line with Nabers.
Nov 18, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) celebrates a touchdown during the second quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago's pecking order for targets will be challenging for Odunze to climb as a rookie. D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen are coming off 26% and 30% target-share seasons. Odunze would immediately lock into the WR3 with WR2 upside status if either of those players went down due to injury. However, the best path to year-one success for Odunze relies on Shane Waldron making three-WR sets the go-to for his offense and Caleb Williams having a C.J. Stroud-like rookie campaign.
Since 2011, 34 rookies have carved out the No. 3 role in their passing attack, averaging 8.9 points. Nine (26%) of them reached top-36 status, with 12.9 points per contest.
- Julio Jones (15.7, WR12)
- JuJu Smith-Schuster (13.7, WR18)
- Chase Claypool (13.6, WR32)
- Jordan Addison (13.0, WR30)
- Deebo Samuel (12.6, WR33)
- Tyreek Hill (12.6, WR29)
- T.Y. Hilton (12.1, WR36)
- Christian Watson (11.7, WR34)
- Torrey Smith (11.3, WR35)
Odunze has a shot at a WR3 finish despite the target competition, but he is already priced as the WR29 in best ball drafts, which doesn't leave a ton of room for upside without a teammate injury.
Still, when focusing on the long-term outlook with Williams on board at QB and Allen aging, Odunze could join the WR1 conversation as soon as Year 2, making him a SMASH selection at pick three in rookie drafts.
4. Caleb Williams | Bears | QB
- 2024 Outlook: Borderline QB1
- Multi-Year Outlook: Mid-range QB1
We don’t have a Super Model for quarterbacks because I haven’t been able to nail down a robust model for the position. However, per our own Ian Hartitz in his scouting report on Williams, he graded out well among 122 Power 5 QBs with 300-plus dropbacks from 2021 to 2023:
- Pro Football Focus (PFF) pass grade: 91.4 (No. 5)
- Passer rating: 118.3 (No. 3)
- Adjusted completion rate: 76% (No. 23)
- Yards per attempt: 9.1 (No. 7)
The Bears have been preparing for the arrival of their future signal caller for over a year now. They acquired D.J. Moore in a draft day trade with Carolina in 2023 and then added Keenan Allen, Gerald Everett and pass-catching RB D'Andre Swift in free agency this winter. But that wasn't enough — Chicago added a cherry on top with the selection of Odunze in Round 1. If this passing game clicks in 2024, Williams could challenge for 4,000 yards through the air.
Williams doesn’t offer the same ceiling as Jayden Daniels as a rusher, but he could still provide value over many of his NFL peers. The No. 1 overall pick accounted for 13% of designed rushing attempts over his career — almost double the NCAA average. Ian found that Williams’ rushing production looked pretty good when excluding sacks.
- 2023: 74-356-11 (4.8 YPC)
- 2022: 94-624-10 (6.6 YPC)
With Brock Bowers landing in a challenging situation in Las Vegas, Williams moves into my top four in single QB leagues. If you are loaded at QB, I recommend trading down if you can still secure one of the three skill players in the group below.
5. Jayden Daniels | Commanders | QB
- 2024 Outlook: Low-end QB1
- Multi-year Outlook: Mid-range QB1
Daniels doesn’t have the same resume as Williams, but he finished as strong as anyone. Per Ian Hartitz, Daniels was amazing over his last two seasons.
- Pro Football Focus (PFF) pass grade: 90.5 (tied for No. 7)
- Passer rating: 121.1 (No. 4)
- Yards per attempt: 9.3 (tied for No. 5)
- Adjusted completion rate: 78.3% (No. 6)
However, in his Rookie Scouting Portfolio, Matt Waldman had concerns regarding the former four-star recruit’s transition to the NFL. When making multiple reads, Daniels lacked timing and patience, which caused him to move to the next read too soon, leaving big plays on the field.
While those challenges will have to be ironed out for Daniels to reach his potential as a passer, he still offers the type of rushing upside that can offset those concerns for fantasy football purposes. His career marks in designed rushing attempts (17%) and scramble rate (14%) are the stuff dreams are made of in fantasy. In his final season, Daniels flashed that mouthwatering potential with 135 attempts for 1,134 yards and 10 TDs.
Ian mentions Daniels' propensity to take big hits and his smaller frame as potential concerns in his scouting report. That is worth considering, but in a clean runout where everything goes well for Daniels (I don’t know what percentage of the time this happens), he has the traits to become the QB1 in this class.
Tier 3 - 2024 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings
6. Xavier Worthy | Chiefs | WR
- Super Model Score: 60th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: Mid-range WR3
- Multi-Year Outlook: Low-end WR2
Worthy ranks as the No. 25 WR in the Super Model. He can challenge the defense horizontally with quick-hitting plays around the line of scrimmage or stretch the vertical boundary. Worthy might be known as a speed demon thanks to his record-setting 4.21 40-yard dash at the combine, but his collegiate production profile is even more impressive.
He exploded onto the scene as a freshman, and despite his smallish frame Worthy dominated man coverage with the second-best target rate in the class at 32%, only behind Harrison. He grades out slightly behind Brian Thomas Jr. in the model, but landing in an offense with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid is enough for me to rank Worthy one spot ahead.
7. Brock Bowers | Raiders | TE
- Super Model Score: 79th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: Mid-range TE2
- Multi-Year Outlook: High-end TE1
If you are a talent purist regarding rookies, Bowers should be in Tier 2 behind Odunze as the third-best TE prospect in the Super Model's history.
However, his landing spot with the Raiders put him in competition with the No. 5 Super Model TE prospect, Michael Mayer.
Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) runs the ball into the end zone after a catch for the game sealing touchdown as Auburn Tigers take on Georgia Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. Georgia Bulldogs defeated Auburn Tigers 27-20.
Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez were the last TE duo to reach 70% route participation in one season. There is a chance Bowers and Mayer are the best combination we have seen since then, but we still must trust the Raiders coaching staff to solve a playing-time riddle that has perplexed coaches since the beginning of time.
Once you add the long-term uncertainty associated with a QB room led by Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew, Bowers might have secured the worst landing spot possible. If anyone can overcome all of this, it is Bowers. We have seen 100% of the prospects in his range secure a top-12 finish by Year 2, but this will be an interesting case of talent versus situation that could challenge the Super Model hit rates.
8. Brian Thomas Jr. | Jaguars | WR
- Super Model Score: 64th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: Upside WR4
- Multi-year Outlook: Low-end WR2
Thomas isn’t a complete prospect like the top three WRs, but he offers the size-speed combination (6-foot-3 with a 4.33 40-yard dash) that NFL teams love. He was never a high-end target earner in college, and his coming-out party didn’t happen until his final season. However, when QBs did look his way, Thomas rewarded them with a 132.8 QB rating.
In college, Thomas used his deep speed to set up his underneath route tree, where he collected 50% of his targets 0 to 9 yards downfield. In the NFL, he will have to prove he can win deep to earn that type of respect, and he must unlock more value in the intermediate range of the field. He offers a ceiling similar to Odunze if he can make this transition.
Thomas's long-term outlook is strong, but he will have to steal targets from Christian Kirk and Evan Engram. The release of Zay Jones is a positive and considering Gabe Davis' three-year target rate of 16%, Thomas is the favorite to be the No. 3 target-earner in the offense. The question is if he can push even higher in Year 1.
9. Jonathon Brooks | Panthers | RB
- Super Model Score: 46th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: Stash RB4
- Multi-Year Outlook: Low-end RB1
Brooks is the most complete back in the draft, which gives him a ton of outs. As a redshirt sophomore with Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson gone, he busted loose, securing the No. 20 score in the Super Model since 2018. On a per-team-attempt basis, Brooks was the No. 2 Power 5 RB in the class with a 2.22 adjusted yards per attempt (YPTA), and he registered the third-best receiving grade in the class per PFF.
The Panthers might seem like a lousy landing spot to some, but we must keep our minds open to improvement. Bryce Young is still a young player, and the team added Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette and Ja'Tavion Sanders in the offseason.
They also beefed up their offensive line by signing guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. Even if they remain a low-end offense, the RB room isn't strong — Brooks should overtake the lead role quickly once healthy.
Brooks is coming off a late-season ACL injury, so fantasy managers might need patience in Year 1. Still, historically, this type of profile has a great hit rate, with 71% of the RBs in his range of the Super Model reaching a top-24 finish and 48% climbing into the top 12 by Year 2.
Note: If you are wondering how the 46th percentile is a good score, it has to do with draft capital disparity. The 46th percentile ranks 20th out of 215 prospects — you can read more details here.
Brooks is the hands-down RB1 of the 2024 class for dynasty and rookie drafts. He would be inside my top five players if he hadn’t suffered an ACL injury.
Tier 4 - 2024 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings
10. Ladd McConkey | Chargers | WR
- Super Model Score: 52nd percentile
- 2024 Outlook: High-end WR4
- Multi-year Outlook: High-end WR3
McConkey wasn’t a highly lauded recruit, and it took time before he made his mark with the Bulldogs. But he made a difference in a tough conference when he got opportunities, posting the third-highest targeted QB rating in the class.
While some may think of McConkey as an underneath slot weapon, he played outside most snaps (69%) and demonstrated an ability to attack every field depth. He was above average against man coverage (23% target rate) and was lethal against zone (25%).
Under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers will be a run-oriented offense, but there is little target competition. Joshua Palmer is a WR3, and Quentin Johnston was dreadful as a rookie. While we can't expect 125-plus targes from McConkey in Year 1, seeing him lead the team and eclipse 100 won't be surprising. Given that he pairs with a good young QB in Justin Herbert, we could see McConkey broach WR3 territory as a rookie and offer WR2 upside in subsequent seasons.
Since 2018, 41% of prospects who graded in McConkey's range of the Super Model posted a top-36 finish by Year 2, while 27% found their way into the top 24.
11. Keon Coleman | Bills | WR
- Super Model Score: 53rd percentile
- 2024 Outlook: High-end WR4
- Multi-Year Outlook: Mid-range WR3
Coleman slipped down NFL draft boards after running a 4.61 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. However, Buffalo didn't let him last long after the first round, scooping up the 6-foot-3 receiver with the first pick in the second round.
Nov 18, 2023; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Keon Coleman (4) catches a ball in the endzone to score a touchdown against the North Alabama Lions during the third quarter at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports
The big-bodied WR never became an elite target earner at the level of Harrison, Nabers and Odunze, but he still posted strong marks, with a 25% target rate against man and 23% versus zone. Scouts have concerns about his ability to separate at the NFL level, and his adjusted contested-target rate echoed those worries at six percentage points over expected.
He was primarily targeted short (38%) and deep (27%), which is concerning considering his archetype as a non-burner chain-moving prospect. Only 21% of his targets came in the intermediate range (10 to 19 yards).
To unlock his potential in the NFL, he must improve in that aspect of his game to take advantage of soft zone defenses trying to take away deep shots. That is where he can earn Josh Allen's trust and unlock chunk plays. If he fails to improve, he could be a bust because he doesn't possess elite deep speed and doesn't have the quickness to win on a diet of underneath targets.
While Coleman has some bust potential, if things click for him playing with an elite QB1 in Buffalo, the upside is there. He and McConkey grade out closely in the Super Model, with a slight edge to Coleman post draft.
12. Trey Benson | Cardinals | RB
- Super Model Score: 38th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: Mid-range RB4
- Multi-Year Outlook: Low-end RB2
Benson checks the boxes that NFL teams love. He registered the No. 1 Speed Score in the class thanks to his 4.39 40-yard dash at 216 pounds and was slippery to bring down on the field. No other back in the class forced more missed tackles per attempt (0.39), and he ranked fifth in average yards after contact (3.97).
While he offers immediate early-down potential, Benson might never develop into the type of receiving threat that makes him a fantasy superstar. He rarely saw the field on passing downs and wasn't a significant factor when targeted at Florida State. His career PFF receiving grade came in at the 40th percentile. He is good enough as a pass blocker to get on the field in long-down-distance situations and pick up a few check-down passes here and there, but he probably won't take over a two-minute offense at the NFL level.
The third-round pick immediately projects as the No. 2 option behind James Conner in Arizona. If he has a strong camp, he could carve out a role as Conner's change-of-pace counterpart on early downs. Given Conner's propensity to miss games, at some point this year, Benson could get his chance to shine as the lead back.
Benson profiles as one of the more fun RB4 handcuff options this preseason but could deliver RB2 value if Conner misses time. Long-term, Benson has a shot at becoming the next No. 1 option in Arizona but will have to avoid backs with higher draft capital moving forward.
13. Drake Maye | New England | QB
- 2024 Outlook: Low-end QB2
- Multi-Year Outlook: High-end QB2
Maye graded out as one of the best pure pocket passers in the class based on PFF data, as Ian Hartitz noted in Maye's prospect profile.
- No pressure grade: 99th percentile
- Early-down grade: 96th
- No play-action grade: 100th
- Negative play % grade: 91st
- Passes past the sticks grade: 100th
However, don't let that fool you into thinking Maye is a statue in the pocket. His 11% career scramble rate ranked No. 2 in the class behind Daniels, and the Tar Heels also utilized him in the designed run game with 14% of the attempts — also second behind Daniels.
Given the current state of the Patriots receiving corps, Maye might have to lean on his ability to add points via the ground early in his career. They added Ja'Lynn Polk in Round 2 and tagged on Javon Baker in Round 4, so they are trying to improve, but if one of those young WRs doesn't break out in Year 1, there is little to get excited about. Demario Douglas is their best option, but he is an underneath-chain mover who shouldn't be the focal point of a high-end passing attack.
If the Patriots can hit on one of the rookies this season and continue to add around Maye in the coming drafts, he could blossom into a QB1. For season-long contests in 2024, I won't be targeting Maye due to overall offensive concerns.
Tier 5 - 2024 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings
14. Ja'Lynn Polk | Patriots | WR
- Super Model Score: 50th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: High-end WR5
- Multi-Year Outlook: Mid-range WR3
After going to New England at pick five in the second round, Polk is one of my biggest post-draft climbers — up 12 spots in the rankings. Before the draft, I discussed how the Super Model could underestimate Polk due to his crazy target competition at Washington, playing with Odunze and Jalen McMillan. However, he moves up in the model with a massive vote of confidence from the Patriots in draft capital.
Polk demonstrated an ability to attack all layers of the field for the Huskies, but he was particularly good at unlocking deep and intermediate shots down the field. Below is his target profile and how it compares to the NCAA average for a WR.
- Behind the line of scrimmage: 14% (+0 percentage points)
- 0 to 9 yards: 29% (-10)
- 10 to 19 yards: 32% (+4)
- 20-plus yards: 25% (+5)
He didn't post dominant target rates against man or zone coverage, but part of that ties back to his target competition. I would have liked to see a more substantial mark than 19% versus man, a red flag in his profile.
The good news is that the Patriots selected Maye as the third pick in the draft, and there isn't much standing in Polk's way on the depth chart. The two players will have a chance to form a special connection right out of the gate, and we should understand how much potential Polk offers early in his career.
15. Ricky Pearsall | 49ers | WR
- Super Model Score: 49th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: Low-end WR5
- Multi-Year Outlook: High-end WR3
No other WR boosted their draft stock more than "Slick Rick" Pearsall. When the offseason process began, he was a Round 3 prospect, and his journey culminated as the No. 31 pick overall to the 49ers.
Pearsall didn't break out until his fourth and fifth seasons in college, which hurt his score in the Super Model.
However, he was a magician in the middle of the field, with 39% of his targets coming between 10 and 19 yards — the second-most of any WR in this class. Film lovers gush over Pearsall's route-running ability, and apparently, San Francisco agreed with the assessment.
Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) rushes with the ball for a touchdown during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 7, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
Still, I have concerns about Pearsall's numbers versus the film evaluations. Most QBs know who their best players are — whether they are good QBs or not — and will target them when they see man coverage. Pearsall improved throughout his career, reaching 24% in 2022, but his career average was only 19% despite less target competition than many other WRs in the class.
Ultimately, draft capital talks, and Pearsall moves up five spots in the rookie rankings. He could surge in value if San Francisco moves on from Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel next year. For 2024, finding playing time could be challenging outside of an injury to a starter unless the 49ers decide to play more three-WR personnel. Last year, Kyle Shanahan used 11 personnel the second-least (24%) in the NFL.
16. Xavier Legette | Panthers | WR
- Super Model Score: 44th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: High-end WR5
- Multi-Year Outlook: Boom-bust WR4
No other WR's Super Model score is more propped up by draft capital than Legette's. But, to be fair, the model is penalizing Legette for not breaking out until his fifth year, which has historically correlated negatively with future fantasy performance.
I have never seen a profile as extreme as Legette's. He had 76 targets over his first four years before accumulating 97 as a senior. His best target rate against man coverage was 9% until posting a 27% mark as a fifth-year senior. Based on his adjusted career production, only four other WRs fell in a similar range and secured draft capital in the first three rounds.
- Terry McLaurin
- Van Jefferson
- Miles Boykin
- Velus Jones Jr.
Ultimately, Legette grades out in a similar range to McConkey and Coleman in the model, offering similar hit rates. However, their ability to deliver more consistently throughout their careers pushes them above Legette in the rankings.
17. Adonai Mitchell | Colts | WR
- Super Model Score: 44th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: High-end WR5
- Multi-Year Outlook: Boom-bust WR4
Mitchell didn't secure the Round 1 NFL Draft capital many expected, slipping to pick 52 in the second round. He was a polarizing pre-draft prospect because he flashed the raw ability talent evaluators love and checked the height-speed boxes. However, his data profile pointed to inconsistencies that led to low adjusted career production numbers.
Despite some of his inconsistencies, Mitchell will have a chance to challenge Alec Pierce for the outside WR2 role opposite Michael Pittman Jr. as a rookie. Pierce has yet to carve out many looks after two seasons with a 13% target rate. That leaves the door open for Mitchell, who was a certifiable deep threat over his collegiate career, with 25% of his targets coming 20-plus yards downfield. Mitchell converted those opportunities into 519 yards and eight TDs.
We still have questions about Anthony Richardson as a passer, and the Colts could lean into the run game in the immediate future. However, Mitchell has a reasonable path to playing time, and if he ever develops in the other areas of his game, he could become a significant factor in two to three seasons.
18. J.J. McCarthy | Vikings | QB
- 2024 Outlook: Low-end QB2
- Multi-Year Outlook: Mid-range QB2
McCarthy wasn't asked to pass the ball as often as the other top draft picks at QB. But that shouldn't be a surprise. Jim Harbaugh opted to deploy a run-first offense even when he had Andrew Luck at Stanford. So, we shouldn't hold the low passing volume against McCarthy, and clearly the NFL didn't, with the Michigan signal caller going No. 11 in the first round.
Most of McCarthy's per-attempt metrics are in line with the other QBs in the class, except for Williams, who stands above the rest. However, he could have been more involved in the run game, handling only 7% of the designed attempts and scrambling 5.7% of dropbacks. He could use his athleticism to unlock more at the NFL level, but on the surface he doesn't offer the same rushing potential as Daniels, Williams or Maye.
The Vikings provide a great landing spot with a passing attack that boasts Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison. You don't have to run much with those weapons to unlock top-12 QB upside. In McCarthy's scouting profile, Chris Allen compared him with the Vikings' former signal caller Kirk Cousins.
19. Jermaine Burton | Bengals | WR
- Super Model Score: 40th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: High-end WR5
- Multi-Year Outlook: Boom-bust WR4
Burton stood out as one of the most underrated receivers in the Rookie Super Model, ranking in the same tier as WRs expected to go earlier than him in the draft. His closest data comps in the model were George Pickens and Nico Collins.
He demonstrated that he could stretch the field in college, with 28% of his targets coming 20-plus yards downfield. However, his ability to earn targets in the intermediate range of the field was even more impressive. No other WR in the class earned more of their targets than Burton (40%) between 10 and 19 yards downfield.
The Bengals depth chart offers a realistic path to relevance as soon as 2024 without a high-end WR3 option. Burton's future gets even brighter if Tee Higgins moves on after this season, making him one of my priority targets in all draft formats.
20. Troy Franklin | Broncos | WR
- Super Model Score: 37th percentile
- 2024 Outlook: High-end WR5
- Multi-Year Outlook: Boom-bust WR4
Franklin is one of the biggest fallers in the post-draft rankings. At one point, he was considered a late Round 1 prospect, but he was selected with the second pick in Round 4 of the NFL Draft.
While some might argue that the Super Model shouldn't move prospects so much based on draft capital, I disagree, especially when most teams had to pass on Franklin multiple times to allow him to fall to Round 4. That is more problematic than pushing a player way up in the model when they go sooner than expected because that only takes one team.
Having said all of that, Franklin was once thought of as an elite prospect. He was the No. 3 recruit in the 2021 class who broke out early in his career. He never put together an elite season, but he was exceptional with the ball in his hands, with the fourth-best targeted QB rating since 2018.
He was below average against zone coverage compared to his peers, but when his QBs knew he had man coverage, they peppered him with targets 28% of the time. When you add all that up, he still profiles as a WR with the tools necessary to become a WR2 or WR3, and the Broncos don't have much target competition.
