As the 2024 NFL Draft class continues to take shape, it’s time to take stock of which prospects are going to dominate the early-round conversation for the next four months.

The Athletic’s consensus Big Board combines rankings from a wide range of draft experts to identify how the top prospects are viewed relative to the rest of their class. In theory, by the time we reach draft weekend, these rankings should help give us a handle on how the picks could (or, at least, should) play out.

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Let’s see how things have shifted since our initial consensus board …

2024 NFL Draft Consensus Board

A few thoughts from draft expert Diante Lee on the updated board:

1. Is there any real separation between the top two QBs?

Caleb Williams still sports a narrow edge over Drake Maye, but Maye has drawn closer at every checkpoint this year. Williams had two years of incredible production and regularly bailed out USC with his raw talent and creativity out of structure. Meanwhile, Maye’s efficiency within the pocket, processing speed through progressions and anticipation were the anchors for North Carolina’s offense.

The two QBs have different throwing mechanics, but both are clean and compact. Maye’s consistently upright posture reminds me of Carson Palmer, as he generates power from the ground up. Williams relies more on creating torque with his core, so his feet can be divorced from his throwing motion without hindering his passes — similar to Russell Wilson or Kyler Murray.

The passing profiles and tendencies with throws are where these two really diverge. Maye is an exceptional touch passer, and he can accurately layer throws 15-plus yards downfield as well as any quarterback you’ll evaluate. If you’re pushing the ball vertically, Maye is going to give your receivers a chance to win on the perimeter.

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Williams’ strength is how he delivers the ball in ways that allow his receivers to create offense after the catch. Even when he’s off platform, Williams can put the ball comfortably within a receiver’s catch radius and lead them to open grass. We know that Williams can throw deep, but he’d thrive most in an NFL offense that gives him options in the short/intermediate area and prioritizes yards after catch.

It’s often a cop-out to say the rankings are a matter of preference, but both prospects are so impressive in what they do well, it’s hard to make a definitive argument for one over the other. I was wrong in 2021, thinking that Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields were neck and neck. This time, though, we have the real thing.

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You’ll almost never see a consensus draft board with a player at a non-premium position ranked at the top — especially when there are franchise quarterbacks and offensive tackles involved. Marvin Harrison Jr. is as close to a Madden-created player as there is at his position, though, and he’s the most talented overall prospect entering the NFL in 2024.

Based on positional value, Williams and Maye will be the top two picks, but Harrison should be in play as soon as they’re off the table.

He’s the best in the country folks. 🗣️@MarvHarrisonJr | @biletnikoffawrd

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 9, 2023

What is he worth if you’re not in the hunt for a QB, though? As it stands now, the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots are tied for the second-worst record in football (3-11), so let’s game this out. If you’re the Chicago Bears — guaranteed to get a new QB, provided the draft slot you own via the Carolina Panthers holds at No. 1 — why wouldn’t you put your own first (currently No. 5) on the table and try to land that third pick, too? That way, you could pair your new QB with Harrison, a sure-fire top target from Day 1.

Arizona owns two first-round selections in this draft, too. If Murray has earned himself more time as the QB and the Cardinals wind up at No. 2, would they consider shopping that pick to a team out of QB range, then turning around and trading back up to No. 3 with their surplus draft capital?

For a team that needs a difference-maker to play with a young QB (Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, etc.), that’s the kind of market that warps the trade market in favor of the seller. The Atlanta Falcons paid the price of two firsts, a second and two fourths for Julio Jones in 2011, and Harrison is just as valuable. Considering the inevitable jostling by teams wanting QBs and tackles in the top 10, I would not be shocked in the least to see a major trade up to grab Harrison, the current No. 1 prospect in this class.

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3. Can the top defensive prospects garner any national praise?

The best feature of the consensus board is that we get a snapshot of what position groups are gaining (or losing) traction as the draft approaches. And, right now, there just aren’t many defensive players garnering attention as franchise-changing talents.

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A few guys I would plant a flag on, though: Dallas Turner (No. 7 on the board), Kool-Aid McKinstry (No. 8) and Jer’Zhan Newton (No. 13).

Turner was lights out as an edge rusher — with a pressure rate of 20 percent — and took a big step forward with his motor and edge setting in the run game. There are always concerns about a speed rusher’s ability to deal with physicality at the next level, but Turner was a rock in all parts of his game this year.

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McKinstry earned the respect of FBS passers in 2022 (16 passes defended), then teams stopped bothering him for most of this year. His length, speed and fluid hips give him an All-Pro ceiling, and he fits in any defense.

Newton is a wonder to watch, with an uncanny knack for rushing the passer. He had 13.0 sacks over the last two years — incredible production for a defensive tackle, but not a surprise when you watch the film. Newton has a better get-off, pass-rushing approach and repertoire of moves than most of the edge rushers in this class. The production carried over to the run game, too, where he notched a combined 19 run stuffs in 2022-23. He has the anchor and agility to play against zone and gap schemes, and he knows when to take chances in the backfield.

You probably won’t hear much national talk about these guys between now and the combine, but teams at the top of the draft that don’t need QBs will be eager to snag them — especially if they slide.

4. The 2024 class is packed with potential franchise offensive tackles

The 2023 NFL Draft had several strong OT prospects taken in the first round, but this year’s tackle class is even better at the top.

Olu Fashanu (No. 6 on this board) has been slotted in as a top-10 talent since last year. Joe Alt (No. 5) got significantly better in all aspects of his game — so much so that he’s leapt to OT1 on the consensus board.

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JC Latham (No. 10) and Amarius Mims (No. 20) are both potential cornerstone right tackles and might be ranked higher if they played on the left side, though I expect Mims to climb by combine/pro-day season.

Each of these prospects is a high-level athlete, meets all measurable thresholds at the position and has put up good tape against top-end pass rushers in the FBS. I don’t think there will be any issues with scheme fit either, as each can play in a downhill run scheme or a wide-open offense. Once the top quarterbacks clear the board, we’ll see a run on tackles in the top 10.

(Photos of Chop Robinson, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze: Scott Taetsch, Jason Mowry and Alika Jenner / Getty Images)

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