Gus’ Tiers: ‘My Guys’ in the 2024 NFL Draft

Welcome to the latest edition of “Gus’ Tiers” at 1010XL/92.5 FM!

Each Wednesday, I’ll be using Tiermaker dot com to create a 100% correct ranking of a timely subject related to the Jacksonville Jaguars/NFL landscape.

For this week’s Tier, I ranked my favorite prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday at 8:00 p.m. ET.

First rounders: Drake Maye, Malik Nabers, Cooper DeJean, Dallas Turner, Graham Barton

I’m a bit biased towards Maye because his play style reminds me of Trevor Lawrence, but I believe he’s much closer to being in the same tier as Caleb Williams than Jayden Daniels or J.J. McCarthy. 

Nabers and DeJean are freakish athletes with enough polish in their games to be game-breakers at the next level. Meanwhile, Turner and Barton check a lot of boxes and are two of the highest-floor prospects in the class. 

Big fan but bad medicals: Laiaitu Latu, Johnny Newton, Troy Fautanu, Amarius Mims, Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

I’m certainly not alone in having this thought, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Latu, Newton and Fautanu are top 10 talents. Their injury history could cause them to slide in the first round, though. 

Mims will fall due to injuries and lack of experience; Rakestraw Jr. will fall due to injuries and size/athleticism concerns. They’d both be excellent late Round 1 or early Round 2 selections if their medicals aren’t too frightening. 

Day 2 trenches: Michael Hall Jr., Mekhi Wingo, Dominick Puni, Roger Rosengarten, Brandon Coleman

I’m not much of a lineman expert so I typically look to national experts to fill me in. After researching the draft for the past few months, I’d love to see the Jaguars go with Hall Jr. or Wingo (defensive tackles) or Puni or Rosengarten or Coleman (offensive linemen). 

Late skill players: MarShawn Lloyd, Dylan Laube, Cornelius Johnson, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Dallin Holker

These are a few players who I don’t expect to ever become households names, but could still carve out notable roles in the NFL. Lloyd and Laube are two of my favorite running backs in the class (and Audric Estime, though he’s more of a mid-round player). 

Johnson and Rosemy-Jacksaint have big builds and strong underlying statistics. Holker is the best tight end flier to take not named Erick All, who is this year’s poster child for the category. 

Other gems: Xavier Thomas, Decamerion Richardson, Qwan’tez Stiggers, Justin Rogers, Travis Glover

Thomas would be an excellent late-round EDGE target, as he’s an older prospect but has some of the best tape in the class.

Richardson fits want the Jaguars are looking for in its cornerbacks under Ryan Nielsen, and Stiggers is an underrated prospect out of the CFL.

Rogers and Glover are late-round trench players to keep your eyes on.

Overhyped: Jayden Daniels, Adonai Mitchell, Patrick Paul, Darius Robinson, Bralen Trice

I like Jayden Daniels, and all of these players really, but this section is saved for prospects who are projected to be drafted higher than I’d personally take them. Daniels’ skinny frame is a real concern, and his comparisons to Lamar Jackson are laughable – Jackson was *much* more advanced as a college passer and is one-of-one as a runner.

Mitchell is the player I’m most nervous about proving me wrong, but there are concerns with his effort level and career production. I simply do not think Patrick Paul is good enough to be taken before Day 3.

I expect Robinson and Trice to be good pros, but their respective stocks are a bit high for my liking. Edge defenders with strength and grit usually shoot up draft boards. Look for Robinson to be selected by the Lions tomorrow night. 

@ me on Twitter to tell me where I went wrong (@gus_logue)