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I'll do the UDFAs if he has anything on them.
4. TALIESE FUAGA | Oregon State 6056 | 324 lbs. | 4JR Tacoma, Wash. (Mount Tahoma) 4/5/2002 (age 22.06) #75
BACKGROUND: Taliese (Tall-EE-s-a) Fuaga (Foo-AH-gah), who is one of five children (four boys, one girl), was born and raised in Tacoma. He is of Samoan descent. Following in the footsteps of his three older brothers, he grew up playing football and developed a love for the physicality of the sport. Like his older siblings, Fuaga enrolled at Mount Tahoma High School and was a four-year varsity letterman on both the offensive and defensive lines. He started at left tackle as a sophomore and played both left tackle and left guard as a junior, which earned him second team All-League honors. As a senior, Fuaga was named first team All-Area and All-League on offense and second team All-League on defense after posting 40 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was recognized as one of the top players in the area, despite Mount Tahoma winning only two games over his final three seasons (Mount Tahoma went 5-35 over his four-year prep career). While in high school, Fuaga trained at Athletic Edge Performance with coach Faipea Ava.
A three-star recruit, Fuaga was the No. 130 offensive tackle in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 20 recruit in Washington. After Fuaga showed out at a recruiting showcase the summer before his senior year, several FBS programs took notice, and he received his first offer (Nevada), followed by Oregon and Oregon State. Fuaga also received an offer from USC, but no school recruited him harder than Oregon State, a program Fuaga saw as being “on the rise.” He committed to the Beavers close to signing day and was the 17th-ranked recruit in former head coach Jonathan Smith’s 2020 class. Fuaga became the first player from his high school since 2008 to sign with a Pac-12 football program. He majored in sociology at Oregon State. Fuaga accepted an invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl and was voted the top
offensive tackle on the National team during the week of practice.
STRENGTHS: Large, big-boned frame and comfortably carries his mass … efficient out of his stance with functional movements … a people -mover in the run game with the length to lock out and steer … the pop in his hands will send defenders flying in the opposite direction … balanced slide quickness in pass protection to push
speed wide of the pocket … plays with strike-ready hands and doesn’t appear stressed with his punch/recoil … uses snatch technique to center his blocks with stout base strength … handles stunts well in concert with his neighbor … efficiently reaches his landmarks at the second level and out in space … voted a team captain in
2023 and his coaches describe him as “accountable” and “loyal” (he had offers to transfer to bigger programs in both high sch ool and college but wanted to be part of the building process where he was) … toughness was cultivated and nurtured by his three older brothers … started 25 straight games the last two seasons.
WEAKNESSES: His arm length and lateral range are only average by NFL standards … tends to pop upright earlier in the rep than you want … his hands will arrive before his lower body and his feet can get tied up versus savvy rushers in space … can be beaten by heavy cross-chops … lacks twitch in his redirect for quick
recoveries … love his mean streak on the field, although he needs to stay disciplined (see unnecessary roughness penalty on 2023 Washington State tape) … tries to get a head start and was flagged for six false starts in 2023, including twice on the Washington tape … played left tackle and guard in high school, but 100 percent of his 1,565 offensive snaps in college came at right tackle.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Oregon State, Fuaga was entrenched at right tackle in former head coach Jonathan Smith’s zone-based run scheme. He became the starting right tackle prior to the 2022 season and finished his career starting 25 straight games, earning team captain and All-American status in 2023. Arguably the top run-blocking lineman in the draft, Fuaga is quick into contact and creates immediate displacement with his aggressive mentality and stiff, controlled hands.
Though he has functional athleticism and technique for the edges, his first reflex is to use his hands in pass pro, which leads to him oversetting or undersetting versus pass-rush counters (and highlights his lack of elite range and length). Overall, Fuaga has only average play range and can be dinged here and there for minor flaws, but he has the size, core strength and balance to be a plug-and-play starter in the NFL (reminiscent of Taylor Decker). Some teams view him best inside at guard, while others want to keep him at right tackle (Duke Manyweather compares him to Mike Iupati).
GRADE: 1st Round (No. 17 overall)
5. KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY | Alabama 5114 | 196 lbs. | 3JR Birmingham, Ala. (Pinson Valley) 9/30/2002 (age 21.57) #1
BACKGROUND: Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry, an only child, grew up in Birmingham. He earned the “Kool-Aid” nickname from his maternal grandmother (Brenda Allen), who said he had a “Kool-Aid smile” from birth. McKinstry started playing football at age 5, primarily as a running back, and was an avid basketball player throughout childhood. McKinstry was a wide receiver and cornerback in middle school and started working out with the Pinson Valley High School varsity squad while
in eighth grade. As a freshman, he primarily played wide receiver and caught passes from quarterback Bo Nix, until an injury in the secondary increased his role at cornerback. McKinstry helped lead Pinson Valley to a 15-0 record and the 2017 6A state championship, delivering a forced fumble and interception in the title game. Despite Pinson Valley losing its 2018 season opener, McKinstry helped the program win another state title and earned first team All-State honors on defense.
Prior to McKinstry’s senior season, head coach Patrick Nix (Bo’s father and a former college football quarterback and head coach), left to take a different job; Sam Shade, a former Alabama and NFL safety and coach, took over as head coach for the 2020 season. As a senior, McKinstry won his third state championship at Pinson Valley (defeated Spanish Fort in Bryant-Denny Stadium). He was named Alabama’s Mr. Football and the USA Today Male Athlete of the Year with 45 catches for 706 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding 22 tackles, 12 pass breakups and a pair of interceptions, despite offenses often not throwing his direction. McKinstry was also a standout basketball player at Pinson Valley and surpassed 1,000 points in his prep career. As a sophomore guard, he helped the program win its first state championship, notching 15 points and five rebounds in the title game. As a junior, McKinstry averaged 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
A five-star recruit, McKinstry was the No. 1 cornerback in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Alabama. He was ranked No. 18 nationally and was the sixth highest-ranked defensive player in the class. As a freshman, he received his first Division I offer, from his hometown UAB (August 2017). Before the end of his freshman year, McKinstry added offers from more than half the SEC, including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Tennessee. He added offers from national programs, like Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State, but he wanted to stay in the SEC footprint and named a top three of Alabama, Auburn and LSU. McKinstry had grown up an Alabama fan and always envisioned him winning a national title for the Tide, though, so he officially committed midway through his senior year. He was the No. 4 recruit in Nick Saban’s 2021 class (behind JC Latham, Tommy Brockermeyer and Dallas Turner). Hoping to be a dual-sport athlete in college, McKinstry — who’d also been recruited by Nate Oats — practiced with the Alabama basketball team after enrolling in January 2021 until football spring practices started. He decided to give up basketball and focus on football in 2022. McKinstry has several NIL deals, including (of course) the Kool-Aid drink brand. He graduated with his degree from Alabama (December 2023). He elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
STRENGTHS: Patient athlete in his mirror techniques to limit wasted movements … balanced lower body and hips for smooth transitions … not only does he have long arms, but he knows how to use them to disrupt air space … has a knack for reading the eyes of receivers with his back to the ball and knowing when to get his hands up to attack the catch point … didn’t commit a penalty in 2023 … does a nice job seeing through receivers, shedding/avoiding the block and making the tackle (had
two missed tackles against Texas in 2023, but only one the rest of the season) … accounted for 418 punt-return yards over the last two seasons (fifth most in the FBS over that span), averaging 11.3 yards per return … carries himself with confidence on and off the field and has an “alpha personality,” according to his coaches … physically and emotionally resilient and didn’t miss a game after stepping foot in Tuscaloosa three years ago.
WEAKNESSES: Average speed and twitch by NFL standards … requires a beat to gear down, unfurl his long legs and react to sudden route change … got his hands on plenty of footballs but had only two interceptions (2,199 defensive snaps) … average competitiveness on tape, especially compared to Terrion Arnold on the other side of Alabama’s secondary … normally a strong tackler; misses usually come from lazily throwing his shoulder and bouncing off the ball carrier instead of wrapping up and finishing … muffed five punts over the last two seasons … didn’t miss any games in college but suffered a concussion vs. Georgia in the SEC Championship Game (December 2023) and sat out most of the second half; combine medicals revealed a Jones fracture in his right foot … outside-only corner in college.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Alabama, McKinstry lined up primarily at right outside cornerback in former head coach Nick Saban’s scheme (9 9.1 percent of his snaps came out wide). After starting for Saban as a freshman and leading the SEC in passes defended as a sophomore, his production was cut in half in 2023 — but so were his targets (from 80 to 39), and his tape was incrementally better each of the last three seasons. Although he lacks sudden twitch in his movements, McKinstry
plays with a confident and controlled demeanor. NFL scouts say that both LSU receivers in this draft class (Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.) have called McKinstry the best cornerback they faced in college. He raises the degree of difficulty for completions with his length and ability to play through the hands of receivers. Overall, McKinstry doesn’t play with high-level speed or aggression, but he is a long, smooth athlete with the football IQ that should translate quickly to an NFL field. His game reminds me of James Bradberry’s, and he will compete for starting reps as a rookie.
GRADE: 1st-2nd Round (No. 30 overall)
7. SPENCER RATTLER | South Carolina 6002 | 211 lbs. | 5SR Phoenix, Ariz. (Pinnacle) 9/28/2000 (age 23.58) #7
BACKGROUND: Spencer Rattler, the oldest of two children, was born and raised in the Phoenix area. From a young age, he was active in sports and played basketball at the Boys and Girls Club. Rattler started playing football at age 7 and began to make a name for himself as one of the top youth quarterbacks in the area. He led the Scottsdale Firebirds, one of the top youth programs in the state, to four Arizona youth championships and was named United Youth Football Player of the Year in 2012. His No. 7 Firebirds jersey is now retired (the only retired number in the youth team’s storied history). He started working with private quarterback coach Mike Giovando at age 10. Rattler enrolled at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix and was thrust into the starting quarterback role on varsity as a freshman after the previous starter quit the team. He finished his first season with 56.2 percent completions, 2,381 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. As a sophomore, Rattler improved to 62.5 percent completions with 2,893 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He had his best season as a junior and led Pinnacle to a nine-win season, including the 2017 sectional title and a win in the first round of the 6A state playoffs. Rattler finished his junior season with 64.9 percent completions for 3,946, 45 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, earning all-conference and All-State honors. Pinnacle entered the 2018 season as contenders for the state championship, but Rattler was ruled ineligible midway through the season for a violation of the code of conduct.
He finished his senior season with 66.5 percent completions, 1,863 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and three interceptions. Rattler finished his career with the state 6A record for career passing touchdowns (116) and became the first quarterback in state history to eclipse 11,000 passing yards. He also finished his prep career with 1,040 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns (also had one touchdown grab as a senior). He also lettered in basketball at Pinnacle and averaged 13.6 points, 3.1
rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as a junior.
A five-star recruit, Rattler was the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the 2019 class and the No. 1 recruit in Arizona. He was the No. 11 recruit nationally. Rattler started to hear recruiting pitches from colleges in seventh grade and received his first offer, from nearby Arizona State, after his freshman season. Offers from Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and several others soon followed. While he was on a visit at USC in June 2017, Rattler received a message from Lincoln Riley saying he was going to be named the Sooners’ head coach for a retiring Bob Stoops. Less than a month later, Rattler committed to Oklahoma. He was named the 2018 Elite 11 quarterback competition MVP in Los Angeles (over an impressive field of passers including Jayden Daniels, Sam Howell and Bo Nix). Rattler was the No. 1 recruit in Riley’s 2019 class. After redshirting in 2020 behind Jalen Hurts, Rattler became the Sooners’ starter in 2020. Midway through the 2021 season, he was benched in favor of Caleb Williams and entered the transfer portal after the regular-season finale in November 2021, calling Oklahoma a ”toxic situation.” Rattler reconnected with South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, who previously had been an assistant coach in Norman, and transferred to the Gamecocks in December
2021. His younger sister and only sibling (Olivia) plays college volleyball at Missouri State. Rattler accepted his invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl and was named MVP of the Senior Bowl game.
STRENGTHS: Aesthetically pleasing passer with his fluid release and impressive arm talent … throws from a wide, balanced base and delivers with confidence from any platform … can get the ball out with zip to access small windows … keeps his vision downfield with patience to allow routes to develop … trusts his anticipation to deliver before receivers are out of their breaks … loves to push the ball downfield and would run four verts every other play if he could … outstanding with ball fakes
and mechanical repetition is a focus for him … effective scrambler to buy time, improvise or pick up positive yardage when it is given to him … compact body with solid bulk on his frame and large hands … worked to rebuild his image after transferring to South Carolina and was voted a team captain as a junior and senior … tremendous work ethic and dedication to his craft … finished his career with a 28 -14 record as a college starter … started all 25 games and posted consistent production in his two seasons with the Gamecocks — his 3,186 passing yards in 2023 were the third most in a season in school history.
WEAKNESSES: His pocket movements and field reads are too systematic … decision-making isn’t a glaring issue, but his 2023 tape still showed more misreads and immature mistakes than you want to see (three intentional grounding penalties vs. Texas A&M) … can get reckless with the football (combined 20 interceptions and 14 fumbles over his two seasons at South Carolina) … accuracy sees a slight decline on the move or when attempting to drive the ball … staggering home/road splits in 2023: 74.7 percent completions and 20 total touchdowns at home; 59.3 percent completions and three touchdowns on the road … character and leadership skills will be put under a microscope by NFL teams: gained a reputation as an “attention seeker” and for rubbing many the wrong way, both in high school and at Oklahoma (his appearance on the Netflix series “QB1: Beyond the Lights” during his senior year of high school was less than flattering); ruled ineligible for the second half of his high school senior season after violating a district code of conduct (Rattler: “I made a childish and dumb mistake.”).
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at South Carolina, Rattler performed well in offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains’ pass-first, pro-style scheme. After a turbulent three seasons in Norman, he put steady play on film in two seasons with the Gamecocks and set the school record for career completion percentage (67.5 percent), despite inconsistent surroundings (the South Carolina offensive line had a different front-five combination in 10 of 12 games in 2023). With repeatable mechanics and an athletic release, Rattler has NFL-level arm strength plus a natural feel for touch and poise in his process. However, his decision-making and timing must show better consistency (both in structure and out of structure). Overall, Rattler has a methodical play style and needs to be more urgent in his movements/reads, but he has the arm talent, self-confidence and work habits that give him a fighting chance to work his way up an NFL depth chart. He offers upside at the position, but the interview process will be crucial to his draft grades.
GRADE: 3rd Round (No. 72 overall)
32. BUB MEANS | Pittsburgh 6010 | 212 lbs. | 5SR Lovejoy, Ga. (Lovejoy) 1/10/2001 (age 23.29) #0
BACKGROUND: Jerrod “Bub” Means was born in Las Vegas before his family relocated to the Atlanta area when he was age 4. He started playing football at age 8, and it quickly became his go-to sport. Means originally attended Hampton High School, where he played wide receiver and safety on varsity for two seasons. Prior to his junior season, he transferred 15 minutes up the road to Lovejoy High School (higher classification), where he lined up at wildcat quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback and safety. As a junior in 2017, he recorded 423 receiving yards and five touchdown grabs. As a senior, Means missed several games because of an ankle injury, but he was productive when healthy with 19 catches for 460 yards (24.2 average) and six touchdowns, earning All-Region honors. He also lettered in basketball and track (sprints and relays) in high school and set a personal best of 11.68 seconds in the 100 meters.
A three-star recruit, Means was the No. 221 wide receiver in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 185 recruit in Georgia. Following his junior season, he picked up his first scholarship offer (Troy) in January 2018. Means also received offers from Ball State, Miami (Ohio), Southern Miss and several FCS programs. The summer before his senior year, he attended a camp at Tennessee and picked up an offer from the Volunteers — his first Power 5 scholarship offer. Midway through his senior season,
Means received an offer from North Carolina and committed to the Tar Heels in November 2018. However, he decommitted a few weeks later and considered Northwestern and Rutgers before choosing Tennessee on signing day. Means was the lowest-ranked recruit in former head coach Jeremy Pruitt’s 2019 class. After playing one season in Knoxville as a cornerback, he transferred to Louisiana Tech in May 2020 and moved back to wide receiver. After two years, Means entered the transfer portal in April 2022 and transferred to Pittsburgh for his final two seasons. His mentor is Tiquan Underwood, who was Pitt’s wide receiver coach and is now
on Jerod Mayo’s New England Patriots staff. Means accepted his invitation to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.
STRENGTHS: Good-sized athlete with the long arms needed to be a high-point specialist … builds his speed and creates vertical separation once he stacks the cornerback (1.83-second “flying 20” time) … uses initial burst and body strength to power through press … positions himself well at the catch point to get the upper hand on contested windows … strong hands to finish through traffic … had at least one catch of 20 -plus yards in 10 of 12 games in 2023 … has kick-return experience and averaged 21.0 yards per return (13/273/0) … played cornerback in 2019 at Tennessee, which helped develop his toughness and feel for routes … receiving output improved each season, and he played the best ball of his career over the final month of the 2023 season.
WEAKNESSES: Unpolished route runner and needs to develop more of a rhythmic tempo in the drive phase … head/body-route fakes aren’t always synchronized to his feet … inconsistent sink and snap at the break point … needs to be better working back to the football, rather than waiting for it … prematurely gives up on his route path at times … needs to show better effort preventing interceptions on bad throws (see 2023 Notre Dame tape) … can run away from pursuit with a runway, but he doesn’t have a lot of “make you miss” to create YAC … inconsistent perimeter blocker, especially considering his size and strength (two holding penalties in 2023) …fumbled twice over the last two seasons … doesn’t have a ton of special-teams experience … responsible for only one 100-yard receiving game in his career.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Pittsburgh, Means was an outside wide receiver in former offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti’s pro-style spread. Playing at three different programs the past five years, he learned under four different coordinators (and several more quarterbacks) and showed gradual improvements each season, posting career bests in 2023. Means has the linear burst to challenge early in the route and above-average acceleration to win late (ran the third-fastest 40-yard dash at the combine, among prospects who weighed 210 pounds or more). His hand strength and large catch radius stand out on tape, but so do his route inefficiencies. Overall, Means doesn’t bring much route deception for easy separation, but he is an impressive height -weight-speed athlete with ball-winning ability downfield. He will compete for a backup role in the NFL and is reminiscent of a discounted version of Cedric Tillman.
GRADE: 6th-7th Round
4. TALIESE FUAGA | Oregon State 6056 | 324 lbs. | 4JR Tacoma, Wash. (Mount Tahoma) 4/5/2002 (age 22.06) #75
BACKGROUND: Taliese (Tall-EE-s-a) Fuaga (Foo-AH-gah), who is one of five children (four boys, one girl), was born and raised in Tacoma. He is of Samoan descent. Following in the footsteps of his three older brothers, he grew up playing football and developed a love for the physicality of the sport. Like his older siblings, Fuaga enrolled at Mount Tahoma High School and was a four-year varsity letterman on both the offensive and defensive lines. He started at left tackle as a sophomore and played both left tackle and left guard as a junior, which earned him second team All-League honors. As a senior, Fuaga was named first team All-Area and All-League on offense and second team All-League on defense after posting 40 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was recognized as one of the top players in the area, despite Mount Tahoma winning only two games over his final three seasons (Mount Tahoma went 5-35 over his four-year prep career). While in high school, Fuaga trained at Athletic Edge Performance with coach Faipea Ava.
A three-star recruit, Fuaga was the No. 130 offensive tackle in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 20 recruit in Washington. After Fuaga showed out at a recruiting showcase the summer before his senior year, several FBS programs took notice, and he received his first offer (Nevada), followed by Oregon and Oregon State. Fuaga also received an offer from USC, but no school recruited him harder than Oregon State, a program Fuaga saw as being “on the rise.” He committed to the Beavers close to signing day and was the 17th-ranked recruit in former head coach Jonathan Smith’s 2020 class. Fuaga became the first player from his high school since 2008 to sign with a Pac-12 football program. He majored in sociology at Oregon State. Fuaga accepted an invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl and was voted the top
offensive tackle on the National team during the week of practice.
STRENGTHS: Large, big-boned frame and comfortably carries his mass … efficient out of his stance with functional movements … a people -mover in the run game with the length to lock out and steer … the pop in his hands will send defenders flying in the opposite direction … balanced slide quickness in pass protection to push
speed wide of the pocket … plays with strike-ready hands and doesn’t appear stressed with his punch/recoil … uses snatch technique to center his blocks with stout base strength … handles stunts well in concert with his neighbor … efficiently reaches his landmarks at the second level and out in space … voted a team captain in
2023 and his coaches describe him as “accountable” and “loyal” (he had offers to transfer to bigger programs in both high sch ool and college but wanted to be part of the building process where he was) … toughness was cultivated and nurtured by his three older brothers … started 25 straight games the last two seasons.
WEAKNESSES: His arm length and lateral range are only average by NFL standards … tends to pop upright earlier in the rep than you want … his hands will arrive before his lower body and his feet can get tied up versus savvy rushers in space … can be beaten by heavy cross-chops … lacks twitch in his redirect for quick
recoveries … love his mean streak on the field, although he needs to stay disciplined (see unnecessary roughness penalty on 2023 Washington State tape) … tries to get a head start and was flagged for six false starts in 2023, including twice on the Washington tape … played left tackle and guard in high school, but 100 percent of his 1,565 offensive snaps in college came at right tackle.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Oregon State, Fuaga was entrenched at right tackle in former head coach Jonathan Smith’s zone-based run scheme. He became the starting right tackle prior to the 2022 season and finished his career starting 25 straight games, earning team captain and All-American status in 2023. Arguably the top run-blocking lineman in the draft, Fuaga is quick into contact and creates immediate displacement with his aggressive mentality and stiff, controlled hands.
Though he has functional athleticism and technique for the edges, his first reflex is to use his hands in pass pro, which leads to him oversetting or undersetting versus pass-rush counters (and highlights his lack of elite range and length). Overall, Fuaga has only average play range and can be dinged here and there for minor flaws, but he has the size, core strength and balance to be a plug-and-play starter in the NFL (reminiscent of Taylor Decker). Some teams view him best inside at guard, while others want to keep him at right tackle (Duke Manyweather compares him to Mike Iupati).
GRADE: 1st Round (No. 17 overall)
5. KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY | Alabama 5114 | 196 lbs. | 3JR Birmingham, Ala. (Pinson Valley) 9/30/2002 (age 21.57) #1
BACKGROUND: Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry, an only child, grew up in Birmingham. He earned the “Kool-Aid” nickname from his maternal grandmother (Brenda Allen), who said he had a “Kool-Aid smile” from birth. McKinstry started playing football at age 5, primarily as a running back, and was an avid basketball player throughout childhood. McKinstry was a wide receiver and cornerback in middle school and started working out with the Pinson Valley High School varsity squad while
in eighth grade. As a freshman, he primarily played wide receiver and caught passes from quarterback Bo Nix, until an injury in the secondary increased his role at cornerback. McKinstry helped lead Pinson Valley to a 15-0 record and the 2017 6A state championship, delivering a forced fumble and interception in the title game. Despite Pinson Valley losing its 2018 season opener, McKinstry helped the program win another state title and earned first team All-State honors on defense.
Prior to McKinstry’s senior season, head coach Patrick Nix (Bo’s father and a former college football quarterback and head coach), left to take a different job; Sam Shade, a former Alabama and NFL safety and coach, took over as head coach for the 2020 season. As a senior, McKinstry won his third state championship at Pinson Valley (defeated Spanish Fort in Bryant-Denny Stadium). He was named Alabama’s Mr. Football and the USA Today Male Athlete of the Year with 45 catches for 706 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding 22 tackles, 12 pass breakups and a pair of interceptions, despite offenses often not throwing his direction. McKinstry was also a standout basketball player at Pinson Valley and surpassed 1,000 points in his prep career. As a sophomore guard, he helped the program win its first state championship, notching 15 points and five rebounds in the title game. As a junior, McKinstry averaged 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
A five-star recruit, McKinstry was the No. 1 cornerback in the 2021 recruiting class and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Alabama. He was ranked No. 18 nationally and was the sixth highest-ranked defensive player in the class. As a freshman, he received his first Division I offer, from his hometown UAB (August 2017). Before the end of his freshman year, McKinstry added offers from more than half the SEC, including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Tennessee. He added offers from national programs, like Clemson, Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State, but he wanted to stay in the SEC footprint and named a top three of Alabama, Auburn and LSU. McKinstry had grown up an Alabama fan and always envisioned him winning a national title for the Tide, though, so he officially committed midway through his senior year. He was the No. 4 recruit in Nick Saban’s 2021 class (behind JC Latham, Tommy Brockermeyer and Dallas Turner). Hoping to be a dual-sport athlete in college, McKinstry — who’d also been recruited by Nate Oats — practiced with the Alabama basketball team after enrolling in January 2021 until football spring practices started. He decided to give up basketball and focus on football in 2022. McKinstry has several NIL deals, including (of course) the Kool-Aid drink brand. He graduated with his degree from Alabama (December 2023). He elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
STRENGTHS: Patient athlete in his mirror techniques to limit wasted movements … balanced lower body and hips for smooth transitions … not only does he have long arms, but he knows how to use them to disrupt air space … has a knack for reading the eyes of receivers with his back to the ball and knowing when to get his hands up to attack the catch point … didn’t commit a penalty in 2023 … does a nice job seeing through receivers, shedding/avoiding the block and making the tackle (had
two missed tackles against Texas in 2023, but only one the rest of the season) … accounted for 418 punt-return yards over the last two seasons (fifth most in the FBS over that span), averaging 11.3 yards per return … carries himself with confidence on and off the field and has an “alpha personality,” according to his coaches … physically and emotionally resilient and didn’t miss a game after stepping foot in Tuscaloosa three years ago.
WEAKNESSES: Average speed and twitch by NFL standards … requires a beat to gear down, unfurl his long legs and react to sudden route change … got his hands on plenty of footballs but had only two interceptions (2,199 defensive snaps) … average competitiveness on tape, especially compared to Terrion Arnold on the other side of Alabama’s secondary … normally a strong tackler; misses usually come from lazily throwing his shoulder and bouncing off the ball carrier instead of wrapping up and finishing … muffed five punts over the last two seasons … didn’t miss any games in college but suffered a concussion vs. Georgia in the SEC Championship Game (December 2023) and sat out most of the second half; combine medicals revealed a Jones fracture in his right foot … outside-only corner in college.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Alabama, McKinstry lined up primarily at right outside cornerback in former head coach Nick Saban’s scheme (9 9.1 percent of his snaps came out wide). After starting for Saban as a freshman and leading the SEC in passes defended as a sophomore, his production was cut in half in 2023 — but so were his targets (from 80 to 39), and his tape was incrementally better each of the last three seasons. Although he lacks sudden twitch in his movements, McKinstry
plays with a confident and controlled demeanor. NFL scouts say that both LSU receivers in this draft class (Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.) have called McKinstry the best cornerback they faced in college. He raises the degree of difficulty for completions with his length and ability to play through the hands of receivers. Overall, McKinstry doesn’t play with high-level speed or aggression, but he is a long, smooth athlete with the football IQ that should translate quickly to an NFL field. His game reminds me of James Bradberry’s, and he will compete for starting reps as a rookie.
GRADE: 1st-2nd Round (No. 30 overall)
7. SPENCER RATTLER | South Carolina 6002 | 211 lbs. | 5SR Phoenix, Ariz. (Pinnacle) 9/28/2000 (age 23.58) #7
BACKGROUND: Spencer Rattler, the oldest of two children, was born and raised in the Phoenix area. From a young age, he was active in sports and played basketball at the Boys and Girls Club. Rattler started playing football at age 7 and began to make a name for himself as one of the top youth quarterbacks in the area. He led the Scottsdale Firebirds, one of the top youth programs in the state, to four Arizona youth championships and was named United Youth Football Player of the Year in 2012. His No. 7 Firebirds jersey is now retired (the only retired number in the youth team’s storied history). He started working with private quarterback coach Mike Giovando at age 10. Rattler enrolled at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix and was thrust into the starting quarterback role on varsity as a freshman after the previous starter quit the team. He finished his first season with 56.2 percent completions, 2,381 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. As a sophomore, Rattler improved to 62.5 percent completions with 2,893 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He had his best season as a junior and led Pinnacle to a nine-win season, including the 2017 sectional title and a win in the first round of the 6A state playoffs. Rattler finished his junior season with 64.9 percent completions for 3,946, 45 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, earning all-conference and All-State honors. Pinnacle entered the 2018 season as contenders for the state championship, but Rattler was ruled ineligible midway through the season for a violation of the code of conduct.
He finished his senior season with 66.5 percent completions, 1,863 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and three interceptions. Rattler finished his career with the state 6A record for career passing touchdowns (116) and became the first quarterback in state history to eclipse 11,000 passing yards. He also finished his prep career with 1,040 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns (also had one touchdown grab as a senior). He also lettered in basketball at Pinnacle and averaged 13.6 points, 3.1
rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as a junior.
A five-star recruit, Rattler was the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the 2019 class and the No. 1 recruit in Arizona. He was the No. 11 recruit nationally. Rattler started to hear recruiting pitches from colleges in seventh grade and received his first offer, from nearby Arizona State, after his freshman season. Offers from Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and several others soon followed. While he was on a visit at USC in June 2017, Rattler received a message from Lincoln Riley saying he was going to be named the Sooners’ head coach for a retiring Bob Stoops. Less than a month later, Rattler committed to Oklahoma. He was named the 2018 Elite 11 quarterback competition MVP in Los Angeles (over an impressive field of passers including Jayden Daniels, Sam Howell and Bo Nix). Rattler was the No. 1 recruit in Riley’s 2019 class. After redshirting in 2020 behind Jalen Hurts, Rattler became the Sooners’ starter in 2020. Midway through the 2021 season, he was benched in favor of Caleb Williams and entered the transfer portal after the regular-season finale in November 2021, calling Oklahoma a ”toxic situation.” Rattler reconnected with South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, who previously had been an assistant coach in Norman, and transferred to the Gamecocks in December
2021. His younger sister and only sibling (Olivia) plays college volleyball at Missouri State. Rattler accepted his invitation to the 2024 Senior Bowl and was named MVP of the Senior Bowl game.
STRENGTHS: Aesthetically pleasing passer with his fluid release and impressive arm talent … throws from a wide, balanced base and delivers with confidence from any platform … can get the ball out with zip to access small windows … keeps his vision downfield with patience to allow routes to develop … trusts his anticipation to deliver before receivers are out of their breaks … loves to push the ball downfield and would run four verts every other play if he could … outstanding with ball fakes
and mechanical repetition is a focus for him … effective scrambler to buy time, improvise or pick up positive yardage when it is given to him … compact body with solid bulk on his frame and large hands … worked to rebuild his image after transferring to South Carolina and was voted a team captain as a junior and senior … tremendous work ethic and dedication to his craft … finished his career with a 28 -14 record as a college starter … started all 25 games and posted consistent production in his two seasons with the Gamecocks — his 3,186 passing yards in 2023 were the third most in a season in school history.
WEAKNESSES: His pocket movements and field reads are too systematic … decision-making isn’t a glaring issue, but his 2023 tape still showed more misreads and immature mistakes than you want to see (three intentional grounding penalties vs. Texas A&M) … can get reckless with the football (combined 20 interceptions and 14 fumbles over his two seasons at South Carolina) … accuracy sees a slight decline on the move or when attempting to drive the ball … staggering home/road splits in 2023: 74.7 percent completions and 20 total touchdowns at home; 59.3 percent completions and three touchdowns on the road … character and leadership skills will be put under a microscope by NFL teams: gained a reputation as an “attention seeker” and for rubbing many the wrong way, both in high school and at Oklahoma (his appearance on the Netflix series “QB1: Beyond the Lights” during his senior year of high school was less than flattering); ruled ineligible for the second half of his high school senior season after violating a district code of conduct (Rattler: “I made a childish and dumb mistake.”).
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at South Carolina, Rattler performed well in offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains’ pass-first, pro-style scheme. After a turbulent three seasons in Norman, he put steady play on film in two seasons with the Gamecocks and set the school record for career completion percentage (67.5 percent), despite inconsistent surroundings (the South Carolina offensive line had a different front-five combination in 10 of 12 games in 2023). With repeatable mechanics and an athletic release, Rattler has NFL-level arm strength plus a natural feel for touch and poise in his process. However, his decision-making and timing must show better consistency (both in structure and out of structure). Overall, Rattler has a methodical play style and needs to be more urgent in his movements/reads, but he has the arm talent, self-confidence and work habits that give him a fighting chance to work his way up an NFL depth chart. He offers upside at the position, but the interview process will be crucial to his draft grades.
GRADE: 3rd Round (No. 72 overall)
32. BUB MEANS | Pittsburgh 6010 | 212 lbs. | 5SR Lovejoy, Ga. (Lovejoy) 1/10/2001 (age 23.29) #0
BACKGROUND: Jerrod “Bub” Means was born in Las Vegas before his family relocated to the Atlanta area when he was age 4. He started playing football at age 8, and it quickly became his go-to sport. Means originally attended Hampton High School, where he played wide receiver and safety on varsity for two seasons. Prior to his junior season, he transferred 15 minutes up the road to Lovejoy High School (higher classification), where he lined up at wildcat quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback and safety. As a junior in 2017, he recorded 423 receiving yards and five touchdown grabs. As a senior, Means missed several games because of an ankle injury, but he was productive when healthy with 19 catches for 460 yards (24.2 average) and six touchdowns, earning All-Region honors. He also lettered in basketball and track (sprints and relays) in high school and set a personal best of 11.68 seconds in the 100 meters.
A three-star recruit, Means was the No. 221 wide receiver in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 185 recruit in Georgia. Following his junior season, he picked up his first scholarship offer (Troy) in January 2018. Means also received offers from Ball State, Miami (Ohio), Southern Miss and several FCS programs. The summer before his senior year, he attended a camp at Tennessee and picked up an offer from the Volunteers — his first Power 5 scholarship offer. Midway through his senior season,
Means received an offer from North Carolina and committed to the Tar Heels in November 2018. However, he decommitted a few weeks later and considered Northwestern and Rutgers before choosing Tennessee on signing day. Means was the lowest-ranked recruit in former head coach Jeremy Pruitt’s 2019 class. After playing one season in Knoxville as a cornerback, he transferred to Louisiana Tech in May 2020 and moved back to wide receiver. After two years, Means entered the transfer portal in April 2022 and transferred to Pittsburgh for his final two seasons. His mentor is Tiquan Underwood, who was Pitt’s wide receiver coach and is now
on Jerod Mayo’s New England Patriots staff. Means accepted his invitation to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.
STRENGTHS: Good-sized athlete with the long arms needed to be a high-point specialist … builds his speed and creates vertical separation once he stacks the cornerback (1.83-second “flying 20” time) … uses initial burst and body strength to power through press … positions himself well at the catch point to get the upper hand on contested windows … strong hands to finish through traffic … had at least one catch of 20 -plus yards in 10 of 12 games in 2023 … has kick-return experience and averaged 21.0 yards per return (13/273/0) … played cornerback in 2019 at Tennessee, which helped develop his toughness and feel for routes … receiving output improved each season, and he played the best ball of his career over the final month of the 2023 season.
WEAKNESSES: Unpolished route runner and needs to develop more of a rhythmic tempo in the drive phase … head/body-route fakes aren’t always synchronized to his feet … inconsistent sink and snap at the break point … needs to be better working back to the football, rather than waiting for it … prematurely gives up on his route path at times … needs to show better effort preventing interceptions on bad throws (see 2023 Notre Dame tape) … can run away from pursuit with a runway, but he doesn’t have a lot of “make you miss” to create YAC … inconsistent perimeter blocker, especially considering his size and strength (two holding penalties in 2023) …fumbled twice over the last two seasons … doesn’t have a ton of special-teams experience … responsible for only one 100-yard receiving game in his career.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Pittsburgh, Means was an outside wide receiver in former offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti’s pro-style spread. Playing at three different programs the past five years, he learned under four different coordinators (and several more quarterbacks) and showed gradual improvements each season, posting career bests in 2023. Means has the linear burst to challenge early in the route and above-average acceleration to win late (ran the third-fastest 40-yard dash at the combine, among prospects who weighed 210 pounds or more). His hand strength and large catch radius stand out on tape, but so do his route inefficiencies. Overall, Means doesn’t bring much route deception for easy separation, but he is an impressive height -weight-speed athlete with ball-winning ability downfield. He will compete for a backup role in the NFL and is reminiscent of a discounted version of Cedric Tillman.
GRADE: 6th-7th Round
