Ranking the 6 Biggest Non-QB Game-Changers in the 2024 NFL Draft Class

Quarterbacks are undoubtedly the stars of the 2024 NFL draft class. The Chicago Bears are widely expected to take USC's Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, while LSU's Jayden Daniels and UNC's Drake Maye will likely be the next two players off the board in some order.

Due to the number of signal-callers poised to come off the board in Round 1, plenty of elite prospects at other positions are currently flying under the radar.

This year's wide receiver class could eventually rival the 1996 group, which went on to feature a pair of Hall of Famers—including Marvin Harrison Sr., whose son is trending toward being a top-five pick this year. Nineteen of the top 100 players on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final big board are wideouts, so the NFL should have no shortage of incoming receiving talent in 2024.

There are also several difference-makers at other offensive and defensive positions who could quickly make a name for themselves in the NFL. These players already made their mark in college and have a fantastic shot at continuing to build a legacy in the pros.

With that in mind, we've highlighted the biggest non-quarterback game-changers in the 2024 draft class based on projected contributions throughout their NFL careers.

Malik Nabers is one of the top prospects at any position in this year's class. The LSU product was a force over his last two seasons in Baton Rouge and is now poised to be an early first-round pick on Thursday.

After capping off a collegiate career in which he tallied more than 3,000 yards and scored 21 touchdowns—including 14 last year alone—on 189 receptions, Nabers should have little issue transitioning to the NFL. He has all of the traits required to be a game-changer, making him a potential godsend for clubs desperate for receiving help.

Nabers has wowed onlookers and scouts with his dazzling athleticism. He moves effortlessly and can fly past his defenders or stop on a dime to get open with ease. While he didn't go through athletic testing at the combine, he's put enough on tape to make it clear that he'll be making plenty of leaping, highlight-reel grabs over opposing corners.

According to NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, one AFC personnel executive compared Nabers to both Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase—a pair of LSU receivers who took the league by storm as rookies—because of his unique blend of athleticism and pass-catching talent.

While Nabers isn't a completely flawless prospect—his route-running ability leaves something to be desired—he has all of the unteachable qualities necessary to thrive in the NFL. After some fine-tuning over the next season or two, the 20-year-old should develop into one of the league's top wideouts.

A strong crop of cornerbacks is set to enter the NFL this week, but none may be more impactful than Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell. Although he's from a small school, he possesses everything that an NFL team could want in a cornerback.

While Mitchell didn't explode onto the scene early in his collegiate career, he did show flashes of greatness after emerging as a starter for Toledo in 2021. He emerged as a potential Day 1 draft pick the following season, earning the first of back-to-back All-MAC selection with five interceptions and a nation-leading 25 pass breakups.

Mitchell put his game-changing talents on full display against Northern Illinois in 2022, when he led Toledo to victory by hauling in four picks and taking a pair of them back for scores. After that showing, there was little doubt he would be a legitimate NFL contributor.

Mitchell had another strong campaign in 2023 before dominating the scouting combine, recording a blistering 4.33-second 40-yard dash that ranked second among cornerbacks. That speed, coupled with his 6-foot, 195-pound frame, coverage instincts, tackling skills and playmaking abilities makes him a can't-miss prospect.

While Mitchell should far well in any scheme, he'd thrive in an NFL defense that emphasizes zone. He's at his best playing back and reading routes in front of him, allowing him to make strong breaks on the ball and disrupt catches. He may not lead the league in interceptions, but he'll shut down most top receivers he'll come across and secure at least a few picks each year while competing for Pro Bowl honors.

Few NFL offensive linemen are considered game-changers, but Joe Alt could soon join that exclusive club.

The Notre Dame product stands a gigantic 6'9" and 321 pounds, and he is well-proportioned for his build. He possesses ridiculous levels of athleticism and control for an offensive lineman of his size, which he'll use to shut down opposing rushers regardless of their build, speed or strength.

Alt established himself as an anchor at left tackle for the Fighting Irish, starting 33 consecutive games over the last three years. Although he didn't have many reps at the position at the lower ranks—he transitioned from quarterback to tight end before finally landing in the offensive trenches in college—that experience gave Alt a nuanced understanding of the game that many other tackles lack.

Considering he just turned 21 in February, Alt has a sky-high ceiling heading into the NFL. He currently lacks power in his blocks, but he "has virtually every other tool and skill to become an immediate impact starter at left tackle with the runway to continue ascending and cement his status as a foundational piece of a roster," B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn noted in his scouting report for Alt.

Alt is an NFL legacy as well. He could easily surpass the stellar contributions that his father, John, made during his 13-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs. The elder Alt was selected No. 21 overall in the 1984 draft and earned two Pro Bowl nods late in his career.

Joe should be a top-10 selection this year before going on to earn far more accolades than his father by the end of his own career.

Rome Odunze could end up being remembered as the best non-quarterback of the 2024 draft class. He's been a star at Washington over the last two seasons, helping elevate the program to a national championship contender, and he will soon lift his NFL team to similarly lofty heights.

Odunze broke out as a sophomore in 2022, compiling 75 receptions for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns. Not content with simply repeating that impressive feat, Odunze became a consensus first-team All-American last season by racking up an eye-popping 1,640 yards and 13 scores on 92 catches.

NFL quarterbacks will love playing with Odunze due to his ability to catch anything and everything thrown his way. He can vacuum up targets with his massive catch radius and natural ball skills. Standing a sturdy 6'3" and 212 pounds, Odunze has plenty of size to compete with NFL cornerbacks and will make life difficult in coverage due to his crisp route-running ability.

While Odunze isn't a burner or particularly explosive, his 4.45-second 40-yard dash speed is nothing to scoff at, either. He moves well, changes direction seamlessly and won't struggle to create separation and get open in the NFL.

Given his ability to both line up as a traditional X receiver or move into the slot at times, Odunze is a matchup nightmare who will constantly pile up numbers and create big plays. It would hardly be a shock for him to fight neck-and-neck with Harrison for the distinction of becoming the best wideout from the 2024 class.

Brock Bowers is a rare tight end prospect. He not only displayed proficiency at everything required from the position in the modern NFL, but he proved himself capable of fulfilling all of those roles at an expert level.

Bowers has been a slam-dunk draft prospect since establishing himself as an integral part of a Georgia program that won back-to-back national titles during his freshman and sophomore seasons. During that span, he racked up a whopping 1,824 yards and 20 touchdowns on 119 receptions, displaying an uncanny ability to make plays consistently as one of the focal points of the Bulldogs' offense. While Bowers did come back down to earth during a down 2023 campaign, he still tallied 56 catches for 714 yards and six scores in only 10 games.

One of the few concerns about Bowers' ability to continue being as effective in the pros is his size. He's slightly small for a Y tight end at 6'3" and 243 pounds. A picture of him standing next to the hulking Rob Gronkowski even went viral back in February, but his build shouldn't turn any teams off from drafting the clear-cut best tight end not only of this class, but potentially of the generation.

Possessing the ability to work as a go-to target in the red zone, move the chains on third downs and rack up yardage after the catch all over the field, Bowers should carve out a role for whichever team selects him. He is also a capable blocker who will be able to adequately handle those assignments.

Due to his polish and versatility, Bowers is the No. 2 overall prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board.

There aren't many game-changing tight ends in the NFL right now, but standouts like Travis Kelce and George Kittle seem to be found on consistent winners for a reason. They make things easy for their quarterbacks, and offenses that have them can do things others can't.

Bowers will add that dimension to his NFL offense and is a game-changer for that reason.

Any team wanting to make a sure bet early in the 2024 draft should look no further than Marvin Harrison Jr. After a stellar career at Ohio State—he caught 144 passes for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns in the last two seasons alone—the wideout is poised to enter the NFL and rapidly follow in his namesake father's Hall of Fame footsteps.

Harrison is a top-flight talent coming out of a school that consistently produces high-end wideouts. He possesses nearly everything a team could desire in a No. 1 receiver, a list of traits that includes great height, speed, acceleration, agility, explosiveness and ball skills.

While he could stand to add some bulk to his frame to better handle press coverage and garner more yards after the catch, Harrison is a complete prospect. He's the No. 1 prospect on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board, and B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen said he "makes wide receiver play look like an art form" in his scouting report for Harrison.

With every box checked, it now only remains to be seen where Harrison will get drafted. A top-five selection seems likely, but draft-day trades may shake up the order and send him back a few spots as teams clamor for passers.

Regardless, Harrison will likely be the first non-QB off the board. Had it not been for the strength of this quarterback class and so many teams needing to fill a void under center, he would have been a strong candidate to become the first receiver taken No. 1 overall since Keyshawn Johnson back in 1996.

Malik Nabers is one of the top prospects at any position in this year's class. The LSU product was a force over his last two seasons in Baton Rouge and is now poised to be an early first-round pick on Thursday.

After capping off a collegiate career in which he tallied more than 3,000 yards and scored 21 touchdowns—including 14 last year alone—on 189 receptions, Nabers should have little issue transitioning to the NFL. He has all of the traits required to be a game-changer, making him a potential godsend for clubs desperate for receiving help.

Nabers has wowed onlookers and scouts with his dazzling athleticism. He moves effortlessly and can fly past his defenders or stop on a dime to get open with ease. While he didn't go through athletic testing at the combine, he's put enough on tape to make it clear that he'll be making plenty of leaping, highlight-reel grabs over opposing corners.

According to NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, one AFC personnel executive compared Nabers to both Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase—a pair of LSU receivers who took the league by storm as rookies—because of his unique blend of athleticism and pass-catching talent.

While Nabers isn't a completely flawless prospect—his route-running ability leaves something to be desired—he has all of the unteachable qualities necessary to thrive in the NFL. After some fine-tuning over the next season or two, the 20-year-old should develop into one of the league's top wideouts.