• Panthers keep stacking weapons: Adding Ja'Tavion Sanders with the first pick of the fourth round, Carolina gets another dynamic weapon to aid in Bryce Young’s development.
• Reunited in Denver: Oregon’s Troy Franklin fell right into the Broncos’ hands at Pick No. 102, allowing new quarterback Bo Nix to develop alongside his favorite college target.
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Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft will have provided a lot of fool’s gold, but there will certainly be diamonds in the rough, with Puka Nacua, Brock Purdy and Foyesade Oluokun serving as a few examples from recent years. This year’s crop has some intriguing names up and down the board, but 15 names stuck out above the rest.
Let's look at some of the biggest steals from Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft.
TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers
- Draft slot: 101
- PFF big board rank: 43
The Panthers continue to surround Bryce Young with talent, adding the versatile and explosive weapon out of Texas on Day 3. Sanders is a sure-handed option who can make plays down the field, earning a 91.3 receiving grade in contested-catch situations and not recording a drop on 67 targets in 2023. Sanders adds to a TE room that includes Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas, giving him an inside track to see significant snaps year one.
WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos
- Draft slot: 102
- PFF big board rank: 29
Oregon’s Franklin is a long but slender vertical threat who ranked above the 80th percentile among college receivers in overall receiving grade (87.3), separation percentage (82.5%) and yards per route run (3.26), decimating opposing defenses on his way to a 98.5 grade against zone coverage. Despite having a smaller frame, Franklin can get stronger and has flashed at the catch point. Reuniting Bo Nix in Denver should only help ease his transition to the next level.
DI Brandon Dorlus, Atlanta Falcons
- Draft slot: 109
- PFF big board rank: 65
A popular Day 2 prospect, Dorlus is a bit of a tweener but offers a ton of juice as a pass rusher. He tallied 46 total pressures and 11 quarterback knockdowns in 2023 for Oregon, leading to a 75.7 pass-rush grade. After adding Ruke Orhorhoro and Bralen Trice on Day 2, the Falcons continued to add versatility and athleticism to their defensive front depth for new head coach Raheem Morris.
CB T.J. Tampa, Baltimore Ravens
- Draft slot: 130
- PFF big board rank: 51
Tampa's slide stopped at Pick No. 130, giving the Ravens two of PFF’s top-eight cornerback prospects — the other being Nate Wiggins. Earning a 78.3 coverage grade in 2023, Tampa allowed just one touchdown and forced an incompletion or interception on 16.3% of targets into his coverage. With Marlon Humphrey established as a starter, and Wiggins likely getting first crack at starting reps opposite him, Tampa offers upside as a depth piece who can develop into a solid starter down the road.
S Jaden Hicks, Kansas City Chiefs
- Draft slot: 133
- PFF big board rank: 54
The Chiefs got great value compared to both the PFF big board and the consensus board, adding a downhill safety with a nasty mentality and some positional versatility. Hicks racked up 34 defensive stops in 2023, which ranked fifth among Power Five safeties, to go along with two interceptions and four forced incompletions. He gives defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo another chess piece to work with in the secondary.
IOL Sedrick Van Pran, Buffalo Bills
- Draft slot: 141
- PFF big board rank: 100
A consistently dominant force for Georgia over the past three seasons, Van Pran has allowed just one sack and two quarterback hits across more than 1,400 pass-protection snaps. He peaked as a run blocker in 2023, posting a 76.9 grade in the Bulldogs’ multiple run scheme. With Mitch Morse out in Buffalo, there is a legitimate chance Van Pran pushes for a starting gig at center. At worst, he provides positional versatility across the interior.
LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Philadelphia Eagles
- Draft slot: 155
- PFF big board rank: 96
A legacy pick for the Eagles, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will follow in his father’s footsteps in Philly. PFF’s No. 4-ranked linebacker in the class, Trotter earned a two-year 91.3 overall grade and a 92.1 coverage grade over the past two years as well despite some limitations in space. He has great football intelligence and instincts to mask some of those deficiencies, and his work between the tackles could allow him to see the field in year one.
CB Caelen Carson, Dallas Cowboys
- Draft slot: 174
- PFF big board rank: 110
Carson brings all the intangibles necessary to succeed as a cornerback at the next level but needs to stay healthy and improve his awareness at the catch point. Carson posted an 83.6 overall grade from 2021 to 2023, displaying physicality and good play diagnosis, which led to a career-high 83.4 run-defense grade in 2023. The Cowboys desperately needed reliable depth behind DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, and Carson checks all the boxes to develop into a solid pro.
IOL Christian Mahogany, Detroit Lions
- Draft slot: 210
- PFF big board rank: 106
A premier pass protector, Mahogany allowed just 14 pressures and one sack on 711 pass-blocking snaps from 2021 to 2023. He thrives in close quarters in the run game, posting a 75.0-plus run-blocking grade in both inside-zone and duo schemes, making him a seamless fit for the Lions, who want to get vertical quickly. Detroit's interior starters seem set for now — Graham Glasgow, Kevin Zeitler and Frank Ragnow — but Mahogany is clearly the next man up if any of them were to go down.
WR Brenden Rice, Los Angeles Chargers
- Draft slot: 225
- PFF big board rank: 125
Rice represents a 100-pick value when comparing his PFF big board rank to his draft slot. Joining a thin receiving corps in Los Angeles, Rice has a clear opportunity to contribute in a rotational role as soon as year one if he can stay healthy and adjust to the speed and physicality of the NFL game. Rice was one of Caleb Williams’ favorite targets and racked up 16 receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons. His 117.3 passer rating when targeted since 2022 ranked ninth among all college receivers in that time.
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