New 2024 and 2025 NFL Draft prospects pop up weekly, while some fly under the radar. With the bowl season now here, our focus shifts to a mixture of 2024 prospects, transfer portal entrants, and 2025 emerging names.
In this edition of Scouting the Nation, we look at the best defensive tackle in the draft, the top pass rusher in the transfer portal, and an underrated SEC quarterback.
Top 2024 NFL Draft Prospects New Year’s Bowl Games
Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas
Texas will produce several top-tier prospects, but Byron Murphy II will be the highest-drafted player for the Longhorns.
The best way to describe his game is explosive. Murphy II is quick off the line and has the acceleration to turn pressures into sacks. His club swim is a go-to move that will work at a high level in the NFL. As a 0-technique tackle, his athleticism and power overwhelm centers and lead to quick wins.
Murphy II generates that power, with a strong lower half and low pad level to win the leverage battle. He has quick and violent hands to avoid blockers, then uses an awe-inspiring tackling technique to wrap up ball carriers at or behind the line of scrimmage. Murphy II disengages from blockers with ease in the run game and has the play strength to prevent being washed out of plays.
At the next level, his best spot will be as a 3-tech, where his athleticism, power, and quick hands make it difficult to stop him as a pass rusher. His consistency as a run defender will make him a three-down player, too.
The success of the 19th pick in last year’s draft, Calijah Kancey, will only help Murphy II’s stock. He’s a better prospect than Kancey, has more upside than Jer’Zhan Newton, and plays a more valuable role than his collegiate teammate, T’Vondre Sweat. Murphy II is the best defensive tackle in the draft and will be a first-round pick.
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Purdue
A role player for Purdue as a freshman, Nic Scourton broke out in 2023, recording ten sacks, 15 tackles for a loss, and 42 total pressures. Entering the transfer portal, whoever gets Scourton will land an NFL-ready pass rusher with the makings of a first-round pick.
His tape down the stretch during Big Ten play was phenomenal, and Scourton has many ways to get after the quarterback. Scourton’s pass-rush plan is advanced for his age; he converts speed to power incredibly well and can bend and corner, a rare trait for 280 pounds.
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Purdue even asked Scourton to drop into coverage, where he had no issue flipping his hips and working in space. He was the best player against Michigan and dominated on a rep-to-rep basis against them. He can set the edge as a run defender and does a great job getting off blocks.
Scourton will be a plus-run defender at the next level from Day 1. There isn’t a weakness in Scourton’s game. He is a better prospect than George Karlaftis, a first-round pick out of Purdue. Scruton has the tools and tape to be an All-American next season and the top half of the first-round selection, so he should be the most coveted pass rusher in this year’s transfer portal cycle.
Brady Cook, QB, Missouri
An underrated quarterback, Brady Cook is a big reason Missouri ended up in the top ten. He has a live arm and can make every throw. His velocity doesn’t drop off outside the numbers.
Cook throws with excellent ball placement on out routes and back shoulder passes. He always gave his wideouts a chance to make a play, and Cook made several NFL throws against top opponents. He can layer the football over defenders and throws with touch when needed.
He is very athletic and will be a dual-threat at the next level. He’s fast and does a good job of knowing when to tuck it and run. When under pressure, Cook escapes the pocket and can create outside the structure with his arm or legs. He doesn’t falter under pressure and will take hits to make throws.
Cook will likely return in 2025, where he should be on the Senior Bowl’s wish list at quarterback.
