The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft was heavy on the offensive side of the ball. Three players from the 2024 class came to college as five-star recruits and now have All-Pro potential in the NFL.
Three Former Five-Star Recruits With All-Pro Potential
Caleb Williams – QB Chicago Bears
The most obvious place to start this list is with Williams. As a freshman at Oklahoma in 2021, Williams took the college football world by storm in the storied Red River Rivalry. He began the season sitting behind Spencer Rattler, a late-round pick who could be a gem in the NFL, before taking over as the starter for Oklahoma. As soon as Williams stepped on the field against Texas, it was evident he was destined for stardom. His play at Oklahoma catapulted him into the Heisman conversation after just six regular season starts. Williams eventually transferred to USC and captured the trophy as a sophomore. From then on, he generated plenty of buzz as an elite quarterback prospect.
Before arriving at Oklahoma, Williams was a five-star recruit out of Washington D.C. His high school tape flashes the elusiveness and improvisation that made him so dangerous in college. Williams has been compared to Patrick Mahomes, and while lofty, the comparisons are not far-fetched. His arm strength and ability to throw off platform are two traits that made him an elite prospect in the NFL Draft. The Bears have yet to have a quarterback of his caliber, and Williams has everything in place in Chicago to become an All-Pro.
JC Latham – OT Tennessee Titans
Tennessee accelerated its rebuild by adding multiple offensive pieces to support Will Levis. The Titans moved up in the 2023 NFL Draft to grab Levis, and he flashed enough potential last season to indicate he could be the guy moving forward. After adding weapons to the offense in free agency, the Titans were able to focus on fortifying the trenches through the draft. While T’Vondre Sweat has tremendous upside, Latham is the draft pick the organization should be most excited about.
A prolific high school career earned Latham a five-star ranking by multiple recruiting outlets. A former high school basketball player in Wisconsin, Latham was a power forward and became a local legend. Before finding a home at offensive tackle, Latham played defensive end. His pure athleticism and his power as a blocker made him a top-ten pick in the draft and one reason the Titans have a chance to turn things around in 2024. The sky is the limit for Latham, and he has All-Pro potential in Tennessee.
Dallas Turner – Edge Minnesota Vikings
Another draft, another former Alabama player being drafted in the first round. While Turner fell in the draft, his potential at the next level is sky-high. The Minnesota Vikings moved up for Turner but gave up significant future capital. While the price of moving up can be debated, there’s no question that Turner can be an impact player for the Vikings immediately. The team added pieces to the defense in free agency, but Turner gives them a special talent who could rack up double-digit sacks as a rookie.
Coming out of high school, Turner was a five-star recruit who received numerous offers from top college programs. Alabama ultimately won out, and Turner made his presence known immediately. His bend and burst off the line of scrimmage make Turner one of the top candidates to earn Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2024. Beyond that, his potential for becoming an All-Pro remains high in Minnesota.
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