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The NFL is unique to other sports leagues in that players cannot enter it until they are three years removed from high school. But what if that rule changed and players could enter the draft after playing just one year of college football?

Well, here’s how the first round would shake out if that were the case.

Editor’s note: Only players eligible for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 NFL Drafts were considered. Incoming true freshmen were not eligible. This draft represents what we would do as general managers. 

Click here to view our all-eligible position rankings

1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): QB Caleb Williams, USC, class of 2024

The presumptive first overall pick for the 2024 NFL Draft is also the first pick here. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner earned a 90.0-plus grade in each of the last three seasons. His 93.6 career overall grade is fourth-best in PFF history behind Baker Mayfield, Mac Jones and Justin Fields.

2. Washington Commanders: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina, 2024

Jayden Daniels is the current betting favorite to go No. 2 overall in the 2024 draft, but Maye is the pick for us. The Tar Heels signal-caller has stellar arm talent and has a much higher floor than he’s given credit for. He posted 90.0-plus PFF grades in both of his seasons as a starting quarterback.

3. New England Patriots: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU, 2024

Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, is a Lamar Jackson-esque runner, while his collegiate passing profile is slightly similar to that of Jalen Hurts. Daniels was the best offensive player in college football in 2023, earning an incredible 94.7 overall grade.

4. Arizona Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State, 2024

Harrison is a once-in-a-decade type of talent who fits Arizona’s biggest need after the departures of Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore. Harrison’s 92.4 grade since 2022 leads all FBS receivers. He’s about as complete a prospect as you’ll find with very few (if any) holes in his game.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Malik Nabers, LSU, 2024

He didn’t win the Biletnikoff Award, but Nabers was statistically the best receiver in college football last season. He led the nation with a 93.1 receiving grade and finished the regular season with a nation-leading 1,545 yards.

6. New York Giants: WR Rome Odunze, Washington, 2024

Odunze brings a different and much-needed element to New York’s receiver room as someone who can go up and get it. His 21 contested catches were four more than the next-closest FBS receiver in 2023. Odunze would be WR1 in many classes; it just so happens that he’s in a draft with two of the better receiver prospects in recent memory.

7. Tennessee Titans: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame, 2024

Alt gives the Titans the franchise left tackle they desperately need. His 92.4 overall grade over the past three seasons ranks first among all the FBS tackles who played at least 1,000 snaps. He also leads that same group with a 91.7 run-blocking grade over that span.

8. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee, 2025

The first non-2024 prospect finally comes off the board at No. 8 overall, showing how loaded the top of this year’s class is.

Pearce was one of the most fearsome pass-rushers in the country as a sophomore, his 92.4 PFF pass-rushing grade and 21.3% pressure rate ranking third among FBS edge defenders. The scary part about those numbers is that he was winning almost exclusively off his athleticism last year, meaning he can become nearly unblockable with some added pass-rushing moves.

In a questionable 2025 quarterback class, Pearce has a chance to be the No. 1 overall pick next April.

9. Chicago Bears: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona, 2025

The top three receivers on the board are gone, so the Bears dip into the 2025 class to select Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. The 6-foot-5 playmaker finished 2023 with an outstanding 89.1 receiving grade and was as good as any receiver in college football down the stretch.

10. New York Jets: OT Will Campbell, LSU, 2025

Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses are under contract for just 2024, and both players are 33 years old, so it’d be wise for the Jets to find their future at tackle.

As a true freshman in 2022, Campbell earned an 85.6 PFF pass-blocking grade on true pass sets that trailed only Peter Skoronski among Power Five tackles. This past season, he finished fifth among FBS tackles in run-blocking grade (84.9). He’s an all-around stud for the Tigers who projects as a top-five pick in 2025.

11. Minnesota Vikings: CB Will Johnson, Michigan, 2025

Minnesota lands a new CB1 in Michigan’s Will Johnson. He’s had two terrific seasons in Ann Arbor so far, totaling seven interceptions and allowing just a 48.5 passer rating on throws into his coverage.

Johnson excels in man coverage. His 90.2 man-coverage grade over the past two seasons trails only Quinyon Mitchell among cornerbacks with 200 such reps.

12. Denver Broncos: QB Carson Beck, Georgia, 2025

Beck is the current favorite to be QB1 in 2025 because of his precise accuracy and timing. He ranked among the nation’s top five quarterbacks in both adjusted completion rate (third) and average time to throw (fifth). He also finished 2023 with the fourth-best overall grade and passing grade among FBS signal-callers.

Beck is the kind of quarterback Sean Payton would love to have—he would run Payton’s offense exactly as it was designed.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan, 2024

McCarthy put up career-high numbers across the board in 2023, including an 80.0% adjusted completion rate that ranked fifth in the country. McCarthy should have a chance to succeed in an offense that already includes Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Michael Mayer.

14. New Orleans Saints: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, 2025

Will Campbell might be the early favorite to be OT1 next year, but Banks isn’t far behind. The former five-star recruit’s 84.7 pass-blocking grade through his first two seasons is a top-15 mark among Power Five tackles.

While inconsistent, he has also shown flashes of dominance in the run game, with his 12 big-time blocks (PFF’s highest-graded blocks) trailing only Taliese Fuaga among FBS tackles this past season.

The 2024 tackle class is loaded, but Campbell and Banks would be chosen over anyone not named Joe Alt.

15. Indianapolis Colts: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia, 2024

Bowers is a slam-dunk fit in Shane Steichen’s RPO-heavy offense. The Georgia star earned a 94.1 career receiving grade, which leads all Power Five tight ends in PFF history. He also ranks second in PFF history in yards after catch and forced missed tackles.

His presence alongside Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor would create the ideal RPO triple threat.

16. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA, 2024

Latu would fit like a glove opposite of Boye Mafe in Mike Macdonald’s 3-4 defense. The UCLA edge rusher’s 96.3 grade didn’t just lead all players in the country last season, but it was also the highest grade season we’ve ever given to a Power Five player.

Highest-graded seasons by a Power Five player since 2014

He’s one of the more NFL-ready pass-rushers in recent memory, with excellent hand usage and a bevy of pass-rushing moves in his toolbox.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame, 2025

Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison has two excellent seasons under his belt in South Bend that include a combined 90.4 coverage grade that is tied with Will Johnson for 10th-best in the nation.

His work in that span also includes nine interceptions and 20 forced incompletions. He could be the first cornerback off the board next year.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri, 2025

While there are certainly bigger needs on this roster, the Bengals simply cannot pass up the value of Burden here at No. 18. He’ll inevitably receive comparisons to Deebo Samuel because of his superb ability after the catch. His 725 yards after the catch were third among all FBS receivers last season, while his 314 receiving yards after contact were the fourth-most.

Burden can immediately fill in as Cincinnati’s starting slot receiver in place of Tyler Boyd and can potentially fill in as the No. 2 receiver with Tee Higgins potentially on his way out.

19. Los Angeles Rams: EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama, 2024

As the premier standup speed rusher in the 2024 class, Turner would be a great fit within the Rams defense. Last season, Turner finished second in the SEC with 55 pressures, while his 11 sacks ranked third. His explosive athleticism will be welcomed in Los Angeles after the retirement of Aaron Donald.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, 2024

Pittsburgh’s offensive tackles have finished in the bottom 10 of grading in each of the last four seasons. The combination of Fashanu at left tackle and Broderick Jones on the right side would give the Steelers a young duo to get excited about.

Fashanu’s 89.2 pass-blocking grade since 2022 is fifth among FBS tackles, and he didn’t allow a single sack across 697 career pass-blocking snaps.

21. Miami Dolphins: DI Mason Graham, Michigan, 2025

Michigan’s national championship squad was loaded with talent, but Mason Graham was arguably their best player. He finished the season with a 90.0 overall grade, fourth-best in the FBS, and was one of just three defensive tackles to finish in the top 12 in run-defense and pass-rush grade. Miami gets their Christian Wilkins replacement.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado, 2025

The Eagles could use help at both cornerback and wide receiver, so why not take someone who plays both? Hunter is the true ironman in college football, leading the nation with 1,044 snaps despite missing three games due to injury.

He finished second among Pac-12 corners with three interceptions and ranked second among his teammates in receiving yards (721). Hunter will most likely have to focus on one position full-time in the NFL — likely cornerback — but he can still contribute at the other as a reserve. His ball skills and athleticism are truly special.

23. Minnesota Vikings (via Houston Texans): QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado, 2025

This all-eligible exercise gives Minnesota some breathing room when it comes to selecting its franchise quarterback. The choice is Shedeur Sanders, who had an outstanding season despite poor pass protection in front of him. Despite his surroundings, Sanders produced an excellent 89.2 passing grade and threw just three interceptions. Further improvement could see him selected first overall next year.

24. Dallas Cowboys: DI Deone Walker, Kentucky, 2025

Walker is the textbook definition of “first guy off the bus.” At 6-foot-6 and 348 pounds, he dwarfs nearly every offensive lineman he lines up against.

Most defensive tackles that size normally end up serving as run-stuffers who eat double teams and add little to nothing in the pass rush. But while Walker can certainly do the first part — he earned an 81.7 PFF run-defense grade in 2023 — he can also dominate as a pass-rusher up front.

The sophomore’s 51 pressures led all interior defensive linemen in college football last season, while his eight sacks were tied for the most among Power Five players. He’s a true unicorn with the upside of being a top-five pick in 2025.

25. Green Bay Packers: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State, 2026

Our first foray into the 2026 class. Caleb Downs, the younger brother of Colts receiver Josh Downs, had an incredible freshman year playing for Alabama. He transfers to Ohio State after finishing with top-10 overall and coverage grades. He’s a perfect fit in Green Bay alongside Xavier McKinney.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M, 2025

Scourton enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign while at Purdue. His 21.3% pass-rush win rate ranked ninth among all edge defenders in the country in 2023, while his 25 run-defense stops were tied for third among Power Five players. He transferred to Texas A&M this offseason and projects as one of the top edges in 2025, perhaps only behind James Pearce Jr.

He’d be a welcome addition to a Buccaneers defense that just said goodbye to Shaquil Barrett.

27. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans): EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State, 2024

Verse’s winding road from Albany through Tallahassee leads him to Arizona. During his two seasons at Florida State, Verse posted a 91.8 pass-rush grade, 108 total pressures and 20 sacks. His 22.1% pass-rush win rate in that span ranks second behind Laiatu Latu among players with at least 400 pass-rush reps.

Arizona adds a premier pass-rusher to an edge group that ranked last in overall grade in 2023.

28. Buffalo Bills: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, 2024

While Buffalo certainly needs to add help at receiver, Mitchell’s value here was too good to ignore. He’s been incredibly dominant over the past couple of years. He finished as the nation’s highest-graded cornerback in 2022 and 2023 and has the most forced incompletions in that span (35). And the Bills need help at cornerback after losing Tre’Davious White this offseason.

29. Detroit Lions: S Dillon Thieneman, Purdue, 2026

Detroit fortified their cornerback room with external acquisitions, so they take Purdue free safety Dillon Thieneman here. As a freshman in 2023, he led all safeties with an 89.5 overall grade. He also finished the year with six interceptions and a 90.2 run-defense grade. He is the best single-high safety in college football and fits a Lions defense that runs man coverage at a high rate.

30. Baltimore Ravens: OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, 2024

Imagine a run game that features Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry running behind Taliese Fuaga. The Ravens would sprint this card in after trading right tackle Morgan Moses to the Jets. Fuaga’s 90.9 PFF run-blocking grade was over four points higher than any other tackle in the nation last season.

31. San Francisco 49ers: CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa, 2024

Iowa’s Cooper DeJean is as fundamentally sound as any cornerback in the country. His abilities in zone coverage, as well as his effort in run support, make him an ideal fit in San Francisco’s defense. DeJean brings value outside, in the slot and as a punt returner. He would pair with Charvarius Ward to create an outstanding cornerback tandem.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Zachariah Branch, USC, 2026

There are certainly more proven receivers than Branch available, but he could be the Tyreek Hill replacement that Kansas City has been searching for. The true freshman was named a PFF first-team All-American as a return specialist this past season, as he was the only player in the country with both a kickoff-return touchdown and a punt-return touchdown. He has ridiculous speed, acceleration and change-of-direction ability. Expect him to make the leap to superstardom as USC’s top receiver in 2024.