After an action-packed college football season and a long pre-draft screening process, the 2024 NFL Draft is finally here.
But it’s a bittersweet time for Tulane football fans this year, as they watch some of the program’s greatest players of all time depart to chase their dreams of playing in the NFL.
The Tulane University Green Wave has experienced two of the greatest seasons in program history, including back-to-back conference championships and a Cotton Bowl victory. Last year, Tulane lost two huge pieces of its success to the draft: Tyjae Spears and Dorian Williams went 10 picks apart in the third round to the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills, respectively.
However, the Wave remained confident as its star quarterback Michael Pratt returned to Uptown for another season, along with many other key players.
After another run to the conference championship this past season, more crucial Tulane players declared for the NFL draft, including Pratt. It is disappointing for fans as they watch their beloved Green Wave break apart in pursuit of NFL careers, but these departures are well-deserved following success and attention from NFL scouts. Some big names out of Yulman Stadium expect to hear their names called at the NFL draft in Detroit this year, and we’re going to break down when they might be drafted.
Michael Pratt
It is no surprise that the best NFL draft prospect from the Wave this year seems to be Pratt, as he’s brought a drowning Tulane football program into the spotlight with a 23-5 record in his past two seasons.
Aside from his college football success, Pratt also has some intriguing characteristics that NFL scouts like about his game. He has good size for the position at over 6 feet, 2 inches tall and 217 pounds and makes sound decisions in the pocket. His further abilities to pick apart a defense in the pocket and extend plays with his legs are traits NFL teams have increasingly coveted in recent years.
There’s a pretty large range of where talent evaluators project Pratt to go — the high being on day two, when he might sneak into the third round and the low closer to the back end of the fifth round.
Pratt is a safe pick for a team wanting to develop a younger quarterback behind a stable room of quarterbacks in place. In the right situation, Pratt can be a fantastic backup quarterback in the NFL, with the potential to become a starting quarterback at some point in his career. Pratt had a long, successful career at the college level with Tulane; I predict his intangibles and leadership will allow him a long career in the NFL.
My prediction: Round 4
Jackson was a lesser-known prospect at the conclusion of the college football season but has boosted his stock during the pre-draft process. Jackson received an invite to the prestigious 2024 NFL Combine, where the top draft-eligible players in the country workout in front of all 32 NFL teams.
At the Combine, Jackson impressed with a blazing-fast 4.42-second 40-yard dash and was smooth during on-field drills. While Jackson boasts a smaller frame at just 5 feet, 9 inches tall and 188 pounds, his ability to break the top off the defense with his speed put him on the NFL radar.
Jackson’s combination of production for a terrific Tulane football team along with his speed and athleticism has caught the attention of scouts and has made him a potential day three draft pick. Jackson has a large draft range; the high being somewhere in the fifth round and the low being an undrafted free agent.
My prediction: Round 6
Pines has been a productive starter for the Tulane offensive line, keeping the opposition out of the backfield and protecting Pratt. His two seasons with the Wave brought unmatched success to the program.
However, he’s been pretty banged up this past season, missing some games with an injury in addition to hurting his hamstring during the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. However, when healthy, Pines has the size — at 6 feet, 4 inches tall and over 320 pounds — to bully defenders at the point of attack and move his feet especially well for his size.
If a team sees the upside and can look past the recent injury bug Pines has dealt with, they will get a talented offensive guard with the potential to compete for a roster spot. However, he may have to sweat hearing his name called this weekend, because his evaluation puts him close to the end of the draft in round 7.
My prediction: Round 7
Haynesworth might be the most intriguing player to watch during the NFL draft.
Once considered a potential day two pick, his draft stock has slid, and I’m not really sure why. Haynesworth has been incredibly durable over his five-year career at Tulane and has adequate size — 6 feet, 1 inches tall and 310 pounds — to play the center position at the next level. He’s also an incredible leader and was a key component of Pratt’s success as well as back-to-back 1,300-yard rushing seasons by Tyjae Spears and Makhi Hughes.
Haynesworth has the potential, in my opinion, to be a long-term solid center at the NFL level, as either a high-end backup or a lower-level starter. While it is possible that Haynesworth goes undrafted, I believe he will earn a final NFL roster spot this season regardless.
My prediction: Round 7
We’re sad to see familiar stars we’ve grown to love depart. But, it’s exciting to see how Tulane is beginning to consistently produce NFL-caliber players. After cheering on the Wave this upcoming season on Saturdays, we’ll also have Sundays to look forward to, as guys like Pratt, Jackson, Pines and Haynesworth might be rocking their new NFL attire.
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