Here is where Kansas State football’s top 2024 NFL Draft prospects rank at their positions

Barring a major surprise, don’t look for any Kansas State football players to go off the board Thursday in the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

That said, as many as four Wildcats could hear their names called — including two in Friday’s second or third rounds — before it is all said and done on Saturday.

The festivities get underway at 7 p.m. Thursday from Detroit, with ABC and the ESPN networks providing live television coverage. The second and third rounds take place starting at 6 p.m. Friday, with rounds 4-7 scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday.

K-State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe and tight end Ben Sinnott both are likely to go Friday, while offensive lineman and defensive end/edge Khalid Duke are projected as possible Saturday selections. The mock drafts often provide the more accurate forecasts because they factor in runs at certain positions.

But another measuring stick is how the individual players stack up with other prospects in their respective position groups. So, here is a look at how several entities rank the Wildcats next to their peers and also overall in the draft class.

Note: Overall prospect ranking is not a prediction of the player’s draft position.

Where will Kansas State football TE Ben Sinnott go in 2024 NFL draft? Some projections

Where will Kansas State football OL KT Leveston go in 2024 NFL draft? Some projections

Where will Kansas State football DE Khalid Duke go in 2024 NFL draft? Some projections

OG Cooper Beebe

ESPN: No. 2 guard, No. 79 overall

CBS Sports: No. 5 Interior OL (No. 3 guard), No. 81 overall

WalterFootball: No. 5 guard (draft round 2-3)

Sporting News: No. 5 guard, No. 77 overall

It is interesting that Beebe’s overall rankings do not typically reflect his projected draft position of second or early third round. Also, some position rankings lump guards and centers together as interior linemen.

TE Ben Sinnott

CBS Sports: No. 2 tight end, No. 54 overall

ESPN: No. 2 tight end, No. 94 overall

Sporting News: No. 3 tight end, No. 78 overall

WalterFootball: No. 4 tight end (draft round 3-4)

Sinnott’s stock has continued to go up, especially after a strong showing at the NFL Combine. But his draft ceiling most likely is early third round.

OL KT Leveston

ESPN: No. 12 guard, No. 194 overall

WalterFootball: No. 21 tackle (draft round 3-5)

Sporting News: No. 20 guard, No. 216 overall

CBS Sports: No. 28 tackle, No. 315 overall

Leveston started at left tackle for K-State the past two seasons, but he may be better suited to play guard in the NFL, as reflected in some of the rankings.

DE/Edge/LB Khalid Duke

WalterFootball: No. 23 defensive end (draft round 4-6)

ESPN: No. 25 edge, No. 237 overall

CBS Sports: No. 20 linebacker, No. 247 overall

Finding the right NFL fit will be important for Duke, who has been ranked variously as a defensive end, edge rusher or outside linebacker. His professional future, at least initially, will be as a pass rush specialist.

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.