Injuries are a fact of life at any level of football, but they can have a profound effect on the NFL draft process. Specific prospects can have their status damaged by an inability to play in college all-star games or produce full workouts prior to the event.

Willis McGahee is the best example. The former Miami running back looked destined to become a top-five draft pick in the 2003 class before suffering a serious knee injury during the national championship game.

He still became a first-round pick thanks to his immense talent, but he fell outside of the top-20 selections.

As time has passed, more and more individuals have chosen to avoid situations where injuries might occur, such as bowl games with no stakes or unnecessary workouts. Not everyone is fortunate to navigate the season with a clean bill of health and immediately turn their attention to preparing for the draft.

This year's class includes a group of eight highly regarded prospects, including cornerback Cooper DeJean, who suffered significant injuries that affected the lead-up to hearing their names called once the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit begins on April 25.

But they're still going to be excellent value for some fortunate franchise.

QB Jordan Travis, Florida State

The 2024 NFL draft class will be dominated by six quarterback prospects, particularly the top four: USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

Oregon's Bo Nix and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. can also expect to hear their names called at some point later in the first or second round. From there, quality options are sparse.

Florida State's Jordan Travis had an opportunity to find himself in the mix until he suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Nov. 18. His absence in the lineup basically led the the College Football Playoff Committee to pass on an undefeated Seminoles squad for the one-loss Alabama Crimson Tide.

Travis missed FSU's last three games but still earned ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-ACC honors after throwing for 20 touchdowns compared to only two interceptions.

Prior to the injury, the 23-year-old didn't find himself among the top quarterback prospects. He has a smaller frame (6'1", 200 lbs), middling arm strength, inconsistent processing and shaky pocket presence. But he displayed a quick release, excellent movement skills and ability to create outside of structure.

He could have been an strong possibility in the third- or fourth-round range. He might find himself still waiting a little longer on draft weekend considering the injury.

"At this point, I am taking it day by day," Travis told reporters at the NFL combine. "I got out of my boot about a week ago, so it's pretty special. I am so thankful to wake up every single day and look down at my shoes. I am so grateful, it's been a journey for sure and my family has helped me get through it.

"I should be ready by May, June. That's my goal. I am ready for it."

For a franchise with an older or uncertain quarterback situation, without the benefit of a top-five draft pick, Travis could be an intriguing developmental addition.

Potential Team Fits: New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints

RB Jonathon Brooks, Texas

Jonathon Brooks went from Texas Longhorns' backup running back to the team's starter to earning projections as the 2024 class' RB1 to suffering a season-ending injury that derailed all of his momentum.

In 10 games, the 20-year-old amassed 1,425 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns. But he suffered a torn ACL during a Nov. 11 meeting with the TCU Horned Frogs.

"I'm 12 weeks into my recovery, so I'm just starting to get to running," he told reporters at the combine. "The expected timeline [for his return] is training camp; July 1 or start of training camp."

Clearly, Brooks won't be the first running back drafted. Notre Dame's Audric Estimé, Florida State's Trey Benson and Wisconsin's Braelon Allen are now ranked ahead of the Texas ball-carrier by the Bleacher Report Scouting Report Department.

When healthy, Brooks has the quickness through the hole and enough speed to create chunk plays when he breaks into space. The 216-pound back isn't a powerful runner or someone who's expected to create significant yardage after contact. Obviously, a major knee injury is a major concern when a prospect's game is predicated on explosive runs.

The second-team All-Big 12 selection may be well-served with a pseudo-redshirt season, where he's brought along slowly, worked into the lineup as the season progresses and his team has an eye on 2025 more than this coming season.

Potential Team Fits: Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings

RB Rasheen Ali, Marshall

Marshall's Rasheen Ali is one of the draft class' best pure runners. At the same time, his injury history is worrisome.

Between the 2021 and 2023 campaigns, he ran for 2,536 yards and 38 touchdowns. But he took a leave of absence from the Thundering Herd program during the 2022 season. According to Huntington Herald-Dispatch's Luke Creasy, the running back was dealing with his "mental, physical and emotional health."

Marshall head coach Charles Huff said: "(Ali) is back. He's around. He's going through the protocols they have him go through. I learned a long time ago that the head coach doesn't cross the medical line."

Ali, 23, did receive a medical redshirt for the season, even though he played in Marshall's final three games.

Clearly, he bounced back with a strong junior campaign. He is an explosive back with enough wiggle to make defenders miss and create big plays. He initially looked like the best RB on the field during Senior Bowl practice but suffered a bicep injury.

According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, he will be cleared in July, which limits his value in the draft. Ali could end up being a steal once he's fully healthy and back to form, though.

Potential Team Fits: Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans

IOL Zach Frazier, West Virginia

One moment fully defines Zach Frazier, the player.

During the West Virginia Mountaineers' final offensive drive of the season, their first-team All-Big 12 center can be seen working his way down the field, helping his teammate while running a screen, getting his leg rolled up and then crawling off the field after suffering a broken leg because his squad was out of timeouts.

"I knew something wasn't quite right," Frazier told In The Gun podcast (h/t Fan Nation's Schuyler Callihan). "I didn't hear the snap or anything, but I felt like my foot was kind of turned and I just had a lot of pain.

"And in two minutes, I have to be the first one to the ball, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to run another play and knew I had to get off the field because we didn't have any timeouts and you don't want to get that 10-second runoff, so I just rolled over and I didn't want to put any weight on that leg, so I was just screaming and bear-crawling off the field."

The 6'3", 313-pound pivot is going to put on his hard hat and go to work on every single play. The four-time state champion wrestler is going to play hard and give everything he can.

A broken fibula was the result of the aforementioned play. Frazier wasn't able to practice at the Senior Bowl, though he still attended to interview with NFL teams. The lineman also didn't work out at the combine. He's expected to do so at the Big 12 pro day on Saturday.

Even so, the damage is done. A first-round talent could find himself in the second frame as a result.

Potential Team Fits: Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals

IOL Zak Zinter, Michigan

Michigan guard Zak Zinter required emergency surgery after being carried off the field during the Wolverines' yearly meeting with the archrival Ohio State Buckeyes, because he snapped the tibia and fibula in his left leg.

As bad as the injury looked initially, the 22-year-old is happy with the progress he's made since it occurred on Nov. 25.

"I've been saying, best-, worst-case scenario," he told reporters at the combine. "Just broke the (tibia) and (fibula), no ligaments in the ankle or the knee, so recovery is going quicker and better than I thought. I'm moving around well and pretty much cleared for everything. Just building the strength in the leg back up."

Two bone breaks with no ligament damage are not a major concern for NFL teams.

"Honestly, everyone's asked about it, but it's been quick," Zinter said about meeting with teams. "They see me moving around great, feeling good. We had some medical yesterday and finished up some medical today, but I'm going to be ready to roll in a month. I'll be football-ready. So, it's not a huge concern with a lot of teams just seeing me move around really well."

The 6'6", 306-pounder will enter the professional ranks with a place as a well-coached interior blocker, who may be limited athletically but projects as a starter.

Potential Team Fits: Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles

OT Kiran Amegadjie, Yale

Yale's Kiran Amegadjie is the top small-school prospect in the 2024 draft class.

While he may not be be considered a first-round talent, like Northern Iowa's Trevor Penning going 19th overall two years ago, he's a solid Day 2 option, even with the injury he suffered this past season.

The Ivy League product suffered a partially torn quadriceps muscle, which prevented him from playing in the Bulldogs' final six contests and any all-star events.

After five months of recovery, the offensive line prospect is ready to work out for teams.

"My quad is feeling really good," Amegadjie told reporters at the combine. "I'll be ready for a pro day on April 3. I'm running, jumping and doing position drills. I'm feeling really strong."

When healthy, Amegadjie is a 6'5", 323-pound prospect, with 36⅛-inch arms. He has the length and movement skills to stay at offensive tackle but may get a look at guard depending on where he lands.

Either way, the first-team FCS All-American can still be a Day 2 selection, even though he may not go quite as high as initially projected.

Potential Team Fits: Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders

CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa

Not getting to see Iowa's Cooper DeJean work out may have been the most disappointing aspect of this year's NFL Scouting Combine.

The 21-year-old suffered a leg injury during a Nov. 15 practice that ended his final collegiate season. The extent of the problem didn't come to light until the combine, when the defensive back revealed he suffered a fractured fibula.

While DeJean has since been cleared, he wasn't fully prepared to work out for teams at that time. Instead, he'll hold an individual pro day on April, 8, per The Athletic's Dane Brugler.

Once he's back on the field and testing, he will likely show he's one of the class' best overall athletes.

"The former high school quarterback (who also lettered three times in basketball, track and baseball each) won the Iowa state long jump title (23-7 1/2 inches) and 100 meters (11.16) and has continued to get more explosive since he's been in college," Bruce Feldman of The Athletic wrote last August.

"This offseason, he spent a week with NFL combine trainer Jordan Luallen, who clocked DeJean at 0.92 in his flying 10s and had him at 2.39 in his 20-yard sprint out of a two-point stance."

The unanimous All-American has the athleticism and versatility to be used all over the defensive back end while also providing value as a returner.

DeJean may have been in the conversation as CB1 had the injury not occurred, but that possibility no longer exists. However, a first-round projection is more than fair.

Potential Team Fits: Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry entered this past season as the unanimous CB1. That's no longer the case. It's not necessarily anything he did, either.

The 21-year-old pieced together a strong final season on campus, but others really rose throughout the process.

Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell answered every question posed about his skill set throughout this predraft process. He handled all-star wide receivers during one-on-one settings at the Senior Bowl and then blazed a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

McKinstry's teammate, Terrion Arnold, excelled playing the opposite corner. He experienced his share of struggles during the 2022 campaign when he converted from safety to cornerback. But he put everything together this past season, with arguably the best all-round skill set among the incoming position group.

Meanwhile, doctors at the combine discovered that McKinstry had played through a Jones fracture.

The cornerback prospect wasn't going to let that hold him back, though, and he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at Alabama's pro day, per Michael Casagrande of AL.com.

McKinstry then had his surgery to rectify the situation last Friday. He's expected to be 100 percent by the starting of training camp, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Still, the cornerback will miss rookie camp, minicamps and organized team activities. Teams will likely be far more comfortable taking Mitchell, Arnold and possibly even DeJean before McKinstry in the first round.

Potential Team Fits: Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions