We’re one week away from the 2024 NFL Draft. Rumors, signings, and so much more have gone down this offseason that could affect how each team attacks the draft. Here are my latest thoughts on how the first round will go:
- Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams – QB – USC
Williams is the consensus number one pick. No need to go further into it. - Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels – QB – LSU
Some have tried to make arguments for Drake Maye or another quarterback will get taken here but I’m sticking to my guns that Jayden Daniels will be a Commander. - New England Patriots – Drake Maye – QB – North Carolina
Same thing with New England and either trading back or taking a wide receiver. Why not get the quarterback you want instead of taking extra unnecessary risk? - Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr. – WR – Ohio St.
If you are the Cardinals and you don’t trade back, you are 100% taking Marvin Harrison Jr. here. It doesn’t matter if he hasn’t been the easiest to work with in this pre-draft process. - Minnesota Vikings – J.J. McCarthy – QB – Michigan
TRADE WITH THE CHARGERS
I’m still holding on to the idea that the Vikings will trade into the top five to get their guy and their guy is none other than McCarthy. There’s been so much buzz about teams being interested in the former Wolverine QB. - New York Giants – Malik Nabers – WR – LSU
Since four quarterbacks are off the board, it’ll be tough to convince yourself to go in that direction if you’re the Giants. At this point, grab the second-best player at his position in this class and fill one of the positions of need. - Tennessee Titans – Joe Alt – OT – Notre Dame
Tennessee has had some big departures at the offensive tackle position over the last couple of years. This is the perfect opportunity to grab the top offensive lineman at number seven. - Atlanta Falcons – Dallas Turner – ED – Alabama
Atlanta needs a new and young edge rusher. Turner is regarded as the top player at his position and should be a good addition to an ascending defense. - Chicago Bears – Byron Murphy II – IDL – Texas
Chicago could trade down and still get Murphy if they move down to the teens. Whether the Bears do that or not it feels like they’ll address the interior of the defensive line before they take another edge rusher. - New York Jets – Brock Bowers – TE – Georgia
The Jets have been in desperate need of taking a tight end and improving that position for so long. If Bowers is still there after they make their selection, then I have no faith that New York will ever take a tight end with an early round pick again. - Los Angeles Chargers – Rome Odunze – WR – Washington
TRADE WITH THE VIKINGS
This is an amazing deal for Los Angeles. You move back six spots to still take a top receiver prospect to give Justin Herbert another weapon to throw to, plus you’ve got an extra first round pick coming up. - Denver Broncos – Taliese Fuaga – OT – Oregon St.
This is a risk of not taking the next best available quarterback, however, if you’re able to package some picks together you may be able to get back into the first round and still get your guy. Fuaga would also have a prime opportunity to take Garrett Bolles’ job at left tackle. - Las Vegas Raiders – Terrion Arnold – CB – Alabama
Vegas is most likely to go in one of two directions, offensive tackle or cornerback. I’m leaning towards them taking a corner since they would have the full pick of the litter and taking Terrion Arnold wouldn’t be a bad choice. - New Orleans Saints – Troy Fautanu – OT – Washington
One of the three F’s is gone but the fact that Fautanu can play at either tackle position or at guard gives him the edge over Olu Fashanu as the Saints continue to try and improve that offensive line. - Indianapolis Colts – Quinyon Mitchell – CB – Toldeo
The rest of the AFC has gotten better at wide receiver since the end of last season. Counter picking and taking a top rated corner early on in the draft would be a smart move as you try to slow down those other offenses. - Seattle Seahawks – Jer’Zhan Newton – IDL – Illinois
Seattle could use more help with their down linemen. Leonard Williams is a solid piece but Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed are less than stellar starters. - Jacksonville Jaguars – Nate Wiggins – CB – Clemson
Similar to what I said about the Colts, you’ll want to add more depth to your secondary if you want to try and stop down a receiving corp of Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell. - Cincinnati Bengals – Brian Thomas Jr. – WR – LSU
Even if Tee Higgins won’t be traded before the season, grabbing another receiver to replace Tyler Boyd is a good idea. Brian Thomas flashed last year at LSU and could be a great compliment to Ja’Marr Chase. - Los Angeles Rams – Jared Verse – ED – Florida St.
The interior of the defensive line for the Rams isn’t as terrible as you might think now that Aaron Donald has retired. You’ll still want to take a player that can generate a consistent pass rush and Verse can be that player coming off the edge. - Pittsburgh Steelers – Oluwuyiwa Fashanu – OT – Penn St.
Fashanu is a good value pick here if he does fall to 20. The former Nittany Lion would help protect Russell Wilson or Justin Fields and improve a poor Steelers running game. - Miami Dolphins – Jackson Powers-Johnson – IOL – Oregon
Aaron Brewer was signed to replace Robert Hunt at guard but there’s still a hole at center for Miami. Powers-Johnson fixes that issue after posting impressive PFF grades in the run and pass game. - Philadelphia Eagles – Kool-Aid McKinstry – CB – Alabama
Philly may have brought back Avonte Maddox while still having Darius Slay and James Bradberry but all three players are 28 years old and older with Slay being 33 and Bradberry being 30. You’ll need to add some youth sooner rather than later. McKinstry can sit behind those guys and get his chance to start in the coming seasons. - Los Angeles Chargers – JC Latham – OT – Alabama
TRADE WITH THE VIKINGS
First you trade back and end up with Odunze at 11 and then take a good tackle prospect with the other pick you got from the Vikings. If this scenario plays out how can we say any other team won the first round other than Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers? - Dallas Cowboys – Chop Robinson – ED – Penn St.
Robinson is a possible replacement for either Demarcus Lawrence, who has a contract that’ll expire in 2025, or possibly Micah Parsons with the rumors that players and coaches want him gone. - Green Bay Packers – Edggerin Cooper – LB – Texas A&M
Since Andre Dillard signed with Green Bay I have to go in a different direction with this pick. Cooper has a chance to get taken in the back half of the first round and help continue the trend of being another defensive player the Packers take in the first round. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mike Sainristil – CB – Michigan
Tampa has yet to address their secondary in free agency and take veteran corners. That leads me to believe they’ll take the next best available option in the draft with one of their first couple of picks. - Arizona Cardinals – Laiatu Latu – ED – UCLA
There have been quite a few injury concerns regarding Latu which could lead to him dropping into the late first round or out of the round altogether. Arizona taking the former Bruin at 27 is a risk I’d be comfortable making. - Buffalo Bills – Cooper DeJean – CB – Iowa
DeJean was one of the few players that went to Buffalo for a top-30 visit and would help fill a position of need after the Bills moved a from a couple of key secondary starters. - Detroit Lions – Ennis Rakestraw Jr. – CB – Mizzou
The Lions are in NEED of getting a new cornerback. Taking Rakestraw might be a little bit of a reach but this team took Jack Campbell much higher than we anticipated in 2023. - Baltimore Ravens – Amarius Mims – OT – Georgia
Ronnie Stanley is still an anchor for that Baltimore offensive line at left tackle, but what about at right tackle? Mims can sure up the other side and bring better pass protection for Lamar Jackson. - San Francisco 49ers – Jordan Morgan – OT – Arizona
Morgan will have the opportunity to sit back for a year and either replace Trent Williams or Colton McKivitz and help keep the 49ers offenses rolling for years to come. - Denver Broncos – Bo Nix – QB – Oregon
TRADE WITH THE CHIEFS
Denver will have to give up some high draft capital in next year’s draft to make this happen. If you don’t take a quarterback at 12 you have to trade back into the first round to secure the guy you and Nix feels like he could be their guy.