The conversation around the NFL draft is always about the first few rounds.
Everyone knows about the star quarterbacks and the top players at the forefront of each position group’s depth chart. But each autumn, we learn about the biggest steals of the draft, young players who were selected on Day 3 and immediately became important players for their respective teams.
But who are those guys this time around? Who fits the bill in terms of talent, fit and opportunity?
Here are five players to keep your eyes on as the 2024 season develops.
Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
If there’s any position to bet on with late-round choices, it’s running back. And with as much as the Eagles are willing to pound the rock, Shipley is a logical choice.
The fourth-rounder won’t see the majority of carries considering D’Andre Swift is the entrenched starter, but he was a three-year contributor at Clemson, running for 2,748 yards and 31 touchdowns. Look for him to play as a rotational back for Philadelphia.
Brenden Rice, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Rice was one of the draft’s stunning developments, falling to the seventh round before he was finally scooped up by the Chargers. Yet, considering Los Angeles’ receiver room, Rice might have a chance to play a ton of snaps.
The Chargers released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen this offseason, replacing them with second-round pick Ladd McConkey and little else. At USC in 2023, Rice caught 45 passes for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. The son of first-ballot Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, he has ample upside.
Rasheen Ali, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Ali combined for 2,536 rushing yards in his two best seasons.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA
Much like Shipley and the Eagles, we’re talking about a running back with a run-heavy team. Although Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell are ahead of the fifth-rounder on the depth chart, the Ravens run enough so Ali could see touches, especially if Henry is managed to an extent.
At Marshall, Ali was extremely productive when healthy. In his two best seasons of 2021 and ’23, Ali combined for 2,536 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns. At 206 pounds, he provides a bit of youth for Baltimore’s backfield.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers
There’s no reason to think Sanders won’t see starter-level snaps for the Panthers in 2024. While Tommy Tremble is a veteran ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, he’s long been a backup-level piece.
The fourth-rounder started two years for the Texas Longhorns, catching 99 passes for 1,205 yards and seven touchdowns. At the scouting combine, Sanders ran a 4.69 40-yard dash time at 6’4″ and 245 pounds. Expect the rookie to be a security blanket for second-year quarterback Bryce Young.
Javon Baker, WR, New England Patriots
Baker had 108 catches in his two seasons at UCF.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Baker might prove to be one of this draft’s steals. Projected as a Day 2 pick out of Central Florida, the Atlanta native was selected in the fourth round.
At UCF, the 6’1″ and 202-pounder was a two-year starter after transferring from Alabama, catching 108 passes for 1,935 yards and 12 touchdowns. In New England, he’s going to have ample opportunity to play alongside fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk with No. 3 pick Drake Maye as his quarterback.
In the 2024 NFL draft, there were 257 players selected.
Some are going to become solid role players. Others will make a Pro Bowl or two. Then there are the select stars who become perennial Pro Bowlers and even see some All-Pro teams. Finally, a couple will be fitted for gold jackets in Canton.
Unfortunately, there’s the opposite reality as well. For every star, there will be 20 players who don’t make an impact. Of those, many will be late-round fliers. But a few will come from the first few rounds, players expected to make a difference only to fade into football oblivion.
So which of the AFC picks surrounded by hype could be cautionary tales in the coming years? It’s time to take a hard look at not only the player but the team and situation, along with potential pitfalls out of their control.
5. Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Why he’ll be a bust: To be clear, Maye has a very good chance of succeeding. He has all the tools. This is more about the situation around him, and the pressure on Maye because of the past few years under Bill Belichick.
Maye is going to a team with a first-year, defensive-minded head coach in Jerod Mayo. He’s also entering a roster which doesn’t have a proven, star weapon on the outside. It’s a big ask of Maye, although it’s not impossible. Want proof? Look at C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans.
4. Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
Why he’ll be a bust: Coleman is a massive receiver. At the combine, the Florida State product checked in at 6'3"and 213 pounds. With the Seminoles in 2023, he was the top receiver for a team which almost made the College Football Playoff.
The problems, though, are evident. He struggled to separate against college corners, largely because of his 4.6 speed. And his contested catch rate was 33% last season despite a size advantage on almost every snap. For the Bills, this is a gamble on measurables and Josh Allen. Fair enough, but the bust potential is there.
3. Amarius Mims, OT, Cincinnati Bengals
Mims started only eight games in college.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Why he’ll be a bust: Mims might be the biggest wild card in this class. On tape, he’s an absolute monster in both the run and pass game, dominating edge defenders with considerable ease. Also, at 6'8"and 340 pounds, the size is unquestionable.
However, Mims started only eight games in college, and injuries were a consistent concern, too. The Bengals are banking on him finally staying healthy and reaching his potential, which is becoming an All-Pro talent. For Cincinnati, which has struggled to field a quality offensive line in front of Joe Burrow, it’s an understandable risk.
2. T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Tennessee Titans
Why he’ll be a bust: Sweat is powerful as a defensive tackle who can get up the field and destroy blockers at times. The problem? He wasn’t always that guy. At Texas, Sweat played in 51 games and totaled just 17.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Additionally, there are questions about Sweat away from the field. In early April, he was arrested on suspicion of DWI. Tennessee took a chance on him anyway as a second-round pick despite some believing he shouldn’t come off the board until Day 3. It’s a risky move at a position that wasn’t a huge need, considering Tennessee already has Jeffrey Simmons inside.
1. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
Why he’ll be a bust: Nix has a few things going against him. First, the Broncos are terrible around him. One could argue they have the worst roster in the NFL, including a leaky offensive line and a weapons group that has Courtland Sutton and not much else.
But the problems aren’t only about the supporting cast. Denver is also taking a chance on a kid who struggled mightily at Auburn, leading to his transfer. When playing within a pro-style offense with the Tigers for three seasons, Nix completed less than 60 percent of his attempts. Finally, he’s 24 years old. Has he already hit his ceiling?
This was the most difficult set of power rankings I’ve done since taking over the franchise at Sports Illustrated. I think post-NFL draft is the toughest time of year because we are blinded by expectations and are flying high on the magnanimous language used throughout the process by experts and scouts and coaches who lead us to believe that every single one of these players are going to immediately improve the prospects of their franchise when the reality is always more complicated. About half of these players aren’t going to make a tangible impact on the NFL, which is harsh but true. We just don’t know which half. And, some teams are going to have an entire class of contributors, while some teams will not have any.
So, this explains your inevitable outrage. There are going to be teams that made the playoffs who are not in the top 14. There are going to be other teams in the top 10 who, you feel, probably don’t belong. It’s guesswork, sure, but it’s also betting on established coach-and-quarterback combinations, then supplementing those bets with initial thoughts on the draft class which, again, we ultimately have no idea about.
With that in mind, here goes nothing. Love it? Hate it? Let’s talk.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
It’s funny how the conversation has shifted from the Chiefs staving off some kind of decline to a sort of inevitability that they will reach a third consecutive Super Bowl. Despite picking late each year, general manager Brett Veach has done a great job of finding quality starters, be it DE George Karlaftis from a few years back, or WR Xavier Worthy this year. The Chiefs have now sidled up next to the Miami Dolphins in terms of best linear speed wide receiver tandems in the NFL. And OT Kingsley Suamataia could most certainly develop into a quality starter with time and seasoning.
2. Detroit Lions
The Lions had an issue with their secondary heading into the draft, then hammered the position like a piece of old drywall. Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. are both rangy, physical cornerbacks who can parse through complicated offensive sets with bunched wide receivers. While the learning curve for a defensive back is steep in the NFL, we’ve also seen some pleasant surprises. Even if Detroit hits on 50% of its cornerback haul, the team has become all the more dangerous.
3. San Francisco 49ers
When Kyle Shanahan drafts a wide receiver, we should take note. This is no different than when Andy Reid takes a quarterback, or the Eagles take an offensive lineman (for the most part). Shanahan is clearly not infallible, but Ricky Pearsall gives me some strong Cooper Kupp vibes and I think he can help diversify San Francisco’s offense, which Shanahan has desperately needed to do. I also wonder, how come we keep letting the 49ers get great man-cover corners who are super aggressive such as Renardo Green?
4. Baltimore Ravens
I actually liked Rakestraw for Baltimore, but Nate Wiggins’s speed is a necessity at this point for any team. The Ravens also got a bump-inside tackle in the second round which helped them alleviate some departures at guard. Baltimore always finds useful contributors during the draft process, and I wonder if it’ll fare better in the later rounds simply because its process is strong.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals begin a run of teams that did not make the playoffs last year but have to be considered top 10 this year. I loved the pick of OT Amarius Mims, who I thought for certain was destined to become a Pittsburgh Steeler. This takes them out of having to start Trent Brown on the right side this year, and potentially end up using Brown as a swing tackle who could be more useful in different, bigger formations. Also, the selection of DT Kris Jenkins Jr. does not replace D.J. Reader, but it gives the Bengals some heft up front, which is necessary in the AFC North.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
DeJean was one of the better value selections in the NFL draft.
Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY
The Eagles and Lions were both clinical in addressing their needs in the secondary, with Cooper DeJean being, potentially, one of the better value selections in the whole draft. While I do like the big swing at edge rusher in the third round (Jalyx Hunt), my only question mark is how the Eagles are planning to supplement for the future losses on the offensive line and, really, throughout their defensive front seven with a few stalwarts nearing retirement age.
7. Buffalo Bills
WR Keon Coleman and S Cole Bishop were selections of need. My friend, Tyler Dunne, over at Go Long changed my mind on the Coleman pick. While I thought it was foolish for the Bills to invite Kansas City to the top of the draft to select a wide receiver, he saw it as a bit of a “come and get it” declaration, a message that the Chiefs don’t scare the Bills in particular and that they’ll treat them like any other team. This is a good year to see how Sean McDermott can refresh his coaching chops and get his staff to hit the ground running. The Bills are getting younger, but don’t want to spend time not winning the AFC East.
8. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams made a first-round pick! While I’m biased because L.A. just kept continually selecting some of my favorite players in this draft, I thought the Rams were as good as any team in the NFL in Rounds 1–3. And based on how GM Les Snead has found contributors during his streak of no first-round picks, there are high hopes for DE Jared Verse, DT Braden Fiske and RB Blake Corum. Corum in particular is scary to me. Sean McVay with another heady back and another year developing this newly tooled run game could be dangerous.
9. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are changing their offensive profile drastically. While OT Joe Alt won’t be an elite right tackle on Day 1, the Chargers will be tougher and more physical than they ever were during the Tom Telesco era. This was a point of emphasis for Jim Harbaugh. Justin Herbert will have a highly dependable and bruising running game, kind of like the one Brandon Staley preached at the outset of his arrival but never got. Ladd McConkey folds into this profile as well, and will be a physically imposing receiver despite his initial size and appearance.
10. New York Jets
This is an Aaron Rodgers-quarterbacked team, and I know that many of you view the Jets as perpetually superfluous. But I think if everyone remains healthy, this team is going to be seriously good. OT Olu Fashanu didn’t change my mind all that much. Hopefully he can be developed and eased into a starting role, or Morgan Moses can play guard until someone is pressed into playing one position out of necessity. I liked that the Jets invested in physical backs and receivers who can help alleviate the backfield pressure on Rodgers. When offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Rodgers were at their best together, Rodgers had a stable of dependable backs and receivers who would break tackles off quick catches.
11. Houston Texans
Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher stands out as the Texans’ top selection, which gives them a major amount of positional versatility on the offensive line and should provide more of an ability for Houston to bring along its running game and protect C.J. Stroud, which is the ultimate goal moving forward. Adding CB Kamari Lassiter as a potential starting corner with their first pick isn’t shabby, either.
12. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have built, without question, the best defensive line in the NFL on paper. Michael Hall Jr. is a stylistic complement to the rest of the Browns’ front, and should provide DC Jim Schwartz with some real ammunition. Questions about playmakers are valid, though the Browns are far higher on the hidden developments of Deshaun Watson that we don’t see (even when he’s playing) than the rest of us. Perhaps that is informing their decision to ride heavily on Nick Chubb and Amari Cooper in 2024.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
Fautanu should help solidify the Steelers' offensive line in front of Russell Wilson.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Steelers continue to remake themselves wholly, which, I would guess, invigorates the tenured Mike Tomlin as he reaches a point in his career where many wondered if he’d be better off coaching elsewhere. Starting a new left tackle and center in the same season can be terrifying, but when that center is draft favorite Zach Frazier, along with the sturdy Troy Fautanu, I like my chances. This may be the offseason to finally buy big on running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
14. Indianapolis Colts
From a pure value perspective, it’s fair to wonder if GM Chris Ballard and the Colts didn’t have the best pure draft of any team. WR Adonai Mitchell and edge Laiatu Latu have incredible upside, and while there is something about each of them—be it personal or medical—that scared other teams off, a good organization can embrace anyone and everyone. If the ceiling on both of these players hits, watch out.
15. Green Bay Packers
The Packers crushed this draft and took my favorite tackle, Jordan Morgan, out of Arizona. I think Morgan has tremendous potential and fits ideally in the kind of offense head coach Matt LaFleur is trying to build. I know there were coaches in the same system on other teams who also coveted Morgan. Nestled at the bottom of the draft was quarterback Michael Pratt out of Tulane, who I think could be an NFL contributor at some point. Now that he’s in Green Bay, we’ve all but assured Pratt will develop into a capable NFL passer at some point.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville disappointed me a bit, although I don’t know what the team’s private pre-draft evaluation of Brian Thomas Jr. looked like. Getting a top target for Trevor Lawrence has obviously been their goal for three consecutive offseasons, which made it seem like a move up to the top 10 for either Harrison, Nabers or Odunze would have made the most sense (it would seem like Atlanta was willing to move down, given the pick). Instead, they let WR4 come to them, which, again, may end up working out given what they thought of Thomas. I like the selection of a placekicker (Cam Little) deep in the draft in hopes of developing one. The back end of this year’s talent pool was poor, and so kicker becomes a value spot if you get the pick right.
17. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings traded up six spots to land Turner in the first round.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
I think I will be the most wrong about the Vikings out of any team. I came out fairly strongly against the J.J. McCarthy pick, which is a foolish stance given how good Kevin O’ Connell is at tutoring the quarterback position and the fact that McCarthy has two elite wide receivers and a great tight end. If Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hits on McCarthy and Dallas Turner, we could be looking at another GM with offensive and defensive rookies of the year potential. For the record, I hated Houston’s draft a year ago, too, so Adofo-Mensah is in good company.
18. Dallas Cowboys
All in? Not quite. Jerry Jones is trying to run off the fumes of the gasoline tank as he tightens his belt in preparation for CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons paydays. The Cowboys will end up being like a Las Vegas act, which draws due to some name recognition and branding power but is ultimately a fairly hollow experience. Their first-round pick, OT Tyler Guyton, will be a great player. Does he help the Cowboys reach championship level this year? I don’t think so. This may seem like a rough placement of Dallas, but the team lost Dan Quinn, is forcing Dak Prescott (it seems) to play on a one-year deal, has saber rattled about this being a prove-it year, and has not provided any additional resources. Maybe I’m wrong, but this doesn’t seem like the healthiest situation.
19. Chicago Bears
The Bears hit this draft with the entire barrel. Pairing QB Caleb Williams and WR Rome Odunze was a dream scenario I did not see possible when I did my mock draft last week. Yale OT Kiran Amegadjie is a sneaky mauler who I think will contribute down the road and has the determination to make the difficult leap from the Ivy League to the NFL.
20. New York Giants
The Giants had no business drafting a quarterback with Drake Maye off the board and I maintain that they’ll have more success with either Daniel Jones or Drew Lock and WR Malik Nabers than they would with a combination of Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix or McCarthy and no weapon. Additionally, their focus on friendly mid-range targets for Jones—and in building the core of the defense—shows a smart approach to the long term.
21. New Orleans Saints
I liked this draft for New Orleans because it very much fit the style of new OC Klint Kubiak. The Saints invested in athletic tackle Taliese Fuaga in the first round, and a vertical threat wide receiver in the fifth (Bub Means), giving Kubiak some of the very basic pieces necessary to run the scheme popularized by both his father, Gary, and his former boss, Kyle Shanahan.
22. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons still find themselves nestled in this middle tier because they didn’t exactly get better with the selection of Michael Penix Jr. —at least not yet. Penix is a long-term play, but the Falcons did also pound the edge (Bralen Trice) and defensive tackle positions (Brandon Dorlus and Zion Logue) in the following rounds, giving new head coach Raheem Morris some pieces to experiment with. This was an absolute necessity given the age and health of his front seven.
23. Seattle Seahawks
Murphy gives the Seahawks an explosive run defender.
Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman
This may seem too low for the Seahawks, and there are a couple teams on this list that, I’ll admit, I have no idea where to put them. Seattle, Dallas and Miami are all playoff contenders or fringe contenders from a year ago that I feel have not gotten significantly better this offseason. That said, feeding new head coach Mike Macdonald an explosive run defender (Byron Murphy II) and a tackle machine at off-ball linebacker (Tyrice Knight) is a good foundation for the season ahead.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Getting an athletic center (Graham Barton) helps put together a profile of offensive players that will be well suited for OC Liam Cohen to bring some Rams flavor to Tampa Bay. That was an important part of Tampa Bay’s offseason needs list, and center is typically a high success rate pick which makes sense if there’s a glaring hole in the lineup. I also appreciate GM Jason Licht’s continued insistence on not ignoring reality at the wide receiver position (Jalen McMillan), setting the foundation for a future not so far off in the distance.
25. Miami Dolphins
I know I’m going to get waxed for this, and I’m prepared to accept it. However, if Rodgers stays healthy for an entire season, it’s difficult for me to not anticipate another team in the AFC East getting knocked off their block a little bit. Miami is looking at Tua Tagovailoa in a contract year, Tyreek Hill now at 30 years old and an explosive running game as their forward-facing weapons. Mike McDaniel is a genius and a true people person, but I don't know if personnel decisions outside of the Hill trade have done him any favors. Can they get immediate production out of edge Chop Robinson and develop a large-wingspan tackle over the course of an offseason? The latter is more likely given that McDaniel is working with offensive line guru Butch Barry. We’ll see.
26. Washington Commanders
The Commanders could be this year’s Texans. QB Jayden Daniels was thought of in high regard and has a ton of experience. Washington was also methodical in the way it worked the early to middle rounds, with a tight end/H-back (Ben Sinnot) from “superback” powerhouse Kansas State who can diversify the Commanders offense, and another defensive tackle (Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton) to beef up an already impressive defensive line.
27. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals may not make the playoffs in 2024, but they are going to wallop some teams who don’t come prepared. I loved this draft, especially the way they bookended the first four picks with offensive playmakers (WR Marvin Harrison Jr. and RB Trey Benson) and, in the middle, handed Jonathan Gannon some versatile defensive pieces such as versatile edge Darius Robinson and Max Melton, who will provide value both in the slot and when working outside.
28. Denver Broncos
A team can do the right thing in the draft but still drop in the power rankings, if that makes sense. The Broncos are going to possibly start QB Bo Nix, which I think is great and the right course of action. But Sean Payton is starting over for the first time in a long time. There are going to be some hiccups, especially in a division that continues to get better and a slate of teams that can rush the passer well.
29. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders, like the Broncos, made the right pick. The issue is that a lot of other teams seemed to have gotten much better. TE Brock Bowers is going to create a lot of difficult moments for defensive coordinators and OT Jackson Powers-Johnson feels like a 10-year investment in the second round. However, Las Vegas was boxed out at quarterback and, also like Denver, we wonder if the team can swim in a difficult division full of opponents that will light up the scoreboard.
30. Tennessee Titans
Latham was the favorite offensive tackle in the draft for some teams.
Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK
This feels a little unfair to the Titans, but they’re another team I have no idea where to put. On paper, investing in Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard and new first-round offensive tackle JC Latham makes Tennessee a candidate for immediate improvement, but we’ve also seen these kinds of splashy, high-priced investments fail to yield much. Latham was the favorite offensive tackle for some, and giving Jeffrey Simmons a space-eating nose tackle to work off shows that GM Ran Carthon is willing to help his elite playmakers.
31. New England Patriots
I hope I’m wrong, but the Patriots will struggle this year. On draft night, I wondered if it wasn’t a better option to get the QB later and use the trade equity to build up the roster. Still, if you are in love with Drake Maye, you have to take him. Getting him a receiver (Ja’Lynn Polk) who stands out in 50-50 ball situations is a nice bonus as well.
32. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers begin this season where they ended the last. I liked Carolina’s draft and its continued insistence on making life easier for Bryce Young. The selection of a few high-character, aggressive offensive players (WR Xavier Legette and RB Jonathon Brooks) shows a desire for the Panthers to punch back throughout games this year. Young is still going to have to shoulder a huge burden, but that burden got significantly lighter through free agency and the draft.
With the 2024 NFL draft in the books, teams can now form their initial depth charts before mandatory minicamps in June and training camps in late July.
Some teams, such as the Chicago Bears, suddenly have fewer holes on the rosters after stellar draft classes. It helped that the Bears had an extra first-round pick, which they used on Caleb Williams, courtesy of last year’s trade with the Carolina Panthers.
That trade seems to get worse by the month for the Panthers, but they too have fewer needs on their roster with the selection of wide receiver Xavier Legette (though they still have a long way to go before fielding a playoff-worthy roster).
No matter how pleased each club is feeling about their post-draft and post-free agency roster, there are still improvements to be made. Here are the biggest remaining holes for all 32 teams.
Arizona Cardinals: IDL, LB, CB
Wide receiver is no longer a critical need after the selection of Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals, however, have a long way to go to fill out the defense. The unit did benefit from the team’s second first-round pick, edge rusher Darius Robinson. Coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense will rely on veteran cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting to help in the secondary.
Atlanta Falcons: Edge, CB, LB
The Falcons go into another season without much help for defensive lineman Grady Jarrett. Instead of using the No. 8 pick on an edge rusher, the Falcons chose to draft Michael Penix Jr., who likely won’t play in 2024 because of the arrival of Kirk Cousins. Perhaps this blurb will be wrong in November if second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro and third-round selection Bralen Trice make immediate impacts.
Jackson formed a strong connection with Flowers, who had a team-leading 858 receiving yards in 2023.
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Baltimore Ravens: WR, OT, Edge
The Ravens addressed their needs at cornerback and offensive guard with the draft selections of Nate Wiggins and Roger Rosengarten in the first and second rounds, respectively. Those were likely the right moves, but again, Lamar Jackson will have a thin receiving corps unless Rashod Bateman finally puts it together to help Zay Flowers. Baltimore is also thin at edge rusher, with Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy as the top options.
Buffalo Bills: Edge, WR, CB
Buffalo hit on some needs in the draft, selecting WR Keon Coleman and S Cole Bishop to shore up immediate weak spots. However, it was surprising to see the Bills not take another receiver. Additionally, Buffalo is thin at pass rusher with only Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa as reliable pieces. The Bills are also dancing with danger at corner, as the first reserve is Kaiir Elam.
Carolina Panthers: TE, OT, Edge
The Panthers deserve credit for improving the receiving corps with the trade for Diontae Johnson and first-round selection of Xavier Legette. And they might finally have a reliable running back after drafting Jonathon Brooks. But they also might be hurting at tight end with Tommy Tremble and fourth-round pick Ja’Tavion Sanders. As for another glaring need, Carolina has issues at offensive tackle and are banking on a bounce-back season from Ikem Ekwonu, the 2022 No. 6 pick.
Chicago Bears: Edge, IDL, OL
The Bears could be a fun offense to watch after the draft selections of Williams and Rome Odunze. But they’re going to need the offensive line to play better than last year after veteran guard Nate Davis and right tackle Darnell Wright—a 2023 first-round pick—both struggled. Chicago has plenty of talent throughout the defense, but the team could use more depth on the defensive front.
Cincinnati Bengals: CB, Edge, G
Cincinnati used three of its first four draft picks to build in the trenches, but never added a guard. With Alex Cappa entering the final year of his deal and Cordell Volson being inconsistent, that could have been an option on the second or third day. Meanwhile, with Trey Hendrickson demanding a trade, the Bengals are already thin on the edge and could be in a huge bind if Hendrickson plays hardball.
Cleveland Browns: QB, ILB, OLB
The Browns really need a quarterback, but they’re stuck with Deshaun Watson and his contract for two more years. Defensively, the second level is a big concern beyond Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush are in line for serious playing time, and at this juncture, neither are prolific. Losing Sione Takitaki this offseason in free agency may loom large.
Dallas Cowboys: RB, C, IDL
Ezekiel Elliott is once again the Cowboys’ No. 1 running back. Just one problem: It’s 2024. Elliott is no longer in his prime and the Cowboys don’t have much stability behind him on the depth chart. Dallas also has concerns at center, but the team drafted Cooper Beebe in the third round. He’ll likely compete with Brock Hoffman for the starting job. Regardless of who’s snapping the ball to Dak Prescott, they’ll be surrounded by plenty of talent with Zack Martin, Tyler Smith and 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton.
Denver Broncos: C, ILB, CB
The Broncos’ list could have been 10 positions deep, but let’s be kind. Denver lost Lloyd Cushenberry in free agency and never replaced him. Denver also saw Josey Jewell head for the Panthers and did little to shore up that spot, with Alex Singleton and Cody Barton in line to start. At corner, it’s Patrick Surtain II and a lot of question marks—specifically if Levi Wallace will hold onto his job for 17 weeks.
Hutchinson (No. 97) has posted 21 sacks over his first two seasons.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Lions: WR, Edge, LB
It was tough finding three roster holes for the stacked Lions. They might be forced to draft a wide receiver next season if Jameson Williams doesn’t make the leap in 2024 to help recently-paid Amon-Ra St. Brown. Also, star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson needs a long-term running mate. For now, they’re banking on free-agent newcomer Marcus Davenport. After spending the past year writing about the Lions’ needs at cornerback, they drafted Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. to form an intriguing cornerback group.
Green Bay Packers: OL, CB, IDL
The Packers’ offensive line appears incomplete because they haven’t decided what to do with first-round pick Jordan Morgan, who can play tackle and guard. If Morgan plays guard, this unit might be close to complete. But Green Bay is going to need another stellar season for Rasheed Walker, who filled in admirably last season at left tackle. Cornerback Jaire Alexander might again need help, but at least the team made defensive upgrades with free agent addition Xavier McKinney and rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.
Houston Texans: DT, CB, OLB
Not surprisingly, the Texans’ needs are exclusive to the defense. Houston brought in Denico Autry to shore up the interior of its line, but the rest of the defensive tackles are underwhelming, and Autry is 34 years old. On the second level, Houston is thin, relying heavily on Christian Harris and Azeez Al-Shaair. At corner, it’s Derek Stingley Jr. and a ton of hope, with rookie Kamari Lassiter expected to play a big role.
Indianapolis Colts: CB, S, TE
This wasn’t a great year to need a tight end, but the Colts not making any effort to upgrade at the position was a bit surprising. Defensively, Indianapolis has a solid front seven that should be good against the run and the pass. However, the secondary is banking big on corners JuJu Brents and Kenny Moore II, while hoping Dallas Flowers and Nick Cross are ready for increased roles.
Jacksonville Jaguars: CB, S, Edge
The Jaguars treated the cornerback position this offseason as though they have Sauce Gardner. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and corner is a major concern. Safety isn’t much better, with Andre Cisco and questions galore. At edge, the starters are terrific in Josh Allen and Travon Walker, but Jacksonville could have used a rotational pass rusher. Perhaps it still finds one.
Kansas City Chiefs: RB, DT, CB
After trading L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans, the Chiefs created a need at corner, but didn’t address it until the sixth round. They’re banking on Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams, who are both in their third year but have so far been unspectacular. At defensive tackle, Chris Jones is incredible, but depth is a minor question. Finally, who backs up Isiah Pacheco? Maybe Jerick McKinnon comes back later.
Las Vegas Raiders: QB, RB, CB
Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell will compete for the starting job under center, while running back Josh Jacobs left in free agency and was never replaced. Suffice to say, Las Vegas has some problems in the backfield. Defensively, the front seven is rounding into form under coach Antonio Pierce, but the secondary remains a concern with corner being the biggest problem.
Johnston was a first-round pick in 2023 but struggled during his rookie season, tallying just 38 catches for 431 yards.
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Los Angeles Chargers: WR, ILB, CB
Los Angeles is in the middle of overhauling its roster, and should be competitive in Jim Harbaugh’s first year. That said, the Chargers have significant questions at receiver, with rookie Ladd McConkey and 2023 draftee Quentin Johnston headlining the group. On defense, Los Angeles has weak points on all three levels. The biggest questions are whether rookie linebacker Junior Colson can play immediately and if Ja’Sir Taylor can hold up in the slot.
Los Angeles Rams: OT, LB, CB
The Rams had a near perfect draft on the defensive side after using first- and second-round picks on edge rusher Jared Verse and defensive tackle Braden Fiske. If they add a veteran linebacker in the coming months, the Rams could have a sneaky good defense during their first year without Aaron Donald. Los Angeles, however, is taking a chance with Alaric Jackson as the starting left tackle again.
Miami Dolphins: C, DT, S
The Dolphins have real questions on both sides of the ball. At center, Connor Williams remains a free agent after tearing his ACL late last season, and while Aaron Brewer was signed, he’s not on the same level as Williams. Defensively, Christian Wilkins’s departure leaves a huge hole in the middle of the front. On the back end, Miami needs help at safety and corner, with Jordan Poyer being heavily relied upon.
Minnesota Vikings: OL, IDL, CB
The Vikings don’t have much stability on the offensive line after stud left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Perhaps good coaching and elite skill players could mask the lack of talent on the offensive line. But that might not be enough to help the erratic Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings have a fearsome duo at edge rusher with Jonathan Greenard and rookie Dallas Turner. As for the interior, they might not have one standout defensive tackle.
New England Patriots: G, S, K
Yes, kicker. Did anybody else watch Chad Ryland kick the ball last year? He was terrible. Ryland hit on just 16-of-25 field goals, including missing half of his 10 attempts between 40–49 yards. Additionally, safety Kyle Dugger is excellent, but Jabrill Peppers is only decent and the depth behind them is questionable. On offense, the offensive line is a concern, with guard particularly thin.
New Orleans Saints: OL, IDL, Edge
The Saints might be overthinking it by not placing first-round pick Taliese Fuaga at offensive tackle. If they move him to guard, that means they’re giving 2022 first rounder Trevor Penning another shot at proving himself at left tackle. They’re also banking on Ryan Ramczyk staying healthy. If Chase Young has a bounce-back season, the Saints could be in good shape on the defensive front. But they need to get younger on the defensive line.
New York Giants: RB, TE, S
The Giants are going to need Devin Singletary to have a career year in his sixth NFL season because they didn’t do much to replace Saquon Barkley. They could soon have a giant hole at tight end if Darren Waller decides to officially retire. New York gained a dynamic weapon after drafting WR Malik Nabers, but this offense still needs plenty of work.
New York Jets: DT, TE, WR
This might seem like an odd list, but hang in there. The Jets are banking heavily on Mike Williams staying healthy … at 30 years old … on the MetLife Stadium turf. If he doesn’t hold up, it’s rookie Malachi Corley and Garrett Wilson. Not bad, but unsettled. Tight end is much worse, with Tyler Conklin and not much else. At defensive tackle, Quinnen Williams is fantastic, but there’s not much around him.
Philadelphia Eagles: LB, S, IDL
GM Howie Roseman got plenty of love for another impressive draft class. But he neglected the linebacker position, perhaps the weakest group for the Eagles last season. Roseman must really like the free-agency addition of linebacker Devin White. Philadelphia is going to need 2022 draft picks Jordan Davis, a defensive tackle, and Nakobe Dean, a linebacker, to step up and assist the defensive front.
Pickens will need to develop chemistry with a new quarterback in 2024.
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Pittsburgh Steelers: CB, WR, QB
The Steelers have George Pickens on the outside, but beyond him? Quez Watkins, Van Jefferson and rookie Roman Wilson will all compete for serious snaps. Opposite receiver, the corner room is unsettled with Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson starting outside, but question marks Darius Rush, Cory Trice Jr. and rookie Ryan Watts are all projected to serve as rotational pieces. And, yes, Pittsburgh has two quarterbacks and none at the same time.
San Francisco 49ers: Edge, IDL, IOL
The 49ers are banking on veterans to replace edge rusher Chase Young and defensive tackle Arik Armstead. Time will tell if the rotation of Leonard Floyd, Drake Jackson and Yetur Gross-Matos is enough to assist Nick Bosa. The 49ers tend to make it work on the offensive line, but they’re lacking talent on the inside.
Seattle Seahawks: IOL, LB, TE
The Seahawks will need Nick Harris to step up at center to protect Geno Smith. They’re also taking a chance with Noah Fant as the full-time starter at tight end—they lost Colby Parkinson and Will Dissly in free agency. Seattle didn’t do much to fill the voids left by the departures of inside linebackers Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OG, CB, Edge
Ben Bredeson has plenty of experience as a former starting guard for the Giants, but they had one of the worst interior offensive lines the past few seasons. Perhaps Bredeson will have better luck in Tampa Bay playing alongside a revamped offensive line, which added center Graham Barton in the draft. The Buccaneers lack experience at cornerback outside of Jamel Dean.
Tennessee Titans: ILB, S, RT
The Titans did a nice job with the roster this offseason, upgrading both sides of the ball. However, Dillon Radunz is a question mark at right tackle alongside Nicholas Petit-Frere. On defense, the inside linebacker combo of Kenneth Murray Jr. and Jack Gibbens doesn’t inspire confidence. Teams will try to exploit them repeatedly, especially in play-action situations.
Washington Commanders: OL, Edge, CB
The Commanders might have waited too long to address their need at left tackle. They had three second-round picks and didn’t use one on an offensive lineman. They now need Brandon Coleman, a third rounder, to be an immediate contributor at left tackle. Washington’s defense could have a much-improved season with the many new arrivals, but the unit could suffer from a lack of depth at edge rusher and in the secondary.
