The entire AFC is chasing the Kansas City Chiefs. Last week, some teams closed the gap during the 2024 NFL draft. Others saw it only grow wider.
But which teams did the best? Which added the most potential while also finding immediate starters? And, conversely, who failed to find enough help, making them vulnerable?
We analyzed and ranked all 16 of the AFC draft classes, going from least-inspiring to most.
16. Tennessee Titans
Tennessee did a nice job picking up OT JC Latham in the first round to bolster its offensive line, but the rest of the draft was underwhelming. The Titans gambled big on DT T’Vondre Sweat despite his off-field concerns, and then selected three linebackers as the rounds clicked off. Not enough upside.
15. Buffalo Bills
The Bills traded back twice in the first round before ultimately selecting WR Keon Coleman with the first pick of the second round. Buffalo then decided to pass on a litany of other talented wideouts, instead loading up on the offensive line with four picks. The Day 2 choices of S Cole Bishop and DT DeWayne Carter were their best.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars
With a big need at cornerback, the Jaguars chose to select Thomas with their first pick.
Scott Clause / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jacksonville had the opportunity to draft any corner in the draft, but traded back to hoard picks. Fair enough. However, the Jaguars then took WR Brian Thomas Jr. instead of addressing a major need. Afterwards, Jacksonville took a kicker and a reserve running back, passing on more high-upside talent. Not awful, but not great.
13. Cleveland Browns
The Browns were once again without their first-round pick as a result of the disastrous Deshaun Watson deal, which gets hilariously worse by the year. Cleveland’s first pick came Friday, when it took a high-upside defensive end in Michael Hall Jr. despite his lack of statistics at Ohio State. Down the board, the Browns finished the draft with three defensive players, hoping to find depth.
12. Denver Broncos
If Bo Nix turns out to be a quality quarterback, my team grade is going to look silly. If he’s not, the Broncos are going to be spinning their wheels for the next few years. The Broncos were also without a second-round pick before taking edge rusher Jonah Elliss and receiver Troy Franklin in the middle rounds. Not a bad haul, but everything hinges on the 24-year-old quarterback.
11. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins decided to go for an edge rusher in the first round, selecting Penn State’s Chop Robinson to bolster depth after injuries to Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips. In the second round, general manager Chris Grier took Miami’s future left tackle in Patrick Paul, a three-year starter at Houston. On Day 3, the Dolphins took another running back in Jaylen Wright. An intriguing class.
10. Houston Texans
The Texans didn’t have a first-round pick after trading back with the Minnesota Vikings, but they still had a nice haul. Houston got a pair of defensive backs on Day 2 with CB Kamari Lassiter and S Calen Bullock, before getting great value in Ohio State TE Cade Stover. Ultimately, Houston added a few potential starters plus depth.
9. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati loaded up in the trenches, while also taking a pair of boom-or-bust SEC prospects. The Bengals used three of their first four picks on offensive and defensive linemen, including Georgia’s Amarius Mims in the first round. Mims is incredibly talented, but only started eight games for the Bulldogs. In the third round, Cincinnati gambled on WR Jermaine Burton, who has great film but character-driven red flags.
8. New York Jets
Protecting Aaron Rodgers was the top priority for the Jets, who picked Fashanu in the first round.
Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Jets started strong by taking OT Olu Fashanu to lock down the left side for years to come. However, after not having a pick in the second round due to the Aaron Rodgers trade, New York took a pair of running backs. The Jets also took WR Malachi Corley, a 215-pounder who can create yards after the catch. It was an offensively driven class with upside.
7. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs hit on their two biggest needs in the first two rounds, trading up for WR Xavier Worthy and OT Kingsley Suamataia. On Day 3, Kansas City found quality value in S Jaden Hicks and CB Kamal Hadden, upgrading an already strong secondary despite the loss of L’Jarius Sneed in a trade with the Titans.
6. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore made an already strong roster even better, utilizing all three days of the draft. After getting good value at No. 30 with CB Nate Wiggins, the Ravens continued to take ready-made contributors in edge rusher Adisa Isaac, OT Roger Rosengarten and WR Devontez Walker, along with an intriguing talent in CB TJ Tampa.
5. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts understood their assignment going into the draft. They had to make second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson comfortable, and that appears to have been achieved. GM Chris Ballard landed receivers Adonai Mitchell and Anthony Gould along with a pair of mid-round offensive linemen. Indianapolis also added to its pass rush with edge Laiatu Latu, a potential star off the edge.
4. New England Patriots
The Patriots drafted a pair of receivers after selecting Maye with the third pick in the first round.
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
New England did exactly what it needed to in the draft. The Patriots resisted the temptation to trade back and took Drake Maye as their next franchise quarterback. Then they spent the rest of the draft surrounding him with an improved offense ranging from receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, to a pair of offensive linemen in Caeden Wallace and Layden Robinson.
3. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders were patient, and that paid off. Instead of trading up into the top 10 for a quarterback, veteran GM Tom Telesco stayed at No. 13 and tabbed TE Brock Bowers. On the second day, Telesco upgraded the offensive front with G Jackson Powers-Johnson and OT Delmar Glaze out of Maryland. The Raiders still need a quarterback, but when they find him, he’ll be in a better spot.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers needed to find talent across the board in this class after losing receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, among others. To that end, Los Angeles nabbed Notre Dame OT Joe Alt at No. 5 before trading up for WR Ladd McConkey in the second round. On Day 3, the choices of CB Cam Hart and WR Brenden Rice represent great value.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Fautanu will likely start at tackle for the Steelers.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nobody in either conference had a better draft than GM Omar Khan and the Steelers. Pittsburgh found a litany of offensive linemen who could start soon between OT Troy Fautanu, C Zach Frazier and G Mason McCormick. Then there’s the third-round choices of WR Roman Wilson and LB Payton Wilson, both excellent values. Home run stuff from Pittsburgh.
The 2024 NFL draft is done, and it’s time to dive in and answer a few questions about it …
From David Kromelow (@dkrom59): What are realistic expectations for Caleb Williams (individually speaking) and the Bears in general this season? And do you anticipate Bo Nix starting over or under 10 games for the Broncos this year?
Alright, Davis, so on the first question, I’d say 3,700 yards, 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions would be a reasonable stat line for Williams in Year 1. I do think the team has a chance to be good and, just as important, positioned to help fuel the quarterback’s development.
With a deep crew of backs (D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Khalil Herbert) and a rugged offensive line, the Chicago Bears should have the ability to keep Williams out of the long-yardage situations that kill young quarterbacks. And with a fast-improving team, and a defense coming around at the end of last year, he shouldn’t be playing from behind quite as much as quarterbacks drafted that high usually do. Having Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and Rome Odunze won’t hurt, either.
So, yeah, I think that team can win nine or 10 games just with solid play from Williams.
As for Nix, I do think Sean Payton’s going to get him out there. One thing I know Payton loved about Nix was his experience. Between Auburn and Oregon, Nix started an NCAA record 61 games. Generally, quarterbacks who played a lot in college (see: Purdy, Brock) translate faster to the NFL. Which should make it a little easier on Payton to play Nix, and get him NFL game reps now rather than later.
The Bills drafted Coleman in the second round after trading back with the Chiefs.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
From d_iggs17 (@d_iggs17): Was Keon Coleman the Bills’ guy all along or did they have another receiver in mind?
Diggs, let’s look at this logically. The Buffalo Bills did the trade with the rival Kansas City Chiefs, moving down from 28 to 32, knowing what the rest of the NFL did last week—that Texas burner Xavier Worthy was a great fit for Kansas City. So if the Bills loved Worthy, they wouldn't have done that. With full acknowledgement that the San Francisco 49ers are really good, and often outside the box on receiver assessments, it’s fair to say few teams had Florida’s Ricky Pearsall going 31st. And they dealt with ex-Bills exec Dan Morgan in trading down from 32 to 33.
Put the pieces together, and it’s easy to think that the Bills had an inkling that Worthy and South Carolina’s Xavier Legette were going in the spots they traded out of, and were surprised to see Pearsall go where he did. And maybe they moved out of 28 when the hope that LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. would slip to them died.
So let’s say, in a great receiver year, they had Coleman as their fifth guy, behind Thomas, his LSU teammate Malik Nabers, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and Washington’s Rome Odunze. I’d say to get that guy—some scouts assessed him as a prospect in the Harrison–Nabers–Odunze class in the fall—in the second round is pretty good value, especially when it resulted in improving three later picks in pick swaps as part of trades.
From Chandler (@_chandler_____): What do the Chiefs do with their excess cap space?
Chandler, their cap space is a moving target because of the restructures of Patrick Mahomes’s contract. They pushed more than $21 million into the future, and that eventually has to be accounted for.
To simplify it, let’s say you have $200 to spend on your team today, and $220 to spend on it tomorrow. So on one player, you push $20 off to tomorrow. Now, on paper, it may look great that you have that extra $20 today. But you’ll still have to account for it tomorrow. So if you have the choice, with your team built, to take $20 off the top today to add to what you can spend tomorrow, would you do it? You probably would.
So that’s my convoluted way of saying the Chiefs probably take the money and roll it over. One thing that’s interesting, too, is that with Travis Kelce’s new deal—which essentially added $4 million this year, guaranteed his money, and added an early vesting date for next year’s guarantees—there are no void years. I’d look for the Chiefs to do more deals that way, to make it so Mahomes’s deal is the only one pushing money forward, which will allow them to build in a more sustainable way.
Most NFL scouts had Rattler projected as a fourth-round pick.
Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
From Tyler (@BigTyTheMemeGuy): How big of a shot does Spencer Rattler have at becoming the Saints’ starting QB after Derek Carr?
Tyler, I’m just going to use the space you gave me to say something else on Rattler here: The only reason anything involving Rattler (like my buddy Ian Rapoport’s Netflix note during the final day of the draft) is a big deal is because three springs ago people were projecting him to be something he wasn’t.
In the Netflix documentary, “QB1: Beyond the Lights,” Rattler was a senior at Pinnacle High School, and the conversations showed him criticizing his teammates, which did not make him look great and impacted his draft stock.
You know all those way-too-early mock drafts? Absent an obvious top-end prospect coming into the 2022 class, a lot of folks projected Rattler, then Oklahoma’s starter, to go in the top five. Some had him first, based largely on Rattler’s recruiting ranking, some promise after his first year with the Sooners, and Lincoln Riley’s previous three starters at OU all going in the top 50 picks, with Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray drafted first in consecutive drafts.
So what Rapoport reported during the draft had followed Rattler through his benching for Caleb Williams at OU and over to South Carolina, where he played in 2022 and ’23.
The truth is most NFL people would have told you before the draft he was going in the fourth round or so, and he went a round later. He also was picked 23 slots behind where the Saints took Jake Haener last year. So to answer your question, it’s not likely he’ll replace Carr.
It's not likely that Lock beats out Jones for the starting job with the Giants.
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
From Bobby Spence (@postcrabcore): Drew Lock competing for QB1?
Bobby, if you mean getting first-team reps with Daniel Jones in New York Giants training camp, then I think the answer is no. But the Seahawks really liked the progress they saw from Lock over the two years he spent there, enough to where maybe you could close your eyes and envision his story playing out like the guy that beat him out, Geno Smith, in Seattle.
And because Jones is coming off an ACL tear, and won’t be back on the practice field, there’s an opening here. While you can only show so much in the spring, the fact that the New York Giants didn’t draft a quarterback will afford Lock starter reps through all the noncontact practices in May and June. If he makes an impression, and Jones stumbles in training camp, could things turn at some point in August?
I wouldn’t bet on that happening, but I wouldn’t rule it out.
Samuel could be the odd man out in San Francisco.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
From Joe Douglas SZN (@F---AdamGase): Do you think Deebo or Aiyuk gets traded? If yes, which teams could be in play?
Joe, a couple of months ago, I thought Brandon Aiyuk could be the odd man out in the San Francisco 49ers’ bottleneck of big contracts. My logic matched the logic the 49ers used in dealing All-Pro DeForest Buckner four years ago—when they chose a guy who had massive value to other teams, and played a position where the team had a surplus of talent.
I’ve now changed my thinking. If there’s a guy that could get moved, it’s probably Deebo Samuel, with San Francisco looking to get an extension for Aiyuk done, the team’s best pure receiver. Samuel, a great player, may be seen as more of a luxury to have at this point, especially with another do-everything type in Christian McCaffrey (who may look for a pay bump of his own this summer).
Samuel’s also under contract, and has a lot of mileage on his legs, which is the reality of playing him the way the 49ers do, as a receiver and as a running back.
As for fits for Samuel, I think you’d look at some of the usual suspects in that coaching tree. San Francisco won’t trade him to the Los Angeles Rams, and I can’t imagine they’d send him to the Green Bay Packers, either. The Atlanta Falcons, with OC Zac Robinson, might make some sense. The New York Jets could, too, as a piece for the receiver group, and for some depth behind Breece Hall at tailback. And a reunion with Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins could be fun.
Speaking of that …
The Dolphins added more speed to their offense with Wright, a fourth-round pick.
Matt Stone/Louisville Courier Journal /
From Tua Messivailoa (@TuasRevenge): Are the Miami Dolphins assembling the fastest team of all time?
Tua, yes, they appear to be doing just that. And I’m assuming you’re referencing fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright, a tailback out of Tennessee who averaged 7.4 yards per carry over three years in Knoxville, then blazed a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at the combine.
The disconnect, of course, is that he only averaged 11 carries per game, and the home-run hitter element he brought to the Tennessee backfield was mixed with inconsistency as an inside runner and as a receiver. Last year’s rookie dynamo in Miami, De’Von Achane, by comparison, and who’s more than 20 pounds lighter, averaged nearly 20 carries per game in his final season at Texas A&M.
So it’ll be interesting seeing how McDaniel and the coaches add Wright to the mix with a huddle that’s already stocked with legitimate speed in Achane, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. My guess would be McDaniel will find a way to get some big plays from him, and make an already headache-inducing offense even more of a nightmare for defenses.
Williams could be a top pass-rushing prospect in the 2025 NFL draft.
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY
From Glen Phelps (@PhelpsGlen62041): Very preliminary, but what appear to be the strengths of the 2025 draft?
Glen, just scanning some lists, but it sure looks like there are a lot of high-end pass-rushing prospects in the group—Georgia’s Mykel Williams, LSU’s Harold Perkins, Ohio State’s J.T. Tuimoloau along with transfers such as Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton and Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen. So it sure looks like there’s a good group that could be part of the early draft conversation.
The other thing I see is another good year at offensive tackle with LSU’s Will Campbell and Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. in that mix.
From Strickly Speakin’ (@SpiderStrick): Do you foresee any more tweaking to the Commanders’ front office now that we’ve reached the time of year those things tend to happen?
Probably not a lot, Speakin’. Just looking at the landscape, the decision to retain Martin Mayhew was a big one for GM Adam Peters, given Mayhew’s experience in two different places as a GM, and the experience the two had together in San Francisco (and the fact that he was willing to take a step back from the GM role and stay in Washington says a lot about Mahew). Also, Peters already brought Lance Newmark over from Detroit to be his assistant GM.
So I think anything that happens on the scouting side would qualify as tweaking. What’s more likely is the Commanders adding to the staff for analytics chief Eugene Shen.
From Don Ridenour & CEO of Klutch Sports Rich Paul (@DonRidenour): Besides Marvin Harrison Jr, what team got the best value for a player from Ohio State?
Stover was a reliable target for C.J. Stroud in 2022.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
With a nod to Tommy “Two Hands” Eichenberg going to the Las Vegas Raiders, give me Cade Stover to the Houston Texans. The third-rounder is still just learning to be a tight end, and was a reliable target for C.J. Stroud in 2022. He’s tough as nails, a bull in the open field, and reliable.
I’d bet on him developing, and becoming a more polished route runner, working with a really good offensive staff and his old quarterback.
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.
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.
