The NFL started its free agency period last week, and many of the top-rated players have signed with a new team for 2024. That makes tonight’s 2024 NFL Draft the next step in the process for these teams to get better this season.
The 2024 class looks to be loaded with wide receivers, cornerbacks, offensive tackles and there could be 4 quarterbacks in the top 10 picks alone. That is great news for teams looking to use 1st-round picks on premium positions.
At the top-rated sportsbooks, we looked over the holes teams filled in the last week and came up with a good 1st round solution for how they can spend their draft pick (if they have one) tonight.
Arizona Cardinals (Picks No. 4 and No. 27)
- Wide Receiver
- Best Available
Arizona is one of the few teams with multiple 1st-round picks this year, and the Cardinals need all the help they can get after a 4-13 season under new coach Jonathan Gannon.
But you have to like the way this draft sets up for Arizona. The top 3 picks are likely to be quarterbacks, so Arizona can use the No. 4 pick on the top wide receiver, which many feel is Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of the Indianapolis Hall of Fame wideout. This is a franchise where their most popular player of the 21st century was wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, so getting a star like Harrison Jr. for Kyler Murray to throw to makes a ton of sense.
After all, the Cardinals let Marquise Brown go to the Chiefs and traded Rondale Moore to Atlanta, so wide receiver is a huge need. With no star pass rusher available this year, going for your favorite wideout is the smart move at No. 4 in this draft.
As for No. 27, the Cardinals could pick a corner like Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama) as you can never have enough corners in this league. An interior offensive lineman like Graham Barton (Duke) could also be the pick there.
Atlanta Falcons (Pick No. 8)
- Defensive End
The Falcons made the biggest quarterback move this year in bringing Kirk Cousins to Atlanta. He already has weapons in place, including tight end Kyle Pitts, who will hopefully see more targets with coach Arthur Smith gone. That also means the Falcons should be out of the sweepstakes for tight end Brock Bowers despite his Georgia connection.
New coach Raheem Morris is a defensive guy and that’s the area where the Falcons need to restock with young talent. They were a collection of free agents last year and an aging veteran like Grady Jarrett.
A top 8 pick on a top edge rusher from this class would be the wise move for Morris and the company. That could mean Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner heads to the Falcons.
Baltimore Ravens (Pick No. 30)
- Wide Receiver
The Ravens had a great season with the No. 1 seed, but they came up short again on offense in the playoffs, which has been the story of Lamar Jackson’s career.
They added running back Derrick Henry to the offense this year, which should help the running game refocus its identity. However, you still need to throw to score more points in January, and the Ravens need more weapons that you can rely on to do that. Odell Beckham Jr. looked washed up last year, and tight end Mark Andrews was rusty in his return from injury in the playoffs.
The Ravens hit on Zay Flowers in last year’s draft, but in such a deep class, they could hit that position again and take someone like Adonai Mitchell from Texas. While he didn’t test as fast as teammate Xavier Worthy, who had the record-setting 40-yard dash, Mitchell was close. He was also productive in college and could be a good fit for the Ravens late in the 1st round.
Buffalo Bills (Pick No. 28)
- Wide Receiver or Cornerback
The Bills appear to be keeping Stefon Diggs as their No. 1 wide receiver, but after letting Gabe Davis go, there’s more of a committee approach behind him with Khalil Shakir and new addition Curtis Samuel in the slot.
Maybe the Bills decide to go for a speedy wide receiver like one of those Texas guys (Adonai Mitchell or Xavier Worthy), and they could prevent their rivals (Chiefs and Ravens) from taking them too, which is a bonus.
But the Bills also could try making up for their losses on defense, including corner Tre’Davious White. A corner like Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama) or Kamari Lassiter (Georgia) could be the pick at No. 28.
Carolina Panthers (No 1st-Round Pick)
- Wide Receiver
The Panthers do not have a 1st-round pick thanks to trading it to Chicago to get Bryce Young with last year’s No. 1 pick. But the Panthers do have the No. 33 pick to start the 2nd round, which is almost a 1st-round pick.
It was a good trade by Carolina to get wide receiver Diontae Johnson from Pittsburgh, but they can still build more at that position, and a 2nd-round rookie is a cheap way to get a quality player with the No. 33 pick.
Johnson can be a low-end No. 1 target and is reliable. The Panthers may opt for someone with more size like Florida State’s Keon Coleman, who is 6’4” and closer to the Mike Evans type of receiver that new coach Dave Canales had in Tampa Bay last year.
Chicago Bears (Picks No. 1 and No. 9)
- Quarterback
- Edge Rusher
It’s a lock the Bears are using the No. 1 pick on USC quarterback Caleb Williams, right? You don’t trade Justin Fields for peanuts to Pittsburgh over the weekend if you haven’t committed to that move.
It’s the right move too. Fields had his shot and didn’t live up to the hype. Williams is a more interesting prospect, and the Bears have built up a better roster for him to succeed. In fact, you can say that the Bears have done so much on offense by adding Keenan Allen, Gerald Everett, and D’Andre Swift to D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet that they shouldn’t be looking at skill players with the No. 9 pick they also have.
That should go on the defense, and specifically an edge rusher unless they really loved one of these corners. But they did just re-sign Jaylon Jenkins long-term, so he is their top corner. They also have Montez Sweat locked up at defensive end, but you can always opt for another edge rusher.
That’s why Chicago’s other pick could be Dallas Turner (Alabama) if he’s still available, or it might be Jared Verse from Florida State.
Cincinnati Bengals (Pick No. 18)
- Offensive Tackle
The Bengals need quarterback Joe Burrow to finish these seasons healthy, and so far, he is only 50% at doing that. The Bengals have talked about the offensive line being a priority for years, so in a draft where the tackles are one of the strengths, the No. 18 pick should be a good resource to upgrade that right tackle position after Jonah Williams left in free agency.
Fortunately, there should be a few prospects on the board when the Bengals go to pick. The names to keep an eye on for Cincinnati include J.C. Latham (Alabama), Troy Fautanu (Washington), and Amarius Mims (Georgia).
Cleveland Browns (No 1st-Round Pick)
- Defensive Line
The Browns do not have a 1st-round pick this year. Their highest pick is No. 54 in the 2nd round. They have made enough adjustments on offense with the trade for Jerry Jeudy, the breakout year by tight end David Njoku, and Nick Chubb is back at running back. They also get right tackle Jack Conklin back from a season-ending injury.
The pick should be on defense, and specifically the defensive line to provide depth behind veterans like Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith. The Browns could opt for players in the 2nd round such as Kris Jenkins (Michigan), Chris Braswell (Alabama), Bralen Trice (Washington), or Marshawn Kneeland (Western Michigan).
Dallas Cowboys (Pick No. 24)
- Offensive Line
The Cowboys barely signed anyone new in free agency, so this is an important draft for them as they try to repeat as NFC East champions, something no team has done since the 2001-04 Eagles.
Dallas did lose several starters, including running back Tony Pollard and left tackle Tyron Smith, but you’re not going to use a No. 24 pick on a running back this year.
The offensive line is where the Cowboys could choose to replenish here, either going with a tackle or guard. Their potential picks include Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon), Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma), and Graham Barton (Duke).
Denver Broncos (Pick No. 12)
- Quarterback
Denver’s roster looks rather hopeless at having a competitive 2024 season right now. The team is eating a record $85 million in dead cap money over the next 2 years after releasing Russell Wilson. They have Jarrett Stidham currently in line to be QB1 in Week 1, and that’s just not good enough in today’s NFL and in a division with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.
The No. 12 pick is probably not high enough to get a 4th quarterback in this draft, so Denver might be a top candidate to trade up for their quarterback of choice. But the most interesting pick would be Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy as he just feels like someone Sean Payton can mold into whatever he wants from the start, something he hasn’t been able to do before with veteran quarterbacks.
The Broncos need some kind of splashy move in this draft to avoid the likelihood of yet another season without reaching the playoffs. A trade-up to get a quarterback is that kind of move.
Detroit Lions (Pick No. 29)
- Cornerback
Not used to seeing the Lions picking this late with a pick they earned, but that’s what happens when you lose the NFC Championship Game.
The offense is fairly stacked at all levels, and the defense is the unit that needs the most work. The Lions haven’t done a ton in free agency, though they did trade for corner Carlton Davis (Buccaneers) and signed free agent Amik Robertson from the Raiders.
Still, you can never have enough good corners, and this Detroit pass defense was getting shredded for well over 300 yards by every quarterback down the stretch last year.
Detroit should target the best corner that’s still available late in the 1st round whether it be Cooper DeJean (Iowa) or Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama).
Green Bay Packers (Pick No. 25)
- Offensive Line
The Packers were one of the hottest teams down the stretch last year with quarterback Jordan Love leading the youngest offense in the league. Green Bay will be a trendy Super Bowl pick in the NFC this year, but the team still has spots to get better.
Josh Jacobs is the new running back, but the Packers have lost some offensive linemen after letting left tackle David Bakhtiari and guard Jon Runyan Jr. walk. The Packers have gotten used to playing without Bakhtiari after all his injuries in recent years, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go for a new long-term solution at tackle.
Let’s put Green Bay in the same bucket as Dallas, which holds the pick ahead of the Packers after losing to them in the wild-card round. That means offensive line targets, tackles and guards, with players like Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon), Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma), and Graham Barton (Duke).
Houston Texans (No 1st-Round Pick)
- Best Player Available
The Texans do not have a 1st-round pick after trading it last year to Arizona to get Will Anderson Jr. for the pass rush. That’s worked out well so far after he won Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Houston added another big pass rusher this year by signing Danielle Hunter from the Vikings. This gives Houston the best odds boost at sportsbooks for Super Bowl LIX among teams who were already contenders.
That’s why the Texans can feel free to take the best player available when they pick No. 42 in the 2nd round. Obviously, they don’t need to go with a quarterback or take another running back after trading for Joe Mixon, but you can never have enough corners, wide receivers, or rotations in the pass rush in this league.
Indianapolis Colts (Pick No. 15)
- Cornerback
While it would be awesome to see the Colts get a good tight end again like Brock Bowers, he’ll likely be off the board by the time they are up at No. 15.
The Colts used free agency to largely keep their own players, especially on defense where they have more than 80% of their defensive snaps returning from last year.
But was that really a championship-caliber defense last year, or can the Colts do better? With the No. 15 pick, we should see a lot of the quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive tackles off the board (and Bowers). That means the Colts can be there when the run on top corners is happening.
Let’s put the Colts down for a corner like Terrion Arnold (Alabama), Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo), or Nate Wiggins (Clemson).
Jacksonville Jaguars (Pick No. 17)
- Cornerback
From a 1st-round perspective, the Jaguars are likely content with their offensive lineup. They could jump into the wide receiver pool, but they may not want to get burned by a pick there after not getting much out of their Calvin Ridley trade, and they’ve had past success with low-key signings like Christian Kirk and Zay Jones.
This feels like a defensive pick, and probably not in the front 7 where they already have spent draft capital and big resources of the likes of Travon Walker and Josh Allen.
The secondary has also been boosted this offseason with the signings of safety Darnell Savage and corner Ronald Darby. But Darby is no spring chicken, and again, you can never have enough good corners, especially in the AFC against all those talented quarterbacks throwing to great receivers.
Like the Colts, look for the Jaguars to be competing for those top corners (Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell, Nate Wiggins, and Cooper DeJean).
Kansas City Chiefs (Pick No. 32)
- Wide Receiver
Where do the Chiefs go as they go for the 3-peat? Assuming L’Jarius Sneed is staying at the corner, they have retained much of their great defense from last season.
Getting Brock Bowers to follow Travis Kelce would be the ultimate steal at tight end, but he’ll be long gone unless the Chiefs do an aggressive trade-up.
But why not go for a wide receiver after the problems that the position gave them last year? They signed Marquise Brown from the Ravens, but that’s to fill the loss of Marquez Valdes-Scantling. They can still do better in filling their little gadget receiver role played by the likes of Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman.
Imagine Ladd McConkey (Georgia) running precise option routes as he builds his chemistry with Patrick Mahomes, or maybe they go for the record-setting speed with Texas wideout Xavier Worthy.
Give us something fun to imagine, Kansas City. He’s only going to be your No. 4 receiving option this year behind Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Brown. But it’s a pick for the long-term outlook and those post-Kelce days that could be here sooner than later. Also, Hollywood Brown is a 1-year deal, so they need a guy they can control with their contract for the next 5 years.
Las Vegas Raiders (Pick No. 13)
- Quarterback
While the Raiders improved their quarterback position with Gardner Minshew, they still don’t have a legitimate long-term option for coach Antonio Pierce, who wants to run a defensive-minded team.
But in a division with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, you better be able to score some points. That Christmas Day win with the 2 defensive touchdowns in 7 seconds was a fluke, and the other meetings are going to look more like the 31-17 defeat in Week 12 going forward.
The Raiders need a franchise quarterback to get back on track, and this draft at least has some options there. They will have to trade up from No. 13 and potentially leapfrog the Broncos in the division to get there, but making a splash move to get LSU quarterback and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels would be a big-time gamble by the Raiders with potentially huge rewards.
But the draft is a risk. The team that drafted JaMarcus Russell No. 1 knows that well.
Los Angeles Chargers (Pick No. 5)
- Wide Receiver
It’s a good thing the Chargers hold the No. 5 pick in a wide receiver-heavy draft after they cut 57.3% of Justin Herbert’s career passing yards this offseason. That’s Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Gerald Everett, and Austin Ekeler. All gone.
Williams could find his way back, but it’s a different outlook for this team as they want to run the ball more under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman.
But you have to throw it to score more points in this league, and Herbert is going to need new weapons. The No. 5 pick is a great spot for that as they should be able to land a top wide receiver like Malik Nabers (LSU) or Rome Odunze (Washington).
The most jaw-dropping move of the entire draft would be Harbaugh drafting his college quarterback, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, to replace Herbert. But he can’t be that huge of a control freak, can he?
Do right by Herbert and get him a new No. 1 receiver.
Los Angeles Rams (Pick No. 19)
- Edge Rusher
Just trying to get used to seeing the Rams with a 1st-round pick again. But since they finally have one again, it would be a good time to use it on an edge rusher as that was a weak point for the defense last year, and Aaron Donald just retired. You’re unlikely to get an interior force that good again any time soon, so let’s go the more traditional route and find an edge rusher.
With the 19th pick, that could mean UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu stays close to home and joins the Rams.
Miami Dolphins (Pick No. 21)
- Cornerback
The Dolphins definitely lost some punch in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and they still could use a 3rd receiving option to go with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. But with tight end Brock Bowers likely off the board at No. 21, it’s hard to justify taking any receiver or guard or defensive tackle that may be available.
That’s why we’ll put Miami in that bucket with teams like the Colts, Jaguars, and Cowboys where they can fight over their cornerback of choice (Nate Wiggins, Cooper DeJean, or Kool-Aid McKinstry).
The Dolphins lost Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey isn’t getting any younger.
Minnesota Vikings (Picks No. 11 & No. 23)
- Edge Rusher
- Quarterback
The Vikings had some huge losses this month with quarterback Kirk Cousins (Falcons) and edge rusher Danielle Hunter (Texans) going to new teams.
The good news is they have a pair of 1st-round picks. The bad news is they aren’t really high enough to package together to get a top quarterback, and they don’t need to grab yet another wide receiver after already using high picks on Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison this decade.
They really shouldn’t even move up to get Brock Bowers as they still have T.J. Hockenson at tight end. That’s why the moves should be to replace Hunter at edge rusher with someone like Jared Verse (Florida State), and maybe they can take a chance at a quarterback later like Bo Nix (Oregon) or Michael Penix Jr. (Washington).
The Vikings signed Sam Darnold, but since when has that ever been a long-term solution for an NFL team? They can draft Nix or Penix Jr. and let them sit for a year if they have to.
New England Patriots (Pick No. 3)
- Quarterback
Isn’t it obvious what needs to happen here? You can’t let Jerod Mayo go into his rookie season as head coach with Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe as his quarterbacks after the team traded Mac Jones to Jacksonville.
The Patriots going with Brissett feels like the ultimate sign they are using that No. 3 pick on a quarterback as they should. Will it be Drake Maye (North Carolina) or Jayden Daniels (LSU)? That likely depends on what Washington does with the No. 2 pick or if someone trades to move ahead of the Patriots.
But the pick has to be a quarterback here if this team is ever going to be relevant again any time soon.
New Orleans Saints (Pick No. 14)
- Offensive Tackle
Watching the Saints navigate free agency this year was kind of sad. It was like watching a family that wanted to celebrate Christmas but lacked the money to buy presents to put under the tree.
The Saints have put themselves in cap hell, and the bills are piling up. They were only able to add marginal starters like wide receiver Cedrick Wilson (Dolphins) and linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (Chiefs).
In the draft, we’re going to view the No. 14 pick as that range where a run on offensive tackles can happen. Protecting Derek Carr’s blind side is a top priority, so the Saints could be looking at tackles such as Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State), Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State), and J.C. Latham (Alabama).
New York Giants (Pick No. 6)
- Wide Receiver
With the No. 6 pick, the Giants likely can’t improve at quarterback over Daniel Jones since the top players will be gone, and they already traded for pass rusher Brian Burns (Panthers) and added 3 new starters for the offensive line in free agency.
That’s already a solid offseason haul. But the next step would be to get better at wide receiver, a position that has been a problem for years for this team. Whether it’s for Jones or the next quarterback, they need a legitimate No. 1 receiver.
The good news is they should get their pick of the No. 3 receiver in this draft, whether it’s Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Malik Nabers (LSU), or Rome Odunze (Washington). Any of them should be an improvement over trotting out what the Giants have in recent years.
New York Jets (Pick No. 10)
- Tight End
The Jets need to be in win-now mode with 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers coming off a torn Achilles. While offensive tackle would be a smart move for long-term success, they can get by this year with veterans Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, who they have acquired in the last week.
Where they aren’t looking so hot is the receivers Rodgers will be throwing to. Garrett Wilson is great, but there’s not a lot after that. The No. 10 pick isn’t ideal here for getting a top-flight wideout either as they will likely be gone earlier.
But there is a top-tier tight end in this draft class in Brock Bowers, and we saw the impact Sam LaPorta had on the Lions last year as a rookie. Traditionally, it’s a hard position to master right away, but Bowers could be a great one, and Rodgers needs the weapons.
When you look at the draft, you figure quarterbacks and wide receivers should make up the top 6 picks. The Falcons (No. 8) and Bears (No. 9) likely shouldn’t go tight end with Kyle Pitts and Cole Kmet in town. That means the Titans (No. 7) are the team to worry about taking Bowers, and that feels like a team that always wants to build in the trenches first.
Bowers could very well be there at No. 10 for the Jets. The only remaining issue is convincing Rodgers a rookie tight end is his No. 2 target. He’s preferred wide receivers in his career. But maybe Bowers will change his mind, or maybe he’s done his own research in the last year…
Philadelphia Eagles (Pick No. 22)
- Cornerback
The Eagles can likely get by with their offensive lineup even after center Jason Kelce retired. They still have good receivers, and they added Saquon Barkley to the backfield. The line is still largely homegrown draft picks, and they have a replacement for Kelce lined up in Cam Jurgens.
The defense was the embarrassing part for the Eagles last year. New coordinator Vic Fangio is going to need more disciplined play, and that’s why an Alabama corner like Kool-Aid McKinstry, who played for Nick Saban, could be a good addition.
Basically, we are putting Alabama in that corner mix at pick No. 22 along with teams like the Jaguars and Cowboys.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Pick No. 20)
- Interior Offensive Line
The Steelers made bold but smart moves at quarterback in acquiring Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. But with those players, you need offensive linemen who can hold their blocks as they hold onto the ball longer than the Steelers are used to at the position.
They also are going to want to do more play-action passing and throwing deep with Arthur Smith as the new offensive coordinator, so a better line is necessary. The Steelers used a 1st-round pick on tackle Broderick Jones last year, but they could stand to get much better at guard and center.
The Steelers have a long history of successful centers going back 50 years. With the 20th pick, you could easily see them take Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, considered the best center in this draft by many analysts.
San Francisco 49ers (Pick No. 31)
- Offensive Line
Where does one of the most talented rosters in the league go with the 31st pick? We know it’s likely not quarterback, running back, tight end, edge rusher, or safety.
The only real weakness the offense had was the pass protection wasn’t elite, and left tackle Trent Williams isn’t getting any younger. With the 31st pick, you could see a tackle pick like Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma) or Jordan Morgan (Arizona).
Corner would likely be the pick if the 49ers decided to upgrade the defense.
Seattle Seahawks (Pick No. 16)
- Trade Down
Sometimes, the middle of the round is a tough spot to be in, especially when the draft’s stock doesn’t match your team’s needs well. The Seahawks are fine at wide receiver and can get by at offensive tackle, and you’re not going to use the No. 16 pick on a guard in this draft.
New coach Mike Macdonald would probably like to start rebuilding the defense to his scheme, but in a round that’s short on edge rushers and linebackers, what can he really do at No. 16 besides possibly reach on a corner he may not love? The team just added Devon Witherspoon in the 1st round last year. That’s a player to build around.
If Seattle can find a willing trade partner, it should consider trading down and possibly out of the 1st round altogether this year. Collect more draft picks as this team is not ready to compete for a Super Bowl in 2024 anyway.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Pick No. 26)
- Trade Down
Tampa Bay did a lot to retain its own players this year. Baker Mayfield will still be throwing to Mike Evans in 2024, and the defense should still have Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr. after it looked like the team could lose all of those players. They’ll also still have the likes of Chris Godwin, Tristan Wirfs, Rachaad White, Vita Vea, Jamel Dean, and they even brought safety Jordan Whitehead back.
Basically, there are pillars of the team at every level on both sides of the ball who were there for the 2020 Super Bowl season. We can argue how good these players really are or if it’s enough for a Super Bowl, but the point is the areas where Tampa could most stand to upgrade are likely not in the cards at No. 26 this season.
The Bucs should try to trade down with a team possibly looking to jump back up in the 1st round to get that 5th-year option for a rookie.
Tennessee Titans (Pick No. 7)
- Offensive Line
The Titans have a new coach in Brian Callahan, the son of an offensive line expert. In fact, his father Bill is his offensive line coach this season.
The Titans have long been a team built around line play and running the ball. They lost Derrick Henry, so having quality linemen to create holes for any back becomes even more important now.
Last year, the team drafted left guard Peter Skoronski with a high pick. This year, they could go left tackle at No. 7 with Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, who many believe is the best tackle in this draft.
The top picks should be quarterbacks and wide receivers, so if the Titans wanted to go Brock Bowers at tight end or a top edge rusher like Dallas Turner, they could do it. But Callahan is also coming from Cincinnati where they valued wide receivers over tight ends, and they already paid Calvin Ridley a lot of money this month. So, we’ll go with the offensive tackle pick at No. 7.
Washington Commanders (Pick No. 2)
- Quarterback
Last but not least, another easy pick with a quarterback, and it should be Drake Maye (North Carolina) or Jayden Daniels (LSU).
The idea of going with another Tarheel might be scary after what Sam Howell just did in Washington, but these are different prospects. No matter which player Washington ultimately chooses, there has to be a huge improvement at that position if this Dan Quinn hire at coach is ever going to work out. When Marcus Mariota is currently in line to be your starter in 2024, you have to go with a top pick in the draft at quarterback.
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