2024 NFL Draft Grades
2024 NFL Draft Grades
The 2024 NFL Draft is over and on paper, there were some winners and losers. Kansas City is still the favorite to win their third straight Super Bowl at +550 (Draft Kings). Chicago had the first pick and predictably went with QB Caleb Williams from USC. The first four picks were pretty predictable with QB Jayden Daniels, QB Drake Maye and WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Let’s take a look the how each team fared in the NFL Draft by alphabetical order.
https://www.nfl.com/draft/
Arizona Cardinals:
The Cards grabbed the best receiver in the draft in Marvin Harrison Jr., but how will he fit with undersized and oft-injured? Kyler Murray. They had another pick in the first round and get on one of the best EDGE rushers in Darrius Robinson from Missouri at 27. RB Trey Benson was a strong pick at 66 and gives them another home-run threat to complement James Conner. They added secondary help everywhere with CBs Max Melton from Rutgers and Elijah Jones from Boston College. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson from Texas Tech should be able to help in the slot in the future. TE Tip Reiman was a bit of a reach in the third round.
Grade: A
Atlanta Falcons:
Take away the Michael Pennix pick at 8 and the draft was pretty good. But you can’t take away that head-scratcher after just signing Kirk Cousins. Barring injury, he’s going to be a backup for two seasons and that’s not why you draft a player at 8. DT Brandon Dorlus from Oregon was a very strong pick at No.6. DE Ruke Orhorhoro from Clemson was a reach.
Grade: D
Baltimore Ravens:
Baltimore needed an EDGE or offensive lineman and took CB Nate Wiggins, a burner from Clemson. It made more sense considering they desperately needed more speed on the back end. OT Roger Rosengarten was a very good value pick at 62 and should be able to step in a right tackle. RB Rasheen Ali from Marshall is coming off a biceps injury at the Senior Bowl and was an odd pick at 165, considering speedy Keaton Mitchell is coming off an ACL. QB Devin Leary from NC State was also a strange pick considering they had a need for an offensive guard.
Grade: B+
Buffalo Bills:
The Bills were desperate for receiving help and they traded down twice in Round 1 to take Keon Coleman from Florida State. He’s a big-play receiver that they needed, but he’s not Stefon Diggs. Kentucky RB Ray Davis was a strong pick at 128 and a complement to James Cook. Troy DE Javon Solomon is undersized but effective. Safety Cole Bishop from Utah in the second round and DL DeWayne Carter from Duke will make impacts right away.
Grade: B+
Carolina Panthers:
Carolina had the latest pick in the first round after moving up. WR Xavier Leggette was a solid pick and you have to like his size at 6-3, 227. They should have had the first pick in the draft because decided to use that pick to select Bryce Young this year. RB Jonathon Brooks was a risk at 46 considering he’s coming off a knee injury. LB Trevin Wallace should be able to stop in for Frankie Luvu, who left for free agency.
Grade: C+
Chicago Bears:
This whole draft is about one player and that’s Caleb Williams. Giving him a receiver at No. 9 with Rome Odunze, even if he was a slight reach, was smart. OT Kiran Amegadije from Yale was an excellent pick so GM Ryan Poles went for quality over quantity with just five picks.
Grade: A-
Cincinnati Bengals:
Cincy needed help up front on both lines and they addressed that with OT Amarius Mims from Georgia in the first round and DT Kris Jenkins from Michigan in the second round. The limited experience as a starter is concern that Mims may not be ready. WR Jermaine Burton from Alabama is a nice value pick at No. 80, who has off-the-field issues.
Grade: B-
Cleveland Browns:
The Browns did not have a first-round pick due to the Deshaun Watson trade. They grabbed Ohio State DL Michael Hall in the second round. He will help right away though Michigan guard Zak Zinter in the third round is coming off an injury. WR Jamari Thrash at 156 was solid though they have veteran Jerry Jeudy and young Cedric Tillman.
Grade: C-
Dallas Cowboys:
Dallas took OT Tyler Guyton with their 29th pick overall has talent but will need some time to develop. EDGE Marshawn Keeland from Western Michigan has a good motor, but not a great pick in the second round. Third-round OL Cooper Beebe is a versatile player from Kansas State, who may end up moving to guard. The key will be Guyton and whether he can be effective right away.
Grade: C
Denver Broncos:
Bo Nix at 12? Huh? The NFL is quarterback-crazy and Nix benefits by Denver’s desperation. Their best pick was Nix’s teammate WR Troy Franklin from Oregon. He’s explosive and can make people miss. LB Jonah Ellis went to the Broncos in the 76th pick. He’s the son of former NFL lineman Luther Elliss.
Grade: D
Detroit Lions:
Detroit drafted CB Terrion Arnold from Alabama at No. 24 and drafted CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. from Missouri in the second round. The secondary had holes and give GM Brad Holmes credit as he addressed them right away with solid picks. OT Giovanni Manu from British Columbia at No. 12 was a bit high for a developmental prospect.
Grade: B
Green Bay Packers
The Packers are all about the draft and while it wasn’t glamorous, they did a nice job in their 11 picks. They were desperate for offensive tackle help and they took Jordan Morgan from Arizona with their 25th pick overall. He’s a strong pass protector who could replace David Bakhtiari at left tackle or move to guard. LB Edgerrin Cooper was taken at No. 45. Cooper could be a steal in the second round if he can improve in pass coverage. RB Marshawn Lloyd from USC fits the scheme very well in the third round. Safety Javon Bullard was a very good pick in the third round. They did a good job of filling needs.
Grade: A-
Houston Texans:
Houston did not have a first-round pick, but after getting Stefon Diggs in a deal, they went for defense in their first pick with CB Kamari Lassiter from Georgia in the Offensive tackle Blake Fisher (59) has the tools to be a starting right tackle. Safety Calen Bullock is a strong pick in the third round.
Grade: B+
Indianapolis Colts:
The Colts had a really strong draft at the top. Laiatu Latu is a potential star at the EDGE and was worth taking in a mediocre draft for pass rushers. WR Adonai Mitchell from Texas is a tall, fast receiver, who was a steal in the second round. Third-round OL Matt Goncalves was a bit of a reach in the third round.
Grade: A
Jacksonville Jaguars:
The Jags went for offensive help with WR Brian Thomas of LSU in the first round and then went strictly for defense in four of their next five picks. Thomas gives Trevor Larence a playmaker right away. DT Mason Smith from LSU was a steal in the second round and he’s coming off an ACL tear in 2022. So he should be even better this season. They needed to address EDGE and did not do that.
Grade: B-
Kansas City Chiefs:
Patrick Mahomes gets another burner in WR Xavier Worthy at No. 28 and he should be an instant impact player. OT Kingsley Saumataia from BYU is a year or two away from starting at guard or tackle, but that’s fine at No.63. They added some depth with TE Jared Wiley and S Jaden Hicks, who should be starters in a few years.
Grade: A-
Las Vegas Raiders:
The Raiders added a starting TE in Brock Bowers from Georgia. The question will be who is going to throw the ball to him? They went offensive line in their next two picks. Oregon OG Jackson Powers-Johnson and Maryland OT DJ Glaze are solid picks who could start right away. The fact that they did not draft a quarterback or trade up for one when you have Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew is beyond perplexing.
Grade: C
Los Angeles Chargers:
New front office and coaching and the Chargers only took two Michigan players for Jim Harbaugh. With the first pick, they took Notre Dame OL Joel Alt, who at 6-9, is going to be Justin Herbert’s blindside pass protector for the next five+ years. Georgia WR Ladd McConkey was solid as a pick in the second round, but they needed more than solid to replace two starters at WR. USC WR Brendan Rice (Jerry’s son) has a lot to prove after being taken 225th overall.
Grade: B+
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams finally had a first-round pick (since 2016) and took DE Jared Verse from Florida State at No. 19. He’ll be the key to this draft along with another Florida State defender in DT Braden Fiske in the second round. RB Blake Corum from Michigan wasn’t a big need, but he’s too good to go past the third round.
Grade: B
Miami Dolphins:
The Fins grabbed EDGE Chop Robinson from Penn State in the first round at 21. This was one of the most predictable picks in the draft with Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) and Bradley Chubb (ACL) coming off serious injuries. They took OT Patrick Paul in the second round and he will fit the scheme well. The addition of WR Malik Washington, from Virginia in the sixth round could be a steal.
Grade: A-
Minnesota Vikings:
The key to the entire draft is whether J.J. McCarthy was worth the 10th pick in the draft. McCarthy played behind a very good line with a strong running game. He’ll have to do more to prove himself in the NFL. Alabama LB Dallas Turner is one of the top EDGE rushers and a solid pick at No. 17.
Grade: C
New England Patriots:
The Pats expectedly drafted Drake May at No. 3 overall. Maye could need some time but has the potential to be a very good quarterback. WR Ja’Lyn Polk at 37 and OT Caedan Wallce at 68, addressed needs. Wallace has some work to do and the better pick was in the fourth round, when they chose OG Layden Robinson from Texas A&M. Polk tracks the ball well and is a solid blocker. The first draft without Bill Belichick went pretty well.
Grade: B+
New Orleans Saints:
The Saints took OT Taliese Fuaga from Oregon State at 14 in the first round. He’s a dominant run blocker. They traded up to get CB Kool-Aid McKinstry from Alabama in the early second round. He’s a very experienced corner with average speed. They took a shot on South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler in the fifth round, which wasn’t a bad value pick.
Grade: B
New York Giants:
The Giants did not take a quarterback in their six picks. Malik Nabors was a strong pick at No. 6 if they didn’t need a QB to throw him the ball. They found a replacement for free safety Xavier McKinney in Tyler Nubin, their second-round pick from Minnesota. C Andru Phillips was a strong pick in the third round and TE Theo Johnson from Penn State has starter potential.
Grade: C+
New York Jets:
The Jets desperately needed offensive line help and they went with Penn State OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu with their 11 pick in the first round. He should start right away at left tackle, even though they picked up veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses in the off-season. WR Malachi Corley is a strong second-round pick, who can run well after the catch. RB Braelon Allen is a bruising back to play alongside Breece Hall. QB Jordan Travis from Florida State was taken with the 171st pick. That was a bit of a reach, but he’ll redshirt anyhow due to injury and Aaron Rodgers. Veteran Tyrod Taylor will likely serve as the backup.
Grade: B+
Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles were desperate for secondary help, and they addressed that need with their first two picks. CB Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo led all FBS cornerbacks in PFF overall great over the last two seasons and has elite speed. Cooper DeJean from Iowa is a versatile corner, who can play nickel, safety, slot, or outside. He was a steal at 40th. EDGE Jalyx Hunt from Houston Christian dominated his competition and after some seasoning and adjustment to a much-higher level, he could be special. RB Will Shipley is a very good athlete who can make people miss and should eventually be a factor in the return game and as a third-down back.
Grade: A-
Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Steelers are one of those teams who you know are going to draft wisely and not take too many reaches. Offensive line was a need and they drafted OT Troy Fautanu from Washington with their 20th pick. He’s a natural left tackle, who can also play guard and can pass block. Center Zach Frazier was taken in the second round from West Virginia and has starting potential. In the third round. Pittsburgh does what they always do. They take a wide receiver (Roman Wilson) who has great hands and should be able to play right away.
Grade: B+
San Francisco 49ers:
The Niners took WR Ricky Pearsall at 31, which made people assume that they were trading Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. He’s not as good as either receiver, but is a solid player who rarely drops the ball and has the measurables to be a starter. CB Renardo Green from Florida State is coming off a great season and was a strong second-round pick. OT Dominck Puni from Kansas is a mauler who can play left tackle, but is likely moving inside.
Grade: B-
Seattle Seahawks:
The Seahawks hit a home run with the selection of DL Byron Murphy II from Texas at 16. He’s one of the few defensive tackles who can pressure the quarterback and lay the run. They didn’t have a pick until the third round and chose wisely with OG Christian Haynes from UConn, who can play right away. UTEP LB Tyrice Knight was a slight reach at No. 118. TE A.J. Barner in the fourth round from Michigan adds a blocking presence.
Grade: A-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
The Bucs drafted Graham Barton from Duke with their 26th pick. They don’t need an offensive tackle so he’ll likely move inside. LB Chris Braswell led the SEC in pressures in 2023. S Tykee Smith was a solid pick in the third round from Georgia, but he lacks the speed to be a top-notch player.
Grade: B+
Tennessee Titans:
The Titans went for their biggest need, which was at offensive tackle, where they chose JC Latham from Alabama at No. 7. He’s 343 pounds with long arms and can play either side. Texas DT T’Vondre Sweat was taken at 38 despite going through a recent DWI arrest. If he works out, he has a chance to be dominant. They had a nice selection at 146 with CB Jarvis Brownlee from Louisville, who could wind up at nickel.
Grade: B
Washington Commanders:
Washington took QB Jayden Daniels from LSU at No. 2 overall and he should be a very good fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s spread offense. He’s a freak athlete playing behind a shaky offensive line. DT Jer’Zhan Newton from Illinois should improve a defensive line that already had Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. This draft is all about Daniels and whether his thin frame can avoid the hits he’ll be taken when running away from rushers.
Grade: B+
