Admin May 3, 2024
The 2024 NFL Draft has been finished for a week at this point. Fans, analysts, and insiders alike have all had time to digest their team’s decision and determine whether or not they should be thrilled or worried about the team’s future.
While some teams like the Atlanta Falcons have been dragged constantly for drafting Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall immediately after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal, that doesn’t mean experts agree with that take. Furthermore, perhaps the rest of Atlanta’s draft was full of steals. Is that what happened? No, but the late rounds that most people tune out for could’ve had a massive impact on the team’s draft class.
Here is who experts are saying had the three worst and three best drafts of 2024.
NFL power rankings: Which teams are up, down after 2024 draft?
Best NFL Draft Classes of 2024:
Nate Davis, USA Today
Chicago Bears: A+
Nate Davis writes, “[The Bears] got this draft’s best player, USC QB Caleb Williams, off the top and – perhaps – its next best in Washington WR Rome Odunze at No. 9. Kudos to GM Ryan Poles for the forward-looking trade of the No. 1 pick last year to Carolina, a deal that ultimately netted the franchise-shifting selection of Williams – opportunity being the convergence of luck and preparation and all that.”
Pittsburgh Steelers: A+
“After HC Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan upgraded their quarterback options via Groupon during free agency, the team proceeded to conduct what looks like a monster rookie haul. Top picks Troy Fautanu (Round 1, Washington) and Zach Frazier (Round 2, West Virginia) – along with 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones – should immediately remediate an offensive line that will be expected to refuel the run game new OC Arthur Smith will doubtless lean on.”
Philadelphia Eagles: A
“They got, arguably, the draft’s best defensive back (Toledo first-rounder Quinyon Mitchell). They got, arguably, the draft’s most athletic and versatile defensive back (Iowa second-rounder Cooper DeJean). Third-rounder pass rusher Jalyx Hunt is an intriguing project, and fourth-round Clemson RB Will Shipley could maximize the plays Saquon Barkley takes off. Michigan G Trevor Keegan and Florida State WR Johnny Wilson are high-ceiling Day 3 picks, and fifth-round Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. puts the cherry on top with the sentimental homecoming factor … at a position that’s seemingly been unsettled since dad left.”
Danny Kelly, The Ringer
Chicago Bears: A+
Danny Kelly writes, “Chicago nabbed a potential franchise cornerstone in quarterback Caleb Williams (my top-ranked player) with the top overall pick before turning around and getting Williams a long-term no. 1 receiver in Rome Odunze (my no. 6 player overall) with the ninth pick.”
Arizona Cardinals: A+
“The team made the right choice in sticking and picking at no. 4 overall to take receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is my second-ranked player overall. Harrison will be a force multiplier for the offense and give Kyler Murray a true no. 1 target for years to come. Arizona turned around later in the first round and grabbed a long and powerful defensive lineman in Darius Robinson, who brings versatility and disruptiveness to their defensive front.”
Philadelphia Eagles: A+
“Philly somehow managed to land Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (my no. 12 player) at 22nd overall before turning around in the second round and trading up to nab Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean (my no. 17 player) at 40th overall. Not shabby!”
Leger Douzable, CBS Sports
Pittsburgh Steelers: A+
Douzable writes, “This was a home run draft, and every pick they made just screamed Steelers. First-round offensive lineman Troy Fautanu will make an immediate impact.”
Washington Commanders: A+
“Jayden Daniels is the most dynamic QB in this draft. Getting Johnny Newton and Mike Sainristil in the second round were home run picks. Watch out for the Commanders this year.”
Los Angeles Rams: A+
“The Rams have locked in their starters on D-line for the next 3-4 years with the Florida State duo of Jared Verse and Braden Fiske.”
NFL draft grades: Bears, Steelers lead best team classes as Cowboys stumble
Worst NFL Draft Classes of 2024:
Nate Davis, USA Today
Cleveland Browns: D
Nate Davis writes, “View the deal however you choose, but they’ve finally paid off their Watson debt…though its aftermath continues to loom over the franchise from football, financial and fan-relation vantage points. The top picks they made – second-round DT Michael Hall Jr. (Ohio State) and third-round G Zak Zinter (Michigan) – don’t seem ready to contribute meaningfully in 2024, Zinter recovering from a major leg injury and parked behind established Pro Bowl guards (Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller) anyway.”
Dallas Cowboys: D
“An organization that’s allegedly ‘all in’ uses its first-rounder on a tackle (Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton) with tremendous upside but who may or may not be ready to play immediately. And while Dallas needed help in the trenches (second-round DE Marshawn Kneeland, third-round G Cooper Beebe) and potentially filled a hole with third-round Notre Dame LB Marist Liufau, what’s the plan at tailback? Run it back with Ezekiel Elliott? All…in?”
Tennessee Titans: D
“Not their fault that the Chargers took Alt two spots ahead of them, but could they have moved back and added assets rather than sticking and picking Alabama OT JC Latham? The risk is magnified by the decision to move him to second-year QB Will Levis’ blind side – Latham played exclusively on the right side in Tuscaloosa – though if anyone is going to make it work, it’s legendary O-line coach Bill Callahan. Second-round DT T’Vondre Sweat could be a reach personally and professionally – very possibly a limited two-down player who can’t get onto the field to affect games late.”
Danny Kelly, The Ringer
Carolina Panthers: D+
Kelly writes, “Carolina traded up into the first round to take my 81st-ranked player at no. 32, landing a raw-but-explosive pass catcher in Xavier Legette. Carolina nabbed my second-ranked running back in Jonathan Brooks in the second round, and he should be a solid addition for them and give the team a future three-down playmaker at the position. They took a toolsy linebacker in Trevin Wallace in the third, then nabbed a chess piece tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders in the fourth. I did like that Carolina traded back in the second round to pick up an extra second rounder in 2025 from the Rams, but I can’t help but feel very underwhelmed by this haul.”
New York Jets: C
“The Jets did the right thing, avoiding the siren song of a playmaker like Brock Bowers and instead drafting a position of massive need with my top-ranked tackle, Olu Fashanu, picking up a couple of Day 3 picks next year by trading down one spot with the Vikings. Past that pick, I’m skeptical about the value New York picked up the rest of the draft.”
Green Bay Packers: C
“The Packers hit for contact in this draft—adding a couple of potential future starters at positions of need—but I’m not sure I see any home run picks.”
Leger Douzable, CBS Sports
New York Giants: D
Douzable writes, “Not taking a QB will haunt the Giants, but getting Malik Nabers [at 6] is a good consolation prize.”
Las Vegas Raiders: D
“Taking Brock Bowers [in the first round] made no sense. Also the Raiders didn’t take a shot at a QB.”
Denver Broncos: D
“Taking Bo Nix at 12 was a reach. Also, not taking a WR until the fourth round was concerning, even though it was Nix’s teammate in Troy Franklin.”
When does the NFL season start?
The Kansas City Chiefs will kick off the 2024-25 NFL season at home as back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Their opponent is yet to be named, but the date for the matchup will be Thursday, September 5.
When does the NFL schedule get released?
The NFL schedule release will be in May, per NFL.com. However, an exact date for the release has not been given yet.
2024 NFL schedule release: When is it? What to know ahead of full release this month