This promised to be a memorable NFL draft, and it was. Not only were a record-tying six quarterbacks chosen in Thursday night’s opening round, all six were selected in the first dozen picks. The predicted first-round runs on wide receivers and offensive tackles also materialized as a record 23 offensive players were taken Thursday. Defensive players caught up a bit on Day 2.
No one can properly evaluate an NFL draft in real time. And nobody knows which of the hundreds of draft picks will become stars and which will be remembered as busts. But it is possible to try to determine which teams made the most of what they had available to them — based on current knowledge — and which did not.
Here’s an early look at how the NFL’s 32 franchises fared this time around.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys’ focus on fortifying their offensive line — by taking tackle Tyler Guyton in Round 1 and guard Cooper Beebe in Round 3 — was justified. Second-round pass rusher Marshawn Kneeland could help. But many observers expected the Cowboys to add a running back on Day 2, perhaps as early as the second round, and they didn’t. That remains a position of need following Tony Pollard’s departure as a free agent.
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New York Giants
The Giants opted to help Daniel Jones as the QB returns from his torn ACL in his right knee rather than search for his eventual successor. They stayed put at No. 6, passed up the available quarterbacks and chose WR Malik Nabers. He could be a star — if the Giants have a QB capable of getting him the ball. They added the draft’s top-rated safety, Tyler Nubin, in the middle of the second round.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles prioritized the secondary by taking two cornerbacks, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, in the first two rounds. The DeJean pick was a great value after he dropped into the second round. He also could be given a chance as a returner under the NFL’s new kickoff rules. The Eagles made a like-father, like-son selection in the fifth round by taking LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. However, they did nothing to help their offense on the draft’s first two days.
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Washington Commanders
The new regime of General Manager Adam Peters and Coach Dan Quinn made the right move at QB by taking Jayden Daniels second overall, even if the Commanders made an unforced error when they risked miffing their new franchise player with their group approach to the pre-draft visit. But if Daniels’s development is undone by the shortcomings of his offensive line, Adams and Quinn will regret not trading back up into the first round for a tackle. They did get excellent value by landing DT Jer’Zhan Newton in Round 2, even if that amounted to bolstering a position of strength on the roster.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams’s NFL play might justify the comparisons to Patrick Mahomes, or it might not, but the Bears had to find out. They made the right move by trading Justin Fields, keeping the No. 1 choice and using it on Williams. They also did well by using the ninth selection on WR Rome Odunze. Adding Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie in the third round was interesting. The Bears’ draft class was small but could be transformational, and the supporting cast around Williams on offense gives him a reasonable chance to thrive.
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Detroit Lions
The Lions made big moves on defense, especially at CB, landing Terrion Arnold in the first round and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in Round 2. Both are capable of being immediate contributors and long-term starters. Getting DT Mekhi Wingo in the sixth round was excellent value. The Lions didn’t do much to immediately help their offense, but that probably can be forgiven, with their existing level of talent. Fourth-round offensive tackle Giovanni Manu is intriguing as a developmental prospect.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers did well to add to their collection of young talent and potentially build on last season’s surprising run to the divisional round of the playoffs. They got an offensive tackle, Jordan Morgan, in the opening round after releasing mainstay David Bakhtiari this offseason. They landed a pair of potential defensive contributors in Round 2 in linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Javon Bullard. And they chose a third-round running back, MarShawn Lloyd, who could split carries with free agent newcomer Josh Jacobs after they released Aaron Jones. Adding Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt in the final round also was justified. Another team with a bigger need at QB probably should have done that sooner.
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Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings had to trade up only one spot to make J.J. McCarthy the fifth QB chosen in the top 10. He was a polarizing prospect, but he is set up well to maximize his chances of success, with Kevin O’Connell as his coach and Justin Jefferson as his top receiver. Because they did not have to make a major move up to get their QB, the Vikings were able to retain their second opening-round pick, and they traded up again to secure pass rusher Dallas Turner at No. 17. He was a top-10-caliber talent pushed down because of the early run on offensive players. And don’t dismiss the significance of getting Alabama kicker Will Reichard in the sixth round.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
It’s not that Michael Penix Jr. is not an excellent QB prospect, arguably worthy of being the No. 8 pick. He is. It’s that the Falcons gave Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal in free agency, a move indicative of an attempt to be an immediate contender. The Falcons needed to add an excellent player at another position to improve Cousins’s chances — and theirs — of succeeding. There was no rush to put his eventual successor in place before he even played his first game. The rule in the NFL is that if you don’t have a franchise QB, you need to do all that you can to try to get one. But you don’t need to do all that you can to try to get two.
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Looking forward to the 2026 trade of Kirk Cousins to the Jets..
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) April 26, 2024Carolina Panthers
There is a rather long way to go, but the Panthers made a few steps in the proper direction. They added a pair of potential playmakers on offense with first-round WR Xavier Legette and second-round RB Jonathon Brooks. It’s still questionable whether the Panthers have done enough to fix their offensive line to help quarterback Bryce Young made progress after his rookie-year struggles. But the talent around him on offense at least has been upgraded.
New Orleans Saints
Their most interesting pick may have come in the fifth round Saturday when they selected QB Spencer Rattler at No. 150. That made Rattler the first quarterback chosen since the Broncos took Bo Nix 138 picks earlier. Rattler had been regarded as a potential Day 2 selection and is promising enough to be considered an eventual successor to current starter Derek Carr. The Saints also did well by getting offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga in the first round and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry in the second round.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers made a low-key but solid selection at No. 26 by taking center Graham Barton. He also played offensive tackle in college but probably will play center in the NFL. He could be a standout. Second-round pass rusher Chris Braswell should play an immediate role, and fourth-round RB Bucky Irving could contribute.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals made seven of the draft’s first 90 picks. You had better upgrade your roster considerably when you have those resources available, and the Cardinals did fine. It was a sound move to keep the No. 4 pick and use it on WR Marvin Harrison Jr. rather than trade down. The Cardinals already had plenty of draft capital, and Harrison could be a standout. Taking edge rusher Darius Robinson with their second first-rounder was justified. The Cardinals’ selections on Day 2 were generally solid, even if none delivered particularly more value than expected. Third-round RB Trey Benson should help immediately.
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Los Angeles Rams
They are the “Eff Them Picks” franchise no longer. The Rams made a first-round selection for the first time since 2016 (when they took Jared Goff first overall). And they made it count by getting pass rusher Jared Verse at No. 19. It’s wildly unfair to call second-round DT Braden Fiske a potential replacement for the retired Aaron Donald, but that choice represented solid value. Third-round RB Blake Corum should be an immediate contributor. The Rams also took a kicker, Joshua Karty, in Round 6. Don’t look now, but the Rams actually are building through the draft.
San Francisco 49ers
The most notable development for the defending NFC champs was that they didn’t trade Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers raised eyebrows when they used the 31st choice Thursday night on a wide receiver, Ricky Pearsall. But the 49ers apparently will use him alongside Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel rather than have him replace one of them. The question is whether the 49ers took the right receiver at that point, with so many very good wideouts still available.
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Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks landed the only defensive tackle to come off the board in Round 1 when they took Byron Murphy II at No. 16. That was a solid choice. It was interesting that they did not make a move to add a developmental quarterback, even as Spencer Rattler fell through the draft order.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
The Bills moved down twice Thursday night, ultimately trading out of the opening round entirely. But that worked out just fine as they got the wide receiver they needed — after trading four-time Pro Bowl pick Stefon Diggs earlier this month — by taking Keon Coleman to begin the second round. The Bills have been remaking their secondary during a transitional offseason, and they continued that effort by getting safety Cole Bishop in the second round.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins focused on their lines in the draft’s early stages, getting edge rusher Chop Robinson in Round 1 and offensive tackle Patrick Paul in Round 2. But they still managed to add to their collection of speedsters by trading up for a fourth-round selection to use on big-play RB Jaylen Wright. Getting pass rusher Mohamed Kamara in the fifth round was a great value. Sixth-round WR Malik Washington also could fill a role.
New England Patriots
The Patriots said they would consider trade possibilities. But they were absolutely correct to keep the No. 3 choice and use it on Drake Maye. It was the proper spot to land their potential franchise QB. And the Patriots immediately did what they could to help Maye by taking WR Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round and offensive tackle Caedan Wallace in the third round. They also doubled up at QB by taking Joe Milton III in the sixth round. He has the arm strength to be an interesting prospect if the Patriots can refine his skills. This was an excellent start for the Patriots’ new front-office leader, Eliot Wolf, and their first-year coach, Jerod Mayo, as the franchise begins the post-Bill Belichick era.
New York Jets
The Jets did plenty in free agency and on the trade market to attempt to take advantage of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s return from his torn Achilles’ tendon. That continued during the draft. The Jets further bolstered their offensive line by using the No. 11 pick on tackle Olu Fashanu. They drew Rodgers’s social-media notice by trading up to take WR Malachi Corley to begin the third round. One question is whether Rodgers and the Jets would have benefited more from getting TE Brock Bowers in the opening round. If Rodgers can stay on the field longer than four plays this season, he should have a better team around him. The Jets also got a prospective QB of the future by selecting Jordan Travis in Round 5.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens helped their defense. They fortified their secondary in particular by taking two CBs, Nate Wiggins in Round 1 and T.J. Tampa in what may have been a heist of a fourth-round selection. Getting offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten in the second round also was significant.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals did not accommodate a trade request by three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and had a pretty good draft as they attempt to return to Super Bowl contender status. Joe Burrow should be pleased as the Bengals helped their franchise QB by adding an offensive tackle, first-rounder Amarius Mims, and a wide receiver, third-rounder Jermaine Burton. Second-round DT Kris Jenkins also should be a factor.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns didn’t have a first-round pick but did manage to provide some help to their offensive and defensive lines. They took DT Michael Hall Jr. in Round 2 and guard Zak Zinter in Round 3. It’s probably a draft class that won’t have a major impact as the Browns attempt to keep pace in a rugged division.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers focused on offense in the draft’s early stages. They addressed their line with first-round tackle Troy Fautanu and second-round center Zach Frazier, then added a third-round wide receiver in Roman Wilson. Whichever QB emerges as the starter, Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, should benefit. Third-round LB Payton Wilson could be a major contributor if his NFL career is not undone by injury-related concerns that, according to NFL Network, include one of his knees now missing an ACL.
AFC South
Houston Texans
The Texans lacked a first-rounder but did manage to make a few potentially useful picks as they try to build on last season’s success and take the next step to becoming a viable contender. They helped their secondary with second-round cornerback Kamari Lassiter and third-round safety Calen Bullock. They also added a second-round offensive tackle, Blake Fisher.
Indianapolis Colts
There is plenty to like about what the Colts did, even with some risk involved. They were able to get a top pass rusher, Laiatu Latu, at No. 15, aided by the early run on offensive players and perhaps consternation by some teams over Latu’s neck injury that interrupted his college career. The Colts also did well to get WR Adonai Mitchell 20 choices into Round 2 — prompting General Manager Chris Ballard’s profanity-filled rant about reports of supposed concern about character issues — and addressed the offensive line by taking tackle Matt Goncalves in the third round.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars joined the opening-round run on WRs by taking Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 23. That pick was justified, and he could play a significant role as a rookie after the Jaguars lost Calvin Ridley in free agency. They addressed their defense with second-round DT Maason Smith and third-round CB Jarrian Jones. The Jaguars also participated in the sixth-round mini-run on kickers by getting Cam Little.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans’ draft class is huge. They took offensive tackle JC Latham at No. 7 overall, then got DT T’Vondre Sweat early in the second round. That’s more than 700 pounds worth of linemen in two picks. It’s fair to question whether Latham was the right tackle to take at seventh, and there were off-field issues to consider with Sweat after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. But as a general rule, devoting resources to the line of scrimmage is not a bad way to construct an NFL roster.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Good fortune is every bit as important as sound judgment in determining draft success. The Broncos were lucky that they didn’t have to trade up to get their QB; they stayed put at No. 12 and selected Bo Nix. There’s no debating this pick. The Broncos had a desperate need at QB after releasing Russell Wilson. Now it’s up to Coach Sean Payton to make things work with Nix, who joins Jarrett Stidham and newcomer Zach Wilson on the roster. The Broncos also got tremendous value by trading up to land Nix’s Oregon teammate, WR Troy Franklin, in the fourth round.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs moved around in the draft order by making one trade with the Bills, their leading AFC challenger in recent years, and another with the 49ers, their most recent Super Bowl opponent. Shouldn’t those teams be wary of possibly assisting the two-time defending Super Bowl champs? After moving up four spots via their opening-round deal with the Bills, the Chiefs took record-setting speedster Xavier Worthy. Coach Andy Reid undoubtedly will find ways to take advantage of Worthy’s game-breaking potential as a wideout and could give him a look as a kickoff returner. It was a key addition while wide receiver Rashee Rice faces charges and potentially NFL discipline for his role in a six-vehicle crash in Dallas.
🏃🏽♂️
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) April 26, 2024Las Vegas Raiders
Getting TE Brock Bowers with the 13th choice was more than acceptable. He was the draft’s most promising tight end by a wide margin and could be a difference-maker. The Raiders got excellent value by landing center Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round. But it’s a QB-driven league, and the Raiders were the only team with a major QB need and a top-13 pick not to get one of the six prominent QBs available. Now they must try to get by with Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O’Connell.
Los Angeles Chargers
This was a very Jim Harbaugh draft. The Chargers stayed put at No. 5 and made their offensive line the priority by taking tackle Joe Alt, reflecting their new coach’s roster-building philosophy. That pick arguably should have been a wideout following the exits of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, but the Chargers did take WR Ladd McConkey early in the second round. They used a third-round selection on one of Harbaugh’s former Michigan players, LB Junior Colson.
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