2024 NFL Draft

Latest On Patriots’ Plans At No. 3

April 8th, 2024 at 3:00pm CST by Ben Levine

APRIL 8: Especially with New England having lined up ‘top 30’ visits with both Daniels and McCarthy, it would still come as little surprise to see the team remain at No. 3 and add the highest-ranked passer still on the board. However, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes the Patriots have only committed three such visits to quarterbacks (Daniels, McCarthy and Maye), adding his sense is the team has not yet fully committed to one draft strategy over another.

Plenty of time remains for the Patriots to finalize their draft board, of course, and much of their decision when on the clock will depend on the Commanders’ actions at No. 2. As things stand, now, though, uncertainty surrounds New England’s preferred direction.

APRIL 2: The Patriots’ plans with the third-overall pick are partly dependent on how the top-two selections unfold. However, it’s seeming increasingly likely that the organization will opt for a quarterback with their first-round pick.

According to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, league executives believe the Patriots will take a quarterback at No. 3. While Kyed says the team won’t force the selection, it sounds like the organization’s top decision makers are in favor of drafting a QB.

The question is: which quarterback will the Patriots select? Since the Patriots won’t have their choice of QBs, we probably won’t hear anything definitive out of New England. Caleb Williams is the assumed first-overall pick, and Kyed believes the Patriots would love the opportunity to choose between LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye (in the scenario where the Commanders opt for Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy or another position).

If the Patriots do somehow have the opportunity to choose between Daniels and Maye, Kyed knows there are some members of the Patriots who are “fans” of the LSU product. This isn’t a complete surprise; Williams has never been a realistic option at No. 3, and there were rumblings that the Patriots weren’t particularly enamored with Maye. For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Jordan Reid writes that the Patriots and Commanders were among the teams with the most representation at both Daniels’ and Maye’s pro days.

Many pundits have suggested the Patriots could look to move back in the draft. Ben Volin of The Boston Globe previously opined that the organization would still leave the draft with an early-round QB, even if they do make a trade. Kyed writes that the Patriots don’t believe there are five or six franchise quarterbacks in the draft, so if the team is serious about adding a future starter at the position, they can’t stray too far from the top of the board.

The Patriots have already moved on from Mac Jones this offseason, putting them in prime position to select a quarterback with the third-overall pick. The team brought in old friend Jacoby Brissett to keep the seat warm, and they’re still rostering Bailey Zappe in case they want to redshirt a rookie.

Vikings, Chargers, Cardinals To Host Dallas Turner

April 8th, 2024 at 2:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

As one of the top defensive prospects in the 2024 class, edge rusher Dallas Turner unsurprisingly has a busy schedule in the build-up to the draft. Having already lined up visits with the Falcons and Bears, he is also on the radar of three other interested teams.

Turner is visiting the Vikings today, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He adds Turner also has ‘top 30’ trips set up with the Chargers and Cardinals. Those teams own a total of four first-round picks, including three of the first 11 selections.

The Alabama product is widely regarded as the top edge rushing prospect available, something which has frequently led to top-10 connections. The Falcons in particular have become a frequent landing spot in many mock drafts, in large part because of Atlanta’s need to make additions along the edge. That scenario would lead to Turner hearing his name called eighth overall, after the Cardinals and Chargers’ selections but before the Vikings’.

Minnesota – a team which is also hosting DT Byron Murphy today – saw both Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum depart in free agency. While Jonathan Greenard (who signed a four-year, $76MM deal) will fill one starting spot along the edge, the Vikings could use another notable addition during the draft. Of course, the team has instead been most closely connected to a QB selection, something which would likely entail moving up the draft order. If Turner were to make it out of the top 10, though, he could be in the Vikings’ plans.

Arizona and Los Angeles own picks No. 4 and 5, although both are known to be available in a trade for the right price Each team is in the market for a receiver, and the top prospects at that position will be on the board if the first three selections go as expected with quarterbacks hearing their names called. The Cardinals (who have been busy on the ’30 visit’ front recently) have made a number of moves on the defensive line this offseason, but after finishing 30th in sacks last year the team will likely make edge additions a draft priority.

Faced with a significant cap crunch in his first offseason at the helm, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz elected to keep both Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa in the fold on restructured contracts. That will give the team a pair of established starters on the edge, a contrast to the receiver position as things currently stand. Especially if Los Angeles elects to move down the board slightly, though, Turner could be in consideration for Hortiz and Co.

The 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Turner posted a career-high 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season. Those figures helped earn him All-American acclaim as he took over from Will Anderson as the Crimson Tide’s lead edge rusher. He will face high expectations right away during his rookie season in the NFL, and his first pro team will no doubt be among those spending considerable time evaluating him as part of their draft preparation.

Latest On First-Round WR Prospects

April 8th, 2024 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

The top of the 2024 draft board features an intriguing trio of wideouts (Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze). While the order in which they will hear their names called is in question, there will be other prospects at the position who are selected on Day 1.

In the case of many of the top options in that regard, the pre-draft process has resulted in positive developments. LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr., for instance, has long been ranked as a first-round prospect. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman notes Thomas has impressed evaluators both on and off the field, something which will help his already high draft stock. The 6-3 junior posted 1,177 yards and an FBS-leading 17 touchdowns in 2023, flashing the potential to serve as a high-end secondary WR option (as he did playing alongside Nabers) at a minimum in the NFL.

Aside from the top four receiver prospects, several others have a strong chance of landing near the back end of the first round. Two candidates on that front are Texas’ Xavier Worthy and Georgia alum Ladd McConkey. Both of those wideouts have received first-round grades from a number of NFL teams, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports.

Worthy broke the all-time 40-yard dash record during the 2024 Combine, posting a time of 4.21 seconds. Already known to be one of the top vertical threats in this year’s strong class, Pauline notes his Pro Day helped ease concerns about his all-around game translating to the pro level. In the case of McConkey, a faster-than-expected 40 time (4.39) has also helped his stock. Regarded as an elite route runner, the 5-11, 186-pounder will likely be destined to hold a slot role in the NFL but his floor is believed to be higher than most other prospects in the class.

Around the same time that Worthy and/or McConkey are selected, Adonai Mitchell could also very well come off the board. The latter spent his first two seasons at Georgia, making just 38 catches during that span. At transfer to Texas paved the way for a larger offensive role and a sharp increase in production, though; Mitchell posted 854 yards and 11 touchdowns on 55 receptions in 2023. Depending on how teams view him relative to other WR prospects in the same range, Mitchell could be the fifth wideout taken on Day 1.

Of course, a number of highly-regarded pass-catchers will still be available on Day 2. Pauline adds that Ricky Pearsall has seen his stock rise considerably in the lead-in to the draft. The Florida alum has received an early second-round grade from “several teams,” per Pauline and he could be one of many receivers added in the top 50 selections. As teams continue to evaluate the top options at every position over the coming days, receiver remains on track to be a very popular target throughout the top of this year’s draft.

UNC QB Drake Maye Giants’ New Focus?

April 7th, 2024 at 10:23pm CST by Ely Allen

There have been rumors aplenty in the last few weeks claiming that the Giants are extremely interested in drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so much so that they would be interested in trading up from the No. 6 overall pick. The rumors have had New York going in a lot of different directions with their trade up, and Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports has them going in another new direction with a focus on North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

Only three days ago, Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post projected a trade up for the Giants that saw them taking LSU passer Jayden Daniels. He also claimed to be hearing that New York was highest on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but his projection had the national championship winner being selected one pick before by the Commanders. As a result, he predicted that the Giants would settle for the Heisman winner.

Earlier today, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan also connected Daniels to New York, this time claiming that he was one of the team’s favorites to look out for. According to Raanan, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll both believe the LSU passer would be “an ideal fit in their offense.” He also noted McCarthy as a name to watch, especially if he’s still available by the sixth pick, rendering a trade up unnecessary.

Vacchiano posed a different view just two days ago. Vacchiano, like the others, points out that the Giants could certainly be tempted to trade up for a quarterback, but he specifies that it would need to be the right quarterback. He claims that Maye is the man who fits the bill. Vacchiano posits that if the Bears and Commanders select USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Daniels or McCarthy with their respective picks, the Giants would jump on the opportunity to trade up for Maye.

Maye has long been viewed as the top draft option following the near-certain No. 1 overall pick, Williams. Daniels was the first to rise quickly up draft boards and challenge Maye for that No. 2 spot, followed shortly by McCarthy. Now most mocks have all four of the picks to the open the draft being used on quarterbacks.

The biggest issue with most of these scenarios is that they assume the Patriots will be willing to move back. Like the Bears, Commanders, and Giants, while New England is home to multiple potential starters at the quarterback position, many have labeled passer as a position of need for the Patriots. Veteran Jacoby Brissett, last year’s backup Bailey Zappe, and former Canadian Football League star Nathan Rourke all bring something to the table, but there are many in the league who still believe the team will use their top draft pick to bring in a new competitor to start under center.

Regardless, with the big day still two and a half weeks out, everything is subject to change. Within the course of three days, we’ve seen different sources claim that McCarthy, Maye, and Daniels were all the preferred options for the Giants to pursue in a trade up at different times. Though the muddy waters often tend to clear up the closer we get to the draft, this year may be the exception as the waters seem muddy as ever.

Bears Set To Host Top WRs, DE On Monday

April 7th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

We already heard today that the Bears are bringing in LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers for a “top 30” visit this Wednesday. Now, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic informs us that Chicago plans to host Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Texas speedster Xavier Worthy, as well. Both wideouts are set to be at Halas Hall tomorrow and will be joined by UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu.

The Bears’ most pressing concern for the 2024 NFL Draft is obviously at quarterback. With only Tyson Bagent and Brett Rypien on the roster at the position, it has become a foregone conclusion that the Bears will use the first of their two top-ten picks (and the first overall selection of the draft) on USC passer Caleb Williams. This week’s visitors, though, provide a bit of insight into what the team is planning to do with their second pick of the draft, the ninth pick.

Nabers makes sense as a target if the team intends to sit pat and select in the ninth position after drafting Williams. There’s a chance he may not make it that far, but with a run of quarterbacks expected in the first four picks and teams in the next four picks having needs that aren’t wide receiver, it’s not insane to believe that Nabers may drop to ninth overall. Harrison, on the other hand, will not be around that long. As the top wide receiver available in this year’s draft, according to nearly every ranking, Harrison likely won’t be available after the fifth or sixth pick. If Chicago is seriously considering adding Harrison to the team, they will need to trade up to get him.

Targeting Worthy and Latu provides the alternate opportunity to the Bears. Both players are seen as mid- to late-first-round picks, so it could actually really benefit the team to trade back, as Chicago may have two top-ten picks, but their next selection after that doesn’t come until the 11th pick of the third round. Adding a top receiver or edge rusher with a second first-round pick while bringing in a bit more draft capital by trading back could be a perfect storm for the Bears.

It’s clear that adding a third wide receiver is a priority in Chicago, though. With top returning receiver D.J. Moore now paired up with Keenan Allen, a third top wideout could give the Bears their best receiving corps in a very long time. Both Nabers and Worthy would provide a level of speed to the passing attack that could easily take the top off any defense already covering Moore and Allen. Harrison hasn’t been officially timed, but there are few (if any) facets of his game that are a demerit on his draft stock. Latu, on the other hand, with 23.5 sacks in his final two collegiate seasons, could pair nicely opposite Montez Sweat in their efforts to meet at the quarterback.

Trading up for Harrison would be difficult but could be worth it to bring in a potentially generational talent at receiver. Staying pat won’t cost them any more than they’ve already given, and adding Nabers would be a great compliment to their current corps. And trading back while still being able to add a day one contributor like Worthy or Latu could work wonders for their pick totals. Regardless, it’s clear that the Bears are making an effort to bring in even more weapons for their presumed 2024 starter under center, Williams.

LSU WR Malik Nabers To Visit Titans, Jets, Bears

April 7th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Ely Allen

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers is one of the top draft eligible players coming out of college this year and can do a lot to help teams who are going to need help at receiver in 2024. A number of those teams will get a look at him this week as, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Nabers is set to visit the Titans, Jets, and Bears on consecutive days this week.

Nabers has been a bit overshadowed in the leadup to the 2024 NFL Draft because of players like USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who is the nearly unanimous No. 1 overall player in the draft, and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is the nearly unanimous WR1 in the draft. Still, both ESPN’s Matt Miller and Dane Brugler of The Athletic have Nabers ranked as a top-four prospect in their respective draft rankings.

Therefore, it’s no surprise to see that three teams with picks near the back of the top ten are taking a closer look at the speedy wideout. Most mocks are showing a run of quarterbacks in the first four picks of the draft, and if Harrison is the next to go, Nabers should go around sixth overall at the earliest. Teams after the top-five picks may also go after different positions of need like offensive tackle or defensive end, so it’s not out of reach to think that Nabers could fall to the Titans at seventh, Bears at ninth, or Jets at 10th. Nabers will head to Nashville on Monday, followed by a trip to New Jersey on Tuesday, and Chicago on Wednesday for “top 30” visits.

Joining Nabers in Tennessee on Monday will be Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Titans addressed wide receiver in a big way when they signed Calvin Ridley to team up with DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks, but they struggled to find consistency at left tackle in 2023, and they’ve yet to address that need. Nabers would be an excellent addition to the receiving corps, but Latham does fill a much bigger need.

Seahawks Host QB Bo Nix

April 7th, 2024 at 2:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks’ quarterback depth chart already features incumbent starter Geno Smith and trade acquisition Sam Howell. As the draft approaches, though, the team is showing at least passing interest in some of the top options at the position.

Seattle hosted Bo Nix on a pre-draft visit over the weekend, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Nix is within the second tier of QB prospects in the 2024 class, often viewed closer to Washington alum Michael Penix Jr. than the established top four signal-callers (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy). The Seahawks have previously been linked to Penix.

Nix put up less-than-impressive numbers during his time at Auburn, but a transfer to Oregon ahead of the 2022 campaign paved the way for his draft stock rising considerably. He totaled 94 touchdowns (74 passing, 20 rushing) in his two seasons with the Ducks, remaining efficient as a passer. Nix completed 74.9% of his attempts at Oregon, throwing only 10 interceptions along the way.

After finishing third in Heisman voting during the 2023 season, Nix found himself on the radar of teams not positioned at the top of the draft order but nevertheless in need of a quarterback addition. The Seahawks currently own the 16th overall pick, slotting them behind the likes of the Vikings, Broncos and Raiders (known trade-up candidates). The team could stand to fill other needs with their top pick, especially with Smith and Howell each on the books for the next two seasons.

However, Seattle’s next selection is No. 81, and Nix will quite likely be off the board by that point. Smith’s future faced a number of questions this offseason, one in which GM John Schneider (who now has full say on roster decisions) and new head coach Mike Macdonald have eventually named him the team’s starter. Howell – acquired to replace Drew Lock in the QB2 role – spent the 2023 season as Washington’s starter and he could be viewed as a developmental option to take over from Smith in relatively short order.

Nix – who also has a Raiders visit lined up – could provide the Seahawks with another long-term project under center (although it should be noted he is 24, making him one of the older QB prospects in this year’s class). It will be interesting to see how the team proceeds in the coming weeks with respect to other visits amongst quarterbacks.

Latest On Commanders’ No. 2 Pick, Giants-Jayden Daniels Connection

April 7th, 2024 at 10:45am CST by Rory Parks

USC quarterback Caleb Williams is seemingly a lock to be drafted by the Bears with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. Although most prognosticators believe the next three players off the board will be quarterbacks, it is less clear who those quarterbacks will be, and which teams will be selecting them.

Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post recently suggested that the Commanders, owners of the No. 2 overall pick, will select Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, whose draft stock has soared thanks in no small part to an excellent pro day performance. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe (subscription required) says that, of the seven team executives, coaches, and scouts that the publication recently polled, three of them believed Washington would select LSU’s Jayden Daniels, two believed UNC’s Drake Maye would be the pick, and one said it would be McCarthy (the final executive said a trade-down maneuver would be the Commanders’ best bet).

The opinion of that cheeky non-conformist notwithstanding, it would be surprising if the Commanders traded down or picked a non-QB with the No. 2 selection. But if Washington opts for a player other than Daniels, then the Giants could suddenly become a team to watch, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com notes.

In possession of the No. 6 overall pick, Big Blue has been doing its due diligence on this year’s top collegiate passers and scheduled “30” visits with each of Maye, McCarthy, and Daniels. According to Raanan, Daniels is particularly well-regarded within the organization, and sources close to GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll believe the reigning Heisman Trophy winner would be an “ideal fit” in the Giants’ offense.

That said, New York would almost certainly need to trade up to land Daniels, and the Patriots’ No. 3 overall pick likely represents the highest choice that could be available via trade. It appears that New England is prepared to stay put and select a QB of its own, though a trade could still be on the table if the right offer comes along. The problem is that the Giants have just six picks in the 2024 draft and a great number of roster holes, so efforts to jump up the draft board could be cost-prohibitive.

While owner John Mara has consistently endorsed incumbent QB1 Daniel Jones — who is on track to be back from his ACL tear by training camp — Mara has also given Schoen the green light to select a quarterback with the Giants’ top choice. Schoen is no stranger to trading up the board, and the team has been connected to such a move for at least a month. Regardless of the overall strength of a roster, there is almost no price too steep to pay for a franchise quarterback, particularly since Jones has generally failed to impress during his pro career and since the 2025 class of signal-callers is generally considered to be a weak one.

In the above-referenced piece, La Canfora says the Giants are actually higher on McCarthy than any other non-Williams quarterback, a sentiment that Raanan apparently does not share. Raanan does say the team has interest in McCarthy, but he suggests that such interest would be at its zenith if the former Wolverine should fall to the No. 6 pick. In other words, the ESPN scribe seems to believe that while Schoen would contemplate a trade up to land Daniels, he may not sacrifice additional draft capital to acquire McCarthy.

One way or another, as Howe succinctly puts it, “there’s more mystery surrounding the 2024 quarterback class than there’s ever been.”

Bears Unlikely To Trade No. 9 Pick

April 6th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Plenty of intrigue related to the upcoming NFL draft remains centered on the top of the order, and which teams (if any) of the Patriots, Cardinals and Chargers will be willing to move down the board. The Bears own the first overall selection, but they are also positioned to add another top-10 prospect.

Chicago’s own selection is No. 9 overall. Once the team uses Carolina’s pick (acquired in last year’s blockbuster trade) on a franchise quarterback – widely expected to be Caleb Williams – the team will have an intriguing decision to make. High-profile options at receiver, edge rush and offensive tackle will be on the board, and general manager Ryan Poles recently confirmed Chicago will focus its attention on those positions.

Notably, however, Chicago only owns two other picks in the 2024 draft (Nos. 75 and 122). That could entice Poles to trade away the ninth selection and add extra Day 2 capital while moving down the first-round order slightly. Based on his recent comments, though, such a deal should not be expected at this time.

“The way this is set up and [with] some of the draft capital we’ve been able to create in the first two years, I feel pretty comfortable about it,” Poles said of the Bears’ position regarding limited draft picks. “It’ll be boring if we don’t do any trades, but I feel pretty good about where we’re at” (h/t ESPN’s Courtney Cronin).

The Bears made three trades during last year’s draft, so Poles is certainly accustomed to maneuvering around the board. The team already spent a fourth-round selection in the Keenan Allen acquisition, however, demonstrating a willingness to part ways with draft capital and add to the team’s immediate prospects on offense. If Poles sees the 2024 season as one in which the Bears can take a notable step forward compared to his first two at the helm, it would be reasonable to retain the ninth pick and avoid trade-down scenarios.

Of course, the way the rest of the top 10 plays out after Chicago starts the draft will dictate much of the Bears’ decision-making process. The top of the board is set to be dominated by quarterback additions, and the No. 4 and 5 selections are known to be available to teams eyeing a move up the order to add a passer. In any event, a number of highly-regarded players stand to be available for Chicago when the team is on the clock for the second time.

To that end, the Bears have hosted several prospects who could be in range at the No. 9 spot, including wideout Rome Odunze and pass rusher Dallas Turner. Nothing can be ruled out with plenty of key decisions still to be made before draft night, but for now one of those players – or another one similarly ranked on Chicago’s board – is likely to join the team in lieu of trading down.

NFL Draft Rumors: Cowboys, McCarthy, Robinson

April 6th, 2024 at 5:54pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys hosted a number of 2024 NFL Draft prospects for “top 30” visits this week. The visiting group included potential first-round targets like Taliese Fuaga, Graham Barton, and Darius Robinson as well as projected Day 2 selection Junior Colson.

Fuaga, an offensive tackle out of Oregon State, and Barton, a projected interior offensive lineman out of Duke, make sense considering the Cowboys’ losses on offensive line this offseason of Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz. If Fuaga is able to start, this would allow Dallas to keep Tyler Smith at guard, where he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2023. In order to land Fuaga, though, the Cowboys would likely have to trade up earlier into the first round. Barton played left tackle for the Blue Devils for the last couple of years, but his early college film at center shows the versatility that he could bring at the NFL level.

Robinson, a defensive end out of Missouri, feels like the typical Cowboys pass rusher selection and adds depth to a position that saw Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler follow former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to Washington. A bigger defensive end, Robinson could provide some versatility across the defensive line and may be available long enough for the Cowboys to trade back to collect some extra picks and still select him. Colson, a linebacker out of Michigan, would be a nice addition to a position that could use some attention with Micah Parsons spending more time at end. While he’s likely a second- or third-round pick, he’s worth note as he’s expected to be the first linebacker off the board.

Here are a couple of other rumors making the rounds in the weeks leading up to this month’s draft:

We have seen the draft stock of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy soaring over the last few weeks. Once considered a tier-two quarterback behind Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels, the polarizing McCarthy has somehow found himself in consideration for the No. 2 overall draft selection. While his stock continues to inflate, Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan pointed out some of the red flags that have some scouts feeling less than confident about the former Wolverine. McCarthy has been compared to former Steelers’ first-round pick Kenny Pickett “due to his inability to drive the ball down the field.” His strong sense of timing made up for a lack of arm strength in college, but some worry that it will prevent him from being able to make some throws at the NFL level. While he’s almost guaranteed to be a first-round pick due to the top-heavy nature of the position this year, many don’t have a first-round grade on McCarthy.
Chop Robinson is set to be the next pass rusher out of Penn State to be selected in the first round. The projected Day 1 edge rusher had already taken visits with the Eagles, Ravens, and Saints, but Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz informs us that visits with the Giants and Jets were scheduled for this past week, as well. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 adds that the Texans have Robinson firmly on their radar after meeting with him at the NFL scouting combine.

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