The 2024 NFL Draft is officially in the rearview, with nothing but optimism filling 32 buildings across the league for the prospects who will be arriving for rookie minicamps this weekend.
In Chicago, the Bears checked every box on Thursday night, alone, with Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze.
Howie Roseman, in Philadelphia, masterfully manipulated the board, coming away with two of the premier cornerbacks at the top of this class, adding future draft capital in 2025, and bolstering the depth at key positions across the roster.
“The Eagles had the best draft in this class,” an AFC Executive told me. “Mitchell, DeJean, J. Hunt, and a true creature in Johnny Willson, who now gets to learn from Harold Carmichael. It was unreal.”
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the tradition of excellence when it comes to mining talent on draft weekend continued in a big way.
“After what they did this weekend,” the Executive says. “Pittsburgh is going to be very, very physical on offense. I look for them to utilize Fields’ dual-threat abilities even more now, perhaps in tandem with Russell Wilson.”
Here are some key takeaways from this year’s draft, and a recap of the biggest headlines to emerge from the weekend:
3 Teams That Improved Their Rosters Most
Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders
Why do other general managers keep answering the phone when Howie Roseman comes calling on draft weekend?
In addition to landing Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, a perfect scheme fit at running back in Will Shipley, and insane value in Eagles’ Legacy Jeremiah Trotter Jr. at linebacker, Roseman also added to Philadelphia’s war chest of future draft capital, now owning nine picks in a 2025 NFL Draft class it is expected to be exponentially deeper than the 2024 class was given COVID years being over with for prospects, and players who returned to college in 2024 thanks to the emergence of NIL being eligible in 2025. After igniting a culture shift by signing the likes of Saquon Barkley, Devin White, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, among others, the draft couldn’t have played out better for the Eagles to re-emerge as a legitimate threat to the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions in the NFC.
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, general manager Omar Khan did exactly what the Steelers historically do during the NFL Draft; meld value to need with gritty, tough football players. Linebacker Payton Wilson hits like a sledgehammer, wide receiver Roman Wilson is an electrifying playmaker now paired opposite George Pickens in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields’ supporting cast, and center Zach Frazier dominated some of the premier interior pass-rushers in the Big Ten during his time at the University of Michigan and offers immense upside to do the same in the AFC North. This is what a Steelers draft looks like and this haul could meaningfully close the gap on the Ravens and Bengals at the top of one of the most physical divisions in football.
Finally, there are actual adults in the room in Washington, and it showed, given the elite talent added at premium positions. The evaluators I talk to around the league believe the gap is minimal between Caleb Williams and newest Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. In the lead up to the NFL Draft, I had an NFL scout tell me he believes new Washington defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton could emerge as the most dominant defender from this class. Meanwhile cornerback Mike Sainristil is an elite ballhawk who is a worthy counterpunch to the likes of A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, DeVonta Smith, and Malik Nabers in the NFC East. Don’t be surprised, after a stellar offseason, if the Commanders don’t wind up a legitimate threat to the Eagles in the NFC East and make the postseason in general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn’s first season.
Anthony Richardson Jr. is The Happiest QB in The NFL Today
Chris Ballard and the Colts spent the weekend ensuring Anthony Richardson has a strong bounce-back season in his return this fall.
Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell only dropped one pass last season, while pulling down four contested catches and averaging 15.4 yards er reception. He’ll now line up opposite Michael Pittman Jr.
Meanwhile, the Colts also fortified the offensive line in front of Richardson by selecting Pittsburgh offensive tackle Matt Gonclaves, Wisconsin stalwart center Tanor Bortolini, and also walked away with one of the first pass-rushers off the board, UCLA’s Liatatu Lalu in the first-round.
The AFC South is going to be wildly entertaining, and the Colts — with a healthy and well supported Richardson, are going to play a vital role.
Best Day 3 Value Pick
Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos
Is there a better way to build your rookie quarterback, chosen No. 12 overall than by rounding back and trading up to select his favorite wide receiver from their time together at the University of Oregon?
Franklin is a legitimate burner, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds, after averaging an explosive 17.1 yards per reception last season, while posting 558 deep yards, which was 11th most in the nation.
Whether Courtland Sutton is a Bronco Week 1 remains a bit of an open-question, but, Franklin adds an explosive element to the deep-passing game with Sutton, and is a formidable insurance policy to be an immediate impact contributor if Denver trades the veteran.
Awesome Moment
No program had a better weekend than the Michigan Wolverines, but, the weekend was also a showcase of sorts for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions had eight players selected, including offensive tackle Olu Fashanu at No. 10 overall to the New York Jets, and pass-rusher Chop Robinson at No. 21 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Robinson and Fashanu both hail from the fertile recruiting ground that is the DMV, and Penn State head coach James Franklin spent Thursday flying into Maryland and to be there in the Fashanu home when Olu heard his name called and then hopped in a car for the 57-mile trek to the Robinsons’ household just in time for Chop’s phone to rin.
The video is outstanding and underscores what makes Franklin one of the elite recruiters and premier head coaches in college football. Who wouldn’t want to play for a head coach with that kind of commitment to his players?
WATCH: https://twitter.com/PennStateFball/status/1784018941385347432
NFL Draft Content Roundup:
NFL Executives Open Up on How Quinyon Mitchell Fits Eagles’ Defense
The Philadelphia Eagles chose former University of Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, adding a playmaker with disruptive speed into new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s secondary.
Mitchell, 6-feet and 200 pounds, finished the 2023 season with 41 total tackles, one interception, and 18 pass breakups.
“I like just about everything he put on film,” an NFL Scouting Director told me after Mitchell was chosen by the Eagles.
Packers’ Brian Gutekunst Explains Why Jordan Morgan Was Worth Not Trading Down
The Green Bay Packers considered trading down in the first round of the NFL Draft, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. But, in the end, the chance to add a blindside defender for quarterback Jordan Love was too important to pass up.
“I wanted to make sure we secured the player,” Gutekunst told reporters shortly after the Packers selected Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan with the No. 25 overall pick.
LIVE Grades for Every Second-Round Pick
Friday night, I offered a live grade and instant analysis for every pick made during the second round of the NFL Draft.
NFL Executive Praises Eagles’ Cooper DeJean: ‘Most Instinctive Athlete in This Draft’
The Philadelphia Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman emerged from the first two days of the 2024 NFL draft with two of the premier cornerbacks in a loaded draft class at the position.
After trading up in Round 2, the Eagles selected Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean with the No. 40 overall.
“Cooper DeJean is the most instinctive athlete in this draft,” an AFC personnel director told me.
Saquon Barkley Had 4-Word Message for Eagles Draft Pick Will Shipley
Saquon Barkley didn’t waste any time welcoming Philadelphia Eagles fourth-round pick Will Shipley to the NFL.
Shipley told reporters shortly after the Eagles chose him with the No. 127 overall selection on Saturday afternoon that Barkley was among the first people to reach out to him.
The All-Pro running back and former No. 2 overall pick out of Penn State had four words for his newest teammate.
Packers Sign 2,700-Yard Running Back With ‘Breakaway Speed’
The Green Bay Packers continued to bolster depth at running back, even after selecting USC’s Marshawn Lloyd in the third round of the NFL Draft.
Shortly after the draft’s conclusion, Green Bay signed former Alcorn State and Syracuse running back Jarveon Howard as an undrafted free agent.
Howard, 5-f0ot-10 and 200 pounds, proved during his two seasons at Alcorn State that he is plenty capable of shouldering a significant workload, logging 407 carries for 2,042 yards and 19 touchdowns.