The three best and three worst draft picks of the 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft has come to an end, but who made the best picks?
Here are the three best and three worst draft selections of the 2024 NFL Draft?
Best:
It was a special night for the city of Detroit, breaking the record for most fans at an NFL Draft, with over 700,000 in attendance. It was an even better occasion for the Detroit Lions, who addressed their key position with one of the best players in the entire college class by taking Terrion Arnold 24th overall on night one.
Whilst with Alabama, he had five interceptions, 12 interceptions and 63 total tackles in 2023. He also recorded a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown.
He excelled in man coverage and will be a starter straight away in a position that was of desperate need. The team collapsed in their NFC Championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers, at one point being 17 points ahead.
Getting in someone such as Arnold as well as second round corner Ennis Rakestraw Jr, this could be the difference between an NFC Championship appearance and an NFC Championship title.
The Philadelphia Eagles were another team in need of a cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft and they went out and got Quinyon Mitchell out of Toledo to address the position. Just like the Lions did, they also went out and got another corner in the second round.
Iowa corner Cooper DeJean was selected by the Eagles in the second round, 40th overall despite being projected to be a first-round selection.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has earned a reputation for being one of the best GM’s in the league and this draft proved why with yet another year where the front office gets themselves another steal.
It is not a shock that the Chicago Bears made a good pick with the first overall selection. However, it was a unique situation for this year’s number one prospect.
It is very rare to find a team choosing the first overall pick to have a 7-10 record. This was a result of the Bears trading with the Carolina Panthers, who traded their 2023 first round selection to the Bears a year prior, in order to get Chicago’s first overall pick and take Bryce Young.
Young struggled in his rookie campaign, playing a part in them having just two wins in 2023. As a result, the Bears had the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and took USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
The franchise has never had a 4,000-yard passer in their 103-year history. Williams feels like the guy to change that. Whilst nothing in sport is certain and no more so than the NFL, you cannot help thinking that when Williams came on stage and later on Rome Odunze, a ninth overall pick from Chicago, that this might be the pick that changes the history of the Bears in a good way.
Worst:
The Atlanta Falcons could have the last laugh on this one, but right now this could not feel further from the truth.
Prior to the draft, the Falcons three biggest needs were safety, cornerback, and edge. As I stated in an article that was featured on ‘The Touchdown’, the draft set a record with 14 straight offensive players picked to kickstart round one. This meant that Atlanta had the pick of the bunch when it came to players to choose from.
With Turner available and taken by the Falcons in many mock drafts, it seemed a lock. Instead, they took Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr, much to the shock of everyone.
Everyone is comparing this to the Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love situation. However, Rodgers in 2020 and 2021 was twice the quarterback Cousins ever has been. Penix is also three years older than Love was when he was drafted. When the 2024 season starts, Penix will be 28 years old. Cousins could also play on longer than the four years, which albeit is unlikely given the fact he is 35.
Penix had injury concerns whilst in college but he is ready to play straight away. He does not need to sit behind a quarterback and learn.
Of course, Cousins could go down and Penix Jr take his place but Cousins is a good (albeit not elite) quarterback. After years of mediocre play under centre, from an ageing Matt Ryan to Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, they finally had this position addressed.
It just begs the question why the felt they needed to take Penix Jr.
This is nothing on the talent on Morgan, but Graham Barton was available. He was subsequently taken next by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
His ability to play centre and tackle would still help fill the void left by David Bakhtiari’s offseason departure whilst also offering versatility to the offensive line. Morgan could prove to be a good pick, and Love has certainly done that despite the criticism the Packers front office received at the time.
However, it just seems they had a better tackle available.
Again, this is nothing on the ability of the player. After all, Jaylen Wright had a good college career with Tennessee. He had rushing 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. It is more the fact that the Dolphins sacrificed a third-round pick from next year with the Eagles in order to get a player in a position they already have a lot of strength in, ignoring other positions of more need.
The already have Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane in the backfield and whilst Mostert is 32, which is old for a running back. The succession plan is there, but did the Dolphins need to give up what they did?