Five Players to Target at each Pick of the 2024 NFL Draft
Quick review of the top targets at each first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
As part of my final wrap up for the 2024 NFL Draft, I put together a list of five prospects teams should consider targeting with each pick in the first round. I used this to help guide me through creating a predictive mock draft that I will submit for competitions. Of course, trades could throw the whole thing off the rails, but I needed something to post today anyway.
I didn’t want to spend the time writing up an explanation for each pick, so I included funny little stats relating to the team owning the pick. They aren’t even relevant to the suggested names sometimes. They’re just fun facts to fill space.
Note: My final predictive top 100 big board will drop TONIGHT, and my final predictive first round mock draft will be published on Wednesday night. Both items will come out late at night to get as close to the submission deadline for The Huddle Report’s annual competitions as possible.
Chicago Bears: Picks No. 1
Prospects: Caleb Williams, Caleb Williams, Caleb Williams, Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr.
Defining Stat: The Bears haven’t had a quarterback pass for more than 3,500 yards in a season since Jay Cutler in 2015. Cutler owns four of Chicago’s five highest-volume passing seasons, but Erik Kramer’s 1995 season (3,838 yards) is still the franchise record.
Washington Commanders: Pick No. 2
Prospects: Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers
Defining Stat: The Commanders haven’t had a 4,000-yard passer or a quarterback with 25 passing touchdowns since Kirk Cousins in 2017. Since Cousins left Washington, he has four 4,000-yard campaigns and five seasons with 25 or more passing touchdowns in six years.
New England Patriots: Pick No. 3
Prospects: Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers
Defining Stat: No Patriots wide receiver has crossed the 900-yard threshold since Tom Brady left New England following the 2019 season.
Defining Stat: From 2003 through the end of the 2019 season, New England finished first in the NFC East every year with the exception of 2008, when Brady was injured and Matt Cassel started most of the games. They haven’t finished higher than second since Brady’s departure.
Arizona Cardinals: Pick No. 4
Prospects: Joe Alt, Marvin Harrison Jr., Marvin Harrison Jr., Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers
Defining Stat: The Cardinals have selected three wide receivers in the first round since 2000: Bryant Johnson (2003), Larry Fitzgerald (2004), and Michael Floyd (2012). Floyd and Johnson combined for one season with more than 900 yards in their combined careers. Fitzgerald had 11 such seasons.
Los Angeles Chargers: Pick No. 5
Prospects: Joe Alt, JC Latham, Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze
Defining Stat: The Chargers cutting, not re-signing, or trading Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Gerald Everett freed up 309 targets per Pro Football Focus. Allen, Ekeler, and Everett led the Chargers in targets in 2023.
New York Giants: Pick No. 6
Prospects: Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Joe Alt, Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze
Defining Stat: The Giants haven’t produced a 1,000-yard wide receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018. Since then, Darius Slayton has led New York in receiving yards four times, and no Giants pass catcher has gone over 800 yards in a season.
Tennessee Titans: Pick No. 7
Prospects: Joe Alt, Olu Fashanu, JC Latham, Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze
Defining Stat: Tennessee’s trio of offensive tackles in Jaelyn Duncan, Nicholas Petit-Frere, and Dillon Radunz have 2,075 combined career snaps at offensive tackle across six total NFL seasons. None has played more than 300 snaps in a single season without allowing more than 30 pressures.
Atlanta Falcons: Pick No. 8
Prospects: Rome Odunze, Byron Murphy, Dallas Turner, Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell
Defining Stat: The Falcons haven’t had a defender record seven or more sacks since Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett in 2019. No Falcon has hit double-digit sacks since 2016 (Beasley).
Chicago Bears: Picks No. 9
Prospects: Rome Odunze, Brian Thomas Jr., Brock Bowers, Byron Murphy, Dallas Turner
Defining Stat: D.J. Moore produced 1,364 receiving yards in 2023, becoming the first Bears pass catcher to cross the 1,300-yard threshold since Alshon Jeffery (2013) and Brandon Marshall (2012). Marshall’s franchise single-season record is 1,508 yards.
New York Jets: Pick No. 10
Prospects: Brock Bowers, Olu Fashanu, Taliese Fuaga, JC Latham, Byron Murphy
Defining Stat: Twelve Jets offensive linemen played 100 or more offensive snaps in 2023, including five players at right guard alone. No player took more than 300 snaps at right guard, while no one played more than 400 snaps at right tackle.
Minnesota Vikings: Pick No. 11
Prospects: Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Quinyon Mitchell, Byron Murphy, Jared Verse
Defining Stat: The Vikings leaders in sacks from the past few years have been Danielle Hunter (2023 & 2022 with Za'Darius Smith only half a sack behind), D.J. Wonnum (2021), and Yannick Ngakoue (2020). None of those players are on the roster anymore.
Denver Broncos: Pick No. 12
Prospects: Brock Bowers, Byron Murphy, Dallas Turner, Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell
Defining Stat: Four Broncos produced 30 or more pressures in 2023. Three of those players (Nik Bonitto, Baron Browning, and Jonathon Cooper) are on rookie contracts.
Las Vegas Raiders: Pick No. 13
Prospects: Michael Penix Jr., Taliese Fuaga, JC Latham, Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell
Defining Stat: No Raiders offensive lineman allowed 30 or more pressures in 2023. Kansas City and Los Angeles (Chargers) each had four linemen who allowed more than 30 pressures while the Broncos had three such players.
New Orleans Saints: Pick No. 14
Prospects: Brian Thomas Jr., Olu Fashanu, Troy Fautanu, JC Latham, Jared Verse
Defining Stat: Since the start of 2015, the Saints have spent eight of their 11 first round picks on offensive or defensive linemen. Five of those eight trench players are still on the roster.
Indianapolis Colts: Pick No. 15
Prospects: Brian Thomas Jr., Jared Verse, Terrion Arnold, Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell
Defining Stat: Four Colts took more than 250 defensive snaps at outside cornerback in 2023. Two of them were UDFAs from the 2022 class (Darrell Baker Jr. & Dallis Flowers), and the other two were rookie second rounder Julius Brents and rookie seventh rounder Jaylon Jones.
Seattle Seahawks: Pick No. 16
Prospects: Troy Fautanu, Byron Murphy, Laiatu Latu, Jared Verse, Terrion Arnold
Defining Stat: Since the start of 2018, Seattle has invested nine of its 49 draft picks on edge rushers who have produced 78.5 total sacks, or 8.7 sacks per edge rusher.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Pick No. 17
Prospects: Brian Thomas Jr., Troy Fautanu, Terrion Arnold, Cooper DeJean, Nate Wiggins
Defining Stat: Per Pro Football Focus, three separate Jaguars allowed more than 500 yards in pass coverage in 2023. They and the Titans were the only AFC South teams to fall into this bucket.
Cincinnati Bengals: Pick No. 18
Prospects: Xavier Worthy, Taliese Fuaga, Tyler Guyton, Amarius Mims, Nate Wiggins
Defining Stat: Cincinnati had all of its primary starters along the offensive line play more than 1,000 snaps in 2023. No other tackle took a snap in Jonah Williams’ role at right tackle. Williams has since signed with Arizona.
Los Angeles Rams: Pick No. 19
Prospects: Troy Fautanu, Laiatu Latu, Jared Verse, Cooper DeJean, Nate Wiggins
Defining Stat: Three of the four defensive backs who played at least 200 snaps at outside corner or in the slot for the Rams in 2023 were selected on Day 3, with the exception being former third rounder Ahkello Witherspoon. Three safeties played 200 or more snaps for Los Angeles in 2023, and John Johnson III (former third rounder) was the Day 2 pick from the trio.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Pick No. 20
Prospects: Graham Barton, Olu Fashanu, Amarius Mims, Brian Thomas Jr., Nate Wiggins
Defining Stat: One Steelers starting offensive tackle has allowed 40 or more pressures every season since the start of 2020.
Miami Dolphins: Pick No. 21
Prospects: Graham Barton, Troy Fautanu, Amarius Mims, Laiatu Latu, Jared Verse
Defining Stat: Austin Jackson was the only Dolphins offensive lineman to play more than 600 offensive snaps in a single position in 2023. Among the nine linemen to play 300 or more snaps, Lester Cotton, Liam Eichenberg, and Robert Jones played 100 or more snaps at multiple positions.
Philadelphia Eagles: Pick No. 22
Prospects: Graham Barton, Amarius Mims, Laiatu Latu, Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry
Defining Stat: Jason Kelce played 990 or more snaps in 11 of his 13 years with the Eagles. Cam Jurgens has played fewer than 700 total offensive snaps two years into his career.
Defining Stat: Haason Reddick was one of 12 total defenders to amass 60 or more sacks in both 2022 and 2023, joining Josh Allen, Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson, Danielle Hunter, Chris Jones, Dexter Lawrence, Micah Parsons, Za'Darius Smith, and Montez Sweat.
Minnesota Vikings: Pick No. 23
Prospects: Graham Barton, Xavier Worthy, Jer'Zhan Newton, Chop Robinson, Nate Wiggins
Defining Stat: Minnesota hasn’t produced a defensive tackle with ten or more sacks since Kevin Williams in 2004.
Dallas Cowboys: Pick No. 24
Prospects: Adonai Mitchell, Graham Barton, Zach Frazier, Tyler Guyton, Amarius Mims
Defining Stat: None of the five running backs on Dallas’ roster have ever rushed for 100 or more yards in a single NFL game. Royce Freeman is the only one among them to ever rush for more than 400 yards in a single season (2018 & 2019).
Green Bay Packers: Pick No. 25
Prospects: Graham Barton, Junior Colson, Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Nate Wiggins
Defining Stat: All of Green Bay’s starting offensive linemen played at least 840 snaps in 2023, and none of them played more than ten snaps at a position other than where they opened the year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Pick No. 26
Prospects: Jackson Powers-Johnson, Jer'Zhan Newton, Chop Robinson, Darius Robinson, Kool-Aid McKinstry
Defining Stat: The Buccaneers are returning ten of their 11 primary starters on offense, with the lone exception being left guard Aaron Stinnie.
Arizona Cardinals: Pick No. 27
Prospects: Zach Frazier, Laiatu Latu, Chop Robinson, Darius Robinson, Nate Wiggins
Defining Stat: Over the past four seasons, Markus Golden, Chandler Jones, Haason Reddick, and J.J. Watt have totaled double-digit sacks in a single year for the Cardinals. None of those players are still in Arizona. Golden is a free agent after playing for Pittsburgh in 2023, Watt retired, Jones is out of the NFL, and Reddick has signed with his third team since his time in the desert.
Buffalo Bills: Pick No. 28
Prospects: Ladd McConkey, Adonai Mitchell, Marshawn Kneeland, Chop Robinson, Kool-Aid McKinstry
Defining Stat: Per Pro Football Focus, the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis freed up 237 targets in Buffalo’s offense. The only wide receivers on the roster to be targeted more than 60 times in a season at any points in their careers are Mack Hollins (2022) & Curtis Samuel (2018-20, 2022-23).
Detroit Lions: Pick No. 29
Prospects: Keon Coleman, Zach Frazier, Jer'Zhan Newton, Marshawn Kneeland, Nate Wiggins
Defining Stat: Detroit parted ways with both of its 2023 starting outside cornerbacks this offseason, freeing up 1,586 defensive snaps.
Baltimore Ravens: Pick No. 30
Prospects: Ladd McConkey, Tyler Guyton, Amarius Mims, Jordan Morgan, Marshawn Kneeland
Defining Stat: The Ravens lost three primary starters along their offensive line in free agency this spring who accounted for 2,867 offensive snaps in 2023.
San Francisco 49ers: Pick No. 31
Prospects: Ladd McConkey, Tyler Guyton, Jordan Morgan, Kris Jenkins, Kool-Aid McKinstry
Defining Stat: A player has not led the 49ers in snaps taken at right tackle in back-to-back seasons since 2019-20.
Kansas City Chiefs: Pick No. 32
Prospects: Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, Jordan Morgan, Patrick Paul, Kris Jenkins
Defining Stat: The Chiefs have gone back-to-back years without a wide receiver hitting 1,000 yards for the first time since 2013-14.
Carolina Panthers: Picks No. 33 & 39
Prospects: Ladd McConkey, Adonai Mitchell, Ja'Lynn Polk, Chop Robinson, Darius Robinson
Defining Stat: The Panthers have traded away Brian Burns, Christian McCaffrey, and D.J. Moore. Those players are the franchise’s leaders in sacks, rushing yards, and receiving yards since they each entered the NFL.
Cleveland Browns: Pick No. 54
Prospects: Troy Franklin, Patrick Paul, Michael Hall Jr., Maason Smith, Edgerrin Cooper
Defining Stat: Four offensive tackles played 490 or more offensive snaps for Cleveland in 2023, but none played more than 710 snaps.
Houston Texans: Picks No. 42 & No. 59
Prospects: Cooper Beebe, Dominick Puni, Braden Fiske, Junior Colson, T.J. Tampa
Defining Stat: Nine offensive linemen played 200 or more offensive snaps for Houston in 2023. The only position along the line where backups played fewer than 200 snaps during the regular season was right guard, held down by Shaq Mason.