The 2024 Draft

The top prospect at the biggest need, two trades down that added picks, and all three named needs met; two Day 2 reaches.

• The need: receiver, cornerback and edge rusher, for a roster short almost everywhere.
• The trades: 35 and 186 to Atlanta for 43 and 79; 79 to Indianapolis for 82 and 191.
• The pick: Harrison at 4 topped the consensus board; Robinson at 27 was 45th on Bleacher Report's.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A top-ten pick spent on a quarterback to sit behind the one just signed, a trade up for a board reach, and no cornerback.

• The need: edge rusher, cornerback and receiver, with Kirk Cousins newly signed at quarterback.
• The trades: 43 and 79 to Arizona for 35 and 186, to take Orhorhoro.
• The pick: Penix at 8 was 87th on Bleacher Report's board; Trice at 74 met the edge need.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

All three named needs met in the first three picks, with Isaac and Tampa as value; the guard spots waited.

• The need: cornerback, offensive line and edge rusher after five starters left.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 113 and 218 came from the Jets for Morgan Moses.
• The pick: Isaac at 93 was 38th on PFF's board; Wiggins at 30 was Bleacher Report's fifth corner.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two trades down that improved the picks, then the receiver, safety and center the roster needed.

• The need: receiver after Diggs and Davis left, then safety and the offensive line.
• The trades: 28, 133 and 248 to Kansas City for 32, 95 and 221; 32 and 200 to Carolina for 33 and 141.
• The pick: Coleman at 33 carried a first-round grade on Bleacher Report's board; Bishop at 60 was 41st.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No top pick by last year's trade; a receiver and a future second-rounder gained, but a trade up for an injured back and two needs unmet.

• The need: receiver, center and edge rusher, for a young quarterback.
• The trades: four, including 39 to the Rams for 52, 155 and a 2025 second-round pick.
• The pick: Legette at 32 was Kiper's sixth receiver; Brooks at 46 came off a torn ACL.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The top quarterback at 1 and a top-six prospect at 9, both at need; thin capital left the defense for later.

• The need: quarterback after Fields was traded, then receiver, edge rusher and tackle.
• The trades: a 2025 fourth-round pick to Buffalo for 144, used on Booker.
• The pick: Williams at 1 topped Kiper's board; Odunze at 9 was sixth on PFF's.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

All three named needs met in the first four picks, with Mims's inexperience and two picks ahead of the boards as the costs.

• The need: receiver, defensive tackle and offensive tackle.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 224 came from Houston for Joe Mixon.
• The pick: Mims at 18 was 24th on Bleacher Report's board with eight college starts; Jenkins at 49 was 63rd.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

No first-round pick by the Watson trade; a defensive tackle ahead of the boards, receiver value late, and no running back.

• The need: running back, receiver and defensive tackle.
• The trades: none on the weekend; the first-round pick was owed to Houston for Deshaun Watson.
• The pick: Hall at 54 was 107th on PFF's board and 73rd on Bleacher Report's.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A trade down that added a third-round pick and still landed the tackle, then a guard with the extra pick; no running back.

• The need: offensive line, running back and linebacker after four starters left.
• The trades: 24 and a 2025 seventh-round pick to Detroit for 29 and 73.
• The pick: Guyton at 29 was 39th on PFF's board; Beebe at 73, the traded-for pick, was Yahoo's favourite.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The quarterback need met at 12 with a passer Bleacher Report ranked 61st; value later from Elliss and Franklin.

• The need: quarterback, cornerback and edge rusher, with no second-round pick.
• The trades: 121, 136 and 207 to Seattle for 102 and 235, used on Franklin.
• The pick: Nix at 12 was 61st on Bleacher Report's board; Elliss at 76 was its sixth edge rusher.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The cornerback need met twice at value; two 2025 picks spent to move up on Day 3.

• The need: cornerback first, for a pass defense near the bottom of the league, then receiver and edge rusher.
• The trades: 29 and 73 to Dallas for 24; 2025 third- and fourth-round picks spent to move into Round 4.
• The pick: Arnold at 24 was 14th on PFF's board; Rakestraw at 61 was 46th.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Tackle, linebacker and safety met in the first three picks after a trade down; Day 3 trades up bought players the boards had far lower.

• The need: left tackle after Bakhtiari, then defensive back and linebacker.
• The trades: 41 to New Orleans for 45, 168 and 190; later 126 and 190 for 111, and 168 and 219 for 163.
• The pick: Cooper at 45 was Kiper's top linebacker; Monk at 163 was 272nd on the consensus board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Out of the first round by choice for a future second-rounder, and still the cornerback it needed at 42; defensive tackle waited.

• The need: cornerback, defensive tackle and offensive line.
• The trades: 23 and 232 to Minnesota in March for 42, 188 and a 2025 second-round pick; 86 and 123 to Philadelphia for 78.
• The pick: Lassiter at 42 was a first-round talent to Kiper; Bullock at 78 was 38th on Bleacher Report's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

An edge rusher at 15 with a known medical risk and a receiver at 52 after a trade down; cornerback, the first need, waited until the sixth round.

• The need: cornerback first, then receiver, safety and edge rusher.
• The trades: 46 to Carolina for 52, 142 and 155; 82 and 191 to Arizona for 79.
• The pick: Latu at 15 carried medical red flags; Mitchell at 52 was a first-round talent to many.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A trade down that added two 2025 picks and still landed the receiver; cornerback passed at 17 and four picks ran ahead of Kiper's board.

• The need: cornerback, receiver and defensive line after Ridley left.
• The trades: 17 to Minnesota for 23, 167 and 2025 third- and fourth-round picks.
• The pick: Thomas at 23 was Bleacher Report's fourth receiver; Smith at 48 was 140th on PFF's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two small trade-ups for the receiver and the left tackle the roster lacked, both at fair prices.

• The need: receiver and left tackle, the two Sports Illustrated called clear.
• The trades: 32, 95 and 221 to Buffalo for 28, 133 and 248; 64 and 173 to San Francisco for 63 and 211.
• The pick: Worthy at 28 was 50th on Bleacher Report's board, with a light frame as the named risk.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A top-ten talent at a position already filled, a sound interior lineman, then two reaches for need.

• The need: cornerback, line and quarterback; Powers-Johnson met the line, Bowers met none.
• The trades: none on the weekend.
• The pick: Bowers at 13, second on Bleacher Report's board; Glaze at 77, a big reach on PFF's.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The best tackle in the class at 5, then a cheap move up for the receiver.

• The need: tackle and receiver; Alt and McConkey met both.
• The trades: 37 and 110 to New England for 34 and 137.
• The pick: Alt at 5, Bleacher Report's top tackle and fifth prospect overall.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The edge rusher the roster needed at value, then a future second spent to move up for a defensive tackle.

• The need: edge rusher, cornerback and line; the edge was met and cornerback was not.
• The trades: 52, 155 and a 2025 second to Carolina to move up to 39 for Fiske.
• The pick: Verse at 19, Bleacher Report's top-ranked edge rusher.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A short class that took an edge rusher over the interior line and paid a future third for a running back.

• The need: interior line, receiver and defensive tackle; the interior line went unmet.
• The trades: a 2025 third to Philadelphia for 120; the third-round pick this year was forfeited.
• The pick: Robinson at 21, 40th on PFF's board and a bit of a reach in its view.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The quarterback and the edge rusher arrived, and the next draft paid for both.

• The need: quarterback first, then cornerback, which waited until 108.
• The trades: 42, 188 and a 2025 second for 23 and 232; 11, 129 and 157 for 10 and 203; 23, 167 and 2025 third and fourth for 17.
• The pick: McCarthy at 10; Turner at 17, second among Bleacher Report's edge rushers.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The quarterback at 3, two receivers from one trade down, and reaches on the line.

• The need: quarterback, receiver and tackle; all three met, the tackle with a reach.
• The trades: 34 and 137 to the Chargers for 37 and 110.
• The pick: Maye at 3, Bleacher Report's top quarterback; Wallace at 68, 142nd on PFF's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The tackle the line needed at value, then a first-round talent at corner for a few late picks.

• The need: offensive tackle, met by Fuaga at 14.
• The trades: 45, 168 and 190 to Green Bay for 41.
• The pick: Fuaga, Kiper's top tackle left; McKinstry at 41, 15th on Bleacher Report's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The receiver the roster lacked and the top safety on two boards, with the quarterback left for later.

• The need: receiver and the secondary; quarterback left open.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 39 had gone to Carolina for Brian Burns.
• The pick: Nabers at 6; Nubin at 47, top safety on PFF's and Bleacher Report's boards.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A trade down that still landed the tackle, a receiver, and a future third from the shuffling.

• The need: receiver and tackle met early; safety waited until 257.
• The trades: 10 and 203 for 11, 129 and 157; 72 and 157 for 65; 111 for 126 and 190, then 126 for a 2025 third.
• The pick: Fashanu at 11, a top-three tackle to Sports Illustrated.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Two of the top corners in the class for the top need, and future picks added on the way.

• The need: cornerback, met twice with Mitchell and DeJean.
• The trades: 50, 53 and 161 to Washington for 40, 78 and 152; eight deals in all, adding 2025 third, fourth and fifth.
• The pick: Mitchell at 22, Bleacher Report's top corner; DeJean at 40, top ten on PFF's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

All three named needs met at value, and the one medical risk taken at a price that reflected it.

• The need: center, receiver and tackle; Frazier, Roman Wilson and Fautanu met all three.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 98 came in the Pickett deal and 178 in the Johnson deal.
• The pick: Fautanu at 20, 15th on PFF's board; Payton Wilson at 98, a first-round talent with a known knee risk.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

A defensible first-rounder at the wrong need, and a good Day 2.

• The pick: Ricky Pearsall at 31 was consensus inside the building and the weekend's most questioned pick outside it.
• The value: Green after a move down and Puni after a move up were the praised picks of the weekend.
• The miss: tackle was called the greater need, no tackle came, and two picks moved up for a running back.

From 6 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Sam Kezar, written Sep 22, 2026. The piece.

The top defensive tackle in the class, then the guard at value in Round 3.

• The need: guard, tight end, defensive tackle and linebacker; all four were addressed.
• The trades: 102 and 235 to Denver for 121, 136 and 207; 102 had come in the Howell deal.
• The pick: Murphy at 16, Bleacher Report's top defensive lineman; Haynes at 81, 55th on its board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

Kiper's top center at 26 and a receiver steal at 92, with no trade cost.

• The need: line and receiver, met at 26 and 92, and the edge after Barrett left at 57; no linebacker.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 92 came from Detroit in the Carlton Davis deal.
• The pick: Barton at 26, Kiper's top center; McMillan at 92, a steal on his board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The tackle the line needed, a questioned fit at 7, then a second-round risk the record named.

• The need: offensive tackle, met at 7; receiver waited until the sixth round.
• The trades: none on the weekend; the third-round pick went in last year's move up for Levis.
• The pick: Latham at 7, behind Fashanu on Bleacher Report's board; Sweat at 38, a third-rounder to Kiper.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.

The quarterback at 2, a top-15 talent at 36, and a trade down for two second-round picks.

• The need: quarterback, line and cornerback; Daniels, Coleman and Sainristil met them.
• The trades: 40, 78 and 152 to Philadelphia for 50, 53 and 161.
• The pick: Daniels at 2, second on Kiper's board; Newton at 36, 11th on PFF's.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 29, 2024. Grant Lombard, written Sep 30, 2026.