Grading Each 2024 NFL 1st Round Draft Pick
The first round has wrapped for the 2024 NFL Draft and it’s time to give grades, and analysis for each pick. Note that these are just personal thoughts based on the research I’ve put in this draft season. Each pick will receive a grade and a brief synopsis, so without further ado, here we go!
Pick 1: Chicago Bears, QB Caleb Williams, USC
No-brainer pick for the Bears here, they needed a franchise QB and they may have just gotten their guy. Caleb Williams brings tremendous athleticism and pocket presence to a ready-made offense featuring, Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, and D’Andre Swift.
Grade A+.
Pick 2: Washington Commanders, Jayden Daniels QB, LSU
Washington, they bring in a dynamic QB who will have, weapons such as Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Austin Ekeler, and Brian Robinson Jr at his disposal.
Grade: A-.
Pick 3: New England Patriots, Drake Maye QB, North Carolina
Maye was most likely a better fit for the Patriots than Daniels would have been, so this is a great pick for them. Maye brings a high upside drawing similarities to Justin Herbert, and Josh Allen.
Grade: A+.
Pick 4: Arizona Cardinals, Marvin Harrison Jr WR, Ohio State
The Cardinals get their franchise WR here with the son of NFL Hall of Famer, Marvin Harrison Sr, you can expect some great things from Jr. An all-around prospect who doesn’t have a hole in his game.
Grade: A+.
Pick 5: Los Angeles Chargers, Joe Alt OT, Notre Dame
Now, you could say the Chargers needed a Wide Receiver more, but Alt is the best tackle prospect in the class, so it isn’t a drastic loss. Alt will bring his 6’7″, 320 lbs frame to the Chargers.
Grade: A.
Pick 6: New York Giants, Malik Nabers WR, LSU
The Giants get a legit weapon at pick 6, there were rumblings of J.J. McCarthy here, but the Giants went a different route. Nabers is looked at by many as a 1B to Harrison Jr’s 1A.
Grade A+.
Pick 7: Tennessee Titans, JC Latham OT, Alabama
Tackle was a pressing need for the Titans but you could argue there were better Tackles on the board. Latham a right tackle does fill a hole regardless on that abysmal Titans O-Line.
Grade: B+
Pick 8: Atlanta Falcons, Michael Penix Jr QB, Washington
Now, this was arguably the biggest surprise of round 1, The Falcons who signed Kirk Cousins to a 4 year, 180-million-dollar contract make a head-scratching pick here.
Grade: D.
Pick 9: Chicago Bears, Rome Odunze WR, Washington
The Bears add another weapon for Caleb Williams in Rome Odunze, who will be a part of a great trio of receivers with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore. Odunze provides sure hands and an elite field presence.
Grade: A
Pick 10: Minnesota Vikings (via NYJ), J.J. McCarthy QB, Michigan
The Vikings got their guy and did not have to give up as much as once thought swapping 1sts with the Jets and sending picks 129, and 157, but also receiving back pick 203 from the Jets.
Grade: B+
Pick 11: New York Jets (via MIN) Olumuyiwa Fashanu OT, Penn State
The Jets take essentially, the best player available in their trade-back 1 spot. Jets could have Fashanu sit behind Tyron Smith and soak in before becoming the team’s franchise Left Tackle.
Grade: A.
Pick 12: Denver Broncos, Bo Nix QB, Oregon
Denver got who was understood to be their guy from the start, finishing the QB frenzy of round 1, time will tell with this pick as of right now it may receive mixed opinions, and for good reason. Grade D.
Pick 13: Las Vegas Raiders, Brock Bowers TE, Georgia
Raiders surprised a few here by taking a tight end, but we have to understand how difficult it is to pass up on a dynamic receiving threat like Brock Bowers, regardless of Raiders having needs at CB they can always draft one later.
Grade A-.
Pick 14: New Orleans Saints, Taliese Fuaga OT, Oregon State
The Saints had a pressing need at Tackle going into the draft with Ryan Ramczyk’s knee not healing as quickly as they hoped and Trevor Penning struggling this was a pretty straightforward pick bringing in the 6’6″, 330 lbs frame.
Grade: B+.
Pick 15: Indianapolis Colts, Laiatu Latu EDGE, UCLA
Latu marks the first defensive player picked in the draft setting a record of 14 straight offensive players taken in 1 draft. Latu does have some scary injury history mainly with his neck, he was even advised to retire in 2021, but regardless he fought hard to get healthy and is a tremendous prospect.
Grade: A-.
Pick 16: Seattle Seahawks, Byron Murphy II IDL, Texas
The Seattle Seahawks had some glaring holes on the defensive line, filling one of them here with arguably the best interior defensive linemen in the draft class. Murphy brings versatility with very solid pass rush and run stuff.
Grade: A-.
Pick 17: Minnesota Vikings (via JAX), Dallas Turner EDGE, Alabama
The Vikings with their 2nd move up of the night traded picks 23, 167, and 2025 3rd and 4th round picks to snag arguably the best EDGE rusher in the class in Dallas Turner, immediate impact player here helps replace Danielle Hunter and is a threat opposite Johnathan Greenard.
Grade: A+.
Pick 18: Cincinnati Bengals, Amarius Mims OT, Georgia
Another monstrous tackle was added to the Bengal’s roster. 6’7″, 340 lbs, Mims adds depth at tackle along with Orlando Brown Jr, and Trent Brown. One ponders that the Bengals have other gaps to fill at DT and CB.
Grade: B.
Pick 19: Los Angeles Rams, Jared Verse EDGE, Florida State
The Rams land stud pass rusher Jared Verse and they should be ecstatic to get a player like him at pick 19. Verse brings a nice mix of run defense and pass rush to the Rams D-Line that needs it.
Grade: A.
Pick 20: Pittsburgh Steelers, Troy Fautanu OT, Washington
Fautanu will add elite athleticism to the Steelers O-Line. A Dan Moore replacement, Fautanu becomes a plug-and-play starter at Left tackle, while Broderick Jones will likely stick at right tackle.
Grade: A.
Pick 21: Miami Dolphins, Chop Robinson EDGE, Penn State
Miami has holes in just about every position group and here they attempt to fill one of them. With Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips going down with injuries later last season and losing Andrew Van Ginkle in free agency this move made sense, but is a project piece a smart move?
Grade: C+.
Pick 22: Philadelphia Eagles, Quinyon Mitchell CB, Toledo
The Eagles just sat, patiently waited, and watched as every corner fell to them. The Eagles have tended to get great value picks in years past and this year is no different, as they draft a consensus top 3 cornerback in the class.
Grade: A+.
Pick 23: Jacksonville Jaguars (via CLE), Brian Thomas Jr WR, LSU
After the Jaguars lost the bidding war for Calvin Ridley this off-season it was almost a guarantee they would go Wide receiver with an earlier pick and here it is. Thomas Jr is a dynamic playmaker who will spark the Jags offense. (This was the Browns 1st rounder from the Deshaun Watson deal, the pick has gone from CLE to HOU, to MIN, and ended with JAX).
Grade: B+.
Pick 24: Detroit Lions via (DAL), Terrion Arnold CB, Alabama
The Lions would send picks 29, and 73 of this year’s draft to the Cowboys to get this pick here while also receiving a 2025 7th-round pick. Arnold adds a great boundary corner option opposite Carlton David for the Lions filling a major need at the position.
Grade: A.
Pick 25: Green Bay Packers, Jordan Morgan OT, Arizona
Green Bay with a big need on the offensive line selects a versatile OG/OT hybrid similar to Elgton Jenkins and Zach Tom in years past. Morgan may be looked at as a reach but this feels like a prototypical Packer linemen.
Grade: C+.
Pick 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Graham Barton IOL, Duke
Arguably the most versatile O-Linemen in the draft in the class, Barton has experience at tackle, guard, and center and will be able to fill in anywhere on the line. Barton was selected as a center so that is likely where Tampa Bay will play him.
Grade: A-.
Pick 27: Arizona Cardinals, Darius Robinson EDGE, Missouri
Arizona does a good job of filling needs in the 1st round with Marvin Harrison Jr. at pick 4 and now Darius Robinson with the Texans pick from last year’s trade. Robinson fills an EDGE spot for the Cards here which they were in desperate need of.
Grade: B-.
Pick 28: Kansas City Chiefs (via BUF), Xavier Worthy WR, Texas
The Chiefs move up with Buffalo here as the Chiefs send picks 32, 95, and 221 for picks 28, 133, and 248 from Buffalo. Worthy adds that the elite speed dynamic they have missed since trading Tyreeke Hill, and with Rashee Rice’s status in doubt even with signing Marquise Brown this was the correct move.
Grade: A.
Pick 29: Dallas Cowboys (via DET), Tyler Guyton OT, Oklahoma
The Cowboys move back seems like a success for both sides as Dallas still gets a much-needed tackle. This most likely means Tyler Smith will retain the left guard position solidifying the left side of the line.
Grade: A-.
Pick 30: Baltimore Ravens, Nate Wiggins CB, Clemson
The Ravens were in desperate need of an offensive tackle, but with many taken in round one, they went with plan B and took Nate Wiggins. A good value pick here as Baltimore gets an outside corner opposite Marlon Humphrey.
Grade: A.
Pick 31: San Francisco 49ers, Ricky Pearsall WR, Florida
A somewhat head-scratching pick here with Ricky Pearsall. We get it he is a prototypical Shanahan guy, but this was an outright reach that could maybe work out but as of now a reach. This also opens possibilities for the 49ers to trade Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel.
Grade: D.
Pick 32: Carolina Panthers (via KC), Xavier Legette WR, South Carolina
Well, Buffalo moves down again 1 pick this time to kick off round 2 with the Panthers. Carolina sends picks 33, and 141 to Buffalo for picks 32 and 200. Legette is an uber-athletic receiver to pair up with Adam Thielen, and Diontae Johnson, but this can also be categorized as a possible reach considering other players available. This is also a pick that could pan out in due time.
Grade C+.
That will conclude the 1st round draft grades for all 32 selections. Stay tuned for further coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft.
