Will Shipley adds the perfect variety to the Eagles’ backfield to contrast with Saquon Barkley. With impressive vision, balance, control, and ball-handling abilities, this former standout from Clemson displays similar qualities to Christian McCaffrey as a versatile playmaker. As per tradition, the Eagles have also chosen to add some potential offensive linemen prospects, ensuring that their offense will remain strong even in the event of injuries. Trevor Keegan and Dylan McMahon serve as insurance measures for Rosman’s team, allowing them to continue soaring towards success.
Fifth round: Washington State’s Brennan Jackson selected as defensive end with 154th pick.
Third round pick: Jalyx Hunt, Outside Linebacker from Houston Christian University, with a draft position of 94.
Currently, this team appears to be regressing instead of fully committing to their goals.
Fifth Round: Caelen Carson, Cornerback from Wake Forest, chosen with the 174th pick.Offensively, the addition of Blake Corum gives Sean McVay a downhill runner perfectly suited for the Rams’ gap running scheme. Joining Kyren Williams, the Michigan standout adds more physicality to a backfield that could pummel opponents into submission.
Although the Cowboys and Prescott have had success when their front line dominates the trenches, there are concerns about their draft choices, particularly Tyler Guyton who is considered inexperienced, and Cooper Beebe who is not seen as having strong abilities. This raises questions about the team’s overall draft strategy, especially when other promising prospects were available. If Guyton and Beebe struggle to adjust to the professional level in their first year, the Cowboys’ offense may face difficulties in consistently moving the ball against top competitors. Since the team did not select immediate impact players for running back and wide receiver, they will be relying heavily on a veteran player (Ezekiel Elliott) in the backfield and possibly a lesser-known rookie (Ryan Flournoy) as their main receivers.
Seventh Round: KT Leveston, Offensive Lineman, chosen from Kansas State at pick 254.
Second round: Western Michigan’s DE, Marshawn Kneeland, selected with the 56th pick.Jalyx Hunt and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. will also add some spice as instinctive, hit-and-run linebackers with playmaking ability. The Eagles’ surprising investment in second-level defenders could help the defense become a dominant unit led by a youth movement.
The 6th round pick, number 191 overall, is Tejhaun Palmer, a wide receiver from UAB.
The third round of the draft saw Michigan’s Blake Corum (RB) being selected as the 83rd pick, followed by Miami’s Kamren Kinchens (S) at 99.
Omar Khan, the general manager, and Mike Tomlin, the head coach, prioritized signing players who embody the Steelers’ identity. This renowned team values individuals who possess intelligence, resilience, and toughness. The addition of Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick, all offensive linemen with aggressive attitudes, will truly exemplify the spirit of Pittsburgh.
During the previous season, the Los Angeles Rams succeeded due to a group of four rookies who were initially overlooked. These rookies included Puka Nacua as a wide receiver, Kobie Turner as a defensive tackle, Byron Young as an outside linebacker, and Steve Avila as an offensive guard. This unexpected group helped spark the team’s surprising advancement to the playoffs. Similarly, the Houston Texans also benefited from their group of impressive new players, led by the Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., explosive wide receiver Tank Dell, and proficient tackler Henry To’oTo’o. This unexpected influx of young talent demonstrates how quickly the tides can turn in the game.
Second Round: Zach Frazier, Center, West Virginia University (51)
Jer’Zhan Newton and Mikey Sainristil have the potential to start on Day 1, while Jordan Magee, Dominique Hampton, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste could serve as backups or standout players on special teams. This could possibly make the Commanders a surprise playoff contender in Dan Quinn’s first season as head coach.
In the sixth round, the team selected Ryan Flournoy, a wide receiver from Southeast Missouri State with the 216th overall pick.
Round 6 Selections:
1. Tyler Davis (DT) from Clemson at pick number 196.
2. Joshua Karty (K) from Stanford at pick number 209.
3. Jordan Whittington (WR) from Texas at pick number 213.
4. Beaux Limmer (IOL) from Arkansas at pick number 217.
The annual NFL draft presents team managers with the chance to improve their teams by selecting a group of talented young players – and I’d like to emphasize the word “group”. While much attention is paid to the top prospects in the first round, skilled scouts and coaches are able to find valuable team members later in the seven-round event.
The Rams have consistently excelled in the NFL draft with minimal resources in recent years. In the most recent event, Les Snead and his team were highly successful in using all of their picks to improve an already solid roster, making them a contender for the playoffs.
Snead and McVay should be commended for their efforts during draft weekend, as their thorough preparation and execution resulted in a strong draft for the Rams.
Former NFL player and scout, Bucky Brooks, is well-versed in the workings of the league and shares his extensive knowledge in his notebook. In this latest edition, he highlights five draft classes that he highly approves of, while also discussing one that he found confusing.After dazzling the analytics community with his masterful trade tactics in his first draft at the helm one year ago, general manager Monti Ossenfort deserves plaudits for sticking and picking blue-chip prospects throughout this year’s draft. Whether it was intentional or a stroke of luck, the Cardinals landed premier players in the early, middle and late rounds.
Seventh Round: Jaden Davis, Cornerback, Miami (226th overall pick)
Second round selection: Braden Fiske, defensive tackle, from Florida State University, picked 39th overall.
The team has chosen defensive linemen Jared Verse and Braden Fiske as part of their strategy to replace the production of Aaron Donald, who recently retired after being named Defensive Player of the Year three times. Along with Brennan Jackson and Tyler Davis, the Florida State duo will strengthen a young and athletic defensive line with the ability to disrupt opponents. While no one can completely replace the disruption of No. 99, these rookies will team up with Kobie Turner and Byron Young to cause problems for opponents on the line of scrimmage. With rookie center fielder Kamren Kinchens poised for a significant role, the Rams have gathered a group of young talented defenders that have the potential to become one of the top units in the league.
Second round: Jer’Zhan Newton, defensive tackle from Illinois, picked 36th overall | Mike Sainristil, cornerback from Michigan, picked 50th overall | Ben Sinnott, tight end from Kansas State, picked 53rd overall.
Fifth Round Selections:
– Ainias Smith, a wide receiver from Texas A&M chosen at pick 152
– Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a linebacker from Clemson chosen at pick 155
– Trevor Keegan, an offensive guard from Michigan chosen at pick 172
Marvin Harrison Jr. being selected by the Cardinals brings a top-rated wide receiver in the same vein as franchise legend Larry Fitzgerald. MHJ, with his impressive skills and family history of excellence, is expected to excel as the primary target in the team’s offensive strategy, where they aim to attack all areas of the field with quarterback Kyler Murray leading the way. This new addition boosts a passing game that ranked 26th in the league last year. With Trey Benson adding to the running game alongside James Conner, the Cardinals could present a more well-rounded offense in the future.
Third Round Selections:
– Cooper Beebe, Offensive Lineman from Kansas State (pick number 73)
– Marist Liufau, Linebacker from Notre Dame (pick number 87)
LB Payton Wilson and DB Ryan Watts bring an energetic and competitive edge to the defensive side for the Steelers. Wilson is especially impactful, consistently making big plays such as sacks, tackles for loss, forced fumbles, and interceptions. Although drafted in the third round, Wilson’s skill level is that of a first-round pick, with the only concern being his injury history. If he can stay healthy in the NFL, the Steelers may have made a major steal by selecting him at pick No.98.
In the 5th round, Clemson’s Xavier Thomas was selected as the overall linebacker at 138th place. Texas’ Christian Jones was also chosen as the offensive tackle at 162nd place.
Fourth round pick: Mason McCormick, offensive guard from South Dakota State (119th overall selection).
Max Melton, Elijah Jones, and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson have improved the defense by adding toughness, tenacity, and skill to the secondary. They are determined to reduce the amount of time the quarterback has to throw by shrinking the passing windows. Along with Darius Robinson, who can rush the passer from both the inside and outside, the young players on the Cardinals’ team will bring a more competitive edge to their games against other teams in the NFC West.
The Commanders have finally found their QB1 in Jayden Daniels, filling the void left by Kirk Cousins after the 2017 season. Daniels, a standout from LSU, brings an impressive combination of passing prowess and improvisational skills as a dual-threat quarterback. With head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s expertise in utilizing the talents of dynamic quarterbacks like Kyler Murray, the Commanders are expected to have a strong start in the 2024 season.
Second Round Selection: Cooper DeJean, Defensive Back, Iowa (40) Roman Wilson’s selection kind of flies under the radar due to the Steelers’ affinity for big bodies, but the shifty pass catcher could make his mark immediately as a WR3 with outstanding speed, route-running ability and underrated skills as a possession receiver over the middle of the field.
Considering all of that, here are five teams that excelled during the draft weekend.
The sixth round saw Iowa’s Logan Lee drafted as a defensive end at pick number 178, followed by Texas’ Ryan Watts as a defensive back at pick number 195.
Round 4: Selection of Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Safety from Texas Tech at the 104th spot.
Round 3: Michigan WR Roman Wilson (84) selected, N.C. State LB Payton Wilson (98) selected.
Howie Roseman should be commended for his successful selection of promising prospects during the draft weekend. In particular, the defensive backfield has two highly talented players, who I ranked as top players in their positions with a five-star rating. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are ready to step in as starters at cornerback and nickelback, bringing with them a range of skills and versatility to match up with top receivers on the field. Their addition enhances the grit and physicality of the Eagles’ secondary.
In the second round of the draft, Rutgers player Max Melton was selected as the 43rd pick in the cornerback position.
One confounding class
In the seventh round, Notre Dame’s Javontae Jean-Baptiste was selected as the DE with pick number 222.
In the fifth round, Temple’s Jordan Magee was selected as linebacker with the 139th pick. The 161st pick went to Washington’s Dominique Hampton, who was chosen as a safety.
Round four: Clemson’s Will Shipley selected as the 127th pick, running back.
Round 3: Florida State RB Trey Benson drafted at 66th | Illinois OL Isaiah Adams picked at 71st | Illinois TE Tip Reiman selected at 82nd | Boston College CB Elijah Jones taken at 90th.
Seventh Round: Selecting Nathan Thomas, Offensive Tackle from Louisiana at pick 233, and Justin Rogers, Defensive Tackle from Auburn at pick 244.
Third round picks: Brandon Coleman, offensive guard from TCU at number 67, Luke McCaffrey, wide receiver from Rice at 100.
I may have misinterpreted Jerry Jones’ meaning when he said the Cowboys were fully invested in pursuing a Super Bowl. As the team’s enthusiastic leader, the owner’s bold statement set the stage for an assertive offseason plan that aimed to acquire top free agents and high-caliber draft prospects for the team. However, the team’s efforts in free agency did not generate much excitement, with a few minor upgrades to the weapons around Dak Prescott. Rather than adding a top running back or wide receiver in the early rounds of the draft, the Cowboys focused on strengthening their offensive line. While protecting quarterback No. 4 is crucial, relying on him to carry the offense in a “make it or break it” season could result in disappointment for him as he seeks a long-term contract extension, which may hinge on a deep playoff run.
I wasn’t a fan of every team’s strategy in the 2024 NFL Draft. There was one particular group that confused me…
In the first round, Washington selected Troy Fautanu, an offensive tackle, with the 20th overall pick.