DETROIT, MI —With the historic and record-setting 2024 NFL Draft now in the books, now is the time for experts and fans alike to reflect on how their team did in Detroit.
Without further ado, here are my top three biggest winners and losers.
Winners:
Chicago Bears: Of you are holding the first and ninth overall picks in the draft, you had better be a winner! The Bears certainly upgraded in selecting QB Caleb Williams and WR Rome Odunze, giving the Bears a potential 1-2 punch that could become a problem in the NFC North.
Couple that with playmakers such as Keenan Allen and DJ Moore at WR, RB D’Andre Swift and TE Cole Kmet, Williams could potentially make an immediate impact in the Windy City.
Minnesota Vikings: After losing Kirk Cousins in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings traded up to nab their new quarterback in J.J. McCarthy out of Michigan. Yes, he didn’t exactly pulled up big stats under center for the Wolverines, but when it came to crunch time, McCarthy was a straight killer in the clutch.
Like the aforementioned Williams and Odunze combo stepping into a team already built for them, McCarthy walks into a situation tailor made for him, as he’ll have the likes of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on the outside, TE T.J. Hockenson and RB Aaron Jones in the backfield to hand the ball off to.
Don’t be shocked is McCarthy is a candidate for OROTY.
The Vikings also loaded up on the defensive side in trading up for OLB Dallas Turner, who had all the instincts to make plays as a rookie in a highly competitive NFC North.
Los Angeles Chargers: New head coach Jim Harbaugh wasted no time in bringing his Michigan blueprint out west to SoCal in drafting a real bully on the OL in Joe Alt. Not only do the Bolts land arguably the best tackle in the draft, but also get some much needed protection for franchise QB Justin Herbert.
Adding two-time national champion WR Ladd McConkey in the third round will help soften the blow of losing Keenan Allen to the Bears and grabbing a real hitter in LB Junior Colson in the third round, helps round out a solid first draft for Harbaugh in LA.
Losers
Atlanta Falcons: This is easy! So let’s get this straight. You sign a thirty-something QB coming off of a Achilles to a four-year, $180 million guaranteed contract, and THEN reach for a 24-year-old southpaw who also has a checkered injury past!
Gotcha, Falcant’s!
Arguably the biggest reach in the entire draft and a real shocker, in the Dirty Birds tabbing former Washington Huskies QB Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in the draft.
I get it. He’s more mobile, just as accurate and has a better arm than Cousins, but believe me when I say that the whole press area was shocked and stunned with easily the shock pick of the night.
Denver Broncos: While it’s kinda hard to really call the Broncos a loser in drafting former Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix, but after being rumored to take Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr and JJ McCarthy, getting Nix seemed more like settling for the best QB remaining on the board.
Nix could possibly be the biggest winner when it’s all said and done, as he’ll be coached by the man, who helped mold Drew Brees into a Super Bowl champion, and one of the brights offensive minds in the game in Sean Payton.
Las Vegas Raiders: After missing out on the aforementioned Penix Jr. at No.8 and refusing to move up for McCarthy and/or Nix, the Silver and Black either must feel really good about their QB room of Aiden McConnell and Gardener Minshew in selecting Georgia tight end Brock Bowers to pair with Baby Gronk—aka Michael Meyer.
More than likely, the Raiders are waiting for the 2025 QB class, which is likely to be headlined by Shaddeur Sanders.