The NFL draft is fast approaching. Free agency has been in action for weeks, and most of the top talent is signed. The combine has come and gone with some incredible performances. Now the draft looms with teams in need of fresh blood to make or break the coming seasons. Here are some teams we think will step up to the challenge, and some that will fall on their face.
Crush: Chicago Bears
The Bears got one of the greatest windfalls in NFL history when they acquired the Carolina Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick at the draft last year. Who could have known the first overall pick they traded would turn into the first overall pick in a draft with an even better QB class. Not only will the Bears get Caleb Williams, the best QB prospect in a very long time. Not only do they have that first overall pick, they also have their own pick at number nine. This presents a variety of opportunities, a trade back for more capital, or the best player available to suit their needs. The only issue for the Bears is that they have only two picks after those first two, but having those two picks is a near guarantee that Chicago has one of the best drafts in the league.
Screwed: Cleveland Browns
The Browns have pretty much dumped all of their picks. The Watson trade, acquiring Za’Darius Smith and now Jerry Jeudy has burned their draft stock. They don’t have a pick until slot 54, and they only have five total. Without a top-50 pick, and no bulk of picks to trade up, it’s not going to be a great draft for the Browns.
Crush: Arizona Cardinals
The Cards have a bevy of picks, a total of eleven, including the number four overall. Since the Cardinals have who they feel is a franchise QB in Kyler Murray, that number four pick can go be used however they feel it needs to. With so many teams hunting for QB, the Cardinals may be able to get a serious trade for that pick as well. The Red Birds also have the 27th overall pick from Houston, and go on to have six of the first 90 picks. With no need to spend picks on a QB and an absolute haul of early picks, the Cards are set to have a heck of a draft.
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Screwed: Buffalo Bills
The Bills are in trouble. They are in salary cap hell and had to cut a bunch of starters to survive the off-season. That means they will need to use the draft to fill in the roster. The good news for Buffalo, they have eleven picks. Bad news for Buffalo, only two are in the top 125. They have no picks from 61 to 127. With 9 picks in the back half of the draft, it will be difficult for the Bills to find NFL starters to replace guys like Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde.
Crush: Washington Commanders
The Commanders went on a spending spree this off-season and loaded up on talent like Austin Ekeler and Bobby Wagner. They traded away Sam Howell, which means they’ll be looking for a QB at the number two overall pick. Once they lock in that franchise QB, they’ll have five more picks in the top 100 to build around him. The Commanders will know exactly what they need after their free agency frenzy and have the draft capital to get it.
Screwed: Houston Texans
The Texans lost their draft edge in 2024 when they traded back up to get Will Anderson Jr. in 2023. They have three picks in the top 100, but start at 42. Without an early pick, Houston will have to make do with what’s remaining in the mid-second round. It also means they’ll have to sell even more of the future if they want to move up. The Texans had a good free agency, and are in a great position overall, however, this will be a bit of a lost draft.
Crush: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are once again picking in the top ten of the draft. In fact they’re at the 8th slot for the third consecutive draft. With a fully loaded offense after signing Kirk Cousins and drafting great skill players the last several drafts, the Falcons are in the position to draft defensive players up and down the board. With a reloaded defense incoming to match the offense, the Falcons should have a very nice few days in late April.
Screwed: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs didn’t blow any of their draft capital but their outlook for this draft still is not good. That is because of one reason. They won the Super Bowl. Without any extra picks, the Chiefs are slated to make the last pick in every single round. Perhaps they will trade to get better position and get a player they really like, but overall they will be taking the lesser players in each round.
Crush: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers lost most of their offensive skill players this off-season, they even traded Charger-lifer Keenan Allen. This means there’s some work to be done in the draft to get back to where they’ve been the last few seasons in terms of roster quality. Fortunately, they have five picks in the top 110. They’re another team with a top-five pick that does not need a QB. This means that it’s quite possible they trade back to get even more capital and reload their offense. Whether they spend that fifth pick on themselves or get more picks out of it, it should be a good draft for the Bolts.
Screwed: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins only have six picks in 2024. They at least have their first-round pick this season, after losing it last year due to the Brian Flores fiasco. However, they do not have a pick for over 100 slots in the third and fourth rounds. They’ll pick at 55 and then not again until 157. This massive gap in picks makes it difficult to find positional fits and blue-chip players at good value. While those top two picks should help the Fish, the 100-pick gap will seriously hamper their 2024 draft.
We wish the best of luck to all the teams in the NFL draft, and hope these promising young players find homes with their new organizations!
