With Round 1 in the books of the 2024 NFL Draft, we take a look at some of the teams who won and lost. The Gridiron Review presents NFL Draft Winners and Losers from Round 1
Winners
Chicago Bears
Chicago gets their Qb of the future, but this also has to do with their second pick. They could have easily just gone with a defensive pass rusher, which would not have been a bad thing, but instead truly committed to Williams. Odunze at 9 is good value and the trio of him, Keenan, and DJ is already one of the best (if not the best) receiving cores in the league. The NFC North is suddenly a very exciting division
Denver Broncos
Denver did not panic, did not overpay, and ended up with what was likely their target all along. Payton reportedly loves Nix and holds him in high regard, and he should be the starter from the beginning. They did not sacrifice a lot of picks, or move Surtain, and still got their guy.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings, like Denver, help tight and it payed off. They gambled heavily and got lucky. But, one person’s luck is another’s skill. They also got great value with Dallas Turner as well.The Vikings drafted their main target, but did not have to sacrifice their other first to do it.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals were a team me mocked correctly for months. Marvin Harrison Jr is generational and immediately should become a rookie of the year favorite. Then, with their second pick, got the perfect scheme fit pass rusher in Darius Robinson. Robinson is out number 1 ranked pass rusher and we are of the belief that he is more Cam Jordan or Cam Heryward than Arik Armstead.
Losers
Atlanta Falcons
The biggest head scratching pick in recent memory. Penix is not young, nor in need of developmental time. You are paying Cousins $45 million. At pick 8, the Falcons should not have been shocked to see Penix available, so what even was this. It was also reported that Cousins was not made aware ahead of time that this was a possibility. If they had signed a lesser vet and drafted Penix this would be a different story.
San Francisco 49ers
All of the talent still available and they went with Pearsall. There was at least 3-5 (maybe more) receivers that would have been better picks here. Pearsall is a prospect with WR3/WR2 upside, and they just took him in the first round. If you think we are the only ones that think this, the NFL Network comp was Michael Gallup (Ours is Van Jefferson).
Buffalo Bills… Maybe
We know Buffalo fans are going to be unhappy. But, the reason this is a maybe is we feel the Bills are playing chicken with the 49ers to swing a trade involving Aiyuk. With all of the talent available, they could have easily went with a rookie. However, the Aiyuk trade just seems destined and perhaps the Niners are hesitant to pull the trigger. We will see if a deal is made by 7 pm tonight.
Philadelphia Eagles
What the F was this pick bro. Reports had it that Philly called everyone to try to work a trade up and with a little bit of Draft night magic every single cornerback fell into your lap without having to give up draft capital to move up. Alabama’s Terrion Arnold staring you in the face and you take Quinyon Mitchell. Arnold has been playing cornerback, after moving from safety, for two years and established himself as arguably the top CB in the class. On top of a solid floor he has a high ceiling to unlock. He plays with the mentality of a safety and wants to hit. Not to mention he’s a leader. Instead you go with an athletic upside CB that’s not ready to be a starter yet. Contrary to the “analysts”, we don’t think he’s ready to start yet, especially not in Fangio’s zone scheme. Just watch the Toledo tape, he’s not ready. If Mitchell sits and learns from Slay for a full year then maybe it could work out, but with Bradberry’s regression Mitchell is going to be thrown in too early and it’s not going to look good. We thought Mitchell could start in a man heavy scheme based on what he showed at Senior Bowl, but this was not the right pick for either side. If we are wrong we will own up to it, but we trust our scout.