Last year, just before the draft, a general manager told me he thought the top five picks in 2024 would’ve been, at that point, the top five picks in ’23.
In other words, what last year’s group lacked in top-end talent would be made up for this year.
That, by the way, was before Jayden Daniels busted out, before teams knew that Marvin Harrison Jr. wouldn’t be the only elite receiver in the 2024 class, and before the enormous depth at the tackle position started to crystallize in the fall. Still, all of what that GM said was backed up as I made a few more calls around to see if there was a consensus on it.
“The top 10 is ,” said another GM.
It seemed to be then, at least. It’s certain to be now.
Welcome to draft season, folks. My flight touches down in Indianapolis Monday afternoon, and most of the NFL will be there by Tuesday. What’s waiting for them is one of the best crops of top-end players in years. There are quarterbacks, receivers, tackles, a deep crew of corners, and a pass-rusher or two who project as blue-chippers at cornerstone positions.
Last year, in our reporting, we came across the fact that the Lions—who wound up with an absolute gold mine drafting guys at non-premium spots such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch—only had14 players with first-round grades, and of those, only landed four of them. Detroit wasn’t the only team with that low of a number. It seemed everyone I talked to had a number in the mid-teens.
That won’t be the case this year.
“You could count to 32 this year,” said an AFC college scouting director, “and still find a first-round quality player there.”
“It’s a really good draft to need a quarterback or tackle,” added an AFC exec. “It’s really good at the premium positions in general.”
So where in a lot of years, I’d be in this space tamping down the optimism that every fan chases, thinking somehow players in the fifth and sixth and seventh rounds are going to project into starting roles, this year I’ll take governor off. Have fun. Go nuts. Even if the class as a whole has its flaws, the first round should be a blast, full of big-time players.
And that’s a good place to start as we get set to dive in, and get you ready for the next two months or so.
