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Winners and losers from Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft
A wild first round of the 2024 NFL Draft is in the books. The league broke the record for most offensive players selected to start a draft (14), most offensive players drafted overall (23) and the fewest amount of picks needed for six quarterbacks to come off the board (12).
Here are our winners and losers from Day 1.
WINNER
Chicago Bears: The Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passer, but with quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze joining wideouts D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen in Chicago, they have the potential pieces for the most explosive passing offense in franchise history. For one of the most storied franchises in the league, it's about time Chicago entered the 21st century.
LOSER
Atlanta Falcons: No one knows what the Falcons are doing, least of all their starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract this offseason. Atlanta could have used its No. 8 overall pick on an edge-rusher, which is the team's most glaring need, but instead brass wasted the pick on quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who won't play meaningful snaps for as long as Cousins is on the roster.
WINNER
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy: No rookie quarterback enters the NFL in a better position than McCarthy. He has the best wide receiver in football, Justin Jefferson, plus promising second-year pro Jordan Addison. Head coach Kevin O'Connell received praise last season for keeping the Vikings afloat after Cousins' season-ending Achilles injury forced backups Jaren Hall, Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens to start the final nine games. It's impossible to know this early if McCarthy is a future franchise quarterback, but he'll have every tool a young quarterback needs to succeed.
LOSER
Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers: Once the excitement of being drafted No. 6 overall wears off, Nabers will be hit with the reality that he's about to experience a massive drop-off in quarterback quality. Last season at LSU, he had Heisman Trophy-winner Jayden Daniels throwing him the football. In New York, he'll be saddled with Daniel Jones, who had two touchdowns and six interceptions in six starts last season.
WINNER
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars acquired three draft picks from the Vikings to move down six spots, and they still landed a top player at a position of need. After watching wide receiver Calvin Ridley depart for the Titans in free agency, Jacksonville added former LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who led the NCAA with 17 touchdowns last season. He ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, and his blazing speed will make him a favorite target for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
LOSER
Buffalo Bills: Do the Bills know they're competing against the Chiefs? Buffalo curiously threw Kansas City a lifeline at the end of Round 1, trading down from No. 28 overall and allowing the Chiefs to draft Xavier Worthy, the fastest player in NFL scouting combine history and the potential next Tyreek Hill. For their illogical move, the Bills only received the paltry reward of a third-round pick, a seventh-round pick swap and many more years of being Kansas City's little brother.
#Bills traded: 28, 133 (4th rd), 248 (7th rd) to the #Chiefs for 32, 95 (3rd rd). 221 (7th rd).
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 26, 2024
WINNER
Teams that needed a cornerback: The Eagles got arguably the best cornerback in the 2024 class, Quinyon Mitchell, and didn't have to trade up to do so. The Lions made an aggressive move by sending Nos. 29 and 73 to the Cowboys for No. 24 and a 2025 seventh. Detroit was rewarded with Terrion Arnold, who NFL Next Gen Stats credited with the highest production score among cornerback prospects in this year's class.
RD 1 | PK 24 - Lions: Terrion Arnold CB, Alabama
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 26, 2024
The @Lions trade up to select Arnold, who led all cornerbacks prospects with a 90 production score. Arnold joins former teammate Brian Branch in Detroit, who also led his class with a 91 production score.#NFLDraft | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/7JjHaGdcsL
LOSER
Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders might not have a quarterback, but at least they have the deepest tight end room in the league. A year after spending its No. 35 pick on former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, Las Vegas doubled down on the position and chose former Georgia tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13. While undoubtedly one of the top talents in this year's class, the Raiders are still one of the draft's opening night's biggest losers after missing out one of the six quarterbacks drafted in the first round.
WINNER
Nick Saban: It will be years before we know how the 2024 class pans out, but we're already certain ESPN nailed its draft pick. Following his retirement from Alabama, Saban made his debut as an ESPN analyst during the network's draft coverage and crushed it.
In one of the least shocking developments of the #NFLDraft....Nick Saban is awfully good at this media thing. https://t.co/FRC8j5fEmM
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) April 25, 2024
The seven-time college football national champion was obviously insightful about his own former players, but also articulated football concepts in a clear, engaging way. Saban was also exceptional at explaining the intangibles necessary for players to succeed in the NFL.
"It's the hard-wiring, the elite-wiring guys that can stay focused on what they need to do to develop and improve, that makes the difference," Saban explained during one segment.
He called out "The guys that feel entitled and can't go to work and be a blue-collar kind of guy when you get in the opportunity to work and make the team," noting, "You're not going to walk in an NFL team and be the best guy on the team. So what are you gonna do to try to make yourself better?"
"Talent alone is not going to get it."
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 25, 2024
Nick Saban shares some wisdom on how to be successful in the NFL pic.twitter.com/rhPESCRktc
We're already looking forward to the start of the college football season and Saban dropping even more knowledge.
More must-reads:
- NFL world makes fun of Bills for baffling draft decision
- Ravens think they found a 'shutdown' CB late in first round of 2024 NFL Draft
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
New report suggests Christian Wilkins release related to 'incident' with teammate
There may be more to Christian Wilkins’ recent surprise release from the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported Saturday that "some sources believe an incident involving a teammate may have factored in-part into the Raiders' fatigue and release" of Wilkins. The nature of the incident is not clear. However, many believe the Raiders had a very good reason to move on from Wilkins considering the money they had invested in him. It also suggests the Raiders saw no alternative if they went straight to a release. Wilkins was dumped by the Raiders just one year into a four-year, $110 million deal. The Raiders suggested Wilkins failed to take rehab seriously as he tries to work his way back from a foot injury. Other teams do not appear to have the same concerns about Wilkins as the Raiders did, and he should find a new landing spot fairly easily. That is one of the reasons some suspect there is more to the Raiders’ decision than they are publicly saying.
Brewers Predicted To Bring Top Slugger To Milwaukee In Huge Deadline Heist
Major League Baseball's hottest team cooled down a bit over the weekend. The Milwaukee Brewers just lost their first series since Jul. 3, dropping two of three to the sneaky Miami Marlins. With the trade deadline looming, they'll now shift their focus to a series with the Chicago Cubs that will decide who leaves with sole possession of first place in the National League Central. This Cubs team is ferocious, and it's going to be a tough battle the rest of the way. The Brewers could certainly use one more big bat to tilt the scales in their favor - a bat very much like Eugenio Suárez of the Arizona Diamondbacks, perhaps. One baseball writer believes that a major third base upgrade is on its way to Milwaukee. On Sunday, Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut predicted that Suárez would be traded to the Brewers by Thursday's deadline, giving Milwaukee a .904 OPS and 36 home runs to add to its lineup, which lacks power. "The New York Yankees took themselves out of the mix for Eugenio Suarez with the Ryan McMahon trade and the Seattle Mariners already made a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks for first baseman Josh Naylor. There are still a few viable suitors for Suarez, but those clubs also need to balance their needs for starting pitching," wrote Johnson. "Enter the Milwaukee Brewers. Suarez is perfect for a team that has the fifth-lowest OPS (.609) at third base this season. He’ll round out the Brewers’ lineup nicely, pairing with a deep pitching staff to help Milwaukee earn a playoff spot." Just because the Yankees and Mariners are somewhat less likely than they were a few days ago to nab Suárez doesn't mean the coast is clear. The Cubs themselves could be in on the two-time All-Star, as could the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Houston Astros. Milwaukee has to be decisive in the next four days. If they think Suárez is the bat to put them over the top, they have to give up at least one high-caliber prospect, which is always tough to do for a player headed to free agency at the end of the year.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit into the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .217/.288/.408 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability, and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts, and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Jalen Brunson Reacts To Milwaukee Bucks Signing 10-Year NBA Veteran
Myles Turner had spent the first ten seasons of his career playing for the Indiana Pacers. Last year, the former Texas star helped lead the franchise to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years. However, Turner shockingly signed with the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month. Via ESPN's Shams Charania (on July 1): " Free agent center Myles Turner has agreed to a four-year, $107 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, plus a player option for year four in 2028-29 and a full 15% trade kicker, sources tell ESPN. Stunner." One person who reacted to the signing was New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson (via Roommates Show). Brunson: "I thought the Myles Turner thing was like weird... You know what's crazy about that? I feel like he was on the trading block like every year... It was like that for at least five, six years." Turner finished his final year in Indiana with averages of 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 blocks per contest while shooting 48.1% from the field and 39.6% from the three-point range in 72 games. He was the 11th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. As for Brunson, he led the Knicks to the 2025 Eastern Confernece finals They lost to Turner and the Pacers (in six games). Brunson (who has been with New York for three seasons) had averages of 26.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists per contest while shooting 48.8% from the field and 38.3% from the three-point range in 65 games.
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