2024 NFL Draft Guide

It’s the ultimate guide to the 2024 NFL draft brought to you by the experts here at Sports Hub. The NFL regular season is over, but that doesn’t mean it’s really over. Fans, bettors, and even players and coaches, keep it alive with the 2024 NFL draft. For those interested in how this event influences team prospects and betting landscapes, delving into the NFL odds can provide valuable insights.

All of the hype and hoopla surrounding the annual draft has increased exponentially over the last decade. Now, teams bid on hosting the annual event and the entire thing is broadcast on the ESPN networks. This year, the 2024 NFL draft will be held in downtown Detroit, Michigan. Millions of people will flock to the Motor City and millions more will watch the 2024 NFL draft on television.

The 2024 NFL draft is part of the most-bet sport in the U.S. With a number of betting markets available, football bettors can fill their offseason NFL void with some quality wagers. In this 2024 NFL draft guide, Sports Hub’s experts offer up a look at NFL draft history as well as a breakdown of the best prospects at the various positions and the teams that may draft them.

In this comprehensive guide, we plunge into the deep end of the 2024 NFL Draft, yielding insights and analysis that will not only captivate and engage NFL fans but also arm bettors with the knowledge they need to make the right call. 

2024 NFL Draft – The Quarterback Quandary

With the 2024 NFL Draft looming, the most hotly debated position is none other than the quarterback. Will 2024 be a year dominated by strong-armed signal-callers or one labeled as a bust of top quarterback talent? There are a number of prospects available at the position and it all starts with USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

For most of the past two seasons, Williams and Maye have been considered the top two quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL draft. Williams, of course, won the Heisman Trophy in the 2022 college football season. His team sputtered in 2023, but Williams still put up solid numbers. 

Most draft experts believe Williams is a generational talent, but there are others who are wary of some red flags. While Williams’ passing numbers are solid against Top 25 competition, his teams are only 6-8 in 14 games. 

What’s interesting is that Maye’s numbers are actually not very good. Maye only completed 58.9 percent of his passes against Top 25 teams. Maye also did not play any teams that were ranked in the Top 10. While both he and Williams can make all the throws, questions will always remain. As it stands, most draft experts believe Williams will go No. 1 to Chicago and Maye No. 2 to Washington.

Don’t Forget Daniels

What some fail to remember is that neither Williams nor Maye won last year’s Heisman Trophy. That went to LSU QB Jayden Daniels. The Tigers quarterback had an outstanding season, passing for 3,812 yards and throwing for 40 touchdowns against just four interceptions. Daniels had better completion percentage numbers (72.2 percent) than either Williams (68.6) or Maye (63.3 percent).

Daniels helped LSU to a 10-3 record last year. The knock on Daniels is his performance in the Tigers games against ranked opponents. LSU won just one of those games, beating Missouri 49-39. LSU lost to Florida State (45-24), Ole Miss (55-49), and Alabama (42-28).

Daniels did not workout at the 2024 NFL Combine, and he declined to be measured as well. He really had nothing to gain from participating at the combine. Daniels did throw at his pro day at the end of March. He measured 6-3⅝ and weighed in at 210 pounds. He hit 52 of the 56 throws he attempted and looked solid.

Daniels is a first-round pick. The question is where he will go. Could he pass Maye and become the No. 2 guy? Regardless, Daniels is too good of a prospect to be around for long in Round 1.  

Trading Up in the 2024 NFL Draft

As mentioned, the importance of the quarterback position puts teams in a constant state of trying to find the right guy. Teams that have their guy – Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes or Buffalo and Josh Allen – are set for now, but many teams are in desperate need. 

Chicago and Washington, for example, are both in the market for a quarterback. Several other teams are as well. The Minnesota Vikings lost Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. The Vikings QB depth chart now looks like this – Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall. 

None of the three offer a long-term solution for Minnesota, which is many are speculating that the Vikings will trade up into the top five or ten picks of the 2024 NFL draft. It’s also speculated that Minnesota would select Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy with that pick. 

Trading up has worked for some teams, most notably the Kansas City Chiefs. In the 2018 NFL draft, Kansas City traded up to No. 10 to select QB Patrick Mahomes. All Mahomes has done is lead the Chiefs to four Super Bowls, winning three including the last two back-to-back. 

Probably the most noteworthy draft day trade in the history of the NFL came in 1985. The San Francisco 49ers and legendary head coach Bill Walsh moved up 12 spots in Round 1 and with the 16th overall pick the 49ers selected WR Jerry Rice. Rice went on to become the NFL’s greatest ever at the position. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2010.

RELATED: 2024 NFL COMBINE SURPRISES

Edge Rushers

On the defensive side of the ball, the two most important positions are edge rusher and cornerback. Edge rushers come in a variety of forms. They are true defensive ends in some cases. Jared Verse (6-3, 252) of Florida State is more the 4-3 defensive end type. Dallas Turner (6-4, 242) is more of the outside linebacker version of a pass rusher. 

Regardless, there are plenty of outstanding athletes available for teams looking for pass rushers. Turner, who wowed the 2024 NFL combine crowd with a 4.46 40-yard dash, is likely the first defender taken in the draft. 

Verse is a first-rounder though it’s unclear where he’ll end up. Before Minnesota lost QB Kirk Cousins, Verse would have been an excellent fit at pick No. 11. He will likely fall into the Top 25 picks.

Laiatu Latu is a 6-5, 260-pound edge rusher out of UCLA that has good explosiveness as evidenced by his 4.66 40-yard dash time. He’s a first-round talent that could go to the Rams at No. 19 or Houston at No. 23. Both teams need to revamp their pass rush.

Penn State offers up a pair of solid pass rushers. Chop Robinson (6-3, 250) is officially listed as an outside linebacker but, make no mistake, like his predecessor Micah Parsons, Robinson gets after the quarterback. He’s got great speed (4.51) and could go in the Top 15 picks. Dallas at No. 24 could put two Penn State guys on the edge – Parsons and Robinson.

Adisa Isaac (6-4, 246) is the other Penn State pass rusher who could go in Round 1, but is more likely to fit into the top of the second round. The Giants and Commanders have picks No. 39 and 40, respectively, and both need major pass rush help.

Top Corners in the 2024 NFL Draft

After getting an impact edge rusher, teams build their defenses by drafting a lockdown corner. There are a few that fit that bill in the 2024 NFL draft. At the top of most boards is Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell. He’s got good size at 6-0 and 195 pounds and he can run (4.42 in the 40). He’s a two-time All-MAC pick and is extremely fluid.

Iowa’s Cooper DeJean is a jack-of-all-trades type that will play corner, slot corner, and safety. He is an elite playmaker with great size (6-1, 205) and speed (4.40). DeJean, Mitchell, Clemson’s Nate Wiggins and Alabama CBs Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry all have first-round draft grades. 

None of the Top 10 teams in the draft are really in the market for a corner. The earliest a corner might go is to Denver with the 12th overall pick. Jacksonville at No. 17 really likes Wiggins, who was very impressive at the NFL combine. At 6-1 and 173 pounds, Wiggins ran a 4.28 40-yard dash.

2024 NFL Draft Top OL On the Board

After QB and WR on offense, teams must build a rock solid offensive line and one that has some depth. In the 2024 NFL draft, there are a number of guys teams could select to build a franchise around. One of those is Notre Dame OT Joe Alt.

Alt is massive at 6-8 and 320 pounds. He’s also very fleet afoot with a 40 time of 5.13. Alt was a two-time All-American who has some athletic ability after converting to the offensive line after being a tight end in high school. Alt is likely the No. 10 pick, going to the New York Jets. If not at No. 10, Alt will be gone by pick No. 15.

Tailese Fuaga from Oregon State and JC Latham are two more offensive linemen that should be selected in the Top 15 picks of the 2024 NFL draft. Kingsley Suamataia (6-6, 325) of BYU is a rare breed after running 4.94 in the 40-yard dash. He could go late in the first round. Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu (6-6, 321) is another first round possibility as is massive Amarius Mims (6-8, 340) out of Georgia.

2024 NFL Draft Mock Top 10

Sports Hub’s NFL experts have put together a mock Top 10 for the 2024 NFL draft. Our top NFL guys see at least one trade happening in the Top 10. It could be two depending upon what Denver decides to do at quarterback. 

Here’s what Sports Hub’s 2024 NFL draft mock Top 10 looks like.

1. Chicago: QB Caleb Williams (USC)
2. Washington: QB Drake Maye (North Carolina)
3. New England: QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)
4. Minnesota (from Arizona): QB J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
5. Atlanta (from LA Chargers): WR Marvin Harrison (Ohio State)
6. NY Giants: WR Rome Odunze (Washington)
7. Tennessee: WR Malik Nabers (LSU)
8. LA Chargers (from Atlanta): OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame)
9. Chicago: TE Brock Bowers (Georgia)
10. NY Jets: OT Olu Fashanu (Penn State)

2024 NFL Draft Props 

If you are looking to bet on the 2024 NFL draft, you are in the right place. Sports Hub’s NFL experts can help decipher the best props over the draft weekend. The most popular 2024 NFL draft prop is on the No. 1 pick. Right now, Williams is the overwhelming favorite to go first in the draft. He is given -8000 odds.

In addition to the No. 1 pick, there are 2024 NFL draft props on each pick from No. 2 through No. 8. Bettors can also find a market for Top 5 and Top 10 picks. Maye and Daniels are listed at -1200 to be a Top 5 pick. LSU WR Malik Nabers is listed at +170 and Notre Dame OT Joe Alt is given +470 odds to be among the Top 5 picks.

Other popular props for the 2024 NFL draft include a bet on which conference will have the most picks in the first round. You can also make totals bets on the number of draft picks in the first round from a specific conference. For example, the Over/Under on first-round picks from the SEC is 9.5. 

Bettors can get some great odds in this market – Selected by Which NFL Team in the 2024 NFL draft. Michigan RB Blake Corum, for example, is given +190 to be drafted by the Chargers. He’s listed at +1200 to be picked by the Ravens. Bettors can find some strong value picks in this market. 

2024 NFL Draft Order

As it stands, the Chicago Bears still own the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Bears traded with Carolina last year as part of the deal that allowed the Panthers to select QB Bryce Young out of Alabama. Young became the Panthers starting quarterback last season and is looking ahead to his second season running the Carolina offense.

The second pick in the 2024 NFL draft belongs to Washington and the Commanders are in the market for a franchise quarterback. It is projected that the Bears will go all-in on Williams and the Commanders will follow by selecting Maye. 

One of the semi-surprising offseason NFL moves was the New England Patriots trade of QB Mac Jones to Jacksonville. New England, under new head coach Jerod Mayo, has brought veteran Jacoby Brissett back to town and has Nathan Rourke and Bailey Zappe on the roster. There is some speculation that the Patriots may take a quarterback with the third pick.

Arizona holds the fourth pick and, if they don’t trade down, would likely select Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Picks No. 5 through 10 are held by the following:

• No. 5 – Los Angeles Chargers
• No. 6 – New York Giants
• No. 7 – Tennessee Titans
• No. 8 – Atlanta Falcons
• No. 9 – Chicago Bears
• No. 10 – New York Jets

Conclusion

The 2024 NFL Draft is a seminal moment in the league’s calendar, one that promises a glimpse into the NFL’s future. Whether you’re an ardent fan eagerly anticipating your team’s next star or a bettor calculating the odds, the draft provides an opportunity to partake in the excitement and potential that only the NFL can offer. With our comprehensive guide, you’re well-equipped to watch the drama unfold with an educated eye.

Will the 2024 NFL draft produce the next Tom Brady or Aaron Donald, or will it offer up its share of cautionary tales? The answers will arrive on draft day, but the speculation and anticipation are what make the path to those answers a thrill for all involved. Stay tuned, engage with fellow fans and bettors, and may your predictions be as sharp as a well-thrown spiral.

2024 NFL Draft FAQs

When and where is the 2024 NFL Draft?

The 2024 NFL draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, beginning on April 25 and lasting until April 27. The draft will be held in the downtown Detroit area around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. Coverage of the draft begins at 8 p.m. ET and is available on a variety of networks, including the NFL Network and ESPN.

Who is expected to be the top pick in the 2024 NFL draft?

USC quarterback Caleb Williams has been projected as the top pick in the 2024 NFL draft since late in 2023. Chicago traded away starting quarterback Justin Fields to Pittsburgh clearing the way for the Bears to draft a quarterback at No. 1. Williams is the -8000 favorite to be that guy.

How does the NFL draft work?

The 2024 NFL draft, like every draft since 1994, will feature seven rounds. Teams will select in order of their finish from the previous season. The team with the worst record from the previous season drafts first and so on. In many cases – and in the 2024 NFL draft – trade are made which affect draft picks. Last year, Carolina and Chicago made a trade that gave the Panthers the No. 1 pick in 2023. Chicago now has the Panthers first pick (No. 1 overall) in this year’s draft.

What are compensatory picks?

There are 34 compensatory picks in the 2024 NFL draft. These picks are awarded by the league based upon language in the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. Teams that more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires the previous year are eligible to receive compensatory picks.

What is highest number of quarterbacks ever taken in the first round of an NFL draft?

In 1983, a record 12 quarterbacks were selected in the draft’s first five rounds. A record six quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the ‘83 NFL draft. John Elway, who went No. 1, Jim Kelly (No. 14), and Dan Marino (No. 27) are all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.