Winners, losers in first round of 2024 NFL Draft

Fri Apr 26 12:29am ET
Field Level Media

Instant reaction to NFL draft selections is dangerous territory, but we're running with the Bears while we have the chance.

Chicago comes out of Thursday with two of the top seven players in the Field Level Media Top 100 rankings. The Bears drafted quarterback Caleb Williams first overall and paired him with polished pass catcher Rome Odunze, the Washington wide receiver picked ninth overall.

Not every team was blessed with the same great fortune on Thursday night but have a chance to shift the narrative around the following flash reactions Friday and Saturday.

WINNERS

Minnesota Vikings

--Drafted QB J.J. McCarthy 10th, DE Dallas Turner 17th

When the offseason began with Kirk Cousins waving goodbye, the Vikings were left reeling for only a moment. Minnesota struck early and often in free agency and acquired a second first-round pick from the Houston Texans to be in position to attempt a 1-2 punch in the first round capable of setting the foundation for the franchise for years to come.

"As excited as our fans are, they can know that J.J. McCarthy really wanted to be a Minnesota Viking and he can't wait to get here and get to work," head coach Kevin O'Connell said.

Seattle Seahawks

--Drafted DT Byron Murphy II 16th overall

As Aaron Donald is ushered out of the NFC West, the Seahawks sit tight and let one of the top players on their draft board fall into their laps. Murphy is a freakish athlete and fits at multiple positions in the varied fronts of new head coach Mike Macdonald.

"It's a dream come true. I don't know too much about Seattle, but I heard it rains a lot," Murphy said Thursday night from his draft party in Dallas.

Arizona Cardinals

--Drafted Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. 4th, Missouri DE Darius Robinson 27th

Twenty years and a day since Arizona selected Larry Fitzgerald Jr. No. 3 overall, they hit it big again.

Harrison Jr. might be the best player in the draft -- he was ranked No. 1 by multiple teams -- but QB need was undeniable for the teams at the top in 2024. Harrison Jr. is bigger and faster than most expect, and Ohio State felt he was elite in other areas -- work ethic and leadership.

Robinson was a defensive end but his skill set projects well to multiple positions on the defensive line, a major need for the Cardinals. He'll help the overall defense and upgrade the pass rush.

Jacksonville Jaguars

--Drafted LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. 23rd

Thomas runs pristine routes and led the nation in touchdowns, representing a well-played mulligan for Jacksonville following the botched free agency negotiations with Calvin Ridley.

Detroit Lions

--Drafted CB Terrion Arnold 24th

One of the most maligned draft picks of the first round last year? Easily the Lions selecting Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who turned into an ideal playmaker after a slow start. And second-round safety Brian Branch was described as the "heartbeat of the defense" by Dan Campbell. So why not take a swing for a No. 1 corner from the Crimson Tide? It took a trade up in a swap with the Cowboys. But Arnold is legit, ranked as high as No. 10 and projected to be the first cornerback off the board far earlier than this point in the draft.

LOSERS

Atlanta Falcons

--Drafted Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. 8th

Penix was a fringe first-round pick and the Falcons spent serious capital -- $180 million over four years -- to lure Kirk Cousins in free agency and fix their QB concerns. Now they've created friction without addressing major needs on the roster, including almost every defensive position.

"I feel like there's definitely something special going on over there in Atlanta," Penix said.

Cousins leaned on Aaron Rodgers for advice and benchmarks to check in his recovery from a torn Achilles this season. Now Cousins finds himself in a situation eerily similar to the position Rodgers was in when the Packers drafted Jordan Love 26th overall in 2020.

Denver Broncos

--Drafted Oregon QB Bo Nix 12th

The sixth of six first-round quarterbacks selected, Denver bought the end of the run rather than taking better value with their choice of the top edge, cornerback, safety, linebacker and one remaining blue-chip talent -- Georgia tight end Brock Bowers -- a boom-or-bust roll of the dice brings Nix to a QB room in Denver that includes Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham.

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Fantasy Position SOS

Player Notes
Deshaun Watson May 23 1:10pm CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) is throwing every other day as he continues to rehab from his season-ending shoulder surgery last year, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. Watson was seen throwing passes at organized team activities on Tuesday, which means he took the day off on Wednesday while still taking part in individual and team drills. Stefanski said that Watson is "making great progress" and "looked like himself to me" after having surgery last November to fix a displaced fracture to the glenoid in his right shoulder. General manager Andrew Berry said he expects Watson to be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. The 28-year-old has clear QB1 upside when healthy, but the three-time Pro Bowler is also a pretty big injury risk, as he's played in just 12 games with Cleveland the last two seasons due to injuries and suspension.

From RotoBaller

Dameon Pierce May 23 1:10pm CT
Dameon Pierce

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce saw his numbers take a hit in his sophomore season in 2023 while being relegated to a complementary role behind Devin Singletary. Pierce rushed for 416 yards and only two touchdowns while averaging 2.9 yards per carry while also dealing with an ankle injury. He had 939 rushing yards and four TDs as a Pro Bowl alternate in his rookie season. The Texans traded for Pro Bowl RB Joe Mixon this offseason and signed him to a three-year, $27 million extension while also drafting rookie Jawhar Jordan, but they still have plans for Pierce in 2024. The 24-year-old figures to be a chance-of-pace option behind Mixon and on kickoff returns. Pierce has looked strong, compact and quick during OTAs this week. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said, "I think him and Joe as a one-two punch, would be very beneficial for us all."

From RotoBaller

Darren Waller May 23 10:13am CT
Darren Waller

New York Giants TE Darren Waller remains absent from voluntary OTAs as he continues to consider retirement, according to sources Thursday, May 23.

Fantasy Spin: Waller hasn't been consistent enough to truly make a difference for fantasy, but the landscape is so thin that managers will still want to monitor the situation. He's a borderline TE1 if he returns.

From TheHuddle

Deshaun Watson May 23 12:03am CT
Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will throw every other day as part of his ongoing rehab, per head coach Kevin Stefanski.

Fantasy Spin: Cleveland added Jerry Jeudy to a receiver room brimming with potential, so if Watson can stay upright he could deliver decent production from fantasy owners. Given his recent history, though, he can't be viewed as more than a midrange QB2 with upside.

From TheHuddle

Kalif Raymond May 22 10:20pm CT
Kalif Raymond

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (knee) was photographed participating in OTAs on Wednesday, via the team website. There hasn't been much information available regarding Raymond's status until this latest development, which suggests that he has made progress in his recovery ever since missing the NFC Championship in January. Raymond managed to carve out a role on offense despite competing for targets with plenty of offensive playmakers. He finished 2023 with 35 catches, 489 yards, and one touchdown over 17 games (three starts), serving as a reliable option for Jared Goff. This year, Raymond will once again be in play for a non-zero target share given his familiarity with Detroit's offense. However, he remains off the fantasy radar in most formats as he operates behind the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle May 22 10:10pm CT
Rico Dowdle

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has started to lose his grasp on the top role in the team's backfield. "Elliott is being viewed as the leader of the [running back] room, but it is already beginning to look like a committee approach as he and Rico Dowdle split nearly all of the first-team reps on Wednesday," wrote Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com. This will be an important competition to watch as offseason programs unfold and both Elliott and Dowdle compete for more opportunities. Elliott, of course, has spent most of his career with the Cowboys but did join the Patriots for the 2023 season. He's not getting any younger, but Dallas still values his experience and pass-catching skills, both of which could boost his fantasy value down the stretch. Dowdle has youth on his side, though, and it sounds like there's a real chance he could push to earn just as many touches as Elliott.

From RotoBaller

T.J. Watt May 22 9:53pm CT
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt (knee) participated in the first day of OTAs Wednesday, May 22.

From TheHuddle

Marquise Brown May 22 8:50pm CT
Marquise Brown

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid praised new wide receiver Marquise Brown at organized team activities on Wednesday. "Hollywood (Brown) does a nice job at receiver. Looks like he and Pat are developing a chemistry," Reid said. Anytime Mahomes is developing chemistry with a receiver, fantasy managers should take notice. The speedy Brown made a highlight-reel, one-handed catch during 7-on-7 drills on Wednesday and appears to have put the heel injury that bothered him last year in the rearview mirror. Tight end Travis Kelce is going to remain a favorite target of Mahomes in 2024 as long as he's healthy, but the 26-year-old Brown has an opportunity to become heavily involved as well, especially with Rashee Rice likely to be hit with a suspension from the league. The former 25th overall pick by Arizona in 2019 out of Oklahoma had a 1,000-yard receiving season in his final season in Baltimore in 2021.

From RotoBaller

AJ Barner May 22 8:40pm CT
AJ Barner

Seattle Seahawks rookie tight end AJ Barner (hamstring), who didn't take part in rookie minicamp, is still sidelined during organized team activities this week due to a hamstring injury. It remains to be seen if Barner's hamstring issues will keep him sidelined for the start of training camp at the end of July, but he's still missing valuable repetitions as he tries to learn Seattle's offense heading into his first NFL season. The 22-year-old was taken in the fourth round of last month's NFL draft and was considered more of a project at the position, so he was unlikely to play a key role in 2024 anyway. When healthy, he's going to provide the Seahawks with depth at the tight end position behind Noah Fant, Pharaoh Brown, Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson. At best, Barner may be a red-zone weapon for the Seahawks offense down the road.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith May 22 8:30pm CT
Geno Smith

The Seattle Seahawks are in the early stages of installing new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's offense during organized team activities this spring. However, quarterback Geno Smith feels that he has "a really good grasp" of the offense so far and that it fits his skillset in a few ways. "I feel like I'm a dropback passer and I feel like this is a dropback offense," Smith said. The signal-caller went on to describe it as "an offense that's going to spread the ball around and trust the quarterbacks to make the right decisions... pre-and-post snap. I feel like that's something I'm really good at." A spread offense would be good for Smith and his receivers. The 33-year-old was a Pro Bowler in each of the last two years, but he was definitely not as productive in 2023 and missed two games with injuries. Smith probably won't ever be as good as his 2022 campaign again, but he can be a serviceable No. 2 in superflex fantasy formats.

From RotoBaller

Anthony Richardson May 22 8:20pm CT
Anthony Richardson

Indianapolis Colts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) made his return to 11-on-11 action during organized team activities on Wednesday on the day he turned 22 years old. It's the first time the media got a look at him in a practice/game since last October. It looked as though Richardson didn't miss time at all with a shoulder injury that required surgery. The former first-rounder went 4-for-6 in two 11-on-11 periods, and the motion and velocity on his throws looked normal. There are some days Richardson said he feels "a little achy," but it's part of his recovery process. Unless soreness pops up, Richardson is expected to have no restrictions in offseason workouts as he heads into Year 2 in the NFL. The 22-year-old injured his throwing shoulder in just the fourth game of his rookie year in 2023, but Richardson was already showing why he has high-end QB1 upside if he can stay healthy.

From RotoBaller

Jelani Woods May 22 8:20pm CT
Jelani Woods

Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods (hamstring) is back in action at organized team activities this week after missing all of last year due to hamstring injuries. Woods caught a pass on Wednesday from second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson while running a post route on air. The 25-year-old third round pick in 2022 out of Virginia will be competing for targets with Kylen Granson, who is in a contract year, and Drew Ogletree, but if he can stay on the field in 2024, he'll have some TE2 sleeper appeal with Richardson running the offense in Indy. In his first year in the NFL in 2022, Woods caught 25 passes on 40 targets for 312 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games (two starts). The Colts' tight end room has been one to avoid for fantasy managers for a while, but Woods is certainly worth watching this summer.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson May 22 8:10pm CT
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, last year's NFL MVP, said that he dropped weight this offseason to "be more agile." Jackson said he weighed 205 pounds, which is 25 pounds less than his 2022 weight and 10 pounds less than last year. The 27-year-old is already the most prolific running QB in the NFL, as he's gained 5,258 yards on the ground in his first six seasons in the league, 1,399 more than any other signal-caller. He led the NFL by averaging 5.5 yards per carry in 2023, but that was his lowest in any full season. Jackson had nine runs in his first three seasons in which he reached a maximum speed of 20 mph or faster, but he's managed just one of those runs in his last three seasons. He doesn't think the weight loss will impact how he takes hits, and it shouldn't deter fantasy managers from taking him as a high-end QB1.

From RotoBaller

Dalvin Cook May 22 6:53pm CT
Dalvin Cook

Free-agent RB Dalvin Cook (Ravens) said he would like to go to training camp with a team this upcoming season to show he can be a productive player.

From TheHuddle

Jalen Tolbert May 22 3:10pm CT
Jalen Tolbert

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert looks like he has added muscle this offseason, according to Nick Harris of DallasCowboys.com. The 25-year-old is expected to have a more significant role behind CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks this season, and his added bulk could help him take a step forward. After catching just two passes in just eight games as a third-round rookie in 2022, Tolbert caught 22 passes for 268 yards and two scores in 2023. After the team moved on from Michael Gallup this offseason, his path to the WR3 role is more clear. It's also worth noting the Cowboys will have to replace 67 targets vacated by Tony Pollard after he signed with the Tennessee Titans at the start of free agency, so there could be more targets up for grabs in the short and intermediate areas of the field for Tolbert.

From RotoBaller

DeVante Parker May 22 3:03pm CT
DeVante Parker

Philadelphia Eagles WR DeVante Parker was placed on the Reserve/Retired list Wednesday, May 22.

From TheHuddle

Ashton Dulin May 22 3:00pm CT
Ashton Dulin

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (knee) did not practice on Wednesday as he works his way back from a torn ACL suffered in training camp last year. The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Malone University has had a limited role on offense during his five years with the organization, but he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 for his special teams ability. Assuming he's healthy and makes the 53-man roster this year, he projects to open the season as no better than the team's No. 5 wide receiver behind Michael Pittman Jr., Adonai Mitchell, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce. For now, he's not worth fantasy consideration in any format.

From RotoBaller

Christian McCaffrey May 22 2:53pm CT
Christian McCaffrey

Updating a previous report, San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey's absence from organized team activities is not related to his contract situation, according to a source.

Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey likely will be on the field for the mandator minicamp in a few weeks, but fantasy players can keep an eye on the situation. He is one of the most valuable options in fantasy football and is a must-start option when healthy.

From TheHuddle

Parris Campbell May 22 2:50pm CT
Parris Campbell

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell was a frequent target for quarterback Jalen Hurts during Wednesday's practice, according to Eagles reporter Brandon Lee Gowton. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have occupied the WR1 and WR2 roles over the last two seasons and will continue to do so, but Philadelphia has lacked a legitimate No. 3 wideout during Hurts' tenure. Campbell, who has missed 39 games over his first five NFL seasons due to injury, has a chance to crack the starting lineup in three-wide sets. The former Ohio State Buckeye tallied 117 receptions for 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns in four years with the Indianapolis Colts and one season with the New York Giants. Although he's been disappointing overall, he'll get a new opportunity in Philly, and his competition for the WR3 role became easier after the retirement announcement of DeVante Parker. Campbell won't begin the season on the fantasy football radar in traditional leagues, but he could be worth a late-round pick in best ball formats.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Worthy May 22 2:30pm CT
Xavier Worthy

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (hamstring) is not participating in OTAs on Wednesday after tweaking his hamstring earlier in the week. While it's concerning that the 165-pound wideout is already dealing with an aliment, it's too early in the offseason to have a takeaway from this report. The No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Texas is one of the most intriguing rookies for fantasy football this season, especially given the off-field concerns surrounding second-year wideout Rashee Rice. Worthy was an exciting prospect after posting 197 receptions for 2,755 yards, and 26 touchdowns in three collegiate seasons, and his stock grew after he set the NFL record for the fastest official 40-yard dash (4.21). Assuming he can get past his hamstring injury and stay healthy, he should have spike weeks catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in his debut season. All that said, his slight frame could mean he'll be more prone to injuries.

From RotoBaller