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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- Bills WR Amari Cooper (wrist) out vs. Colts
- Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence to sit out vs. Vikings
- Chargers activate Gus Edwards (ankle) off IR; RB questionable vs. Titans
- Cowboys LB Micah Parsons (ankle) to return
- Texans activate WR Nico Collins (hamstring) off IR
- Cowboys QB Dak Prescott likely to have season-ending surgery
- 49ers' Christian McCaffrey off IR, slated to make season debut vs. Bucs
- Roger Goodell: NFL working on adding Berlin game
- Former first-rounder Terrell Edmunds released as Steelers shuffle roster
- Panthers DL D.J. Wonnum expected make season debut vs. Giants
- Colts promote WR Laquon Treadwell to roster for game vs. Bills
- Dolphins coach on Tyreek Hill: 'If his body lets him, he'll play'
- Saints WR Chris Olave (concussion) to land on IR
- Top 10 Player Props for NFL Week 10
- 49ers star RB Christian McCaffrey questionable, will come off IR
- Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) out vs. Steelers
- Falcons WR Drake London (hip) questionable vs. Saints
- Titans tab QB Will Levis to start vs. Chargers
- Eagles coach: QB Jalen Hurts limited by ankle, or just resting
- Colts rule out WR Michael Pittman Jr. (back, finger)
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The Paur Report
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- Lineup Prep: Week 10
- Waivering: Week 10
- Studs and Duds: Week 9
- Bender's Favorite NFL DFS Pick Em Picks: Week 9
- Week 10 Player Rankings
- Week 10 Inactives
Carolina Panthers LB Jadeveon Clowney (leg) exited Week 10's game against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter after sustaining an apparent left leg injury.
From TheHuddle
Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (hamstring) is scheduled to meet with a specialist Monday, Nov. 11, before making a decision on whether to undergo season-ending surgery on his torn hamstring, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
Fantasy Spin: Prescott has been hoping to avoid surgery, which would cause him to miss the remainder of the 2024 season but allow him to make a full recovery in time for the 2025 campaign. However, it appears more likely than not that he will have to go under the knife. QB Cooper Rush will serve as the team's starting quarterback while Prescott is sidelined but he is not a recommended fantasy option.
From TheHuddle
Dynasty | Carolina running back Miles Sanders was carted off the field in the Panthers early morning game in Germany. Dynasty Analysis: Sanders appears to have a left leg or ankle injury that was significant enough to keep him down on the field for some time before leaving on the cart. This has the looks of a significant injury. It would be the end of another terribly disappointing season for Sanders, who has played sparingly behind Chuba Hubbard despite Jonathon Brooks still not taking a snap this season. Sanders is on a lot of waiver wires already and this would be multiplied should this be a serious ailment.
New Orleans Saints RB Jamaal Williams (groin) is not active for Week 10's game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Fantasy Spin: Williams had been listed as questionable on the injury report after participating in two of the team's three practice sessions during the week on a limited basis. He has had more than 20 all-purpose yards just twice this season and would not have been a recommended fantasy lineup option even if healthy.
From TheHuddle
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) is active for Week 10's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Fantasy Spin: McCaffrey, the top overall pick in many fantasy football leagues this year, is finally making his long-awaited season debut this afternoon. Even though McCaffrey said he feels like his old self, don't be surprised if the 49ers give him a lighter workload than normal as he works his way back into game shape. He is typically a high-end RB1 option when healthy but he may be more of a flex option this week with elite upside.
From TheHuddle
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. (chest), Gabe Davis (shoulder) and Devin Duvernay (hamstring), who were all listed as questionable for Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings, are active on Sunday. Thomas has been questionable the last two weeks but has played through his chest injury. The 22-year-old has been Jacksonville's most productive wideout in his first year in the NFL, catching 35 of his 53 targets for 595 yards and five touchdowns in nine games, but his stock as a WR2 in fantasy will take a hit with quarterback Mac Jones taking over for the injured Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) in Week 10 and possibly beyond. Davis missed the Week 9 loss to the Eagles but should be more involved moving forward with Christian Kirk (collarbone) out for the season. However, with Jones starting, Davis will represent a shaky boom/bust WR4/flex.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars running back D'Ernest Johnson (hamstring) is officially active on Sunday in Week 10 versus the visiting Minnesota Vikings after being listed as questionable on the final injury report. Johnson will join Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby in Jacksonville's backfield this weekend but won't have any standalone fantasy value. The 28-year-old usually works on obvious passing situations, but he'd need an injury to either Etienne or Bigsby to see significant snaps on offense for the Jags. In his second year with Jacksonville, Johnson has just 28 rushing attempts for 114 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and no touchdowns while catching eight of 13 targets for an additional 77 yards. In the two games that Etienne missed due to injury, Johnson saw 10 carries for 41 yards and caught four of six targets for 52 yards for Jacksonville.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills WR Amari Cooper (wrist) has been declared inactive for the Week 10 game.
Fantasy Spin: Cooper will be missing his second straight game because of the injury, so fantasy players will need to monitor his status next week. Khalil Shakir is the only Bills receiver that should be a starting option in fantasy leagues, but Mack Hollins could be a possible flex option in some deeper leagues.
From TheHuddle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (hamstring) is officially active for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. He had been listed as questionable. McMillan missed two consecutive practices before returning in a limited capacity on Friday, so his availability for Week 10 is notable at the very least. The 22-year-old has appeared in six games this season, catching 10 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown. His best game came in Week 8 when he started with Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle). In that contest, he played 81 percent of the offensive snaps, turning seven targets into a career-high four catches and 35 yards. He'll look to build on that stat line this week with Evans still sidelined and Godwin done for the year.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a healthy inactive yet again on Sunday in a Week 10 divisional matchup against the visiting Denver Broncos. It's the fourth straight game that Edwards-Helaire has been a healthy scratch for the Chiefs, with Kareem Hunt, Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele ahead of him on the RB depth chart. The 25-year-old was on the Non-Football Illness list earlier this season due to personal issues and is well off the fantasy radar, especially Isiah Pacheco (leg) hoping to return from a broken leg before the end of the season. CEH has been one of the few Chiefs' draft busts in recent years after they took him 32nd overall in the first round in 2020 out of LSU. Edwards-Helaire has yet to see the field in 2024.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams (groin) is officially inactive for Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons. He had been listed as questionable. The veteran running back logged two limited practices before downgrading to a non-participant Friday. He has appeared in eight games this season, tallying just 124 rushing yards and 21 receiving yards. With Williams sidelined and Kendre Miller (hamstring) on injured reserve, the Saints will call upon a combination of Taysom Hill and Jordan Mims to back up Alvin Kamara on Sunday. Kamara is the only Saints running back currently on the fantasy radar.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder), as expected, is officially inactive in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Lawrence was never expected to play this weekend after suffering an AC joint sprain in his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the Week 9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was reported on Sunday morning that Lawrence could also be in danger of missing the rest of the season because of his shoulder injury. It's just the second time in the 25-year-old's four-year career that he'll be missing a game, paving the way for backup Mac Jones to make his first start of 2024. The Jaguars have a bye in Week 12, so Lawrence will probably sit out the Week 11 contest against the Detroit Lions. With Jones now leading a struggling Jaguars offense, fantasy managers should downgrade all of the Jaguars' pass-catchers.
From RotoBaller
The Minnesota Vikings have declared DT Levi Drake Rodriguez, OG Dan Feeney, CB Dwight McGlothern, DB Fabian Moreau, QB Brett Rypien and OT Walter Rouse inactive for Week 10.
From TheHuddle
The New England Patriots have declared S Kyle Dugger, DL Eric Johnson, OL Tyrese Robinson, QB Joe Milton III, LB Christian Elliss, WR Tyquan Thornton and DL Yannick Ngakoue inactive for Week 10.
From TheHuddle
The New Orleans Saints have declared QB Spencer Rattler, WR Cedrick Wilson, DT Khristian Boyd, CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, RB Jamaal Williams, OG Lucas Patrick and LB Jaylan Ford inactive for Week 10.
From TheHuddle
The Indianapolis Colts have declared DL Adam Gotsis, WR Anthony Gould, WR Michael Pittman Jr., LB Genard Avery, QB Sam Ehlinger and CB Darren Hall inactive for Week 10.
From TheHuddle
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) is officially active for Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had been listed as questionable but was widely expected to play after the Niners activated him from injured reserve on Saturday. The star running back has not yet appeared in a game this season, so Sunday represents his much-anticipated return. Many fantasy managers who selected McCaffrey with the 1.01 pick in fantasy drafts felt betrayed by his long absence, but now, he has a chance to make it up with a strong stretch throughout the second half of the season. In case he has a reduced workload, McCaffrey ranks as a low-end RB1 in his first game back. In future weeks, though, he'll likely rank among the top three running backs, joining the conversation with Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib, oblique) is officially active for Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had been listed as questionable after logging three limited practices in a row. Samuel has delivered modest production so far this season, catching just 24 passes for 406 yards and one touchdown through seven games. Fantasy managers should still deploy him, given his talent, role, and usage, but his days of being a surefire WR1 are over. For now, he's a riskier WR2 play.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (hip) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had been questionable heading into Week 10 after logging three limited practices in a row. Bosa continues to be one of the most effective defenders in his age-27 season, registering 28 tackles, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception through eight games this year. This week, Bosa will be tasked with taking down Baker Mayfield and the rest of his Buccaneers teammates.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) will miss a second straight game while recovering from a wrist injury in Week 10 versus the Indianapolis Colts. With rookie Keon Coleman (wrist) also out, Buffalo's receiving corps will be noticeably thin on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, with Khalil Shakir to serve as the No. 1 pass-catcher for quarterback Josh Allen. In addition to Shakir, tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox should see more run in Buffalo's passing attack, while veterans Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel should serve in starting three-receiver sets alongside Shakir. With Cooper out last week, Shakir caught six of seven targets for 50 yards and also had his first 100-yard game the week prior. Cooper's next chance to return will be for a Week 11 showdown on Nov. 17 against the Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs.
From RotoBaller
