Saturday, April 27, marked the finale of the 2024 National Football League (NFL) draft, as teams strived to fortify their rosters in their pursuit of Super Bowl glory. The highly anticipated NFL draft featured many surprises. While it is way too early to know how these pics will play out, speculation over decisions made in draft rooms have already begun.
The Chicago Bears who have failed to find recent success held the first overall pick. The Bears, who attained this pick in a lopsided trade with the Carolina Panthers, selected quarterback Caleb Williams. Eight picks later, the Bears selected wide receiver Rome Odunze from Washington. The Bears organization has set themselves up for a bright future by attaining young stars.
While the Bears draft strategy is regarded positively by many NFL experts, the Atlanta Falcons have left many confused. Just a month before the draft, the Falcons signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a 4-year deal worth up to $180 million. Despite this, the Falcons used their 8th overall pick to select quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Penix Jr. led his Washington Huskies to the 2024 College Football Championship while battling injuries. However, Penix Jr. will be 28 years old when Cousins’ contract expires and the Falcons don’t plan on starting any time soon: “Make no mistake, Cousins remains the Falcons’ QB1” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot tell reporters.
While it is way too early to know what teams actually had good drafts, some teams filled holes in their rosters while others did not. The Washington Commanders used their 9 draft picks to fill holes wisely. They selected Heisman winning quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick. They utilized later-round picks to acquire additional offensive options at tight end, aiming to support their new quarterback.
The future alone holds the verdict on the outcomes of these draft picks, yet teams that exercise patience in their selections and diligently address roster gaps often find future success.
Falcons draft pick Micheal Penix Jr. holds up jersey at press conference