2024 NFL draft: Best picks, trades, QB fits and predictions

The 2024 NFL draft is officially over. We saw a little bit of everything over the course of three days, with 257 players landing with new teams. Records fell for offensive prospects, quarterbacks flew off the board on Day 1 and it didn’t take long for some pretty massive surprises.

Draft analysts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller spent the past year studying this exciting class, and they each have some immediate reactions to how things played out in Detroit. So, we asked them to break down the class in 27 categories, from best (and worst) picks to some long-term predictions.

Who were the best value selections in each of the seven rounds? Which teams dominated, and what were the best trades? Which picks surprised the most, and what are the most ideal QB fits? Reid and Miller tackle it all. Plus, they pick out Rookie of the Year predictions, standout classes, confusing slides, intriguing developmental prospects, undrafted free agents to know and big takeaways. Let’s get to it, with 27 post-draft superlatives.

What was your biggest overarching takeaway from the draft?

Miller: The NFL has a crisis when it comes to quarterback valuation, and because of it, we’re seeing more and more passers elevated to Round 1 status each year while the middle class at the position is nonexistent. The 2024 group saw consensus second-rounders Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix elevated into the top 12 picks — then we didn’t see a single quarterback drafted after Nix until pick No. 150 when Spencer Rattler came off the board to the Saints. An NFL scout told me in the pre-draft process that “Day 2 quarterbacks are dead,” and it sure seems like it’s becoming a trend to watch.

Reid: NFL teams were excited about this year’s offensive line class, which was seen as historic coming into the draft. Eight offensive tackles were drafted in the first round, which tied the record for the common draft era (since 1967) set in 2008. Twenty-five offensive linemen (including 17 OTs) were selected in the first three rounds of the draft, the most ever during the first two days of the draft. And to cap it off, the 55 offensive linemen and 28 offensive tackles selected across 257 picks each set records for the seven-round draft era (since 1994).

This group of blockers is unprecedented, and there are going to be a lot of future stars and high-level contributors from this class.

What was your favorite pick of the entire draft?

Reid: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, to the Chiefs (No. 63). I’m going with an under-the-radar move here. In the aforementioned deep offensive tackle class, Suamataia got a bit lost in the shuffle. But he ultimately landed in the perfect spot in Kansas City. The Chiefs have a huge need at left tackle, and they don’t shy away from playing offensive linemen early; they saw near-immediate success from Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith on the interior. So, Suamataia has the potential to contribute as a rookie. He has exciting traits, including lower-half suddenness, and certainly could develop into a dependable starter.

Miller: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, to the Eagles (No. 22). He’s a playmaker with speed, length and great poise in coverage. He also fills what was an enormous need for the Eagles after seeing their 2023 starters struggle to stay on the field. Both Darius Slay and James Bradberry are north of 30 years old. Mitchell’s value at No. 22 is fantastic, but it’s really the strategy that I like best. Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman had never drafted a cornerback in the first round then somehow stole Mitchell with teams expecting the team to go with an offensive line selection.