2024 NFL Draft: Teams That Should Trade into Back of Round 1 and Prospects to Target

2024 NFL Draft: Teams That Should Trade into Back of Round 1 and Prospects to Target0 of 5

Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

An NFL general manager’s job encapsulates many things. Talent evaluation is at the forefront of everything, but they must also be able to read the rest of the league and understand value as it pertains to free agents and incoming draft prospects.

Once the NFL draft begins, GMs need to proactively manipulate the draft order to their liking via trades. Former Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome was the master of that during his 16-year tenure.

During the 2018 NFL draft, Newsome decided to trade back into the first round for Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson, even though the Ravens still had Joe Flacco on their roster. Not only did that change the Ravens’ direction, but it also helped begin the evolution of how scouts and teams now evaluate the quarterback position.

That was an extreme example, but it does show how fortune can favor the bold. Other teams should take note and go after the prospects whom they believe can be legitimate difference-makers in the 2024 NFL draft.

Atlanta Falcons: Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry1 of 5

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After adding veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, the Atlanta Falcons must determine the best way to fill their remaining holes at cornerback and pass-rusher during the draft.

The Falcons could do so with the Nos. 8 and 43 overall picks. The order in which they do so will be the intriguing part.

At No. 8, they’ll likely have the opportunity to select either the draft class’ top cornerback or pass-rusher. Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has become a trending name as of late, but Alabama edge-rusher Dallas Turner remains the favorite for the slot.

If the Falcons take Turner at No. 8, they’ll have to double back to find a proper bookend for star cornerback A.J. Terrell.

Atlanta did bring in Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry in for a predraft visit, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. McKinstry entered this past season as the consensus top cornerback prospect, although he fell slightly behind Mitchell and former teammate Terrion Arnold as the predraft process ensued. With that said, he’s still considered a solid first-round talent.

The Falcons have clearly done the work this offseason to win at a high level in 2024. McKinstry has the type of skill set to lock up one side of the defense. In fact, he graded better than any other cornerback in press coverage over the last two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus.

A trade-up from 43 into the 20s should be on the table if McKinstry is available to complete Atlanta’s outstanding offseason.

New England Patriots: Texas WR Adonai Mitchell2 of 5

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Regardless of whether the New England Patriots land North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels with the No. 3 overall pick, the incoming rookie quarterback will need ball-winners and field stretchers on the outside.

Maye and Daniels are both exceptional deep passers, but the Patriots don’t have a true X-receiver on the roster. No Patriots player eclipsed 600 receiving yards last season.

The previous quarterback situation and a bad scheme had a lot to with New England’s passing woes. However, the roster lacks any type of threat on the outside for defenses to worry about. The Patriots could rectify that by trading up from No. 34 overall back into the first round to target Texas’ Adonai Mitchell.

Mitchell is a 6’2″, 205-pound target with excellent vertical speed (4.34-second 40-yard dash) and an outstanding catch radius. He could immediately provide the Patriots with something they currently lack and help expedite the development of their new quarterback.

Mitchell has become a popular mock draft pick for the Buffalo Bills at No. 28. By trading up ahead of the Bills, the Patriots could potentially steal a preferred target from a division rival that needs help on the outside after trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans.

Concerns over Mitchell’s poor combine workout and possible attitude issues have come to the forefront as of late. But a strong locker room with a coach who played eight seasons in the NFL should be more than willing to take in a talent like Mitchell.

Washington Commanders: Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton3 of 5

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The Washington Commanders should have their choice between LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye with the second overall pick. Regardless of whom they select, they’ll need to keep their new starting quarterback upright.

Last season, former Commanders signal-caller Sam Howell took a league-high 65 sacks. Washington’s offensive line wasn’t to blame for all of those, but the unit wasn’t up to par regardless.

This offseason, the Commanders released Charles Leno Jr., who manned left tackle for them over the last three seasons. While general manager Adam Peters did sign center Tyler Biadasz and guard Nick Allegretti in free agency, the blind side remains relatively barren.

Washington currently holds a pair of second-round picks that it could package to move back up in the draft. Depending on who is available, the Commanders could have multiple options.

However, Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton might be the best possibility for them. His athleticism and footwork make him an ideal candidate to make the switch from right to left tackle.

“Guyton is nearly 6’8″ and 320-plus pounds yet glides around the field with an ease of movement and looseness typically reserved for a much smaller player,” B/R scout Brandon Thorn wrote. “This translated to his being able to effortlessly expand his set points against high-side rushes and stay attached and balanced through the top of the quarterback’s drop on a level that are hallmarks of a high-level starting tackle in the NFL.”

New York Giants: Oregon QB Bo Nix4 of 5

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Numerous reports have surfaced about the New York Giants being interested in quarterback prospects despite signing current starter Daniels Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract extension last offseason. The organization has been sniffing around LSU’s Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy throughout the predraft process.

Maybe general manager Joe Schoen is trying to sway another organization to trade into the top five, thus pushing a quality non-quarterback prospect into Big Blue’s proverbial lap. But where there’s smoke, there’s often fire.

Frankly, Jones isn’t a very good quarterback, and he’s coming off two significant injuries (neck and a torn ACL). His contract isn’t entirely prohibitive, either. The Giants would be left with only a $22.2 million dead cap charge if they cut the 2019 first-round pick after this season.

That gives the Giants good reason to explore all of their options at quarterback in this year’s draft. That’s exactly what The Athletic’s Dan Duggan expects them to do.

“If the Giants don’t land a quarterback in the top six, I expect them to try to trade back into the first round for a shot at Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon’s Bo Nix,” Duggan wrote.

Nix is a fascinating possibility because he’s a highly experienced prospect—he set the NCAA record with 61 career starts—a team captain and an efficient operator. Last season, the William V. Campbell Trophy winner (academic Heisman) set an FBS record with a 77.4 completion percentage.

The 24-year-old’s profile fits the Giants’ preferences to a T, and he could immediately compete to start. The Giants might prefer to trade up from the No. 47 overall pick to get Nix on a first-round rookie deal with a fifth-year contract option.

Las Vegas Raiders: Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.5 of 5

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It’s no secret that some within the Las Vegas Raiders organization would love to trade up and land one of the class’ top options, specifically LSU’s Jayden Daniels. However, that doesn’t seem like a realistic scenario.

The Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots are almost certainly going with quarterbacks with the top three picks. To trade into the top 10, the Raiders would have to outmaneuver both the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos, who sit ahead of them in the current draft order. Minnesota also has significantly more firepower to get a deal done after acquiring the Houston Texans’ first-round selection.

The Raiders need to consider other avenues to address their hole at quarterback. They appear to be doing just that.

“The whispers are getting louder that the Raiders just might take Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. [with the 13th overall pick],” The Athletic Vic Tafur wrote.

Penix isn’t a good value with that selection, though. He doesn’t even carry a first-round grade on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department’s current draft board. However, it would be far more palatable to select him toward the end of the first round, particularly to get a fifth-year option on his contract.

The Raiders’ best path forward is to address the offensive line with the No. 13 overall pick. Alabama’s JC Latham, Washington’s Troy Fautanu and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga would all be rock-solid options at that spot.

From there, Las Vegas must be willing to gamble a bit. The Raiders could take the 44th overall pick and package it with other picks to get their preferred quarterback of the second-tier options.

Since the draft order didn’t break in the Raiders’ favor, they should first build up their trenches, then make a play for college football’s leading passer over the last two seasons.