Best and Worst Landing Spots for 2024 NFL Draft’s Top WRs After Early Free Agency

Best and Worst Landing Spots for 2024 NFL Draft’s Top WRs After Early Free Agency0 of 6

Washington wide receiver Rome OdunzeDaniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 2024 NFL draft has multiple game-changing wide receiver prospects, but that didn’t keep teams from getting aggressive in improving their receiver corps early in the offseason.

The free agent market has seen multiple notable receivers on the move. Calvin Ridley signed with the Tennessee Titans, Gabe Davis is a Jacksonville Jaguar and Marquise Brown will team up with Patrick Mahomes.

However, it’s the trade market that has seen other big-name receivers on the move. Most notably, the Bears aggressively traded for Keenan Allen, forming a new dynamic duo with D.J. Moore.

Add in the deal that sent Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns and Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers and the receiver landscape has changed since the dawn of the new league year.

That will inevitably impact the fits for a talented receiver class that will be drafted in April. Considering team need, fit, quarterback situation and draft stock, here’s a look at the latest best and worst landing spots for the top receivers on our big board.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State1 of 6

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B/R Big Board Rank: No. 1 Overall

Best Landing Spot: Arizona Cardinals

Marvin Harrison Jr. is the No. 1 prospect on our board regardless of position. With that much talent, it would be hard for him to fail in any context, but the Arizona Cardinals offer the best opportunity for him to put up big numbers right away.

Kyler Murray played well enough to continue as the franchise quarterback in the desert. The Cardinals were 1-8 when he came back from the injury. They went 3-5 in the games that he started.

The one thing Murray sorely lacked last season was a No. 1 receiver. Rookie tight end Trey McBride led the Cards in targets, receptions and yards.

Harrison would instantly become the top receiver with a proven quarterback at the helm and a third-year tight end coming off of a breakout season. It’s the makings of an explosive pass offense and big numbers for Harrison.

Worst Landing Spot: New England Patriots

The New England Patriots reportedly had a strong offer on the table, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, for Calvin Ridley before the Tennessee Titans inked him to a four-year, $92 million contract.

After missing out on the former Jaguars pass-catcher CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reported the Patriots will “mainly turn their attention to the draft to address wide receiver.”

While it’s been assumed that the Patriots will take a quarterback with the third overall pick, the idea of taking Marvin Harrison Jr. with the pick isn’t completely dead in the water.

If that’s the route the Patriots decide to go then it will be less than ideal for Harrison. He’ll either be catching passes from Jacoby Brissett or one of the quarterback prospects who isn’t Drake Maye, Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels.

The Patriots offense has a lot more questions than the Cardinals. As good as Harrison is, he’ll still benefit from a good quarterback situation and some structure that’s already in place. The Patriots don’t offer those.

Malik Nabers, LSU2 of 6

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B/R Big Board Rank: No. 7 Overall

Best Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers

If there were a better chance that Marvin Harrison Jr. would make it out of the top four picks this would be his ideal landing spot as well. Free agency has made the Chargers the No. 1 destination for any receiver prospect hoping to make an immediate impact.

The Chargers receiver room will look vastly different in 2024. Mike Williams was released and Keenan Allen has been traded to the Chicago Bears. Quentin Johnston had a disappointing rookie season so it will be easy for any top receiver prospect to assume No. 1 receiver duties.

That’s a great place for a player like Malik Nabers to be with Justin Herbert pulling the trigger.

Herbert had a down year and was still fifth in overall QBR. With Jim Harbaugh taking over as head coach, the Chargers should have a more cohesive identity on offense that will allow Herbert to thrive.

That could lead to massive numbers for Nabers as a rookie.

Worst Landing Spot: New York Giants

Both Nabers and Rome Odunze should be doing all they can to impress the Chargers in the pre-draft process. Whoever Los Angeles takes will be going to a great situation while the odd man out could be headed to New York in a less-than-ideal context for success.

Daniel Jones only played in six games last season due to injury but he posted a 36.3 QBR in those games with two touchdowns and six picks.

The rumor mill has churned out differing buzz on the Giants quarterback situation. Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider told media that Big Blue sold Drew Lock on the opportunity to compete for the starting job.

Lock has said that it has been conveyed to him that Jones is the starter. There are also Rich Eisen’s comments from the NFL Combine. He reported that the Giants are “absolutely done” with the quarterback.

Whether it’s Drew Lock or Daniel Jones, any rookie receiver that goes to New York is stepping into a suboptimal situation.

Rome Odunze, Washington3 of 6

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B/R Big Board Rank: No. 8 overall

Best Landing Spot: Los Angeles Chargers

Again, the Chargers are probably the best fit for any receiver in the top 10. With Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers having nearly identical grades from B/R scout Derrik Klassen, the Chargers have a tough decision ahead of them.

Ultimately, it’s going to come down to what they are looking for. If they want pure speed and the more explosive option, then they should draft Nabers. If they are looking for a more direct replacement to Mike Williams, then Odunze has to be the choice.

While Nabers has the explosiveness and the quick-twitch movements to win in the slot and after the catch, Odunze is a classic ball-winner. Klassen calls him a “quarterback’s best friend” as well as a “reliable route-runner with good size and an accuracy-erasing catch radius.”

Justin Herbert could use a best friend right now.

Worst Landing Spot: Tennessee Titans

To avoid piling on the New York Giants here, we’ll highlight another bad landing spot for Nabers.

Our post-combine mock draft had the LSU sensation headed to the Music City to become a key weapon for Will Levis in Brian Callahan’s first year as head coach. To an extent, the decision still makes sense, even after the Titans signed Calvin Ridley. DeAndre Hopkins isn’t going to keep playing at a high level forever and Callahan enjoyed having Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase in the same offense in Cincinnati.

But Levis isn’t Joe Burrow and the Titans have pressing needs on the offensive line.

In the wake of free agency, this isn’t a pick that makes sense anymore. Given the importance the value of receivers in today’s league, the Titans might be tempted to still take a receiver with their first pick but targeting an offensive lineman makes way more sense now.

Brian Thomas Jr., LSU4 of 6

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B/R Big Board Rank: No. 19 Overall

Best Landing Spot: Jacksonville Jaguars

Brian Thomas Jr. is a vertical menace to opposing defenses. Any team that drafts him has to be willing to take multiple deep shots with him throughout a game. Derrik Klassen moved him up to the No. 4 receiver in the class after he lit up the combine with a 4.34 40-yard dash and 38.5″ vertical that earned him a 9.97 unofficial relative athletic score at 6’2″, 209 pounds.

The ideal landing spot for Brian Thomas Jr. is one in which he can take on an immediate role as the team’s primary vertical threat with a quarterback who isn’t afraid to let it fly. Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars certainly fit that bill.

Lawrence was sixth in the league in deep pass attempts, per Sports Info Solutions. He has the arm to take advantage of Thomas’ size and speed downfield but will be dealing with the loss of his top weapon in Calvin Ridley.

The Jaguars signed Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay, but Thomas has a much better chance at becoming a No. 1 receiver than either of those receivers.

Worst Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers just traded away Diontae Johnson and don’t really have a replacement in place. So it won’t be surprising if we start to see wide receiver become a popular target in post-free agency mock drafts.

It makes sense, but Thomas isn’t the right fit for what they need. There’s too much overlap with George Pickens and the Steelers don’t figure to be a pass-heavy team. With Arthur Smith coming on to run the offense, the Steelers are likely to lean on their running back tandem of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

That doesn’t preclude them from needing a wide receiver, but it does mean that they wouldn’t be an ideal fit for Thomas. There won’t be enough deep targets to go around between him and Pickens.

Add in the uncertainty surrounding Russell Wilson and whether he’s washed up and you have a place that Thomas should be looking to avoid.

Keon Coleman, Florida State5 of 6

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B/R Big Board Rank: No. 22 Overall

Top Landing Spot: Buffalo Bills

Keon Coleman certainly fell down a lot of big boards across the internet when he clocked in with a 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine. That really only matters if you quit watching him after he ran that time, though.

Coleman’s size (6’3″, 213 pounds) and jumping (38″ vertical, 10’7″ broad) helped him earn a 9.12 relative athletic score despite the slow 40 time.

The Florida State receiver didn’t really win with his speed and is plenty athletic to make it in the league. As Derrik Klassen described him in his scouting report, he’s a “throwback X Receiver” who wins with his “physicality and ball skills.”

In other words, he’s an ideal replacement for Gabe Davis in the Bills offense. Khalil Shakir stepped up and should fill some of that void, but the Bills still need a big-bodied pass catcher who can go up and get balls from Josh Allen.

Getting to play with that caliber of quarterback alongside a receiver who commands as much attention as Stefon Diggs is an ideal place for Coleman to earn his stripes in the league.

Worst Landing Spot: Carolina Panthers

Coleman’s speed might not be a huge issue in a vacuum, but a receiving corps has to have some speed. Right now, the Panthers need to find some to maximize the talent around Bryce Young.

The Panthers traded for Diontae Johnson and were led in receiving by Adam Thielen. Johnson isn’t exactly a burner, especially for a smaller receiver. He ran a 4.53 back when he was a prospect at 5’10”, 183 pounds. Adam Thielen ran a 4.49, but he’s 33 years old and may have lost a step.

When placed on a roster with some other fast receivers around him, Coleman can be the bully of the receiving corps and win in the red zone. However, the Panthers need someone who can take the top off the defense and open things up underneath for Johnson and Thielen.

That’s not Coleman’s game.

Jalen McMillan, Washington6 of 6

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B/R Big Board Rank: No. 37 overall

Top Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals

Derrik Klassen and the B/R Scouting Department are admittedly higher on Jalen McMillan than most. He checks in at No. 93 on the consensus big board at NFL Mock Draft Database.

But the more you dig into McMillan, the more there is to like.

Klassen noted in his scouting report that the 6’1″, 197-pound Husky has a “well-rounded athletic profile, route-running chops and reliable hands (that) will allow him to be productive from day one, both from the slot and outside.”

McMillan has flown under the radar because of a knee injury that hampered his 2023 season. Washington was in the national spotlight with Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk headlining a high-flying offense that most have forgotten that McMillan had 79 catches for 1,098 yards and nine touchdowns.

His versatility would make him an ideal fit in Cincinnati on Day 2. Tee Higgins is currently under the franchise tag but has requested a trade and Tyler Boyd remains unsigned. McMillan could play Boyd’s role if Higgins sticks around for another year or fit in as the No. 2 receiver if Higgins is dealt.

Worst Landing Spot: San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have a looming contract situation with Brandon Aiyuk and could use some depth at receiver. They are also loaded with draft pick so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them target a receiver earlier than some might expect.

But McMillan is not a good fit for what they do.

As Klassen notes in his scouting report, McMillan is not a great ball-carrier after the catch.

“Although he’s fast and relatively explosive, McMillan is not a natural ball-carrier. He doesn’t have that sixth sense in space to shed tacklers and fight for extra yardage,” Klassen wrote.

That doesn’t fit with the Niners passing game, which is timing-based and looks to maximize yards after the catch. San Francisco led the league in yards after the catch and will look to add receivers that can be running backs with the ball in their hands.

McMillan doesn’t fit that mold and would struggle in similar offenses.