Category: 2024 NFL draft

Titans offseason preview at DL: Pending free agents, biggest needs

In our latest offseason preview for the Titans, we take a look at the defensive line.

The Tennessee Titans’ defensive line wasn’t as dominant as it has been in years past during the 2023 campaign, mostly because of a drop-off in run defense.

After sporting the best unit in the league the past two seasons, the Titans fell to No. 13, which certainly isn’t bad but not what we’ve been accustomed since 2021.

Denico Autry was the biggest bright spot upfront, with the veteran tallying a career-high 11.5 sacks in his aged 33 season, which more than made the case that Tennessee should be interested in bringing him back.

Jeffery Simmons was solid once again for the Titans, but health was an issue for the Mississippi State product, who saw his season end early due to a knee injury that sidelined him over the final five games.

Prior to that, Simmons had a shot to break his career-high sack total (8.5) after tallying 5.5 sacks in the 12 games he played. Big Jeff remains one of the elite players at his position in the NFL and only injury can stop him.

Fellow starter Teair Tart was an asset against the run, per usual, but he was clearly unhappy with his contract situation from the jump, which likely caused some internal strife and ultimately led to him being let go.

Going into the 2024 offseason, the Titans have some work to do upfront. We’ll talk about that and more in our latest offseason preview.

Note: Contract information is courtesy of Over the Cap.

2024 NFL offseason: Key dates for the Ravens to know ahead of free agency

We’re looking at key dates to know for the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the 2024 NFL offseason and start of free agency

The 2024 NFL offseason is officially underway after the Chiefs’ 25-22 win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII from Las Vegas.

The league will take the next month to catch its breath, but the slowdown won’t last long, as potential free agents will face the franchise tag, and all 32 teams will head to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of February.

With the Bears now on the clock, we’re looking at critical dates for the Baltimore Ravens and 31 other teams ahead of free agency.

Multiple NFL teams expected to try and trade up in draft for QB

The Cardinals could benefit from draft day trades again with teams looking to draft quarterbacks.

The Arizona Cardinals have the fourth pick in the 2024 NFL draft. They also have the 27th pick because of a draft-day trade with the Houston Texans last year.

They could be in a position for both picks to be active in the trade market again.

According to NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, as many as four or five NFL teams will be looking to trade up in the draft to acquire a quarterback. There is much more belief in the class of quarterbacks in this draft than what is expected in 2025.

The Cardinals, who have their quarterback in Kyler Murray, could benefit.

Whether it is with the fourth pick, the 27th pick or even the 35th pick, Arizona could add current and future draft capital by taking advantage of the desire to add a quarterback in this draft.

Their most valuable pick is the fourth overall selection. While many feel like Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is as close to a lock for the pick as any, he could go before that, depending on what the Bears, Commanders or Patriots do.

Right now, three quarterbacks could go very early. If the Cardinals value the chance of drafting a different player and adding additional picks more than just Harrison, they could be active players in draft-day trades again.

But their pick at the end of the first round or their second-round pick also is valuable because teams looking to get back into the first round for the next tier of quarterbacks.

Either way, it could mean another exciting draft of trades.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Giants land top edge rusher in latest NFL Network mock draft

In the latest mock draft from NFL Network’s Chad Reuter, the New York Giants select a top edge rusher at No. 6 overall.

The New York Giants hold the sixth overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft and most believe general manager Joe Schoen will use that pick on a quarterback, wide receiver, or offensive lineman.

All three of those positions are areas of need for one reason or another but there are others that shouldn’t be so easily dismissed.

Throughout their history, the most successful Giants teams have been those built on defense. Specifically, their front seven and defensive line, which they’ve piled with quality depth and leaned heavily upon.

All four of their Super Bowl titles were won on the backs of their defense and it’s an area the current iteration is clearly lacking.

Entering the offseason, edge rush remains a predominant need for the Giants. Outside of linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, who himself is somewhat inconsistent, there’s very little. Azeez Ojulari has yet to reach his ceiling and established himself as an injury-prone player.

Behind that, there is nothing.

While the other positions steal the spotlight and command the most debate, edge rush remains a dire need — something compounded by the arrival of defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who relies more on organic pressure than his predecessor, Wink Martindale.

NFL Network’s Chad Reuter kept that in mind during his most recent mock draft and has the Giants selecting Florida State defensive end Jared Verse at No. 6 overall.

Will Anderson Jr.’s production dropped in his final year at Alabama (34.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks to 17 and 10) but he proved his combination of power and speed was NFL-ready. I expect to see the same from Verse, who was no less of a problem for offensive lines in 2023 than he was in the previous season, even if his numbers were slightly less impressive in ‘23 (17 TFL, 9 sacks in ‘22; 12.5 and 9 in ‘23).

Some could argue that Alabama’s Dallas Turner is the premiere edge rush prospect in the draft but many believe Verse has the highest upside. UCLA’s Laiatu Latu is also very much in the conversation.

No matter who you believe is the top edge rusher in the draft, the fact remains: The Giants need one of them, and don’t be surprised if that’s the route Schoen ultimately takes.

Note: In Round 2, Reuter has the Giants taking Texas running back Jonathon Brooks and Washington State safety Jaden Hicks. In Round 3, he goes with Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson.

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2024 NFL draft: Top 5 punters for the Steelers to consider

These are the five best punter prospects in the 2024 NFL draft.

After long last, the Pittsburgh Steelers have released punter Pressley Harvin III and can now focus on getting that aspect of special teams in order. There are several free-agent punters Pittsburgh could sign but if they look to the draft, here are the five best in the 2024 NFL draft.

Stay or go: Predicting the fates of all 24 Saints free agents in 2024

Stay or go: Predicting the fates of all 24 New Orleans Saints free agents in 2024, from Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas to Zack Baun and Lynn Bowden Jr.

We’re just one month away from the start of free agency, and the New Orleans Saints have some tough decisions to make. Between players whose contracts are running up and those whose deals are designed to be torn up (we’ll get to them in a bit), it’s going to be tough to keep this team together.

At the same time, some changes are obviously needed. And free agency and the start of a new league year give the Saints an opportunity to shake up their roster and try to improve. That doesn’t mean it’s an easy process. New Orleans is in the red by more than $80 million and must make some heavy decisions on how to reach salary cap compliance.

So with that in mind, here are predictions for which Saints players will return for 2024 or seek better opportunities in free agency:

Cowboys beef up O-line, find fresh RB legs in NFL.com’s 3-round mock

From @ToddBrock24f7: The network has Dallas looking to Washington and Georgia for O-line help, while a Tennessee Volunteer becomes the next Cowboys running back.

One fanbase is gearing up for a championship parade. The other 31 are ready to turn the page to the 2024 season. And that means mock draft season is now in full effect.

The Cowboys have quite a few high-profile players set to hit free agency in March and several big-money contract decisions to make before the draft gets underway in Detroit on April 25.

And once they get there- even if they’re unusually aggressive themselves in free agency- they’ll no doubt have several more thin areas on the roster that will need to be addressed.

As it stands currently, Dallas has just five selections this year, after previous moves to get backup quarterback Trey Lance, wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and the 2023 draft pick that they used on cornerback Eric Scott Jr. The team is projected to gain two additional compensatory selections, but they won’t be announced until closer to the draft.

In the meantime, here’s how NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter sees Dallas’s first three rounds going in his latest mock.

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2024 NFL Draft – Top 50 players post Senior Bowl

Here is Natalie Miller’s newest Top 50.

With the Senior Bowl all wrapped up, we can start putting together the first big board on where these players stand. With more and more tape study and players making a name for themselves during the start of the pre-draft process, things become more and more clear.

Here is Natalie Miller’s first Big Board of the year through the top 50 players:

 

2024 NFL Draft Edge Rushers top 5 rankings 1.0

The 2024 NFL draft has a strong class of pass rushers.

The edge rusher position remains one of the most valuable and hard-to-draft positions in the league, and one teams are desperately searching for. With teams scrambling to find someone who can disrupt the modern passing, prospects possessing great potential see their names called earlier and earlier.

This year’s group of edge rushers is fairly deep but lacking that real top-end rusher like previous years. Let’s take a look at the top five players of that group before we get to the pre-draft process.