Tag: new engalnd patriots

Projected 2024 NFL Draft order: Chicago Bears are guaranteed the No. 1 overall pick

The Chicago Bears locked down the top overall pick in 2024 — and it’s not theirs.

It’s official. The Chicago Bears have the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

This is not because of any specific failing on their part. In fact, the Bears’ 37-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons marked their fourth win in the last five games. Chicago’s defense has been swarming and its offense, powered by Justin Fields and DJ Moore, is finally beginning to look like fans had hoped at the start of the season.

Conversely, the Carolina Panthers, who owe the Bears their first round pick following last spring’s deal that gave team owner David Tepper (seen in Week 17 launching a drink at Jacksonville Jaguars fans in a 26-0 loss) the latitude to draft Bryce Young, have been a disaster. Carolina traded away DJ Moore, two second round picks, the draft assets needed to select offensive tackle Darnell Wright 10th overall, and what’s now assured to be 2024’s No. 1 overall pick in order to select Young, who has struggled as a rookie. Those struggles have led to a 2-14 record, which will be the worst in the NFL regardless of how they fare in Week 18.

This creates a springboard for Chicago to vault into NFC North contention at the Panthers’ expense. But who’ll be picking after them? Here’s the current 2024 NFL Draft order with one week remaining in the 2023 regular season.

  1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers) (2-14)
  2. Washington Commanders (4-12)
  3. New England Patriots (4-12)
  4. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
  5. New York Giants (5-11)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
  7. Tennessee Titans (5-11)
  8. New York Jets (6-10)
  9. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
  10. Chicago Bears (7-9)
  11. Las Vegas Raiders (7-9)
  12. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
  13. New Orleans Saints (8-8)
  14. Denver Broncos (8-8)
  15. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
  16. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
  17. Arizona Cardinals (via Houston Texans) (9-7)
  18. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
  19. Green Bay Packers (8-8)
  20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
  21. Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
  22. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7)
  23. Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
  24. Buffalo Bills (10-6)
  25. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
  26. Detroit Lions (11-5)
  27. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
  28. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns) (11-5)
  29. Miami Dolphins (11-5)
  30. Dallas Cowboys (11-5)
  31. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
  32. Baltimore Ravens (13-3)

Are the Patriots eyeing a linebacker at 21st overall?

The Patriots are showing interest in taking a linebacker at 21st overall in the 2022 NFL draft.

The New England Patriots may have a pair of good options at linebacker when they’re on the clock at 21st overall on Thursday night during the 2022 NFL draft. It seems folks around the league suspect that’s a position of interest for Bill Belichick.

“There’s also buzz around New England (No. 21) potentially taking a linebacker,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The reporter mentioned New England in a section of his notebook column where he was discussing how Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean would be a great fit for the Patriots.

Dean finished his final season at Georgia with 72 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions after spending most of his time inside. He is on the slower side, which is why many draft analysts believe he skipped the 40-yard dash. Dean is also somewhat undersized at 6-foot, 225 pounds.

Dean isn’t the only linebacker who is likely to go in the first round. Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd is another elite prospect. He’s on the skinnier side, in part because he made the transition from receiver to linebacker. It’s possible the Patriots could keep Lloyd’s development on an upward trajectory and turn hin into a unique prospect who can play both inside and on the edge — not unlike what they did with Jamie Collins when he was coming out of Southern Mississippi. Lloyd finished his final college season with 111 tackles, eight sacks and four interceptions.

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