NFL Draft tracker: Grading every first-round pick in 2024
Who made out like a bandit in the first round of the NFL Draft? And whose draft haul pales in comparison?
The NFL calendar has three flagship days: the opening day of the regular season, Super Bowl Sunday and, of course, the first night of the NFL Draft. After a long (and, at times, silly) grind of an offseason, we have finally reached the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Dearest readers, let us rejoice.
The NFL Draft is unique because it is effectively a sale of hope. It is football fans’ official respite that things might, one day, be different for their teams. Nothing sells optimism quite like a young, doe-eyed prospect with the potential to take over a game. Grading these respective NFL Draft selections is by no means an exact science. A great or poor grade is nowhere close to a referendum on someone’s capacity at the highest level of this sport. If that were the case, the San Francisco 49ers would’ve created a modern dynasty with Trey Lance. But those are the breaks.
With all of that said, we come from an informed place with our first-round grades. They are our best estimate of a prospect’s talent, fit with their new team and whether someone might have “reached” a bit too much. We will hit a few home runs. We will also inevitably strike out in an embarrassing fashion. Full stop.
In the end, know that we come from a good place with each and every grade below.