Several teams could select a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but not all situations will be created equal. Some clubs are better prepared to drop a rookie signal-caller into their offense than others.
Let’s run through seven teams that might draft a QB in Round 1 and rank them based on their supporting casts. These rankings will lean heavily on skill-position and offensive-line talent, while coaching will also be a factor.
2024 NFL Draft: Which Teams Are Ready To Insert a Round 1 QB?
7) New England Patriots
- First-round pick: No. 3
- Key weapons: RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR K.J. Osborn, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR DeMario Douglas, TE Hunter Henry
- OL rank: 29th
- Offensive play-caller: OC Alex Van Pelt
While the Patriots reunited with QB Jacoby Brissett this offseason, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo recently indicated that New England will likely target a franchise quarterback at the top of the draft.
Regardless of where the Pats end up with Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, or J.J. McCarthy under center, their new signal-callers could have a difficult time in Year 1.
New England has arguably the worst set of pass catchers in the NFL after failing to sign WR Calvin Ridley in free agency. The club still doesn’t have a left tackle heading into the draft, while Van Pelt hasn’t called offensive plays in 15 years.
Brissett could start most of the 2024 season if the Patriots are worried about dropping a rookie into this worrisome environment.
6) Washington Commanders
- First-round pick: No. 2
- Key weapons: WR Terry McLaurin, WR Jahan Dotson, RB Brian Robinson Jr., RB Austin Ekeler, TE Zach Ertz
- OL rank: 30th
- Offensive play-caller: OC Kliff Kingsbury
The Commanders offer a far better WR depth chart than the Patriots. McLaurin has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons despite dealing with subpar quarterback play, while Dotson — a former first-round pick — has flashed through two pro seasons.
New center Tyler Biadasz should represent an improvement in the middle of Washington’s offensive line. Still, new left guard Nick Allegretti is a career backup, while the Commanders don’t have a viable left tackle on their roster.
Kingsbury is also a question mark. While he’s sometimes experienced success at the NFL and college levels, he’s also orchestrated incredibly inconsistent offenses despite often working with outstanding talent.
5) New York Giants
- First-round pick: No. 6
- Key weapons: TE Darren Waller, RB Devin Singletary, WR Jalin Hyatt, WR Darius Slayton, WR Wan’Dale Robinson
- OL rank: 24th
- Offensive play-caller: OC Mike Kafka
The Giants want a long-term quarterback to replace Daniel Jones, who can be released after the upcoming campaign. But New York is hardly guaranteed to pursue a passer with the sixth overall pick and may be more inclined to add to its supporting cast by selecting a wideout like Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze.
Any QB that lands with Big Blue would be unlikely to start in 2024. Jones will get the first shot under center, while the Giants also signed veteran backup Drew Lock.
But New York’s offensive situation wouldn’t be ideal if it lands a Round 1 quarterback. Waller is probably still the club’s best pass catcher but has flirted with retirement this offseason. Saquon Barkley is gone after signing a free agent deal with the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles.
On the plus side, the Giants have an elite left tackle in Andrew Thomas and fortified their woeful offensive line by signing veterans Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eluemunor this offseason. Meanwhile, Kafka and head coach Brian Daboll have proven to be effective schemers in the past and could post better results with improved talent and a healthy QB.
4) Denver Broncos
- First-round pick: No. 12
- Key weapons: WR Courtland Sutton, RB Javonte Williams, WR Marvin Mims Jr., WR Josh Reynolds, TE Greg Dulcich
- OL rank: 16th
- Offensive play-caller: HC Sean Payton
The Broncos will likely need to trade up to land one of the draft’s top four quarterbacks, something Payton suggested his team is willing to do. Denver already lacks a second-round pick, so moving up the board would likely deprive the club of assets to further build around a young QB down the road.
Still, the Broncos offer several appealing futures for a rookie passer. First, their offensive line is solid at four of five spots, with only center a question mark following the departure of free agent Lloyd Cushenberry.
Second, Payton remains one of the NFL’s best offensive play designers. He built ruthlessly efficient offenses during his spectacular New Orleans Saints before helping Russell Wilson look competent last season after his disastrous 2022 showing.
3) Las Vegas Raiders
- First-round pick: No. 13
- Key weapons: WR Davante Adams, WR Jakobi Meyers, TE Michael Mayer, RB Zamir White, RB Alexander Mattison
- OL rank: 31st
- Offensive play-caller: OC Luke Getsy
The Raiders signed former Indianapolis Colts QB Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million deal this offseason, while head coach Antonio Pierce recently said incumbent quarterback Aidan O’Connell will be given a chance to compete for the starting role.
However, Las Vegas is still in the rookie QB market. The club could pursue a trade up the board, but it could also stay put at No. 13 and consider second-tier passers like Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix.
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Whoever is throwing passes for the Raiders will get to work with Adams, who took a step back while dealing with injuries in 2023 but topped 1,300 yards, scored double-digit TDs, and earned first-team All-Pro honors in each of the prior three seasons.
Meyers is no slouch, either, while Mayer could take a step forward in his second NFL campaign. Vegas’ weaponry may need to overcome an offensive line with significant voids on the right side.
2) Chicago Bears
- First-round pick: Nos. 1 and 9
- Key weapons: WR DJ Moore, WR Keenan Allen, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Khalil Herbert, TE Cole Kmet
- OL rank: 11th
- Offensive play-caller: OC Shane Waldron
Caleb Williams will be a Bear precisely one month from today — and he’ll be entering a pretty decent offensive environment.
General manager Ryan Poles acquired Moore and Allen via trade over the past two offseasons, giving Chicago one of the league’s top WR duos. If the Bears get lucky and see Nabers or Odunze fall to the ninth selection, they might have the top wideout room in the league.
Swift’s free agent contract was overkill, but he’ll form a solid RB rotation with Herbert and 2023 draft pick Roschon Johnson. Chicago has no weakness along its offensive line and could add more depth in this year’s draft.
Waldron ran effective offenses as the Seattle Seahawks’ play-caller over the past two seasons, helping former journeyman Geno Smith morph into a Pro Bowl quarterback. He’ll run a version of the Sean McVay offense in Chicago and give Williams every chance to succeed in Year 1.
1) Minnesota Vikings
- First-round pick: Nos. 11 and 23
- Key weapons: WR Justin Jefferson, WR Jordan Addison, TE T.J. Hockenson, RB Aaron Jones, RB Ty Chandler
- OL rank: 10th
- Offensive play-caller: HC Kevin O’Connell
The Vikings already made headway toward landing a franchise quarterback in the 2024 draft by acquiring the No. 23 pick from the Houston Texans. With two first-round choices in his pocket, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is poised to move into the top five to find a long-term QB.
Minnesota will drop its next passer into a readymade situation. The Vikings’ offensive surroundings are so well-built that even free agent addition Sam Darnold — who’s rarely experienced NFL success after going third overall in the 2018 draft — could thrive if asked to start next season.
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While Jefferson missed seven games with a hamstring injury in 2023, he’s still the best receiver in the league. Hockenson (ACL, MCL) might not be ready for the start of the season, but Addison put up 911 yards in his rookie campaign, and Jones should add more juice to Minnesota’s rushing attack.
Add an offensive line with two elite tackles and O’Connell’s creative and QB-friendly scheme, and the Vikings are more than ready for a rookie quarterback.
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