The 2024 NFL Draft is officially complete, so it’s a perfect time to assess the league as a whole. In this week’s edition of Pro Football Network’s NFL Power Rankings, let’s stack every team in the league from the worst to the best.
We’ll also take a look at every club’s first draft choice and what role they’ll play in 2024. While some rookies are on track to start immediately, others will have to wait to join their new team’s lineup.
NFL Power Rankings After the 2024 NFL Draft
32) Carolina Panthers
First 2024 draft pick: WR Xavier Legette (No. 32)
The Panthers were determined to surround second-year QB Bryce Young with weapons, trading up into the first round to land Legette. New head coach Dave Canales said Legette should be ready to be deployed out of the backfield and on screens, jet sweeps, and short crossing routes as a rookie, which could turn him into a safety blanket for Young.
Carolina didn’t stop adding offensive talent on Day 1. The Panthers traded up again in Round 2 to make Texas’ Jonathon Brooks the first running back, then selected another Longhorn — TE Ja’Tavion Sanders — in the fourth.
31) New York Giants
First 2024 draft pick: WR Malik Nabers (No. 6)
Daniel Jones emerged as one of the biggest winners from the NFL Draft after the Giants failed to add quarterback competition. Instead of trading up for Drake Maye or taking J.J. McCarthy at No. 6, Big Blue went with Nabers, whose burst and yards-after-catch ability could make him a favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2023.
Nabers is an alpha WR, while New York also gave Jones a new tight end in Penn State’s Theo Johnson, who could see a significant role if Giants TE Darren Waller retires.
30) Denver Broncos
First 2024 draft pick: QB Bo Nix (No. 12)
The Broncos plan to put a lot on Nix’s plate during his rookie season. While Denver also has Jarrett Stidham and recent trade acquisition Zach Wilson on its roster, Nix is ready to play immediately.
Nix is already 24 years old and has more college experience than most QB prospects. He started 61 games and attempted nearly 2,000 passes over five collegiate seasons at Oregon and Alabama. Nix will throw to rookie WR Troy Franklin, whom the Broncos stole at the top of the fourth round.
29) New England Patriots
First 2024 draft pick: QB Drake Maye (No. 3)
Will Maye start from Day 1? Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo didn’t say after his club selected Maye at No. 3. New England signed veteran QB Jacoby Brissett this offseason and could deploy him to start the season instead of throwing Maye into a lackluster offensive environment in September.
Admittedly, the Pats hit many of their needs after taking Maye in Round 1. Mayo and de facto GM Eliot Wolf added two new wideouts — Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker — and bolstered New England’s OL with Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson. Still, starting Brissett while letting Maye marinate might be the right decision.
28) Washington Commanders
First 2024 draft pick: QB Jayden Daniels (No. 2)
In terms of NFL preparedness, Daniels is closer to Nix than Maye. The 2023 Heisman Winner spent five seasons in college, starting at Arizona State before transferring to LSU in 2022. The Commanders signed veteran Marcus Mariota this offseason, but Daniels should be ready to take the reins in Week 1.
27) Arizona Cardinals
First 2024 draft pick: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 4)
Anquan Boldin set the NFL’s rookie target record (165) as a member of the Cardinals in 2003. Harrison might have a chance to set a new mark for Arizona in 2024, depending on what the Cardinals’ pass rate looks like next season.
Harrison won’t face much target competition in the desert. While third-year TE Trey McBride should be a featured weapon after earning 106 targets last season, Harrison only needs to beat out Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch for looks among Arizona’s wide receivers.
26) Las Vegas Raiders
First 2024 draft pick: TE Brock Bowers (No. 13)
Get ready to learn 12 personnel, Raiders fans. Las Vegas should run plenty of two-TE sets after drafting Michael Mayer in 2023 and Bowers in 2024. Mayer will spend most of his time in line, while Bowers will be more of an oversized slot receiver who can move all around the Raiders’ formations.
Las Vegas missed out on a franchise quarterback in this year’s draft, leaving free agent signing Gardner Minshew II as the team’s likely starter. With Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Bowers, and Mayer as his weapons, Minshew could post the best season of his NFL career.
25) Tennessee Titans
First 2024 draft pick: OT JC Latham (No. 7)
While nearly every mock draft had the Titans selecting OT Joe Alt, Tennessee had to go with Latham after the Los Angeles Chargers took Alt at No. 5. Latham, who played guard and right tackle at Alabama, will line up on Will Levis’ blindside in 2023. Luckily, he’ll have a potential Hall of Fame offensive line coach — Bill Callahan — helping him through the transition.
24) New Orleans Saints
First 2024 draft pick: OT Taliese Fuaga (No. 14)
The Saints have all but given up on 2022 first-round tackle Trevor Penning, so it was hardly surprising that they picked Fuaga in Round 1. The Oregon State product will be a Year 1 starter, although New Orleans has yet to determine if he’ll play on the left or right side.
Fuaga played exclusively right tackle for the Beavers but said he’d been working at left tackle throughout the pre-draft process. Penning’s struggles and Ryan Ramcyzk’s ongoing knee issues mean the Saints have holes at both tackle spots.
23) Pittsburgh Steelers
First 2024 draft pick: OL Troy Fautanu (No. 20)
The Steelers went heavy on offensive linemen in this year’s draft, grabbing Fautanu in Round 1 before adding West Virginia’s Zach Frazier and South Dakota State’s Mason McCormick on Days 2 and 3.
Fautanu, Frazier, 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones, and veteran Isaac Seumalo will likely make up 80% of Pittsburgh’s starting OL in 2024. But who plays what position remains to be determined.
22) Los Angeles Chargers
First 2024 draft pick: OT Joe Alt (No. 5)
Alt would’ve become a starting left tackle for myriad other teams around the NFL, but he’ll be a right tackle for the Chargers. Los Angeles already boasts Rashawn Slater on the blindside, and clubs don’t typically move 25-year-olds with a second-team All-Pro berth on their resume. With Alt in town, the Bolts could consider trading veteran RT Trey Pipkins III.
21) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
First 2024 draft pick: OL Graham Barton (No. 26)
Another seamless offensive line projection. The Buccaneers said Thursday that Barton will be an NFL center after playing center and left tackle at Duke. Robert Hainsey, who started 34 games at center for Tampa Bay over the past two seasons, could shift to left guard or emerge as a trade candidate.
20) Seattle Seahawks
First 2024 draft pick: DT Byron Murphy II (No. 16)
Interior disruptors have never been more critical in the NFL, so the Seahawks didn’t hesitate before nabbing Murphy in the middle of the first round. Seattle didn’t necessarily need another DT but couldn’t pass on Murphy’s talent. He never played more than 500 snaps at Texas and will likely work in a rotation with Johnathan Hankins and Jarran Reed in 2023.
19) Minnesota Vikings
First 2024 draft pick: QB J.J. McCarthy (No. 10)
“We’re not going to rush his development,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said after trading up one spot to draft McCarthy on Thursday night. “We’re just going to do what’s best for the Vikings in the short and long term.”
Minnesota gave Sam Darnold $10 million this offseason and could deploy the former No. 3 pick as its temporary starter. Adofo-Mensah said Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell will ultimately decide when McCarthy takes over under center. Darnold will likely have a short leash if named the Week 1 starter.
18) Indianapolis Colts
First 2024 draft pick: EDGE Laiatu Latu (No. 15)
The Colts finished fifth in sacks (51) and pass-rush win rate (48%) in 2023 but couldn’t help but add another talented player to their EDGE rotation.
Latu was the 15th overall pick despite medically returning during college and entering the NFL as a 23-year-old — that should tell you how talented he is. Viewed as the most pro-ready edge rusher in the 2024 draft, Latu is a threat to lead Indy in sacks in his rookie campaign.
17) Atlanta Falcons
First 2024 draft pick: QB Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8)
If Penix plays more than a handful of snaps in 2024, something has gone wrong for the Falcons. Atlanta’s Penix selection was Round 1’s most controversial choice, and for good reason.
The Falcons just handed QB Kirk Cousins a four-year deal with $90 million guaranteed in March. He’s locked in as Atlanta’s starter for the next two seasons. The concept of finding a QB off-ramp is admirable, but the win-now Falcons should’ve selected a more immediate contribution like WR Rome Odunze, Latu, or Murphy.
16) Cleveland Browns
First 2024 draft pick: DT Michael Hall Jr. (No. 54)
The Browns are overflowing with DT options. Hall joins a depth chart that already includes veterans like Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris, Quinton Jefferson, and Maurice Hurst. Cleveland offers a perfect developmental setup for Hall, who won’t be old enough to drink a beer until June. He can slow-play his NFL adjustment while flashing the pass-rush moves that made him a second-round pick.
15) Chicago Bears
First 2024 draft pick: QB Caleb Williams (No. 1)
Williams will hit the ground running with the Bears, who have assembled the best offensive environment for a No. 1 QB in modern history. Chicago traded for veteran WRs DJ Moore and Keenan Allen over the past two offseasons, then watched fellow pass catcher Odunze fall into its lap with the ninth pick in this year’s draft.
Add in TE Cole Kmet, a three-headed RB room of D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, and an underrated offensive line, and the Bears could be firing on all cylinders as soon as 2024.
14) Jacksonville Jaguars
First 2024 draft pick: WR Brian Thomas Jr. (No. 23)
Thomas isn’t a risk-free prospect, but he could turn into exactly what the Jaguars’ offense needed after losing Calvin Ridley in free agency. He’ll join a Jacksonville WR depth chart that includes holdover Christian Kirk and free agent addition Gabe Davis, giving Trevor Lawrence a fighting chance in 2024.
Thomas should be a Day 1 starter, provided he’s not hindered by the medical questions that flared up during the pre-draft process.
13) New York Jets
First 2024 draft pick: OT Olu Fashanu (No. 11)
In a perfect world, Fashanu won’t see the field during his rookie campaign. But Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses — the Jets’ starting tackles — are both 33 years old. Smith hasn’t completed a full slate of games since 2015. Fashanu is overwhelmingly likely to make starts in 2024 and should have a hand in keeping Aaron Rodgers upright.
12) Dallas Cowboys
First 2024 draft pick: OT Tyler Guyton (No. 29)
Guyton should receive every chance to be the Cowboys’ starting left tackle in 2024. While he played right tackle at Oklahoma, Guyton wants to move to the blindside, where he’d replace Tyron Smith. Dallas’ preference would be to play Guyton, Tyler Smith, and third-round rookie Cooper Beebe from left tackle to center.
11) Miami Dolphins
First 2024 draft pick: EDGE Chop Robinson (No. 21)
The Dolphins already boasted a surplus of edge rushers, but a few are recovering from injuries. Bradley Chubb tore his ACL in 2023, while Jaelan Phillips ruptured his Achilles. Free agent addition Shaq Barrett is ending his age-32 season and missed nine games as recently as 2022.
Robinson should factor into Miami’s pass-rushing mix and could see a significant snap share if Chubb and Phillips are slow to return to the field.
10) Los Angeles Rams
First 2024 draft pick: EDGE Jared Verse (No. 19)
The Rams lost future Hall of Fame DT Aaron Donald to offseason retirement, so it’s no surprise they tried to bolster their pass rush in the draft. Verse (6’3″, 254) is already strong enough to play a full complement of NFL snaps. He should start immediately, running the passer alongside 2023 standout L.A. rookies Kobie Turner and Byron Young.
9) Buffalo Bills
First 2024 draft pick: WR Keon Coleman (No. 33)
Few NFL teams needed WR help as much as the Bills, who traded Stefon Diggs and lost free agent Gabe Davis over the offseason. With little competition in front of him, Coleman could be in for a significant role as early as his rookie campaign.
The Florida State product struggled to separate and ran just a 4.61-second 40-yard dash, but Coleman plays faster than his timed speed and is a legitimate contested catch maven.
8) Green Bay Packers
First 2024 draft pick: OT Jordan Morgan (No. 25)
Viewed as a hybrid guard-tackle, Morgan seems likely to play on the interior for the Packers. Green Bay already has Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom at tackle, but the club lost starting right guard Jon Runyan Jr. in free agency. Morgan will compete with former second-rounder Sean Rhyan for playing time at RG.
7) Baltimore Ravens
First 2024 draft pick: CB Nate Wiggins (No. 30)
It’s unclear if the Ravens plan for Wiggins to start as a rookie. Marlon Humphrey won’t lose his job, while fellow CB Brandon Stephens allowed just an 80.6 passer rating on 108 targets in 2023.
Baltimore lost safety Geno Stone this offseason, which could force Kyle Hamilton to play more true safety than nickel. In that case, Humphrey could slide into the slot while Wiggins sees action on the perimeter.
6) Houston Texans
First 2024 draft pick: CB Kamari Lassiter (No. 42)
Lassiter’s 4.65-second 40-yard dash might’ve scared off some teams, but the Texans looked past his timed speed and saw a potential starting nickel corner. While Lassiter might not have the quicks to play on the outside, his tenacity could make him a perfect fit on the inside of DeMeco Ryans’ defense.
5) Detroit Lions
First 2024 draft pick: CB Terrion Arnold (No. 24)
The Lions apparently got serious about investing in corner depth after being forced to start NFL journeyman Kindle Vildor in the NFC title game. Arnold should immediately play opposite trade acquisition Carlton Davis III while second-round rookie Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and free agent signing Amik Roberston served as overqualified backups.
4) Cincinnati Bengals
First 2024 draft pick: OT Amarius Mims (No. 18)
The Bengals felt comfortable taking a home-run swing on Mims because they don’t need to play him right away. Mims is more than physically ready to play in the NFL, but he made just eight starts at Georgia. He’ll likely start on the bench, but Cincinnati right tackle Trent Brown’s lengthy injury history means Mims will probably see Year 1 snaps.
3) Philadelphia Eagles
First 2024 draft pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell (No. 22)
The Eagles ranked 27th in defensive passing success rate in 2023. While cornerback James Bradberry is still on Philadelphia’s roster after his play fell off a cliff last season, he’s unlikely to start after the Eagles added Mitchell in the first round.
Mitchell aced every pre-draft test. His athletic measurables ranked in the 98th percentile among CBs, and he dominated Power Five athletes at the Senior Bowl after playing at small-school Toledo. Mitchell is ready to start opposite Darius Slay in Week 1.
2) San Francisco 49ers
First 2024 draft pick: WR Ricky Pearsall (No. 31)
The 49ers didn’t trade Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel during the draft, so Pearsall might begin his NFL career on the bench. San Francisco brought back WR Jauan Jennings on a restricted free agent tender, while Kyle Shanahan’s offense spends a lot of time in 12 and 21 personnel.
Pearsall’s primary action in 2024 might come on special teams — unless the 49ers move Aiyuk or Samuel before Week 1.
1) Kansas City Chiefs
First 2024 draft pick: WR Xavier Worthy (No. 28)
Worthy ran a Combine-record 4.21-second 40-yard dash in April, so it’s easy to envision the Texas product becoming Mahomes’ next Tyreek Hill. With Chiefs WR Rashee Rice facing a multi-game suspension, Worthy — whom K.C. traded up to draft at pick No. 30 — should be in line for ample targets early in his career.
