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It's a weird time in the NFL offseason where most of the elite free agents have signed and there is very little football talk around the league. However, now is the perfect time to get familiar with prospects who will enter the 2024 NFL Draft, especially at the wide receiver position.
Analysts have been saying all offseason that this 2024 wide receiver class is one of the deepest in recent years. That's good news for any team that needs a wideout this offseason. This class, though, also features some superstar playmakers at the top of the draft who can make a huge difference for any offense.
So, which teams will take a wide receiver in this draft? Where will prospects like Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze land? Let's dive in and take a look at where wideouts will land in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. (4th overall)
There have been rumblings that the Arizona Cardinals could listen to offers for the fourth overall pick. However, assuming they don't trade the pick and make the selection here at four, they will likely take the best prospect in this draft class in Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison is a generational prospect who put up over 1,200 receiving yards in back-to-back college seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Harrison does everything well as a wide receiver, and he should be the first one off the board to the Cardinals. Arizona is also in the market for a wideout after losing Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore this offseason. The former Ohio State product would immediately be the team's WR1 and could see heavy involvement in the passing game in his rookie year.
Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers (5th overall)
It would be a major shock to see the Los Angeles Chargers not go wide receiver here. If the Cardinals take Harrison with the fourth pick, the Chargers would almost certainly select Malik Nabers out of LSU with the sixth pick. Nabers would immediately fill the team's WR1 spot after they traded away Keenan Allen and released Mike Williams this offseason.
What a day it’s been for Malik Nabers. 4.35 40-yard dash, 42” vertical jump, 10’9 broad jump
Talking with NFL personnel men, Malik Nabers is WR1 for multiple teams. It’s a tight split between him & Marvin Harrison Jr. Nabers is only helping himself today: pic.twitter.com/UbrPY1nHzV
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 27, 2024
Nabers is easily a top-six pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he has the speed, acceleration, and hands to be a superstar in the league one day. Harrison might be the WR1 in this draft class, but the former LSU product is the WR1B. He put up 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final college season.
Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze (9th overall)
The Chicago Bears have completely changed their offense this offseason, which included trading away Justin Fields and acquiring Allen from the Chargers for a fourth-round pick. Chicago is also in a prime spot to select Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in this upcoming draft. But don't think the Bears are done adding playmakers to that offense.
With Allen set to become a free agent after the 2024 season, drafting Rome Odunze with the ninth overall pick could make a ton of sense. For starters, he gives Williams another target in his first year. That would certainly help his development with Odunze, Allen, and D.J. Moore all becoming viable options in the passing game. The former Washington receiver also has star potential after leading the country with 1,640 receiving yards in 2023.
Pittsburgh Steelers: BrIan Thomas Jr. (20th overall)
Harrison, Nabers, and Odunze are the clear top-three wide receivers in the draft class, and those three playmakers will likely be selected within the top-10 picks. Next up, though, could be Brian Thomas Jr. -- who I have going to the Pittsburgh Steelers at 20th overall. With the Steelers trading Diontae Johnson to the Panthers this offseason, they are in the market for a replacement. Thomas could easily fill that hole.
The former LSU star broke out in his final college season, totaling 68 catches for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns. Thomas's deep-threat ability and run after the catch were both on display in 2023, and Pittsburgh could use that in the receiving game. He also ran an official 4.33 40-yard dash, which would give the Steelers a speedy weapon on the outside.
Buffalo Bills: Adonai Mitchell (28th overall)
The Bills have gone through a lot of changes this offseason because of their cap situation. One of those changes has been at the wide receiver position after the team did not re-sign Gabe Davis in free agency. With Stefon Diggs also turning 31 years old before the 2024 season ends, look for Buffalo to add a wideout early in the 2024 NFL Draft.
A wideout like Adonai Mitchell out of Texas could be the perfect fit. Mitchell might not have put up overly impressive numbers in his three college seasons (two of which came at Georgia), but his athleticism is off the charts. The 6-foot-4 wideout finished with a 9.98 relative athletic score at the NFL Combine, which was the eighth highest out of 3,063 wide receivers since 1987. If Buffalo can develop him the right way, he can be a stud for Josh Allen in the passing game for years to come.
UPDATE: After Diggs was traded to Houston, the team's need for WR is even greater.
Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy (32nd overall)
Xavier Worthy was likely a Day 2 pick before the NFL Combine took place in March. However, after breaking the 40-yard dash record and running it in 4.21 seconds, his draft stock immediately rose up. That speed alone should make him a late first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A team like the Kansas City Chiefs -- who owns the 32nd overall pick -- could be the team to take a chance on the Texas wideout.
#Texas WRs 2023
- Xavier Worthy: 123 tgt, 75 rec, 1,014 yds, 5 TDs, 571 YAC, 24 explosive plays, 10.6 aDOT, 2.08 yds per route, 13 missed tackles forced
- Adonai Mitchell: 92 tgt, 57 rec, 882 yds, 11 TDs, 178 YAC, 24 explosive plays, 16.8 aDOT, 1.73 yds per route, 6 MTF
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) March 28, 2024
The Chiefs are definitely in the wide receiver market after a disappointing effort from that group last season. Even though the team signed Marquise Brown to a one-year deal this offseason, Brown doesn't figure to be the long-term answer. Worthy can be, though, with his speed. Imagine what type of player he can become in an Andy Reid-led offense.
Carolina Panthers: Ladd McConkey (33rd overall)
It was a rough year for quarterback Bryce Young in his rookie campaign. Nonetheless, in his favor, the supporting cast around him was not the best. Things will surely be different for Young in 2024, as the Panthers have already tried to upgrade the offense this offseason. They traded for Johnson and signed two guards (Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis) to multiyear deals. Look for Carolina to add another wide receiver early in the draft as well.
Despite not having a first-round pick, the Panthers will have the 33rd and 39th overall picks. Expect one of those selections to be a wide receiver. Georgia product Ladd McConkey could be the right fit for Carolina early in Round 2. McConkey is one of the best route-runners in the class, and he would make Young's job a whole lot easier in Year 2.
Houston Texans: Keon Coleman (42nd overall)
There's no doubt the Houston Texans have one of the best young wide receiver combos in Nico Collins and Tank Dell. However, it seems the Texans want to continue upgrading their wide receiver room. They were close to trading for Keenan Allen before Los Angeles shipped him to Chicago, so they aren't done adding to that group this offseason.
Houston could look to add a wideout like Keon Coleman in the second round. Coleman didn't top more than 800 receiving yards in any of his three college seasons, but he's a big receiver who can win jump balls. This Texans pick could shock many people, considering they already have a solid duo in Collins and Dell.
UPDATE: Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans, making this selection more unlikely.
New Orleans Saints: Troy Franklin (45th overall)
The Saints are surely in the market for a wide receiver after they cut Michael Thomas this offseason. New Orleans also wasn't able to make any big moves this offseason, especially at the wideout position due to cap reasons. As a result, look for the team to upgrade that room during the 2024 NFL Draft.
📈 Rookie Risers: Troy Franklin 📈
WR, Oregon
6’2” 176 lbs
Early Declare (Junior)Draft Projection: Early 2nd Round
Why have we stopped talking about Troy Franklin? The ultimate deep threat and should be on your radar as a late 1st round rookie pick.
⬇️⬇️⬇️ #NFLDraft #Dynasty pic.twitter.com/8V1LEGHTag
— FF BirdGang (@FFBirdGang) March 26, 2024
There's a chance New Orleans selects a wideout with the 14th overall pick. But with this receiver class being so deep, a second-round pick seems more reasonable for the team. Troy Franklin could be a solid choice for the Saints after the Oregon Duck put up 81 catches for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023. Franklin would immediately fill the void left by Thomas.
New York Giants: Xavier Legette (47th overall)
The Giants have tried to upgrade their wide receiver group in recent years by selecting Wan'Dale Robinson in the second round in 2022 and Jalin Hyatt in the third round in 2023. However, neither has really panned out so far for the team. Robinson and Hyatt combined for just 898 yards and one touchdown last season, so look for New York to draft another wideout early in the draft. Maybe the third's a charm?
I have the Giants taking Xavier Legette with the 47th overall pick in this upcoming draft. He has great speed -- ran a 4.39 40-yard dash -- and can get open on his own. Legette totaled 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. New York will be taking a receiver early in the 2024 NFL Draft, but also don't be surprised if they take Odunze with the sixth overall pick instead.
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