4 weeks agoThe New England Patriots selected North Carolina quarterback
Drake Maye with the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. The Patriots will open the Jerod Mayo era with a new franchise QB in Maye after the team traded former first-rounder
Mac Jones to the Jaguars this offseason. The 21-year-old has prototypical size at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds, plenty of arm strength and the intangibles that coaches like. However, he's much more of a project than
Caleb Williams and
Jayden Daniels, and may need to sit for a year behind Jacoby Brisset and
Bailey Zappe before New England is comfortable naming him the unquestioned starter under center. Long-term, though, Maye has the talent to be a great QB in the NFL. The problem in New England, though, is that they're lacking in offensive weapons around him right now.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoThe Washington Commanders selected LSU quarterback
Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. Daniels should enter Week 1 as the team's starter under center after Washington traded last year's starter,
Sam Howell, to the Seahawks this offseason. The 23-year-old Heisman Trophy winner last year might be the most physically gifted QB in this draft class, although there is some concern that he might not be able to withstand the beating at the position, especially if he continues to take unnecessary hits as a runner. Like
Caleb Williams, the upside is off the charts, and he'll have a strong No. 1 receiver in
Terry McLaurin and a strong backfield behind him with
Austin Ekeler and
Brian Robinson Jr.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoThe Chicago Bears selected USC quarterback
Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, as expected, in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. Last year's draft trade with the Carolina Panthers allowed Chicago to move to the No. 1 spot this year. Williams was the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick to the Bears for the entire pre-draft process, and it became more apparent when they dealt
Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers a month ago. Not only is the 22-year-old the safest QB prospect in this year's class, but he's entering a situation in Chicago that should be conducive to immediate success in real life and in fantasy. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner will be the clear top pick in rookie-only fantasy drafts this fall and should be in play in two-QB leagues in 2024 as well.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 weeks agoPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown has signed a three-year, $96 million contract, which is the highest for any wide receiver in NFL history. This contract keeps him as an Eagle through 2029. Brown struggled toward the end of last season, and there were growing concerns that the All-Pro was interested in leaving Philadelphia. This massive extension puts those rumors to rest. Despite the disappointing finish, the 26-year-old tallied 1,456 yards and seven touchdowns. Brown will again be considered a top-tier wide receiver in fantasy drafts this year and will serve as the primary target for
Jalen Hurts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport
4 weeks agoThe current expectation is that the Minnesota Vikings will stay put at pick No. 11 overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night, and that Michigan quarterback
J.J. McCarthy will be on the board when they're on the clock. The Vikings added an extra first-round pick (No. 23) to aid a potential jump into the top five to take a franchise signal-caller, but they may not need to do that after all. The Denver Broncos have been subtly linked to McCarthy as well, and they'd only have to jump from No. 12 to No. 10 to cut in front of Minnesota. McCarthy has also been linked to the New York Giants (No. 6) in recent days, but that's believed to have been a smokescreen. The Vikings are desperate for a new QB after failing to re-sign
Kirk Cousins in free agency.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Talk - Mike Florio
4 weeks agoPer a league source, the current expectation is that the New England Patriots will sit tight at No. 3 overall in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night and take North Carolina quarterback
Drake Maye. The New York Giants (No. 6) and Minnesota Vikings (No. 11) had been linked to a potential trade up to No. 3, but the Patriots unsurprisingly have been asking for a lot in return. If the Patriots do stay in the third spot, their next challenge will be getting Maye ready after he showed plenty of inconsistencies and shaky mechanics in his final year with the Tar Heels. In an ideal world for the Pats, Maye would sit and learn behind veteran
Jacoby Brissett and
Bailey Zappe in 2024 and then be ready to go as the team's starter under center in 2025. The Patriots traded former first-rounder
Mac Jones to the Jaguars this offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pro Football Talk - Mike Florio
4 weeks agoThe Kansas City Chiefs have really been working to see if they can move up from No. 32 in the first round of Thursday night's NFL draft. The belief around the league is that the Chiefs moving up from No. 32 would be for one of the speed wide receivers in this talented draft class at the position. It makes sense given the fact that the Chiefs are expecting second-year wideout
Rashee Rice to be suspended for multiple games in 2024 after his involvement in a car accident that involved injuries. Even with Rice in the fold, KC has the need to bolster their receiving corps behind Rice and aging tight end
Travis Kelce. If the Chiefs do pull off a trade up in the latter portion of the first round, they could be targeting Texas receiver
Xavier Worthy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - James Palmer
4 weeks agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars are calling around in an effort to move up in the first round of Thursday's NFL draft, and teams taking their calls believe they are on the hunt for a specific pass-catcher, according to a source. Even though the Jaguars signed wideout
Gabe Davis in free agency this offseason, it appears the Jags are looking to make a splash early in the first round this year for another weapon for quarterback
Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville currently holds the No. 17 overall pick. If they were to trade into the top 10, players such as Washington receiver
Rome Odunze, LSU receiver
Malik Nabers, and Georgia tight end
Brock Bowers could all be options as they look for extra pass-catchers after they lost
Calvin Ridley in free agency. Stay tuned.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
4 weeks agoESPN's Jeff Darlington reports that the Minnesota Vikings are very tense with the first round of the 2024 NFL draft just hours away from starting on Thursday night as they look to trade up to No. 3 with the New England Patriots in an effort to take a quarterback of the future. The Vikings currently sit at the No. 11 pick and were unable to re-sign quarterback
Kirk Cousins in the offseason. The player that has fascinated them throughout the pre-draft process has been North Carolina QB
Drake Maye, but there is serious competition for the No. 3 pick, including the Patriots themselves. If Minnesota can't get Maye at No. 3, they'd likely need to jump the Giants at No. 6 in order to get Michigan QB
J.J. McCarthy. If they whiff on Maye and McCarthy, Washington's
Michael Penix Jr. could be the fallback option for the Vikes.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Darlington
4 weeks agoThe San Francisco 49ers have been in trade rumors regarding star wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk all offseason, but NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports the team has also talked with teams about trading fellow star wideout
Deebo Samuel. Russini said one of the teams the 49ers have talked with currently holds a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, so a blockbuster deal could be in the works. Aiyuk is reportedly asking for more money than the 49ers are willing to give him, while Samuel has been in the trade rumor circles for multiple seasons. With high-priced assets like
George Kittle,
Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner on the roster, the organization will have to make moves in order to re-sign quarterback
Brock Purdy in the near future. If one of the wideouts is traded, they should retain plenty of fantasy value with their new team.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Dianna Russini -- The Athletic
4 weeks agoAlabama offensive tackle JC Latham has seemingly been a rising prospect as the 2024 NFL draft approaches, and NFL draft expert Todd McShay suggested he could be the first offensive lineman off the board on Thursday. Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt has been the popular choice to take that honor, but McShay believes the Los Angeles Chargers could draft Latham over Alt with the No. 5 overall pick. Latham played right tackle for the Crimson Tide, making him a perfect fit on the other side of stud left tackle Rashawn Slater. Los Angeles has been one of the trickiest teams to predict during this draft cycle, and new head coach Jim Harbaugh could choose to go an unconventional route.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Todd McShay
4 weeks agoThe Indianapolis Colts hold the No. 15 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz reports the team has done a ton of pre-draft work on the wide receiver position, and they are interested in Georgia tight end
Brock Bowers.
read more...
4 weeks agoThe Chicago Bears are expected to select USC quarterback
Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but they are willing to trade down from the No. 9 overall selection, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Chicago only has four total picks in this year's draft, so moving down to acquire more selections makes plenty of sense. The team has been linked to Washington wide receiver
Rome Odunze, Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner, and UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu if they stay put, but the options become plentiful if they decide to move down the board. QB-needy teams like the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders could be potential trade partners. Quarterbacks
Bo Nix,
Michael Penix Jr., and
J.J. McCarthy could still be available at that spot.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Dianna Russini -- The Athletic
4 weeks agoThe Minnesota Vikings secured an additional first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft via a trade with the Houston Texans in March. The organization held the No. 11 overall pick after finishing 7-10 in 2023, and they sent a bundle of picks to acquire the No. 23 overall selection from Houston (via Cleveland Browns). Many believe the Vikings are trying to use their two picks to move into the range to select a quarterback, and NFL insider Peter Schrager projects the Titans to be that trade partner. Tennessee holds the No. 7 selection, which could put the Vikings in range to pick Michigan quarterback
J.J. McCarthy. Schrager has the Vikings making that pick and the Titans landing Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt at pick 11. There are likely multiple avenues Minnesota can take if the speculation is current, but Tennessee could be willing to trade down since they do not have a third-round selection.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Peter Schrager
4 weeks agoUCLA edge usher Laiatu Latu is one of the top defensive prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he could even be in contention to be the first defender selected. However, NFL insider Peter Schrager said he could fall in the draft due to medical concerns. "Teams are split on the medical," Schrager said. Latu entered college football in 2019 with Washington, but he missed the entire 2020 and 2021 seasons with injuries, and he even medically retired before coming back and transferring to UCLA in 2022. In two seasons with the Bruins, he racked up 34 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks. He has all the talent and makings of an early first-round pick, but several teams will likely be worried about his ability to hold up at the next level.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
RADIO
