Re-Drafting The 2024 NFL Draft: Entire First Round Do-Over

January 26, 2025

After one season, did NFL teams make the correct selections in the 2024 NFL Draft? Andrew Ball re-drafts the entire first round.

Is Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels the better prospect? What about Drake Maye? The answer seemed obvious last April. It's not so clear now.

With a year of NFL tape, franchises alter how they view rookies. Would management make the same selections or jump at the chance to snag a different prospect?

Below, I redraft the entire first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Did your favorite team make the correct selection, or will they regret the decision for years?

Picks 1-10

1. Chicago Bears - Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Original Pick: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Was Caleb Williams the wrong pick? Not necessarily. But Jayden Daniels led his team to the postseason in his debut campaign en route to a presumptive Rookie of the Year trophy. His rushing abilities bring another dimension to any offense.

2. Washington Commanders - Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Original Pick: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

The tools are there for Caleb Williams. He makes amazing throws on the run and under duress (which he was often in his rookie season). Consistency and attaching him to an offensive-minded head coach are keys to unlocking the talent.

3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Original Pick: Maye

The Patriots nailed this pick. Drake Maye's potential was on full display during his rookie year and he did it behind a leaky offensive line and one of the league's worst receiving corps. Surround him with talent, and he's a quarterback who can lead a team to multiple playoff appearances.

4. Arizona Cardinals - Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Original Pick: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Ahead of the 2024 draft, some believed Malik Nabers was a better prospect than Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals didn't buy that and took the son of the Hall of Famer. After one season, Nabers was the correct choice, breaking New York's single-season receptions record.

5. Los Angeles Chargers - Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Original Pick: Alt

It's an interesting dilemma for the Los Angeles Chargers here. Does Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz select future All-Pro tackle Joe Alt again, knowing wide receiver Ladd McConkey won't be available in the second round? Or is Brock Bowers the selection to give Justin Herbert an elite receiver?

6. New York Giants - Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Original Pick: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

With Malik Nabers off the board as the top receiver in the class, the Giants take his college teammate, Brian Thomas Jr. An argument can be made that Thomas is just as good (if not better) than Nabers. Now, if the Giants could find a quarterback to elevate their receiver play even further.

7. Tennessee Titans - Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Original Pick: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

In hindsight, Tennessee's belief in giving Will Levis a real chance as a starting quarterback looks bad, but the logic was there. Now, they're searching for a franchise quarterback with the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Bo Nix would have solved those problems in this redraft.

8. Atlanta Falcons - Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

Original Pick: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

The Falcons became the league's laughing stock when they selected Michael Penix Jr. after giving Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180-million deal. The switch to Penix has already been made, but it didn't lead Atlanta to a playoff berth. A consistent pass rush, led by Jared Verse, may have.

Bengals edge defender Trey Hendrickson not only led the NFL in sacks this season (17.5) but also in total pressures (92) and quick pressures (46), while accounting for a league-high 32% of the Bengals' pressures.

Here’s a look at the top 5 in pressures for 2024: pic.twitter.com/uEEG6lAoAF

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 7, 2025

9. Chicago Bears - Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Original Pick: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Drafting Rome Odunze was an embarrassment of riches in year one. He trailed D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen in all major receiving metrics.

Keeping Caleb Williams upright should have been the call. The rookie was sacked a league-high 68 times. Olu Fashanu allowed one sack in over 530 snaps.

10. Minnesota Vikings - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Original Pick: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

The 2024 Minnesota Vikings have one major flaw. The secondary allowed the second-most yards to wide receivers this season. Quinyon Mitchell was an instant shutdown corner in Philadelphia. He would solve problems for Minnesota's pass defense.

Picks 11-20

11. New York Jets - Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Original Pick: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

The slip for Brock Bowers stops here. The Georgia product is clearly a top-10 talent and broke multiple rookie records in Las Vegas. Having him in the middle of the field for Aaron Rodgers may have been enough to prevent the front office from wasting draft picks to acquire Davante Adams.

12. Denver Broncos - Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Original Pick: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Sean Payton worked his magic with Bo Nix, and the rookie led the Broncos to the playoffs. Would the head coach have the same impact on Michael Penix Jr.? Denver's missing piece was a quarterback, and Penix would at least fill that void.

13. Las Vegas Raiders - Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

Original Pick: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Losing out on Brock Bowers stings, but his college teammate makes a great consolation prize. Ladd McConkey caught 82 passes for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns in year one. It gives the Raiders' future quarterback a No. 1 option.

You're a good Ladd, McConkey! 🔥 A 60 YD catch and run TD

📺: #NOvsLAC on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/Kn8556EN3Q

— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024

14. New Orleans Saints - J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Original Pick: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Derek Carr doesn't have a future in New Orleans (or the NFL) much longer. New Orleans can take the route Minnesota took. Draft J.J. McCarthy and allow him to learn from a seasoned quarterback. Instead, Carr may be back for another year for a team with no clear direction.

15. Indianapolis Colts - Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA

Original Pick: Latu

Laiatu Latu recorded four sacks in his up-and-down rookie campaign. He's learning the NFL game and showed flashes of potential as a dangerous pass-rusher. No problem with the Colts making the same selection again in the redraft.

16. Seattle Seahawks - Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Original Pick: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

The offensive line held Seattle back in the first year under Mike Macdonald. Geno Smith was constantly under duress. The run-blocking wasn't successful. Taliese Fuaga could solve some of those woes.

17. Minnesota Vikings - Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Original Pick: Dallas Turner, DE, Alabama

The Vikings pull a Philadelphia double-dip and take the Eagles' other star rookie cornerback. Cooper DeJean, operating mostly out of the slot, did not allow a touchdown in coverage.

18. Cincinnati Bengals - Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

Original Pick: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Braden Fiske, as a rookie, was one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL. The former Seminole logged nine sacks in his first season. Pairing him with NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson may have helped the Cincinnati defense get off the field and into the playoffs.

19. Los Angeles Rams - T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

Original Pick: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State

The Rams nailed the top of their draft, pairing college teammates Jared Verse and Braden Fiske along their defensive line. Because of the success, they didn't have the chance to draft either in the redraft. The next best choice is defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat, who recorded 31 tackles and two sacks on the Tennessee interior.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Original Pick: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s rookie campaign was quite a disappointment, but there's still a lot of talent to be mined. The Steelers sorely need a second receiver opposite George Pickens.

Picks 21-32

21. Miami Dolphins - Zach Frazier, OG, West Virginia

Original Pick: Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State

The Miami Dolphins fielded one of the worst offensive lines in 2024. It didn't show up in the passing numbers because the offense is designed to get the ball out quickly. It was apparent in the running game. Zach Frazier provides an immediate upgrade in both facets.

22. Philadelphia Eagles - Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

Original Pick: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

The Eagles hit a home run with their cornerback selections (Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean). The pair is off the board in the redraft, forcing Howie Roseman and Co. to pivot to Kamari Lassiter. He recorded three interceptions as a member of the Houston Texans this year.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars - Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Original Pick: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Brian Thomas Jr. was the sole reason to celebrate Jacksonville's 2024 season. Unfortunately, he's off the board in the redraft. Still needing a top receiver, the Jaguars select Rome Odunze, who put some good moments on tape in a dreadful Chicago offense.

24. Detroit Lions - Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State

Original Pick: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

Terrion Arnold would have been a fine pick, given pass defense is still Detroit's biggest weakness. Tarheeb Still and Nate Wiggins also could have fit the bill. However, teams can never have enough pass rushers, as the Lions learned when they lost Aidan Hutchinson to a major injury and needed to acquire Za'Darius Smith from Cleveland. Chop Robinson sacked quarterbacks seven times this year.

25. Green Bay Packers - Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

Original Pick: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

Edgerrin Cooper, originally a second-round pick by the Packers, quickly became a leader for the defense. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week twice, recording 3.5 sacks, 52 tackles, and an interception in 14 games.

Edgerrin Cooper run defense from W17 might be ILB tape of the year pic.twitter.com/5Uz6jnZOd8

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) December 31, 2024

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Graham Barton, C, Duke

Original Pick: Barton

Graham Barton isn't solely responsible for the Buccaneers averaging 60 more rushing yards per game than last season, but he is one of two changes along the offensive line. He also surrendered just one sack and 23 pressures in over 1,000 snaps. He'll be an anchor on the Tampa Bay offensive line for years.

27. Arizona Cardinals - Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Original Pick: Darius Robinson, DE, Missouri

The Arizona Cardinals are doubling up at the receiver position. Does Xavier Worthy work in another offense, or is he a product of Andy Reid's creativity?

The Arizona offense was missing speed in 2024. Marvin Harrison Jr. didn't beat cornerbacks downfield. Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson aren't speedsters. Pairing Worthy and Nabers (in this redraft) could improve Kyler Murray's consistency.

28. Kansas City Chiefs - JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Original Pick: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Between injuries, illegal formations, and false starts, the Kansas City offensive line has been the clear weak point in their quest to three-peat. JC Latham hasn't quite lived up to his top-10 draft capital, but it would be an improvement up front. He can play guard, as the experiment with Joe Thuney at tackle has worked.

29. Dallas Cowboys - Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon

Original Pick: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

Rico Dowdle sort of worked out as Dallas' starting running back despite the coaching staff wanting to go in a different direction early in the season. Bucky Irving would have been a Day 1 starter and added an explosive element to the Dallas ground game.

30. Baltimore Ravens - Tarheeb Still, CB, Maryland

Original Pick: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Originally a fourth-round pick, Tarheeb Still has continually delivered for Jim Harbaugh in the Chargers secondary. He's an excellent cover corner who started 12 of 14 games during his rookie year. Nate Wiggins wasn't a bad pick. Still has just been better.

31. San Francisco 49ers - Dominick Puni, OG, Kansas

Original Pick: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

San Francisco's third-round pick, Dominick Puni, started all 17 games as one of the success stories of the middle rounds. He won't last until the third round in the redraft. The 49ers select their interior offensive lineman here.

32. Carolina Panthers - Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

Original Pick: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

Byron Murphy is effective against the run. The Panthers allowed nearly 180 rushing yards per game. This isn't rocket science. Sometimes, the best pick is a safe pick.

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