The 2024 NFL draft wrapped up Saturday in Detroit. The historic weekend, which set a record for fan attendance, saw six quarterback selections in the first 12 picks — tying the 1983 class for most signal-callers drafted in the first round. By the end of Thursday night’s first round, 23 offensive players were tapped to join NFL franchises, breaking the previous record of 19 offensive players selected in the first 32 slots.
There are 257 new faces joining the league, but will they help solve teams’ woes? What questions linger following the three-day player selection extravaganza, and what comes next?
We asked our NFL Nation reporters to tell us the most pressing question facing the teams they cover coming out of this weekend. Read their post-draft insights below.
Check out ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper’s grades for all 32 draft classes (ESPN+) and analysts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller’s post-draft superlatives (ESPN+) for more insight into all seven rounds of the draft.
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
Did the Bills do enough to address wide receiver?
The Bills traded back twice in the first round, eventually selecting Keon Coleman with the first pick of the second round, and he immediately projects as the team’s starting X receiver. Despite the Bills making nine more selections and addressing other needs, Coleman was the only wide receiver the Bills selected in the draft. Making a trade for a veteran also isn’t in the cards at the moment. General manager Brandon Beane said a trade wasn’t “realistic” because of the team’s cap situation. While the Bills could certainly make additions, Buffalo is showing its belief in the current room as well as tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. — Alaina Getzenberg
What will the Dolphins do at right guard?
The Dolphins addressed a future need at tackle, drafting Houston’s Patrick Paul in the second round. But they have no clear starter at right guard and passed on interior offensive linemen — with Graham Barton and Christian Haynes on the board when they picked in the first two rounds. Miami will have roughly $18 million in cap space clearing after June 1 and must feel confident in its ability to fill that void with a veteran rather than a rookie. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Did the Patriots do enough to address their need at left tackle?
Veteran free agent signee Chukwuma Okorafor is the projected starter at left tackle, even though his primary experience in the NFL has come at right tackle (and he was benched midway through last season). Meanwhile, the Patriots selected Penn State right tackle Caedan Wallace in the third round (No. 68) and are projecting that he, too, will be able to switch sides despite not doing it in college. Calvin Anderson, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Vederian Lowe, Conor McDermott and Andrew Stueber round out the options, which means the Patriots have volume, but quality remains in question. — Mike Reiss
Did the Jets do enough in the draft to help QB Aaron Rodgers?
They passed on tight end Brock Bowers to take left tackle Olu Fashanu, who probably will begin the season as Tyron Smith‘s backup. Rodgers called it “a great pick,” but he sounded a bit surprised they drafted an offensive lineman after acquiring three starters in free agency. The front office believes it addressed the need for a playmaker with third-round WR Malachi Corley, a prolific yards-after-catch player in college. — Rich Cimini
AFC NORTH
Who’s starting at both guard spots for the Ravens?
Baltimore didn’t draft a guard despite losing both of its starters — Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson — in free agency and not signing any veterans to replace them. After the draft, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said backup Ben Cleveland, second-year lineman Andrew Vorhees and rookie Nick Samac all could be options to step up to fill those spots at left and right guard. “I think we have some viable guys to compete,” DeCosta said. — Jamison Hensley
How will defensive back Dax Hill fit into the roster?
Cincinnati’s first-round pick from the 2022 draft was initially slotted to be Jessie Bates‘ replacement at free safety. But that experiment is over for now. After the secondary struggled last year, Hill will move to cornerback, coach Zac Taylor said Saturday after the draft. While he can play outside or inside, Hill played on the inside in college. If Hill can’t snag a starting spot for 2024, that means the Bengals will have a premium draft pick in a reserve role, which is not an ideal situation. — Ben Baby
Do the Browns have enough offensive playmakers?
Cleveland used only a Day 3 pick on a skill position — fifth-round wide receiver Jamari Thrash — despite wideout Amari Cooper turning 30 before the season starts and running back Nick Chubb rehabbing a pair of knee surgeries. General manager Andrew Berry noted the Browns have had success finding contributors after the draft, but the offense looks like a unit banking on continuity and the emergence of newly acquired receiver Jerry Jeudy. — Daniel Oyefusi
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The highlights from newest Brown Jamari Thrash
Check out the highlights from the Browns’ newest wide receiver, Jamari Thrash.
What will the offensive line look like in Week 1?
The Steelers continued revamping their offensive line, using three of their first five picks to address the position. In drafting tackle Troy Fautanu, center Zach Frazier and guard Mason McCormick to pair with 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones and 2023 free agency addition Isaac Seumalo, the Steelers look to have assembled an offensive line core to get the team back to its ground-and-pound identity. But where does everyone fit? Will Jones remain at right tackle? Will Fautanu unseat Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle? It’s a good problem to have, but one that has to be solved for the Steelers to run effectively under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. — Brooke Pryor
AFC SOUTH
How many Texans rookies could emerge as starters?
Not many, but the one player who has a shot is the Texans’ second-round pick in cornerback Kamari Lassiter. The Texans’ cornerbacks room doesn’t have many long-term answers outside of Derek Stingley Jr. So Lassiter has the best shot, as the rest of the draft picks are behind entrenched starters. — DJ Bien-Aime
Is the Colts’ young secondary up to the task?
The Colts were viewed as needing to invest a premium pick in their defensive backfield but didn’t draft a player there until Round 5, when they selected Jaylin Simpson. The decision reflects general manager Chris Ballard’s confidence in the unit to bounce back and stay healthy. But look for the Colts to remain open to signing a veteran free agent safety or corner in the coming weeks. — Stephen Holder
What are the Jaguars doing at edge rusher behind Josh Allen and Travon Walker?
The Jaguars didn’t draft an edge rusher other than seventh-round pick Myles Cole, whom GM Trent Baalke called a developmental player. Trevis Gipson was signed in March, but he had seven of his 11 career sacks in 2021. The team didn’t bring back Dawuane Smoot or K’Lavon Chaisson, and the only other edge rusher on the roster is second-year player Yasir Abdullah, who played 45 snaps in 2023. The Jaguars had better hope Allen and Walker stay healthy. — Michael DiRocco
Did the Titans do enough to improve the offensive line?
Projecting right tackle JC Latham to the left side comes with some risk, especially with the No. 7 overall pick. But offensive line coach Bill Callahan has done it before in Cleveland and Dallas. Callahan alone should upgrade the offensive line because of his well-documented past accomplishments. Latham along with free agent additions Lloyd Cushenberry and Saahdiq Charles could account for three upgraded starting roles on the Titans’ offensive line. — Turron Davenport
AFC WEST
How soon will quarterback Bo Nix be in the mix to start?
From the moment the Broncos made Nix the sixth quarterback off the board Thursday night at pick No. 12, they sparked a debate on how soon he will start. Nix played 61 college games, an extensive résumé at the position compared to other rookies. He’s 24, and Broncos coach Sean Payton has already lauded Nix’s maturity, approach and work ethic. Payton has said the quarterback depth chart — with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson as well as Nix — will “sort itself out,” but it will be the most watched competition from the first OTA to the season opener. — Jeff Legwold
Did the Chiefs do enough to improve at wide receiver?
The top six receivers on the Chiefs’ depth chart are Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Justin Watson. There’s plenty of talent, but not much in terms of sure things. Brown is new, Worthy is a rookie, and Rice is battling legal issues, while Toney and Moore are coming off deeply disappointing seasons. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Chiefs to bring in a veteran before camp for depth. — Adam Teicher
Are the Raiders really ready to roll at QB with Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew?
Unless Tom Brady is ready to come out of retirement — don’t hold your breath — yes. As GM Tom Telesco said, the Raiders had designs on adding a quarterback in the first round of the draft but not on Days 2 or 3. But things simply did not fall their way with six quarterbacks taken before their selection at No. 13 and a trade up to presumably get Jayden Daniels could not be worked out. So, Las Vegas enters the offseason with a camp battle on the horizon between O’Connell and Vegas newcomer Minshew. — Paul Gutierrez
Should the Chargers feel comfortable at receiver?
The Chargers came into this draft with perhaps the most unproven receiving group in the NFL. They had four players — Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, Joshua Palmer and Simi Fehoko — all of whom have never had more than 800 receiving yards in an NFL season. The Chargers picked three receivers: Ladd McConkey in the second round and Brenden Rice and Cornelius Johnson in the seventh. But the team passed on two of the draft’s best receivers — Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze — with the No. 5 pick to take OT Joe Alt. — Kris Rhim
NFC EAST
Who will be the Cowboys’ lead running back?
For a franchise that has produced all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett and two rushing champs, DeMarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott, the current approach seems markedly different. The Cowboys will go with a committee approach, even if they re-sign Elliott, because they did not select a running back in the draft. Elliott is not the same back he was when he won two rushing titles, but he can help. But do the Cowboys have enough with Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman and Deuce Vaughn to be a 2,000-yard rushing team? The biggest improvement might have to come with the scheme and blocking rather than individual runners. — Todd Archer
Is New York really committed to Daniel Jones at quarterback?
Well, Jones remains the starting quarterback, even though the Giants tried to trade up for Drake Maye. They’ll move forward this season with Jones (assuming he’s healthy) backed up by Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito. “As of today, that is where we are,” GM Joe Schoen said after the draft. Unless Jones plays off the charts, the Giants will be back at it next offseason looking for a new solution at the sport’s most important position. — Jordan Raanan
Did the Eagles do enough to turn the tide on defense?
The Eagles were aggressive in addressing their secondary, using a first-round pick on CB Quinyon Mitchell before trading up in the second to take multidimensional DB Cooper DeJean. That gives the Eagles a much-needed boost of youth and speed into a defensive backfield that surrendered 35 passing touchdowns last season. To address another weakness — linebacker — they made a legacy pick in the fifth round by bringing in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. This unit will have to rely on a number of young players, especially after losing Fletcher Cox and Haason Reddick this offseason, but there is a good amount of talent with which to work. — Tim McManus
Did the Commanders find their long-term solution at left tackle?
The Commanders drafted Brandon Coleman in the third round; some teams viewed him more as a guard, but Washington sees him as a tackle. If he’s not ready, the Commanders could start veteran swing tackle Cornelius Lucas, but after investing the second overall pick in quarterback Jayden Daniels, they need Coleman to ascend and become a solid long-term solution. — John Keim
NFC NORTH
Could the Bears have the best offense in the NFC North?
The offensive imbalance in Chicago (No. 2 rushing offense, No. 27 passing offense) prompted changes in scheme, playcaller and quarterback. But Caleb Williams isn’t just coming into a good situation as a rookie, he might be quarterbacking the best offense in the NFC North. The Bears have a good group of playmakers around their QB, from former Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze, who was drafted ninth overall, to DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift and Cole Kmet. Chicago has all the tools to become a top-10 unit in 2024 and take the title of best offense in the division away from Detroit. — Courtney Cronin
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Can Caleb Williams lead the Bears to the playoffs next season?
Domonique Foxworth and Dan Graziano discuss the likelihood of the Bears making the playoffs with Caleb Williams at quarterback.
Did the Lions take the right draft approach by prioritizing defense?
The secondary seemed to be the Lions’ Achilles’ heel last season, and GM Brad Holmes aggressively looked to improve by drafting two young cornerbacks: Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. This was the first time the Lions have taken a defensive back with each of their first two picks in the common draft era. Holmes also added veterans Carlton Davis III and Amik Robertson as new cornerback additions via free agency, so they have the luxury of developing the rookies at a solid pace. Arnold and Rakestraw won’t be expected to win a spot immediately in order for the defense to improve because the Lions feel good about the depth they have. “It’s good to be there from a roster standpoint,” Holmes said. — Eric Woodyard
Will the Packers be the youngest team in the league for the second year in a row?
It sure looks that way even if all 11 draft picks don’t make the team, especially after the Packers shed veterans such as David Bakhtiari, De’Vondre Campbell and Aaron Jones. It’s always possible they could add a veteran or two between now and Week 1, but with the bulk of their player-acquisition phase completed, they now have one player in his 30s (Preston Smith, 31). “It’s a young man’s game,” Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan said. “I certainly think you want to avoid getting old.” — Rob Demovsky
When will J.J. McCarthy become the Vikings’ starting quarterback?
All indications are the Vikings will stick with their original plan to open training camp with veteran Sam Darnold as the first-team quarterback. Darnold signed a one-year contract in March, so there is no doubt McCarthy will eventually become the starter, but the team is extremely wary about rushing McCarthy, 21, onto the field. They’ve done studies on the risks of exposing quarterbacks before they’re ready. Coach Kevin O’Connell has created a daily developmental plan that will require McCarthy to reach a series of benchmarks before there is any decision to make him QB1. — Kevin Seifert
NFC SOUTH
What will be the ripple effect of drafting QB Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8?
There was confusion and frustration coming from Kirk Cousins‘ camp Thursday when the Falcons surprisingly drafted Penix weeks after signing Cousins to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million. Cousins is known for being professional, and Penix said the two quarterbacks spoke later Thursday night and had a “very good conversation.” But the dynamic between the veteran quarterback and the national championship runner-up signal-caller — who seems to be ready to play sooner rather than later at almost 24 years old — and how the team (and fan base) responds to each will be storylines for the foreseeable future. — Marc Raimondi
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Did the Falcons make the right move selecting Michael Penix Jr.?
Mike Tannenbaum and Dan Graziano express skepticism about the Falcons selecting Michael Penix Jr., while Dominique Foxworth supports the pick.
Will the Panthers’ offensive picks help Bryce Young rebound?
After an offseason in which the Panthers upgraded their offensive line and traded for a star receiver, they spent three of their top four draft picks on dynamic offensive playmakers in Xavier Legette, Jonathon Brooks and Ja’Tavion Sanders. If Young doesn’t show marked improvement, those who criticized the pick last year will only get louder. The offseason has been all about putting Young in the best position to succeed, so now the pressure is on him to deliver. — David Newton
Have the Saints done enough to fix their offense?
The Saints added first-rounder Taliese Fuaga, who could be their right tackle of the future, and wide receiver Bub Means in the fifth round. This is in addition to an overhauled offensive coaching staff and free agents such as tackle/guard Oli Udoh and wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. The question now is whether the Saints have done enough to change an offense that struggled to score in the red zone for the first half of the 2023 season. — Katherine Terrell
Who will start opposite Jamel Dean at outside cornerback?
This is the one area the Bucs didn’t address in the draft, even after trading Carlton Davis III away in the offseason. They did select nickelback Tykee Smith in the third round, but they passed up the opportunity numerous times to take an outside corner. It reaffirms their faith in the guys they already have in Zyon McCollum, Bryce Hall — whom they signed in free agency — and Josh Hayes, who led the NFL in special teams tackles last year and moved to the outside after trying nickel. The expectation is that McCollum will start. — Jenna Laine
NFC WEST
How good can this Cardinals offense be?
By adding wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to an offense that already features QB Kyler Murray, RB James Conner, TE Trey McBride and WR Michael Wilson, Arizona has a core of offensive skill players to make major strides in 2024. Murray now has a variety of targets to spread the ball to and keep defenses on their heels — from Harrison and Wilson out wide, to Conner running the ball or catching passes out of the backfield, to McBride continuing to be one of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL. Not only will Murray be well versed in the scheme when he hits the field in Week 1, he’ll have a rookie in Harrison who’ll be conditioned to play the entire season and other offensive players with more experience. — Josh Weinfuss
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Fantasy projections for the 2024 rookie NFL pass catchers
Check out Mike Clay’s fantasy projections for Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, Brock Bowers and Brian Thomas Jr.
Did the Rams do enough to replace Aaron Donald?
Coach Sean McVay said Saturday that losing Donald “creates a big void.” And while the Rams will never ask one player to fill that void, they can try to replace his production “by the unit,” McVay said. Los Angeles appears to be trying to do that through the draft, as they added four players to their defensive front, including former Florida State teammates Jared Verse (first round) and Braden Fiske (second round). — Sarah Barshop
What’s next for the Niners at wide receiver?
The draft came and went with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings on the Niners’ roster despite plenty of outside trade speculation. That’s likely to be the case for this season, but the Niners are planning for life without at least one (if not two) of them as soon as 2025. They used a first-round pick on receiver Ricky Pearsall and a fourth-round choice on Jacob Cowing to add immediate depth and potential long-term starters. The plan has been and remains to try to work out a long-term contract extension for Aiyuk. If that happens, difficult decisions on Samuel and Jennings (an unrestricted free agent) will await after the season. — Nick Wagoner
Have the Seahawks done enough to improve their offensive line?
So many of the Seahawks’ offensive issues last season stemmed from their line, which lost arguably its best player — right tackle Abraham Lucas — for 11 games and didn’t have enough difference-makers around him. They’ll have three new starters at the interior spots, likely veteran Laken Tomlinson (one year, $1.21 million) at left guard, 2023 fifth-rounder Olu Oluwatimi at center and 2024 third-round pick Christian Haynes at right guard. But there’s a question mark at all five spots, including the uncertainty as to whether Lucas’ surgically repaired knee will hold up. Seattle signed George Fant to back up Lucas and left tackle Charles Cross, then drafted Michael Jerrell from Division II Findlay in the sixth round. — Brady Henderson
Source: www.espn.com