by Sean Szymczak
After months of speculation, analysis, and predictions, the NFL Draft came and went in the blink of an eye.
The Big Ten and its new members saw players fly off the board all weekend long. At one point, 7 of the 12 players drafted were from schools playing in the Big Ten in 2024 – an indication of the strength of the conference for years to come. 15 players from Big Ten schools ended up being picked in the first 44 picks of the draft.
We break down and grade how each of those first 15 Big Ten players fit with their new NFL team:
Pick #1: Caleb Williams to the Chicago Bears
No need to get cute here – the Bears did exactly what they should have done with the 1st overall pick.
We can debate all day whether or not Caleb Williams really is the generational prospect he’s been hyped up to be. But one thing is for certain: he was the obvious #1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Bears have constructed an offense around Williams that they never had with Justin Fields or Mitchell Trubisky. With loaded wide receivers, a versatile RB room, and an improving offensive line, the playoffs are not out of the realm of possibility thanks to this pick.
Grade: A+
Pick #4: Marvin Harrison Jr to the Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr is the greatest WR prospect the NFL has seen since Julio Jones 15 years ago. Wide receivers alone don’t usually translate to wins. But when you have a proven quarterback to match an elite receiver up with, that connection can lead to playoff wins.
Few would argue Kyler Murray is a top-10 QB in the NFL. But you can absolutely win with him. After all, Kyler Murray has had a healthy, elite WR for just two of his five NFL seasons (DeAndre Hopkins in 2021-22). The Cardinals won 19 games across those two seasons. Maserati Marv and Kyler should walk into the 2024 season as a top-10 QB-WR duo in the league.
In a division with the 49ers, Rams, and Seahawks, the Cardinals will need to be able to score points more consistently in order to compete. The Cardinals picking Marvin Harrison Jr will allow that to happen.
Grade: A+
Pick #8: Michael Penix Jr to the Atlanta Falcons
Let’s get one thing straight – I love Michael Penix. I absolutely believe that he was worthy of a top-10 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. But the Falcons selecting Penix was illogical on every conceivable level.
The most obvious problem here is the presence of veteran Kirk Cousins, who just signed a 4-year deal with Atlanta in March with $100m guaranteed. Kirk is a top-10 QB in the NFL and is more than capable of leading this Falcons roster to the playoffs on the back of a weak NFC South division. But in order to compete for Super Bowls with Kirk Cousins, they needed to bolster both sides of the line of scrimmage. This pick accomplishes neither.
Furthermore, I believe Michael Penix is the most NFL-ready out of any of these QBs. Of the entire 2024 NFL QB class, I think Penix benefits the least from sitting for multiple seasons. And with the way his contract is set up, Kirk Cousins is staying in Atlanta for at least two seasons.
Cousins will be 36 before the season starts and is coming off of a torn Achilles. It’s reasonable to be concerned about his readiness for the 2024 season and his long-term durability. But if that’s how the Falcons feel, why did they sign him in the first place?? They signed him about 5 weeks ago. Surely they had some interest in this rookie QB class back when they made this deal, right?
Penix is looking at becoming the full-time starter in Atlanta when he is 26 years old (at the youngest). Not only does that seems a little late to give your top-10 pick the keys to the franchise, but I fear the execs who made this selection won’t be around to reap its rewards.
Grade: F
Pick #9: Rome Odunze to the Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze is one of three wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft that could walk into most offenses as a legitimate #1 receiving option. Now he joins an offense with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, DeAndre Swift, and Khalil Herbert.
This is a terrific fit for a few reasons. First off, Keenan Allen is in the final year of his deal and will be 33 when it expires. DJ Moore has two years left and will be 29 when that expires. These weapons are great, but they may not be long-term solutions. Rome Odunze a long-term WR1 who can grow with Caleb Williams while having an opportunity to learn from seasoned veterans.
Odunze is also the perfect receiver for Caleb Williams. He has the speed and burst off the line of scrimmage to torch defenses deep. He also has the size at 6’3″ 215lbs and ball skills to win jump balls against anyone. Williams likes to extend plays and take shots down the field. He will need someone who can run underneath his bombs and consistently come down with the ball when in single coverage – someone exactly like Odunze.
Grade: A
Pick #10: JJ McCarthy to the Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy to the Vikings has seemed like an inevitability ever since Kirk Cousins signed with the Falcons. Even so, I don’t think he is the best fit for the Vikings out of all the quarterbacks selected in the first round.
Kevin O’Connell’s offense is not for the faint of heart. He demands an attacking, aggressive quarterback who can consistently connect on deep shots. The Vikings offense features plenty of pre-snap motion and schemed-up throws deep down the field that require tremendous timing and accuracy from the quarterback.
JJ McCarthy possesses a lot of qualities that is required of elite quarterbacks. But he is not a deep shot savant. He is more like a point guard who can pick defenses apart with short/intermediate accuracy and decision-making. I am nervous that JJ McCarthy will not be able to stretch the field like Kevin O’Connell wants.
I think Michael Penix Jr would have been a better fit for the Vikings offense. But the Falcons’ nonsensical selection made Minnesota’s selection a little easier.
Grade: C+
Pick #11: Olu Fashanu to the New York Jets
Olu Fashanu looked like a top-10 pick in last year’s draft before a late-season meniscus injury required surgery. He surprised a lot of people by returning the Happy Valley in 2023 but was not quite as dominant as he was in 2022. Despite his dip in performance, Fashanu was still one of the clear-cut top tackle prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Jets’ offensive line has been among the league’s worst for years now. With Aaron Rodgers turning 41 this season, protecting him and paving the way for a stronger run game is of the utmost importance. Adding a prospect like Olu Fashanu helps accomplish that and is by no means a bad pick.
But I am a little confused where exactly Fashanu fits in on this line. They already have both tackle positions secured for the 2024 season in Tyrone Smith and Morgan Moses. It’s important to have some depth behind them given the injury history, but the Jets spent their 11th pick on a player who may not start this season.
There is no question Olu Fashanu is the Jets’ LT of the future. He should be a mainstay on a much improved offensive line moving into the future. But the Jets’ Super Bowl window with Aaron Rodgers is only one or two seasons. I would’ve liked to see the Jets take a player that would have a more immediate impact on this roster, like Brock Bowers.
Grade: B
Pick #12: Bo Nix to the Denver Broncos
Keep in mind I am grading the team fit for each player, not the value of the pick. Most people, including myself, did not grade Bo Nix as a first-round pick. Value-wise, this was not a great selection by the Broncos. But the Broncos needed a QB and Bo Nix would not have lasted until the second round. In fact, he probably would not have lasted one more pick with the QB-needy Raiders picking directly behind the Raiders.
Value aside, I think Bo Nix fits Sean Payton’s offense really well. With 61 collegiate starts under his belt, Nix has demonstrated the ability to completely master his offense and timing with receivers. He can get the ball out quickly and accurately while consistently making the right reads.
Nix doesn’t have the strongest arm in this class. There isn’t a lot of tape of Nix fitting the ball into tight windows deep down the field. But Drew Brees proved that you don’t need elite arm strength to be a star in Sean Payton’s offense. And with so much starting experience under his belt, the transition to the NFL should be manageable for Bo Nix.
I think JJ McCarthy would have been the perfect QB for Sean Payton and the Broncos. But seeing as he was selected 10th overall (and I don’t think it would have been in the Broncos’ best interest to trade up for McCarthy), Nix is not a bad consolation prize.
Grade: B+
Pick #15: Laiatu Latu to the Indianapolis Colts
The Colts got the best defensive player in the entire NFL Draft at #15 overall. That’s a win no matter how you chalk it up.
Laiatu Latu has overcome a scary injury history to become the most technically refined pass-rusher we’ve seen come out of college in quite some time. He has a deep catalog of moves to beat even the most physically imposing tackles. But Latu also has the strength and speed to set the edge or stunt inside and take on denser interior linemen. Laiatu Latu is truly the complete package as an NFL pass-rusher.
Latu is also a great fit schematically for the Colts. They run a lot of Cover 3 which requires the defensive line to generate some pressure without needing to blitz.
The only reason I don’t give this an A+ is because I can’t looking at Indy’s glaring weakness in the secondary. I am not sure how valuable that 15th pick was, but I can’t help but picture a scenario where the Colts traded back and would be able to get an elite pass-rusher and an elite cornerback. I feel like having Chop Robinson/Jared Verse and Nate Wiggins/CooperDeJean would be better for the Colts than only having Laiatu Latu. But I digress.
Great pick for the Colts.
Grade: A
Pick #20: Troy Fautanu to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Troy Fautanu was the top interior offensive lineman in the 2024 NFL Draft. The only problem is the Steelers seemed to have picked him as a tackle. At least that’s what Mike Tomlin said after the pick.
Fautanu has 29 starts and over 2,000 snaps in college at tackle so I think he can make it work in the NFL. But at 6’4″ 325lbs, I’m not sure he’ll be the long-term solution at left tackle that the Steelers are hoping he is.
No matter where he plays, Troy Fautanu should be an effective player at a position of need – the Steelers’ offensive line has not been good for a while. But given the general depth at OT in this draft and the Steelers’ glaring weaknesses at wide receiver and cornerback, I’m not in love with this pick or Fautanu’s fit on the offensive line.
Grade: C
Pick #21: Chop Robinson to the Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were decimated at linebacker due to injury last year. They have also needed to improve their ability to get after the passer since Mike McDaniel took over. Chop Robinson should drastically help both areas.
What makes this such a great pick for the Dolphins is where they picked. I identified four elite, plug-and-play edge rushers/OLBs in this draft: Laiatu Latu, Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, and Chop Robinson. All four of those guys would have been worthy of a top-10 pick in a less QB-heavy draft. But the Dolphins managed to grab one of the elite OLBs at pick 21.
The Dolphins bolstered their defense and still have an opportunity to improve their offensive line. But Chop Robinson’s biggest knock as a prospect was his lack of production – especially the drop from 2022 to 2023. It would have been more ideal for Robinson to land somewhere where he could work off of and learn from a proven pass-rusher.
Grade: B
Pick #36: Jer’Zhan Newton to the Washington Commanders
I thought Johnny Newton was the best defensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he ended up falling to Washington ion the 3rd round as the third DT taken. An incredible steal for a Commander team that needs to replenish a depleted defensive line.
Newton is a rare commodity at defensive tackle with his quickness and arsenal of hand moves. He has shown the ability to disrupt the run game and push the pocket to get after the quarterback. A defensive tackle that can rush the passer is a tremendous weapon no matter your defensive scheme.
That being said, Washington already has a couple studs at DT in Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. It’s hard to envision Newton stepping into a full-time starting role in his rookie season. But in their single-gap defense, utilizing Newton, Allen, and Payne as the down linemen could wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
There are certainly teams who could use a versatile run-defender like Johnny Newton more than the Commanders. But he should not have a problem finding an impactful role in Dan Quinn’s defense.
Grade: A-
Pick #37: Ja’Lynn Polk to the New England Patriots
The Patriots have a hole at virtually every position on offense. Given the deep litter of offensive skill position players in the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s surprising to see Ja’Lynn Polk emerge as the Patriot’s new go-to guy.
Polk is a great receiver. He has the prototypical frame at 6’1″ 205lbs and can outrun most guys on the field. Polk’s strength and incredible ball skills allow him to come down with almost every jump-ball you throw his way.
However, Ja’Lynn Polk is not a refined route-runner. He also lacks quickness and burst, making it hard for him to gain separation in coverage. If he struggled at that in college, he’s likely to face more severe struggles in the NFL.
Ja’Lynn Polk could have a long and successful career ahead of him. He certainly has the tools to do so. But I don’t think he is walking into the league as a #1 receiver and reliable security blanket for an unproven quarterback. The Patriots need to give Drake Maye opportunities for easy completions in order for him to succeed as a rookie. This move does not accomplish that.
Grade: C-
Pick #40: Cooper DeJean to the Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ most glaring weakness in their collapse to end the 2023 season was their pass defense. And somehow, some way, Philadelphia managed to land the best two defensive backs in the 2024 NFL Draft.
First, they grabbed Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell – a flawless prospect and future lockdown cornerback if the tape is any indication. And then the Eagles managed to snag the draft’s most versatile defensive back in the eighth pick of the 2nd round.
Cooper DeJean has the size, speed, and quickness to man up anyone in coverage, the instincts and awareness to thrive in zone, the ball-hawking ability to create turnovers, and the tackling ability to make plays in space and behind the line of scrimmage.
What makes this fit so perfect is DeJean is not required to be the team’s top lockdown corner on every play thanks to the presence of Mitchell. This will allow DeJean to line up at nickle, at safety, and even at linebacker in order to confuse offenses and maximize his playmaking ability.
Grade: A+
Pick #43: Max Melton to the Arizona Cardinals
Cornerback might have been the Cardinals’ most pressing need this off-season and addressed it by trading up to grab Max Melton in the 11th pick of the 2nd round.
Melton showed tremendous growth and development throughout his career at Rutgers. He excels at reading wide receivers and beating them to the ball with his long strides and fast hands. He’s also shown an ability to line up from the boundary or slot and utilize his strength to knock receivers off the line of scrimmage.
But Melton has shown a tendency to get beat over the top too easily. His tendency to read the receiver’s eyes and body language in order to jump routes might end up being a hinderance at the next level – he needs to learn to track the ball. Melton has a promising future, but I think he will need to develop for a couple years before becoming the centerpiece of a secondary. Unfortunately, he does not have that luxury in Arizona.
Grade: B-
Pick #44: Jackson Powers-Johnson to the Las Vegas Raiders
Jackson Powers-Johnson was the Rimington award winner as the country’s best center but will likely slide to guard for the Raiders with the addition of Cody Whitehair.
That doesn’t eliminate the chance of Powers-Johnson moving back to center at some point in his career, or even this year. His versatility and experience is exactly what this offensive line needs after shuffling a lot of pieces from last year’s good-not-great group.
Jackson Powers-Johnson would have been a 1st-round pick in most drafts that weren’t so top-heavy with the sport’s two most important positions: quarterback and offensive tackle. The Raiders added a versatile lineman that should make an immediate impact in 2024.