• Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels best landing spots for QBs: The Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders grabbed quarterbacks that are excellent fits for their respective rosters.
• Chop Robinson an ideal player for Miami: The Miami Dolphins are well equipped to get the most out of the supremely athletic edge defender.
• Graham Barton should fit right in in Tampa: Barton should be able to step right in and make an impact for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
With the 2024 NFL Draft all wrapped up, we wanted to identify some of the best landing spots for the players selected. Here are 10 of the best player-team fits from the 2024 NFL Draft.
QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Let’s start with a heater, shall we? I love the Nix/Sean Payton connection. When I look at what Nix has done well over the last few years – accuracy, low sack rate, low turnover-worthy play rate, keeping the offense in rhythm – it reminds me of what the New Orleans Saints did over Payton and quarterback Drew Brees‘ last three years in New Orleans. A big part of that was Brees’ football intelligence nd experience, so I am not saying that will happen in Denver right away. However, Payton already knows how to design offenses around Nix’s type of play style. I like this pairing long-term.
QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
The Commanders had their pick of any quarterback not named Caleb Williams at No. 2 overall and opted for Jayden Daniels above the rest. Though I would have selected Drake Maye, I do like the pairing of Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Much of Daniels' success throwing the ball last year was outside the numbers. Daniels threw 126 passes beyond 10 yards this past season with just 46 coming between the numbers. The rest were on throws outside to the sideline. That’s typically where Kingsbury has also targeted as a playcaller in the NFL. In his four years in Arizona (2019-2022), his team threw the ball the 15th most in the league but were just 23rd in total passes over the middle from that distance.
In theory, the Commanders’ offense should allow Daniels to do what he’s done best the last few years.
CB Andru Phillips, New York Giants
Phillips was one of my favorite picks from the third round this past year. He is an aggressive, press-coverage cornerback who is fearless in man coverage. In the 2023 regular season, the Giants ran the second most plays out of 2-Man, Cover 0 and Cover 1, and ranked 10th in press coverage. Pair that with the Giants drafting Deonte Banks (another heavy press man cover) in the first round last year, and you have a similar style for both of your outside cornerbacks now – even with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale gone.
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Detroit Lions
I thought the Rakestraw selection was an excellent choice by the Lions in the second round. Even though they drafted Terrion Arnold in the first, the scheme fit for Rakeastraw’s playstyle fit too well to criticize. Rakestraw might not be the best athlete, but he does the one thing the Lions preach to their defensive backs very well: tackle. He missed just 8% of his tackles in 2023. Over the last two years, their 13% missed tackle percentage as a team was tied for eighth best, and their 14% missed tackle percentage from just corners was tied for fifth. It is something they take pride in, and Rakestraw Jr. brings it to the table along with good coverage instincts as an off-coverage defender.
WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
I thought Brian Thomas Jr. was a great selection for the Jaguars because he is a talented wide receiver who could be their top option as soon as this season. Nevertheless, beyond the obvious need to get a new receiver in the building, Thomas also fits the Jaguars' style of plat. In 2023, on throws 20 or more yards down the field, the Jaguars ranked eighth in total attempts (79), eighth in completion percentage (49.4%), fifth in total yards (1,096), and first in big-time throws (31). On 20-plus-yard throws in the FBS this past season, Thomas ranked third in total receptions (15), second in total receiving yards (670) and first in receiving TDs (12). That’s a match.
EDGE Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins
I didn’t love Robinson as a Round 1 player, as he was 40th on my big board. Nonetheless, I actually do like the fit with the Dolphins. Right now, they need edge rush talent with both Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb coming back from injury. Robinson mainly wins off athleticism right now. I think the most plausible role for him in the league is as a speed pass-rush specialist. Even if that’s what he will be in the NFL, in the heat of Miami – which demands deeper rotations, especially on the defensive line – Robinson can be quite valuable.
EDGE Darius Robinson, Arizona Cardinals
I had Darius Robinson ranked 61st on my big board, so him being selected at No. 27 was a reach. However, of the teams he could have gone to at the back end of round one, I do like the fit in Arizona. Robinson played interior defensive line as a defensive tackle for his first two years as a full-time starter at Missouri in 2021 and 2022. But in 20223, he lost some weight and played more on the edge. At the Senior Bowl, he showed what a mismatch his power can be as an edge defender, but at the combine, he showed he doesn’t really have the speed game for the position. But in a multi-front Jonathan Gannon defense, Robinson will be aligned anywhere from a three-technique defensive tackle to a seven-technique edge rusher. We talk about versatility a lot, but this is one of the spots where I actually think it holds a good amount of value.
IOL Graham Barton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Barton is the perfect Bucs pick. Like former Bucs interior offensive line picks over the last few years (Ali Marpet, Alex Cappa, Cody Mauch), Barton is a college football offensive tackle who Tampa is going to kick inside to either guard or center. Barton has the game to play center with good flexibility, fast feet, good core strength and vice grips for hands – when he locks on, he’s not letting go. His versatility, talent and even personality all feel like fits for the Bucs' current offensive line.
LB Junior Colson, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers needed a linebacker heading into the draft and were able to grab one with a familiar face for the new coaching staff. Colson grew to be a reliable linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines defense under head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. With Harbaugh and Minter now in Los Angeles, I expect Colson to eventually earn that starting middle linebacker role there as well. Colson can be the middle linebacker of the future with Daiyan Henley being more of the weak-side linebacker to utilize his speed.
WR Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens
Walker had a roller coaster of a draft process. He didn’t get to start the 2023 season at UNC because of an eligibility dispute with the NCAA. Then, when he was on the field, he was used mostly as just a natural deep threat. At the Senior Bowl, he had a bad case of the drops but then at the combine, he showed off that top vertical speed. I like him in Baltimore because without Odell Beckham Jr., they really don’t have a true deep threat. Not that the guys they currently have can’t win deep, but Walker’s dedication to vertical work can truly open things up for Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely underneath. Not to mention pushing defenders back to cover deep allows Lamar Jackson more opportunities to pick up yards with his legs.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.