• Drake Maye was the best quarterback pick: The right decision for the Patriots was drafting Maye. They needed a franchise-caliber quarterback and didn’t overthink a trade-back to acquire a pick package.
• Raiders had a surprising but good draft: Jackson Powers-Johnson was the best offensive lineman through the three days of Senior Bowl practice, and the Raiders got great value for him at Pick No. 44.
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With the 2024 NFL Draft wrapped up, we wanted to continue our review with some draft superlatives. From best QB to best value pick, here are some standout selections from draft weekend.
BEST QB PICK: QB DRAKE MAYE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
There are plenty of great picks from the 2024 class, and the landing spots for most of these quarterbacks are ideal. Caleb Williams will be in a potent offense in Chicago, and Jayden Daniels will be with an offensive coordinator favorable to his style of play in Washington.
But I went with Drake Maye here because I think the Patriots fielded some enticing trade offers to move back. However, the right decision was drafting Maye. They needed a franchise-caliber quarterback and didn’t overthink a trade-back to acquire a pick package.
If you don’t have the quarterback, nothing else matters. They got theirs.
BEST OVERALL FIT: IOL GRAHAM BARTON, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
From the first game I watched of Barton last summer, I knew the Buccaneers would be interested in him. Now, we had a full season and free agency to go at that point, so this was far from a locked-in pick. But the player was always one who Tampa has gravitated toward during the Jason Licht Era.
Ali Marpet, Alex Cappa and Cody Mauch each played tackle in college but moved inside in the NFL, and all were Licht selections. Barton’s tackle experience plus interior versatility is exactly what the Buccaneers typically prioritize. And it's exactly what their offensive line needed.
BEST PICK FROM THE TRENCHES: IOL JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
There were a lot of good offensive line selections in the 2024 NFL Draft — a class that can be good enough to produce some of the top players at their positions over the next few years. But Powers-Johnson was a major plus pick compared to my big board, as he was ranked 27th and wasn’t selected until Pick No. 44.
Despite playing just one year as a starter, Powers-Johnson showcased the ability to start in the league at both guard and center. He took a strong step in proving that at the Senior Bowl, where he was the best offensive lineman through the three days of practice. Considering the value of where the Raiders got him and the projection of a starting role, this one deserved a shoutout beyond the guys who went in the first round.
BEST OFFENSIVE SKILL POSITION PICK: WR ADONAI MITCHELL, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Mitchell was the 22nd-ranked player on my big board and the class' WR4. So for the Colts to grab him at pick No. 52 makes this an easy choice for my favorite offensive skill player selection. I also love it for the landing spot.
Indianapolis needed to get more dynamic and more vertical. Michael Pittman Jr. is a good “X” receiver, and Josh Downs is an ideal young slot option. But the Colts needed someone else on the outside who can win with athleticism. Mitchell gives them the potential for that and more. I believe he’s an instant contributor in year one.
BEST DEFENSIVE SKILL POSITION PICK: CB KOOL-AID McKINSTRY, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
There was a pre-draft debate as to whether Kool-Aid McKinstry would be a first-round pick, and while he ended up not being one, the Saints surely feel like they got a bonus first-round talent by selecting him at Pick No. 41.
Though McKinstry isn’t quite the athlete as some of the class' other cornerbacks, his tape was steady and productive as a two-year starter in a Nick Saban secondary. He forced the second-most incompletions over the past two years, behind only Quinyon Mitchell, and is a perfect fit for the aggressive coverage scheme the Saints like to deploy as a press-man cornerback.
BEST TRADE: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TRADE BACK WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS IN ROUND 1
Though the Jaguars went against the grain of my big board for a few of their selections (most notably the Maason Smith pick), their trade-back from No. 17 to No. 23 with the Vikings brought them a serious return while still allowing them to grab a player who fit their needs in Brian Thomas Jr.
Jacksonville dropped six spots in Round 1 to get back a fifth-round pick in 2024, a third-rounder in 2025 and a fourth-rounder in 2025. Per Timo Riske's trade value numbers, that was an estimated wins above replacement gain of 0.37, making them the clear winners of the trade from a value standpoint.
BEST VALUE PICK: CB COOPER DeJEAN, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
I had Cooper DeJean as my CB1 and No. 8 overall player in the class. So for Eagles general manager Howie Roseman to steal him at Pick No. 40 in the second round is incredible value. DeJean can be an ultimate chess piece for a secondary, especially with the Eagles also grabbing Quinyon Mitchell in Round 1.
The move now allows Philadelphia to put DeJean in the most advantageous situation each week, whether that is him at outside cornerback, in the slot or even at safety to take advantage of his elite ball skills. Getting a top-10 player on my board at 32 picks beyond his ranking gives the Eagles the nod for this one.
BEST DAY 3 PICK: WR TROY FRANKLIN, DENVER BRONCOS
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin ranked 30th on my big board as one of the top wide receivers in the class. I figured there was a chance the NFL wasn’t quite as high on him and that he likely wouldn’t be a first-round pick, but a fourth-round pick? That was a huge oversight from the league.
Franklin’s slimmer body type and lower weight profile are somewhat concerning, but his smooth play and vertical speed alone could have been drafted higher than Pick No. 102. He is reunited with his college quarterback, Bo Nix, in an offense that needed new playmakers.
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