2024 NFL Draft Grades - AFC

We are now a few days removed from the madness of the 2024 NFL Draft. The breathing space has allowed us time to reflect on the action and selections a little more, hopefully making these draft grades slightly less reactive, let’s take a look at how the AFC teams got on!

The Bills were happy to trade out from 28, allowing the Chiefs to select Xavier Worthy. If any other team had made that pick, it would be easier to parse, but when it’s one of your biggest rivals in the AFC, it’s harder to justify. We love the Keon Coleman and Ray Davis picks, as they should help Josh Allen and the offense go up a level in 2024.

Chop Robinson at 21 felt like the Dolphins were drafting for need, rather than taking the best player available. Pro Football Focus ranked him as their 40th overall prospect, suggesting this is a big reach. Malik Washington could add a shifty slot receiver into Mike McDaniel’s high-flying offense if he pans out.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

The Jets made the sensible, long-term-thinking decision at 11, selecting Olumuyiwa Fashanu from Penn State having traded back one spot. Malachi Corley will add, “some tremendous after-the-catch ability,” per Bleacher Report, and Braelon Allen should be a nice complement to Breece Hall.

We had Drake Maye ranked ahead of Jayden Daniels, so to select him as the third QB taken is a big win. Pairing him with second-rounder Jalyn Polk is a nice one-two punch early in the draft. Polk is a “ball-winning No. 2 WR in the NFL… who can dunk on DBs down the field and in the red zone,” per Derrick Klassen of Bleacher Report.

We didn’t love Nate Wiggins when we watched him, despite his obvious ball skills. His 173 lbs frame is light for a DB, but if it can work anywhere, it’s in Baltimore’s uber-physical defense. Roger Rosengarten and Adisa Isaac in rounds two and three were great value picks.

The Browns were lacking a first-round selection, but still left the draft with Michael Hall Jr. and Zak Zinter, two players we liked. Bleacher Report had Hall ranked as the 73rd overall prospect, suggesting they believe his selection was a reach.

The Steelers know what they’re doing, and the 2024 draft showed why. In the first three rounds, they selected Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, and Roman Wilson, all players who could make immediate impacts in the Steel City. PFF describes their fourth-round pick Payton Wilson as a “first-round talent” were it not for injuries.

Amarius Mims is the jewel in the Bengals' draft crown and should be a long-term solution on the right side of Joe Burrow’s offensive line. His lack of college experience could be a worry, but if he can stay healthy and on the field, he has the tools to become elite. Kris Jenkins in the second round also addresses and area of need.

The Texans also lacked a first-rounder, not selecting until the 42nd overall pick. They chose to add Kamari Lassiter, a savvy cornerback from Kirby Smart’s dominant UGA program. Lassiter isn’t the most inspiring pick, but as PFF puts it, “It’s another dart throw at cornerback,” as they look to find a partner for Derek Stingley Jr.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

The Colts’ draft all comes down to how Laiatu Latu goes in the NFL. An older pass rusher with a serious medical history is a risk, even if his on-field play has never been in question. Adonai Mitchell in the middle of the second round looks like a good selection, but is there a reason why most teams passed on him twice?

The Jags added Brian Thomas Jr. with the 23rd overall pick, giving Trevor Lawrence a legit weapon on the outside. Derrick Klassen for Bleacher Report describes him as having, “the big-play potential to be a weapon in the NFL.” Elsewhere, we feel the Jags reached for the two former LSU defensive tackles they drafted.

Not a draft that gets anyone too excited, but it does address a serious need for Tennessee. JC Latham is a giant of a man who projects as the prototypical right tackle. Talking of big men, T’Vondre Sweat from Texas is a monster nose tackle who should open things up for Jurrell Casey. The Titans need to give Will Levis a year, and they’re giving him all the tools to sink or swim.

We liked Bo Nix as much as anyone in the pre-draft process, but we can’t help feeling taking him at 12 is a reach. As Bleacher Report suggests, this pick is a “dice roll.” Jonah Elliss in round two is solid value, given his 17.7% pass-rush win rate per PFF, and Troy Franklin in round four is a steal.

The Chiefs have the luxury of taking swings in the draft, which is exactly what they did by selecting Xavier Worthy. Worthy is the fastest player of all time at the Combine, but PFF only gave him low 70s receiving grades during his past two seasons. That may not mean much when he enters the NFL. Kingsley Suamataia was a great value selection at number 63.

We feel like we’re missing something here, as we are seeing publications such as PFF and Bleacher Report give the Raiders much higher grades. We just don’t get the Brock Bowers pick for a side lacking talent in so many important areas. Jackson Powers-Johnson should beef up the interior of their offensive line and was solid value in the second round.

The pre-draft debates centered around whether to take offensive line or wide receiver with the fifth-overall selection. The Chargers took both in the first two rounds, addressing two huge areas of need. Joe Alt allowed just 13 pressures from over 700 pass-blocking snaps per PFF, and Ladd McConkey can play inside or outside, offering Justin Herbert a reliable target.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!