While the New York Mets get a well-deserved night off, there is a very important event happening elsewhere in the sports world. The 2024 NFL Draft is set to commence tonight. If you are looking to get your sports fix while the Mets take the night off, the draft is just the event for you.
The Information
When: 8:00 pm ET, expected to run through 11:30 pm ET.
Where: Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan.
Schedule: Round 1 of the draft commences tonight (Picks No. 1 through 32). Rounds 2-3 are slated to begin on Friday at 7:00 pm ET. Lastly, Rounds 4-7 take place starting Saturday at 12:00 pm ET.
How To Watch: Round 1 will be televised on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network. Rounds 2 and 3 will be televised on ABC, ESPN2, and NFL Network. Lastly, Rounds 4-7 will take place on NFL Network.
Draft Order
1) Chicago Bears (from CAR)
2) Washington Commanders
3) New England Patriots
4) Arizona Cardinals
5) Los Angeles Chargers
6) New York Giants
7) Tennessee Titans
8) Atlanta Falcons
9) Chicago Bears
10) New York Jets
11) Minnesota Vikings
12) Denver Broncos
13) Las Vegas Raiders
14) New Orleans Saints
15) Indianapolis Colts
16) Seattle Seahawks
17) Jacksonville Jaguars
18) Cincinnati Bengals
19) Los Angeles Rams
20) Pittsburgh Steelers
21) Miami Dolphins
22) Philadelphia Eagles
23) Minnesota Vikings (from CLE through HOU)
24) Dallas Cowboys
25) Green Bay Packers
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27) Arizona Cardinals (from HOU)
28) Buffalo Bills
29) Detroit Lions
30) Baltimore Ravens
31) San Francisco 49ers
32) Kansas City Chiefs
Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Names To Watch
The 2024 edition of the NFL draft will feature several prospects that play the sport’s most important position being taken early on. The quarterback trio of Caleb Williams (USC), Jayden Daniels (LSU), and Drake Male (UNC) are expected to go off the board within the first three picks. Right behind them should be National Championship quarterback J.J. McCarthy (U-M).
Elsewhere in the first round, especially early on, will feature a number of other offensive players that play the wide receiver and offensive lineman positions. Marvin Harrison Jr. (OSU), Malik Nabers (LSU), and Rome Odunze (UW) are a trio of wideouts who should all hear their names called in the top 10. Offensive tackles Joe Alt (ND), J.C. Latham (Alabama), Taliese Fuaga (OSU), Olumuyiwa Fashanu (PSU), and Troy Fautanu (UW) are all expected to go inside the top 20.
The first defensive player off the board is unlikely to come until the backend of the top 10. The most likely prospect to fulfill this designation is edge rusher Dallas Turner (Alabama) or Laiatu Latu (UCLA) or maybe even interior defensive lineman, Byron Murphy (Texas). Other notable expected first-round defensive selections are cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo), Terrion Arnold (Alabama), and Nate Wiggins (Clemson). Additionally, edge rusher Jared Verse (FSU), interior defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton (Illinois), and defensive back Cooper DeJean (Iowa) should all hear their names called within the first 32 picks.
The New Jersey/New York Teams
Once again, two of the tri-state area teams are slated to pick very early in the draft Thursday night. Meanwhile, the New York Buffalo Bills are slated to select No.28 amidst a plethora of different offseason losses.
New York Giants
The Giants own the No.6 overall pick and are one of the more intriguing teams to watch. Several have pegged them as a team trying to trade up for one of the top quarterbacks, namely Drake Maye. However, if they standpat, a wide receiver, such as Rome Odunze from Washington or Malik Nabers from Louisiana State University make sense. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, from Michigan, was also connected on several occasions and would likely be available without a trade-up.
The Giants, despite making some progress in the offseason, still need work on the offensive line as wel. So, a bluechip prospect in Joe Alt from Notre Dame or the potentially versatile Alabama offensive lineman J.C. Latham may be a possibility.
New York Jets
The Jets, who are in “win-now” mode, given their aging quarterback, will likely look to select a player that helps them right away. One of the best prospects in the draft, regardless of positional value, is tight end Brock Bowers (Georgia). By selecting him, it would give veteran signal-caller Aaron Rodgers another terrific target to work with. If one of the top-three wide receivers, specifically Odunze, falls, the Jets should pounce, as that would be a great get. Either would be a extremely strong compliment to Garrett Wilson.
In a move more for the future, or insurance, for the aging new offensive tackles Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith, the Jets may go offensive tackle. The top potential targets are Taliese Fuaga from Oregon State and Olumuyiwa Fashanu from Pennsylvania State University with J.C. Latham (Alabama) likely off the board but would be another great option.
Buffalo Bills
With the departure of star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, elite quarterback Josh Allen is without a top pass catcher. Buffalo may want to trade up to target a top pass catcher, with the most likely option being Brian Thomas Jr. from Louisiana State University. Guys like Nabers and Odunze, although terrific fits, are likely out of the Bills reach, even with a trade up. If they standpat, other pass catchers such as Adonai Mitchell from Texas and Ladd McConkey from Georgia are strong options.
The Bills also need some secondary help, specifically at safety, where Kool-Aid McKinstry, a cornerback at Alabama, or Tyler Nubin, a safety from Minnesota, may be a fit if they do not go the wide receiver route.
