11 NFL Draft 2024 rumors together with Bengals, Patriots, Steelers, J.J. McCarthy, Drake Maye, and extra

HAPPY NFL DRAFT EVE!

(Simply be warned, this time of draft season is when caffeine consumption is approaching unhealthy ranges).

Now we have reached the day earlier than the day. Tomorrow evening Roger Goodell will stroll onto a stage in Detroit and declare the 2024 NFL Participant Choice Assembly — which everyone knows and love because the NFL Draft — open.

However should you had been apprehensive that meant the rumors can be dying down, relaxation assured.

The rumor mill continues to be cranking. Let’s take a spin.

Did the Raiders tip their hand?

Whereas the Las Vegas Raiders are one of many groups linked with the quarterback place this spring, simply how the Raiders are in including a passer looks like one thing of a shifting goal.

Or, not less than it did.

In line with reporting out Tuesday, the Raiders made an effort to attempt to rise up to No. 2 in a commerce with the Washington Commanders, seemingly to draft a quarterback.

With Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew on the roster, the Raiders may theoretically kick their QB determination to subsequent spring, rolling with Minshew and O’Connell this yr. And the Raiders do produce other wants in addition to the quarterback place.

But it surely appears they is likely to be extra enthusiastic about quarterbacks than we thought.

Why Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy might be essential to the highest of the draft

Charles Robinson at Yahoo Sports activities launched a lot of pre-draft nuggets in a column on Tuesday, together with a prolonged state of affairs the place Robinson makes the case that Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy — and never Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels — are “essential” to the draft.

Robinson writes:

“Opposite to an enormous quantity of projection since March 15 — when the Minnesota Vikings dealt for the Houston Texans’ No. 23 total decide — there’s a rising consensus amongst NFL groups that McCarthy will not be the first goal in a possible trade-up for the Vikings. As a substitute, it’s believed Minnesota’s prime goal is Maye. He has a reference to quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, who coached Maye in highschool. The potential complication for the Vikings is how the quarterback stack falls on the prime of the draft.

“Assuming Daniels is the Commanders’ decide at No. 2, all eyes will fall on the New England Patriots at No. 3 and what they select to do within the slot. Whereas buying and selling out is actually an choice, it’s telling that group proprietor Robert Kraft mentioned publicly in a single breath that he was going to let the group ‘make the choice,’ however then within the subsequent breath mentioned, ‘A method or one other, I’d prefer to see us get a top-rate younger quarterback.’ Reaching that objective factors to the Patriots sticking on the No. 3 decide and choosing that participant. If that’s Maye, the choice may flip the draft on its ear for 2 franchises.

“The primary can be the Vikings, who would have their prime quarterback goal taken off the board. The second can be the New York Giants, who’ve been fastidiously working league connections to determine how the quarterback stack will shake out Thursday. Indisputably, there are different entrance places of work that imagine a quarterback is squarely in play for the Giants. The unknown is whether or not or not McCarthy — who made a personal go to to the franchise in March — is the participant they’re aiming for with the No. 6 decide.”

If you’re somebody who believes the draft actually begins at No. 3 when the Patriots are on the clock, that is music to your ears.

If that’s the state of affairs, maybe the Giants are usually not aiming for McCarthy

Constructing off that time from Robinson, take into account this change on X (previously Twitter) from Thursday evening:

For many who have no idea, @MoveTheSticks is Daniel Jeremiah, one of the vital revered figures within the area and an NFL Draft analyst for the NFL Community. Not solely does he not “view [the Giants] as a J.J. McCarthy group,” that opinion is then shared by Dane Brugler of The Athletic and Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated.

Three very plugged in analysts coming to the identical conclusion. Oh, and Hayden Winks is fairly good too.

RBs may wait till late Friday evening

One other pre-draft nugget price mentioning from Robinson?

Working backs is likely to be in for a wait.

“The nearer we get to the draft and the extra I hear the assessments on the operating again class, the extra I feel there’s a shot that the majority of the category comes off the board within the third spherical. I wrote a extra expansive piece concerning the operating backs final week, however I’ve some new knowledge after my final dive into calls,” writes Robinson.

“Whereas there was some consideration a few shock ‘first’ operating again off the board, I’m extra assured now that it’s going to both be Texas’ Jonathon Brooks or Florida State’s Trey Benson. That’s not precisely a revelation with each being in play on the prime of the operating again stack, however it now seems like they’re extra of a tier unto themselves, with the subsequent tier being a combination of Michigan’s Blake Corum, Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen and Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright.”

This opinion is considerably consistent with consensus. In line with NFL Mock Draft Database, the highest-ranked operating again on their consensus huge board is Brooks, who checks in at No. 50 (and is coming off an ACL damage). He’s adopted by Benson (No. 60), Wright (No. 71) and Corum (No. 72).

OL run on Thursday evening?

One final bit from Robinson’s Tuesday column which, you’ll be able to most likely inform by now could be price a learn.

Whereas operating backs might need to attend, offensive tackles may come flying off the board early and sometimes Thursday evening. Additional, the order the gamers come off the board may fly within the face of present consensus rankings.

“The offensive sort out run within the first spherical goes to be wild. There’s an opportunity that seven tackles go within the first 32 picks: Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu, Alabama’s JC Latham, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Washington’s Troy Fautanu, Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton and Georgia’s Amarius Mims. Some groups additionally see BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia as a possible late first-round decide as effectively,” begins Robinson.

“The three attention-grabbing gamers from this group to regulate are Fashanu, Latham and Mims. There are cut up opinions on all three. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fashanu and Latham weren’t the second and third tackles off the board behind Alt (which is the slot they’re usually mocked to), or if Mims probably slips out of the primary and into the highest of the second spherical. Backside line: Deal with order goes to be slightly extra chaotic than folks may suppose.”

Steelers eying the center?

Ask anybody what place the Pittsburgh Steelers are eying within the 2024 NFL Draft, not less than early, and also you doubtless get the identical response.

Inside offensive line.

Graham Barton and Jackson Powers-Johnson are very fashionable picks for the Steelers in current mock drafts, and now there’s much more buzz to the concept Pittsburgh goes to deal with the inside offensive line on Thursday evening. Showing on the “102.5 WDVE Morning Present” Tuesday, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Publish Gazette indicated that the Steelers actually need a “top-flight heart” from this draft.

“The one place on the group the place there’s no starter is heart, they usually want a middle. And never simply any heart. They need to get a top-flight heart, they need to get a Maurkice Pouncey. I’m not sitting there saying they’re going to get a Maurkice Pouncey, however they need to get a man who’s gonna anchor that line for 10 years. You’re not gonna discover him within the third spherical and maintain your fingers crossed that you just’re gonna get a Mike Webster, who was a fifth-round decide.”

Alter your ultimate mock drafts accordingly.

Might Pittsburgh go QB in some unspecified time in the future?

Talking of the Steelers …

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday morning that Pittsburgh will not be anticipated to select up the fifth-year choice on Justin Fields, the quarterback they acquired in March through a commerce with the Chicago Bears.

Which means each Fields and Russell Wilson are getting into the ultimate yr of their contracts:

The group may look to re-sign one or each gamers, relying on how issues unfold this season. However on condition that, the Steelers might be a group to observe on Day Two and even early on Day Three so as to add a developmental quarterback from this draft class.

Jerry Jones makes it clear on Dak Prescott

In the event you had any notion that Dak Prescott can be taking part in quarterback elsewhere subsequent fall, somebody essential to that call would disagree with you.

Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones.

Talking forward of the 2024 NFL Draft Jones was crystal clear together with his phrases: “We wish Dak Prescott, and that’s that,” Jones mentioned on the group’s pre-draft press convention.

Nevertheless, conducting that objective may require some extra info, and may take a while.

“We’d prefer to see extra leaves fall,” added the Dallas proprietor. “We’d prefer to see extra motion. It’s referred to as choice quarterback. I’ve spent my life [playing] choice quarterback. I need to see some extra playing cards performed.”

His son Stephen, the group’s govt vp and director of participant personnel, echoed these ideas.

“If you’re speaking about huge contracts like Dak, CeeDee and Micah, these issues don’t occur in a single day,” added the youthful Jones. “These issues take time. There’s timing based mostly on what different groups are doing at their place.

“There’s numerous shifting elements. Definitely, you wanna get it proper. … If you’re paying the kind of cash we finally should, to maintain them, you wanna be sure to get it proper.”

Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

What occurs when Arizona is on the clock?

As we now have beforehand mentioned, the Cardinals are “open for enterprise” at No. 4.

Nevertheless, don’t anticipate to be taught what they plan to do till round 8:30 p.m. Japanese on Thursday evening, as normal supervisor Monti Ossenfort has made it clear that no selections will likely be made till Arizona is formally on the clock.

Will they keep and draft, or will they commerce out?

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports activities wrote Tuesday that the Cardinals have already got two affords in for the decide, and it’s considerably clear what groups want to transfer into that spot. In line with a number of reviews the Vikings, Giants, Raiders, and Broncos are all seeking to transfer up within the first spherical. Jordan Raanan of ESPN reported Tuesday that the Giants are “not less than seeking to commerce up,” with an eye fixed on Maye, whereas Raanan’s colleague Kimberley A. Martin reported that the Vikings try to actively transfer up, and had been hoping to have a top-five decide earlier than the draft. Then there are the Raiders, who as we already mentioned tried to get to No. 2 so Las Vegas is probably going within the combine for No. 4.

Jones additionally had this to say concerning the Broncos:

“The group I really feel most snug gained’t be choosing the place they at the moment sit are the Denver Broncos. Have heard from a number of groups within the prime 10 the Broncos have inquired a few trade-up. Have additionally heard from groups choosing after 12 the Broncos have mentioned an urge for food for buying and selling down,” wrote the CBS Sports activities scribe. “It’s apparent Denver wishes a quarterback if it may possibly rise up to get one. And if not, it needs to build up draft capital and get extra gamers.”

Titans won’t get “cute”

Dianna Russini from The Athletic wrote about a lot of rumors on Wednesday morning, working her manner via the highest ten of the draft and relating many quarterback-related situations.

Relating to the Tennessee Titans, nonetheless, issues are fairly clear.

They’re going to draft an offensive sort out, barring a shock.

“After spending closely in free company and addressing many wants, the one place not addressed by the Titans this offseason was offensive sort out. Search for them to not get cute and take their sort out at No. 7,” wrote Russini on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, what occurs if the participant they need is off the board? Whereas many take a look at the Los Angeles Chargers as group determined for a prime huge receiver, the Chargers are a sneaky touchdown spot for a sort out on this draft, given what we anticipate the offense to appear like below Jim Harbaugh.

In that state of affairs, Russini posits that the Titans may flip to WR.

“If the participant they need isn’t there, I wouldn’t be stunned if the Titans go huge receiver, understanding that new coach Brian Callahan needs to attain factors.

“The Titans fell in love with Harrison through the mix interview, however the probabilities he’s there at 7 are slim,” continued Russini. “Consider, president of soccer operations Chad Brinker, who has seen his involvement improve this offseason, comes from the Packers’ entrance workplace, and that franchise hasn’t gone huge receiver within the first spherical since 2002.”

Cincinnati to deal with the trenches at No. 18?

As we wrote lately, the Bengals have a lot of wants this low season, together with EDGE, WR, and CB. However within the first spherical, anticipate Cincinnati to look to the trenches.

That’s the report from Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic on Wednesday morning. “Cincinnati arrives with quick priorities at defensive sort out, offensive sort out and huge receiver, in addition to depth items at inside offensive line and a wild card of cornerback at all times on the desk,” begins Dehner.

Dehner then mentions 4 gamers in play for the Bengals within the first spherical: Texas DT Byron Murphy II, Alabama OT JC Latham, OL Troy Fautanu from Washington, and OT Amarius Mims from Georgia. He continues to name Latham the “most secure” of the picks. “Probably the most highly effective human within the draft at a place the place Cincinnati has prioritized energy and dimension. Plus, proof of idea as a starter the final two years on the suitable aspect at Alabama. The most secure of the life like picks,” provides Dehner.

Relating to Latham, whereas I concede I’m completely not an “NFL insider” and my sources are extra colleagues who’ve precise sources, my very own discussions the previous few days point out there’s a likelihood — a small one however nonetheless an opportunity — he’s the primary sort out off the board. Joe Alt from Notre Dame is as clear of an analysis because it will get on the place, and Penn State OT Olu Fashanu is one other nice prospect, however there’s rising buzz about Latham because the draft nears.