All 32 NFL teams look a little different after accumulating new talent in the 2024 NFL Draft. But some franchises have undergone a particularly strong makeover. A few of them desperately needed help at quarterback and acted accordingly. A few others simply found good value throughout the three-day event. Still others have jumped all over the place to serve multiple needs in premium locations.
Either way, here are seven teams that changed the most in the NFL Draft:
Key choices: QB Michael Penix Jr., DT Ruke Orhorhoro
On paper, the Falcons don’t look drastically different than they did when they entered the draft, but it all depends on the dynamics of the building. You don’t just pay a quarterback $180 million, declare him the face of the franchise, then draft another No. 8 overall pick less than two months later and expect everything to work out. passes without problem. Kudos to the Falcons for thinking ahead; The Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers are two recent examples of making bold bets on “useless” signal-callers and later reaping the rewards. But there’s no denying that Kirk Cousins added pressure to play with Penix alongside him.
Key choices: QB Caleb Williams, WR Rome Odunze, OT Kiran Amegadjie
Everyone knew that the 2024 draft was essentially the current version of the Super Bowl of the Bears regime, and even still, it’s hard to overstate the upgrade of their foundation. Williams has the kind of natural gunslinger that could finally propel them into a passing team, and Odunze makes their receiving corps even more attractive alongside DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. It’s not a stretch to suggest, with proper coaching, that Chicago could make the playoffs this upcoming season.
Key choices: WR Ladd McConkey, OT Joe Alt, LB Junior Colson
Squeak. Hardness. Instinct. New coach Jim Harbaugh wasted no time infusing Los Angeles’ team with three high-profile starting pieces. Alt can swap positions with Rashawn Slater already on the left side, but as the consensus best bookend in the class, he further solidifies Justin Herbert’s front. McConkey, meanwhile, adds some much-needed speed and road running prowess to an expanded field that lost two starters. And Colson projects as a sort of on-field proxy for Harbaugh after his reliability at Michigan.
Key choices: QB JJ McCarthy, OLB Dallas Turner
Two trades and two Opening Day picks allowed a new playoff-bound starter to fill two of the most prestigious positions in the NFL. McCarthy may be a bigger projection than some of his fellow quarterbacks, but his balance of play is a perfect match for Kevin O’Connell’s offense, and his elite skill group, including Justin Jefferson , should allow for rapid success as a replacement for Kirk Cousins. . Turner, meanwhile, adds even more juice to a pass-rush rotation that just welcomed Jonathan Greenard.
Philadelphia Eagles
Key choices: WR Ainias Smith, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., CB Quinyon Mitchell, CB Cooper DeJean
The Eagles already had a Super Bowl-caliber roster before the draft, at least on paper. But they landed not one but two first-round secondary talents, Mitchell and DeJean, suddenly crowding a defensive backfield that badly needed new competition. And while Trotter and Smith will have to fight for playing time, they add legitimate punch at important reserve spots. All of a sudden, the closet doesn’t seem so empty — or old — for new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Key choices: WR Roman Wilson, OT Troy Fautanu, OG Zach Frazier, LB Payton Wilson
The Steelers made a splash in free agency with their two big-name quarterback additions. Now they finally seem to have some real building blocks to go with the Russell Wilson-Justin Fields duo. Roman Wilson replaces some of the speed that Diontae Johnson took with him to the Carolina Panthers. The bulk of Fautanu and Frazier could immediately consolidate the front. And Payton Wilson, despite injury issues, has all the toughness of a typical Mike Tomlin favorite on defense.
Key choices: QB Jayden Daniels, WR Luke McCaffrey, TE Ben Sinnott, OL Brandon Coleman, DT Jer’Zhan Newton
Like the Bears, the Commanders should have worked very hard not to take advantage of an improved roster after the draft. But new general manager Adam Peters has filled virtually every need. Daniels is a slightly polarizing swing due to his wiry frame, but his athletic electricity instantly elevates Washington’s offensive edge. McCaffrey and Sinnott add tough pass-catching options. And Newton has the potential to make a difference on an already well-stocked defensive front.
