2024 NFL Draft: The latest gossip, prospect risers, and mini-mocks.

Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft is just a month away.Draft boards are forming, club needs are becoming evident, and candidates are making their final on-field statements at pro days nationwide. And as time passes, the anticipation of what each club will do on Day 1 grows.

There’s been a lot of chatter about early choices, prospective deals, and the quarterback market. So we invited NFL draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid, and Field Yates to break down the latest news from around the league and share what they’ve heard on the road during pro days this month.

Will Minnesota rise up the rankings? Which first-round options are too fantastic to pass up? Could a surprising club emerge in the quarterback hunt? We discuss all of this before allowing Matt, Jordan, and Field to alternate choices in a mini-mock draft of the top 12 picks. Finally, as April approaches, our experts unload their scouting notebooks with everything they’ve heard, seen, and thought.

What is the latest on the Vikings and a possible trade up in Round 1?

Yates: The Vikings’ deal with the Texans for choice No. 23 last week after losing Kirk Cousins in free agency raised some eyebrows, giving them a second Day 1 pick (No. 11). People I’ve spoken with across the league feel Minnesota essentially signaled to any team at the top of the order considering a trade down that it is willing to negotiate. Whether it results in a trade remains to be seen, but a club wanting to move back has not only a potential partner, but also the assurance of where two first-round selections (the starting point in any discussion) are in the order. The Cardinals (No. 4) and Chargers (No. 5) are the two most often connected targets right now.

According to Reid, Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should prioritize sending an offer to the Patriots for the No. 3 selection. This would give the Vikings a chance to choose LSU’s Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. If the club is unable to do this, the Chargers’ fifth-round pick appears to be a clear candidate for a trade. But the true benefit of the Vikings’ trade for No. 23 is that they now have alternatives. Even if they can’t trade up, they still have two first-round picks, increasing their chances of acquiring a quarterback outside of the top options. Minnesota might consider Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon’s Bo Nix as viable options at No. 23 and later if they desire to trade back from there.

Miller: The Vikings did not send Adofo-Mensah or coach Kevin O’Connell to the Michigan pro day on Friday. However, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown was present for McCarthy’s 25-minute throwing session. Speaking with NFL personnel on the road at pro days this week, it is still expected that the Vikings would be aggressive in moving up to the No. 4 or No. 5 pick to grab the Michigan quarterback. One general manager I spoke with this week indicated McCarthy is currently a top-six choice. The question is: who will trade up to acquire him.

What’s your favorite team-prospect fit in Round 1 following free agency?

Reid adds Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold to the Raiders at No. 13. Las Vegas’ interior defensive line was a significant question mark entering the offseason, but with free agency signee Christian Wilkins anchoring the unit, finding cover corners should be a goal at the draft. The cornerback group lacks size and high-end quality, but Arnold fills all of those needs and provides coach Antonio Pierce with a real CB1. Arnold had five interceptions last season, and he possesses a varied skill set that allows him to play anywhere in the Raiders secondary.

Miller is an Oregon center.The Steelers drafted Jackson Powers-Johnson at No. 20. The Steelers are set to address the offensive line in Round 1 for the second year in a row, with the addition of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as quarterbacks in recent weeks (tackle Brandon Jones at No. 14 in 2023). Powers-Johnson is a strong people mover in the middle of the line who can assist maintain the pocket safe for whoever is working beneath center. He has excellent agility and balance.

Yates adds Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner to the Falcons at No. 8. The Falcons’ top two edge rushers from last season, Bud Dupree (age 31) and Calais Campbell (age 37), are both free agents and unsigned. The team has yet to replace them. Atlanta tied for 21st in sacks (42) and had the league’s worst pass rush victory percentage (30.9%) in 2023, indicating a need for more youth and talent on the edge. Turner would deliver just that following a 10-sack season. He is sudden, long, and explosive.

What is your favorite sleeper team to look for that might target a quarterback in the first two rounds?

Miller represents the Las Vegas Raiders. This team could even be worth considering in the first round. The Raiders’ depth chart currently consists of Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Minshew is a quality veteran and bridge option, and he should start in 2024 after leading the Colts to a 7-6 record while filling in for an injured Anthony Richardson. But if a quarterback falls to the Raiders at No. 13 or No. 44 overall, general manager Tom Telesco must consider adding a future starter.

Reid represents the New Orleans Saints. Derek Carr will be the Saints’ quarterback until the 2025 season, thanks to a recent contract modification. However, given his previous injury issues and mediocre play, the Saints — who finished middle of the pack in most passing numbers last season — would be prudent to establish a backup plan in case things don’t improve in 2024. New Orleans lost Jameis Winston to the Browns, and Jake Haener (last year’s fourth-round selection) has been suspended for the first six games of the season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance rules. In Round 2, New Orleans makes the 45th pick.

Yates: Los Angeles Rams. While the Rams’ quarterback room is reasonably certain for 2024 with Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo, the organization is aware that worries about Stafford’s future playing status will arise at the end of each season moving ahead. With that in mind, finding a player for the pipeline should not be ruled out. While premium choices are important, the Rams’ ability to scout effectively in the mid-to-late rounds allows them to avoid addressing pressing concerns with every decision. They may prepare for the future from the most significant position. Keep an eye on them in the second round, where they are ranked 52.

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