As the NFL season enters its final two weeks, the playoff picture is gaining clarity. Meanwhile, teams on the distant outside looking in likely have at least one eye trained on the upcoming offseason, and the top prospects who might eventually wind up on their 2024 NFL Draft boards.
Whether it is deciding whether to forge ahead with the quarterback currently on the roster or looking towards the likes of Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in next spring's class, or deciding between adding a franchise offensive tackle or edge rusher, debates may just be beginning in several front offices across the league.
Each week, until season's end, FanBuzz Senior NFL Insider Matt Lombardo and Editorial Director Tyler Brooke will put the teams currently projected to select inside the top-10 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft, using Tankathon.com's latest projections, by breaking down each team's biggest positions of need and a projected prospect who can fill them.
1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers) (2-13)
Positions of Need (Matt Lombardo): WR, QB, CB, EDGE. Justin Fields has made a compelling argument over the past month to remain the Bears' quarterback of the future. Fields' emergence, passing for 776 yards with three touchdowns, three interceptions, and rushing for two scores, sets up for a fascinating debate over whether general manager Ryan Poles should move on from a passer he didn't draft or add one of the most complete wide receiver prospects in recent memory to his supporting cast. While much of the focus is on Chicago's offense, finding a complementary edge rusher to Montez Sweat and a cornerback who can anchor the secondary should also be top priorities for the Bears either via the draft or free agency.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
There will be nonstop debates about what the Bears should do at quarterback for months, but Caleb Williams is the safest choice. The Bears can reset the timer with a quarterback on a rookie contract, while getting an exciting playmaker who can create explosive plays consistently off-script.
2. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
Positions of Need (Lombard0): WR, QB, G, C, EDGE. Similarly to the Bears, the Cardinals face a major Kyler Murray decision. Murray's presence has elevated the offense, which could make pairing Marvin Harrison Jr. opposite Marquise Brown a compelling possibility in Arizona. However, if the Cardinals move on from Murray, general manager Monti Ossenfort might ultimately wind up having his choice of the top quarterback prospects, should Arizona finish with the No. 2 overall pick Chicago opt to build around Fields.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Kyler Murray is still a very good quarterback when healthy, and giving him a legitimate No. 1 weapon should be a top priority this offseason. Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of the best WR prospects in years, with size, athleticism, and elite body control that allows him to make some of the most difficult catches look easy on a routine basis.
3. Washington Commanders (4-11)
Positions of Need (Lombardo): OT, QB, C, EDGE. There is legitimate debate over whether Sam Howell has shown enough to become the Commanders' quarterback of the future. Especially following Howell's benching, ahead of Week 17. However, the fact that it remains unknown who will ultimately be handing in the Commanders' draft card, make this selection one of the ultimate wildcards of the top of the board. Regardless of whether the Commanders take a quarterback in the first-round, this is an offensive line in dire need of an overhaul.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
Sam Howell deserves at least one season without getting murdered in the pocket before the Commanders pull the plug on him. Olu Fashanu is the draft's best tackle to protect Howell's blind side in 2024, possessing the ideal frame/athleticism combination to go along with a tremendous anchor in pass protection.
4. New England Patriots (4-11)
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Positions of Need (Lombardo): QB, WR, EDGE, LT. A complete organizational overhaul could be looming this offseason at Patriot Place. Neither Bailey Zappe or Mac Jones resemble anything close to a franchise quarterback, which could lead to New England targeting the best available passer when they go on the clock, or potentially look to trade up. The Patriots also must finally solve its decades long wide receiver problem, and this might be the perfect draft class to add a field-stretcher to the offense's arsenal.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
It's time for the new era in New England to begin. Drake Maye is going to make a hard push for QB1 in this draft class, but even if Williams goes first, Maye's elite mental processing before and after the snap allows him to generate all kinds of big plays. That's the kind of playmaker that the Patriots need to help turn their franchise around.
5. New York Giants (5-10)
Positions of Need (Lombard0): QB, WR, OG, C, LB. Despite signing Daniel Jones to a $44 million contract prior to the 2023 campaign, the Giants should very much be in the market for his successor at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft. This is an offense in dire need of playmakers, especially if Saquon Barkley is playing elsewhere next fall. General manager Joe Schoen must decide whether Jones deserves another opportunity to prove he can become a franchise quarterback, by adding weapons around him, or pulling the plug on the 26-year-old — who he did not draft, and select a quarterback to build around. Meanwhile, after surrendering 77 sacks through 16 weeks, the Giants' offensive line is in need of a total rebuild along the interior.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
As much as the Giants should consider a quarterback, the Daniel Jones contract may take it way too difficult to make that a realistic decision in 2024. However, adding a weapon with elite explosiveness like Malik Nabers could give the Giants a much-needed additional wrinkle to their offense, regardless of who is playing under center.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
Positions of Need (Lombardo): OT, OG, RB, TE. EDGE. Everything that the Los Angeles Chargers do this offseason, from its next head coaching hire, to the NFL Draft, through free agency, needs to be viewed through the spectrum of how to put quarterback Justin Herbert in the best position to compete for a Super Bowl. For the Chargers, that means rebuilding the offensive line in front of Herbert and addressing a glaring need at tight end along with potentially a complementary running back with more explosiveness than Austin Ekeler, who could be elsewhere in 2024.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
The Chargers have plenty of pressing needs, but Brock Bowers is easily one of the most talented prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, even if he's at a position that isn't viewed as valuable as others. His versatility and dominance would open up the field for Justin Herbert and the rest of the offense.
7. Tennessee Titans (5-10)
Positions of Need (Lombardo): OT, OG, WR, CB. Will Levis looks every bit the part of a franchise quarterback, and now the Titans must get down to work building around him. Tennessee has yet to fill the void left behind after trading wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 2022 campaign, which could push a big target up the Titans' board. Meanwhile, perhaps most importantly for Tennessee's future is rebuilding the offensive line in front of Levis.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The Titans keep whiffing on offensive linemen, but Joe Alt would fit the team's physical, hard-nosed mentality. Alt is an absolute road grader in the running game, and has enough ability in pass protection to warrant a top-10 selection.
8. Chicago Bears (6-9)
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
Positions of Need (Lombardo): WR, QB, CB, EDGE. Whatever the Bears decide to do at quarterback, the possibility of owning a pair of top-10 picks creates significant optionality to build the offense around the passer of their choice. There is also the possibility that Poles could trade back to add another first-round pick in 2025 to have multiple first-round selections for a second consecutive year, if there is still a quarterback on the board here that a team might covet.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
After deciding on the quarterback position, the Bears will need to surrounding whoever their next QB is with weapons. Rome Odunze would be a nice complimentary wideout to D.J. Moore, excelling as a big-bodied route runner with excellent contested-catch ability.
9. New York Jets (6-9)
Positions of Need (Lombardo): OT, OG, WR, TE. Even though Aaron Rodgers will have only played four snaps in 2023, every move the New York Jets make this offseason must be made with a laser-focus on keeping Rodgers upright and giving him more dynamic weapons to maximize his impact in 2024. New York's offensive line is in shambles, as illustrated by only the New York Giants allowing more sacks than the Jets' 61 this season. Meanwhile, even though Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson have emerged as explosive playmakers, this is an offense in need of more speed and impact players at the skill positions.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
Protecting Rodgers should be the top priority for the Jets in 2024, even if all of their returning offensive linemen are healthy. Taliese Fuaga has been one of the fastest risers in this year's draft class, and his size could make him a versatile piece the Jets could plug in and start almost anywhere on their offensive line to get the best starting five out there to keep Rodgers upright and healthy.
10. Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
Positions of Need (Lombardo): QB, EDGE, Interior Defensive Lineman, WR. Following Desmond Ridder's latest benching, it has never been more obvious that the Falcons have no more pressing need than at quarterback. Especially given the wealth of explosive talent such as Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Jonnu Smith who have been held back by inconsistent quarterback play. Meanwhile, Atlanta also must find a way to bolster both its pass-rush as well as the interior of the defensive line, to alleviate the pressure on a young quarterback and the rest of the offense.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
It's time for the Falcons to take a real swing at quarterback. Daniels has come a long way since his Arizona State playing days, becoming a more complete pocket passer on top of being an elite athlete with explosive rushing ability. Putting a thrilling playmaker at QB into an offense with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts could make Atlanta one of the most exciting teams in football...if Arthur Smith (or someone else) decides to actually utilize his best players.
