The final week of the NFL regular season is here, and with it are several games that will shape the playoff brackets of both conferences, but there are also several teams playing out the string and on the cusp of major changes this offseason.
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Some teams may even be in the earliest phases of preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Debates could be commencing in various front offices across the league, whether it's deliberating on whether to proceed with the current quarterback on the roster or exploring options like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in the upcoming spring class. The decisions may also extend to choosing between adding a franchise offensive tackle or an edge rusher.
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) (2-14)
Positions of Need (Matt Lombardo): EDGE, WR, OL, QB, TE: Justin Fields' strong finish to the season might wind up being enough to convince general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears to move forward with him, rather than move him for draft capital and selecting one of the top quarterback prospects. Depending on which trajectory Poles plots for the next decade of the Bears' franchise at quarterback, at some point during the draft Chicago is going to need to start adding players capable of winning in the vertical passing game and keeping the quarterback — Fields, Caleb Williams, or Drake Maye upright in the pocket.
Prospect to Watch (Tyler Brooke): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Let's just say that the Bears decide to stick with Fields. If that's the case and they convince another team picking in the top three to trade up, then the Bears can still secure the best non-quarterback prospect in the 2024 class. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a complete wideout, but what stands out more than anything is his ridiculous body control, allowing him to routinely make physics-defying highlight catches.
2. Washington Commanders (4-12)
Positions of Need (Lombardo): QB, iOL, OT, EDGE, CB. New ownership, in all likelihood a new head head coach, and a top-five pick in the NFL Draft can only mean one thing; a new quarterback. Washington has some solid offensive weapons in wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson as well as running back Brian Robinson. However, no quarterback has been sacked across the league more than Sam Howell, who has regressed below the mean throughout the second half of the 2023 season. Mining a franchise quarterback and fortifying the offensive line in front of him should be the Commanders' top organizational priority during the draft.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Commanders might be desperate to make a big splash under new ownership, and they're a likely candidate to trade up to the No. 1 spot if the Bears want to stick with Fields. Caleb Williams will be the flashiest quarterback prospect thanks to his off-script playmaking ability, but the Commanders will need to be aggressive building around him in order to turn the franchise around.
3. New England Patriots (4-12)
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Positions of Need (Lombardo): QB, TE, OT, iOL, WR (Lombardo). There is going to be a regime change in New England for the first time in over two decades. The good news for the Patriots is that the organization is well positioned to emerge from the 2024 NFL Draft with a franchise quarterback to build around. But, New England has fallen so far behind the rest of the AFC East in terms of dynamic offensive playmakers, that the work will be far from done when their quarterback of choice holds up a Patriots jersey alongside Roger Goodell on draft night. After ignoring the wide receiver position for the better part of a decade, New England would be wise to add a deep threat to their young quarterback's arsenal and a security blanket in the form of a pass-catching tight end, which would be key steps in the right direction.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Drake Maye to New England just feels inevitable at this point. The pro-style quarterback with elite processing ability could quickly take over as the starter in New England. While he has the build and football IQ to be a great quarterback, it's his under-the-radar athleticism and pocket presence that could have NFL scouts putting him ahead of Williams by the time the draft rolls around in April.
4. Arizona Cardinals (4-12)
Positions of Need (Lombardo): WR, OT, CB, EDGE, RB (Lombardo). Over the past several weeks, Kyler Murray has proven that he's the type of quarterback the Cardinals can win with, so, general manager Monti Ossenfort's top priority needs to be surrounding him with weapons. Depending on how the top of the board plays out, the Cardinals might even still be positioned to have generational wide receiver Marvin Harrison fall into their laps. Likewise, building a pass-rush presence on head coach Jonathan Gannon's defense needs to be near the top of the Cardinals' offseason to-do list.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State
If the Cardinals can't land Harrison, then they need to keep investing in their offensive line to keep Kyler Murray healthy and upright. Fashanu has the potential to be one of the best pass-blocking offensive tackles in the league one day, showing tremendous athletic ability and a quickly-developing anchor to face even the most dominant power rushers at the pro level.
5. New York Giants (5-11)
Positions of Need (Lombard0): QB, RB, WR, OT, iOL. This season laid bare the myriad holes in the Giants' roster and flaws in general manager Joe Schoen's initial roster-building decisions. Given the uncertainty surrounding Daniel Jones' recovery timeline — and his regression in 2023, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising to see Schoen and the Giants aggressively aim to come away with one of the top quarterbacks in this year's class. Likewise, Saquon Barkley is set to become an unrestricted free agent, which could create a giant void in the Giants' offense that already is woefully thin at wide receiver and have holes to plug along the offensive line. Turns out, Schoen has a significant lift in terms of New York's rebuild.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
The Giants have a tough decision to make at the quarterback position, but taking a swing on upside is the kind of shot in the arm that this franchise needs. Jayden Daniels improved leaps and bounds as a passer in 2023, but it's his elite scrambling ability that is why he's drawing comparisons to the likes of Lamar Jackson at the NFL level. With that kind of dual-threat QB paired with Barkley, the Giants could be a lot of fun to watch next season.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
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Positions of Need (Lombardo): TE, RB, OT, DL, CB. The Chargers are going to be the most desirable head coaching vacancy this hiring cycle, because of the opportunity to coach quarterback Justin Herbert. However, in order for the next head coach — and Herbert to have any chance at success in 2024 and beyond, Los Angeles must prioritize adding dynamic players at the offensive skill positions. Meanwhile, identifying interior defensive line help to buttress the pass-rush presence of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack may hold the key to the Chargers' defense taking the next step next season.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
The Chargers flat-out need explosiveness on offense. Malik Nabers is the definition of explosive, generating all kinds of highlight-worthy plays by breaking the top off of defenses. Not only can he push the field vertically, but Nabers is also able to haul in some difficult catches through contact, and can be a dynamic weapon after the catch. He's the perfect compliment to what the Chargers already have at wide receiver, and will give Herbert another outlet in the passing game.
7. Tennessee Titans (5-11)
Positions of Need (Lombardo): OT, WR, LB, EDGE, iOL. Will Levis rookie season has exposed some truths about the Titans; Tennessee finally has a franchise quarterback, but there are several holes that need plugging around him if this team is going to seriously compete for the postseason in coming years. Levis' arm-strength makes it imperative that the Titans add a deep-threat at wide receiver, and his foot injury pushes offensive line help to the top of general manager Ran Carthon's priority list. In a division that features bright young quarterbacks C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, and Anthony Richardson, all leading rosters capable of winning the division for years to come, Carthon and the Titans have their work cut out for them to position Levis with a similarly dominant and capable supporting cast.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
The multiple injuries to Levis should be all the Titans need to see to try and heavily invest in their offensive line this offseason. While Alt didn't face many premiere pass rushers this season, his tape shows a capable tackle in pass pro who is an absolute road grader in the run game. Protecting Levis while paving the way for Derrick Henry will make Alt a dream come true for Mike Vrabel and Tennessee's offense.
8. New York Jets (6-10)
Positions of Need (Lombardo): OT, iOL, WR, TE. The Jets have a very brief window to both win with Aaron Rodgers, and maximize an elite defense that very nearly dragged New York into the postseason in 2023. This is an offensive line in shambles and in need of a complete overhaul. Likewise, with the exception of Garrett Wilson, the Jets' receiving corps lacks anyone who will strike fear into opposing defensive coordinators. Thanks to its loaded defense, look for general manager Joe Douglas to sink significant resources into building an offense capable of playing complementary football and seeing Rodgers up to make a run in a loaded division.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
If the Jets can't land one of the top offensive tackles in the draft, then they might as well find another way to help their offense take a big step forward by drafting Georgia's Brock Bowers. The most versatile tight end in the country, Bowers could help the Jets as a blocker, pass-catcher, or even ball carrier in certain packages. His versatility and playmaking ability could also open up the rest of the offense for teammates like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.
9. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
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Positions of Need (Lombardo): QB, EDGE, OT, WR, LB.
The Falcons have a lot of exciting and prolific pieces in place to challenge for arguably the most winnable division in football. However, neither Desmond Ridder nor Taylor Heinicke are capable of maximizing the potential of an offense that includes explosive running back Bijan Robinson and dynamic wide receiver Drake London. Atlanta must come out of this draft with a franchise quarterback, a complementary wide receiver opposite London, and offensive line help to assure the offense takes the next step in 2024.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
After tearing apart the Longhorns defense in the Sugar Bowl, Penix has vaulted himself up draft boards everywhere. His age and injury history are a concern, but the lefty and rifle in every throw imaginable while having the pocket presence to avoid sacks and keep his eyes downfield. There's a risk to him as a prospect given his previous injuries, but Penix in Atlanta throwing to the likes of Robinson, London, and Kyle Pitts just feels right.
10. Chicago Bears (7-9)
Positions of Need (Matt Lombardo): EDGE, WR, OL, QB, TE.
How the Bears handle the No. 1 overall pick will telegraph the direction that the franchise is taking. If Chicago nabs Williams or Maye with the top-pick, this could be a slot for Poles to add an offensive tackle to keep him upright. Meanwhile, if the Bears plan to move forward with Fields, this is a selection that could be up for grabs either for a trade back to continue adding resources in the future to build around the 24-year-old, or potentially to move up for one of the top offensive tackles or an edge defender who emerges during the pre-draft process. Either way, the Bears' second first-round pick will be fascinating to watch unfold.
Prospect to Watch (Brooke): Taliese Fuaga, OL, Oregon State
After taking Harrison Jr. with their first pick, the Bears can focus on protecting Fields with their second first-round selection. Taliese Fuaga skyrocketed up draft boards this year, and his frame could make him a suitable tackle or interior offensive lineman. That kind of versatility could give the Bears options to figure out their best starting five on the offensive line in 2024.
MORE: 2024 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Projections Heading Into Bowl Season
