Study after study has shown that NFL teams have little ability to select the right players after taking into account where those selections are made. Even the best general managers have a tough time making the right pick every year. Eagles GM Howie Roseman drafted Jalen Reagor ahead of Justin Jefferson in 2020. In the same draft, Chiefs GM Brett Veach selected Clyde Edwards-Helaire right before Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. exited. And D'Andre Swift from the board. In 2017, 49ers general manager John Lynch acquired Solomon Thomas (and was on the verge of drafting Reuben Foster) when Christian McCaffrey and Patrick Mahomes were still available in the top 10. You get the idea. Difficult.
However, the only thing executives can control is how they maneuver around the draft board. We know that it's generally optimal to trade down and collect additional picks, but the best general managers have a knack for timing a move up the board as well. Veach got a big buck when he traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins in 2022, and the Chiefs used one of those picks and moved back in the first round of the draft to take cornerback Trent McDuffie, who played a key role in winning again. -The return of the Super Bowls. Oh, and Veach's predecessor, John Dorsey, went ahead in the 2017 draft with the Saints for Mahomes. This step worked well.
Subscribe: “The Bill Barnwell Show”
Let's review the 32 picks in the first round of the 2024 draft and determine what each team will choose He should Do with his choice. Should he be more inclined to trade? Move? Or should she stand her ground and remain where she is? I will mention when a GM has a history of making moves in one direction or another, but it's not about predicting what will happen. will It will happen later this month in Detroit. It's my preference after looking at post-free agency lists, who each is likely to pursue in the draft and what each team lurks on the board.
We'll start at the top of the board, where there probably won't be any surprise or suspense in what the Bears have to do:
Go to an interesting selection:
NE at No. 3 | NYG is at No. 6
Chi in No. 9 | Who's at number 11?
DEN at No. 12 | LAR at No. 19
Who is in number 23 | BUF is at No. 28
What they should do: Hold your position.
Well, the bears can't trade higher than that, so this will be a relatively short start to the column. There hasn't been a lot of talk about them being open for business and ready to trade.
While there has been a lot of speculation that Jayden Daniels (LSU) might jump ahead of Drake May (North Carolina) and be the quarterback who comes off the board at No. 2, Caleb Williams (USC) appears to be firmly settled at the top of the standings. League Consensus Draft Board. If the bears have serious thoughts about pulling back, there will be a lot of smoke surrounding what they will do now.
“Food ninja. Friendly thinker. Explorer. Entrepreneur. Zombie junkie.