Redrafting the 2024 NFL Draft: Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams at No. 1?

It takes much longer than one year to truly evaluate a young football player, but how a rookie performs in the NFL is usually pretty strong evidence of what a team has moving forward.

With that said, welcome back to another redraft. This time, we’ll tackle the 2024 draft — one that definitely lived up to the hype in some areas, while also leaving a few teams wanting more.

(Note: The order reflects how it stood entering Round 1, thereby resetting some trades that shuffled the board.)

1. Chicago Bears: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Original pick: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

It’d be almost impossible to say the Bears regret drafting Williams No. 1, as the rookie had a very productive first season and was playing better at the end of the year than the beginning. It’s literally impossible, though, to say another rookie QB outperformed Daniels. Now Washington’s franchise player, Daniels had one of the most poised and productive rookie seasons in NFL history.

2. Washington Commanders: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

Original pick: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

The Bears finished Williams’ rookie year 5-12, but it wasn’t the quarterback’s fault. Williams set multiple franchise rookie records, including TD passes (20), passing yards (3,541), completions (351) and rushing yards (489). Chicago has no regrets. For our purpose here, though, Daniels was better.

3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Original pick: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Maye landed on the worst team of the top three quarterbacks in this class, which certainly impacted his numbers. However, in the end, Maye was who the Patriots thought he’d be when they made the pick. Each of the top three passers from the 2024 draft is a classic example of what a top-three pick should look like.

DRAKE MAYE! RHAMONDRE STEVENSON! @PATRIOTS TIE IT UP! pic.twitter.com/ThCEJxhA0b

— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024

4. Arizona Cardinals: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Original pick: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

We wrote (many times) last winter about how some NFL scouts believed Nabers was a better prospect than Harrison. At least for one season, those scouts were correct. Nabers set the NFL record for receptions in a season by a rookie (109) and totaled 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns, while playing with one of the worst QB situations in football.

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

Original pick: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

This was the biggest no-brainer of the 2024 draft and remains so today. Alt was built to play for Jim Harbaugh. He was a critical part of the Chargers’ resurgence last year and looks like a future perennial Pro Bowler.

6. New York Giants: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Original pick: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

The Giants certainly hit the jackpot with Nabers, so it’s hard to say they should’ve done something else here. But he’s off the board this time around, so it’s Bowers. The tight end was the best rookie pass catcher in the history of the league last year, with a ridiculous 112-catch, 1,194-yard season, on a team without a true starting QB.

I almost went with Bo Nix in this spot, as the Giants are currently still in QB hell.

7. Tennessee Titans: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Original pick: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Like the Giants, the Titans remain firmly in quarterback hell and still haven’t found a firm path out (although, Cam Ward’s probably coming soon). This is a team that really should’ve taken advantage of last year’s quarterback class, regardless of how it felt about an unproven Will Levis. Nix absolutely outperformed expectations last year in Denver and appears to have a bright future.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Original pick: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

The Penix-Kirk Cousins situation remains one of the strangest things we’ve seen in a minute, and Penix hardly lit the world ablaze during his three starts. The jury’s still out, of course, but it’s hard to ignore the Pro Bowl year Thomas had in Jacksonville. The Daniels-Nabers-Thomas combination at LSU could be talked about in the same way as the Joe Burrow-Justin Jefferson-Ja’Marr Chase triumvirate.

9. Chicago Bears: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Original pick: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Harrison did not have a bad season, to be clear — it just wasn’t as ridiculous as what Nabers and Thomas produced. Harrison still finished as Arizona’s leading receiver (62 catches, 885 yards, eight TDs) in an otherwise outstanding rookie season. He’s arguably the Cardinals’ best draft pick of the last five years.

10. New York Jets: Jared Verse, edge, Florida State

Original pick (traded to MIN): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Remember, we’re going off the order from when draft night began, before the trades. If the Jets had to do it again, they’d snag the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Verse led the NFL last year with 89 pressures and was a real find for the Rams at No. 19.

11. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

Original pick (traded to NYJ): Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State 

The Vikings never really got a shot to see what McCarthy can (or can’t) do. And though Minnesota’s had some flirtation with Aaron Rodgers, it appears McCarthy will get every chance to start and lead the franchise this season.

12. Denver Broncos: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Original pick: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Fuaga had a terrific rookie season after being thrown into the fire at left tackle in New Orleans. There are still improvements to be made regarding Fuaga’s pass pro, but he had dominant flashes in the ground game as a rookie.

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Original pick: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

Part of me wanted to drop Penix further down the board, but — as with McCarthy — I’m not sure that’s fair. Penix was thrown into a completely awkward situation last year, so it’s hard to make a total judgment. Check back in a year.

14. New Orleans Saints: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

Original pick: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

McConkey was one of the best second-round snags of last year’s draft, finishing with 91 catches for 1,346 yards and eight touchdowns as a perfect fit with Justin Herbert. Joe Hortiz, to no one’s surprise, had a great first draft with the Chargers.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa

Original pick: Laiatu Latu, edge, UCLA

Good luck deciding which Philadelphia corner was better as a rookie, DeJean or Quinyon Mitchell. They were both awesome, though I think DeJean’s impact in multiple areas of the field (including as a punt returner) might provide better value. Either way, Howie Roseman did it again.

16. Seattle Seahawks: Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas

Original pick: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

Puni, a third-round pick by San Francisco, was arguably the best mid-round find of the draft last season — he started every game at right guard and had some dominant flashes as a run blocker.  He is also big and long enough to also play tackle, if he’s ever needed there.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Zach Frazier, G/C, West Virginia

Original pick (traded to MIN): Dallas Turner, edge, Alabama 

If Frazier hadn’t been injured during his final year at West Virginia, I firmly believe he’d have been a first-round pick in 2024. A day-one starting center for Pittsburgh, Frazier was one of the best players at his position in football last year, regardless of age. He was a total steal at No. 51.

18. Cincinnati Bengals: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

Original pick: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

Latham, a former Alabama standout, played every offensive snap of his rookie year for a bad Tennessee team, lining up at left tackle after playing only on the right side in college. Tennessee plans to move Latham back to RT this year, and he could make a serious leap as a result.

19. Los Angeles Rams: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Original pick: Jared Verse, edge, Florida State

As expected, Mitchell immediately found his footing as an NFL cornerback and was one of the league’s best full-time starters, wire-to-wire — all the way through the Super Bowl. It was a great start for what looks like a great player.

YOU’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR FIRST INTERCEPTION, QUINYON! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/eEavptHkCi

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 13, 2025

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

Original pick: Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

Fautanu dislocated his kneecap in September, so he still could be a very good player in Pittsburgh, despite missing most of last season. In our redo, though, Fiske gets into the first round. The hard-charging DT outperformed every concern about his length and size. He’s a relentless player who was a terrific addition for the Rams.

21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson, edge, Penn State

Original pick: Chop Robinson, edge, Penn State

There were nerves around the league about Robinson’s lack of production in college, but the Dolphins were rewarded for seeing what could be instead of what was. Robinson’s development continued in the NFL, and he wound up having a great first year (56 pressures, seven sacks and a sizzling 18.8 percent win rate).

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

Original pick: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Wiggins proved to be another masterclass scouting job by the Ravens, who simply pick the best player on their board every time their name is called — and it almost always works out. The Clemson product was up and down early last season, but he settled in just before the midway point and never looked back, finishing with 10 forced incompletions and eight pass breakups.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Laiatu Latu, edge, UCLA

Original pick (traded to JAX): Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Latu didn’t live up to his billing as the first edge off the board in 2024, but he also didn’t have a bad year in Indianapolis (38 pressures and four sacks). Latu was considerably better than Dallas Turner, who had only 12 pressures in 17 games with the Vikings — after Minnesota moved up for him.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

Original pick (traded to DET): Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

The Jets were very patient with Fashanu, who was light on experience in college, and wound up getting five solid starts from the former Penn State star to close the year. If his health cooperates and his development continues, Fashanu could be a huge part of the Jets’ future.

25. Green Bay Packers: Jackson Powers-Johnson, G/C, Oregon

Original pick: Jordan Morgan, OL, Arizona

Powers-Johnson was a terrific pick by the Raiders at No. 44. He came off the bench early last season and definitely had some inconsistent stretches, but everything improved once he gathered himself — nearly week to week, in fact. Powers-Johnson (who started at both guard and center) looks like a fixture in Las Vegas.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, C, Duke

Original pick: Graham Barton, C, Duke

Here’s another team that got exactly what it was looking for last spring. Barton, one of the highest-floor players in the 2024 class, was an immediate starting center in Tampa Bay, holding down the job without incident all year and into the playoffs. As a whole, the 2024 class featured some very good interior offensive linemen.

27. Arizona Cardinals: T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

Original pick: Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri

Despite toiling on a bad team, Sweat was quietly one of the best rookie defenders in the NFL last season — a true interior force against the run who also wound up with 23 pressures and a pair of sacks. The 6-foot-4, 360-pounder was terrific value for the Titans at No. 38.

28. Buffalo Bills: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Original pick (traded to KC): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

This was a great trade by the Chiefs last April, as Worthy’s fit with Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense overshadowed any concerns people had about his lack of size. Speed is speed — and Worthy is the NFL’s fastest football player.

29. Detroit Lions: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan

Original pick (traded to DAL): Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

Terrion Arnold definitely had his hiccups last season, but his future with the Lions still looks like it could be a good one — especially now that he’s playing opposite D.J. Reed. But Sainristil, one of the toughest and smartest players in the 2024 draft, was outstanding both outside and in the slot last season in Washington. An awesome pick at No. 50, he was one of the reasons behind the Commanders’ turnaround.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington

Original pick: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

After coming off the bench to start the year, Rosengarten seamlessly moved into Baltimore’s starting lineup at right tackle and wound up having a very good rookie season opposite Ronnie Stanley. A great athlete, Rosengarten’s consistency and versatility gave Baltimore terrific value at No. 62.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Original pick: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

Don’t forget about Pearsall, who missed the first half of the season after being shot, then put together a productive second half. But Odunze, a fixture in Chicago all year inside the NFL’s toughest division, was still productive and has formed a great pairing with Williams.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon

Original pick (traded to CAR): Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

Despite playing at 195 pounds, Irving became a true three-down threat for the Bucs last season, rushing for 1,199 yards and eight touchdowns and adding 49 catches. Imagine him in Kansas City’s offense.

(Top photo of Jayden Daniels and Roger Goodell: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)