2024 NFL Draft: Every Team's Best-Value Selection

Because the evaluation process of prospects can vary so wildly, judging the NFL draft is an intensely subjective task.

One outlet may believe a certain player is a first-round talent, while another views him as a Day 3 prospect. Some NFL teams may have a late Day 2 grade on a player, but a different front office might be prepared to draft him in the opening round.

Nevertheless, every franchise found some value in the 2024 NFL draft relative to B/R's NFL Scouting Department's final big board. While many of the best-value selections are Day 3 choices, several are Day 2 picks who held a top-32 billing from B/R.

One important note: These choices are not a projection of each player's likelihood of achieving NFL success. They're a comparison of predraft ranking vs. where they were actually picked.

Buffalo Bills: Cole Bishop, S, Utah

In recent years, Buffalo has leaned on veterans Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde at safety. However, Poyer signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, and Hyde remains a free agent.

As a result, the selection of Cole Bishop (ranked 41st by B/R) is especially timely for Buffalo—which picked up the safety in the closing moments of the second round at No. 60 overall.

Miami Dolphins: Malik Washington, WR, Virginia

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are a stellar duo, but the Fins lacked a reliable third option in 2023. Miami is hoping that Malik Washington (92nd) can bolster the unit after he caught a nation-best 110 passes last season. A sixth-round pick at 184th—exactly twice his B/R ranking—Washington is easily one of our best values from the draft.

New England Patriots: Jaheim Bell, TE, Florida State

Again, subjectivity is a key factor; New England often seems to stray from consensus views, too. So, among their few relative values, the Pats snagged tight end Jaheim Bell (170th) in the seventh round with the No. 231 selection. He tallied 39 receptions for 503 yards at Florida State last year.

New York Jets: Jaylen Key, S, Alabama

Jaylen Key (149th) holds the "Mr. Irrelevant" label as the final pick of the 2024 draft at 257th overall. Key recorded 60-tackle seasons at both UAB (2022) and Alabama (2023). He's not a lock to make the roster, but the Jets took a worthwhile shot on Key.

Baltimore Ravens: T.J. Tampa, CB, Iowa State

The NFL gifted the Ravens a good one. Down at 130th overall—the sixth-to-last pick in the fourth round—Baltimore finally took Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa, whom B/R had ranked 44th overall. He was the seventh-ranked corner on our Scouting Department's final big board.

Tampa is a scheme-flexible corner who stands 6'1" and embraces a physical style that should translate nicely in Baltimore.

Cincinnati Bengals: Matt Lee, C, Miami

Despite the Bengals' recent success—their injury-plagued 2023 campaign notwithstanding—they have routinely dealt with shaky offensive lines in front of franchise quarterback Joe Burrow.

Given that, it's only sensible the Bengals used their final pick on Matt Lee, whom B/R had ranked 120th overall. He went 237th and will compete for a backup role.

Cleveland Browns: Jamari Thrash, WR, Louisville

The same sentiment applies to Jamari Thrash, whom B/R ranked 90th overall. He impressed for four years at Georgia State before leading a breakout Louisville squad in receiving yards last season.

Cleveland added him at No. 156 in the fifth round.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia

The Steelers had a number of draft-day steals, including Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson at the 84th pick. He was 46th on the final B/R big board.

Zach Frazier (26th on the B/R big board) was an even better value. Center stood out as a major position of need for the Steelers, but Pittsburgh managed to land Washington offensive tackle Troy Fantanu in the first round and then add Frazier at No. 51 overall.

Houston Texans: Calen Bullock, S, USC

Here's a good problem: Which do you prefer? Houston picked Calen Bullock (38th on the B/R big board) at No. 78 and Ohio State tight end Cade Stover (69th on the B/R big board) at No. 123. I'll lean toward the fringe first-rounder in the middle of Day 2.

Jimmie Ward's knowledge of the Texans' system must not be undervalued, but Bullock has a real opportunity to supplant the veteran in the near future.

Indianapolis Colts: Jaylin Simpson, DB, Auburn

Jaylin Simpson (95th on the B/R big board) is an ideal addition to an unsettled Colts secondary. Although he aligned at safety for most of 2022 and 2023, Simpson also played cornerback for a full season in 2021, too.

Indianapolis did well to land him with the 164th pick.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Cole, Edge, Texas Tech

The Jaguars' big board looked much different than ours. How dare they.

It's not glamorous to crown Myles Cole (164th on the B/R big board) as their biggest steal of the draft, but the Jags nabbed the edge-rusher in the seventh round at No. 236. Cole had 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last season.

Tennessee Titans: James Williams, LB, Miami

Similar to Jacksonville, the Titans took a more aggressive stance relative to B/R's rankings. That leaves seventh-round pick James Williams (175th on the B/R big board) as Tennessee's best value at 242nd overall.

After playing safety for Miami, he'll be trying to carve out an NFL career at linebacker.

Denver Broncos: Audric Estimé, RB, Notre Dame

Javonte Williams is the Broncos' locked-in starting running back, but they padded their backfield depth with Audric Estime (42nd on the B/R big board). Best of all, they landed the Notre Dame product at No. 147.

He totaled more than 2,500 scrimmage yards with 30 touchdowns across the last two seasons at Notre Dame.

Kansas City Chiefs: Hunter Nourzad, C, Penn State

Since the Chiefs needed to replace a few pieces along their offensive line, it's no surprise that they drafted three blockers. BYU's Kingsley Suamataia (37th on the B/R big board) himself was a steal at 63rd overall, and Kansas City pulled off another heist with Hunter Nourzad (94th) at the 159th pick.

At worst, both of them should be backups as rookies.

Las Vegas Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon

There's an argument here for Brock Bowers, who was the second-ranked overall prospect on the B/R big board. The Raiders landed the Georgia tight end at No. 13 overall.

Las Vegas snared another first-round talent on Day 2, drafting Jackson Powers-Johnson (23rd on the B/R big board) at No. 44 overall. He could be a starter at guard for Vegas in his rookie year.

Los Angeles Chargers: Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame

Big division for Notre Dame, huh?

Benjamin Morrison understandably attracted most attention in the Fighting Irish secondary, and he might be a first-rounder in 2025. However, Cam Hart (70th on the B/R big board) received a strong grade from B/R's Scouting Department ahead of the draft.

Fortunately for the Chargers, he was available in the fifth round at No. 140.

Dallas Cowboys: Cooper Beebe, IOL, Kansas State

As expected, Dallas addressed its offensive line in the first round and landed Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton. That selection included a trade down from No. 24 overall to No. 29.

The additional third-round selection allowed the Cowboys to get Cooper Beebe (29th on the B/R big board) at No. 73. He was a two-time All-American guard at Kansas State but is moving to center in Dallas.

New York Giants: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Xavier McKinney left in free agency, so the Giants had an incentive to find an impact safety in the draft. New York found its answer with Tyler Nubin (28th on the B/R big board).

Nubin slipped into the second round, but the Giants stopped his slide with the No. 47 overall pick. They acquired that pick from the Seattle Seahawks in the Leonard Williams deal ahead of this past season's trade deadline.

Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson

One way or another, the Eagles' best-value pick was an ACC prospect.

The Eagles took Florida State wide receiver Johnny Wilson (82nd on the B/R big board) with the No. 185 overall pick, so his rank-to-pick difference is greater. However, only one linebacker ranked above Clemson's Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (77th) on B/R's big board, yet 12 others at the position went before the Eagles selected the son of a former franchise legend with the No. 155 overall pick.

Washington Commanders: Jer'Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Edge-rusher loomed as the Commanders' key need after they traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young ahead of last year's trade deadline. But when Jer'Zhan Newton (20th on the B/R big board) surprisingly made it to No. 36, Washington had to take advantage.

Newton amassed 22.5 tackles for loss and 13.0 sacks during his final two years at Illinois.

Chicago Bears: Austin Booker, Edge, Kansas

Chicago re-acquired its original fourth-round pick on draft day, which it previously dealt to Buffalo for offensive lineman Ryan Bates. Getting the 144th pick back cost the Bears a fourth-rounder in 2025, but they took Austin Booker, who was 85th on the B/R big board.

Booker put together a breakout season in 2023 with 56 tackles (12 for loss) and eight sacks.

Detroit Lions: Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College

Managing to snag Alabama corner Terrion Arnold (11th on the B/R big board) at 24th overall was a major victory for cornerback-needy Detroit. However, the Lions also landed Christian Mahogany (65th on the B/R big board) in the sixth round with the No. 210 overall pick.

Mahogany likely won't start as a rookie, but he gives Detroit a potential heir to veteran guard Kevin Zeitler in 2025.

Green Bay Packers: Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State

Green Bay overhauled its safety room this offseason. Gone are Jonathan Owens, Darnell Savage and Rudy Ford, while Xavier McKinney and three rookies may fill out the depth chart.

Kitan Oladapo (35th on the B/R big board) landed with the Pack as a fifth-round compensatory pick at No. 169. Green Bay also added Georgia's Javon Bullard and Oregon's Evan Williams in the second and fourth rounds, respectively.

Minnesota Vikings: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon

Quite a bit of symmetry here, incidentally. Minnesota also patched up its secondary with a player out of the Beaver State, bringing in cornerback Khyree Jackson (43rd on the B/R big board) at No. 108.

Although the Vikings didn't make any other changes at the position this offseason, they had an average group last season. Jackson should have a shot to play immediately.

Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Dorlus, DL, Oregon

Oregon gets a second prospect in a row thanks to Brandon Dorlus (59th on the B/R big board). The versatile lineman went one spot behind his former teammate, cornerback Khyree Jackson, at No. 109 overall.

Dorlus can align at end or tackle for Atlanta, which selected four D-linemen with its eight picks this year.

Carolina Panthers: Chau Smith-Wade, CB, Washington State

While he's a bit undersized at 5'10", Chau Smith-Wade (75th on the B/R big board) is pesky in coverage and boasts superb quickness.

The Panthers had a massive need at the position—and they played a dangerous game waiting until the fifth round to fill it—but they left the draft in a better spot at corner after landing Smith-Wade at No. 157 overall.

New Orleans Saints: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

B/R's Scouting Department placed a high grade on South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler (67th on the final big board), but it wasn't necessarily a surprise he lasted until the fifth round. The bigger surprise was Alabama corner Kool-Aid McKinstry (15th on the big board) falling to the Saints at No. 41 overall.

McKinstry broke up 22 passes in two seasons as a starter for the Crimson Tide and also provides value as a punt returner.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington

The NFC South had lots of love for the Pacific Northwest during this year's draft, it appears.

Jalen McMillan (40th on the B/R big board) rounds out the division as a terrific addition to a receiving corps with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Tampa lacked a third dangerous option in 2023, and McMillan—a 1,000-yard receiver in 2022 before an injury-marred 2023 campaign—was a great bargain at No. 92 overall.

Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Relative to B/R's rankings, the Cardinals didn't have a clear late-round steal. On the bright side, they capitalized on the quarterback craze and landed Marvin Harrison Jr.—the top overall prospect on the B/R big board—with the fourth pick.

The wideout is expected to immediately be a leading contributor in Arizona.

Los Angeles Rams: Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami

Sixth-round selection Beaux Limmer (96th on the B/R big board) merits a shoutout here since the Rams plucked him at No. 217. However, it's tough to beat Kam Kinchens (30th) as a Day 1 talent at No. 99—the second-to-last slot on Day 2.

Kinchens was an absolute ballhawk for Miami, intercepting 11 passes along with his 118 tackles over the last two years.

San Francisco 49ers: Dominick Puni, OL, Kansas

The reigning NFC champs moved up to land Dominick Puni (51st) in the middle of the third round at 86th overall.

Puni has a chance to secure a starting job at guard, especially since Spencer Burford is the Niners' lone player at the position who's under contract beyond next season.

Seattle Seahawks: D.J. James, CB, Auburn

Seattle nailed its Day 3 choice of Riq Woolen in 2022, and 2023 first-rounder Devon Witherspoon rapidly backed up his billing at nickel. Now, the Seahawks are hoping for D.J. James (89th on the B/R big board) to complete a unit of young, standout corners.

James had a fourth-round grade from B/R, but Seattle scooped him up 192nd.