• The hulking Amarius Mims could be a perfect early-round fit for the Cowboys: The 6-foot-8, 340-pound offensive lineman has been training at both left and right tackle and could step in right away.
• Drake Maye remains a top quarterback prospect: Despite recent draft chatter, May should firmly remain on the Commanders' radar at No. 2.
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Now that the NFL Scouting Combine is finished, we want to take a look at some ideal early and late-round 2024 NFL Draft targets for teams around the league. We begin with the NFC.
JUMP TO A TEAM:
ARZ | ATL | CAR | CHI | DAL | DET | GB | LAR |
MIN | NO | NYG | PHI | SF | SEA | TB | WSH
ARIZONA CARDINALS
- Early-Round Fit: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Late-Round Fit: S Cole Bishop
The Cardinals need an alpha WR1 type, and Harrison is the perfect player to fill that role. Bishop is a versatile safety who can be a strong rotational presence in his rookie year and a potential starter down the line.
ATLANTA FALCONS
- Early-Round Fit: ED Dallas Turner
- Late-Round Fit: WR Malik Washington
The Falcons have to get better in the pass-rushing department, especially at edge rusher. Turner would be an ideal fit, providing needed juice off the edge. Atlanta has the giant receivers in Drake London and Kyle Pitts, and Washington could be a productive slot player for them like he was at Virginia.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
- Early-Round Fit: WR Ricky Pearsall
- Late-Round Fit: CB Chau Smith-Wade
The Panthers need a reliable receiving option, and after the draft season Pearsall has had, he’s put himself in consideration for that first pick of the second round. They also need cornerback help, particularly someone who could assist in the slot. Smith-Wade’s quickness and aggressive play style could earn him an early starting role.
CHICAGO BEARS
- Early-Round Fit: QB Caleb Williams
- Late-Round Fit: WR Jalen McMillan
Williams is the obvious choice here. The Bears need a franchise quarterback, and he’s the best of the bunch in this class. They could still use a nice complementary wide receiver next to D.J. Moore, and McMillan’s consistent ability to win from the slot would fit perfectly.
DALLAS COWBOYS
- Early-Round Fit: OT Amarius Mims
- Late-Round Fit: RB Trey Benson
The Cowboys could have some major shuffling to do along their offensive line. Mims has been training at both left and right tackle and could step in right away. With a lot of carries up for grabs, Benson is a good target early on Day 3.
DETROIT LIONS
- Early-Round Fit: ED Marshawn Kneeland
- Late-Round Fit: CB Caelen Carson
The Lions have a type: aggressive and physical. Kneeland fits that to a tee and recorded much better agility scores than expected at the NFL Scouting Combine to make a push for a late first-round selection. As for Carson, his calling card as a cornerback is how reliable he can be in run support, something Detroit will gravitate toward.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
- Early-Round Fit: S Tyler Nubin
- Late-Round Fit: LB Cedric Gray
The Packers have needs at the lower-priority positions when it comes to draft strategies, which means they’ll have a good chance to hit on most, if not all, of them. Nubin is the best safety in this class, and they could lose more than one to free agency. They could also be in dire need of linebacker depth. Gray’s athleticism and coverage potential could be a good get next to Quay Walker.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
- Early-Round Fit: ED Laiatu Latu
- Late-Round Fit: IOL Tanor Bortolini
The Rams did well to get a lot out of their rookie class in 2023, but they still need a lot of pass-rush help on the edge. No one in this class can help them right away like Latu could. Bortolini has enjoyed a nice draft season with a strong showing at both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine to be a potential starting NFL center.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Early-Round Fit: QB Bo Nix
- Late-Round Fit: DI Khristian Boyd
The early choice more so references the Vikings' second-round pick, as I don’t think they’ll be using No. 11 on Nix. If they want a quarterback in the first round, they will likely have to trade up. But Nix I like as a Kevin O’Connell fit. Minnesota also needs defensive line help, and Khristian Boyd would be a high-priority Day 3 pick after a stellar Shrine Bowl.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
- Early-Round Fit: OT Taliese Fuaga
- Late-Round Fit: CB Cam Hart
The Saints will have major offensive tackle issues if Ryan Ramczyk doesn’t have many years left in the tank and if Trevor Penning doesn’t improve. Drafting Fuaga would give them flexibility for the future, and he could play at guard early on before then. Hart is a long, athletic cornerback who fits New Orleans' mold.
NEW YORK GIANTS
- Early-Round Fit: WR Malik Nabers
- Late-Round Fit: IOL Cooper Beebe
The Giants need a premium receiver to improve their passing attack, and Nabers would be their immediate WR1 as someone who can play on the outside and in the slot. They are also slated to need some help on the interior of their offensive line. The versatile and experienced Beebe could be an ideal option for them if he’s available early on Day 3.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- Early-Round Fit: CB Cooper DeJean
- Late-Round Fit: LB Marist Liufau
The Eagles’ secondary wasn’t as strong in 2023 as it was in 2022, and so they will likely upgrade via a priority draft pick. DeJean’s versatility as a cornerback or safety could be key for them. We know Philadelphia doesn’t typically go for linebackers early in the draft, but a fast and powerful tackler like Liufau on Day 3 would be a nice addition for the Eagles in the middle.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
- Early-Round Fit: OT Tyler Guyton
- Late-Round Fit: DI Maason Smith
Guyton would be an ideal right tackle to play opposite Trent Williams because both are supremely athletic and want to maul any defender in their way. It could be the passing of the torch as Williams gets older. The Niners’ defense is incredibly talented, so much so that they may have the luxury of picking the former five-star Smith and allowing him to develop.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
- Early-Round Fit: IOL Troy Fautanu
- Late-Round Fit: ED Javon Solomon
Fautanu can be a plug-and-play interior offensive lineman for the Seahawks at just about any spot; he could even be a swing tackle or a starting tackle for them at some point. Solomon is a smaller edge defender, but he has abnormally long arms for his height and nice explosive ability as a speed rusher.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
- Early-Round Fit: IOL Graham Barton
- Late-Round Fit: CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
Barton would be a plug-and-play type of interior offensive lineman who could step in at either left guard or center for the Buccaneers. Brownlee plays an aggressive style of cornerback. Todd Bowles would surely like to get his hands on him as depth for year one before potentially slotting him into a starting role in year two.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
- Early-Round Fit: QB Drake Maye
- Late-Round Fit: TE Theo Johnson
There seems to be a lot of overanalyzing when it comes to Drake Maye. He is a legit quarterback prospect and would be a great option for Washington to build its offense around. With the Commanders' tight end room in need of a playmaker in the passing game, even after the signing of Zach Ertz, the athletic Theo Johnson makes sense as a good vertical threat.
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