The 2024 NFL Draft is now just 10 days away, and the first 10 teams selecting will have the biggest impact on the rest of the draft. Here are the ideal selections for these picks. There will most likely be four quarterbacks taken in the top 10 picks, and there could be up to six passers selected in the first round.
Beyond the QB position, the NFL Draft class this year is quite deep at both offensive tackle and wide receiver, and the top EDGE rusher prospects also figure to hear their names called early. In today's NFL, teams who don't have an elite QB won't win much at all, and to a much lesser extent, not being able to get to the QB consistently is also a death sentence.
There is no such thing as a perfect fit, but let's make the most ideal selections for teams picking inside the top 10.
2024 NFL Draft: Ideal first-round pick for the top 10 selections
1. Chicago Bears - Caleb Williams, QB
This is an obvious one, and while I think other QBs not named Williams in this year's draft can be franchise passers, Williams is the best one in the class and would give the Chicago Bears the best chance to sustain success for the long-term. It's Williams and it's not much of a discussion.
2. Washington Commanders - Jayden Daniels, QB
The most ideal QB prospect and selection for the Commanders is Jayden Daniels, who is a better fit for what offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury runs in his offenses than someone like Drake Maye, who has often be mocked second overall. The Commanders also signed Marcus Mariota in free agency, so perhaps Daniels isn't under pressure to start immediately.
3. New England Patriots - Drake Maye, QB
A high-end QB prospect with a ton of similarities to Justin Herbert, Drake Maye might truly need a red-shirt year. The Patriots did bring back Jacoby Brissett, who is a capable bridge QB and who can take a beating behind the Patriots current offensive line until other players are brought in. The current state of the Patriots personnel on offense is not pretty, so Maye sitting, something that he already probably needs to do, makes a ton of sense.
4. Arizona Cardinals - Marvin Harrison Jr, WR
The Arizona Cardinals have a strong enough offensive line, a budding young tight end in Trey McBride, and a franchise QB in Kyler Murray, so to an extent, all that might be missing besides complimentary players is a stud WR1, and that's exactly who Marvin Harrison Jr is. Son of the senior Marvin Harrison, his NFL bloodline and overall elite prospect status makes him a near sure-fire home run in the NFL.
5. Los Angeles Chargers - Joe Alt, OT
While I do not agree with this entirely, the Chargers do need help up front, and good football teams are built from the inside, out, and the Chargers OL has been an issue for a while now. Alt is most definitely a franchise left tackle, but he's the best tackle prospect, so I think this is where LA is best suited.
6. New York Giants - Malik Nabers, WR
Coming from "WRU," Malik Nabers has flashes of both Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson in his game. The New York Giants do need a franchise quarterback, but I believe that the franchise is truly hoping they can make Daniel Jones work, and not having a true WR1 on the roster might not give him a fair evaluation.
7. Tennessee Titans - Olu Fashanu, OT
The Tennessee Titans cut Andre Dillard, their one-year left tackle. With Titans GM Ran Carthon making a clear investment on offense for Will Levis, one of the last positions they need to fill is that left tackle spot, and Olu Fashanu is the next-best OT prospect behind Alt. A day one starter at LT, Fashanu could be the finishing touches on the offense in Tennessee.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Dallas Turner, EDGE
The Atlanta Falcons invested a ton of money on offense this offseason, clearly needing to get better at QB and wide receiver. Kirk Cousins and Darnell Mooney came over, and now, their offense actually looks quite good. However, a poor group of pass rushers should make this selection a no-brainer. Dallas Turner is the best pass rusher in this year's class and should be the pick here.
9. Chicago Bears - Rome Odunze, WR
How about three wide receivers within the first nine picks? Bears GM Ryan Poles should be all about making life easy for Caleb Williams, and while the team did trade for Keenan Allen and already have DJ Moore, the need for another wide receiver is obvious. Odunze or even a tackle prospect here feel like the best selections.
10. New York Jets - Trade Back
I'm going to cheat here a bit, but with the best tackle prospects and best wide receiver prospects gone, the New York Jets best path is to trade down. Already missing some capital from the Aaron Rodgers trade, Jets GM Joe Douglas needs to recoup capital and could get a nice haul of picks to move down several slots.