The 2024 NFL Draft is over, and as we have seen in recent years, teams can get a ton of contributions from their rookie class. These three teams could see that same thing in 2024. Ideally, an NFL team can have a rookie class that has a similar impact to what the Houston Texans got in 2023 from theirs.
Will Anderson Jr and CJ Stroud were the huge catalysts in the Texans going from a laughingstock to a true Super Bowl contender in 2024. Sure, coaching and other players on the roster played a huge part, but the QB and the ability to get to the QB are the two most impactful parts of an NFL roster. Well, there are at least three teams that have done enough between the offseason and the 2024 NFL Draft to make a huge jump.
Would these three teams fit into that mold?
3 teams ready to make a huge leap after the 2024 NFL Draft
1. Chicago Bears
Let's not forget about the Chicago Bears. Everyone knew what the Bears were going to do with their top pick, and many mock drafts did have them taking WR Rome Odunze at pick nine. I believe that since the Bears didn't really surprise anyone during the 2024 NFL Draft, they aren't often being talked about as draft "winners."
But let's be honest here; the Bears may have just brought in two more foundational pieces, including a franchise QB. With how good this defense finished in 2023 and the play-makers already there on offense, the Bears are NFC North title candidates in 2024. With a stout offensive line and a very good group of players on offense, including a streaking defense, the Bears can easily make a ton of noise in 2024.
2. Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals came away with 12 rookies in their 2024 class, and a few of them can help Arizona take the next step, namely WR Marvin Harrison Jr and DL Darius Robinson. GM Monti Ossenfort also added a good bit of talent in free agency on both sides of the ball, including modest additions like Jonah Williams at RT and Sean Murphy-Bunting at CB.
The Cardinals were a feisty team in 2023, and that was with one of the worst rosters in the NFL. With some day one impact players coming from the 2024 NFL Draft, and with them already having a franchise quarterback, the Cardinals are ready to be one of 2024's breakout teams. Don't be surprised if they win more than some think.
They might not be a playoff team until 2025, but it's hard to not love what they did this offseason.
3. Denver Broncos
The common theme with the Denver Broncos after the 2024 NFL Draft is that the team overdrafted QB Bo Nix, but he was third on their QB big-board, so did the team really? With Nix fitting Sean Payton's offense like a glove, you can expect more efficiency from that unit in 2024, which was the total opposite in 2023 with Russell Wilson.
The team also added some new weapons for Bo Nix in WR's Josh Reynolds and his college teammate, Troy Franklin. The Broncos also drafted Audric Estime at RB to insert into an already stable RB room, and the team really got to work tweaking their secondary and DL, two sore spots from the 2023 NFL Season.
GM George Paton and HC Sean Payton saw where their team was deficient in 2023 and at least brought in new faces to try and fix those positions. Now mind you, with a historically bad defense for about six weeks and bottom-10 QB play, the Broncos still managed to win eight games after a 1-5 start.
What does that say about their win total in 2024 if their defense isn't a historic mess and QB Bo Nix is not a disaster?