2024 NFL Draft: ESPN redrafts first two rounds with new No. 1, No. 2 picks

The 2024 NFL Draft class featured a slew of instant contributors, including at the position most important to the game: quarterback.

Jayden Daniels had a monster rookie season, while others like Bo Nix and Caleb Williams put together a solid first season with a whole lot to build on. Others had varying impacts at different positions.

ESPN took the time to redraft the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft recently, knowing what we know now. It made for quite an interesting exercise, with the beat writer for each of the 32 teams in charge of making the new draft selection. Let’s check out the results below.

1. QB Jayden Daniels, LSU – Chicago Bears

Original Pick: QB Caleb Williams, USC
At the time of the draft there wasn’t much debate about who should be No. 1 overall, though there was plenty of discussion about how the quarterbacks should be slotted beyond that. Many felt Daniels wasn’t even the No. 2 quarterback in the class.

But the Washington Commanders clearly got it right, reaching the NFC Championship Game behind the brilliant play of the former LSU quarterback. In the redraft it’s Chicago that gets to relaunch its franchise with the talented dual-threat prospect.

2. QB Caleb Williams, USC – Washington Commanders

Original Pick: QB Jayden Daniels, LSU
This is just a straight swap for No. 1 and No. 2 based on what each showed as a rookie this year. The Commanders are still in need of a quarterback and get a good one in the likes of Williams. How much of a fit he would be compared to Daniels would be interesting.

That’s kind of the point of this totally hypothetical exercise, right? Would Washington have reached the playoffs if Williams had been in charge all year?

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

Original Pick: QB Drake Maye, North Carolina
The third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft comes and goes without much fuss, as it’s the same pick as it originally was. New England still clearly needs a quarterback and nothing it saw out of Maye as a rookie was enough to dissuade the beat writers from making the same pick over again.

Maye will now get to work with a new head coach, as Mike Vrabel is taking over in Foxboro. The dynamic quarterback and the hard-nosed coach should get along just fine.

4. WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State – Arizona Cardinals

Original Pick: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Marvin Harrison Jr. was the pick on draft day and he remains the pick in the No. 4 spot in the redraft. Nothing he did as a rookie would have moved anyone off the spot; in fact, quite the opposite.

The Ohio State standout went for 62 catches for 885 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. Those are excellent numbers for a rookie wideout, with very few weeks where Harrison was neutralized in the gameplan.

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

Original Pick: OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
The theme continues going into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft redraft: same pick again at No. 5. Alt was a key contributor for the Chargers and looks to be an anchor on the edge for the future.

Alt reportedly allowed just a 6.7% pressure rate this season, which was the lowest among rookie tackles who played at least 200 snaps. That’s a pretty solid building block to work with.

6. QB Bo Nix, Oregon – New York Giants

Original Pick: WR Malik Nabers, LSU
In arguably the biggest eyebrow-raiser of the redraft, New York doesn’t take star receiver Malik Nabers this time around. And surprisingly it’s not because he’s already been selected. Nope, instead, the Giants simply identified a bigger need.

It’s clear now more than ever that the Giants need a quarterback. And with Nix still on the board, having shown what he did this season, it’s actually a pretty wide decision to pivot off Nabers and take a productive signal-caller.

7. WR Malik Nabers, LSU – Tennessee Titans

Original Pick: OL JC Latham, Alabama
Naturally Nabers doesn’t last long on the board, as the Tennessee Titans immediately jump to grab a best player available situation. Nabers was terrific as a rookie and only figures to get better, particularly if he can be paired with improved quarterback play.

The LSU rookie accounted for 109 catches and 1,204 yards, as well as seven touchdowns following the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s simply too explosive a piece to pass up on, even this high in the draft.

8. QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington – Atlanta Falcons

Original Pick: QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington
No change for Atlanta in the redraft, as it once again takes a quarterback. The move at the time was highly scrutinized after the Kirk Cousins signing, but the way things panned out the Falcons still need a quarterback for the future.

Penix showed some signs of quality play in his three starts late in the year, winning one game and then falling in overtime in two others. At the very least, he certainly didn’t look overwhelmed by the spotlight.

9. WR Rome Odunze, Washington – Chicago Bears

Original Pick: WR Rome Odunze, Washington
Chicago already has its quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, this time taking Jayden Daniels instead of Caleb Williams. Now it’s time to pair him with an elite weapon, and Odunze fits the bill.

It was a strong first season for Odunze in Chicago. He logged 54 catches for 734 yards and three touchdowns, though ball security was an issue at times. In any case, he looks to continue to expand his role going forward in 2025.

10. TE Brock Bowers, Georgia – New York Jets

Original Pick: QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan (via trade)
This pick was flipped in a trade last year, allowing Minnesota to slide up to select JJ McCarthy. This time around the New York Jets hold firm and make their selection, taking one of the best offensive players on the board.

Bowers was a certified stud for the Las Vegas Raiders, putting together the most prolific campaign for a rookie tight end in NFL history. You can’t pass on that kind of potential a second time around.

Rest of 1st round, 2024 NFL Draft

11. QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan – Minnesota Vikings
    Original Pick: OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State
12. OLB Jared Verse, Florida State – Denver Broncos
    Original Pick: QB Bo Nix, Oregon
13. WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia – Las Vegas Raiders
    Original Pick: TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
14. OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State – New Orleans Saints
    Original Pick: OT Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
15. CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo – Indianapolis Colts
    Original Pick: DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA
16. OL JC Latham, Alabama – Seattle Seahawks
    Original Pick: DT Byron Murphy, Texas
17. WR Brian Thomas, LSU – Jacksonville Jaguars
    Original Pick: LB Dallas Turner, Alabama
18. OLB Chop Robinson, Penn State – Cincinnati Bengals
    Original Pick: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
19. DE Braden Fiske, Florida State – Los Angeles Rams
    Original Pick: OLB Jared Verse, Florida State
20. OT Amarius Mims, Georgia – Pittsburgh Steelers
    Original Pick: OT Troy Fautanu, Washington
21. C Graham Barton, Duke – Miami Dolphins
    Original Pick: LB Chop Robinson, Penn State
22. CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson – Philadelphia Eagles
    Original Pick: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
23. OLB Dallas Turner, Alabama – Minnesota Vikings
    Original Pick: Brian Thomas Jr., LSU (via trade)
24. WR Xavier Worthy, Texas – Dallas Cowboys
    Original Pick: CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama (via trade)
25. CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa – Green Bay Packers
    Original Pick: OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona
26. RB Bucky Irving, Oregon – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Original Pick: C Graham Barton, Duke
27. DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA – Arizona Cardinals
    Original Pick: DE Darius Robinson, Missouri
28. WR Keon Coleman, Florida State – Buffalo Bills
    Original Pick: WR Xavier Worthy, Texas (via trade)
29. CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan – Detroit Lions
    Original Pick: OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma (via trade)
30. OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State – Baltimore Ravens
    Original Pick: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
31. C Zach Frazier, West Virginia – San Francisco 49ers
    Original Pick: WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida
32. LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M – Kansas City Chiefs
    Original Pick: WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina (via trade)

Round 2, 2024 NFL Draft

33. DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois – Carolina Panthers
    Original Pick: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State (via trade)
34. OT Troy Fautanu, Washington – New England Patriots
    Original Pick: WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia (via trade)
35. DE Darius Robinson, Missouri – Arizona Cardinals
    Original Pick: DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson (via trade)
36. CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama – Washington Commanders
    Original Pick: DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
37. DT Byron Murphy, Texas – Los Angeles Chargers
    Original Pick: WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington (via trade)
38. DT T’Vondre Sweat, Texas – Tennessee Titans
    Original Pick: DT T’Vondre Sweat, Texas
39. WR Xavier Legette, South Carolina – Carolina Panthers
    Original Pick: DE Braden Fiske (via trade)
40. WR Ricky Pearsall, Florida – Washington Commanders
    Original Pick: CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa (via trade)
41. S Evan Williams, Oregon – Green Bay Packers
    Original Pick: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama (via trade)
42. CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia – Houston Texans
    Original Pick: CB Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
43. OLB Jonah Elliss, Utah – Atlanta Falcons
    Original Pick: CB Max Melton, Rutgers (via trade)
44. G Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon – Las Vegas Raiders
    Original Pick: G Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
45. OT Roger Rosengarten, Washington – New Orleans Saints
    Original Pick: LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M (via trade)
46. S Kamren Kinchens, Miami – Indianapolis Colts
    Original Pick: RB Jonathan Brooks, Texas (via trade)
47. S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota – New York Giants
    Original Pick: S Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
48. S Calen Bullock, USC – Jacksonville Jaguars
    Original Pick: DT Maason Smith, LSU
49. WR Jalen McMillan, Washington – Cincinnati Bengals
    Original Pick: DT Kris Jenkins, Michigan
50. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama – Philadelphia Eagles
    Original Pick: CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan (via trade)
51. DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson – Pittsburgh Steelers
    Original Pick: C Zach Frazier, West Virginia
52. CB Dru Phillips, Kentucky – Los Angeles Rams
    Original Pick: WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas (via trade)
53. OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma – Philadelphia Eagles
    Original Pick: TE Ben Sinnott (via trade)
54. DT Mike Hall, Ohio State – Cleveland Browns
    Original Pick: DT Mike Hall, Ohio State
55. OT Patrick Paul, Houston – Miami Dolphins
    Original Pick: OT Patrick Paul, Houston
56. OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU – Dallas Cowboys
    Original Pick: EDGE Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan
57. G Dominick Puni, Kansas – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Original Pick: EDGE Chris Braswell, Alabama
58. OT Jordan Morgan, Arizona – Green Bay Packers
    Original Pick: S Javon Bullard, Georgia
59. OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame – Houston Texans
    Original Pick: OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame
60. S Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest – Buffalo Bills
    Original Pick: S Cole Bishop, Utah
61. CB Tarheeb Still, Maryland – Detroit Lions
    Original Pick: CB Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri
62. DB Tykee Smith, Georgia – Baltimore Ravens
    Original Pick: OT Roger Rosengarten, Washington
63. CB Renadro Green, Florida State – San Francisco 49ers
    Original Pick: OT Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
64. S Jaden Hicks, Washington State – Kansas City Chiefs
    Original Pick: CB Renardo Green, Florida State (via trade)