The first night of the 2024 NFL Draft is in the books. It was a very exciting and historical night.
This draft set and tied several records in the common draft era that started in 1967. It set the record for the most offensive players drafted in the first round. It tied the record for the most quarterbacks drafted in the first round since 1983. But it set the record for six quarterbacks drafted in the first twelve picks.
It also set the record for have the first defensive player being draft at the 15th spot by the Colts, which is the latest by far for a defensive player.
There were also five trades made during the first round. The Minnesota Vikings traded up twice in the first round and the Buffalo Bills traded down twice in the first round.
The Kansas City Chiefs have won the Super Bowl in overtime. Now we finally have the complete draft order for the first round. As of right now, the Bears and Cardinals are the only two team to have two picks in the first round.
The Steelers announced Tuesday a few practice squad moves. They signed OL Tyler Beach and OLB David Perales to the squad. They also released QB Trace McSorley and DB Nate Meadors from the unit.
The Texans are coming into this game more beat up than the Steelers, but Pittsburgh has more key injuries. The Texans are missing a great player in OT Laremy Tunsil.
I’ve been waiting all year for this matchup. This is one of my favorite games all season to watch. Both teams have become some of the top producing schools for draft prospects.
A few notable names that have come out of these schools. QB Brock Purdy (Iowa State), LB Jack Campbell (Iowa), CB Desmond King (Iowa), and RB David Montgomery (Iowa State).
This is a really fun time of the year. Football season gets underway with the meaningful games. It is always fun to take a look at where we feel each team will fall in their respective divisions.
In the AFC North there has not been a team that won 3 division titles since the 70s. I do not think it will happen again this year. I feel the Steelers have taken a step forward and the Bengals and Ravens have taken a small step backward. Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson are both great QBs. The Bengals Defense got a little worse after losing 2 very talented Safeties. We do not know how long it will take Lamar to fully understand the new offensive scheme.
Let’s take a look at my projections.
AFC East Bills 12-5 Jets 11-6 Dolphins 10-7 Patriots 6-11
AFC North Steelers 11-6 Bengals 10-7 Ravens 9-8 Browns 7-10
AFC South Jaguars 11-6 Titans 8-9 Colts 6-11 Texans 5-12
AFC West Chiefs 13-4 Chargers 11-6 Broncos 8-9 Raiders 7-10
NFC East Eagles 11-6 Cowboys 10-7 Giants 7-10 Commanders 6-11
NFC North Vikings 11-6 Lions 10-7 Packers 9-8 Bears 5-12
NFC South Saints 10-7 Buccaneers 8-9 Falcons 6-11 Panthers 4-13
NFC West 49ers 11-6 Seahawks 10-7 Rams 5-12 Cardinals 3-14
Here are the teams Reserve Future signings. Half the time these players don’t end up making the training camp roster. But there’s been some players that have gone on to be stars on the rosters they signed to.
49ers
Bears
TE Chase Allen S Adrian Colbert LB Kuony Deng OT Kellen Diesch WR Daurice Fountain DE Gerri Green DL Donovan Jeter WR Joe Reed TE Jake Tonges WR Nsimba Webster
Bengals
Bills
WR Isaiah Coulter DE Kendal Vickers
Broncos
WR Victor Bolden G Parker Ferguson CB Faion Hicks CB Delonte Hood DT Jordan Jackson DB Devon Key RB Tyreik McAllister OLB Wyatt Ray OL Hunter Thedford LB Ray Wilborn
Browns
WR Daylen Baldwin S Bubba Bolden WR Mike Harley LB Storey Jackson DE Sam Kamara RB John Kelly, Jr RB Nate McCrary TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden DT Roderick Perry WR Marquez Stevenson T Tyrone Wheatley
Buccaneers
DT Willington Previlon T Dylan Cook TE Dominique Dafney CB Don Gardner WR Kaylon Geiger DL Mike Greene T Grant Hermanns RB Patrick Laird CB Duron Lowe OT Michael Niese OLB Hamilcar Rashed LB JJ Russell T Justin Skule OLB Charles Snowden S Nolan Turner TE David Wells
Cardinals
OT Julien Davenport LS Joe Fortunato K Elliott Fry DB Juju Hughes DB Nate Hairston LB Blake Lynch TE Chris Pierce TE Bernhard Seikovits G Lachavious Simmons WR Auden Tate DB Josh Thomas OT Badera Traore WR Javon Wims
Chargers
G Zach Bailey WR Keelan Doss WR John Hightower DB Michael Jacquet TE Hunter Kampmoyer DE Carlo Kemp LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams DT David Moa OT Austen Pleasants RB Larry Roundtree DE Ty Shelby DB Mark Webb
Chiefs
WR John Ross WR Ty Fryfogle
Colts
DT McTelvin Agim S Henry Black S Marcel Dabo S Trevor Denbow G Arlington Hambright K Lucas Havrisik T Jordan Murray LB Sequn Olubi RB Aarpm Shampkin WR Vyncint Smith CB David Vereen TE Jalen Wydermyer
Commanders
CB Troy Apke FB Alex Armah DE William Bradley-King WR Alex Erickson CB DaMarcus Fields QB Jake Fromm G Nolan Laufenberg WR Kyric McGowen T Aaron Monteiro G Keaton Sutherland
Cowboys
Dolphins
T Josiah Bronson OL Lester Cotton CB Tino Ellis LB Cameron Goode WR Braylon Sanders T Kion Smith DT Jaylen Twyman
Eagles
RB Kennedy Brooks
Falcons
WR Josh Ali RB B.J. Baylor OLB Quinton Bell DL Amani Bledson ILB Dorian Etheridge CB Javelin Guidry TE Tucker Fisk OL Kyle Hamilton CB Matt Hankins OL Jonotthan Harrison WR Ra’Shaun Henry ILB Nate Landman DB Dylan Mabin DB Jamal Peters TE John Raine FB Clint Ratkovich CB John Reid OL Justin Shaffer OL Tyler Vrabel
Giants
G Solomon Kindley
Jets
OL Chris Glaser DB Craig James DB Jimmy Moreland DL Tanzel Smart DL Marquiss Spencer QB Chris Streveler LB Chazz Surratt WR Malik Taylor
Lions
WR Maurice Alexander WR Stanley Berryhill S Brady Breeze TE Derrick Deese CB Khalil Dorsey T Obinna Eze RB Jermer Jefferson WR Tom Kennedy T Darrin Paulo DT Demetrius Taylor CB Jarren Williams
Packers
TE Austin Allen WR Jeff Cotton OT Jean Delance QB Danny Etling DB Tyrell Ford DB Benjie Franklin RB Tyler Goodson TE Nick Guggemas LB Kadarius Hamilton DT Chris Slayton DB Kiondre Thomas K Parker White DB James Wiggins
Panthers
OL Deonte Brown RB Spencer Brown DB Myles Dorn DE Kobe Jones CB Herb Miller LN Arron Mosby WR C.J. Saunders DT Raequan Williams WR Derek Wright
Patriots
LB Terez Hall DB Brad Hawkins OL Hayden Howerton DB Quandre Mosely LB Calvin Munson WR Tre Nixon DL Jeremiah Pharms CB Rodney Randle DL LaBryan Ray TE Matt Sokol RB JJ Taylor LB Olakunle Fatukasi TE Scotty Washington
Raiders
CB Isiah Brown CB Bryce Cosby P Julian Diaz S Jalen Elliott TE Cole Fotheringham G Vitaliy Gurman OT Sebastian Gutierrez WR Chris Lacy LB Kana’i Mauga G Jordan Meredith WR DJ Turner RB Austin Walter WR Isaiah Zuber
Rams
TE Roger Carter DB TJ Carter DE TJ Carter DB Richard LeConte OT Max Pircher WR Jaquarii Roberson WR Jerreth Sterns DE Brayden Thomas DE Zach VanValkenberg
Ravens
WR Shemar Bridges WR Andy Isabella DB Bopete Keyes FB Ben Mason LB Jeremiah Moon DT Rayshad Nichols G John Simpson WR Mike Thomas
Saints
G Yasir Durant DT Prince Emili RB Derrick Gore DB Vincent Gray TE Lucas Krull QB Jake Luton DB Troy Pride LB Nephi Sewell DE Jabari Zuniga
Seahawks
G Greg Eiland LB Chris Garrett DT Jarrod Hewitt C Joey Hunt WR Cade Johnson OT Jalen McKenzie DB Chris Steele RB Darwin Thompson WR Connor Wedington WR Easop Winston
Steelers
WR Ja’Marcus Bradley DB Duke Dawson G William Dunkle LB Emeke Egbule WR Dez Fitzpatrick DB Madre Harper RB Jason Huntley C Ryan McCollum RB Anthony McFarland DB Scott Nelson OLB Chapelle Russell DB Kenny Robinson RB Master Teague WR Cody White DB Chris Wilcox TE Rodney Williams DL Renell Wren
Texans
WR Alex Bachman CB Jalen Camp RB Gerrid Doaks WR Drew Estrada DE Demone Harris WR Johnny Johnson DE Adedayo Odeleye DB D’Angelo Ross TE Mason Schreck
Titans
DT Curtis Brooks CB Shyheim Carter OL Zach Johnson WR Mason Kinsey OLB Zach McCloud TE Thomas Odukoya OLB Sam Okuoyinonu DL Jayden Peevy TE Justin Rigg WR Reggie Roberson OL Andrew Rupcich K Caleb Shudak
Vikings
WR Trishton Jackson WR Blake Proehl CB Tay Gowan TE Nick Muse OLB Benton Whitley C Josh Sokol DE Curtis Weaver
This is going to be a tough week with all the injuries the steelers have on defense, for them to stop Tom Brady and the Buccaneers offense.
But this week also gives the steelers a chance to what the depth players can do. This is epically a big game for 2nd year defensive linemen Isaiahh Loudermilk, who should be getting a helmet for the first time this season. Loudermilk really showed up big last season as a rookie.
Let’s get into the injury report.
Steelers Cam Sutton, CB Hamstring Out Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Hamstring Out Levi Wallace, CB Concussion Out Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Knee Out Pat Freiermith, TE Concussion Out DeMarvin Leal, DE Knee Out
Buccaneers Mike Edwards, S Elbow Questionable Julio Jones, WR Knee Doubtful Akiem Hicks, DT Foot Out Sean Murphy-Bunting, CB Quad Out Logan Ryan, S Foot Out
