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5 Bold 2024 NFL Draft Predictions
My bold 2024 NFL Draft predictions are finally here. We are sure to see some unexpected moves in the draft this year, but the real question is, can we predict them?
The top NFL betting sites offer plenty of props, which means we can make some serious cash if our bold predictions come true. Let’s take a look at my top five for 2024.
Vikings to Trade Up and Draft J.J McCarthy
The Vikings made an interesting trade earlier this offseason. They acquired the 23rd and 232nd overall picks in exchange for their 42nd and 188th pick, as well as a 2025 second rounder. This move gave the Vikings some ammunition to trade up and take their future franchise quarterback in this draft.
Minnesota moved on from longtime QB Kirk Cousins, and signed Sam Darnold to a one-year contract. Darnold is likely a filler QB for this season, as he allows the new rookie QB to develop before taking over the starting gig.
The first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft seems to already be settled with Caleb Williams heading to Chicago, and either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels will go to Washington next. It’s unlikely that the first two teams will trade back, but it’s fair game after that.
J.J McCarthy has the talent to be a solid NFL QB, but giving him some time to adapt will be beneficial to all parties involved. It’s possible that McCarthy falls to them at 11th overall, but they might not want to risk someone else jumping over them and snatching him up.
I am predicting the Vikings to jump up in the 3-7 range in order to draft the QB of their future in J.J McCarthy. You can bet on the Vikings to draft McCarthy with +120 odds at BetUS, who also welcome you to their site with a 125% welcome bonus (up to $2,500).
Read our BetUS review, or head straight there to place your bets now!
Jayden Daniels to Fall Out of the Top 10
It seems that most mock drafts have Jayden Daniels going third overall to New England. The Patriots definitely need a quarterback and Daniels has a high ceiling. However, he does come with a decent amount of concerns.
Daniels has taken some dangerous hits throughout his time with LSU. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner will be a dual-threat QB at the next level, but he won’t last long if he doesn’t learn how to protect himself.
Jayden Daniels taking comically huge hits, a thread: pic.twitter.com/RHMPKLQ94w
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 23, 2024
He also takes a lot of sacks, which is a product of his inconsistent ability to anticipate throws. The 23-year-old projects more as a Lamar Jackson-type scrambler rather than a bruiser like Josh Allen.
If we stick to the comparison of Lamar Jackson, I’d also like to point out that the Ravens’ QB slid to the last pick in the first round in 2018. Jackson also requested a trade last off-season and teams were hesitant to make a good offer.
That could indicate that teams are not willing to invest in a quarterback with this particular playing style.
Jayden Daniels’ upside probably forces the Patriots to take him at third overall. However, these are bold 2024 NFL Draft predictions. I will predict that Daniels falls out of the top 10 and ends up with a team like Minnesota, Denver, Las Vegas, or Seattle.
Bengals Trade Tee Higgins, Picks to Giants for #6
It would be a shame to not include any trades in my predictions for the 2024 NFL Draft. After all, there are bound to be a good amount of them. Predicting the exact details of NFL trades is nearly impossible, but I am going to try anyways.
The New York Giants currently hold the sixth overall pick in the draft. There are several areas of need for the Giants, so I wouldn’t rule out them trading down.
So, who will be willing to send the Giants a haul for the sixth overall pick? How about the Cincinnati Bengals, who currently hold the 18th pick in the first round. Tee Higgins was also franchise tagged and requested a trade, so the Bengals can try and move him during the draft.
Tee Higgins has requested a trade from the Bengals, per @AdamSchefter
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 11, 2024
Where do you want to see him land? 👀 pic.twitter.com/sY2LIFwea4
Packaging the 18th pick and Tee Higgins might capture the Giants interest, but they might also have to send even more to seal the deal. Cincinnati holds two third round picks this year, so that could be the final piece to the puzzle.
In total, the Giants will send the sixth overall pick to Cincinnati for Tee Higgins, and the 18th, 80th, and 97th picks in the draft. The Bengals will then have their choice to take a player like Malik Nabers, Joe Alt, or Rome Odunze.
Either way, the Tee Higgins situation in Cincinnati could create some urgency. The Bengals made a Super Bowl run a few years ago, and a big move like this could get them back to that level.
BetUS is one of the top NFL Draft betting sites, and they offer intriguing odds for Malik Nabers (+140), Rome Odunze (+250), and Joe Alt (+800) to be the sixth overall pick. Even if Cincinnati doesn’t pull the trigger, this could be a smash bet.
Six Quarterbacks to be Taken in the First Round
My bold 2024 NFL Draft predictions continue with their being sixth quarterbacks taken in the first round. This sounds like a large number, but this QB class is loaded with potential stars. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels get most of the attention, but we can’t forget about J.J McCarthy, Bo Nix, or Michael Penix Jr.
There should be at least three quarterbacks taken within the first 10 picks of the draft. After that, they will be a little more spread out. There’s a chance that a team prefers to wait a few rounds after the first few are gone, but they could also be digging themselves into a hole.
If they wait too long, another team could jump over them and snag the quarterback they were hoping for. The most QB-needy teams are the Bears, Commanders, Patriots, Vikings, and Broncos, but that’s not all.
Some other teams that could use a promising, young quarterback include the Giants, Jets, Raiders, Saints, Seahawks, Rams, Steelers, and Buccaneers. That’s 13 total teams that might be looking to add a quarterback in the first round.
What are the chances that a team like Seattle passes on a QB at #16 and one of the top six QBs are there by the next pick? Keep in mind, Seattle doesn’t have a second rounder this year, which means they don’t pick again until #81.
BetUS has the line set at 4.5 quarterbacks and -190 odds for the over. I think that’s a great bet, and I’ll even take it one step further and say that six QBs are taken in the first round this year.
No Defensive Backs to go Within the Top 24
This draft class is loaded when it comes to quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive lineman. There are even several potential star edge rushers and linebackers that could be taken in the first round as well.
When you have so many great prospects in these important positions, another position will have to take a backseat. One of my predictions for the 2024 NFL Draft is for there to be zero defensive backs taken before 24th overall.
Although there are a decent amount talented defensive backs in this draft class, I would argue that they aren’t as intriguing as these other positions. I am predicting nine of the first 10 picks to be on the offensive side of the ball, and the other pick to be an edge rusher.
After the first 10, there should be a healthy amount of offensive linemen, wide receivers, more edge rushers, and possibly quarterbacks. Terrion Arnold, Quinyon Mitchell, Nate Wiggins, and others might not hear their names called until after that.
There are several team that will make it hard for this bold prediction to come to fruition, but that’s why it’s bold in the first place. BetUS has -400 odds for there to be under 5.5 cornerbacks in Round 1, which seems to represent this draft class pretty well.
Predicting the NFL Draft in 2024
Predicting what will happen at the NFL Draft is no easy task, and it’s even more challenging when you try to be bold. That said, there’s no harm in trying to nail a few of these picks, and you can even win a nice chunk of cash if some of them come true.
In fact, the bolder you are, the more money you can potentially make if you’re betting on the draft this year. If you do plan on betting on the NFL Draft, I suggest you try BetUS sportsbook, which happens to have some of the best props, as well as competitive odds.
Out of all my 2024 NFL Draft predictions, my favorite has to be the Bengals trading up. Tee Higgins’ trade request might have mixed up their long-term plans, so a big move could keep their Super Bowl window open.
These bold predictions can make you some serious cash this year, but that’s not all. I took a look at some “safer” props for this year’s draft. Check out my other NFL Draft prop bets for 2024 below!
