Highly regarded prospects often anchor draft classes and many of those players are unsurprisingly drafted when they should be. But general managers extend careers by finding steals and value, often deeper into the draft.

Where did your favorite team find the best value in its 2024 NFL Draft class? The Athletic’s NFL beat writers compiled those picks.

The Cardinals are set at RB with James Conner but they’ve needed a strong No. 2 who can enter the game with little drop-off. That’s what they got with Benson. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler listed Benson as the No. 3 running back in the draft, and the Cardinals got him at No. 66. His college career got off to a rocky start because of a knee injury, but he finished strong. And he should get the opportunity to make an instant impact in the desert. “He’s a big man that runs really fast,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said. “When I look at (it), can you break tackles? Yeah. Can you make people miss in space? Yeah. Can you hit home runs? Yes.” – Doug Haller

The Falcons got Dorlus one round lower than Brugler expected him to go. The 6-foot-3, 283-pounder was Brugler’s No. 75 overall player and eighth-rated defensive tackle, and he does not lack confidence. “I’m a guy who can do anything,” he said. “I feel like I have the highest IQ out there.” Dorlus, an All-Pac-12 player each of the last three seasons at Oregon, had 134 quarterback pressures over the last two seasons, more than any defensive tackle in major college football. He also led Oregon with eight pass breakups last year thanks to an 81-inch wingspan. — Josh Kendall

Tampa was Brugler’s eighth-ranked cornerback at 55th overall. The Ravens selected him at No. 130 in the fourth round. Three rounds after they took Nate Wiggins, they doubled down on cornerbacks by selecting a player expected to be taken relatively early on Day 2. Tampa doesn’t have high-end speed, and his pre-draft process was disjointed after he declined an invitation to the Senior Bowl and couldn’t work out at the NFL Scouting Combine because of a hamstring injury. The Ravens, though, were happy to stop Tampa’s slide. They had considered taking him on Day 2 but opted against it because they already selected Wiggins. — Jeff Zrebiec

One of the sneakier needs the Bills had across their roster was along the interior offensive line. After moving on from former starting center Mitch Morse and key reserve Ryan Bates this offseason, the Bills were left with only Alec Anderson and Will Clapp as their primary interior backups. Getting a borderline Day 2 grade from Brugler and nearly cracking the Top 100, Van Pran-Granger enters the equation with potential to one day push for a starting job at either center or guard. If the Connor McGovern experiment at center does not go well in 2024, there could be an opening there. — Joe Buscaglia

Brugler had Sanders ranked as the No. 2 tight end behind Georgia’s Brock Bowers and No. 57 overall. But the Panthers got him at 101 to fill the need for a receiving tight end for Bryce Young. Sanders, the fourth tight end taken, had big-time production in the passing game for the Longhorns. His 139 targets and 99 catches over the past two seasons trailed only Bowers in both categories. Sanders’ 12 20-yard receptions in 2023 were just one fewer than Bowers’ FBS-leading total. — Joe Person

The Bears didn’t need a receiver with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen already on the roster. But they stuck to their draft board and played the long game after taking quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick. Some scouts and teams rated Odunze as the best receiver in the draft ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers. General manager Ryan Poles viewed the Washington receiver so highly that trading up was briefly considered in the draft room. The team let the picks play out and was rewarded when the Falcons surprisingly selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8. — Adam Jahns

Coach Zac Taylor noted how long it felt like Jenkins’ name was atop their board Friday night. As the second round featured runs on all the Bengals’ targeted positions, Jenkins was the one name at the top that didn’t move. “I was squinting at it for an hour,” defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. Jenkins was perhaps the best fit of all the defensive tackles available (non-Byron Murphy II division). His excellence as a run-stopper and versatility moving up and down the line are core requirements of Anarumo’s scheme. Jenkins has NFL bloodlines and an elite leadership background. And the Bengals sorely needed all of it with D.J. Reader gone. The cliff after Jenkins was concerning, but he eventually made it to them at No. 49 and could easily end up the best player in this draft for Cincinnati. – Paul Dehner Jr.

Watson is a sixth-rounder who’s guaranteed nothing. But he’ll be given a shot to make the team by way of covering kickoffs, and his combination of size, speed and physicality makes him one to watch. The Browns know there’s a chance they’ll get little help from this draft right away, but in Watson they get the player who led the SEC in tackles and sacks last fall. After six years in college and a long wait in the draft likely furthered by his arrest record, Watson comes to Cleveland with a chance to make a name for himself. – Zac Jackson

Brugler had Beebe ranked 38th on his board. Dallas was able to get him at 73, the selection it received for trading back from 24 to 29 with Detroit. Beebe is expected to immediately compete for the starting center job. While Beebe did not play center in a game at Kansas State, he did work at the position in practice and during the pre-draft process. If he struggles at center, his future could be as Zack Martin’s eventual replacement at right guard, depending on how much longer Martin wants to play. — Jon Machota

The wide receiver who broke several Oregon records last season was the 58th-ranked player on Brugler’s big board, and Denver got him with the second pick of the fourth round at No. 102. The Broncos need productive, fast playmakers and Franklin ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the combine and has quickness in space. The pick wasn’t simply about the Broncos reuniting Bo Nix with his favorite college target, but any move that enhances the environment around a rookie quarterback never hurts. “We thought he was going to be taken in the second round,” said coach Sean Payton, who texted general manager George Paton at 6 a.m. Saturday to say he wanted to search for a trade partner to move up when the fourth round began. “We think he’s really good at the line of scrimmage. He’s quick in and out of his cuts and he can really run. We saw a lot of explosive plays.” – Nick Kosmider


Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (10) and wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) were selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2024 NFL Draft. (Darren Yamashita / USA Today)

Mahogany, a three-year starter at Boston College, ranked No. 99 among Brugler’s Top 100 prospects. The Lions were able to get him at No. 210 in the sixth round. Here’s Brugler’s description of his game: “He plays like a bouncer outside of a club, looking to bash heads with power and forceful hands. He projects as a guard-versatile NFL starter, ideally suited for a downhill run team.” If the Lions were able to grab a starting-caliber guard at No. 210, GM Brad Holmes might be out of breath from all the victory laps he’ll be taking a few years from now. — Colton Pouncy

Monk probably won’t start immediately, but Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan made it sound like they see Monk as a valuable piece of the equation. Monk played significant snaps at right tackle, right guard and center in college and — especially if the first-round pick Jordan Morgan focuses on left tackle at first — could compete with Sean Rhyan for the starting right guard job. “He’s quick, very quick, strong, aggressive play style, excellent motor, gets after it,” Sullivan said of Monk. “He’s a snap-to-whistle kind of guy. Like I said, his play style and the way they talk about him, his wiring, he’s an elite, elite guy. He’s a leader and he kind of sets the tone at that program. Guys follow him and I think that kind of oozes out on his film when you’re watching him and this guy’s getting after it and he’s out there to win.” – Matt Schneidman

Secondary upgrades were a need entering the draft, but the Texans didn’t have a first-round pick. They still managed to find a talented cornerback in Lassiter. The 5-11, 186-pounder saw his draft stock take a hit after clocking a 4.6-second 40-yard dash (he was taken in Round 2 at No. 42). But he certainly plays faster than that 40-yard-dash time would indicate, has great instincts and is sound in coverage. In 408 coverage snaps last season, he allowed zero touchdowns and a passer rating of 48.7, according to Pro Football Focus. — Mike Jones

Many viewed Mitchell as a first-round talent, so getting him in the second round feels like a steal. He won’t be expected to change the offense overnight, but his immense physical traits speak to his upside and the value he could bring. The 21-year-old adds a dynamic vertical element to the Colts offense, which should go hand in hand with Anthony Richardson’s big arm. He’ll need to improve his route running to carry over that impact into the NFL, but this is where the Shane Steichen effect comes into play. The Colts’ coach and play caller proved last year, amid several key absences, that he can maximize any offensive player at his disposal. Imagine what he’ll be able to do with a 6-foot-2, 205-pound receiver who runs a 4.34-second 40-yard dash. — James Boyd

Thomas was the Jaguars’ only pick in the first four rounds to exceed his ranking in Brugler’s Top 100. Brugler’s 15th overall prospect went No. 23 and could be a big-time difference maker if he improves his consistency and rounds out his route tree. The Jags’ other top-four picks could be labeled as reaches. Defensive tackle Maason Smith, who went 48th and was ranked 64th, was their only other pick in Brugler’s Top 100. Third-rounder Jarrian Jones was Brugler’s 28th-ranked cornerback, while fourth-round tackle Javon Foster (15th) and defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson (20th) were moderately ranked at their respective positions. There will be a lot of pressure on this class to exceed expectations. — Jeff Howe

With six quarterbacks going in the first 12 picks, the Chiefs were able to get quality value when they traded up in the first round to select Worthy, the fastest man in the draft, at No. 28. The Chiefs love speed, and getting the Texas wide receiver late in the first round was a dream scenario for them and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City signed veteran receiver Marquise Brown in free agency but still needed to address the position with Rashee Rice’s status in doubt because of his role in a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas in March. — Nate Taylor


The Kansas City Chiefs traded up to select speedy Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy in the first round on Thursday. (Nelson Chenault / USA Today)

Las Vegas Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C/G, Oregon

Most of his success in college came at center, but he has all the tools to contribute as an effective starter at guard right away. It’s yet to be determined whether it’ll be on the left or right, but he’ll likely start from day one. While first-round pick Brock Bowers should also be a starter, he’ll be competing with receivers Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, fellow tight ends Michael Mayer and Harrison Bryant and the running backs for targets in the passing game. And Bowers needs to make significant strides as a blocker to justify keeping him on the field. — Tashan Reed

He was Brugler’s top-ranked linebacker and No. 42 overall player and the Chargers got him at No. 69. He is fluent in defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s scheme and was one of the leaders of Michigan’s top-ranked defense last year. He has a clear pathway to playing 800 to 1,000 snaps for the Chargers as a rookie if he can win the starting middle linebacker spot. He has three-down skills. He might end up wearing the green dot because of his familiarity with the new system. The Chargers came away with one of the few plug-and-play prospects in a weaker linebacker class. At a minimum, they needed to add depth. Instead, they came away with a probable starting player with their third-round pick. — Daniel Popper

Verse will be expected to start right away, and in seeing him in person at the Rams’ draft house in Hermosa Beach, Calif., it’s clear why he will fit in on an NFL practice field. He has a huge frame — he is built more like a pure defensive end than an outside linebacker, although the Rams will start him out as a true edge — and a larger-than-life personality with energy to match. The Rams’ biggest need in the previous two offseasons (until Verse’s arrival) was a second outside pass rusher. — Jourdan Rodrigue

Wright is a home-run hitter with speed who perfectly suits Mike McDaniel’s offense. Wright, who was Brugler’s 83rd-ranked prospect, was the 120th pick, so he represents tremendous value. More than that, the league had to have collectively groaned when he landed in Miami. Wright, who ran a 4.38 40 at the combine, rushed for 1,888 yards and 14 touchdowns over the last two seasons. — Jeff Howe

Usually, the consensus best edge rusher in the NFL Draft does not fall to pick No. 17. That’s what happened Thursday night, and the Vikings pounced. They had targeted Turner for months. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores adored everything about him: his versatility, his experience in Nick Saban’s defensive system and his physicality. The versatility will allow Flores to do what he loves to do: use alignment and deception to confuse the quarterback. And unlike last year, when the Vikings were unable to apply pressure late in the season, they now have the pass rushers to win in one-on-one situations. — Alec Lewis

In a Patriots receiver group with so many similar players, Baker offers a different skill set. Though his speed isn’t elite, he can run deep routes well and track down long passes. Plus, he’s more of a true outside receiver, lining up there on 73 percent of snaps last season. Baker also brings some bravado to the room. He spent his first two collegiate years at Alabama and got to know Drake Maye when the quarterback was briefly committed there. Now Baker thinks three rookies — him, Maye and WR Ja’Lynn Polk — can usher in a new era of Patriots offensive football. — Chad Graff

McKinstry could prove to be a value pick in more ways than one. First, the Saints selected McKinstry by trading up to No. 41. They saw the value there, as the corner was Brugler’s No. 30 prospect. And second, drafting McKinstry could pave the way for the Saints to unload perennial Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore. New Orleans already employs younger players like Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor. Adding McKinstry to the mix could make it more feasible to part ways with the high-priced Lattimore. — Larry Holder

Just because it’s obvious doesn’t make it wrong.Nabers was Brugler’s third-ranked player, and the Giants got him at No. 6. Nabers will immediately inject some explosiveness into a Giants offense that desperately needs it. His combination of confidence and potential hasn’t been seen in a New York Giants wide receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. Nabers should be adored by Giants fans as well as quarterback Daniel Jones. — Charlotte Carroll

Travis, taken in the fifth round at No. 171, probably would’ve been drafted much higher (possibly as high as the second or third round) had he not suffered a broken leg in November. GM Joe Douglas has said he wants the Jets to become a “quarterback factory,” adding quarterbacks later in drafts to develop instead of throwing them into the fire. Travis is a smart first foray into that idea. — Zack Rosenblatt

It’s still somewhat absurd that Quinyon Mitchell fell to the Eagles at No. 22. He was the No. 11 overall player on Brugler’s big board, which underlines the rare scenario that benefited the Eagles thanks to a quarterback-heavy first round in which no defensive players were selected until No. 15 (for the first time ever). The Eagles snagged the draft’s top cornerback without surrendering any draft capital to trade up. That allowed Roseman to instead use his full allotment of selections in eight other draft-day deals for immediate acquisitions and future picks. Not bad at all. — Brooks Kubena

A speedy slot receiver who was Michigan’s go-to weapon in the passing game last season, Wilson was ranked 41st overall and eighth among receivers by Brugler, with a second-round projection. The Steelers snagged him to fill their critical need at wideout with the 84th pick, midway through Round 3, making him the 14th receiver off the board. Given the Steelers’ history of finding gems in the mid-to-late rounds at this position, there should be optimism Wilson can exceed his draft position and provide a nice complementary style to go along with big-bodied deep threat George Pickens. — Mike DeFabo


Wide receiver Roman Wilson helped the Michigan Wolverines win a national championship this season. (Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)

Guerendo’s combination of size and speed translates nicely to the 49ers’ zone-blocking offense. Guerendo ran his 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds, a time usually associated with wispy wideouts and cornerbacks. Guerendo, however, weighs 221 pounds, giving him a size-speed profile that’s similar to that of one-time 49ers running back Raheem Mostert, who had 18 rushing touchdowns for the Dolphins last season. Christian McCaffrey clearly is the 49ers’ No. 1 runner heading into the 2024 season. The injury history of his top backup, Elijah Mitchell, could give Guerendo opportunities as a rookie. Mitchell also is heading into the final year of his rookie contract. — Matt Barrows

The Seahawks had several great value picks, at least based on Brugler’s rankings, but Haynes was probably the best. He was No. 47 in Brugler’s rankings and ended up being selected with the 81st pick. Independent of the rankings, he is a plug-and-play guard, so grabbing him in the middle of the third round is great value. In terms of playing with a mean streak and finishing blocks through the whistle, he’s among the best in this class. — Michael-Shawn Dugar

Had McMillan not injured his knee in Washington’s third game last season and been limited the rest of the way, chances are he would not have been available when the Bucs chose him with the 92nd pick of the draft. The season before, McMillan had 79 catches for 1,098 yards and nine touchdowns and was expected to be more productive in 2023. With decent speed (4.47 40-yard dash) and explosion (37-inch vertical jump), McMillan has the athleticism to become a better player in the NFL than he was in college. — Dan Pompei

Tennessee Titans: Jarvis Brownleee Jr., CB, Louisville

Brugler ranked Brownlee the No. 112 prospect in the draft, giving him a third-/fourth-round grade. The Titans got him in the fifth round, at No. 146. He played three seasons at Florida State before finishing with two at Louisville, and his film is full of physical, aggressive play — dropping receivers on bumps at the line of scrimmage and harassing them downfield. That fits perfectly with the style of play Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson wants to instill. — Joe Rexrode

Washington Commanders: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois

At first glance, it may seem puzzling for a team coming off a 4-13 season with several areas to address to use its second selection and No. 36 overall pick on a position fortified with strength and investment. However, this move is a strategic shift, a testament to a new era in the organization and the team’s strategic timeline. These choices were made under a different regime. And now, with the introduction of general manager Adam Peters, a fresh set of evaluator’s eyes, the team is charting a new course. — Ben Standig

(Top photos of Dallas Turner, Adonai Mitchell and Jordan Travis: Ryan Kang, Matthew Pearce and Grant Halverson / Getty Images)



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