Execs unfiltered on NFL Draft: What were the Falcons thinking? Thoughts on all 16 NFC teams

With the 2024 NFL Draft behind us, it’s time to check in with executives around the league for perspectives on the key developments.

And there was no shortage of fodder, beginning with the Atlanta Falcons’ decision to use the eighth pick on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. only six weeks after signing a different QB, Kirk Cousins, to a $180 million contract.

Many in the NFL like Penix as a prospect, but they struggled to comprehend the Falcons’ process, unless — well, you’ll have to read on to see the one circumstance under which Atlanta’s actions might be defensible in the eyes of league insiders.

We’ve split this 32-team file in two parts this year. You’ll find execs’ comments on NFC teams’ drafts today, with the AFC version publishing Friday.

This draft was an extension of the 2023 version for the Cardinals.

It’s time for an accounting.

Arizona held the third pick in the 2023 draft and could have selected elite defenders Will Anderson Jr. or Devon Witherspoon. Instead, the Cardinals traded the No. 3 pick (and No. 105) to Houston for selections netting six players after additional trades:

“I’d rather have Will Anderson, but you have to know your team, too,” an exec said. “They might have wasted four years of Will Anderson while constructing their roster.”

The Cardinals emerged from this draft with seven of the first 90 selections, most since the 1991 Cowboys.

“That is well-played because they need as many NFL-quality players as they can get,” another exec said.

The haul could have been stronger if Houston had not outperformed expectations in 2023, leaving Arizona with the 27th pick (Robinson) instead of the top-10 selection many forecast.

Arizona played it straight this year, taking receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4 instead of moving back and/or selecting a different wideout. Choosing a receiver other than Harrison, built up for months as the top receiver, could have heightened risk.

“If (Harrison) turns out to be less than what you hoped, no one is going to say you tried to outsmart yourself,” a third exec said. “If you bust going away from the consensus best player at a position, people will say, ‘You dumbass, everyone knew Marvin Harrison was going to be great.’”

Atlanta Falcons

Poor Michael Penix Jr. The former University of Washington quarterback should be basking in his selection as the eighth player chosen in the draft. Instead, legions are wondering how the Falcons could have selected a quarterback so early just six weeks after signing veteran Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal.

“How you could go through free agency and think to yourself, ‘Penix is our guy, but let’s give $100 million to Kirk Cousins just in case Penix doesn’t fall to us at 8’?” an exec said. “Come on, man.”

Consternation over the Falcons trading up in the second round for defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro when, as one exec put it, “they had the guy from Illinois (Johnny Newton), who is a perfect fit for Raheem Morris’ defense as a three-technique, sitting on the board,” could not compare to the furor over the Cousins/Penix decision.

“There’s only one thing I could think of that would allow them to do that, and is that something happened in Kirk’s rehab (from a torn Achilles tendon) between when he signed and draft day that made them feel like, ‘Oh my god, we might not have him for more than a year,’” another exec said.

There’s no indication that happened.

“People say they can get out of Kirk’s deal after two years, which is basically saying, ‘Well, we expect him to fail, so we can get rid of the contract after ’25, but you don’t get to think that way when you’re putting $100 million into Kirk Cousins,” the exec added.

Attempts to find execs supporting the move proved futile.

“What if you are in minicamp and Cousins isn’t even taking snaps and you are like, ‘Oh my God, let’s go with Michael Penix,’” another exec said. “Because remember, moving Cousins is much more difficult than it would be to move Penix. You could be stuck with Cousins when you know Penix is the guy.”

Other execs noted that current Falcons director of player personnel Ryan Pace was the Bears’ GM in 2017 when the team signed quarterback Mike Glennon to a surprisingly expensive deal six weeks before Chicago traded from No. 3 to No. 2 for quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Glennon earned $18.5 million for four starts. Cousins’ deal guarantees him $90 million over the next two seasons.

“I really like Penix, but if you are going to draft him, why would you not have taken Justin Fields from Chicago or signed Russell Wilson and then drafted Penix?” an exec said. “No one would fault you for that. They would have been much better off with money invested elsewhere. And the thing about Penix is, he is ready to play now. He is not the rookie QB that needs to wait.”

Execs tied the Penix decision to other questionable top-10 draft moves under GM Terry Fontenot, led by drafting tight end Kyle Pitts at No. 4 in 2021.

“Remember, the reason they went with Raheem Morris instead of Bill Belichick (as head coach) was because he would not push back against the front office,” another exec said. “The two teams that rejected Belichick did the opposite of what Bill would have done, and that includes New England drafting Drake Maye.”

Execs rejected the thinking that Atlanta needed to snag a quarterback of the future now because the team could be picking much later in 2025.

“I’d love to know what the conversations were in Atlanta leading up to that and why there was no adult supervision,” a former GM said. “Truth be told, they could be good next year with Kirk Cousins, come away with the 25th or 26th pick, and then you take a quarterback in that range. That is what Green Bay did with Jordan Love, and it is fundamentally different from what Atlanta just did.”

The Panthers have been clear in trying to take pressure off quarterback Bryce Young. They might have paid too much for guards in free agency. They might have gotten too aggressive trading up in the second round for Jonathan Brooks, a running back coming off ACL surgery. Perhaps they telegraphed their selection of receiver Xavier Legette. But the plan was clear.

“They did what they could do without having a first-round pick,” an exec said. “The first two players are really good. The linebacker has a lot of upside. The tight end (Ja’Tavion Sanders), if he came back in school, would probably be the first tight end taken next year.”

Legette provided a provocative pre-draft quote when he said the Panthers told him they would select him at No. 33. Coach Dave Canales downplayed the quote before the draft, but the Panthers then traded up to No. 32 for Legette. GM Dan Morgan said the team preferred the first-round contract structure, which includes a fifth-year team option.

“I hope it was for the option, and not that they had to have this specific player because the head coach told the player he was going to draft him,” an exec said.

There was no questioning Carolina’s second trade, pocketing the Rams’ 2025 second-rounder and a 2024 fifth to drop from 39th to 52nd so Los Angeles could draft defensive tackle Braden Fiske. It was the highest future pick any team acquired during the draft, adding to the 2025 fifth Carolina acquired in the Brian Burns trade.

“The thought behind what they did was good, but I think they were shopping hungry for an explosive-play threat,” an exec said. “I get it. … You get a guy who can maybe be Deebo Samuel-esque in the way you use him. Trading up to take an injured running back with one year of production, I’m not sure about that.”

Chicago Bears

The most interesting discussion surrounding the Bears focused on the ninth pick. Receiver Rome Odunze appealed as one of the cleanest receiver prospects in memory, to pair with No. 1 overall quarterback Caleb Williams. Cases were also made for selecting another lineman on either side of the ball.

“Chicago already (has) tackles, so to take a lineman in the top 10 who is going to start out at guard versus a receiver who is clean as a whistle, a proven playmaker at a position that has gone up into the $32 million range, I would have gone with Odunze as well,” one exec said.”

One case against taking Odunze there holds that the Bears should be building up pass protection and run-game infrastructure for a quarterback whose tendency to play off-schedule could continue in the NFL.

“If you hold the football in college, you’re not all of a sudden learning how to get rid of it on time in the pros,” an exec said. “They are surrounding this quarterback with weapons, thinking that he can go through progressions and distribute the football on time, and that is not his game. You traded for a veteran receiver (Keenan Allen) who is used to catching passes from Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert. He is going to be frustrated if his young quarterback does not operate on time.”

The case for selecting pass rush help with the ninth pick also carried some appeal.

“I would have traded back,” another exec said. “The idea of taking the third-best receiver, unless he was rated as their top receiver, I don’t like that when I could trade back and get the best defensive player to fill a hole at three-technique or a hole opposite Montez Sweat. They could have a harder time than you think outscoring people unless Caleb starts out really strong.”

Whatever the case, fortune has finally shined upon the Bears.

By trading the No. 1 pick in 2023 to Carolina and making a few smaller moves with the return, the Bears amassed the following haul:

“They did a really good job, but I always laugh when people say you had an A-plus draft,” an exec said. “It’s a process, not a quick fix.”

Dallas Cowboys

Those itching for the Cowboys to show greater urgency found no relief. Dallas traded down from the 24th slot, netting tackle Tyler Guyton at 29 and guard Cooper Beebe with the third-round pick Detroit sent in the exchange.

“They’ve got their dogs and playmakers already,” an exec said. “They solidified the trenches a little bit, and I can’t fault what they have done.”

The slide from 24 to 29 removed one tackle from the menu for Dallas, as Green Bay used the 25th choice for Jordan Morgan. Dallas would surely rather have Guyton and Beebe than the alternative.

“I actually liked Guyton better than Morgan because he’s bigger, he’s longer and he’s got more upside,” an exec said.

Morgan was the seventh tackle selected. Guyton was the eighth, setting a record for Round 1.

One exec compared second-round defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland to Robert Geathers, who was with the Bengals when Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer coordinated Cincinnati’s defense.

“He is better as an interior rusher than he is as an outside guy,” this exec said of Kneeland. “He is not like Danielle Hunter or Everson Griffen or any of those guys, but he can be a good piece.”

Detroit Lions

The Lions invested one first-round pick, one second-rounder and two third-rounders in upgrading at cornerback this offseason. The all-out attack resembled the approach Kansas City took to its offensive line after losing Super Bowl LV to Tampa Bay, and to a lesser extent this offseason when the Chiefs addressed receiver issues.

Is it a good sign Detroit is behaving more like Kansas City?

“They fixed a problem, but at what cost?” an exec said. “You are never one player way.”

How about three players away? The Lions traded a third-round pick to Dallas to move up for cornerback Terrion Arnold at 24. They used a second-rounder on cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., after previously sending a third-round choice to Tampa Bay for veteran corner Carlton Davis.

“I like both those corners they drafted, but they gave up a lot,” another exec said. “I felt they could have waited at 29 and maybe gotten their guy or taken Kool-Aid McKinstry or Nate Wiggins.”

The trade-up for Arnold resembled another recent Kansas City move that paid off. In 2022, the Chiefs traded up from 29th to 21st for Trent McDuffie, the third corner in that draft. The Lions’ jump to 24 this year landed the second corner in this draft.

“Detroit is taking a swing, and you have to admire teams willing to do that,” another exec said.

One exec thought the Lions trading a 2025 third-round pick to the Jets for University of British Columbia tackle Giovanni Manu at No. 126, and then using another fourth-rounder for combination safety/running back Sione Vaki, bordered on arrogance.

“They are really good, so they have earned that right,” the exec said. “It’s a little different from the arrogance coming out of Atlanta. Detroit has had a lot of success drafting offensive line.”

Green Bay Packers

The Packers, more than any team except the Las Vegas Raiders, loaded up at non-premium positions. They landed the first off-ball linebacker (Edgerrin Cooper), second safety (Javon Bullard), fourth running back (MarShawn Lloyd) and fifth off-ball linebacker (Ty’Ron Hopper) in the first 91 picks.

“They are quietly building a defense that is really good and can be good for a long time,” an exec said.

Green Bay did lead off its draft by targeting a premium position. Tackle Jordan Morgan, the 25th pick, could be David Bakhtiari’s replacement at left tackle. The Packers presumably had strong internal buy-in; their offensive coordinator, Adam Stenavich, is their former offensive line coach. But the defensive moves stood out: two linebackers and three safeties in the first five rounds for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

“When you bring in a new defensive coordinator and give him a lot of pieces, it allows him to change some things a little easier,” an exec said. “You get more people willing to take your coaching. Six of their top eight cap hits are for established defensive guys like Kenny Clark and Jaire Alexander. It gives them a chance for a fresh start.”

Only Arizona (12) made more total selections than the Packers (11). That allowed Green Bay to make a luxury selection or two, including Lloyd.

“They did not need him, but with (AJ) Dillon in the last year of his deal, and not knowing what Josh Jacobs will give them, they get a player who is more like Aaron Jones in his skill set,” an exec said. “I was hoping we could get him.”

Execs liked the players the Rams picked and the themes while marveling at how much Los Angeles spent to land defensive tackle Braden Fiske. We might blame Aaron Donald’s retirement for the Rams’ decision to package a 2025 second-round choice with a 2024 fifth in jumping from the 52nd to 39th.

“We liked Fiske, but what they gave up, I mean, can you find another trade in the second round that gave up as much as they gave up, over the last 10 years?” an exec said. “I don’t even know if they are weighing the trade calculations.”

Execs saw that as behavior consistent with having a strong head coach. They also cited reports suggesting the Rams explored trading into the top 10 for tight end Brock Bowers (or possibly Byron Murphy II).

Doubling up on Florida State defensive linemen among the top 39 signaled how seriously the Rams thought their defensive front needed help. Last season, Donald was their only defender earning even $1.4 million per year. Verse and Fiske will earn more.

“They get guys that are usually gritty, some of them are older, four-year type players, team captain types, high character, rugged,” an exec said. “You might give up some of the size and the athletic traits, so that the potential for development could be less. Verse doesn’t have the best agility; he’s a tighter-wound dude, but a good football player. (Kamren) Kinchens is a good football player who does not have excellent traits.”

Other execs also referenced Kinchens as a safety to watch, pointing to the ball skills that helped him intercept 10 passes over the past two seasons.

The Vikings landed quarterback J.J. McCarthy after climbing only one spot, but the draft capital they burned elsewhere was so massive that some execs questioned Minnesota’s process.

“I can buy trading some future picks if you are going to be contending and you are going to get a potential starter,” one exec said. “But the Vikings are not even close to contending. What they did, or even what the Bears did in giving up a (2025) fourth (for a fifth this year), I would not be doing that if I were those teams.”

The Vikings traded 2025 third- and fourth-round picks to Jacksonville to jump from 23 to 17 for edge rusher Dallas Turner. That was on top of the 2025 second-rounder they sent to Houston before the draft for No. 23, as a chip for possibly climbing for a quarterback, which wound up being unnecessary. Now, the Vikings hold only three picks in 2025, plus a likely third-round compensatory choice for losing Cousins.

“(General manager) Kwesi (Adofo-Mensah) had the capital to move up for a quarterback if he needed it, and then he read the room right to know he could get J.J. without mortgaging a future first-round pick,” another exec said. “On the second trade, to get Dallas Turner, they paid a lot, but because Houston gave up so much for Will Anderson last year, I could see Kwesi saying, ‘Well, if we feel Dallas Turner is a Will Anderson type, let’s go up and get him.’”

Having no defensive players drafted among the top 14 allowed the Vikings to get the second edge rusher with the 17th selection. Turner plausibly could have been the top edge rusher on Minnesota’s board, given medical concerns surrounding Laiatu Latu, selected 15th by Indianapolis.

McCarthy and Turner will cost less than $9.5 million in combined APY. That and the $19 million APY for free-agent pass rusher Jonathan Greenard is far less than the combined $69.5 million in APY that Cousins and former Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter commanded in the market.

“They got younger, cheaper and healthier with more upside,” an exec said. “It is hard to argue against that.”

Sixteen choices in the 2025 draft have been traded, but none by the Saints.

Call it a victory for process in New Orleans, where the Saints have previously burned through future draft capital freely. Execs liked the first two players the Saints drafted, and their discipline in waiting after that.

“(Taliese) Fuaga protects them at tackle with the Northern Iowa kid (Trevor Penning) not panning out and with the concern over (Ryan) Ramczyk coming back from injuries,” one exec said. “Kool-Aid (McKinstry) protects them from Marshawn Lattimore getting older, (Alontae) Taylor being an inconsistent No. 2 and with them having to play with Isaac Yiadom down the stretch last season.”

Spencer Rattler plummeting into the fifth round against expectation caught the attention of an exec who hoped his team might select the quarterback from South Carolina. Rattler, damaged by his appearance on a Netflix special while still in high school and by his demise at Oklahoma, apparently struggled to change perceptions with teams.

“The history doesn’t help him, but if you don’t do the research, you won’t know that he’s matured,” the exec said. “He has matured, he has personality, he has some swag and he’s really coachable.”

The Saints selected Rattler without trading up, one year after moving up 100 spots (costing a 2024 fourth-rounder) to select another developmental quarterback, Jake Haener, in the 2023 fourth round.

New Orleans paid this year for that and other trade-ups, holding only two of the first 149 selections.

“We really liked McKinstry’s physical style of play, which very much aligns with New Orleans,” an exec said. “We had him over Terrion Arnold (among corners in this class).”

The Giants passed on quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix after reportedly offering their 2025 first-round pick to New England for a shot at drafting Drake Maye. They will bank on Malik Nabers to help salvage incumbent starting quarterback Daniel Jones.

“I don’t think Nabers can save him, not without (Saquon) Barkley,” an exec said.

“Malik should help Daniel Jones because he has ability to catch short passes and make big plays,” another exec said.

New England’s refusal to move from No. 3 despite reported offers from the Vikings and Giants forced those teams to decide how much they valued Penix, McCarthy and Nix relative to their existing quarterback options. The Giants preferred the combination of Jones and Nabers.

“(The Patriots) were not selling, or they were selling at a premium no one was willing to pay,” another exec said. “So do you draft arguably the best run-after-catch player in the draft, or do you take the fourth quarterback and roll the dice? They must feel pretty good about where Daniel is health-wise (after ACL surgery).”

Some had Nabers as the best receiver in the draft.

“They just sat there and took good players,” another exec said. “They got better. I thought taking (Andru) Phillips where they got him was early, but it was a reflection of the depth in this draft. You’d like (safety Tyler Nubin) to be faster, but he’s got size, he’s strong, he’s tough, instinctive, can play around the line of scrimmage and has good ball skills to make plays in coverage.”

Another year, another round of applause for the Eagles’ process. Lauded for landing Jalen Carter last year with a pick from a 2022 trade with New Orleans, the Eagles landed the first cornerback this year without budging from No. 22. They also pocketed 2025 picks in the third, fourth and fifth rounds without the Saints’ help.

“They wanted to trade up to select that guy (Mitchell) and had to sit, and he fell right to them,” one exec said.

Because the Eagles spiraled late last season while the Lions surged, Philly had an easier time doubling up at cornerback early, which both teams prioritized. That is partly how the Eagles emerged with those extra 2025 mid-round picks, while Detroit parted with future third- and fourth-rounders.

“If Philly came into this draft saying to themselves that they want to get faster on the back end and pick up picks for next year, yeah, mission accomplished,” another exec said.

Trading up from 50 to 40 for Cooper DeJean anticipated and/or triggered a run at the position. The Saints took McKinstry next, followed by Houston taking Kamari Lassiter and Arizona taking Max Melton.

“Vic Fangio will use him (DeJean) as a safety, as a big nickel type,” an exec said. “You can look at him like Eddie Jackson, who Chicago took when Vic was there (fourth round in 2017). He was a corner they saw as a safety. Cooper might also have some Minkah Fitzpatrick-type traits. He has to be in a system that has multiplicity to maximize him.”

Scheme fit is a huge component in determining whether some draft choices succeed. Execs are confident Ricky Pearsall fits well in the 49ers’ scheme. There were other strategic reasons to draft him as well.

“We loved that receiver,” an exec said. “The first round is probably a little high for him, but if they want the fifth-year option with him, fine.”

Pearsall was the sixth receiver selected and the first of four selected consecutively. Brian Thomas (23rd by Jacksonville) and Xavier Worthy (28th by Kansas City) were the only receivers selected in the 21 slots before Pearsall at 31.

“He is going to be a great piece for Kyle (Shanahan) because this guy can double up at the top of the break and not lose any speed in the speed turn,” an exec said. “And it covers San Francisco if they move (Brandon) Aiyuk or Deebo (Samuel).”

Aiyuk is entering a contract year. Samuel is signed through 2025.

“They may have to cut or trade Deebo after the season,” another exec said. “I don’t know why you would mess with a good thing now, especially if you are not going to get equity. If they could have traded somebody for a first-round pick like they did with DeForest Buckner, they would have done that.”

In the common draft era (since 1970), teams hoping to land one of the top two defensive players have needed a top-10 pick. That changed this year, as the push for quarterbacks and elite depth at receiver and tackle squeezed out defensive players.

That is how the Colts landed the first defensive player (Laiatu Latu) at 15, and how the Seahawks landed the second (Byron Murphy II) a pick later.

“It looks like they went Baltimore-ish and put a priority on the front seven, the interior offensive line,” an exec said.

Seattle, with former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as their new coach, has now drafted the second defensive player in consecutive drafts without ranking higher than 16th in the standings-based order either year (the Russell Wilson trade with Denver delivered the fifth pick of the 2023 draft, used on cornerback Devon Witherspoon). Seattle came away with Witherspoon and Murphy when the alternative could have been, say, drafting Jalen Carter last season and selecting the top cornerback or pass rusher this year.

“I’ll take Witherspoon and Murphy,” an exec said. “They are getting two really good, consistent, cornerstone-type of players.”

Witherspoon was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

“Murphy could have been the first defensive player off the board in the top 10,” another exec said. “He is super talented, and even though he is a D-tackle, you can count him as a rusher. Christian Haynes is a good guard, reminds me a little bit of Trai Turner. Can be a good starter for them. (AJ) Barner was the best blocking tight end, who already knows how to combo block with tackles, is tough and tenacious.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Teams drafting later in the first round can select lower-rated players at expensive positions or higher-rated players at inexpensive ones. The Buccaneers went the latter route when selecting the draft’s first center, Graham Barton of Duke, at 26.

“If Graham Barton is going to be a starting center for 10-12 years, how can you not do it?” an exec said. “Was Frank Ragnow a bad pick for the Lions?”

The Lions used the 20th pick in 2018 on Ragnow, their mainstay center, when Isaiah Wynn, D.J. Moore, Calvin Ridley, Mike Hughes and Lamar Jackson were the players from premium positions selected later in the first round.

This year, Barton and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers were the only players at non-premium positions (I’m counting defensive tackle as a premium position because the best command high salaries) to be selected in the first round.

“Barton is a really nice high-floor player,” another exec said. “They’ve done a nice job building that offensive line.”

Six of seven first-round centers since the 2011 rookie wage scale took effect became long-term starters: Mike Pouncey, Travis Frederick, Ryan Kelly, Ragnow, Garrett Bradbury and Tyler Linderbaum (Billy Price did not).

Five of six execs polled at the scouting combine projected quarterback Jayden Daniels to Washington with the second pick, but there was at least some question until the Commanders made it official. The question now becomes whether Washington did enough to support him.

“When you take a quarterback, you can draft a bunch of players to support him, but sometimes it is hard when you are forcing it,” an exec said. “What they do next offseason to really make this quarterback successful will be interesting.”

Washington ideally might have drafted an offensive tackle earlier, but eight disappeared from No. 5 to 29. The Commanders used the 36th choice on defensive tackle Johnny Newton.

Later in the second round, the Commanders missed the run on cornerbacks from 40 to 43 but still took one (Mike Sainristil, a slot specialist) at 50, after trading down from 40 with Philadelphia, which selected Cooper DeJean. Washington came back with tight end Ben Sinnott at 53, right before six tackles went from 55 to 68. Those sequences will be worth revisiting.

“The way the offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury) will use the skill players is going to help the quarterback and prevent him from having to put it all on his shoulders,” an exec said. “From the quick-game stuff to the RPO stuff and things you saw in Arizona with Kyler Murray, you will see some of those things bleed into what Jayden Daniels is going to do.”

(Top illustration: Daniel Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of, from left, Michael Penix Jr., Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy: Todd Rosenberg / Getty Images, John Smolek / Icon Sportswire)