The 2024 NFL Draft is 43 days away.
This week, the 32 NFL teams took to the negotiating tables to sway potential acquisitions away from their current employers. The running back position saw several players make moves to new teams, while quarterbacks are now also on the move.
With the 2024 NFL League Year now upon us, here are three burning questions as we approach next month’s NFL Draft.
NFL Draft Question #1: Where is Justin Fields Going?
Caleb Williams is the presumptive #1 overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft. Justin Fields is the current Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback. Two different quarterbacks cannot start at one time, of course, so the Bears will have to seek to move fields.
So far this week, the Bears and Fields have faced a situation where few have inquired about his services. Despite early week reports and speculation surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers trading for Fields, the door slammed shut as Russell Wilson signed with the team on a veteran minimum contract.
The Las Vegas Raiders and Minnesota Vikings had been kicked around as possible options as well, but both ultimately did not make moves. Incumbent Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo was first suspended two games, then released by the club. The Vikings, who have lost Kirk Cousins to the Falcons, brought in Sam Darnold.
Question #2: Is Sam Darnold Really the Answer in Minnesota?
It is highly unlikely that Sam Darnold is the true answer for the Minnesota Vikings. The former #3 overall pick to the New York Jets is now on his third team in three seasons after having left the Jets in 2021. In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings will operate with the 11th overall pick.
The 11th selection is simply too far down to be able to grab one of the top 3 quarterbacks, barring an unforeseen last-minute collapse in any of their draft stocks. Trading up will be the only option to secure their rights and to most likely have them sit behind Sam Darnold for one year–but how far will they have to go?
Vikings trade up for J.J. McCarthy in FantasyPros mock draft https://t.co/j9ZT04veMG pic.twitter.com/8Qsy1wGVhq
— TheVikingsWire (@TheVikingsWire) March 12, 2024
2024 NFL Draft Question #3: Where Will Tee Higgins End Up?
This week, Tee Higgins requested a trade out of Cincinnati. Despite the franchise tag, Higgins wants out of the Bengals organization and has multiple suitors. Appearing on FS1’s Speak, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz offered a different opinion on the matter:
“So now you start to think about if you’re Tee Higgins, ‘What’s my future here?'” Schultz said on FS1’s Speak this week. “We know we have to pay Ja’Marr Chase. We’ve already paid Joe Burrow, ‘Where do I fit in?’ And that’s where that trade request came. And I think the tag is fine. I would anticipate that he plays on the tag. I don’t think he’s going to be traded.
The Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots have been among the suitors for Higgins, with Matthew Judon suggesting Higgins would “walk on” to the Patriots. This is not college football, of course, so that would not be possible. Higgins can still seek to negotiate, however.
Yall just got off the phone @teehiggins5. He said he’s walking on to the patriots. Look at god.
— Matthew Judon (@man_dammn) March 13, 2024
Should Higgins truly be on his way out of Cincinnati, the Bengals’ 19th overall pick in the NFL Draft does offer possible immediate replacements, like LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr.