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WalterFootball does a great job both scouting college players and keeping track of the NFL Draft results compared with the numerous rumors leading up to the draft. Please check out his website. With betting on the draft becoming more popular, it’s important to remember how these rumors panned out, especially when it comes to risking your hard earned dollars.
* Note- the NFL emphasized to teams, especially in the top five, not to leak out information. It sounds like a lot of information wasn’t coming from teams, but from second-hand parties, like agents. I wouldn’t be surprised if executives at the sportsbooks told them, “Hey this is the day when we take a bath from sharp bettors. Help us.” So, keep that and the information below in mind for the future. Anyway, here is my take on the rumors Walter kept track of. In addition, here are some things I heard from other podcasts/social media articles, etc.
2024 NFL Team Draft Rumors – WalterFootball
1. TENNESSEE Cam Ward QB
2. JACKSONVILLE (TRADE with CLEV) Travis Hunter CB/WR
Bryan Broaddus’s sources said the Jags wanted TDs. They were partially correct, but the thinking was Jeanty was the guy. No one saw a trade up coming before the day of the draft. And most didn’t really think the Browns would trade down. Peter Schrager said Clev and the Giants were still listening. He was right.
3. N.Y. GIANTS Abdul Carter Edge
4. NEW ENGLAND Will Campbell
The rumors on New England wanting to trade down were correct. However, no one called, at least with a compelling offer. So they had no choice, but to take their guy Will Campbell.
5. CLEVELAND (TRADE with JACK) Mason Graham DT
6. LAS VEGAS Ashton Jeanty RB
The Raiders liked Jeanty all along. Once Jacksonville traded up and took Travis Hunter, that messed up everything for many mock draft, including mine. Jeanty was still on the board, and the Raiders got their guy. The info on the Raiders liking Jeanty was correct.
7. N.Y. JETS Armand Membou OT
8. CAROLINA Tetairoa McMillan WR
All of the info out of Carolina was complete and utter bs! The rumors were they wanted n Edge to replace Brian Burns who left the prior year. Jalon Walker was supposed to be the guy. Mykel Williams was also a possiblity. It was all bs. They wanted Tet McMillan the entire time.
9. NEW ORLEANS Kelvin Banks OT
Peter Schrager had some info that Banks was going to go higher than many mock drfters thought. And while he didn’t give a match, he was correct on that front.
10. CHICAGO Colston Loveland TE
The rumor that Chicago was trading up with Jacksonville was complete bs! And they easily could have, New England was willing. Instead they stood pat and took. TE wasn’t a surprise but Colstand Loveland over Tyler Warren was. Once again Peter Schrager was partially correct. He said Loveland would go higher than most mocks had him going- Indy at 14. And while he got Chicago’s pick wrong- he thought they’d trade down, he was right about Loveland going higher.
11. SAN FRANCISCO Mykel Williams EDGE
12. DALLAS Tyler Booker OT
Cowboys insider Bryan Broaddus’s best guess was Tet McMillan. It made sense, but the only one with the correct call was Peter Schrager who nailed it with his Tyler Booker call.
13. MIAMI Kenneth Grant DT
Peter Schrager was close. He had Mason graham sliding down to here, but with Graham gone, Miami went with his teammate.
14. INDIANAPOLIS Tyler Warren TE
15. ATLANTA Jalon Walker EDGE
Not many saw Jalon Walker slipping down to 15. However, there was rumors that Atlanta was willing to trade up. Those were incorrect but their fondness for Walker was not. They got their guy.
16. ARIZONA Walter Nolen DT
17. CINCINNATI Shemar Stewart EDGE
18. SEATTLE Grey Zabel OT
Tony Pauline nailed Seattle’s pick. His sources were all over Seattle and Zabel. What’s more impressive is that Seattle GM John Schnieder has a history and philosophy for not selecting Guards early in drafts.
19. TAMPA BAY Emeka Ebuka WR
Peter Schrager mocked Tet McMillan to Tampa. That was pretty close- right neigborhood, but the wrong house. With McMillan gone, the Bucs grabbed Ebuka.
20. DENVER Jahdae Barron CB
Woody Paige, who is usually pretty dialed in when it comes to Denver’s picks, was way off here. Both he and Mel Kiper felt very strongly that RB Omarion Hampton was the pick. They were wrong. Hampton was on the board and Denver passed on him for the Orange Barron.
21. PITTSBURGH Derrick Harmon DT
Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac was convinced the Steelers wouldn’t take Shedeur Sanders. He felt Shedeur was a smokescreen by Mike Tomlin, and that a DT was possible to help with address the future replacement for veteran DT Cameron Heyward. He was right.
22. L.A. CHARGERS Omarion Hampton RB
23. GREEN BAY Matthew Golden WR
Peter Schrager Mel Kiper and others were all over Green Bay and Golden here. I had heard Tony Pauline that they liked CB Maxwell Hairston and needed a Cb to replace Jaire alexander who might be traded. It was Golden all along.
24. MINNESOTA Donovan Jackson OL
25. N.Y. GIANTS (TRADE with HOU) Jaxson Dart QB
26. ATLANTA (TRADE with L.A. RAMS) James Pearce EDGE
27. BALTIMORE Malaki Starks S
Mel Kiper nailed this one. He said the Ravens needed help at Safety. Maybe he was just the best player on their board, but regardless, kudos to Mel.
28. DETROIT Tyleik Williams DT
29. WASHINGTON Josh Conerly OT
30. BUFFALO Maxwell Hairston CB
31. PHILADELPHIA (TRADE with K.C.) Jihaad Campbell LB
32. KANSAS CITY Josh Simmons OT