Seven NFL teams are considering drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders are reportedly set on selecting one due to their lack of clear starting options. The New England Patriots, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders are also in the mix (NBC Sports).
The Bears and Commanders' decisions come as no surprise given their current quarterback situations. Chicago has yet to find a reliable starter since Mitchell Trubisky was drafted first overall in 2017, while Washington is still searching for a long-term solution after trading for Carson Wentz last season (Pro Football Talk).
The Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders' intentions are less clear. The Patriots currently have Jacoby Brissett as their starter but could still consider drafting a quarterback to develop behind him. The Giants have Daniel Jones on their roster but lack impact players at offensive skill positions (CSR Weekly Mock Draft 4.0).
The Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders all have starting quarterbacks but could be looking for upgrades. Minnesota's Kirk Cousins has been inconsistent in recent years, while Denver's Russell Wilson and Las Vegas' Derek Carr are both entering the latter stages of their careers (NFL.com).
Taking a quarterback high in the draft used to provide job security for coaches and general managers but did not save Pat Shurmur or help Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace in Chicago (CSR Weekly Mock Draft 4.0). Teams need to consider whether they can make it work with their current roster and how much better the team would be with a different player if they don't draft a quarterback.
The NFL Draft will take place on April 25, and we'll find out which teams decide to address their quarterback needs in the first round.