NFL Draft Storylines We're Watching

Since they're all football degenerates (and that's a compliment), we asked our staff what they'll be watching for during the NFL Draft. Here's what we came up with.

Will the NFL become more fantasy(ish) and give us game-changing trades?

Jason Wood: We hear lots of pre-draft hype every year about potential trades, both of veterans and draft slots. But most seasons, the hype far outpaces the reality on draft weekend. I'm wondering if this will be the year we see a lot of movement, in part because it's perceived as a relatively flat draft and an "eye of the beholder," so teams will feel more comfortable moving around to get their preferred players.

Will the first round swing hard to the defensive side of the ball? Are fantasy football fanatics getting carried away with their mocks?

Jeff Blaylock: I'm curious how few offensive skill position players will be selected in the first round. I've seen as many as 18 in mock drafts, which I view as wish-casting, but rarely fewer than 11. I predict it will be fewer than 10, unless the quarterback-needy teams panic and draft one a round or three before they should be drafted.

Will quarterback litter the first round, or could Cam Ward be the only one off the board?

Bob Harris: I'm interested in how many quarterbacks go. Every year, I talk myself into believing the number will be low. Take this year: I won't be shocked if Cam Ward to the Titans is the only quarterback called. But it happens every year: I convince myself that the QB buzz is overhyped. Then, like clockwork, panic sets in across front offices.  Faced with that talent gap, teams tend to reach -- not because the QBs are ready, but because desperation clouds judgment. 

So, just like I won't be shocked if one quarterback goes in the first round, seeing five QBs come off the board before the start of Round 2 would not throw me for a loop. A surprise? Yes. A shock? Nope.

Jeff Haseley: It's all about the quarterbacks and the teams who need a quarterback. I don't particularly see this as a strong quarterback draft, so it wouldn't surprise me to see quarterback-needy teams skip over a quarterback in the first round and take their chances on a bridge quarterback, Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers, or some other option. If the Raiders, Saints, and/or Steelers elect to draft another position in the first round, it will all but confirm my suspicion of this being a weaker draft for signal callers.

Does a deep running back class mean we see a lot of them drafted early? Or does that depth mean they all go later?

Jason Wood: I am interested to see if any other running backs beyond Ashton Jeanty are selected in the first round. The NFL is a copycat league, and last year was quite the renaissance for the value of every-down tailbacks.

Sam Wagman: The running backs interest me so deeply here as well, Jason. We could legitimately see three RBs in the first round, which hasn't happened in nearly ten years. And they're star-caliber talents as well. This could legitimately be the best running-back prospect class in recent memory, with plenty of great profiles among the field.

Matt Waldman: I am interested in how many teams draft two backs on Day 3 and effectively dampen some of the excitement over this position, at least early. I am skeptical that the NFL drafts more than four backs before Day 3. Expect two or three teams—maybe more—to cancel out the early-career ceilings of four to six backs who might otherwise be in a position to contribute, if not start, during their first contract. 

Jeff Blaylock: I'm particularly interested in how few backs get selected in the first and second rounds. If the class is truly viewed as deep, and all the prospects after Jeanty are largely interchangeable, then every team knows it can wait on a running back and still select a perfectly serviceable rookie with upside later. Does the overall depth of the class negate its value by driving down the cost for everyone not named Jeanty?

Zareh Kantzabedian: I’ve effectively counted seven teams requiring a starting running back and nine requiring running back depth. That's 16 total vacancies. I’m interested to see if that total matches up to the draft capital running backs get this weekend. However, I'm willing to bet we will see at least 20 running backs selected this weekend.

Hutchinson Brown: We all know the NFL is a copycat league at times. In a stronger running back class, it’ll be very intriguing to see how many NFL teams will try to recreate their version of the incredible Saquon Barkley magic that Philadelphia had last season by selecting a high-powered running back with a valuable Round 1 selection. Many remarks made in the media show that Barkley’s 2,005 rushing yards season had an evident ripple effect on NFL teams and the way they view running backs and their potential to change the game for a franchise. We haven’t seen three backs in the first round since 2012. I would bet that we'll see at least three backs in this year’s first round, if not more.

How solid is this group of tight ends, and how early does the third one come off the board?

Corey Spala: I am closely following the tight ends after Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren. The NFL has been a copycat league, and recent success at the position warrants attention. The "Big Slot" role is thrown around without merit. It will be important for the tight ends to be able to block; e.g., Drake London (WR) is superior to Kyle Pitts, which forces Pitts off the field. You will want a tight end who offers similar blocking ability while providing similar pass-catching utility to the wide receiver. Mason Taylor is the first name I am watching; he has received recent first-round buzz. Terrance Ferguson is next up. He has the blocking tools, but will need to fine-tune his skill set.

What position will be read when Travis Hunter is drafted? And what kind of first-round wide receiver class do we have this year?

Mike Kashuba: Who are the surprise wide receivers in the first round? Last year, Xavier Legette and Ricky Pearsall were considered fun Day 2 picks before the draft, then snuck into the back end of the first. Someone is going to surprise draft analysts, and it could shake up our dynasty rankings.

Julia Papworth: I am interested in seeing the first wide receiver off the board. Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan was coming in hot as the WR1 early on in the process, but he seems to have lost some steam. Can Matthew Golden squeak in? Does a team love Luther Burden enough to grab him first? But, we all know the biggest question surrounding the wide receivers this year - what position will Roger Goodell say after he calls Travis Hunter's name? 

When do the top offensive linemen go? And where?

Matt Bitonti: As the offensive line guy, I'll give you three guesses at what storyline I'm watching. LSU's Will Campbell is the best of the class, despite having less than ideal arm length. Joe Thomas had a similar knock coming out of Wisconsin. I'm not saying Campbell is Joe Thomas, but at worst, he's Logan Mankins. And teams need players who can set the tone like Mankins did. Kelvin Banks is sneakily rising, which is an odd statement for a player who won both the Outland and Lombardi trophies last year. Armand Membou is a fantastic fit for outside zone schemes like San Francisco, but I'm not sure he's the top tackle on anyone's board.

How long will we have to wait for the most impactful fantasy football moves?

Jeff Bell: Saquon Barkley fairly draws the headlines, but the Eagles won the Super Bowl because they lived in the Chiefs’ backfield and they took the ball away from Patrick Mahomes II.  League decision-makers are going to be much more comfortable investing first-round picks in pass rushers or corners, a strength in this draft. We have not heard much good at all about the wide receiver class, and the depth of the running back class could push them as a whole down the board. I could see as few as six fantasy-relevant players going Round 1: Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Tyler Warren, and Colston Loveland. Are we adequately prepared to see a very light Day 1 in fantasy football?

Andy Hicks: To be honest, I get more excited about the second day of the draft. The first day is full of hype, expectation, and drama. In my mind, it sets up the second day, when teams fill their rosters with the players they expect to be the quality contributors for the next generation. Most teams will have multiple picks, and holes are starting to get plugged. Fantasy expectations take shape, and we can see the direction a franchise is taking. 

In essence, on Day 1, I'm looking at the stories that will be answered to make Day 2 more interesting. Who are the dynasty development receivers? Which running backs fall in value or rise exponentially? What tight ends are we looking at in the next two or three years in dynasty leagues? Is there a quarterback who lands in a great spot to develop properly? Day one sets up the intrigue for day two.

Dave Kluge: I just said this on a recent show, Andy. Day 2 is arguably more important to fantasy football players. 

Josh Fahlsing: Completely agree. The big names will go on Thursday, but realistically, most fantasy players have a shot at one or maybe two of them in their rookie drafts. The guys who go on Friday will be the guys who form a larger portion of the first 15-20 picks in your rookie drafts. If the 1st round is where even the most casual players know all the names and Day 3 has the dart throws for the more degenerate among us, then there is money to be made for dynasty players in Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday night. This is where the spine of your rookie drafts takes shape.

The storyline we love most is the one we don't even know exists. The surprise of the unknown suddenly hitting us in the face.

Sam Wagman: It legitimately doesn't seem like there's any consensus outside of the top three picks. The entire first-round talent pool is deep, and it doesn't seem like organizations are letting much, if any, info leak out to the betting markets.

Rachel Tootsiepop: There always seems to be at least one surprise move during the NFL Draft that makes everyone stop and say, "Wait, what just happened?" That kind of chaos is what makes it so much fun. But more than anything, I love watching dreams come true -- the raw emotion when a player hears his name, the tears from family members, the weight of the moment. This is the kickoff to the 2025 season, and I can't wait.