Predicting 8 Potential All-In Moves During the 2024 NFL Draft 1st Round

In the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, general managers can significantly change the trajectory of their teams with all-in moves that have both short- and long-term impacts.

In years past, we've seen teams trade up for quarterbacks, acquire game-changing wide receivers or target blue-chip prospects with Day 1 starting potential.

This year, with rumors swirling around notable prospects and key players, we could see teams pull off transactions or make picks that tell us a lot about the direction of those regimes.

Let's discuss eight potential all-in moves that could happen in the first round beyond obvious projections such as the Chicago Bears selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

The Buffalo Bills head into the draft without a go-to wide receiver after they traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. While they may believe that quarterback Josh Allen can elevate their pass-catching group, which features Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins, Buffalo should target a new top playmaker in Round 1.

The Bills have the No. 28 overall pick, which could put them in range for Florida State's Keon Coleman, Texas' Adonai Mitchell or Texas' Xavier Worthy. But they could also trade up for LSU product Brian Thomas Jr., who ranked 18th on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final big board.

At 6'3" and 209 pounds with 4.33-second 40-yard-dash speed, Thomas could be a total-package receiver in a prominent role in the NFL.

In 2023, Thomas hauled in a career-high 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns. However, he played alongside likely top-10 pick Malik Nabers, so his breakout year may have gone unnoticed in some predraft discussions.

Thomas has the potential to step out of Nabers' shadow in the NFL as a big-time playmaker. He could post gaudy receiving numbers as the Bills' new No. 1 wideout.

As the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs have the last pick in the first round. They might be tempted to trade up to bolster their offensive line, though.

If Olumuyiwa Fashanu slips into the teens, or if the Chiefs see Troy Fautanu as a left tackle (which was his starting position at Washington), they should make a move to invest in quarterback Patrick Mahomes' pass protection.

Kansas City hasn't re-signed left tackle Donovan Smith, who remains a free agent. Wanya Morris, a 2023 third-rounder, may be in line to start as Mahomes' blind-side protector.

Last season, Morris allowed two sacks and committed three penalties in 340 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

Kansas City could put some trust in Morris and sign a veteran tackle for insurance, but we shouldn't rule out a splashy move for a top tackle in the first round.

Before the 2023 campaign, James Bradberry IV had years of quality starting experience. However, he struggled mightily in his second season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Bradberry allowed 11 touchdowns and a 114.3 passer rating across his 16 regular-season starts last year. In the Eagles' NFC Wild Card Round loss the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterback Baker Mayfield targeted him with great success in the passing game.

The Eagles wouldn't gain any immediate cap relief if they released Bradberry this offseason, but they could try find his replacement in the first round of the draft. They need more promising young talent at cornerback, especially after Darius Slay also missed five games last year in his age-32 campaign.

Eagles executive vice president of football operations and general manager Howie Roseman isn't a stranger to making Day 1 draft deals. In recent years, he's traded up for wideout DeVonta Smith, acquired wideout A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans and moved up one spot for defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

A general manager told NFL insider Jordan Schultz that the Eagles were "calling everyone, it feels like, trying to move up. They're one of the more aggressive teams."

After the Eagles gave up the second-most passing yards and touchdowns last year with Bradberry surrendering nearly a third of those scores, don't be surprised if Roseman makes a big move for Alabama's Terrion Arnold or Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell in the first round.

Aaron Rodgers probably doesn't have many playing years left in the tank. He's turning 41 in December and is recovering from a torn Achilles that he suffered during the New York Jets' season opener last year.

With Rodgers under contract through 2025, the Jets should look to maximize their offensive production over the next two years. To do that, they could target a top pass-catcher in the first round.

General manager Joe Douglas can allow the board to dictate his options at 10 or make a strong move for a top wide receiver. Last week, we highlighted an intriguing what-if scenario in which Gang Green would trade up for Rome Odunze.

ESPN's Rich Cimini believes that scenario could play out:

"A trade up can't be ruled out, considering Douglas' aggressive background. The spot to watch is No. 8, held by the Atlanta Falcons, who want defense and probably can get a top defender in a lower slot. Don't be surprised if the Jets leapfrog the Chicago Bears (No. 9) to grab a wide receiver, or possibly, a lineman if Alt slips. The Bears have been linked to Washington receiver Rome Odunze."

The Jets have patched up their offensive line with the addition of left tackle Tyron Smith, guard John Simpson, and right tackle Morgan Moses. They also signed veteran wideout Mike Williams, who tore his ACL last September and expects to be ready for Week 1. However, Williams may have a limited snap count, or he could need time to reach optimal form.

Following Allen Lazard's disappointing 2023 campaign—he finished with only 23 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown—the Jets can't risk wasting one of Rodgers' two remaining years under contract with a mediocre pass-catching group that features Garrett Wilson and not much else alongside him.

Gang Green should attempt to move up two spots to leapfrog the Chicago Bears, who could draft Keenan Allen's long-term replacement at No. 9 overall.

If Odunze is available when the Atlanta Falcons go on the clock at No. 8, Douglas should make the call.

Under head coach Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions have climbed out of the NFL basement and become a playoff contender within three years. However, they have yet to rank higher than 19th in points or yards allowed over that stretch.

General manager Brad Holmes could address that problem with an aggressive move for a top cornerback. The Lions have a strong front seven that helped them generate the league's highest pressure rate (28.2 percent) last year, but they finished 27th in passing yards allowed.

In March, Detroit released Cameron Sutton shortly after learning about his arrest warrant for domestic battery by strangulation. The Lions acquired Carlton Davis in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and signed Amik Robertson in free agency to revamp their cornerback group.

Detroit could expedite its efforts to bolster its secondary by trading up for Quinyon Mitchell or Terrion Arnold. Teams like the Denver Broncos (No. 12 overall) and Seattle Seahawks (No. 16 overall) that don't have second-round picks may be willing to move down and acquire more draft capital.

Detroit could stand pat and target Kool-Aid McKinstry or Nate Wiggins on the back end of the first round. But by trading up, the Lions could land one of the top overall prospects who can fill a need on a Super Bowl-caliber roster.

Ever since releasing Derek Carr last offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders have been looking for answers at quarterback.

The Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo as a stopgap, but he had an abysmal year under former head coach Josh McDaniels, whom the team fired last October. After head coach Antonio Pierce took over for McDaniels, he benched Garoppolo for fourth-round rookie Aidan O'Connell.

O'Connell had a solid rookie season, throwing for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 62.1 percent completion rate. But this offseason, the Raiders signed Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract with $15 million in guarantees.

In March, Pierce hinted to NFL Network's Steve Wyche that the Raiders may add another quarterback in the draft.

"Well, you know you can't have two quarterbacks on the roster, right? So, we know we have to add some," Pierce said to Wyche. "The next wave is the draft. So we'll see."

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. doesn't think the Raiders will pass on Michael Penix Jr. if he's still on the board at No. 13. If they select him that high, they would be signaling that he's their potential franchise quarterback.

Penix has a ton of starting experience, so he could compete with Minshew and O'Connell for the starting job right away. He can also elevate the team's passing game with pinpoint deep-ball accuracy.

However, Las Vegas would be taking a great risk with Penix, who suffered four season-ending injuries while at Indiana before he rose to prominence in two highly productive healthy campaigns with the Washington Huskies.

If Penix has a mostly healthy career, he could lead the Silver and Black for 10-plus years.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has hinted that he wants a new contract (via Instagram). Meanwhile, general manager John Lynch told reporters that he hopes to keep Aiyuk in San Francisco for the long haul.

On Wednesday, the Detroit Lions signed Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year, $120 million extension. Aiyuk's agent probably made note of the deal.

Even though Aiyuk doesn't have an All-Pro or Pro Bowl season on his resume like St. Brown, he's an ascending wideout who accumulated a career-high 1,342 receiving yards while averaging a whopping 17.9 yards per catch last season.

If Aiyuk's contract demands exceed what the 49ers are willing to pay him, they might have to consider trading him. The Athletic's Dianni Russini reported Thursday that they've touched base with other teams to explore trade options with both Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel.

Aiyuk's agent, Ryan Williams, shot down a rumor last week that linked the Pittsburgh Steelers as a possible trade partner for Aiyuk. The Steelers should put the full-court press on Lynch to pry Aiyuk away to help Russell Wilson rediscover his Pro Bowl form.

Earlier this offseason, the Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, which created a void in their wide receiver corps. While they have a history of drafting well at wide receiver on Days 2 and 3, they could bypass the guesswork by acquiring a ready starter in Aiyuk instead.

Even if Wilson fizzles out, the Steelers probably wouldn't regret acquiring Aiyuk to complement George Pickens in the passing game. General manager Omar Khan shouldn't be opposed to offering pick No. 20 to San Francisco for Aiyuk.

In March, the Minnesota Vikings put themselves in a position to move up for a quarterback by acquiring the No. 23 overall pick from the Houston Texans. They now have the Nos. 11 and 23 picks, which they could use to entice another team to move down in the order.

Many expect the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots to take quarterbacks with the top three picks, respectively. Most mock drafts have Caleb Williams going to the Bears and Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye going off the board at Nos. 2 and 3 in some order. That would leave J.J. McCarthy as the potential fourth quarterback.

Minnesota may be comfortable with McCarthy despite his underwhelming passing numbers over the last two years because of its playoff-caliber roster. The Vikings didn't earn a postseason berth last season in large part because of their revolving door at quarterback.

Minnesota has an All-Pro in wideout Justin Jefferson, an ascending receiver in Jordan Addison, a two-time Pro Bowl tight end in T.J. Hockenson and a defense that made significant strides under Brian Flores. McCarthy or any rookie quarterback who goes to Minnesota would have a good chance of immediate success with that supporting cast.

Coming off a national title victory with only one loss as a starter over the previous two years, McCarthy has what some would call a winning pedigree. Of course, he had help at Michigan with an effective ground attack and the nation's stingiest defense.

Nonetheless, McCarthy would have a quality supporting cast in Minnesota as well, which could ease his transition from college to the pros.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.