Mel Kiper Reveals Rumors, Potential Trades, Prospects Falling Before 2024 NFL Draft

Prior to the start of the 2024 NFL draft, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. provided some insight into what he is expecting to happen during Thursday's first round.

Kiper named several teams he expects to move up or down in the opening round, including the Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.

The Vikings have the No. 11 overall pick, but they will likely need to move up in order to secure one of the top four quarterbacks in the draft. Kiper theorized that Minnesota could move into the top 10 and target Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

Kiper also noted that he doesn't envision the Bills staying at No. 28 given their significant need at wide receiver after trading No. 1 wideout Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans.

Moving up for one of the top three wide receivers in Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU's Malik Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze may be too costly, but Kiper sees them making a more modest trade up to possibly secure LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

Additionally, Kiper named a few prospects who have been considered potential first-round picks by many throughout the draft process who he expects to fall out of the first round.

Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten, Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson and Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry all made the list, and Kiper specifically mentioned a Jones fracture in McKinstry's foot being the reason for his possibly falling into Round 2.

Kiper proceeded to name four wild-card teams he believed could go in numerous directions and shape the path of the first round as a result.

He wrote that the New York Giants could take Nabers or McCarthy at No. 6, the Los Angeles Rams could address any number of positions or even trade down from No. 19 to take their quarterback of the future in Oregon's Bo Nix, the Miami Dolphins could go interior offensive lineman, wide receiver or edge-rusher at No. 21 and the Chicago Bears could nab Odunze with their second first-round pick at No. 9 overall or trade back a bit to select Florida State pass-rusher Jared Verse.

Other tidbits of note from Kiper include his belief that the record of 19 offensive players taken in the first round will be broken, including potentially six quarterbacks, which would tie the record set in 1983.

Kiper also zeroed in on Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who has been a divisive prospect in this year's class.

While Penix is ranked behind USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels, North Carolina's Drake Maye and McCarthy by most, Kiper does not see him falling out of the first round.

In fact, Kiper noted that "several teams" picking in the teens like Penix, and he views it as unlikely that Penix falls any further than the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13 overall.

Kiper wrote that Penix would be a slight reach at No. 13 since he has him ranked as the No. 24 overall prospect, but the B/R NFL Scouting Department has him significantly lower on its big board at No, 87.