NFL Draft 2024: Updated Selection Order After AFC, NFC Championships

After admirable postseason runs, the Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions will now focus on the 2024 NFL draft after they were eliminated in their respective conference championship games.

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Ravens in the AFC Championship game by the final score of 17-10. Patrick Mahomes completed his first 11 passes of the afternoon and finished with 241 yards and a touchdown, while the Chiefs' defense only allowed three points in the final three quarters of the contest.

In the NFC title game, the San Francisco 49ers erased a 17-point halftime deficit to win 34-31 over the Lions. Head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense was able to consistently sustain drives due to excellent plays from Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk, while the 49ers' defense forced several key stops. After consecutive admirable playoff wins, the Lions are now eliminated from the postseason.

With the Chiefs and the 49ers officially set to face off in the Super Bowl, the draft selections for 30 teams are now locked in. Although the losers of the NFC and AFC Championship games had their seasons come to a bittersweet conclusion, both franchises can use the draft to gear up for a Super Bowl push next season.

After falling in the 2022 AFC Championship game, the Chiefs drafted offensive linemen Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith in the ensuing draft. Both players developed into quality starters and helped Kansas City earn a Super Bowl victory in 2023. It isn't difficult to imagine the Ravens or the Lions following a similar blueprint to achieve the same result.

Here's a look at the updated draft order after Sunday's action.

1. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)
2. Washington Commanders
3. New England Patriots
4. Arizona Cardinals
5. Los Angeles Chargers
6. New York Giants
7. Tennessee Titans
8. Atlanta Falcons
9. Chicago Bears
10. New York Jets
11. Minnesota Vikings
12. Denver Broncos
13. Las Vegas Raiders
14. New Orleans Saints
15. Indianapolis Colts
16. Seattle Seahawks
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
18. Cincinnati Bengals
19. Los Angeles Rams
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
21. Miami Dolphins
22. Philadelphia Eagles
23. Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)
24. Dallas Cowboys
25. Green Bay Packers
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston Texans)
28. Buffalo Bills
29. Detroit Lions
30. Baltimore Ravens
31. Kansas City Chiefs
32. San Francisco 49ers

At the top of the draft, the Chicago Bears will have an important decision to make. The Bears could hang onto starting signal-caller Justin Fields, or they could add one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2024 class such as USC passer Caleb Williams or North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. believes that Chicago will opt for a fresh start, as the NFL draft guru has the team selecting Williams with the No. 1 pick in his first mock draft. In that possible scenario, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and new Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron would attempt to improve upon the NFL's sixth-worst passing attack.

In addition to Williams and Maye, the 2024 class has several quarterback prospects who will hear their names called on Day 1. In the most recent mock draft by Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department, four signal-callers are expected to get taken in the first round. That would be the highest total since the 2021 draft.

Although the teams near the bottom of the order likely won't be attempting to select a first-round quarterback, there should be plenty of enticing options in the secondary as well as the defensive line at the end of the first round. One such prospect is Washington pass-rusher Bralen Trice, who was selected with the No. 28 pick in B/R's latest mock.

Trice helped the Huskies to the College Football Playoff with his team-leading seven sacks in 15 games, with 11.5 total tackles for loss. He's generated 106 quarterback hurries throughout his collegiate career, the fourth-highest mark among all edge rushers since 2013 (via Pro Football Focus).

On the other side of the ball, LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. may be available for a team that is looking for an offensive boost. Although he didn't receive as much fanfare as his teammate Malik Nabers, Thomas Jr. hauled in 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns in his junior season with the Tigers.

In the latest big board crafted by B/R's NFL Scouting Department, the 21-year-old is considered the No. 5 receiver prospect in the draft class. He could immediately transition to a starter at the professional level and help his next team go on a deep playoff run.