NFL Draft 2024: The 10 Most Exciting New Duos in Football

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NFL Draft 2024: The 10 Most Exciting New Duos in Football

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New Bears WR Rome Odunze and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The 2024 NFL draft has come and gone, and rosters across the league look a lot different than they did Thursday morning.

Fans have plenty of reasons to be excited, as each new draft class brings an influx of talent and potential star power. In some cases, they'll also yield thrilling new duos that have the potential to impact the league in a major way.



Last year, for example, the Detroit Lions paired rookie Jahmyr Gibbs with David Montgomery to forge a dynamic ground game that carried Detroit to the NFC title game. The Los Angeles Rams found a gem in Puka Nacua and paired him with Cooper Kupp to form arguably the league's top receiver tandem.



Here, we'll project the 10 best new duos in football based on factors such as proven production, prospect potential, preexisting team needs and supporting cast.

Draft Recap

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A look at the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final predraft big board can be found here.

Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

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Bears QB Caleb WilliamsJohn Smolek/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Chicago Bears got their quarterback of the future when they selected USC's Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. Williams may or may not prove to be the best quarterback in the 2024 class, but he has all the tools to be a longtime starter and an electric playmaker in Chicago.



Williams was a veritable human highlight reel in college, and he could be an even better pro.



With the ninth pick, Chicago paired Williams with Washington receiver Rome Odunze, the second-ranked receiver on the B/R Scouting Department's final board and a player who should help Williams find early success.



Williams and Odunze won't try to transform the Chicago offense alone. The Bears traded for D.J. Moore last offseason, traded for Keenan Allen this offseason and added running back D'Andre Swift in free agency. Odunze was hoping to join the party predraft.



"It would be explosive," Odunze said of joining Williams and the Bears, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. "Honestly, there's a lot of weapons on the field in that offense."

Really, one could pick a couple of different duos—like Odunze and Moore or Williams and Allen—to highlight in Chicago's new offense. However, we're going with the rookie tandem because they have the potential to make their combined mark on the league for the next decade-plus.

Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

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Cardinals QB Kyler MurrayChristian Petersen/Getty Images

While Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is still searching for his first playoff win, he's undeniably one of the most exciting signal-callers to watch in the NFL. The two-time Pro Bowler is a special scrambler with enough arm talent and improvisation ability to consistently keep opposing defenses on their heels.



Murray returned from a torn ACL midway through the 2023 season and proceeded to rack up 1,799 passing yards, 244 rushing yards and 13 combined touchdowns in only eight games. Remarkably, he did it without having anything close to a true No. 1 receiver on the roster.



Well, Murray has his top target now. The Cardinals stayed at No. 4 and grabbed Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., the top-ranked prospect at any position on the B/R board. The former Buckeye should be an instant sensation at the next level.



"Harrison is a slam-dunk prospect," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "He is a twitched-up athlete with polished route-running ability and elite ball skills."

In Arizona, Harrison should help Murray return to Pro Bowl form. He'll also help open up an offense that has a couple of playmakers in tight end Trey McBride and running back James Conner.



Murray and Harrison will be a lot of fun to watch and a very, very difficult duo to defend.

Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers

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Chargers OT Joe AltKara Durrette/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Chargers are following the Jim Harbaugh plan of building from the inside out, and we're here for it.



With the fifth overall pick in the draft, Los Angeles snapped up Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt, the top-ranked lineman on the B/R board and a prospect with perennial Pro Bowl potential.



"While he isn't the most powerful blocker and will concede some initial ground in his anchor, Alt has virtually every other tool and skill to become an immediate-impact starter at left tackle with the runway to continue ascending and cement his status as a foundational piece of a roster," Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.



Alt will quickly become a bookend tackle opposite 2021 Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater. The duo will anchor a line that promises to be a physical force under Harbaugh.

"When we talk about attacking on offense … Offensive line is the tip of the spear," Harbaugh said, per Gavino Borquez of Chargers Wire.



The two will open holes for J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards while protecting quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert is already a budding star, and with a vastly improved offensive line in front of him, his best football could be ahead of him.



Harbaugh is set to kick off a new era of Chargers football in 2024, and the tandem of Alt and Slater are poised to lead the way.

Jonathan Greenard and Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings

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Vikings edge Dallas TurnerAaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

New quarterback J.J. McCarthy is going to get a ton of attention from the Minnesota Vikings fanbase in the coming months, and rightfully so. He's expected to replace Kirk Cousins as the long-term signal-caller and could quickly form a dangerous tandem with star receiver Justin Jefferson.



However, Minnesota's new pass-rushing tandem of Jonathan Greenard and rookie 17th overall pick Dallas Turner could get off to a faster start. The Alabama product was the second-ranked edge-rusher on the B/R board and has the physical traits needed to be a rookie star.



"Turner might be the best pure athlete in this year's edge class," Matt Holder of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "He has a good get-off and is a smooth-mover when working laterally. Not to mention his speed, which allows him to close on quarterbacks."

The rookie will join Jonathan Greenard, who was signed in free agency to replace standout edge-rusher Danielle Hunter.

While Hunter was viewed as one of the prizes of 2024 free agency, Greenard is an ascending player. He finished the 2023 season with 12.5 sacks and 32 quarterback pressures while playing opposite Houston Texans rookie Will Anderson Jr.



In a defense that made major strides under coordinator Brian Flores last season—it ranked 13th in points allowed after ranking 28th the previous year—Greenard should replicate the success he had in Houston last season. Turner, meanwhile, may well follow Greenard's former complement and make a run at Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Kobie Turner and Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams

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Rams DT Kobie TurnerMichael Owens/Getty Images

Nacua wasn't the only gem the Rams uncovered in the 2023 NFL draft. They landed defensive tackle Kobie Turner in the third round and watched him quickly become an impact player.



Turner finished his stellar rookie season with nine sacks and 20 quarterback pressures.



This year, Turner will be tasked with replacing future first-ballot Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, who retired. Turner may not be able to do it on a player-for-player basis, but he'll ensure L.A. still has a disruptive force on the defensive interior.



To help bolster the pass rush, the Rams added pass-rusher Jared Verse with the 19th pick. Verse was the top-ranked edge-defender on the B/R board, and he has the potential to be the best edge-rusher the Rams have had since Von Miller.



Interestingly, Verse has taken some advice from Donald when it comes to his play style.



"If you have a couple good moves and you execute them to the highest level of your ability, you will destroy everyone," Verse said, per Adam Grosbard of the Orange County Register.



The offseason secondary additions of Tre'Davious White, Kamren Curl and Darious Williams should give Turner and Verse a little more time to get after opposing quarterbacks. And an offense led by Kupp, Nacua and Matthew Stafford will ensure that opposing QBs are chasing points.



Turner and Verse could easily combine for 20-plus sacks in 2024 and could quickly become one of the most feared pass-rushing duos in the league.

Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Steelers OT Troy FautanuJustin Casterline/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers had two obvious needs going into Round 1—a reliable center and an upgrade over Dan Moore Jr. at left tackle. Pittsburgh found the latter by taking Washington's Troy Fautanu with the 20th pick.



Fautanu was projected by some to move inside at the pro level because of his size (6'4", 317 lbs). However, the Steelers announced him as a tackle, and that's how the former Husky views himself.



"I think I'm a tackle. Grouping me in a category with the guards because of how tall I am, I honestly feel like it was a lazy narrative that grew legs for some reason," Fautanu told Justin Melo of The Draft Network.



Fautanu was the 16th-ranked prospect on the B/R board and has both a high floor and a Pro Bowl ceiling. He'll soon pair with 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones, who made a massive impact as a run-blocking right tackle once he got on the field for Pittsburgh.



Pittsburgh's new tackle tandem will have a chance to shine soon enough, as the Steelers upgraded their quarterback position by adding Russell Wilson and Justin Fields this offseason. It will also help get more out of running back Najee Harris, who was a rookie Pro Bowler in 2021 but who has struggled to find open running lanes since entering the league.



Jones and Fautanu will give Pittsburgh bookend tackles for years beyond next season.

Patrick Mahomes and Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

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Chiefs QB Patrick MahomesRyan Kang/Getty Images

Who decided that it was a good idea to let the Kansas City Chiefs pair Patrick Mahomes with the fastest player in the history of the combine? The Buffalo Bills, apparently, as Buffalo traded down so that Kansas City could take Texas' Xavier Worthy with the 28th pick.



Mahomes can buy time in the pocket and make huge plays down the field as well as any quarterback in the history of the game. Now, he'll be chucking passes to an undersized (5'11", 165 lbs) but blazing-fast (4.41-second 40-yard dash) receiver.



However, it's not just Worthy's deep-threat ability that makes this a potentially dominant QB-WR pairing. The rookie's speed can yield separation and after-the-catch opportunities on slants, digs and screens, making it even more difficult for opposing defenses to contain wideout Marquise Brown, tight end Travis Kelce and running back Isiah Pacheco.



Worthy isn't the same player as former Chiefs speedster Tyreek Hill, but he'll bring a lot of the same elements to the offense.

"It's a speed game, and the more speed you have on the field, the harder it is for defenses to take away different elements of the game," general manager Brett Veach said, per ESPN's Adam Teicher.



Mahomes' skill set will make Worthy an instant difference-maker, while the rookie's speed and versatility will help make football's best quarterback even more dangerous in and out of the pocket.

Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins

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Ravens CB Nate WigginsStacy Revere/Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens defense ranked first in net yards allowed per pass attempt last season. While Baltimore lost defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald in the early offseason, its defense should again be a special unit.



The addition of Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins is a big reason. Wiggins is a long (6'1", 173 lbs), fast (4.28-second 40-yard-dash), scheme-versatile defender with experience and strong ball skills.



Wiggins had 19 passes defended and three interceptions over the past two seasons. In Baltimore, he'll pair with three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who was limited to 10 games in 2023 but allowed an opposing passer rating of only 64.6 in coverage.



It's a potential pairing that Baltimore was seemingly eager to construct.



"They always told me if I was there, and I was available, they were going to take me," Wiggins said, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "So, it was just, 'Will I be available?'

Wiggins was available, and he should quickly form one of the league's top cornerback duos alongside Humphrey. The pair should see plenty of playmaking opportunities in 2024 with pass-rushers like Justin Madubuike, Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy and talented safeties Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams on the back end.



Humphrey should return to Pro Bowl form this season, while Wiggins may become an early front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Josh Allen and Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

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Bills QB Josh AllenPerry Knotts/Getty Images

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is one of the game's most exciting players thanks to his combination of scrambling ability and nearly unmatched arm talent. Over the past four years, we've watched Allen blossom while playing alongside Stefon Diggs.



As soon as Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans, though, Allen was in need of a new No. 1 target. Though the Bills traded down twice in Round 1, they found their new top receiver in Florida State's Keon Coleman at the top of Round 2.



Coleman is a very different player than Diggs, and he isn't going to stretch the field as consistently. However, the 6'3", 213-pound pass-catcher will give Allen a big, physical target who can make plays both before and after the catch.



"Coleman's physicality and ball skills give him a high floor, and he has just enough pop down the field and with the ball in his hands to be a real difference-maker," Klassen wrote.



While Coleman might not possess elite speed (4.61-second 40-yard dash), he should actually complement Allen as a downfield target quite well. His contested-catch ability will give Allen some room for error when looking for chunk plays.



Opposing defenses will find it hard to defend Coleman on 50-50 balls 40 yards down the field.



Along with tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox—plus free-agent addition Curtis Samuel—Coleman should also help improve Allen's efficiency in the short-to-intermediate areas.



Coleman is the new star of the show, of course, and he and Allen could be a thing for the foreseeable future.

Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams

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Rams RB Blake CorumKevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Turner and Verse aren't the only exciting new duo that the Rams are set to unleash on the NFL in 2024. In the third round, Los Angeles snagged Michigan running back Blake Corum, a tough, physical and polished runner who should thrive behind the Rams' powerful offensive line.



"In terms of vision and decision-making, you won't find a better runner in this class than Corum," Klassen wrote. "He consistently picks out the right rushing lanes and almost never wastes time behind the line of scrimmage."

In L.A., Corum will complement 2023 breakout running back Kyren Williams. Despite only appearing in 12 games, Williams finished his second pro season with 1,565 scrimmage yards, 15 combined touchdowns and his first Pro Bowl nod.



The compact (5'8", 205 lbs) Corum will complement the slighter (5'9", 194 lbs) Williams perfectly, giving the Rams a dangerous two-pronged backfield attack. It's not outlandish to think that the duo can combine for 2,000-plus rushing yards next season.



For one, opposing defenses will find it nearly impossible to sell out to stop the run with Kupp and Nacua threatening deep. Secondly, L.A.'s trio of Kevin Dotson, Steve Avila and free-agent addition Jonah Jackson should open holes as well as any offensive interior in the league.



The Rams have developed an identity as a passing team under head coach Sean McVay. Thanks to their new running back tandem, though, that reputation may soon change.