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We've reached the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft. Follow along for updates. Dane Brugler, Nick Baumgardner, Scott Dochterman and more April 28, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT (Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images) Three days and nine picks later, the Colts' NFL Draft came to an end Saturday night. After emerging from the draft room, four Colts area scouts were made available to the media. These scouts, who often spend years evaluating prospects, shared their knowledge of a handful of rookies who represent the Colts' future. Here's what Chris McGaha, Anthony Coughlan, Chad Henry and Tyler Hughes had to say about Indianapolis' newest players: No. 15: Laiatu Latu, DE, UCLA After suffering a serious neck injury, Latu underwent cervical fusion surgery in March 2021 and spent more than two years away from football. He made his return at UCLA and dominated with 34 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks over the last two seasons. Primary scout: McGaha McGaha on Latu's infectious personality and love for the game: He just has a really down-to-earth demeanor and an easy presence, an easy go about him. He's an easy guy to root for. … You just like the guy's grit. We talk about that all of the time. Just trying to find guys who love football, and sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to try to find, 'Do they really love it?' But his was pretty easy to see, right? The things he had to go through, the things he had to overcome, it's a unique story and a unique journey for him. It's just a testament to him as a person, the kind of special makeup he has. On what made Latu worthy of being the first defensive player drafted: You see the get-off right away. He can bend. He's got a long list of pass-rush moves he puts in play all of the time. He can win up the field. He can win inside. He can come down the middle with power. He's great with his hands. He's got moves, and he's got countermoves. Read more on the rest of the Colts' class here. GO FURTHER Scout's-eye view: Colts' talent evaluators shed light on team's newest additions Round 6, No. 193: Joe Milton, QB, Tennessee This is the point in the draft where you take chances. And why not take a flier on the guy with the strongest arm in the draft (and maybe now all of the NFL)? Milton has plenty of flaws (he completed only 61 percent of his passes in college), but the upside is there with that arm. Teams like to have backup quarterbacks who play similarly to the starter. And while Milton isn't a perfect replica of Drake Maye, the Patriots can pencil him in as their backup in 2025, giving them a pair of big-bodied quarterbacks with strong arms. Grade: A- Read grades on the rest of the Patriots' draft class here. GO FURTHER Grading the Patriots' picks in the NFL Draft: A+ for Drake Maye, but then what? When former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh asked Rome Odunze if he wanted to join a workout in Los Angeles with Caleb Williams, DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, it was an easy answer. "Hell yeah I do," Odunze told him. As Houshmandzadeh, who has been training Odunze, watched the workout, he thought to himself, "If Rome makes it to No. 9, the Bears will draft him." Thursday night, after their workout together, and after they happened to be on the same flight together to Detroit, Williams and Odunze became teammates and the future of the Chicago Bears offense. "Once the Chargers did not draft Malik Nabers, I said, Rome's going to the Bears," Houshmandzadeh told The Athletic. "And this is something that he wanted once he got to that workout with Caleb Williams, this is what he wanted was to be drafted by the Bears. And so I'm just glad that it happened. And that little chemistry that they were working on now will be developed and honed in on." A couple of days before the draft, Bears general manager Ryan Poles heard about the workout. He thought it was "pretty cool," but he was nervous about Odunze being available at No. 9. He was nervous about it until the Bears went on the clock Thursday night. "When I found that out, it was cool," Poles said, "and obviously now, that group's worked together, which is good." Read more here. GO FURTHER How the Cowboys plan to fill out their roster — and be better than last season Could the Cowboys be in the market to make a trade? Will they seek undrafted free agents to fill some roster holes? Read more on the Cowboys here. The notion that all of the pre-draft work the Giants did on the quarterbacks was part of a "smoke screen" is silly. Time is too precious for GMs and coaches to fly around the country in a misdirection attempt. And if it was a smoke screen, it was unsuccessful. No team traded ahead of the Giants, so if they were bluffing their interest in McCarthy or another QB, no one was fooled. The more realistic scenario is the Giants did all of the research on this quarterback class and believed Maye was the only prospect worthy of trying to trade up for (with the understanding that Williams and Daniels weren't attainable). It's entirely plausible that after spending so much time with McCarthy, the Giants simply concluded he wasn't worth the No. 6 pick. But a team can't reach that conclusion until it invests the time to do a deep evaluation of the prospect. It will be interesting to track McCarthy's career because he landed in an ideal situation in Minnesota with a loaded supporting cast and strong coaching staff. If McCarthy thrives, the decision to pass on him will hover over Schoen and the Giants. Read more here. GO FURTHER Giants GM Joe Schoen preaching patience. Why that's going to be a tough sell Winner: Philadelphia Eagles General manager Howie Roseman continued his wheeling and dealing Saturday, when he pulled off five more trades to finish with a record nine during draft week. The Eagles received some good fortune, as cornerback Quinyon Mitchell fell to them in Round 1. Then Roseman pulled off a trade that positioned the Eagles to take another cornerback, Cooper DeJean, in Round 2. From there, Roseman and company continued to improve the depth of their roster while also stockpiling picks for 2025. For now, the Eagles have nine picks in next year's draft. That gives Philadelphia a cushion in case the NFL's investigation of potential tampering with Saquon Barkley reveals any wrongdoing and the Eagles are docked a pick or two. Loser: Atlanta Falcons The Falcons were heavily scrutinized following their selection of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 just weeks after giving Kirk Cousins $100 million guaranteed. Yes, as the Green Bay Packers have shown, it's wise to draft a quarterback before you need him. But the Falcons aren't close enough to contending to make luxury picks like this. They really need second-round defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro and third-round outside linebacker Bralen Trice to shine as rookies to help soften the blow of passing up an immediate impact talent in the top 10. Check out more winners and losers here. GO FURTHER Winners and losers from 2024 NFL Draft: Eagles, Steelers stand out; why did Raiders pass on QB? Cooper Beebe, G/C, third round Dane Brugler had Cooper Beebe ranked 38th on his top-100 big board. Dallas was able to get him at No. 73, the selection they received for trading back from 24 to 29 with Detroit. Beebe is expected to immediately compete for the starting center job. His competition will likely come from Brock Hoffman and T.J. Bass. While Beebe did not play center in a game at Kansas State, he did work at the position in practice and during the pre-draft process. If he struggles at center, his future could be as Zack Martin's eventual replacement at right guard, depending on how much longer Martin wants to play. "He will definitely be a part of the center competition," Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. "Obviously, he has played mostly at guard, but he has played them all. That was part of the evaluation. He is someone we are very, very excited about. His position flex as you look at today's game with the 17 games and you look at our history, you can't have enough players — let alone linemen — that can play two positions. Yes, he will definitely have an opportunity to compete at center." GO FURTHER Cowboys 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: What will they do at running back, defensive tackle? Giovanni Manu, OT, British Columbia The Athletic's Dane Brugler had a priority free-agent grade on Manu. The NFL seemed higher on him, though, considering he took 11 top-30 visits (and had to squeeze the Lions in for a rare Sunday visit — typically an off day). The pick itself makes sense. Manu is considered a developmental tackle, and the Lions were in need of depth and future insurance. His arms are 34 3/8-inches long. He ran a sub-5.00 40 time at 6-foot-7, 352 pounds. That is off-the-charts athleticism and length at the tackle position. The only questions are whether he can handle NFL edges, and how long it'll take to get him ready. Additionally, the Lions had to part ways with a 2025 third-rounder to acquire him. That's not nothing. This is very much a wait-and-see pick, but general manager Brad Holmes said he woke up and would've felt a gut punch if someone else took Manu. Based on feedback he heard, Manu wouldn't have lasted much longer, had the Lions not come up for him. If it hits, the team could have an absolute steal and a potential starting tackle down the road. But it'll be a while until we know what the Lions have. GO FURTHER Lions 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: New picks bolster roster with Super Bowl aspirations The Colts probably still need more help at free safety since Rodney Thomas II and Nick Cross have yet to earn the starting role. Jaylin Simpson could bolster the backend, with general manager Chris Ballard noting that he offers versatility as an outside cornerback, nickel or safety. However, Ballard also mentioned his team is always looking for quality veterans, so it's worth keeping in mind that high-caliber players, including Quandre Diggs and Justin Simmons, are still free agents. Diggs, 31, is a three-time Pro Bowler, with his last selection coming in 2022. He's started 112 games in his career. Simmons, 30, is coming off his third straight second-team All-Pro selection. Before the draft, it seemed like the Colts would likely draft a running back. They still haven't addressed the departure of backup Zack Moss, who signed with the Bengals in free agency. Indianapolis could always sign a veteran like Kareem Hunt or Ezekiel Elliott, but at this point, the team seems content with Trey Sermon, Evan Hull and Tyler Goodson duking it out for the RB2 role. GO FURTHER Colts 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: If Adonai Mitchell realizes potential, look out Iowa DE Joe Evans has signed with the Baltimore Ravens to play outside linebacker, he says. In trading away Stefon Diggs a few weeks ahead of the draft, the Bills left themselves with a major question mark at receiver and hole in the starting lineup that was about as big as the one they dug out for their new stadium across the street. A receiver pick had to happen, and it had to happen early. Keon Coleman enters the equation likely as the new starting X-receiver, and Beane admitted that they'd need to depend on him early in his career. But it is fair to wonder how impactful Coleman will be as a rookie, considering he averaged only 4.2 receptions and 54 yards in his 12 games at Florida State last year. Of course, he has a massive quarterback upgrade that will help. But will Coleman be the piece to push the offense where they want it to go? All eyes will be on him to prove he can be the team's top wideout, at the ripe age of 21. GO FURTHER Bills 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: How big of an impact will Keon Coleman have in 2024? HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. — The best way to describe the 2024 Los Angeles Rams draft: meat and potatoes picks. While the Rams explored opportunities to make a splash into the top 10 the morning of the first round, they decided to stay put as the draft began and let the board fall. In doing so, their course seemed set: They selected an immediate impact player at edge/outside linebacker in Jared Verse, then his partner in college in Braden Fiske via a trade up (the cost of which did raise a few eyebrows). From there, the Rams filled what they believed were needs, with players they liked. Coach Sean McVay wanted to find a second running back, and he and position coach Ron Gould hoped to bring in a player similar to lead rusher Kyren Williams, so that nothing schematic would need changing if Williams (who has dealt with injuries the last two seasons) were to miss any time or has to keep fresher legs through a long season. With later picks, the Rams added depth at safety, along the defensive and offensive line and — joy of joys for the fan base — a kicker. Continue reading. GO FURTHER Rams 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: Patience pays off with meat and potatoes additions The Titans got better this offseason, possibly much better, and the sorry state of their roster after a second straight losing season made that mandatory and likely. But before reserving a spot for Brian Callahan's first team in the playoffs, keep in mind what the rest of the AFC South did. The Houston Texans followed up their free agency binge with Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter. The Jacksonville Jaguars responded to the Titans stealing away wide receiver Calvin Ridley by adding LSU big-play man Brian Thomas Jr., plus his powerful college teammate, defensive tackle Maason Smith. The Indianapolis Colts have a potentially complete receiving corps for Anthony Richardson after drafting Texas' Adonai Mitchell, and UCLA edge Laiatu Latu bolsters their pass rush. The Titans had more ground to make up than anyone else. They made up enough to believe a postseason shot is possible if a lot of things break their way. But they're still projected to be grappling with the Colts for third place in the division. GO FURTHER Titans 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: First beef, then skill, for a quintet of impact players (Photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images) The New England Patriots wrapped up their most anticipated NFL Draft in decades by continuing to focus on fixing the team's offense. The Pats took a guard and a wide receiver in the fourth round, meaning their first five selections (and seven of their eight total picks) were all on offense, the first time they've done that in the modern era of the NFL. Of course, quarterback Drake Maye rightly will get all the attention from this class. The No. 3 pick comes to New England with hopes he'll be the franchise quarterback the Pats haven't been able to find since Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay. "Hopefully, we never have to pick at 3 again," coach Jerod Mayo said Saturday. How Maye fares as a pro will determine how we reflect on this draft class. If he's great, it won't matter that it feels like the Patriots reached for second-round wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk and third-round offensive tackle Caedan Wallace. The Patriots seemed to emphasize ensuring Maye has some friendly targets to throw to. Neither Polk nor fourth-round pick Javon Baker has great speed, but they have large catch radii and can make plays on passes that aren't thrown perfectly, something that could help a rookie quarterback. Plus, Baker offered up the quote of the entire draft, one we can't ignore before moving on to the rest of the picks. "Bring your popcorn," the former UCF standout said. "I make people in wheelchairs stand up." Continue reading. GO FURTHER Patriots 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: Emphasizing offense to help QB Drake Maye Iowa defensive tackle Noah Shannon has agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders, he said. The 2024 NFL Draft featured 257 picks, but the talent pool of prospects reached deeper. A seven-round event leaves plenty of options available, and history has shown that some will become stars — Kurt Warner, James Harrison, Tony Romo, Jason Peters, Antonio Gates, Wes Welker and many more went the undrafted route. Of those who made our top 300 big board, which players are still out there? The top 10: Continue reading. GO FURTHER 2024 NFL Draft's best undrafted free agents: Who's still available? Shortly after Omar Khan added a first-round offensive tackle for the second consecutive year, the Pittsburgh Steelers' general manager made the team's vision crystal clear. "I've said it from the beginning: The offensive line, defensive line, those are big priorities," Khan said. "The big men. That's where it starts, right? We want to be a physical football team, and it's got to start up there." That statement set the tone for the weekend. The Steelers addressed the future of their offensive line by drafting three offensive linemen with their first five picks. Later, they backfilled spots on the defensive line on Day 3. In addition to selecting Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, a lifelong Steelers fan whom coach Mike Tomlin called a "black-and-gold type of player," Pittsburgh found its future at center in the second round in West Virginia's Zach Frazier. Later on Day 2, the Steelers filled an important need at receiver with Michigan receiver Roman Wilson, who comes from a run-heavy college scheme and said he's going to "block my ass off." They also added depth and athleticism at inside linebacker with NC State's Payton Wilson. On Day 3, the build-through-the-trenches approach was evident when they snagged South Dakota State guard Mason McCormick in the fourth round and again in the sixth round when they drafted Iowa defensive end Logan Lee, who said he grew up a Steelers fan and "loved watching Mel Blount slam people on their heads." They rounded out their draft with Texas DB Ryan Watts III. Read more here. GO FURTHER Steelers 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: Omar Khan balances value, need in trench-heavy class By my count, 82 players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft transferred during their college careers. That's obviously a new draft record. It's 32 percent of all picks this year. Back in the 2022 draft, the total was 37. Florida State led the way this year with a remarkable nine players drafted that they signed out of the transfer portal. There were only 19 running backs selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. That is tied for the fourth-lowest single season total in that category (per Pro Football Reference) and when that is combined with last year's 18 running backs selected, it equals a two-year mark of 37 running backs drafted. That is the lowest two-year mark in NFL history.What scouts like about the Colts' draft class
Grading Patriots draft picks
Caleb Williams-Rome Odunze workout provides glimpse into Bears' future
How the Cowboys plan to fill out their roster — and be better than last season
Why not J.J. McCarthy for the Giants?
Winners and losers from 2024 NFL Draft
Cowboys' best value pick
Lions' most surprising pick
Colts' post-draft needs
Bills' post-draft question: Can Keon Coleman make immediate impact?
Rams' draft takeaways
Titans' post-draft outlook
Patriots draft takeaways
Best undrafted free agents
Steelers 2024 NFL Draft takeaways
Lowest two-year volume of running backs drafted in NFL history
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