Prospects follow fathers into NFL
A draft class featuring the offspring of notable former NFL players is not unusual.
The 2024 draft class, however, is an exception.
This year’s group of prospects features two who have fathers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (and a third who could be a first-ballot selection once eligible). In all, eight prospects have fathers who were selected to at least one Pro Bowl (with the eight combining for an astonishing 39 Pro Bowl nods). That’s some incredible NFL pedigree about to enter the league.
With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of notable 2024 draft prospects who had fathers play in the NFL:
● Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio St.
Famous father: Marvin Harrison.
Where might he get drafted? Top 10 as likely first wide receiver selected.
Living up to the expectations set by a Pro Football Hall of Fame father who played the same position won’t be easy, but Marvin Harrison Jr. possesses next-level route running, body control and ball skills that will make him the envy of any team selecting at the top of the first round that does not have an immediate need for a quarterback. His father was a firstround selection (No. 19 overall) in the 1996 draft and went on to play 13 NFL seasons. He was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection.
● Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame. Famous father: John Alt.
Where might he get drafted? Top 10 as likely first offensive tackle selected.
In what is a strong 2024 draft class for offensive tackles, Alt is the clear top-rated prospect at the position. Alt stands at 6-foot-9 and 321 pounds, and possess athleticism to add to that immense size. His father, John Alt, was a 6-foot-8 behemoth who played 13 seasons in the NFL, all with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a first-round selection (No. 21 overall) in the 1984 NFL draft and a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
● Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan. Famous father: Kris Jenkins.
Where might he get drafted?
ler Huntley both have Pro Bowls on their résumés, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson remains an exciting prospect despite failing to shine in three starts as a rookie in 2023.
27. New Orleans Saints: Their position on this list isn’t to suggest they’re lights out at quarterback. But they do have a full room with Derek Carr, Nathan Peterman, Kellen Mond and Jake Haener. Even utilityman Taysom Hill is still listed by the team as a quarterback. And with no third- or fourth-round pick, hard to justify investing in another one this year.
26. Tennessee Titans: With Will Levis entering his second year – coming off a rookie season with encouraging flashes – veteran backup Mason Rudolph now on board, and even Malik Willis under contract for two more years, seems unlikely a rebuilding team with no third-rounder would earmark much more to the position right now.
Depth deliberation?
25. Houston Texans: Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud is the paragon of quarterback draft pick success – an instant superstar who would arguably have his team least in need to draft another if he had a lengthier body of work.
24. Indianapolis Colts: Fairly similar situation to division rival Houston with talented second-year man Anthony Richardson at the reins with Flacco and Sam Ehlinger in reserve … for 2024 anyway.
23. Baltimore Ravens: Coming off his second league MVP, no questions about 27-year-old Lamar Jackson … other than his propensity to get banged up..
22. San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy, who finished fourth in the MVP voting in his first year as the full-time starter, is going to be here a while – and can’t even talk about a long-term extension until 2025.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: They’re locked and loaded with Justin Herbert but only have understudies Easton Stick and Max Duggan locked up through this season.
20. Cincinnati Bengals:
Given how effectively Jake Browning played in injured Joe Burrow’s stead late last season, Cincy looks fairly well set … aside from needing a camp arm or two.
19. Atlanta Falcons: Like the Bengals, they’re now settled at starter (recently signed Kirk Cousins) and with QB2 Taylor Heinicke signed for another year. But the Dirty Birds will need more than that – at least in terms of getting through spring workouts, training camp and preseason.
18. Carolina Panthers: For better or worse, they’re tied to Bryce Young for the foreseeable future. Yet this is another roster that will need more bodies to get by in the near term than merely Young and veteran backup Andy Dalton,
36.
17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Coming off a disappointing, injury-riddled campaign, Trevor Lawrence is nevertheless in line for a significant extension (but could also have a fifth-year option awaiting him). C.J. Beathard and, now, Mac Jones are in the bullpen, though both are likely to be free agents in 2025.
16. Detroit Lions: Coming off the team’s best season of the Super Bowl era (since 1966), Jared Goff is in line for a significant extension heading into his walk year. Nate Sudfeld remains as a backup … provided he’s not displaced by 2023 third-rounder Hendon Hooker, who’s now healthy enough to begin tapping into his estimable potential.
15. Miami Dolphins: Coming off his first Pro Bowl campaign, Tua Tagovailoa is also in line for a significant extension. Yet given his litany of injuries, the Fins could maybe do better than current backups Mike White and Skylar Thompson.
14. Green Bay Packers: Coming off a breakout effort during his first year as the Pack’s starter, Jordan Love is, yes, in line for a lucrative extension. For whatever it’s worth, backup quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Alex McGough have combined to throw one regular-season pass. Ever.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They committed to Baker Mayfield for three more years this offseason but will likely have to re-think their contingency plans for 2025, when Kyle Trask and John Wolford will be free agents.
If right circumstances arise
12. New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers has a very serious recent injury. Tyrod
NFL player of all time, Jerry Rice. The football family ties for Brenden Rice run deep. His half-brother, Jerry Rice Jr., was a wide receiver who played at UCLA and UNLV. His brother, Qualen Cunningham, was a defensive end at Texas A&M; and his stepfather, Rick Cunningham, was an offensive lineman who played eight seasons in the NFL.
● Jonah Elliss, DE, Utah.
Famous father: Luther Elliss. Where might he get drafted? Possible mid-round selection who could hear his name called on Day 2.
Jonah Elliss is in a family full of football players. His brothers Christian Elliss and Noah Elliss each have been on NFL rosters. Christian plays for the New England Patriots, while Noah has been on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad. Their father, Luther Elliss, was a standout defensive lineman in the NFL. A first-round pick (No. 20 overall) by the Detroit Lions in the 1995 NFL draft, Luther Elliss played 10 seasons in the NFL
Kings will have their hands full this series.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews:
Taylor has a very lengthy injury history. Though clearly in win-now mode for 2024, the NYJ have to consider value given they’re pretty much year-to-year at the position.
11. Dallas Cowboys: Believe it. Like the Jets, the reigning NFC East champs and HC Mike McCarthy most assuredly need to survive deep into the 2024 postseason. As things stand now, Dak Prescott, Trey Lance and Cooper Rush could all be free agents next year – team brass apparently content to allow Prescott to play out his very hefty contract. Hard to believe Jerry Jones moves up for a quarterback, but he may also have to decide whether or not to pass on players like Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and/or Oregon’s Bo Nix.
10. Los Angeles Rams: If “Matthew Stafford Watch” isn’t an annual thing already, it will be soon. Newly signed Jimmy Garoppolo is among the best backups in the league but not a longterm fallback. Stetson Bennett IV missed virtually all of his rookie season for undisclosed reasons, while Dresser Winn rounds out the group. It would be a surprise if GM Les Snead used his first Round 1 pick in eight years on a quarterback but not so much if he rolls the dice on someone who’s too intriguing to bypass on Day 2.
9. Seattle Seahawks: They have to do something – it’s just a matter of how much and when. Geno Smith and Sam Howell combined to start 32 games in 2023 (Howell with Washington), and both are under contract for the next two seasons. While the Seahawks, who tend to roll light at the QB depth chart, will need help at least to get through the summer, they’ll also have to consider outright upgrades given team brass’ fairly lukewarm commitment to Smith this offseason.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers: They’ve got plenty to sort through given the recent arrivals of Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen to a completely revamped depth chart. Seemingly little need to add a rookie to this mix … aside from the fact that, similar to Dallas’ situation, the entire trio could be gone in a year.
7. New York Giants: They’re in a fascinating spot, literally and figuratively. With the sixth overall pick, a player like Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy or North Carolina’s Drake Maye fall to New York – and/or, if Big Blue targets one of them or LSU’s Jayden Daniels, they
might
and earned two Pro Bowl selections.
● Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice. Famous father: Ed McCaffrey.
Where might he get drafted? Possible mid-round selection.
Here’s another family full of football players. Brothers Christian and Max McCaffrey each have NFL experience, with Christian among the most electric players currently in the league. Their father, Ed McCaffrey, was a third-round selection by the New York Giants in the 1991 NFL draft. He played mostly as a reserve (he did win a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers in 1994) before catching on with the Denver Broncos, posting three 1,000-yard seasons.
● Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson.
Famous father: Jeremiah Trotter.
Where might he get drafted? Possible mid-round selection.
Jeremiah Trotter, a Philadelphia Eagles icon nicknamed the “Axe Man,” played 11 seasons in the NFL after being
Georgiev: Georgiev struggled down the stretch, allowing four of more goals in six of his final eight games.
He was pulled in a 7-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets that cost Colorado a chance at home ice advantage in their first-round series. The Avalanche couldn’t use backup goalie Justus Annunen against the Jets in Game 1 on Sunday because he was sick. Georgiev gave up seven goals on 23 shots in a 7-6 loss. Annunen was still sick on Monday.
Los Angeles Kings general manager Rob Blake: He wasn’t able to pull off a trade at the deadline, especially for a goaltender.
Cam Talbot gave up six goals against the Kings and the former Oilers goalie wouldn’t have far to move up Yet coming off an ACL injury and season, what happens with Daniel Jones as enters the second season of a four-year, $160 million pact?
6. Las Vegas Raiders: New HC Antonio Pierce’s love for and ties to Daniels (when both were at Arizona State) are apparent and reciprocated. But the Silver and Black would have to pay a king’s ransom to move up from No. 13 to get him. Penix or Nix seem like more realistic options if the Raiders stick and pick in Round 1.
High priority
5. New England Patriots: Jacoby Brissett is a proven career backup, and Bailey Zappe has a chance to reach that threshold. Said another way, the Pats are still seeking Tom Brady’s long-term successor, and the only reason not to take a shot in Round 1 is if Eliot Wolf decides a roster that didn’t support departed Mac Jones just isn’t ready to rally around another rookie any time soon.
4. Minnesota Vikings: Retread Nick Mullens and rookie Jaren Hall were among the fill-ins for now-departed Cousins in 2023 – and their collective performance helped necessitate the signing of Sam Darnold as a stopgap.
3. Denver Broncos: HC Sean Payton and GM George Paton freely admit they need to add to a room that currently includes journeymen Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci, neither signed for 2025 – and they probably need to import multiple passers. Currently with only one draft pick (No. 12) among the top 75, this franchise faces quite a decision entering the 2024 season.
2. Washington Commanders: Much as some teams might desire their No. 2 overall slot, hard to fathom a world where new GM Adam Peters doesn’t wind up with Daniels, Maye or McCarthy as the new face of this resetting franchise. Currently on the roster, Marcus Mariota, Jeff Driskel and Jake Fromm are all backup-caliber guys on one-year deals.
1. Chicago Bears: No drama here. Fields is gone. Undrafted Tyson Bagent and peripatetic Brett Rypien are currently the only quarterbacks on the roster. Former USC star and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb is expected to join right after the draft officially starts April
25. a third-round pick in the 1998 NFL draft and earned four Pro Bowl selections. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was a first-team AllACC selection, a finalist for the Butkus Award (presented to college football’s best linebacker) and the sort of tackling machine that NFL teams crave for their rosters.
● Frank Gore
Miss.
Famous father: Frank Gore.
Where might he get drafted? Lateround selection or priority free agent possibility.
Frank Gore played so long he nearly got to be in the league at the same time as his son (something the NBA’s LeBron James is aiming to do with his son, Bronny). Gore played 16 seasons in the NFL (2005-2020) after being a thirdround pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2005 draft, and is third on the league’s all-time rushing yardage list behind Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton.
Jr., RB, Southern was jeered by Edmonton fans. Offseason acquisition Pierre-Luc Dubois has disappointed this season. He did score against the Oilers but it was a fluke that deflected in off Darnell Nurse’s skate. Unless the Kings can turn it around, they’re looking at a third consecutive first-round loss to the Oilers.
Undisciplined Maple Leafs penalties: It cost them in Game 1 and nearly in Game 2. Boston scored after a Jake McCabe cross-checking penalty early in the game. But Toronto managed to kill off Tyler Bertuzzi’s undisciplined slashing penalty in the third period. The Maple Leafs, missing the offense of injured William Nylander, can’t afford to give Boston too many chances.