Attack the 2024 Rookie Draft: 1.12

In this series for the Dynasty Nerds, the staff will take a rookie draft pick-by-pick and evaluate who they would select. Each pick will take into account other players on the board, how the team build can affect the impact and possibly change the pick, and also the trade value of the pick.

We are operating under the assumption that the league is a Superflex league with a tight end premium scoring format.

The 1.12 Pick

This was about as easy as they come for me. The top back in the class, in my opinion, with the best landing spot. Trey Benson slides in behind James Conner for 2024 and should take over the position in 2025. Conner is 29 and played in 13 games in each of the last two seasons. He has 1,125 carries and 234 catches in his seven-year career.

Benson’s opportunity to start could come sooner than later when you factor in age and usage. There is an outside chance the Cardinals move on from Conner before the season. It would save them $4.3 million this year with a sizable $4.5 million dead cap number.

As noted, Benson was my RB1 in this class and that only solidified with his landing spot. I would have taken him at 1.09 in this exercise. Benson is smaller than Conner but runs with power to go with his 4.39 speed. He should translate his college success on the ground and through the air easily in Arizona.

Who Else Should You Consider?

For this exercise, our league is Superflex, so both Bo Nix and Micheal Penix should be considered. I’m not high on either so I wouldn’t go in that direction. It’s also tight end premium so you might grab Ben Sinnott. He has some Sam LaPorta vibes that should push him up the board. I’d avoid him too though as the athleticism mirrors flashes LaPorta but he wasn’t used similarly in college.

The real questions probably fall at wide receiver. I am a big believer in prioritizing wide receivers if all things are equal because of their comparative longevity to running backs. With that said you’d be looking at late first and early second round wide receivers like Ladd McConkey, Xavier Legette, Ricky Pearsall, Keon Coleman, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Adonai Mitchell.

Of that group, I am highest on McConkey and Pearsall. Pearsall seems destined to be a focal point in San Francisco in 2025. McConkey seems like a can’t-miss slot guy for Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles. They will be looking to replace a ton of targets as well.  

Would You Trade The 1.12?

If this is how the draft plays out I wouldn’t consider a trade, especially if you have the 2.12. The list of potential impact running backs is short and drops off quickly. The list of potential wide receivers will take you much deeper into round two. There are six that I would consider at the 1.12.

When you combine that with the two remaining quarterbacks, the logic falls that one could be there at 2.12. If you are a team loaded at RB with a WR need it would make some sense to drop back half a round and take the best available WR.

The Final Word

On my board, Benson would be the point of a sizable drop off. His game and landing spot seem like a can’t miss situation. There isn’t a back in this class that is a sure thing, but he’s as close as you can get. When you pair that with the depth of the next tier of WRs, going RB here and then pairing it with a WR in round two makes the most sense.

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