Attack the 2024 Rookie Draft: 2.09

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 2.09 Pick

So far in our Attack the 2024 Rookie Draft series, only two running backs (Jonathon Brooks & Trey Benson) have come off the board. There is a ton of value still out there at RB, making MarShawn Lloyd a great value at pick 2.09.

Drafted in the third round by the Green Bay Packers, Lloyd will fight AJ Dillon for the RB2 role this season behind Josh Jacobs. Tasked with needing to replicate Aaron Jones’ production, Jacobs was a high-priced, unexpected free agency addition for the Packers.

Adding Lloyd in the 2024 NFL Draft shows that the Packers want to get their long-term RB1 in-house to get his feet wet. However, offseason comments from the Green Bay staff point to Lloyd having a contributor role in his first season.

MarShawn Lloyd has some serious wiggle to his game, he does a great job sucking in the defenders here before making the one whiff and taking off for 40 yards 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/mvEkIgWAvS

— Jeremy (@PopesFFH) March 25, 2024

Drafting Lloyd won’t necessarily pay off right away, but Lloyd could become the starter as early as 2025. A potential Year 2 starter at RB that you can get near the end of the second round? You should be all over that.

Who Else Should You Consider?

With all main quarterbacks off the board, consider the best remaining skill player at pick 2.09. With wide receivers dominating your rookie drafts, you can turn your attention there, but don’t sleep on other RBs.

Jaylen Wright and Blake Corum are next up in that position, as both bring value to their selections. Wright fits into an up-tempo Miami offense, while Corum is one Kyren Williams injury away from becoming the Rams’ starter.

At receiver, Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk should be considered here. Both Baker and Polk will be catching passes from Drake Maye in hopes of turning around the dreadful New England offense.

With this draft series following a TEP setup, adding the second TE becomes a viable option. Washington’s Ben Sinnott and Carolina’s JaTavion Sanders are next up at TE, with Sinnott’s ADP soaring this offseason.

Should You Trade The 2.09?

You can also consider moving 2.09, especially given the value rounds two and three provide this draft cycle.

If you’re contending and have 2.09, adding someone like Austin Ekeler, Dallas Goedert, Aaron Jones, or James Conner would add win-now depth. Rookie picks are good on paper, but if you are competing, then adding a proven commodity makes more sense.

On the flip side, if you’re looking to rebuild and have 2.09, explore a deal for a future second-round pick. However, options like Zach Charbonnet, Christian Watson, and Jameson Williams would make sense if you are looking for players.

The Final Word

As you near the end of the second round, you can start applying team needs to your draft strategy instead of just the best player available. While this year’s running back class wasn’t special, selecting Lloyd at this point is hard to pass up.

There’s a lot of value you can get in a trade with 2.09 as well, giving you multiple paths to take.

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