Inside The Dynasty War Room: DLF Reacts to Day One of the 2024 NFL Draft

Undoubtedly the pinnacle of the dynasty off-season, the final pieces of the rookie jigsaw are falling into place. With the 2024 NFL Draft in progress we are close to the culmination of many months of rookie scouting and the final two key data points - draft capital and landing spot.

At DLF, this is an extremely busy and crucial period: rookie prospect videos are complete, rookie and dynasty rankings are adjusted with the final data points established and the finishing touches are being added to the highly-anticipated 2024 Dynasty Draft Guide. For many, this is the most exciting part of the dynasty calendar, with rookie drafts imminent in the upcoming days and weeks before we hit dynasty startup season.

Day one of the 2024 NFL Draft was fantastic, with plenty of storylines to work through in your rookie scouting process. Now the first round draft capital and landing spots are confirmed, I’ve recruited some of DLF’s most talented writers to lead you through our ‘Inside The Dynasty War Room’ series over the next few days, where we’ll provide key reactions and thoughts to set you up for success in your rookie drafts.

1) With the shock selection of Michael Penix to the Falcons at pick 8, where would you be taking him in rookie drafts?

I’m probably not touching Penix at all because there is no path to him starting for at least two-three, maybe even four years. If you want to look at Jordan Love as an example for dynasty value, he lost value from his initial draft day value and didn’t actually start gaining value until this time last year - three years AFTER he was drafted. I can’t touch Penix until round three in superflex rookie drafts because it just doesn’t make sense to waste a roster spot on essentially a dead asset for years. (Addison Hayes)

The Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year $180 million contract and also drafted a 23-year-old Penix in the same off-season. It makes almost zero sense. I’d imagine he goes at the 1.11 or 1.12 in superflex rookie drafts but I will not be involved in that. (Andrew Francesconi)

Not even Penix would have believed you if you called this pick. Drafted to sit and learn from Cousins? It's baffling. I'd assume you'll need to give up somewhere between 1.10 and 1.12 in Superflex. I stress the “you” part, because I won't be taking him there. (Eric Flynn)

I’m in utter shock. I can’t believe the Falcons refused to trade a late-round pick for former Bears quarterback Justin Fields, but instead drafted Penix at number eight? Pretty wild to me. Penix is probably a late first-round pick in dynasty superflex drafts. (Justin Taylor)

Drafted earlier than expected in round one, to potentially sit for multiple seasons, this is a similar situation to Jordan Love in 2020. Penix makes sense as a luxury pick to retain value as a guaranteed starter in time, however he is more appealing for dynasty rebuilds. With Bo Nix climbing draft boards, I’m more confident in taking Penix in early round two of rookie drafts, with the caveat of a deeper bench. (Kev White)

With Cousins sitting ahead of Penix for up to four years, he has to be the sixth-ranked quarterback, at best, in rookie drafts. I wouldn’t be surprised if Penix starts to compete for the starting job as early as 2025, but the financial investment in Cousins will give him an extremely long leash. In superflex, he’s outside of the first round for me and I’ll be considering some day two wide receivers and running backs ahead of him. (Tim Riordan)

2) Which rookie drafted in round one had the biggest increase in dynasty value?