A team's success, or lack thereof, in the NFL draft is often defined by the players it passed on just as much as the prospects it picked.

When the Cleveland Browns took quarterback Baker Mayfield first overall in 2018, for example, they passed on future Pro Bowlers Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. The selection of Mayfield, a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year, initially looked like a smart decision, but in retrospect, it seems Cleveland took the wrong signal-caller.

We'll likely need to wait a few years before we can call any of the 2024 draft's decisions mistakes. However, that doesn't mean we can't lament not seeing some potential pairings that might have been.

Here, we'll examine 10 draft picks we could have seen over the weekend but didn't. We'll dive into what happened instead and why we would have preferred these selections—based on factors like player potential, preexisting team needs and franchise trajectory.

These alternate-reality picks are listed in the order in which they could have occurred.

Chargers Take Rome Odunze at No. 5

Let's get a couple of things out of the way with this first one. We understand the Los Angeles Chargers' selection of offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5. New head coach Jim Harbaugh has a history of building his teams from the inside out, and Alt should pair with Rashawn Slater to give L.A. top-tier bookend tackles.

We also like seeing Rome Odunze land with the Chicago Bears. Seeing him play alongside Kennan Allen, D.J. Moore and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is going to be fun.

However, it would have been equally fun to see Harbaugh to the non-Harbaugh thing and simply snap up Odunze at No. 5. The second-ranked receiver on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board would have been a terrific fit as Justin Herbert's new go-to target.

"Odunze is a quarterback's best friend. He's a reliable route-runner with good size and an accuracy-erasing catch radius," Derrik Klassen of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.

In Chicago, Odunze will be a piece of the puzzle. In Los Angeles, he would have been the unquestioned No. 1 target and a massive boon for Herbert.

Ever since he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, it has felt like Herbert has been on the brink of becoming one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks. We want to see Herbert get there, but finally reaching that coveted territory won't be easy.

Better protection will help, and L.A. did come back and grab receiver Ladd McConkey in Round 2, but part of us wishes that the Chargers would have paired Herbert with an elite perimeter target instead.

Falcons Select Laiatu Latu at No. 8

We don't love the Atlanta Falcons' selection of Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8. Theoretically, though, it makes some sense. Free-agent addition Kirk Cousins is 35 years old and coming off a torn Achilles. Penix can provide QB insurance and take over before his rookie contract expires.

And if Cousins works out, the Falcons probably won't be picking in the top 10 again before his four-year deal is up.

However, signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal that included $100 million guaranteed was supposed to open Atlanta's Super Bowl window. Unless the Falcons simply don't believe in the hype they've created, it would have made more sense to draft a player who can help them win now.

Every single defensive prospect was still on the board at No. 8, so Atlanta could have had its pick. We'll go with UCLA's Laiatu Latu here, as he became the first defender off the board at No. 15.

Latu has both the physical traits and the intangibles to make an impact right away.

"There aren't many draft prospects who have Laiatu Latu's combination of size, athleticism and quickness," Matt Holder of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "That helps him as a pass-rusher, as he can win with both finesse and power moves."

Atlanta has been searching for a high-end edge-rusher for what feels like forever—the pass rush improved substantially in 2023, but no one player topped 6.5 sacks—and it could have found one on Thursday night. Instead, the Falcons took Penix, which will likely do nothing to aid a 2024 run.

Colts Trade Up to Take Brock Bowers at No. 12

Former Georgia tight end Brock Bowers landed with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13, and we're here for it. Las Vegas may not have found its franchise quarterback yet, but some combination of Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew should be serviceable.

And we're excited to see Bowers join a receiver corps that also features Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. We don't hate Las Vegas' decision to take Bowers a year after taking Michael Mayer in Round 2.

However, we'd have loved to see Bowers land with the Indianapolis Colts instead, even if it required a trade up from No. 15.

The Colts offense should also be a lot of fun in 2024, assuming second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson is fully recovered from his season-ending shoulder injury. Richardson is a dual-threat delight to watch, and he has a strong supporting cast—headlined by Michael Pittman Jr., Jonathan Taylor and rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell.

What Indianapolis lacks is a high-end receiving tight end. Kylen Granson led the position group with just 368 receiving yards last season. Bowers, the second-ranked prospect at any position on the B/R board, would have given Indy its dynamic tight end. Bowers is a playmaker, both before and after the catch, full stop.

Bowers, for what it's worth, was intrigued by the idea of pairing up with Richardson in Indianapolis.

"Big dude, fast, and he was tough to bring down for our defense over there. He's a baller, so yeah, it's exciting," Bowers said in March, per Andrew Moore of FanNation.

Seeing Richardson and Bowers—two of the most dynamic players at their respective positions—together certainly would have been exciting to see. Alas, it wasn't to be.

As a bonus, this hypothetical trade with the Denver Broncos might have made Denver's first-round reach for Bo Nix feel less egregious.

Bengals Take Brian Thomas Jr. at No. 18

This pick's purely for fun. Who wouldn't have loved to see the Cincinnati Bengals partner Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase with another former Tigers star in wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.?

OK, so there's some logic involved too. Cincinnati has yet to re-sign No. 3 receiver Tyler Boyd. Franchise-tagged No. 2 receiver Tee Higgins has requested a trade and could be gone in 2025, if not sooner.

Thomas, the fourth-ranked receiver on the B/R board, is an explosive playmaker who might have quickly formed an elite tandem with Chase. Instead, he went to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 23, where he'll be tasked with filling the No. 1 receiver role.

Unfortunately, Thomas could struggle to fill that role early on, as he's under-developed as a route-runner and a contested-catch winner. In Cincinnati, he'd have had an easy path to early success, as Chase regularly draws defensive attention and double coverage.

The Bengals did come back for Alabama receiver Jermaine Burton in Round 3, but they passed on Thomas for Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims at No. 18.

In a vacuum, the Mims pick makes sense. Burrow has been sacked 148 times in 52 regular-season games and has twice suffered season-ending injuries after taking hits. The problem is that Mims is an inexperienced prospect who isn't likely to contribute this season.

"A prospect with eight career starts and a raw skill set doesn't help a squad with Super Bowl aspirations," Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski wrote of the pick.

Adding Thomas would have given Cincinnati a much better shot at winning its first Lombardi Trophy in 2024.

49ers Take Cooper DeJean at No. 31

The San Francisco 49ers are in a situation similar to Cincinnati's when it comes to receivers. They have two great wideouts in Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. However, Aiyuk is entering the last year of his rookie contract and has been the subject of trade speculation.

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the 49ers would "prefer" to trade Samuel instead of Aiyuk if either player is going to be dealt. Therefore, the first-round selection of Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall does seem logical.

Pearsall is a big play waiting to happen, similar to Samuel, but not a savvy route-runner like Aiyuk.

"He does not have the speed control or flexibility to thrive on curls, digs, comebacks and other sharp routes," Klassen wrote.

Still, we would have liked to see San Francisco go with a defensive prospect like versatile Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean at the bottom of Round 1.

For starters, San Francisco didn't lose its most recent Super Bowl because it couldn't move the ball. It lost because it couldn't contain Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime.

The 49ers also struggled against above-average quarterbacks like Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Kirk Cousins during the regular season while ranking a good-not-great 14th in passing yards allowed.

DeJean was the fourth-ranked cornerback on the B/R board and ultimately fell to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 40. Not only did the 49ers pass on a potentially dominant defensive back, but they also allowed him to go to a conference rival.

While we love DeJean's fit in Philly, it would have been nice to see San Francisco be a little smarter with its draft capital. It could have grabbed DeJean at No. 31 and come back for an insurance/ancillary receiver in Round 2.

It was a deep receiver class, and pass-catchers like Burton, Malachi Corley and Roman Wilson all went after San Francisco's second selection at No. 64.

Titans Take Adonai Mitchell at No. 38

The Colts didn't land Bowers but they did get Mitchell with the 52nd overall pick. He'll aid Richardson and the Indy offense tremendously. The rookie is also landing in a great situation for him, and we're glad to see it.

However, we'd have liked to see Mitchell land with the Tennessee Titans earlier in the round as well. We're all about seeing players succeed, and second-year Titans quarterback Will Levis can use all the help he can get.

Sure, Tennessee added wideout Calvin Ridley in free agency and drafted Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham in Round 1. It also has DeAndre Hopkins and 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks at receiver.

However, Hopkins is 31 years old, and Burks hasn't even come close to living up to his draft status. Getting another potential playmaker for Levis couldn't have possibly hurt, could it?

Instead, Tennessee reached for Texas nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat, the 105th-ranked prospect on the B/R board, at No. 38. It was an odd choice because Tennessee already had a strong run defense (ranked seventh in yards per carry allowed), and Sweat offers little as a pass-rusher.

It's also concerning that Sweat was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in early April.

"Clearly, the Tennessee Titans weren't overly concerned about Sweat's off-field issues. That might wind up being a major mistake," Sobleski wrote of the pick.

Perhaps most importantly, though, passing on Mitchell allowed him to land with a division rival. It also does nothing to support Levis, which should be the primary goal of new head coach Brian Callahan and the Titans in 2024.

Browns Take Kingsley Suamataia at No. 54

Look, the Cleveland Browns' selection of Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. was plenty logical. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz loves to utilize a heavy defensive-line rotation, and Hall has the physical skill to become a disruptive interior pass-rusher.

However, keeping quarterbacks on the field was a major issue for Cleveland in 2023, and the Browns could use an upgrade over merely serviceable left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.

Wills was responsible for six penalties and three sacks allowed before he suffered a season-ending MCL injury last year, according to Pro Football Focus.

The 54th pick was Cleveland's first of the draft, and it had a shot at one of the best offensive tackles in the class. BYU's Kingsley Suamataia was the sixth-ranked tackle and 37th-ranked overall prospect on the B/R board, and he has the traits to develop into a longtime starting left tackle.

"Suamataia has the physical tools of a starting tackle with an unrefined skill set that is built on flashes rather than proven consistency," Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "But he'll be only 21 when he gets drafted, and he has the runway to add polish to his game and bridge that gap within his first contract."

Instead, Suamataia fell to the Chiefs at No. 63, and hey, good for him. He'll have a good chance of becoming a Super Bowl champion before his rookie contract runs out. With 2023 starter Donovan Smith still unsigned, Suamataia may also get a chance to start right away.

Looking at things from Cleveland's perspective, though, getting Suamataia would have provided far more value than adding to a defensive line that already has Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson.

Cowboys Select Trey Benson at No. 56

The Arizona Cardinals snagged Florida State running back Trey Benson at the top of Round 3 (66th overall). It's a solid landing spot for the rookie, who will likely begin his career as the No. 2 back behind James Conner and potentially start in a year or two.

However, we wish the Dallas Cowboys had grabbed Benson with the 56th overall pick instead. There are a couple of reasons for this.

For one, Dallas has plenty of offensive playmakers—like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Jake Ferguson—to complement its running game. However, the Cowboys lacked a capable starting back heading into the draft.

Benson was the second-ranked running back on the B/R board and has the skills to step into a starting role and thrive.

"Benson isn't a perfect back, but he's a tough, explosive runner who continues to improve his vision and has useful pass-catching traits," Klassen wrote. "That's a recipe for success at the NFL level."

In Dallas, Benson might have run his way into the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year. In Arizona, he'll be heavily overshadowed by rookie fourth overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr.

We'd have also liked to see this pairing for Dallas fans. The Cowboys did address their need for pass-rushing depth by taking Western Michigan's Marshawn Kneeland, but with DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons on the roster, Kneeland might not have a major 2024 impact.

Benson would have, and now the Cowboys are turning back to Ezekiel Elliott, who agreed to a one-year deal on Monday.

We love a good reunion, but Elliott—who hasn't averaged 4.0 or more yards per carry since 2021—just doesn't have enough left in the proverbial tank to make Dallas a title contender.

Panthers Take Roman Wilson at No. 72

Full disclosure: We love the fact that former Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Round 3. The seventh-ranked receiver on the B/R board has the goods to become a future star, and Pittsburgh selecting him almost feels scripted.

"No organization drafts wide receivers better than the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they did it again this year," Sobleski wrote. "Wilson is a tremendous value in the third round."

Pittsburgh is also a perfect spot for Wilson, who will make an early impact as an underneath target for Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields in 2024. But, come on, Steelers, can't you let someone else seal a wideout on Day 2?

Well, it's not the Steelers' fault that Wilson lasted until pick No. 84. The Carolina Panthers, for example, could have snagged him at No. 72, and we wish they would have.

We'd love to see 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young change the narrative and break out in Year 2. The Panthers did get him some help this offseason by hiring head coach Dave Canales, signing guard Robert Hunt, trading for receiver Diontae Johnson, trading into Round 1 for South Carolina wideout Xavier Legette and drafting Texas running back Jonathon Brooks.

However, there was still room on Carolina's roster for a talented receiver prospect like Wilson. Instead, the Panthers traded back in Round 3 (from No. 65) and took Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace—the 177th-ranked prospect on the B/R board.

Wallace may develop into a fine defender for the Panthers. However, Carolina should be doing everything it can to help Young avoid the bust label, and it missed a golden opportunity to add more aid with Wilson.

Raiders Take Spencer Rattler at No. 148

The Raiders will roll with O'Connell and Minshew in 2024, though general manager Tom Telesco admitted that they considered making a quarterback move in Round 1.

"We kind of had a plan to do maybe move up if the opportunity was there," Telesco said, per Levi Edwards of the team's official website. "It wasn't there, kept moving."

However, Las Vegas had a chance to grab South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler late in the draft without giving up any extra capital. Rattler landed with the New Orleans Saints at No. 150, just two spots after Las Vegas took Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg.

Getting Eichenberg, the 98th-ranked prospect on the B/R board, was solid value. However, Rattler would have been an intriguing third option in Las Vegas' 2024 quarterback competition.

The 23-year-old is experienced, has arm talent to spare and would have fit perfectly with Las Vegas' underdog mentality. Rattler was an early Heisman favorite at Oklahoma before ultimately losing his job to Caleb Williams and transferring to South Carolina. He believes that experience will help him at the next level.

"As a quarterback at this level, you're going to experience adversity if you want it or not. So I think having success, having adversity, that helps shape you as a player and person," Rattler said, per ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith.

In New Orleans, Rattler will likely learn and develop behind Derek Carr for at least a couple of seasons—Carr's dead-cap hit won't fall below $50 million until 2026. In Las Vegas, Rattler might have been able to beat out Minshew and O'Connell at some point in 2024.

And with playmakers like Adams, Meyers and now Bowers in the lineup, Rattler might have quickly reminded fans why he was once considered a potential candidate to be drafted No. 1 overall.

*Contract information via Spotrac