Overall, things have gone well for the teams who used a high NFL draft pick on a quarterback in 2024.

Jayden Daniels has been electrifying and helped make the Washington Commanders relevant this season. Bo Nix is the quarterback for one of the most surprising teams in the league this season, Caleb Williams has put up respectable numbers, and Drake Maye is doing the best he can with a limited supporting cast.

Even the Minnesota Vikings, who haven't seen JJ McCarthy play a snap, are 11-2 with a lot of things in place for him to smoothly transition into the starting role.

It's safe to say the 2024 quarterback class is going to have an impact on the NFL for years to come. However, it's going to be up to how well their teams build around them that will determine how big that impact will be.

Finding a legitimate quarterback is difficult. Making the right choices to give him the environment to succeed is another critical step to building a contender.

Here, we'll take a look at all of the teams who have a rookie quarterback and the one move each needs to make this offseason so its young signal-caller can take the next step.

Atlanta Falcons: Move on from Kirk Cousins

The Atlanta Falcons raised some (OK, a lot of) eyebrows when they took Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in this year's draft. Given how Kirk Cousins has looked lately, that choice is starting to make a lot more sense.

The 36-year-old was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle that would make the Falcons the favorite in the NFC South. Instead, it looks like he's falling off the age cliff and tanking their playoff chances.

The Falcons finally pulled the plug on Cousins starting, but they didn't do it until a 1-4 run in their last five games in which he threw one touchdown to nine interceptions. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported players inside the locker room have told him "Michael Penix Jr. is the best quarterback in this building."

Now, the Falcons have to act accordingly.

The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. There's no pain-free way to get out of that, but it might be best for Atlanta to figure out the best way to move on and turn the team over to the Washington product this offseason.

Cousins has a no-trade clause, but trading him would be the best financial option. That would be the only way to actually save money on the 2025 cap. A post-June 1 release would force the team to eat a $40 million dead cap charge with no impact on its current salary-cap number.

That might be the best solution. Just as reports have emerged that players want Penix, it could be expected that the same reports would appear if roles are reversed next year. That would create a lot of additional pressure on a second-year QB still on a learning curve.

Chicago Bears: Hire an Offensive-Minded Head Coach

There's an ongoing debate about whether teams should be seeking an offensive-minded head coach or whether there's room for a defensive HC in the league today.

Ultimately, though, the best head coaches are the best leaders.

But there's a case to be made that hiring an offensive-minded head coach is crucial for teams with a young quarterback. Hiring a defensive head coach means hoping that he then hires the right offensive coordinator to bring along the rookie quarterback.

That's just another moving part in a process that isn't easy to master.

Coaching is especially important in the Bears' situation because it just doesn't make sense that they aren't that good.

The offensive line is solid. They rank 14th in pass block win rate and sixth in run block win rate, per ESPN Analytics. It's hard to argue with a starting receiver trio of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze.

On paper, Chicago should at least be average on offense. Instead, it's 25th in scoring and last in yards per play.

The ingredients are there for a successful offense, but the Bears have to get the right guy in place to bring it together. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has more than earned a shot at being a head coach, but he has been selective.

Kliff Kingsbury should be an obvious candidate. His time in Arizona wasn't great, but he's played a huge role in Jayden Daniels' development as a rookie. Those two should be at the top of the list, but there are other offensive-minded candidates worth a look.

Denver Broncos: Draft a Running Back

There are a lot of things to like about where the Denver Broncos' offense is right now.

The pairing of Sean Payton and Bo Nix appears to be a good one, Courtland Sutton has taken over as the No. 1 receiver with a few younger receivers stepping into larger roles. PFF recently ranked the offensive line as the second-best in the NFL.

There are some things that need to be figured out on that line. Garett Bolles is slated to be a free agent and Denver might look for an upgrade at center.

But what could really take this offense to the next level is a dynamic running back who could take advantage of the offensive line. Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin have had every opportunity to take over the backfield, but both have negative rushing yards over expectation on the season, per Next Gen Stats.

Audric Estime could be an answer, but if the rookie was looking better than either Williams or McLaughlin, he should be taking on a larger role.

The Broncos' best bet would be to use one of their Day 2 picks on a running back. Ashton Jeanty could even be an option with their first pick if he falls that far.

This year's running back class appears to be deep on paper. There were eight backs featured in the B/R Scouting Department's latest top 100 big board. From a powerful runner like Omarion Hampton to a speedster such as TreVeyon Henderson, the class has a bit of everything.

The Broncos would be wise to draft one of them and restart at the position.

Minnesota Vikings: Tag Sam Darnold

We're admittedly getting away from the premise on this one, but the Minnesota Vikings find themselves in a unique situation.

Sam Darnold wasn't supposed to be this good. The former Jets, Panthers and 49ers quarterback was supposed to be a bridge who could start a few games before J.J. McCarthy was ready to take the reins.

Instead, Darnold has been a revelation.

The Vikings are 11-2 and have a top 10 offense in scoring and yards per play. Darnold has the sixth-highest graded quarterback by PFF and leads the league in big-time throws (29) by their metrics.

His success begs a critical question for the team moving forward: Do they re-sign Darnold or stick with their plans of going with McCarthy next season. The rookie has spent this season recovering from a torn meniscus suffered in the offseason.

Darnold is only 27 and could continue playing this well or better into his 30s. He could likely get a multi-year contract from multiple teams this offseason.

Alternatively, the Vikings could let Darnold go and fully embrace the McCarthy era. However, that's putting a lot of pressure on a rookie to come in and outperform a guy who was at the helm of a highly successful season.

There is a middle ground, though. The Vikings could split the difference by using the franchise tag on Sam Darnold. It would give McCarthy a true sit-and-learn season that isn't marred by injury while giving Darnold the opportunity to prove to NFL teams that this year is no fluke.

That might be the best-case scenario for McCarthy who is still just 21 years old and needed some refinement anyway.

New England Patriots: Find a Go-To Receiver

Patriots insider Chad Graff of The Athletic shared a nugget in a recent mailbag that must have been music to Drake Maye's ears.

"Here's an easy guess simply from reading the tea leaves: The Patriots are going to be all in on Tee Higgins," Graff wrote. "They've shown an interest in established receivers, and Higgins is the best free agent. I expect them to offer him the moon."

That's great news because it shows the Patriots understand the assignment. Ideally, they'd be able to land Higgins. Whether he can truly be a No. 1 receiver is up for debate. Teaming up with Ja'Marr Chase made him one of the best No. 2 receivers in the league when healthy.

In reality, that debate is immaterial for New England. Higgins offers a skill set that the Patriots simply don't have right now. He can consistently win one-on-one matchups on the boundary. It's a critical guy to have for a young quarterback.

The Patriots would likely have to overpay for Higgins. He's leaving a good situation in Cincinnati, and the Patriots aren't the best franchise right now. However, they are projected to have the most cap space ($132 million) next offseason, so what's the use of having the money if they aren't going to spend it?

If New England miss out on Higgins, then it needs to focus its efforts on either trading for a proven guy or targeting Tetarioa McMillan early in the draft.

B/R scout Dame Parson compared the 6'5", 212-pound receiver to Drake London and Higgins, so the fit makes a lot of sense.

Washington Commanders: Find a Running Mate for Terry McLaurin

Some of the most explosive offenses in the league are anchored by a talented tandem of wide receivers.

The Bengals have supplied Joe Burrow with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at the beginning of his career. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are the engine behind the Eagles' passing game, and the Rams have leaned on Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp to remain competitive.

Jayden Daniels has changed the entire dynamic of the Washington offense. Terry McLaurin no longer has to be one of the most productive receivers in the league with a bad quarterback. He's now on pace for 1,177 yards and 13 touchdowns because he's finally part of a functional offense.

The next step for the Commanders is to pair McLaurin with another receiver who can attract attention.

Higgins could be the top free agent available, but it's hard to see him signing with another team where he won't be the No. 1 receiver after playing in Ja'Marr Chase's shadow. Other free-agent options on the older side or coming off injury include Chris Godwin, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen or DeAndre Hopkins.

The Commanders could have to seek out a trade or hope that an instant impact wide receiver is available when they are on the draft clock. Tetairoa McMillan, Tre Harris, Emeka Egbuka and Luther Burden III were all ranked in the top 15 of the latest big board from the B/R Scouting Department.