If the 2024 NFL draft taught us anything, the popularity of the event and its importance to the league has never been greater. The process isn't just a few-month stretch post-Super Bowl into the spring. It's a year-round cycle where the next round essentially starts as soon as the previous one ends. The '24 class is already in the rearview mirror. Some big surprises occurred. A lot of quality talent just entered the league. Every franchise is hopeful. And everything is grand until the games start to be played again. An understanding of the next wave of talent provides a glimpse of the past, present and future regarding the never-ending evolution of roster building. The upcoming class could have major influences on what teams recently did in the draft and what they're looking to do next from a big-picture point of view.