2024 NFL Draft: Day 1 Recap of First Round Picks

The worst secret in the NFL finally came to fruition On Thursday, the Chicago Bears selected highly touted USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

But the theme of the first round was quarterback running. Six of the first 12 picks were quarterbacks, an unprecedented NFL draft record. The first 14 players were offensive players, which is also a draft record, and no defensive players were selected until the Indianapolis Colts selected UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu with the 15th pick. did.

Bears and longtime fans are hoping Williams, a 22-year-old phenom, can finally bring some much-needed stability to the quarterback position, which has been in flux since the Jim McMahon era in the 1980s.

to make way for Williams in Chicago. traded Quarterback Justin Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers last month after the No. 11 pick in the 2021 draft did not live up to expectations. The Bears also selected Washington wide receiver Roman Odunze with the ninth pick in an effort to shake up the roster.

draft, i.e. held in DetroitThis is one of the deepest depths at the quarterback, offensive tackle and wide receiver positions in years, thanks in part to the pandemic that prompted many players to extend their college careers.

Up to nine offensive tackles are expected to be ruled out by the end of Thursday.

The top of the draft was chalked away, with quarterbacks becoming the first three picks. LSU’s Jaden Daniels was taken No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots. Selected North Carolina’s Drake Maye He was the No. 3 pick to replace former first-round pick Mac Jones, who was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars last month.

The Arizona Cardinals are acquiring Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., the son of legendary Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr., to pair with talented quarterback Kyler Murray. Selected as first receiver.

Instead, the Bolts endured in silence following reports that the Los Angeles Chargers and new head coach Jim Harbaugh could be traded down. Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alto It’s an effort to improve an offensive line that has struggled to protect franchise quarterback Justin Herbert.

The first big surprise came when the Atlanta Falcons selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick, despite signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​in the offseason. Ta. Penix was expected to be out until late in the first round due to injury concerns.

Cousins’ old team, the Minnesota Vikings, made the first trade of the night, exchanging picks with the New York Jets to move up from No. 11 to No. 10 and earn the quarter that led the University of Michigan to the national title in January. Nominated running back JJ McCarthy.

The surprise continued with the Denver Broncos, who are also looking for quarterback help after cutting Russell Wilson. choose seasoning Bo Nix, a 24-year-old quarterback from Oregon State, was ranked 12th. According to CBS Colorado, Nix has started 61 games in his college career, more than any quarterback in NCAA history.

The second and third rounds of the draft will be held on Friday, and rounds four through seven will be held on Saturday.

NFL draft order and first round picks

• 1. Chicago Bears — QB Caleb Williams, USC

• 2nd place: Washington Commanders — QB Jayden Daniels, LSU

• 3rd place: New England Patriots — QB Drake Maye (North Carolina State)

• 4th: Arizona Cardinals — WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State University

• 5th: Los Angeles Chargers — OT Joe Alto, Notre Dame

• 6th: New York Giants — WR Malik Nabers, LSU

• 7th: Tennessee Titans — OT JC Latham, Alabama

• 8th: Atlanta Falcons — QB Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)

• 9th: Chicago Bears — WR Roma Odunze, Washington

• 10. Minnesota Vikings — QB JJ McCarthy, Michigan (via pick swap with Jets)

• No. 11: New York Jets — OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State

• 12th: Denver Broncos — QB Bo Nix (Oregon)

• 13th: Las Vegas Raiders — Georgia TE Brock Bowers

• No. 14: New Orleans Saints — OT Talese Fuaga, Oregon State

• 15th: Indianapolis Colts — DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

• 16. Seattle Seahawks — DL Byron Murphy, Texas

• No. 17: Minnesota Vikings — DE Dallas Turner, Alabama (via trade with Jacksonville Jaguars)

• No. 18: Cincinnati Bengals — OT Amarius Mims (Georgia)

• No. 19: Los Angeles Rams — DE Jared Verse, Florida State

• 20th place: Pittsburgh Steelers
• 21st place: Miami Dolphins
• 22nd place: Philadelphia Eagles
• 23rd place: Jacksonville Jaguars
• 24th place: Dallas Cowboys
• 25th place: Green Bay Packers
• 26th place: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 27th place: Arizona Cardinals
• 28th place: Buffalo Bills
• 29th place: Detroit Lions
• 30th place: Baltimore Ravens
• 31st place: San Francisco 49ers
• 32nd place: Kansas City Chiefs