2024 NFL Draft: First round recap

Wow. Another first round, another series of crazy events, and a helluva start to Draft weekend. We came into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft with a TON of rumors, from teams trading up into the top 5 for J.J. McCarthy to potentially having a record number of trades, and everything in between.

At the end of the day, this ended up being a pretty straightforward first round overall, with very little trade intrigue. A historic run of offensive players pushed the top defensive players down the board, and six quarterbacks getting taken in the first 12 picks got the night off to a hot start. Let’s get into it!

1. CHICAGO – Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2. WASHINGTON – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

3. NEW ENGLAND – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

4. ARIZONA – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

5. LA CHARGERS – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

6. NY GIANTS – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

7. TENNESSEE – J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama

8. ATLANTA – Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

9. CHICAGO – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

10. MINNESOTA – J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

11. NY JETS – Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State

12. DENVER – Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

13. LAS VEGAS – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

14. NEW ORLEANS – Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

15. INDIANAPOLIS – Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

16. SEATTLE – Byron Murphy II, DL, Texas

17. MINNESOTA – Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama

18. CINCINNATI – Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

19. LA RAMS – Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

20. PITTSBURGH – Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington

21. MIAMI – Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

22. PHILADELPHIA – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

23. JACKSONVILLE – Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

24. DETROIT – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

25. GREEN BAY – Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

26. TAMPA BAY – Graham Barton, OG, Duke

27. ARIZONA – Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri

28.KANSAS CITY – Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

29. DALLAS – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

30. BALTIMORE – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

31. SAN FRANCISCO – Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

32. CAROLINA – Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

Round One Thoughts

• The rumor mill had people thinking there would be a ton of action at the top of the Draft, and in the end, none of it happened. The only trade in the top ten was when Minnesota traded up one spot from 11 to 10 to take J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings have to be thrilled they didn’t have to trade up after all and still get their man. McCarthy is in a good position to produce early in his career with all the weapons in Minnesota’s offense.

• You knew we were going to talk about the Falcons. There were grumblings leading into the Draft that Atlanta was interested in Penix, but no one thought they would take him that high in the first round. Kirk Cousins was reportedly “shocked” and “disappointed”, with his agent confirming they “had no idea this was coming”. Not a good way to start a relationship with their newly signed $180 million quarterback.

• Bo Nix going 12th overall? Really? You’re telling me they couldn’t trade down a bit, maybe add a second round pick since they don’t currently have one, and still end up with Nix? I know the Broncos backed themselves in a corner by having Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham atop their QB depth chart, but this just reeks of desperation.

• If Caleb Williams busts, it will be due to coaching or a lack of ability, because it won’t be due to a lack of talent around him on offense. The Bears adding Rome Odunze to a wide receiver corps that already included DJ Moore and Keenan Allen gives Chicago a versatile group of pass catchers. Sprinkle in tight end Cole Kmet and runningback D’Andre Swift, and this is one of the best supporting casts any QB has in the NFL today.

• Detroit trading up to 24th overall to select cornerback Terrion Arnold was one of the best moves of the first round. Arnold had an excellent pre-Draft process, and entered round one as a possible top 15 pick. With last year’s second rounder Brian Branch wreaking havoc in the slot, and Arnold starting on the outside opposite the newly acquired Carlton Davis, this Lions secondary should be much improved.

• My favorite picks:
  • CB Terrion Arnold to Detroit (24th overall)
  • WR Xavier Worthy to Kansas City (28th overall)
  • OT Tyler Guyton to Dallas (29th overall)

• My least favorite picks:
  • QB Bo Nix to Denver (12th overall)
  • WR Ricky Pearsall to San Francisco (31st overall)
  • WR Xavier Legette to Carolina (32nd overall)