The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft was full of excitement and surprises. Three quarterbacks were selected in the first three picks, with a total of six quarterbacks going in the first 12 picks. The first defensive player was not drafted until the No. 15 overall pick, leading to a mini run of defensive players being picked. There were a total of five trades in the first round, including two involving the Minnesota Vikings and a shocking one involving two of the AFC’s best teams. Despite the action-packed first round, there are still six more rounds to go with plenty of great prospects left on the board.
The first round of the 2024 NFL Draft saw the Chicago Bears select quarterback Caleb Williams as the No. 1 overall pick. Other notable picks included Jayden Daniels going to the Washington Commanders at No. 2 and Drake Maye being selected by the New England Patriots at No. 3. The Arizona Cardinals chose Marvin Harrison Jr., a wide receiver from Ohio State, at No. 4, while the Los Angeles Chargers picked Joe Alt, an offensive tackle from Notre Dame, at No. 5. The New York Giants selected wide receiver Malik Nabers from LSU at No. 6, and the Tennessee Titans chose offensive tackle JC Latham from Alabama at No. 7.
The Atlanta Falcons surprised many by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. from Washington at No. 8, followed by the Bears selecting wide receiver Rome Odunze from Washington at No. 9. A trade then took place between the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Jets, with the Vikings acquiring quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Michigan at No. 10. The Jets received offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu from Penn State in return. The Denver Broncos picked quarterback Bo Nix from Oregon at No. 12, and the Las Vegas Raiders selected tight end Brock Bowers from Georgia at No. 13.
The first round also saw some key trades, including the New York Jets trading their No. 10 pick and a sixth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for the No. 11 pick, a fourth-round pick, and a fifth-round pick. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded their No. 17 pick to the Vikings for the No. 23 pick, a fifth-round pick, and future draft picks. The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys also made a trade, with the Lions acquiring cornerback Terrion Arnold from Alabama in exchange for the No. 24 pick and a future seventh-round pick. The Kansas City Chiefs made a trade with the Buffalo Bills, while the Bills also made a trade with the Carolina Panthers towards the end of the first round.
Overall, the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft was filled with excitement, surprises, and strategic trades. With many talented prospects still available, there is a lot to look forward to in the upcoming rounds of the draft. Teams will be looking to build their rosters with the best available players to improve their chances of success in the upcoming NFL season. Fans can expect more drama and unexpected moves as the draft continues, shaping the future of the league and its teams for years to come.
